OttawaStart's Weekly Event Round-Up: July 30-August 1

_ Our crowdsourced list of the best events in Ottawa this week. You can find even more events on our Ottawa Event Calendar . _

** Related: ** What’s open & closed on Colonel By Day… ** Thursday-Sunday, July 30-August 2: Cracking Up The Capital ** Since inception, CUTC has raised over $160 000 in support of local mental health services. The organizing committee and its dedicated partners have worked endless hours to raise significant awareness to de-stigmatize mental illness in Ottawa and we look forward to grow our reach. A fantastic line-up of talented and cheery comedians. ** Thursday-Monday, July 30-August 3: Bytown Days 2015 ** Come celebrate the creation of the Rideau Canal UNESCO World Heritage Site and Bytown, now Ottawa, Canada’s Capital! In honour of 400 years of Francophone presence in Ontario, the celebrations will feature Voyages 400! programming highlighting the shared traditions of Francophone and Aboriginal cultures in the region. Enjoy ‘edu-taining’ experiences by the scenic Ottawa Entrance Locks just east of Parliament Hill. ** Friday-Sunday, July 31-August 2: Swimmable Water Weekend ** Stay cool and celebrate Ottawa’s rivers with a trip to the beach. The Ottawa Riverkeeper and Waterkeeper Alliance are encouraging people to experience and share the joys of clean, #SwimmableWater this weekend–an invitation to go jump in the lake! Check for water quality updates before you go. _ – Denise Deby , Green Living Ottawa _ ** Friday-Sunday, July 31-August 2: Marcel Universe LIVE ** Marvel fans, assemble! Marvel Universe LIVE! is taking the live entertainment experience to a whole new level, with a mind-blowing show unlike anything you’ve seen before. Watch your favorite Marvel Super Heroes including Spider-Man and The Avengers (Iron Man, Black Widow, Hulk and more) and threatening villains come to life in an action-packed arena extravaganza, coming to Ottawa. You’ll definitely feel the energy with cutting-edge special effects, pyrotechnics, aerial stunts, martial arts, motorcycles and more. It’s being hailed as the most technically advanced live show ever. Join Marvel fans of all ages for this once-in-a-lifetime, monumental performance. The fate of the universe depends on it! _ – Sara-Lynne Levine, Macaroni Kid Ottawa _ ** Friday-Monday, July 31-August 3: Ottawa International Busker Festival ** Shows for the whole family including jugglers,escape artists, acrobats, fire eaters, and more! The Ottawa International Busker Festival on Sparks Street is a “Street Performer” Extravaganza attracting world class entertainment from around the globe. Each year, crowds of over 225,000 come to experience one of Canada’s Oldest & Biggest Busker Festivals. Daily showtimes from 11am-11pm. ** Friday, July 31: Salad Days: A Decade of Punk in Washington, DC ** For those of you who enjoy punk music and its scene, starting this Friday, July 31 at the Mayfair Theatre, there will be screenings of “Salad Days: A Decade of Punk in Washington, DC (1980-90)”, a documentary film directed by Scott Crawford, that examines the early DIY punk scene in the American capital. _ – Eliane Laberge, Eventful Capital _ ** Friday, July 31: Dr. Strangelove Outdoor Screening ** In partnership with the Centretown Movies Outdoor Film Festival, the Diefenbunker is presenting a special screening of ‘Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb’. The theatre floor is a grass field so regulars usually bring something more comfortable to sit on. The park is wheelchair accessible, it has a great playground for children and lots of room for all your friends. ** Friday, July 31: Double Barrel featuring The Gaff ** This Friday night, DJ Magnificent brings you the monthly edition of Double Barrel with returning special guest The Gaff. The Saskatoon-based DJ, who graced the Double Barrel decks back in April last year, will be making his return to the popular Ottawa party with an all-45s set featuring the best in funk, soul, Motown, and vintage reggae. Needless to say this is sure to be another great Double Barrel dance party. _ – Eliane Laberge, Eventful Capital _ ** Saturday, August 1: Street Eats ** Food trucks, beer, live music and outdoor lounging? Sounds pretty perfect right? This Saturday afternoon, you can do just that at Street Eats. Sit out looking onto the runway of the Canada Aviation and Space Museum while you listen to The Lionyls taking pictures in our Ottawa Flashpoint Photobooth and even take part in a beer and food tasting competition. All proceeds from the event are going to Algonquin College’s Food and Beverage department. _ – Eliane Laberge, Eventful Capital _ ** Saturday, Aug 1: DJ Dance