Thursday, Oct. 22
Ballet Jorgen performs Tchaikovsky’s ballet Sleeping Beauty with Aurora in a family-friendly (ages 8 and up) story of enduring love, for one night only, 7:30 p.m., Centrepointe Theatres. Tickets: $40-$53. centrepointetheatres.com
The three-day St. Lawrence Film Festival has screenings from Ottawa to Brockville into Potsdam, New York, starting with a gala celebrating the 35th anniversary of The Blues Brothers with guest Dan Akroyd and a special screening, 6 p.m., Canadian Museum of History. Tickets for gala: $100-$200; festival pass: $25-$75. www.stlawrencefilm.com
Egodeath performs Stephen & Me.
For the second “weekend,” Fresh Meat 4 theatre festival brings the newest, least-smelly, most delicious, original 20-minute performances by local performers, invited to push the concept of theatre to its limits. This time, it includes full-audience participation in Tolerance, and another piece about a 25-year-old woman who falls in love with Stephen Harper from a distance —and must be heartbroken this week. Five performances are shown in rotation each evening, starting at 8 p.m., Arts Court, 2 Daly Ave. Tickets: $20-$25/night. www.freshmeatfest.com
Your questions and concerns about the Gatineau Park, Greenbelt and urban lands will be heard as researchers and scientists reveal some of their findings at a public meeting, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., NCC Headquarters, 40 Elgin St. Register to attend at www.ncc-ccn.gc.ca
The Ottawa International Writers’ Festival is underway and today is about cultures: at 5:30 p.m., Archibald Ritter discusses Entrepreneurial Cuba; at 6:30 p.m. learn about First Peoples, First Stories with lee Maracle, Bev Sellars and Joseph Boyden or explore Acadian poetry; and at 8;30 p.m. the spotlight is on Irish Fiction with Gavin Corbett, Claire Louise Bennett and Colin Berrett. writersfestival.org
Photos: What to do this week
Wondering what to do this week? We have ideas.
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Friday, Oct. 23
World War Women exhibit opens today.
It’s a day for women:
The World War Women exhibit opens at the Canadian War Museum, examining how the lives of Canadian women were transformed in World Wars I and II as they took on new roles. Most arrestingly, women who were affected by the wars will share their personal stories one-on-one with visitors, depending on their availability, throughout the exhibit until March. warmuseum.ca
We can stay in the 1940’s with Rosie and the Riveters, an emerging all-woman quartet from the prairies who write vintage-themed originals and cover favourites with “sass,” 7:30 p.m., LIVE on Elgin, 220 Elgin St. (they’re about to release their debut album, Good Clean Fun.) Tickets: $10 in advance, $12 at the door. www.liveonelgin.com
Billy Connolly is back in Ottawa.
The off-Broadway hit Girls Night: The Musical, best described as Desperate Housewives meets Mama Mia!, encourages audience dancing and sing-alongs to popular hits, 8:30 p.m, Centrepointe Theatres. Tickets: $49.50 centrepointetheatres.com
Incorrigible British comedian Billy Connolly‘s show at the NAC tonight is sold out — but we are told some tickets may be released for sale at different times this week — so keep checking this link: ticketmaster.ca
Continuing with the incomparable, comedic show Puppetry of the Penis has two Australian men do “dick tricks” — manipulate their genitalia into shapes, landmarks and objects, with a camera projecting the detail so all in the audience can see, 7 p.m., Algonquin Commons Theatre. Cringeworthy? Fascinating? You tell us. (Obviously an adult-only show with non-sexual, full-frontal male nudity.) Tickets: $30-$48.50.
