Thursday, Nov. 26
Despite the attacks in Paris, Impressionist expert Xavier Rey from the Musée d’Orsay, is still scheduled to speak on artist Claude Monet at a free lecture, part of the Monet: Bridge to Modernity exhibit, 6 p.m., National Gallery. gallery.ca
Kids can learn to code today.
Children aged seven to 10 years are invited — with their parents’ permission, of course — to learn the basics of coding so they can stop playing the game, and start making their own, 10 to 11:30 a.m., Centre Wakefield LaPêche. Cost: $30. centrewakefieldlapeche.ca
It’s Financial Literacy Month and the library wants you to get sorted, so are offering a free money-smart living interactive seminar with financial expert Kelley Keehn, author and member of the National Steering Committee on Financial Literacy, alongside a financial fair where financial services, toolkits and counselling will be on offer, 5:30 to 8 p.m, Main branch. biblioottawalibrary.ca
For three days, the majestic grand hall of the Museum of History will become a Christmas Market, with over 75 local vendors selling edibles and handmade creations and fashion items, noon to 8 p.m., and Friday to Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free admission and, most appreciated, a free coat check. www.historymuseum.ca/christmasmarket
Then the Ottawa School of Art is throwing open its doors for their annual fundraising art exhibit and sale, featuring works by instructors, established and emerging artists event, with a free opening reception at 5 p.m., 35 George St. Exhibit continues to Dec. 19. artottawa.ca
Comedian Scott Faulconbridge
For those who want to laugh, there are two uncensored shows from funny Canadians tonight:
The Debaters regular, improvisational stand-up comedian Scott Faulconbridge brings his not-for-the-under-age observations of life, marriage — and IKEA — to Yuk Yuk’s, 8:30 p.m., 292 Elgin St. Tickets: $12.39+. www.yukyuks.com
Taggart and Torrens — also known as drummer for Our Lady Peace Jeremy Taggart and actor Jonathan Torrens (Jonovision, Trailer Park Boys) — have had a really popular, “Canadianity”-themed podcast since 2014 and are on their TnT tour, performing in person, including a stop at Ritual, 9 p.m. (We’ve listened to some of it and, for a podcast that has occasionally broken the top 20 on iTunes, it is actually not that puerile.) Tickets: $15. spectrasonic.com
Ecology Ottawa’s Eco Gala 2015 brings environmental enthusiasts together to mingle, with keynote speaker Kevin Page, former Parliament Budget Officer, (who knows what he will say, now), a four-course dinner and silent auction, starting with socializing at 5:30 p.m., St. Elias Banquet Centre. Tickets: $60-$75. ecoott.ca
To give a mini thrill to all the 90’s indie rock fans and gamers out there, we mention Matthew Good’s Chaotic-Neutral Tour (if you do not get it, we hear the library and Fandom II are offering beginner D&D sessions), who is promoting his recently-released, seventh solo album on which he has produced some very catchy hits and event tackles Kate Bush’s Cloudbursting, albeit with the help of Holly McNarland, 8 p.m., NAC. Tickets: $20. spectrasonic.com
Friday, Nov. 27
A Syrian refugee boy stands on November 15, 2015, at a makeshift camp by Taybeh village, in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley.
Brainstorm how we can make Ottawa more welcoming to the incoming refugees who will be coming to Canadian communities at an interactive panel discussion with local experts, 7 to 9 p.m., Bronson Centre, 211 Bronson Ave. All welcome. facebook.com
Travelers Curling Club Championship end son Saturdayy.
The semi-finals begin today at the Travelers National Curling Club Championship, with finals tomorrow and tickets for these gripping and good-natured events are not necessary — as it is all free!, at the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club. Schedule is available at www.curling.ca.
Tonight’s art opening is for the popular Ottawa Art Gallery annual Art & Parcel holiday art sale, a great place (*hint hint*) to find holiday gifts that will keep up the good will, 6 p.m., 2 Daly Ave. (The maximum price of items is $400, with many below that.) ottawartgallery.ca
Known for their party ways, The Peptides are taking things down with an unplugged, intimate and soulful new concept show, with special guests, gypsy-folk duo Moonfruits, 9 p.m., LIVE on Elgin. Tickets: $15 in advance, $20 at the door. (We have no idea what this show is about, but do know the band will commit themselves utterly to it) www.liveonelgin.com
Ma Premiere Fois (My First Time) is on for only one night.
