30 January 2014 / #weekly OttawaStart's Weekly Event Round-Up: January 30-February 5, 2014_ Winterlude 2014. Photo by Luciana Nechita _Here are our contributors' picks for the best events in Ottawa this week.** Friday-Sunday, January 31-February 2: First Weekend of Winterlude ** Ottawa’s annual celebration of cold and snow begins this weekend. The big kick-off event is the “Great Winter Ball” and it happens at Confederation Park on Friday night and includes fireworks, ice carving and dj’s. There are dozens more events at the official Winterlude sites and at other venues across Ottawa.** Thursday, January 30: John Wort Hannam **You might not have heard of this musician from out west, but you should start paying attention if you’re a fan of rootsy folk. He’s playing Thursday at the BlackSheep Inn. Check out a tune here: http://youtu.be/kIwB1aLXPFQ _Ryan Bresee , CKCU’s Whatever’s Cool With Me _**** ** Thursday, January 30: Dave Currie & JM Francheteau, In/Words Reading Series **9pm at the Clocktower Pub, 575 Bank St., Downstairs. This is Ottawa’s most fun reading series & with mischievous & entertaining former host Dave Currie as the feature & talented poet JM Francheteau adding to the hijinx, it’s going to be a great night. i won’t say that our feature once stripped to his briefs at one of these readings…but i won’t deny it either. the open mic is usually packed with zany & fun participants as well. come out & see for yourself. & if you’re after a pint, the Clocktower’s got those too._Amanda Earl , Bywords _**** ** Thursday, January 30: Up & Up Concert Series Presents Rommel Ribeiro **The Up & Up Concert Series invites you to experience Brazilian singer-songwriter Rommel Ribeiro live in concert at the Mercury Lounge this Thursday. The talented local artist will perform a tropical mash-up of Afro-Brazilian grooves, samba-reggae and original samba-funk. He’ll be joined by Montreal Pianist Paulo Bottas for the occasion._ – Eliane Laberge, Eventful Capital _**** ** Friday, January 31 and Saturday, February 1: Gatineau Beer Fest (Festibière) **The Gatineau Beer Fest (Festibiere d’hiver) is being held this weekend at the Canadian Museum of History. Happening on Friday, January 31 and Saturday, February 1, this beer-lovers festival will feature a variety of artisanal beers made by breweries from around the country. Food will be available for purchase and entertainment is also on the program._ – Eliane Laberge, Eventful Capital _**** ** Saturday, February 1: Supernova Showdown ** Get up close and personal with these spectacular star explosions and bring them to life with a take-home craft. These hands-on family workshops feature take-home crafts. Each workshop offers new discovery activities to encourage children’s exploration of the world of astronomy. 10:00am at the Canada Museum of Science and Technology._ – Sara-Lynne Levine, Macaroni Kid Ottawa _****** Saturday, Feb 1 **** : Lucky Ron Anniversary Show **It’s not just another Saturday at the Ole Chateau Lafayette . Every year, on February 1st, they honor Lucky Ron and celebrate the day he first stepped on stage. He has been performing his solo show in Ottawa for 28 years and he is still going strong._Laura Gauthier _**** ** Saturday, February 1: 1001 Nights - Dance to the Tales of Arabia ** The organizers who brought you Latin Sparks are back with a new concept. This Saturday February 1, the International presents 1001 Nights: Dance to the tales of Arabia at the Canadian War Museum. This Middle-Eastern inspired event will feature fortune-telling, henna, magicians, Middle Eastern treats, belly dancing performances, and Dabkeh dancing among other things._ – Eliane Laberge, Eventful Capital _**Saturday, Feb. 1: Folly and the Hunter **This is one of those bands that I think everyone should hear. I don’t think anyone does harmonies better right now. Their album, Tragic Care, was one of my favourites of 2013. You can listen to it in it’s entirety here: http://follyandthehunter.bandcamp.com/ _Ryan Bresee , CKCU’s Whatever’s Cool With Me _** Saturday, February 1: Still Swingin': the original Brian Browne Trio at GigSpace **Pianist Brian Browne has been an important part of Ottawa’s jazz scene for decades, continually pleasing audiences with his mixture of old and new standards. His distinctive, bluesy piano style swings with traces of Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson, Errol Garner and Bill Evans, yet the sound is unmistakably his own. Saturday’s concert at GigSpace is special: he’s reuniting for one time only with the members of the original Brian Browne Trio: bassist Sol Gunner and drummer Glenn Robb. It will be an opportunity to remind us of Ottawa and Gatineau’s jazz heritage, and hear some great living music._Alayne McGregor , OttawaJazzScene.ca _****** Tuesday, February 4 **** : The Day After the Riot Pub Night **Have you heard of Ottawa’s new NASL soccer team coming to the new Landsdowne this year? One of their supporter groups - The Stony Monday Riot Ottawa - are getting together for a meet and greet. Come on out and meet other Ottawa Fury and soccer fans in Ottawa and see what all the fuss is about!_Laura Gauthier _** Wednesday, February 5: Laugh Out Loud Presents Cracking-Up the Capital** Just when it seems like Ottawa’s winter will never end, along comes some welcome comic relief. There’s a comedy event almost every day this week, but I wanted to highlight Cracking-Up the Capital. The four-day festival, in its tenth year, opens on Wednesday with Anna Gustafson, Martha Chaves, Derek Seguin, Howie Miller, Greg Schroder, Brendan McKeigan and host Ali Hassan. The festival supports mental health initiatives at the Royal Ottawa, Youth Services Bureau, Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre, Wabano Aboriginal Health Centre and the Royal’s Women for Mental Health Program. Sure to warm your heart._Denise Deby , Green Living Ottawa _** Wednesday, February 5: Future of Snow and Skiing in a Warming World ** For a glimpse into some of the ways that climate change is affecting us, come to this panel discussion on the future of skiing and other snow sports. Hear from former Olympian skiers, a permafrost and mountain environment specialist, ski resort representatives and other experts. 7:30-9 p.m. at the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum._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!