Rolf Klausener’s musical project The Acorn’s latest EP, Vieux Loup, is a series of electro-informed, acoustic folk-pop beauties and they’re playing them live at The Black Sheep Inn — *and* have arranged a party bus from Babylon club at 7:30 p.m. with limited seating (obviously). theblacksheepinn.com
Rock-blues duo The Standstills make lots of claims on their website — built the pyramids, drank absinthe with Van Gogh, fed pigeons with Tesla — and we doubt them all but are still amazed the two of them alone are able to produce such arena-worthy, rock anthems , 10 p.m., House of Targ. Tickets: $10. spectrasonic.com
For some contemporary jazz, the Artie Roth Quartet is touring in support of its latest record, Discern, 7:30 p.m., GigSpace. Tickets: $20. gigspaceottawa.com
Every day, the promoter seems to be releasing another batch of tickets for the “sold-out” three-hour set from music producer Markus Schulz, 9 p.m. (He goes on at 11 p.m.), Barrymore’s. Tickets: $40. www.dnalive.ca
Saturday, Oct. 24
Who will you run into at the Mayors trick-or-treat party.
Join Mayor Jim Watson 9th annual Halloween gathering (a bit early…) with costumed characters handing out treats, a witches’ den to explore, pumpkin decorating and more for the entire family, in support of the Ottawa Food Bank’s Baby Supply Cupboard, 4 to 7 p.m., City Hall. Admission: non-perishable baby supply item. ottawa.ca
It’s Ottawa-wide Giveaway Weekend, so set anything you no longer want at the curb and wait for people to come by an claim them. Make sure to only take items marked with “FREE” on them — cars and bikes, for instance, are not usually up for grabs. For suggestions on making this weekend work well, visit ottawa.ca.
Then join the Thrill the World re-enactment of Michael Jackson’s Thriller video, at 6 p.m. at the National Gallery of Canada. Events begin at 2:30 p.m. with registration, followed by zombie make-up — by donation, Thriller dance classes, rehearsal at 5:45 p.m., then the main event. Proceeds go to the Candlelighters childhood cancer support programs. (Find a dance tutorial on the website.) www.thrilltheworld.ottawa.ca #TTWOttawa2015
Carlington Park has long been a popular snowboard and toboggan hill.
All are welcome at the Community Crafting day, where treats will be tried, friends will be made and decorations will be created for the Urban Market’s event the following weekend, 11 a.m. West End Well Co-op. www.urbancraftmarket.com
Be determined to enjoy winter and get some snow gear at the Ski, Snowboard and Travel show (oh, wait, this means one can book a trip away from the cold …), 10 a.m. to 5 p.m, EY Centre. Free admission. ottawaskishow.com
Trick or Treat to a Wicked Beat is a kid-friendly, bilingual, musical event with dancers from the School of Dance and the NAC Orchestra, 1:30 and 3:30 p.m., NAC Southam Hall. Costumes, we imagine, are welcome. Tickets: From $23. nac-cna.ca
Musicians will be playing on their stoops in Hintonburg at the Ottawa Porchest, 1 to 4 p.m., with family-friendly, acoustic/unplugged performances. (Got a porch to share with a musician? Let them know.) www.ottawaporchfest.ca
The Light the Night Walk for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society invites all to bring a lantern (red for supporters, white for patients and survivors, gold for loved ones lost) for 5 p.m., Lansdowne Park. llscanada.org
Award-winning comedian Debra DiGiovanni (Last Comic Standing, Video On Trial, The Debaters, Match Game) joins “best friend” Darcy Michael (Just for Laughs, The Debaters) on two-city tour, with Ottawa as the other stop, 8 p.m., Ottawa Little Theatre. Tickets: $30. www.ottawalittletheatre.com
The 9th annual Babes4Breasts concert to benefit Breast Cancer research includes Oh Susanna, Sarah macDougall, Amanda Rheaume and honorary-babe Jeremy Fisher, 8 p.m., St. Alban’s Church, 4343 King Edward Ave. Tickets: $25 in advance; $30 at the door. www.babes4breasts.com
The 24th Street Wailers bring their funky, blues rock party informed by early 50’s music to The Rainbow, so wear your dancing shoes, 10 p.m. Tickets: $12 in advance, $15 at the door. http://the24thstreetwailers.com
Tickets are in high demand for energetic, bluegrass/folk band The Slocan Ramblers’ show, whose sophomore album will be released in the next few weeks, 7:30 p.m., Westboro Masonic Hall, 430 Churchill Ave. N. Tickets: $20. www.rasputins.ca
Sunday, Oct. 25
Halloween for the whole family — and another with beer.