Filled with humour and pathos, Ma première fois (My First Time) is a selection of the most memorable, surprising, funny and moving stories of people’s first sexual encounters, taken from over 40,000 anonymous submissions and performed by a cast of four — in French, in case the title didn’t give it away. Since it is deemed appropriate for ages 16 and over, it might be a good way to jump start a conversation with your teen— or parents… if either of you can handle it. 8 p.m., Shenkman Arts Centre. Tickets: $20-$45. shenkmanarts.ca
For more awesome performance in French, Les mousquetaires du slam (The Slam Musketeers) David Goudreault, grand champion of the Coupe de Monde slam poetry in Paris 2011, Guy Perreault, runner-up in 2012, David Dufour a.k.a. D-Track and Annie Saint-Jean, jump hip-deep into the free-for-all that is verbal creation, live, 7:30 p.m., NAC Fourth Stage. Tickets: From $20. nac-cna.ca
At the Winter Wonderland edition of Nature Nocture, there will be hot beverages on the third floor, cool beats in the Kronenbourg Lounge and sizzling tunes from DJ Sash and DJ TDot, 8 p.m., Canadian Museum of Nature. NB: for the first time, there is no re-entry at the event — but there will be yoga. Tickets: $25, includes one food voucher. nature.ca/nocturne
It’s Friday, which means it is time for handsome men in suits singing, right? The Tenors (previously the Canadian Tenors) whose shows regularly sell out are expected to sing songs off their resoundingly popular album, Under One Sky, featuring originals and covers of such as You Are So Beautiful, Lean On Me and Agnus Dei (two of their members are trained opera singers, after all), 8 p.m., Southam Hall, NAC. We do not know how similar this will be to their PBS special, which aired in the U.S. in June. Tickets: $63.50 to $128.50. nac-cna.ca
Want something else? How about alt-country from NQ Arbuckle who, they write on their own website, may either be a bit tipsy or overly modest (they have had several Juno nominations but, unlike The Tenors, have not yet won) while playing catchy tunes with abandon to their legion of fans, 8 p.m., The Black Sheep Inn. www.theblacksheepinn.com
Saturday, Nov. 28
Shoppers check out the grand opening of the Ottawa Farmers Christmas Market held at the Aberdeen Pavilion, at Landsdowne Park Ottawa on November 30, 2014.
As December looms, artisan and craft markets and sales are taking over. Here are a few of the many, many options today:
The Ottawa Farmers’ Christmas Market opens today, running every weekend until Dec. 20 with 100 vendors of locally grown and made food, arts, crafts including guest vendors from, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Aberdeen Pavilion. Admission: Free. ottawafarmersmarket.ca
Also at Lansdowne Park, the Ottawa Guild of Potters are exhibiting in the Horticulture Building, 10 a.m., and on all weekend. Admission: free www.ottawaguildofpotters.ca
Craftalicious offers not just tasty treats but also tasty geekery, glass, pottery, clothes, body products and more, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 227 Elgin St. Admission: Free. www.facebook.com/craftaliciousottawa
The Capital Artisans Guild has members from Hawkesbury to Kingston who will be exhibiting under one roof, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. all weekend, Sir Robert Bordon H.S., 131 Greenbank Rd. Admission: free, parking free. www.capitalartisansguild.org
$5 gift certificates redeemable at any vendor will be given out every 10 minutes to any who wear a truly ugly sweater to the 2015 Christmas Market, which promises no resellers, only local vendors, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., 395 Wellington St. Admission: $2 to Sit With Me and Adopt Me rescues. (This show also has a wine bar and is offering a prize for those ugly sweaters.) facebook.com
For those who need to declutter, make some cash before Christmas or like poking around for super finds comes the Centretown Community Garage Sale, where tables are still available for vendors (at time of writing), 10 a.m. to noon, Jack Purcell Community Centre, 320 Jack Purcell Lne.
The WOW Pop-Up Shop in support of the Wabana Centre for Aboriginal Health has over 45 local vendors and services, with the first 100 visitors getting a special surprise. Admission: Free. facebook.com
There will be activities to occupy the kids at the First Avenue School Craft Fair featuring 30 local artists and artisans, 73 First Ave. Admission: Free.
All items are under $100 at the Itty Bitty Teenie Art Show and Sale, and not so tiny with over 19 local artists participating, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., St. James Hall, 225 Edmund St., Carleton Place. artscarletonplace.com
There may be vintage (maybe even mid-century?) finds to be had at the Wakefield Grannies Bazaar, after they clear out their homes for impeccable items to sell in aid of the AIDS Orphan Project in South Africa, 6 p.m., Centre Wakefield La Pêche all weekend. facebook.com
Santa waves from his Parade of Lights.
