I love books. Interested in finding fellow readers, I searched the blogosphere for Ottawa bookworms. To my delight, the national capital region is filled with blogging bibliophiles, which are the focus of this week’s round-up of local blogs. Blogging Bookworms There is a surprisingly large number of Ottawa blogs dedicated to publishing book reviews and literary-related posts. While the list below is not exhaustive, it will give you a good idea of where to find suggestions for new books, authors and in some cases local literary news. Meaghan, a senior... | Continue reading article

There are a multitude of writers living in Ottawa, some professional, others who must sneak in a few lines of well-turned prose on their lunch break or before hitting the sack. The city is also home to a legion of readers who are as hungry for local literature as they would be for local beef or beer. Jam Jar – the brainchild of our very own Jared Davidson, an Apt613 contributor and editor – hopes to bring together these two groups. Jared’s goal is simple; to help showcase the city’s... | Continue reading article

Even though the temperatures are set to warm up ever so slightly this weekend, we know you might still feel the winter chill. So here are our top five ways to stay warm this weekend: 1. Go dancing! We all know it’s a great way to heat up the night – a little samba, a bit of funk and vintage reggae… Plus regular DJs at Zaphod’s, Babylon and the Mercury Lounge. Want some art mixed in with your beats? Head to Transmit on Friday. You can also kick up your heels with... | Continue reading article

Editor’s note: This is the second in a two-part series on a local writer’s trek toward 50,000 words as part of this year’s NaNoWriMo challenge. You can read the first part here. We gave Mike a few weeks to ice his fingers before asking him to pound out a few more words for us. As you’ll see below, he reached his goal with time to spare. Mike wasn’t the only local writer hitting the keys during this year’s challenge. According to the NaNoWriMo Word Count Scoreboard, local writers have written... | Continue reading article

What’s on your agenda for this weekend, Ottawa? Perhaps some burlesque with your usual Sunday brunch? Or a holiday food market like no other?A bit of improv? Or a classical Christmas concert, perhaps? If you’re looking to take in some art – or trying to find some for gifts – the Ottawa Art Gallery and Cube Gallery might have something for you, or Cyclelogik’s Holiday Sweat-ER in an art sale like no other (we’re talking food and DJing). Craft sales continue, too, with Craftalicious happening down in the Glebe on... | Continue reading article

Post by Courtney Powless. Kitchen-table storyteller Ivan Coyote and country-turned-electropop musician Rae Spoon bring their show Gender Failure to Carleton University on November 22. Apartment613 caught up with Coyote over the phone to get the scoop on the show that unwraps and unravels the gender binary and promises to make you rumble with laughter, and weep. Apartment613: You have a seven-year artistic partnership with Rae Spoon. Was Gender Failure a long-time project, or a more spontaneous idea—how did you come to it? Ivan Coyote: In the past, Rae and I... | Continue reading article

Support Local month continues, with photographers Jen Eldridge and Paul Hockett holding a vernissage at Under One Roof tonight. Down at Workshop on Dalhousie, they’re holidng a trunk show with Ottawa designer Kania (with treats!), while their sister store Flock continues on with the great crafting de-stash. Grab some tasty samples while getting your Bronson food passport stamped, or head down to the Hintonburg Public House on Sunday for an open mic night – share your local musical talents! The Mercury Lounge is celebrating 16 years this weekend, culminating in... | Continue reading article

For thousands of years, people have speculated about the nature of the human mind, as well as the origin of our species. In two riveting presentations at the fall 2012 edition of the Ottawa International Writers Festival, these questions were discussed and, at times, hotly debated. In a fascinating talk on Saturday, October 27, Mario Beauregard, an associate research professor in the departments of psychology and radiology at the Université de Montréal, argued that the brain and mind are not synonymous. Discussing his groundbreaking book Brain wars, Beauregard made the... | Continue reading article

Editor’s Note: Mike Reynolds is a local author who is taking part in the NaNoWriMo challenge running throughout the month of November. As a multi-year veteran of this grueling test of literary mettle, he’s been kind enough to chronicle his experiences for us. Be sure to check in at the end of the month to see how he fares. And if you’re participating in this year’s NaNoWriMo, be sure to tell us all about it in the comments. Anyone who has sat in front of a typewriter can attest to... | Continue reading article

Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, a surprisingly large group of writers have argued that Muslim immigrants pose a threat to the West. These voices claim that Muslims are hostile to western values, and that their higher birthrates will turn them into a majority in Europe in the coming decades, leading to the decline and demise of western culture. In a fascinating talk at the fall 2012 edition of the Ottawa International Writers Festival, journalist Doug Saunders of the Globe and Mail made clear why... | Continue reading article