16 January 2014 / #weekly OttawaStart's Weekly Event Round-Up: January 16-22, 2014Here are our contributors' picks for the best events in Ottawa this week…**** ** Thursday, January 16: Book launch of _ Toxin Toxout _ **Bruce Lourie and Rick Smith offer up suggestions on how to avoid the thousands of harmful synthetic chemicals found in soaps, cosmetics and other household products—they’ve even tested some detox methods on themselves. Learn more at the launch of _ Toxin Toxout: Getting Harmful Chemicals Out of Our Bodies and Our World _ , happening at 5:30 p.m. at Social Restaurant + Lounge._Denise Deby _ , Green Living Ottawa**** ** Thursday, January 16: A B Series presents Shane Rhodes, Ottawa Art Gallery **Rhodes will launch his fifth book, X, which was inspired by Canada’s post-Confederation treaties. There will also be videopoems & great art in the background. free event! 8pm._Amanda Earl _ , Bywords**** ** Friday, January 17: Ebird and Citizen Science Online Tools workshop **You can learn how to help scientists track populations of birds, insects and wildlife at Nature Canada’s workshop on online tools that anyone can use. The event includes an interactive presentation and an outdoor walk in the Britannia area. 2:30 p.m. (great if you have kids home for the PD Day)._Denise Deby _ , Green Living Ottawa** Friday, January 17: Book launch of _ Islands of Decolonial Love _ and _ Wild Rice Dreams _ **Join authors Leanne Simpson, Vera Wabegijig and Waubgeshig Rice for an evening about the lives, struggles and perspectives of Indigenous peoples. Simpson’s _ Islands of Decolonial Love _ consists of compelling short stories about Indigenous communities, while Wabegijig’s poetry in _ Wild Rice Dreams _ presents the complexities of urban Aboriginal life. Rice, author of _ Midnight Sweatlodge _ , will read from his forthcoming novel _ Legacy _ . Sure to be an evening that’s thought-provoking and rich with meaning. Hosted by Octopus Books, 7-9 p.m._Denise Deby _ , Green Living Ottawa** Friday, January 17: Creep Like Thieves and Twisted Planet Live at Pressed Cafe ** If you’re into indie rock and looking for a more intimate musical experience, head over to Pressed Cafe this Friday night to take in live music by blues rock band Creep Like Thieves and alternative rock trio Twisted Planet. Why not take in something new that you’re unfamiliar with?_ – Eliane Laberge, Eventful Capital _**** ** Saturday, January 18: trekan with Roddy Ellias, Petr Cancura, and Andrew Downing at GigSpace **Ottawa, Brooklyn, Toronto. Three jazz musicians from three cities - and with a strong friendship - present their first concert together on Saturday. They’ll play melodic chamber jazz, with touches that reflect their different musical interests: maybe even a touch of bluegrass or Turkish music. The band’s name “trekan” is derived from the Norwegian word for triangle, reflecting the equal importance of each musician in this trio._Alayne McGregor , OttawaJazzScene.ca _**** ** Saturday, January 18: The 10th Annual Comedy Night for Parkinson’s **Featuring: Jeff Elliott, Derek Seguin, Pete Zedlacher. Procceds to Parkinson Society of Eastern Ontario to provide urgently needed supports and services to patients and their care partners._Eugene Haslam _**** ** Saturday, January 18: Rational Youth + Riishi Von Rex @ Zaphod’s **Canada’s electro-pop pioneers, Tracy Howe and Kevin Komoda, have assembled the band for these rare shows in Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto, before heading across the Atlantic to Sweden, where they have an enthusiastic and loyal following._Eugene Haslam _** Saturday, January 18: Black Sheep Winter Warm Up ** Over in Wakefield this Saturday, DJ Acro and DJ Shub from A Tribe Called Red will be heating up the Black Sheep Inn with guest DJs Gary Franks, Adam Saikaley and Matt Tamblyn. If you have the chance to get out there and dance up a storm, go! You won’t regret it._ – Eliane Laberge, Eventful Capital _**** ** Sunday, January 19: The Rural Alberta Advantage **These guys are great and they’re rolling into Ritual on Sunday night. If you don’t know them, have a listen and I think you’ll be convinced. http://youtu.be/uarg-PdGRUI_Ryan Bresee , CKCU’s Whatever’s Cool With Me _ **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!