20 February 2014 / #weekly OttawaStart's Weekly Event Round-Up: February 20-26, 2014“Snowy Owl between the lines” / Photo by Arne Berg, from the OttawaStart Flickr Group.Here are our contributors' picks for the best events in Ottawa this week.**** ** Thursday, February 20: Wild and Scenic Film Festival **Catch some compelling short films, enjoy refreshments (Mill St. beer! Sugarbush Vineyards wine! Bridgehead coffee!) and support Ottawa Riverkeeper’s work to protect the Ottawa River. On the big screen: a stand-up paddle trip through the Great Bear Rainforest, a search for “the perfect waterfall,” an exploration of the Ottawa River (with cameo by Riverkeeper Meredith Brown) and more. 6-10 p.m. at Library and Archives Canada._Denise Deby , Green Living Ottawa _**** ** Thursday-Friday, February 20-21: Fougue - A Contemporary Dance Performance **If you’re a fan of contemporary dance, be sure to head over to the Salle Jean-Despréz at the Gatineau City Hall to take in a live performance called Fougue presented by Dorsale Danse. Featuring choreographies by Sylvie Desrosiers and Yvonne Coutts, the performance will take place on Thursday, February 20 and Friday, February 21._ – Eliane Laberge, Eventful Capital _**** ** Thursday to Saturday, February 20-22: Denzal Sinclaire Sings the Nat King Cole Songbook and more at NAC Southam Hall **Nat King Cole was an influential jazz singer and pianist in so many ways: an original in his soft, intimate singing style, and the first black entertainer to host his own TV show. For decades, he made songs hits and they stayed classics. Canadian jazz vocalist Denzal Sinclaire has always loved Cole’s music, and this week he’ll be presenting his tribute to and interpretations of it in front of the NAC Orchestra. Sinclaire will sing both instantly recognizable hits and lesser known gems from Cole, and will also add other favourite songs, which ranges from jazz standards to Genesis._Alayne McGregor , OttawaJazzScene.ca _**** ** Friday, February 21: At Dusk For Dawn **8pm-1am at the Nepean Sportsplex. Benefit night for Dawn Lavarnway, a pediatric nurse at CHEO. She suffers Chronic Lyme Disease, for which she requires specialist treatment in New York State. Friends want to help her medical and travelling costs. Carol Anne Meehan and I are emceeing; the Maria Hawkins band is performing. Tickets are $25. FB, Eventbrite, or atduskfordawn@gmail.com_Max Keeping _**** ** Saturday, February 22: Art Battle 99 ** Ottawa Lovers of acrylic painting won’t want to miss Art Battle 99 taking place this Saturday, February 22 at the Arts Court. Now in its 5th season, this unique concept organized across Canadian cities, brings 12 local painters together for a live painting competition. The winner will earn a cash prize and a spot in the Ottawa Championship in June 2014. The winner of the Ottawa Final will compete in the 2014 National Championship._ – Eliane Laberge, Eventful Capital _**** ** Saturday, February 22 - Girls Learning Code: Intro to HTML & CSS for Teens at Canvas Pop **Enjoy the opportunity to learn how to use creativity to build an online web presence! Girls will learn HTML and CSS basics by hacking pre-existing text, links, images, and videos on various templates, and then use their skills to create their very own fun business website from scratch (think ice-cream store, pet store, or any other fun real-world workplace!). Fundamental concepts of code, such as divs, classes and ids will enforce organization and prepare the girls to continue creating - at home and at school. Scholarships are also available for those who would not otherwise be able to attend. For girls ages 13-17._ – Sara-Lynne Levine, Macaroni Kid Ottawa _** Saturday, February 22: Spotlight On… with special guest Katherine Hobbs **The Crush Improv cast will perform improvised scenes based on storytelling by Kitchissippi City Councillor Katherine Hobbs. Katherine is a very funny storyteller so this will be a great show. I’ll be playing piano._Glen Gower , OttawaStart.com _ **** ** Sunday, February 23: National Aviation Day **Enjoy spending a day at the Aviation and Space Museum celebrating National Aviation Day with a an assortment of aviation related activities for the whole family. These include a a photo-op inside a replica of Canada’s first manned flight aircraft, the Silver Dart, storytelling, crafts and even an ejection seat demonstration._Andrew King _**** ** Sunday, February 23: Healthy Living & Cooking Show: SPICE IT UP!** A great event to show you how to prepare delicious gluten free, vegan and healthy gourmet recipes for you and guests to enjoy!_Laura Gauthier _** Sunday, February 23: Travel to Tanzania & Kilimanjaro - a presentation** Come see pictures related to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and going on safari in Tanzania and hear all the stories from someone who just got back!_Laura Gauthier _**** ** Monday, February 24: Gala Screening of Girl Rising in support of CARE Canada **CARE Canada and I Am Powerful Ottawa will be hosting a gala screening of Girl Rising, a powerful, innovative documentary that tells the extraordinary stories of amazing girls and their strength of spirit. This groundbreaking film delivers an unforgettable message of hope: Educate Girls and Change the World._Laura Gauthier _**** ** Tuesday, February 25: Tree Reading Series **t Club Saw, 67 Nicholas Street. Workshop - 6:45pm: Jenna Tenn-Yuk: Bringing the complexities of Identity into your poetry; Features & Open mic: Jon Paul Fiorentino + Steven Heighton - 8pm. a great evening of poetry, starting with a free workshop with a talented spoken word artist, followed by two renowned poets & an open mic._Amanda Earl _**** ** Wednesday, February 26: Lunchtime Roundtable on Feeling Safe in Public Space **Help make our city a safer one by participating in this discussion, based on research by Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre and City for All Women Initiative on what makes women and girls feel unsafe in Ottawa neighbourhoods. Noon-1 p.m. at 25One Community (251 Bank St., 2nd floor)._Denise Deby , Green Living Ottawa _**_ Have a great week! _ **** See also: ** Ottawa Events GuideIf you liked this post, you should ** subscribe to etcetera , ** our free email newsletter. Featuring cool Ottawa events, interesting local news and contests and giveaways. Thanks!