Well friends, I hope you’ve managed to dig out your winter warm and cozies this week, as we seem to have landed squarely into Ottawa’s coldest season. Since the time change, the evenings are coming more quickly, but there is no lack of things to do around town to keep you busy and entertained. With Remembrance Day on Saturday, the city is a bit more subdued, but we’ve got you covered! This is also a reminder that, with the Sunday afternoon demonstration calling on the Canadian government to support a ceasefire in the Hamas-Israeli conflict, the streets around Parliament Hill and the market will be closed and busy around 2pm.
All Weekend
The Museum of Nature is holding their annual Ikebana exhibit this weekend. Ikebana is the ancient art of Japanese floral design, and there are more than 30 unique and spectacular flower arrangements for the 36th edition of this limited event presented by Ikebana International Ottawa Centennial Chapter. Entrance to the exhibit is included in regular admission.
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Les Grands Ballets Canadiens is bringing the classic ballet Cinderella to the NAC with four shows this weekend. There are still tickets available for shows, which features the NAC Orchestra and world class ballet dancers from around the world.
I’m not going to remind you about a certain gift-giving winter holiday, but we’re getting close enough that the holiday markets have begun. If you are looking for unique housewares, check out the Glebe this weekend. Twenty-six talented ceramic artists, mainly from Ontario and Quebec, will exhibit their works at the 260 Fingers show. The event is free to attend and is running Friday evening and all day Saturday and Sunday at the Glebe Community Centre.
Thursday
A new exhibition opening at Art House Cafe gallery examines the “Women Life Freedom” movement in Iran. The exhibition represents a number of artists who have tried to present their vision of what women’s rights might look like in art. The show will be running for the month of November, but the vernissage is happening Thursday evening from 7-10pm. Grab a coffee or a cocktail and a snack and tour the works in one of Ottawa’s coolest cafés.
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The Ottawa Senators are taking on the Vancouver Canucks Thursday evening at Scotiabank Place. The Sens front office have made lots of headlines lately and not for positive reasons, so let’s hope the boys in red and black can keep it together and maintain their momentum after their thrashing of the Maple Leafs this past Wednesday.
The Ottawa Little Theatre Production of Love From a Stranger wraps this weekend, with the final show on Saturday evening. Based on an Agatha Christie novel, our in-house theatre reviewer wrote: “Complete with impeccable British accents, witty line delivery, and cohesive character dynamics, the cast walked a perfect line between humour, romance, and darkness to deliver an unforgettable evening.” Check out everything our reviewer had to say, here!
Friday
The massively popular local band Pony Girl are playing an album release show for their latest, full-length album, Laff It Off at SAW Centre on Friday 8pm with special guest Luella. The title track from the album is #1 this week on CBC Radio 3’s countdown, so don’t miss the chance to hear their new material! Tickets are $15, and you should get them online ahead of time.
Friday and Saturday evening you can find the best of food and drink at the Crave Wine and Food Festival event at the Shaw Centre. Learn from some of the leading chefs and mixologists in the city on topics ranging from sourdoughs to Negronis, Indian food to fermentation. Tickets are $45 and are still available online.
Friday night the Ottawa 67s are going country at TD Place against the Oshawa Generals. Country Night promises to be a wild one, with $2.50 beers during the first period, a mechanical bull, live country music, and a special meatloaf sandwich that sounds just crazy enough to be delicious. Tickets are still available online, so it’s a great night to support the boys.
Saturday
Saturday is Remembrance Day, so the majority of events around the city are focused on observing the day. There will be extensive road closures and detours around town, so check your plans and routes before leaving home.
The National Remembrance Day Ceremony will take place at the National War Monument on Elgin Street, beginning at 10:30am with the arrival of the dignitaries, veterans, and the Silver Cross Mother. Dress warmly and arrive early if you’d like to be able to see the ceremony on one of the large screens posted around the monument.
Admission is free to the Canadian War Museum on Remembrance Day, and you can also watch their livestream coverage of the light shining through Memorial Hall onto the headstone of the Unknown Soldier at 11am.
Just east of downtown Ottawa, in Beechwood Cemetery, an annual ceremony of Remembrance takes place at the National Military Cemetery, beginning at 10:45am. A children’s choir will perform, and the program will be streamed online as well.
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Obscura Tattoo is hosting an Autumn Art Show and Makers’ Market Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday evening from 7-10pm at their location on Catherine Street you can browse art from local artists of all backgrounds during a catered event with live painting and planned activities. If you’re looking for more of a maker’s market, after brunch on Sunday you can check out 25 makers of art, prints, taxidermy, and more.
Ottawa’s folk music society Spirit of Rasputin’s presents Don Bray & Friends in a program of original songs on Saturday at 8pm at the Westboro Masonic Hall. Don is an Ottawa singer-songwriter and virtuoso guitarist. He’ll be joined by Pat McPhail on bass, Ray Dillard on percussion, and vocalist Libby Hortop. Tickets are $25 at the door.
Sunday
Sunday is a great day to venture to charming Kemptville for their Jack Frost Fair at the Kemptville Farmers’ Market. There will be local farmers, artisans, food vendors, Christmas music, and a photobooth for Instagram selfies to create the holiday spirit a little bit early. Check it out from 12-4pm.
Lightproof Film Collective is presenting an all-day Intro to Regular/Double 8mm Workshop with Muskoka-based filmmaker Sandy McLennan on Sunday at IFCO (Arts Court). Registration fee is $75 and includes materials and admission to an evening screening of McLennan’s work. Regular/double 8mm is a unique celluloid motion picture film format related to but different from both 16mm and super 8. In this one-day workshop, you’ll learn how it differs and why you might want to use it. There are no formal prerequisites, and all filmmakers are welcome. Register to attend on the website.
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