25 April 2013 / #weekly OttawaStart's Weekly Event Round-Up: April 25-May 1, 2013[  ](http://www.flickr.com/photos/luciana_nechita/8670922095/) Ode to Spring. The first flowers at Commissioner's Park. Photo by [ Luciana Nechita ](http://www.flickr.com/photos/luciana_nechita/8670922095/in/pool-ottawastart) from the [ OttawaStart Flickr Group ](http://www.flickr.com/groups/ottawastart/pool/with/8670922095/#photo_8670922095) ._ Here are our contributors' picks for the best events in Ottawa this week. You can find more local events __ on the OttawaStart Events Guide . _** Thursday-Tuesday, April 25-30: [ Ottawa International Writers Festival Spring Edition ](http://www.writersfestival.org/) ** [ ](http://www.writersfestival.org/) Once again the city will be alight with poets, novelists, short story writers, mystery writers, foodies, rappers, radio hosts, historians, comic book creators, scientists & rabbis at this amazing festival. This is a great opportunity to meet your favourite authors, buy their books & hear them read. Pick up your passes and tickets on the [ web site ](http://www.blogger.com/writersfestival.org) or at Ottawa Festivals, Book on Beechwood, Perfect Books and Octopus Books. _ -- [ Amanda Earl ](http://amandaearl.blogspot.com/) _ ** ** ** Thursday, April 25 and Sunday, April 28: [ Nature Night and Nature Hike with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society ](http://cpaws-ov-vo.org/) ** [ ](http://cpaws-ov-vo.org/) Did you know that Ottawa is home to the Lac Deschênes Important Bird Area? I didn't. The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society’s Ottawa Valley chapter is introducing people to this special area along the Ottawa River at its Nature Night talk with Nature Canada on Thursday, April 25 at 7 p.m. at MEC. If you’d like to take a walk to experience the real thing, head for the monthly “Get Outside” Hike on Sunday, April 28, 2013 at 10 a.m., which will take you through the awesome Mud Lake and the Lac Deschênes area. _ -- [ Denise Deby ](https://twitter.com/#!/denisedeby) _ ** ** ** Friday, April 26: [ Jeff Johnston Trio at GigSpace ](http://ottawajazzscene.ca/upcoming-shows/6766-jeff-johnston-trio-at-gigspace) ** Pianist Jeff Johnston is a stalwart of Montreal's jazz scene, a jam session coordinator during the Montreal Jazz Festival for more than a decade. He is going back to his roots -- in his case the 70s/80s European jazz that he listened to as a teenager in Newfoundland -- in his new album, "Returning". You can hear him present the lyrical and meditative music from the album, plus older pieces, at a concert Friday, together with his regular Montreal trio: Fraser Hollins and Richard Irwin. _ -- [ Alayne McGregor ](http://ottawajazzscene.ca/) _ ** ** ** Friday, April 26: [ SWARM ](http://www.ottawastart.com/story/19530.php) ** This Friday night, April 26, art enthusiasts will want to check out Swarm, a gallery crawl across the National Capital which presents 145 artists and 15 exhibitions. Organized by the National Arts Centre, the free event includes a fashion show and music performances at the NAC and will conclude with an after-party at Club SAW. _ -- [ Eliane Laberge ](http://eventfulcapital.wordpress.com/) _ ** ** ** Friday, April 26: [ SWARM ](http://www.ottawastart.com/story/19530.php) ** Here's the NAC Northern Scene's description: "gallery-crawl • visual arts • fashion • music • party". How could you not want to go? :) _ -- [ Laura Gauthier ](http://twitter.com/311Laura) _ ** ** ** Friday, April 26: [ Double Barrel ](http://www.facebook.com/groups/DoubleBarrel/?ref=ts&fref=ts) ** Dj Magnificent , one of Ottawa's Funkiest DJ's, is bringing you his monthly event this Friday at Mugshots, locacated at the old Jail hostel! This is a fun event for anyone who enjoys good music and dancing! _ -- [ Sami Elkout ](http://twitter.com/OttawaFlavor) _ ** Saturday, April 27: [ Festival of the Maples ](http://www.maplefest.com/) ** All roads lead to Perth, 50 minutes west of Ottawa, for the 37th Festival of the Maples. 9am-4pm, the downtown main streets are alive with entertainment, over 100 craft & artisan vendors, food, maple products and taffy sales, displays of syrup production. It's a terrific family outing. Perth -pop 8,000- often swells to 25,000 people on the day. I officially open it at 10:30, after a maple inspired breakfast that starts at 8am. _ -- [ Max Keeping ](https://twitter.com/#!/max_keeping) _ ** ** ** April 27: E-Waste Recycling Fundraiser ** April is Earth month and what better way to contribute to the health of the planet and clear up some closet space than to recycle some of your old. unwanted electronics. Immaculata High School, located at 140 MainSt., will be doing an e-waste recycling fundraiser this Saturday. Organizers will take take your old monitors, computers, cell phones, answering machines, printers, cameras, and other electronics, and donate it to the Ontario Electronic Stewardship. A complete list of acceptable items can be found here: [ http://www.ontarioelectronicstewardship.ca/program/accepted-electronics ](http://www.ontarioelectronicstewardship.ca/program/accepted-electronics) _ -- [ Ruvini Godakandae ](https://twitter.com/Ruvini_G) _ ** ** ** Saturday, April 27: [ Barley’s Angels @ Cassel Brewery ](http://www.eventbrite.ca/event/6241653955) ** [ ](http://www.eventbrite.ca/event/6241653955) Join Ottawa’s women-only beer group, Barley’s Angels, at Cassel Brewery to celebrate the release of the new seasonal – Maple Rye. Co-owner Benjamin Bercier will be on site to hand out samples and explain how a nanobrewery differs from a brewery. Ticket price includes light snacks, beer samples and goodie bag that includes a bottle of this Railroad Special. _ -- [ Katy Watts ](https://twitter.com/klwatts) , [ blogger ](http://www.shelteredgirlmeetsworld.com/) _ ** ** ** Saturday, April 27: [ KoboTown Album Release Show ](https://www.facebook.com/events/435597649860344/) ** If you’re into calypso and roots reggae, I encourage you to head over to Ritual this Saturday, April 27 for the KoboTown Album Release Show presented by World Famous Music. Toronto-based group Kobo Town, who’ll be launching their new album _ Jumbie in the Jukebox, _ will be performing live in Ottawa to promote their latest studio effort. _ -- [ Eliane Laberge ](http://eventfulcapital.wordpress.com/) _ ** ** ** Saturday, April 27: [ Adventures in Canada's North ](http://nac-cna.ca/en/orchestra/event/2399?utm_source=macaronikid&utm_medium=button&utm_campaign=familyadventurescanadasnorth_macaronikid_button) ** Susan Aglukark will share the stage with some of the North’s most dynamic artists. Evie Mark, Akinisie Sivuarapik and the terrific duo of Kulavak bring their extraordinary energy and skill to the traditional Inuit art of throat singing, the Dakhká Khwáan Dancers bring stories to life through drumming and dancing, and accordion master Simeonie Keenainak will get your toes tapping. At the National Arts Centre ** ** _ -- [ Sara-Lynne Levine ](http://www.ottawacapitalregion.macaronikid.com/) _ ** ** ** Saturday, April 27: [ Lee Harvey Osmond ](http://latentrecordings.com/leeharveyosmond/) ** [ ](http://latentrecordings.com/leeharveyosmond/) There will be a great show at The Black Sheep Inn on Saturday as Lee Harvey Osmond rolls in. This is the latest project of Tom Wilson who you might know from Junkhouse or Blackie & the Rodeo Kings. The new album is great and features the talents of a boatload of Canadian musicians. Check this one with Hawksley Workman on vocals. So good! [ http://youtu.be/HZU5IAXsiZk ](http://youtu.be/HZU5IAXsiZk) _ -- [ Ryan Bresee ](http://www.twitter.com/coolckcu) _ ** ** ** Saturday, April 27: [ Passport to Paris ](http://www.marcellebenidicte.com/) ** Fashion show Saturday 8:30pm at Saint Brigid’s Centre for the Arts, 310 St. Patrick Street. Food, entertainment complement the fashions. Admission fee: your discretion. Funds go to Solidarite Jeunesse, a Cdn-based missionary agency operating in the Third World. _ -- [ Max Keeping ](https://twitter.com/#!/max_keeping) _ ** ** ** Saturday-Sunday, April 27-28: [ Living Green Expo ](http://www.ottawastart.com/story/19615.php) ** The organizers of the Ottawa EcoFair and ECO Expo have gotten together with the Ottawa Convention Centre to host the Living Green Expo this weekend. More than 125 exhibitors will be showing their products and services. There is also a large number of presentations on various topics planned over the two days of the event and even Eco-Fashion Shows featuring eco-friendly and fair trade clothing as a way of showcasing the work of local designers, promoting local boutiques and shedding light on the fact that fashion can be ethically sound. Admission is by donation, with the proceeds being donated to Ecology Ottawa and the local chapter of Canadian Organic Growers. ** ** _ -- [ Gordon Dewis ](http://gordon.dewis.ca/) _ ** Saturday, April 27: [ ICANBBOY Presents: Keep on Rockin Vol 2! ](http://www.facebook.com/events/162079260607982/?fref=ts) ** [ ](http://www.facebook.com/events/162079260607982/?fref=ts) ICANBBOY is throwing a 3 vs 3 Breakdancing event with some of the best crews from Ottawa, Toronto, and Montreal competeing for the top prize. This is going to be a great competition with some high energy dancers and great music! This family event is being held at McNabb Community center. _ -- [ Sami Elkout ](http://twitter.com/OttawaFlavor) _ ** ** ** Saturday April 27: [ Flavor Factory / Fall Down Gallery 2 year anniversary party ](http://www.facebook.com/events/166785540147070/?fref=ts) ** Come celebrate 2 years of two great art based business in Ottawa. The Flavor Factory and Fall down Gallery are celebrating their anniversary together! This event is going to be filled with a great art show, awesome music, and of course dancing! This is also the unnoffical after party for the ICANBBOY battle! ** ** _ -- [ Sami Elkout ](http://twitter.com/OttawaFlavor) _ ** ** ** Sunday, April 28: [ Ottawa Vintage Clothing Show ](http://ottawavintageclothingshow.ca/) ** If you love vintage fashion, check out the Ottawa Vintage Clothing Show this Sunday, April 28 from 10am to 5pm at the Ottawa Convention Centre. The show will include everything and anything from a wide price range to ensure that you find that rare one-of-a-kind piece to complement your closet. ** ** _ -- [ Eliane Laberge ](http://eventfulcapital.wordpress.com/) _ ** ** ** Have a great week! ** ** See also: ** [ Ottawa Events Guide ](http://ottawastart.com/events) If you liked this post, you should ** [ subscribe to etcetera ](http://eepurl.com/oSmyr) , ** our free email newsletter. 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