Santa is making a stop in Pakenham for a Country Christmas event all day, starting with breakfast with the jolly one (9 a.m.), cookies with Mrs. Clause, a craft fair, make your own reindeer food station, candy kebabs, then more visiting with Santa, story time and hopefully enough to tire even the most energetic kid out. Details at http://on.fb.me/1YfCKLD.
Santa will then participate in his Parade of Lights (he just never gets tired) in Orléans, starting at 6 p.m., at Youville Drive, down St. Joseph Boulevard, to Prestone Drive. Helpful firefighters will collect unwrapped, new toys and cash donations along the route for the Salvation Army, added to those collected during the Santa Toy Parade the previous weekend. (Organizer Ken Walton adds that if every one of the anticipated 140,000 people who attend — this is the biggest night parade in the city — donated just $1, that would mean a lot of happy kids this Christmas.) Information, including road closures: www.paradeoflights.org
Local singer-songwriter Jill Zmud will be performing only cover songs for the first time in a live concert, the outcome of her fundraising campaign for her last recording project when fans made donations and got to make requests. These songs are being recorded live at The Record Centre, with help from friends, like Jim Bryson, and we can all listen in, 6 p.m., 1099 Wellington St.
Tortured Soul takes the EDM out from behind the DJ booth to shake it with the crowd all over the dance floor as producer, songwriter, dance team and party patrol. The Brooklyn-based trio creates pop electronica inspired by Prince and Chic but with modern flair, 10 p.m., Mercury Lounge. (we call it neo-disco and advocate sequins.) Tickets: $18.08. http://bit.ly/1HUXioA
Safia Nolin is a must-see at the NAC this week.
Don’t be confused by their name, band Gang Signs offers dance albeit of a less-energetic quality on their new album, Geist, sitting somewhere between dark, new-wave and trip-hop, 8 p.m., Zaphod Beeblebrox. Tickets: $10 in advance, $12 at the door. zaphods.ca
For something that is at once very different and yet completely the same, enjoy the gentle, baroque folk-pop of Montreal’s Safia Nolin, who sings and writes about the realities — the very-blemished realities — of life with beauty. She sings in French and is utterly unexpected, 7:30 p.m., NAC Fourth Stage. Tickets: from $20. nac-cna.ca
Sunday, November 29
Baobab Youth dancers and drum group.
Kids and adults can at the Baobab Drum Dance Community 20th anniversary workshops on Ghanaian drumming (1:30 p.m., $25) and dancing with their Nani Agbeli and their youth dancers (3 to5 p.m., $30), followed by a typical Ghanaian dinner (5 to 7 p.m., $10), St. George’s Community Hall, 415 Picadilly Ave. www.baobabtree.org
Many art and artisan shows are on all weekend, but new today are Idle Hands Art, Craft and Vintage Sale, (10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 523 St. Anthony St., $4 with proceeds to For Pivot’s Sake); The Feminist Fair, where vendors sell feminist-friendly holiday goodies — as well as a chance to hang with like-minded folk (1 to 5 p.m., Montgomery Legion, 330 Kent St. PWYC, with proceeds to Planned Parenthood) and Baz’Art Annual Holiday Arts Market with 40 jury-selected artists and artisans, alongside the Gloucester Pottery School sale, a bake sale, live music and children’s activities (11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Shenkman Arts Centre, free).
Will there be enough snow for tobogganing fun today?
A Christmas Story is a theatrical version of the hit comedic movie, about one boy’s holiday wish being thwarted by the adults in his life, on at 2 p.m. at the Ottawa Little Theatre in a family-friendly benefit to support PAL, which offers support to artists in their senior years, 400 Kind Edward Ave. Tickets:: $20, $10/children. palottawa.org
Hopefully there will be enough snow for the planned tobogganing, skating and playing at the Celtic Christmas on the Farm event, also with workshops on outdoor decorating on a budget, adventures including live reindeer, family photo shoots — even for the dog, music, gingerbread house making, all as fundraiser for the Stittsville Food Bank, Ian’s Christmas Adventure Park, 804 Richmond Rd., Carleton Place. Also, every single car load gets to leave with their very own Christmas Tree. Tickets: $65/car, $35/carload without tree.