Halloween hijinks get started early at the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum, with safe trick-or-treating in the museum for all ages and period-appropriate candy, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 2940 Old Montreal Rd.Costumes encouraged. They are also hosting a haunted historic village on Friday, Oct. 30, where fear — and spooky dolls, if the photos are anything to go by — is on the menu. ottawa.ca/museums
Adults can enjoy some pre-Halloween pumpkin carving with beer at the Mill Street Brew Pub, also featuring an un-named scary movie, 7 p.m., 555 Wellington St. (Pumpkins are provided gratis.) millstreetbrewpub.ca
Pets are welcome at the outdoor Chinatown Craft Market — thought it will move indoors if rain threatens — with local makers and crafters exhibiting their goods, noon to 4 p.m., 651 Somerset St. W. No admission.
Two film festivals end today: The Inside Out LGBT festival has screenings from noon to about 10 p.m., starting with How to Win at Checkers Every Time, about a scrappy orphan living in poverty in Bangkok with his openly-gay older brother and aunt, (ByTowne, 12:15 p.m., insideout.ca); the African Film Festival closes with Haitian film Lumumba, about the rise to power and eventual assassination of the first PM of independent Congo, (4 p.m., Carleton University, www.cfi-icf.ca).
Travel, health, beauty, food and business information is available at the Ottawa Fall National Women’s Show, with fashion shows — including some firefighters on the runway — and over 200 vendors, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., EY Centre. Admission: $12. www.nationalwomensshow.com
Dora the Explorer and Diego are making an appearance at the Ottawa Parent & Child Expo, with information for parents on health to camps, and events for kids from face painting to gymnastics playzone, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. all weekend, Nepean Sportsplex. Tickets: $4-$6, or $12/family of four. parentandchildexpo.ca
Play some Atari this Sunday.
The 3rd Vintage Video Game Tournament invites gamers of all kinds to register a team — though you can just show up alone on the day — and try three-decades of space-themed gaming history on four different consoles, 2 p.m., to benefit charity Kind Space, 331 Cooper St. Registration: Free, but pledges encouraged. www.kindspace.ca
Declutter the house, says House of Paintx urban festival, and bring any clothes, music, shoes anything someone else might enjoy to a swap event, with tunes from DJ Bow Tie Willie, guest performances and live painting, noon to 4 p.m., 1076 Wellington St. W. (Leftover items will be donated to the Salvation Army.) houseofpaint.ca
The Ottawa Police are recruiting call centre agents and are hosting an information session for interested applicants, 7 to 8 p.m., Algonquin College, 1385 Woodroffe Ave. www.ottawapolice.ca
Monday, Oct. 26
It’s been 40 years since Frankenfurter first pranced across our screens.
No bags or coats will be allowed inside for the free screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, in the 40th anniversary year of the once-subculture movie, which makes us think props such as water guns, newspapers and toast might not be welcome, 7 p.m., Algonquin Commons Theatre. (But no one can make you check your strut.) Tickets: Free! www.algonquinsa.com
Canada’s first poet Laureate, novelist and historian Goerge Bowering will chat about writing life, the craft and how ones must experiment, noon, Christ Church Cathedral, 414 Sparks St. Tickets: 45-$10. writersfestival.org
Uber or taxi? Have your say on the city’s regulation review and read discussion papers being released on the city’s website, then sign up for a consultation workshop or share your views at taxi@ottawa.ca or 613-580-TAXI.
Looking for an alternative to Halloween candy? The City of Ottawa is offering Trick or Swim or Skate tickets, valid from Nov. 1 to Jan. 31 for regularly scheduled public swims and skates at select city pools and arenas. Pick these out to hand out to trick-or-treaters at rec centres and pools Cost: $10 for 10.
