OttawaStart's Weekly Event Round-Up: Long weekend edition

[

](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/weekly-event-roundup250.gif)

This weekend is known by many names: Colonel By Day weekend, the August long weekend, the Civic Holiday.  Whatever you call it, it looks like it will be a great one .  Here are our contributors' picks for the best events in Ottawa this week.

(And if somebody ever tries to tell you that Ottawa is a boring city, please point them here.)

Big thanks to our newest contributors, Ross and Sara-Lynne.

**

Thursday, July 28

**

** Ryan Bresee , radio host of CKCU’s Whatever’s Cool With Me : **

**

BUSKING:

** If you’re going to stop by the Busker Festival this weekend, you have to check out Mama Lou. She was my favourite performer last year. She looks like a pin-up girl but she can rip a telephone book in half. Seriously! Can you do that? I tried and failed. So I grabbed scissors and I still failed. You’ll find me taking notes at one of her shows. **

**

** Denise Deby, who writes for Green Living Ottawa :

COMMUNITY:

** Ottawa resident ** Kurtis Benedetti ** rides into town on Thursday, July 28, having cycled an amazing 2100 km from Cape Breton to raise awareness about Ottawa’s South March Highlands . You can hear about his trip and learn more about the Highlands at the Human Rights Monument at 12 noon (Ottawa City Hall, corner of Elgin and Lisgar). (If you’re up for a 20 km or so bike ride, you can ride with him back to Kanata at around 1 pm.) **

**

** Don from foodieprints :

FOOD:

** Ever consider anextra virgin olive oil seminar or tasting? On July 28 at 7:00 pm, ** Divino Wine Studio will offer a comparative tasting of six olive oils ** . They will be accompanied by traditional Italian antipasti. Having attended a smaller tasting at Divino during a C’est Bon Cooking tour of Little Italy, I can attest the session will be informative and educational. $50 plus tax and gratuity. Call (613)221-9760 ext 21 or e-mail bookings@divinowinestudio.com to reserve a seat.

** Sara-Lynne Levine, Ottawa Capital Region Macaroni Kid

 KIDS:

** from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Check out the ** Bubble Bath Brunch ** at Dovercourt Rec Centre. Kids will love playing in all the bubbles (including a bubble hat and bubble beard contest) and you can bring something white for the tie-dye station. Best of all it’s free!

**

**

**

 Friday, July 29

**

** Lisa from couchassassin.com : **

**

 MUSIC:

** One man wonder ** Jeremy Ayro Ellis ** is the man to see this friday at Mercury Lounge. He plays several instruments at once through a well programmed keyboard, creating original funky, jazz, hip hop and Latin beats. He also sings, in english and spanish just to be a show off. Prepare to dance yourself tired.

**
 [
  Laura Nicol
 ](http://twitter.com/311Laura)
 , aka
 [
  @311Laura
 ](http://twitter.com/311Laura)
 :
**






**
 
  MOVIES:
 
**
[
 **
  Centretown Movies
 **
](http://www.csit.carleton.ca/~arya/cm/index.html)
brings great flicks to Dundonald Park (512 Somerset St. W. between Bay and Lyon) every Friday and Saturday until mid-August. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and snacks and enjoy some great films usually for a great cause! A small donation is suggested either to the charity presenting the film, or to support Centretown Movies. This
**
 Friday
**
, Engineers Without Borders presents The Gods Must Be Crazy. On
**
 Saturday
**
you can catch When Harry Met Sally. Movies begin at 9pm.
  

  

**
 [
  Amanda Earl
 ](http://amandaearl.blogspot.com/)
 , poet & publisher
**
  

**
 
  LITERARY:
 
**
Spoken word by
**
 [
  Urban Legends Poetry
 ](http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001231326442#!/event.php?eid=221194784579174)
 :
**
Sean O'Gorman, Hyfidelik, SenseSay, and PrufRock at Patrick John Mills' Big Art Party, 8:45pm; Contemporary Fine Art Gallery, 286 Hinchey Ave; the event starts at 7pm and includes music, dance, live interactive and fine art. Word is Patrick puts on quite a show. $20
[
 pre-registration necessary
](http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001231326442#!/event.php?eid=221194784579174)
.
  