The UN Climate Summit starts tomorrow in Paris, and Ecology Ottawa is inviting all to a family-friendly march for bold action on climate change from Canada’s new Prime Minister, with a call for a 100 per cent clean-energy economy by 2025, starting at 1 p.m. from City Hall to Parliament Hill. ecologyottawa.ca
Sadly, the crew probably won;t be making an appearance today.
Monkey Rock wants your kids to join them in dancing and singing at a kid’s concert (that will definitely tire them out) as well as help sponsor a Syrian refugee family, 3:30 p.m., Pressed, 750 Gladstone Ave. Tickets: $15 at the door, free for children aged 5 and under, with other children paying their age. Learn more at ottawaresettlementeffort.wordpress.com.
Fans of Joss Whedon’s ill-fated TV series Firefly, who call themselves the Ottawa Browncoats, invite all to join in playing some themed table-top games while raising funds for local charity iSisisters and Equality Now, 2 to 8 p.m., Patty Bolands, 101 Clarence St. Tickets: $15, includes a collectable button. ottawabrowncoats.ca
Top Chef Canada winner Chef Rene Rodriguez and sous-chef Razmon Poisson of Navarre will be tackling comfort food at the second King Eddy takeover event, where local chefs create a three-course meal in the diner to benefit the Snowsuit Fund. The menu is secret until the night, but may we recommend not having lasagna for lunch? The event is usually held monthly, but December will be skipped _ as Christmas is interfering with plans. Cost: $25, not including drinks. Reserve at 613-680-1700 or info@kegroup.ca.
Elgin Street Improv troupe are paying comedy tribute to rockumentaries in Behind theMusic, with a fictional band that rises and falls with all the typical rock star trappings, including “hit” songs, 7:30 p.m., LIVE on Elgin. 220 Elgin St. Tickets: $7 at the door. www.facebook.com
Monday, November 30
Author John Irving will be in Ottawa on Monday.
One of the world’s most celebrated living writers, American author John Irving (The World According to Garp, A Prayer for Owen Meany) will discuss his latest new novel and his 14th, Avenue of Mysteries, about a novelist (who Irving insists is not him) on a trip, the practical and internal turmoil that comes with age — much of it reflection on memories and the “hows” and “whys” of life, 7 p.m., Southminster Church, 15 Aylmer Ave. Tickets: $20-$15. www.writersfestival.org
Tuesday, December 1
Anne & Gilbert the musical opens at the NAC with a PWYC performance. handout for endemann
Canadian literary friends Anne(with-an-e) Shirley, Gilbert Blythe, Diana Barry and Marilla Cuthbert return in another musical, Anne & Gilbert, this time a few years older though still with dancing and shenanigans on their mind — but also love, opening tonight at the NAC with a pay-what-you-can performance, 7:30 p.m. Runs to Dec. 19, and includes three matinées on Saturdays with an additonal one on Dec. 20. Tickets: from $32. nac-cna.ca
Today is World Aids Day, and every three hours, a person is infected with HIV in Canada. The Aids Committee of Ottawa will be holding an open event to commemorate the day at Marion Dewar Plaza, 9:30 a.m. to noon, with stories from local individuals who have made an impact in 30 years of the HIV/AIDS movement, and refreshments. They will also be launching an Ottawa Chapter of the Red Scarf Project, which saw knitters make red scarves for public “yarn-bomb” installations in cities to raise awareness of the disease. aco-cso.ca
Wednesday, December 2
The Christmas Lights Across Canada Illumination ceremony on Parliament Hill was spectacular in 2014.
The lights will go on at Parliament Hill and across Canada today, as part of the Christmas Lights Across Canada event, with the official illumination ceremony at 7 p.m., including a brand new winter lightscapes multimedia show that will be presented for the first time today, and then every day on a loop from 5:30 to 11 p.m. until Jan. 7. (Tonight, there will also be free BeaverTails and hot chocolate — while supplied last, a protechnics show and a performance by Measha Brueggergosman and the Ottawa Regional Youth Choir.) canada.pch.gc.ca
Get your pet’s photo taken with Santa this month.
Make your own gifts and decor at the Handmade Holiday event, featuring several drop-in, craft workshops at this all-ages event, from 7 to 10 p.m., Pour Boy, 495 Somerset St. W. Cost: $15 for three crafts and a holiday card, with proceeds going to the Ravenswing Art and Music Fair. www.ravenswingottawa.com
Best not to leave the hamster, pet, dog, budgie out of the Christmas cheer, or they might sulk. Santa Claus is doing photo sessions with pets at the Humane Society, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and then on designated days until Dec. 20, (He is busy so cannot be there all the time, no matter how skilled his magic time-travel.) Cost: $20, includes digital file and print copy. www.ottawahumane.ca/santapetpics
There are 13 ‘polar bears’ in this production of the Royal Winnipeg ballet’s The Nutcracker at the NAC ,Dec. 2 to 6.
