We have arrived at the last of the magical long weekends of the summer! The weather looks wonderful and, with things continuing to reopen around town, there is plenty of music, art, and exercise to fill your days. Make sure to don your mask and bring your sanitizer and enjoy the goings-on safely.
Music
While Bluesfest as we knew it may have been cancelled this year, #CanadaPerforms at the RBC Bluesfest Drive-In begins this weekend. Drive in, park, and tune in to the live concert on your FM radio. With performances by Julian Taylor, Shad, Sam Roberts Band, and Neon Dreams, it’s sure to be a good time! Tickets for the event can be bought online ahead of time.
This Saturday and Sunday evening, Norteno will play two live concerts in Gatineau parks: Place de la Francophonie on Saturday night and Madaire Park on Sunday night. Norteno is a five-piece group playing Tango Nuevo on the bandoneon, violin, piano, guitar, and double bass.
Rainbow Bistro is reopening and will be hosting their first set of shows since the pandemic hit! Slim Moore and the New Soul Project will be playing an early show and a late show both Friday and Saturday night. Tickets are $15 and must be purchased in advance by emailing rainbowbluesottawa@gmail.com. If you’ve been longing for live shows, here’s the perfect chance to get your fix, while doing your part to keep you and others safe.
Curly Hair Designs and TR1BE Music are hosting a Bring the Love Back BBQ at Vincent Massey Park this Sunday. Come be social (while distancing) and check out the live music and open mic. Bring your own BBQ or enjoy the BBQ they’ll be cooking up. The food is free, but donations are being accepted for the Cultural Arts Studio.
Art
A few of our favourite museums have opened back up and are holding some special summer programming to celebrate. The Canadian War Museum is open from 10am–4:30pm Thursday through Sunday and is showing military vehicles outdoors and hosting guided tours of the LeBreton Gallery indoors. The Canadian Museum of History is open from 10am–4:30pm Thursday through Sunday and is offering Indigenous Experiences dance performances outdoors and guided tours of the Grand Hall indoors. Both museums are offering free general admission all summer long and tickets are going fast. So fast, in fact, that this weekend’s tickets are already sold out – but be ready on Monday to snag tickets for next weekend.
For those of us who love the arts, the good news is the National Gallery of Canada and the Ottawa Art Gallery have also reopened to the public. The National Gallery of Canada is offering free admission to the first 25,000 people to visit the gallery, so plan a visit soon for your chance to explore the galleries and special exhibits for free. The Ottawa Art Gallery, as always, is free for visitors.
The fourth edition of Recycl’Art continues this weekend. Head to Brewery Creek Park in Gatineau and take in some incredible sculpture art created from 80 per cent recycled materials.
Exercise
Cyclists and pedestrians alike can take advantage of the many road closures to tour the parkways in and around Ottawa this weekend. The Gatineau Parkway, the Champlain Parkway, and the Fortune Lake Parkway in Gatineau Park are closed. Westbound lanes of the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway are closed between Booth and Carling. The Sir George-Etienne Cartier Parkway is closed between the Aviation Parkway and St. Joseph Boulevard. The Queen Elizabeth Driveway is also closed between Laurier and Fifth. So get your helmet or running shoes ready and head out for a car-free cycle or stroll.
If you have been missing the yoga studio and the wealth of online yoga classes just aren’t cutting it anymore, we’ve got some good news: PranaShanti Yoga Centre is hosting Yoga in the Park on Saturday and Sunday morning. Saturday’s class takes place at Fairmont Park and Sunday’s class at Hintonburg Park. Space is limited to 20 yogis and your spot must be reserved ahead of time.
Exercise those thumbs and get your fill of pinball and pierogies this weekend at House of Targ! They reopened last weekend and are offering free play on all their machines for a cover charge of $20 per person, or bring a few friends and play for $10 each. There are several measures in place to keep people safe, including mandatory masks while inside, barriers between machines, sanitization stations, and assigned seating at tables six feet apart. Entry is first-come, first-served and is restricted to 40 people at a time.
Spend Monday relaxing and recharging for the short week ahead. Read a good book, have a picnic with friends, or take a dip at one of our city’s beaches. This weekend is all about doing what makes you feel good, and having Monday to chill out is an added bonus. These COVID times can be trying, so make sure to take some time for a little self-care.
