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Weekend Roundup: Quoi faire?

By Amanda Armstrong on November 12, 2020

November’s second summer is coming to an end and by this weekend we will have returned to more seasonal temperatures. While we may have to put on our jackets and scarves before heading outside, there is plenty to enjoy if we do (as well as plenty to do if we don’t)!

All Weekend

SPAO’s Open House has gone virtual this year. Hop online this weekend to tour SPAO and check out Claustrophobia, a collection of photographs by second-year students. There is also a selection of photographs by first-year students and a series of how-to videos created by students of SPAO. 

Art in the Neighbourhood Virtual Gallery Fall Show begins this Saturday, featuring artists from the Ottawa area. Check out their virtual gallery of visual art, pottery, fibre art, jewellery, poetry, and cards. If you like something, you can connect directly with the artist to purchase their work. 

Ottawa Jazz Festival is hosting a fall series of in-person and online shows this weekend. Miguel De Armas Quartet and Lemon Bucket Orkestra will be performing live on Friday, while Roddy Ellias, John Geggie, Michel Delage, Kevin Turcotte, and Tara Davidson perform live on Saturday, followed by Whitehorse.  All shows will be streamed as they are played live, with the exception of Miguel De Armas Quartet’s show, which will be streamed for free on Sunday.

If you would like to explore Gatineau Park, but are not fond of the frenetic activity on the trails during Fall Rhapsody, now is your perfect opportunity. While the leaves may not be ablaze in their triumphant fall colours, the Park is still a beautiful place to enjoy the outdoors before the cold of winter sets in. 

The Alexandra Bridge is an iconic piece of design that features in many a sunset photo looking out across the Ottawa River and, after 120 years, it is soon to be replaced. If you are fond of this beautiful bridge, take some time this weekend to share your thoughts on the replacement and commemoration of this local landmark. Although the replacement of the bridge is still years away, you can voice your opinions in the NCC’s online public consultation of the Alexandra Bridge Replacement Project, wrapping up early next week. 

If you have tired of binge-watching Netflix and are looking for something a little different, the European Union Film Festival kicks off this weekend with five great films. The first of 27 films are from Germany, Greece, Italy, Belgium, and Lithuania. At 50$ for a five-film pass, the price of viewing these films is more than a Netflix subscription, but we can assure you, it is well worth the cost.

Thursday

The November Outdoor Night Market is being held this Thursday afternoon at the Kemptville Campus. There will be several local vendors at this free event, such as Boards and Bows, Cedar Run Farm, BOWlicious Saffron & Sahara’s Closet, Sloan’s Honey & Honey Products, and Smith & Sayer Natural Cleaners. There will also be live music. To save yourself some time when you arrive, as your information will be taken in case of necessary contact tracing, you can register ahead of time online. 

Friday

Diwali, the Indian Festival of Lights, takes place on Saturday and, to help us celebrate, the Canadian Association for Students from India is hosting an online Diwali Fiesta this Friday. Register ahead of time and they will deliver you some Diwali sweets and treats to help you make the virtual celebrations that much more special.

Tonight is the Versefest 2020 Invitational Slam featuring local and national award-wining spoken word artists doing what they do best! This year’s lineup includes Dimorphic, Jayde, Kamal Hakim, Larissa Tarasoff, Namitha Rathinappilla, Natalie Hanna, Shawn K, and Switch Bridges.

Saturday

Take a drive out to the beautiful town of Merrickville this Saturday for their Handmade Christmas Makers Market. Follow the map and take a stroll down St. Lawrence Street, stopping into shops along the way to check out the incredible vendors. Food and cash donations are being collected for the Merrickville Food Cupboard, so be sure to bring along a few spare canned goods for a good cause. 

Mike Tremblay and Mark Ferguson will be playing an online concert on Gigspace this Saturday night. This saxophone and piano duo will be performing their tried and true favourites, alongside songs from their most recent album, Appleface. Tickets, which are $10 each, can be reserved online.

Get dressed up nice this Saturday night and enjoy the NAC Orchestra live from your living room. The concert, which takes place in five parts, peaks with Curiosity, Genius, and the Search for Petula Clark. With two solo pieces by a pair of this year’s “30 under 30” artists, as well as Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Ballade of Orchestra and Mozart’s Symphony No. 41, this is sure to be an incredible performance.

Now that restrictions have eased up a little and indoor dining at restaurants is once again a possibility, why not celebrate with dinner and live music? Jamieson & Friends will be performing live at Irene’s Pub this Saturday. In order to keep things safe, spacing is limited, so be sure to arrive early for your best chance at snagging a seat.

Sunday

Now that we’ve made it past Halloween, it is time to start getting ready for Christmas. This Sunday, get a head start on your holiday shopping with a trifecta of holiday markets. For the first time in over forty years, the Glebe Craft & Artisan Fair has moved online. You can browse through their catalogue of over 50 local artisans here. There are also two in-person markets taking place this Sunday: The Original Navan Market’s All Things Holiday and the Stittsville Holiday Market at the Barn. With a wealth of great vendors, whether you check out one, two, or even all three markets, you are sure to find some great gifts for your friends, family, and loved ones.

 

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While yesterday was not our final market of the season – we have one more coming up Nov 15th. This was the last one of our regular season. While Dan and I were talking last night about how we thought it went for the vendors and the community. I reflected on the conversations we had with vendors and guests over the past season and it gave me all the feels. See, one year ago we bought this little market with the hopes of continuing to build a community; of facilitating relationships between grower and produce and customer. Then a global pandemic happened and there were times we didn’t know if we could open, what it would be like or if people would even come out. But we did open, we got some amazing farmers and vendors, and people came out to support them. In the early days, after being shut in for over 2 months, people shared how happy they were that they could get out and have somewhere to go; and we felt the same! They loved getting fresh veggies and homemade goods every week. As the season went on, we saw more new faces and more and more of the same faces every week; getting their usual, but also trying something new. We heard how the market gave people a place to go, to connect, and to have face-to-face conversations (albeit it 6 feet apart – lol) in a time when those opportunities are limited. We heard how being a vendor has given opportunities to realize a dream. How the market was so important for their mental health as they got to see people in real life and share their passion with the community. People shared about how important it is to know where their food comes from and how critical it is to shop and support local. The community came out yesterday and it was a beautiful thing to be a part of. Even with the directional signage and all the mask covered faces, the energy was a beautiful one and how grateful are we to have been able to be a part of that; to be a part of our little community. As we watched the community come out and support our local vendors once again, as we chatted with many of them, and as we said see you later to some of our vendors, it became apparent that we may have just reached our goal – of building community and connections.

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Irene’s Pub will play host to yet another musical performance on Sunday. Beats’n Keys with Jeff Rogers and Jamie Holmes will be both performing live and streamed online. Options to check out this show are aplenty; order a meal and tune into the Zoom concert for free, purchase tickets to the Zoom concert online, or enjoy a meal and a show on the patio or indoors, if seating is available.