The Royal Winnipeg Ballet is at the NAC with its seasonal tradition, a family-friendly performance of The Nutcracker ballet, with the usual splendid costumes and sets, this time also including a hockey game, model Parliament building and 13 adorable (but not real) polar bears, opening at 7 p.m., NAC. Come an hour earlier for a Sugar Plum Party in the lobby with activities for children, including dancing, colouring and dress-up. Tickets: $20-$85 tonight only; $20-$95 Dec. 6 with matinées on Dec. 5 and 6. nac-cna.ca
(Did you know the NAC also offers a Share the Spirit program, where patrons may donate to let families, who might not otherwise be able to do so, attend a seasonal show such as The Nutcracker, Anne & Gilbert, The Messiah or others. Donate at nac-cna.ca/en/foundation/sharethespirit.)
Younger children who may not be able to sit through the Nutcracker could enjoy the free, Salsa for Tots edition of the Ottawa Art Gallery’s Toddler mornings, 10 to 11:30 a.m., 2 Daly Ave. Babies are also welcome to the event parents will also enjoy, and art and crafts will follow. dancingmama.ca
Thursday, December 3
The Gallery’s enormous tree is being lit and your are invited.
#NGCTRee: The National Gallery is lighting its enormous Christmas Tree today, and all are invited to participate in the event, 5 to 8 p.m., 380 Sussex Dr. Admission: The gallery is free Thursday evening. gallery.ca
Bearded barbarians or kindly farmers? Bust the myths of the fabled Scandinavian Vikings at a brand new, interactive exhibit at the Canadian Museum of History, opening today with over 500 artifacts on loan from the Swedish History Museum, 10:30 a.m. historymuseum.ca
Over 50 racialized, immigrant women shared their stories in Canada — of triumph and courage, adversity and isolation, in the book Resilience and Triumph, covering 50 years of Canadian history and changing times, which will be launched at Octopus Books with host Adrian Harewood, 7 p.m., 251 Bank St. octopusbooks.ca
Speaking of history, there is over 8,000 years of our own to discover at the free, Archeology in the capital region talk; though it won’t all get covered, expert speakers will discuss conservation efforts alongside an Algonquin-Anishinabe perspective, with a Q&A opportunity, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Capital Urbanism Lab, 100 Sparks St. Reserve a seat at ncc-ccn.gc.ca.
The Annual Christmas Shopping Party at Re:purpose, Operation Come Home’s boutique storefront offering recycled materials and creations from young artisans,employing at-risk and homeless youths, is on 4 to 9 p.m., 150 Gloucester St. Items featured include these delightful Christmas ornaments, made during the BeadWorks programs which give youth a place to spend their afternoons, out of the cold.
Charlie Brown’s Christmas will be screened with a live soundtrack performance tonight.
The HUB Holiday Night Market has local vendors such as TUBEDJewelry, Oat & Mill, Fauxmagerie Zengarry, Culture Kombucha and Radical Homestead selling handmade wares, punctuated by beats from DJ JFun, 6 p.m., 71 Bank St. Admission: Free, but donations will be accepted for the Ottawa Food Bank.