Party Fundraiser ** How could you not want to go dancing at Hintonburg Public House for a good cause? The party is to raise funds for Railbender Studio co-owner who has been diagnosed with cancer. This will help cover costs not covered by OHIP and living expenses. Go and dance your heart away and help loveRailbender. _ – Laura Gauthier _ ** Sunday, August 2: The Art of the Jazz Piano Trio ** There is a special Jazz Concert Series coming soon, from Bells Corners Academy of Music in honour of the Nepean Creative Arts Centre’s 25th Anniversary. All concerts are free of charge. Come out and support NCAC while enjoying performances from talented musicians. ** Monday, August 3: Crush Improv’s ‘Bout Time ** ‘Bout Time! happens the first Monday of every month. The show is hosted by Crush Improv and features different local improvisers each month. A staple of the Ottawa improv scene since 2010, ‘Bout Time! is popular with audiences and performers alike; and is a unique combination of short and long form improvisation. At the Heart & Crown in the Byward Market. ** Wednesday, August 5: GRIMprov: Theatrical Improv Comedy Show ** GRIMprov is a four member improvisational comedic troupe that have performed shows across Ottawa at a variety of venues. These four amigos make up the dark and humorous mantel of GRIMprov. Each show they present a newly developed experimental form which ranges from mixing improv with popular culture, movies, games, theatrical techniques, to tweaking genres and techniques to revolutionize the medium. ** _ Upcoming… _ ** ** Saturday, August 15: Ottawa Fury FC vs Minnesota United FC ** See the Ottawa Fury FC take on the Minnesota United FC Saturday, August 15 at 7 p.m. at TD Place. Tickets start at just $17 for adults and youth 12 and under. OttawaFuryFC.com _ (Sponsored) _ ** September 12-13: ** ** 20th Annual Fibrefest Festival ** The two-day festival of textiles and fibre arts will feature 90 vendors, demonstrations, exhibitations, a lamb race, fabric flee market, Alpaca sort-a-thon and tea room. Admission $5. Daily. Whether you are interested in art, history, clothing, or textiles or are just looking for a great day out and about, Fibrefest will have something for you. _ (Sponsored) _ _ ** Continuing… ** _ ** Until August 21: Changing of the Guard on Parliament Hill ** See a Canadian tradition at its most colourful! The Ceremonial Guard brings stirring military drills and music to Parliament Hill. Come at 9:45 a.m. to learn more about the ceremony. For more information visit theCeremonial Guard. 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM daily. _ – Sara-Lynne Levine, Macaroni Kid Ottawa _ ** Until August 22: Children’s Activities at Rideau Hall ** The grounds of Rideau Hall are open daily from 8 a.m. to one hour before sunset. Special activities include: “Storytime at Rideau Hall,” in collaboration with Frontier College. Fridays and Saturdays, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., from June 28 to August 23; Learn about heraldry by designing your very own coat of arms. Daily, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.; Stroll the grounds, bring a picnic and enjoy the children’s play structure; Watch the Relief of the Sentries of the Ceremonial Guard. Daily, every hour on the hour, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., June 25 to August 22. _ – Sara-Lynne Levine, Macaroni Kid Ottawa _ ** Until September 7: Alex Colville. A Canadian Icon ** At the National Gallery of Canada, _ Alex Colville _ offers a fresh perspective on Colville’s work, as he is considered to be one of Canada’s most celebrated artists. Featuring nearly a hundred paintings along with various student works and prints, this exhibition explores the breadth of Colville’s practice. _ (Sponsored) _ ** Until September 13: ** ** Chagall: Daphnis & Chloé ** Enter into a captivating love story between a goatherd and shepherdess. This tale titled _ Daphnis & Chloé _ is narrated visually through a set of colour lithographs by Marc Chagall.  These illustrations highlight Chagall’s unique style, setting him apart from the main 20th-century pictorial currents followed by some of his contemporaries. At the National Gallery. _ (Sponsored) _ ** Until December 31: Mary Pratt: This Little Painting ** What’s the story behind Red Currant Jelly (1972), which the artist Mary Pratt affectionately calls “this little painting”? See how Pratt developed her technique, which today stands as a defining example of painterly realism in Canada, a style strongly associated with the country’s Atlantic provinces. _ (Sponsored) _ _ For more events, check out ottawastart.com/events/ … or add your event via ottawastart.com/start/ _