Let’s get right to it, Ottawa! Start your pre-weekend off right and head to Raw Sugar to see Zac Crouse and Steve Gates tonight – or head over to Mavericks to see Maybe Smith (who will hopefully come back to town again and again). For Friday, if you’ve been missing the early ’90s of late (and who doesn’t from time to time?), the Allrights will happily fill that void for you. Library Voices and Luke Doucet will compete for Prairie Scene audiences on Friday night, while Right by Midnight and... | Continue reading article

Editor’s note: Throughout the week, Apartment613 will be giving away Prairie Scene tickets and other awesome stuff on the site, on Facebook, and on Twitter. The first giveaway is today – click through for more details! Every year, I lay down 800 bucks or so on a plane ticket and make my annual pilgrimage back to Saskatchewan. While I can get a bit negative about certain aspects of the trip – my parents’ suburban home makes it near-impossible to get around without a car, for instance, and the mosquitoes are... | Continue reading article

You know it’s spring in Ottawa when the festival announcements start popping up faster than the crocuses. WestFest‘s schedule is out, the Jazz Festival lineup came out yesterday, and Bluefest’s is expected next week… The FolkFest and others won’t be far behind! If you’re like me and missed the Rich Aucoin show last night (I blame spacey-Wednesday-afternoon-brain), thankfully there are plenty of shows to console us. And what better show to do this than Raekwon (of Wu-Tang Clan fame) at Ritual? Also this evening is Tarun ‘Tspoon’ Nayar’s album release... | Continue reading article

Monkeys on leashes. In the Government Conference Centre. Among throngs of tipsy party people in strappy heels and slick suits. The organizers of this year’s Ottawa Gala had a wealth of ideas for bringing their “Midnight in Marrakech” theme to life, but the monkeys stuck with me the most. Unfortunately, while this year’s annual charity formal will have extensive Moroccan-inspired entertainment, decor and treats, logistics will limit attendance to only human primates. “Our insurance wouldn’t cover real monkeys,” laughed Denise Siele, co-president of the Gala, which will take place on... | Continue reading article

The signs of Spring are everywhere. I’m not talking about the rising temperature, or the sea of mud and half melted snow, or Discovery Channel moments featuring the birds and the bees. No, I’m talking about PROMdemonium, the annual dance party/costume ball/social justice fundraiser that has become a annual rite for many Ottawans. According to Matthew Pearson, a member of the prom’s organizing committee, “people always have fun and tell us that they look forward to it as another sign that spring in Ottawa has officially arrived!” PROMdemonium is the... | Continue reading article

Pretty sweet idea by the Carleton University folks – over 400 people participated in last Tuesday’s Flash Mob. The Mob also benefited the Ottawa Mission by way of non-perishable donations. Well done guys and gals!

Apologies to those federal employees out there – the rest of us are really, really sorry that you don’t get Monday off. Because you’ll have to miss a free pancake breakfast among other things.. But you can rub it in later this year when you get your special long weekends, we promise! As for the actual weekend before Monday rolls around, there’s plenty to do. April Wine is going to satisfy that classic rock void in your life, while Timekode will meet all of your dancing needs. For the part... | Continue reading article

I had so many of my friends rave about Rich Aucoin that I was convinced that I wouldn’t like him. I reasoned, “Come on, nobody is that good. Besides, I’m into bands right now, not folky singer-songwriters.” Well, as it turns out, I was dead wrong on all counts: He was that good, I did like him, a lot, and he was definitely not a folk singer.  The truth is, Rich Aucoin is a one-man dance party. As irresistible as post-Valentine’s Day bargain price chocolate, as infectious as this winter’s... | Continue reading article

“Snow! Blizzard! Minus 14!” YouTube star Wilbur Sarguanaraj came to Ottawa, lamented our Prime Minister’s Tamil vocabulary, tried a beaver tail and somehow found a pair of those annoying red mittens. The results make for an awesome way to start your weekend.

It’s the weekend of loooove, O-town! And the city’s set to please its citizens, whether you’re for or against Monday’s sugar-high inducing holiday. If you have a car this weekend, you’re in luck (or, if you know someone with a car, wheedle them into getting out of town for a bit). Whether it’s heading up to Vankleek Hill for a bit of Beau’s Winterbrewed, or taking in one of the many Black Sheep shows (who wouldn’t want to see a band called UKRAINIA!?), your mileage to pleasure ratio will be... | Continue reading article