Tuesday, Oct. 27
For the first time, the 500-year-old, world-renowned Gloucester Cathedral Choir of 20 boy choristers and 12 adults from the UK will perform in Ottawa, singing 20th and 21st century sacred music along with St. Matthew’s choirs, 7 p.m., St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, 130 Glebe Ave. The choir will then perform at Evensong on Wednesday at 6 p.m., Christ Church Cathedral, 439 Queen St. Tickets: Freewill donation. www.stmatthewsottawa.ca
Newsies is on at the NAC.
For more energetic lads, the Broadway musical hit Newsies with leaping paper boys standing up to the powerful, opens for a six-day run at the National Arts Centre, 8 p.m. Tickets: $35-$105. nac-cna.ca
Unsure where to start with your garden? Paul Zammit, director of horticulture at the Toronto Botanical Gardens will be sharing personal tips on growing vegetables and other yummy additions in gardens of all sizes, by gardeners of all skill levels and ages, in a lively presentation for the Ottawa Horticulture Society, 7:30 p.m., Tom Brown Arena, 141 Bayview Rd. All welcome: $10. www.ottawahort.org
Wednesday, Oct. 28
St. James Cemetery is the site of a ghost walk through history.
Homer’s The Odyssey will come to life as storyteller Jan Andrews recounts some of Odysseus’ adventures (or misadventures …) for a memorable, transportive evening, 7 p.m., Mississippi Public Library, 155 High St., Almonte. Free, but donations to the library accepted. (Might be a good idea to reserve a seat, at 613-256-3030 or 613-256-1037.)
Do the howlings from the ‘dead grounds’ near Carleton Place’s St. James Cemetery from a wolf protector, or the ghosts of the unavenged children of one of Canada’s first convicted multiple murderers? Learn more on a Cemetery Ghost Walk, 6:30 p.m., 8th Line of Ramsay. Tickets: $10. www.cpbheritagemuseum.com
Practise giving Jimmy Fallon a challenge at the open, Lip Sync Battle hosted by Jesse Reynolds, with actual prizes — from binoculars to coaching sessions, 8:30 p.m., The Rainbow. Tickets: $5. This is a fundraiser for local filmmaker Lisa Meuser’s feature film, Me, My Mom and a Whistle.
First Nations artist Simon Brascoupé will be live-painting and telling stories, with someone winning the $1,800 piece of art as part of a fundraising evening for the Odawa Centre, offering programs for the local Aboriginal community, 6:30 p.m., 150 City Centre Ave. Tickets: $25-$40. odawa.on.ca / http://bit.ly/1LmuoMd
Thursday, Oct. 29
Detail of Mementos by Sayward Johnson at EBA open studio event.
The Enriched Bread Artists are opening their studios for their annual showcase in the multi-levelled old home of the bread manufacturer, starting with an event and performance from 6 to 9 p.m., then on all this weekend and next, 951 Gladstone Ave. Admission: Free. www.enrichedbreadartists.com
Makin’ It Grain is a five-course, beer-pairing, storytelling dinner at Dominion City Brewing Co., with Albion Rooms’ chef Stephen LaSalle, artist Eryn O’Neill, David Wallace of Around the Block Butcher Shop, Bread By Us bakers and more to benefit FarmWorks, empowering young people through Operation Go Home, 6:30 p.m., 5510 Canotek Rd. Tickets: $85. www.makingitgrain.ca
Le Nordik Spa will be playing lounge music from 6 p.m. to midnight (hopefully curbing any shushing when you chat with friends), cocktails and hourly Aufguss rituals in their Finnish sauna, involving a 10-minute infusion of essential oils meant to have healthful properties, 16 Chemin Nordik, Old Chelsea. Cost: $59, no reservation required. www.lenordik.com
Friday, Oct. 30
The Ottawa Wine and Food Show starts Oct. 30.
The Ottawa Wine and Food show 30th anniversary show has culinary royalty Anna Olson and others offering holiday tips, an expanded tasting alley and events, a carvery, a caviar bar, vegetarian food stations and let’s not forget the 1,400 wines. Open noon to 10 p.m. tonig