The holidays really don’t start before Charlie Brown’s Christmas gets screened, so tonight it begins as Jerry Granelli performs, with other musicians, the soundtrack live, 7 p.m., Dominion-Chalmers United Church, 355 Cooper St. Tickets: $41.50, $19.50/children 12 and under. ottawajazzfestival.com
Friday, December 4
The Queers and Beers series is back, challenging the heteronormative culture that often surrounds the craft brew scene, while “dropping glitter bombs trails” and making new friends. This time, meet at Lowertown Brewery, from 6 p.m., 73 York St. All genders and sexualities welcome. Cover: $3, or PWYC. thequeermafia.com
Now for music:
Make it yourself at the Come Sing Messiah participatory event, with hundreds of vocalists, skilled and not-so, singing Handel’s masterpiece, starting with rehearsal at 6 p.m., performance at 8, Dominion-Chalmers United Church, 355 Cooper St. Tickets: $10 singers, $25 audience. cammac.ca
It’s songs of the Great Lakes and salty seas at a shanty event featuring multiple-Canadian Folk Award nominee Ian Bell with Canada’s youngest shantymen, the Pressgang Mutiny, many on leave from the Lemon Bucket Orkestra (and who are busy recording their first album), 8 p.m., Rosemount Hall, 41 Rosemount Ave. There will be traditional ballads, sung a cappella with complex harmonies, while a plethora of instruments from concertinas to mandolins, fiddles to button accordions, will be used to pull out some jigs and hornpipes. Tickets: $20. www.ottawacontra.ca
Modern Baseball are a young indie-pop band from Maryland, not to be confused with Vancouver’s themed Punk Rock Baseball Club, who only sing songs about baseball. Modern Baseball do veer into other territories, and do so with a certain witty, grunge-light panache worth a listen; their sophomore studio album is due in the new year. See them with PUP, Jeff Rosenstock and Tiny Moving Parts, 7 p.m., Ritual. Tickets: $20. spectrasonic.com
Zeus, like the God, is an unknown entity. The band seemed to be veering towards a Queen-like future, with 70’s- tinged, guitar-heavy, indie psychedelia; but their 2014 Classic Zeus album sent them off to a pop world with synths, like the incredibly-addictive Miss My Friends. So who knows what one will get tonight at Zaphod’s. A Swan? 8 p.m. Tickets: $15 for a limited time. zaphods.ca
Saturday, December 5
Elves helped keep the City Hall Christmas event fun in 2013.
Santa and Mrs. Claus will join Mayor Jim Watson for an early Christmas celebration at City Hall, including skating on the Rink of Dreams, horse-drawn wagon rides, crafts in Santa’s workshop, hot chocolate, roasted marshmallows and other delicious treats, 2 to 6 p.m. Children 11 years and younger can ride free on all OC Transpo routes to and from City Hall when accompanied by a fare-paying adult, 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. Admission: A non-perishable food donation to the Ottawa Food Bank.
There are two ways to (legally) admire private homes fro the inside this weekend:
The 10th annual Heritage Perth Christmas House Tour includes eight private homes, some historic and some modern, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. all weekend. Tickets: $30. (Also, Santa will be making an appearance in a nighttime parade starting at Wilson St.) cfuw-perth-district.com
The Carleton Place House Tour also has eight homes on its map, running 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. today, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow (meaning one could actually make both of them), and has the chance to win one of nine prizes, including club seats at a Sens game. Tickets: $25, with proceeds going to the Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital, at 613-257-9717 or christmasincarletonplace@gmail.com.
Eddie May’s winter show, Sherlock Holmes and the Curious Case of the Cryptic Compendium, opens this week.
Last year it was Game of Thrones; this season Eddie May Mysteries is tackling Sherlock Holmes and the Curious Case of the Cryptic Compendium, an original script set in Victorian England (just in time for the Cumberbatch special to be screened in December) that makes Holmes the suspect and victim and brings all the classic characters on stage: Watson, Irene Adler, Insp. Lestrade and, of course, Moriarty, 7 p.m., 62 York St. Tickets: $55-$75, includes three-course lunch or dinner, taxes and gratuities. Dinner and lunch show schedule to Dec. 31 at www.eddiemay.com.
The Glitter Ball is a black-tie, elegant evening with a gourmet four-course dinner, with music from neo-folk chamber group MuskOx, a silent auction and a late-night sweets table at the Fairmoty Château Laurier that also offers the pleasant knowledge you got dressed up to help others, this time for a new Hemodialysis machine for CHEO, 5:30 p.m. Tickets: $175 with charitable receipts offered from EcoMedia Event Management. www.glitterball.ca
It’s a Craig Cardiff weekend, the Arnprior-based, folk singer-songwriter whose uncontrived, soothing tone immediately makes the audience relax and smile, as he plays three shows at the Black Sheep Inn: a 2 p.m. all-ages show and 8:30 p.m. today, and then another all-ages matinée at 4 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets: $20 in advance, children under 12 half-price at the door at the matinées. theblacksheepinn.com
If dancing is what you’re seeking, infectious indie-pop band The Elwins, whose LP Play for Keeps has garnerd a lot of attention for its catchy, good-natured tunes (including my spring song of the year, So Down Low), are at House of Targ, 10 p.m. Tickets: $10 — and their prices won’t stay so reasonable for long. spectrasonic.com
Submit event information to kendemann@ottawacitizen.com, by 8 a.m. Monday, two weeks before the event. Photos are welcome.