  




   

 **
  
   Saturday, July 30
  
 **
   

   

 **
  [
   Glen Gower
  ](http://twitter.com/glengower)
  , Editor/Owner of
  [
   OttawaStart.com
  ](http://ottawastart.com/)
  :
 **
   

 **
  
   CONSTRUCTION:
  
 **
 The Queensway will be shut down at Carling Avenue from 6pm Saturday to 11am Sunday, so that they can
 [
  **
   replace the eastbound bridge
  **
 ](http://ottawastart.com/story/14697.php)
 .  If you're a fan of heavy machinery this would be a cool event to watch.  A couple years ago they did a similar bridge replacement at Maitland Avenue and people camped out overnight with lawn chairs and video cameras to watch.
 **
  
     

  
 **
   

   

 **
  [
   Ross Brown
  ](http://www.twitter.com/RossBrownfoot)
  , blogger/writer/author/photog:
    

  
   FITNESS:
  
 **
 Get out there. Get fit. The 30th annual National Capital Tri/Du/Run/Swim/SwimCycle/Kayak/Wylie Ryan Surf n Turf event takes place this Saturday, July 30, at Mooney's Bay. It's not too late to register: just go to
 [
  somersault.ca/eventnationalcapital.htm
 ](http://www.somersault.ca/eventnationalcapital.htm)
 and choose the event you want to enter. Or come on out and support the participants. The events start at 8:00 and run throughout the morning. It's a great start to your weekend!
 **
  
     

  
 **
   

   

 **
  [
   Ming Wu
  ](http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBkQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmingwuphotos.wordpress.com%2F&ei=QLAwTqy8Mo2ftwfW5v2ICQ&usg=AFQjCNFHmnTnmLv45AfgfbZhEsy1_-X0Ig&sig2=UpeZBqmOKEbBDG881NwgKA)
  from
  [
   Photogmusic
  ](http://photogmusic.com/)
  :
    

  
   MUSIC:
  
 **
 The
 **
  [
   Polymorphines
  ](http://www.thepolymorphines.com/)
  EP Release show
 **
 at Mavericks July 30. The band will be releasing their EP "The Slip" which was recorded in Texas. Playing with them are The Flaps, Devil Eyes and Uncle Thunder.






   




**
 [
  Sterling Lynch
 ](http://sterlinglynch.wordpress.com/)
 , editor of the
 [
  Ottawa Arts Newsletter
 ](http://sterlinglynch.wordpress.com/ottawa-arts-newsletter/)
 :
   

 
  MUSIC:
 
**


If you are looking to dance to some live guitar focused music,
[
 I think
](http://www.ottawasneezers.com/2011/07/neither-raging-nor-shoe-gazing-dance-dance-dance-to-the-polymorphines/)
, you should go to
**
 The Polymorphines’
 [
  CD Release show
 ](http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=217451514963218)
**
on Saturday, July 30th at Mavericks (221 Rideau St.). Also playing: The Flaps, Devil Eyes, and Thunder Uncle. Doors are at 9 p.m. $8 / 19+.
  

  

**
 [
  Max Keeping
 ](http://www.google.ca/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=max+keeping)
 ,
 [
  CTV Ottawa's
 ](http://ottawa.ctv.ca/)
 Community Ambassador:
**
  




 **
  
   FESTIVALS:
  
 **
 Check out the
 [
  Rideau Canal Festival
 ](http://ottawastart.com/festivals.php)
 activities. Lots of production art/theatre... among the concerts I recommend, the
 **
  Irish Tribute
 **
 at 7pm
 **
  .
 **
 (More Rideau Canal Fest picks below.)






 **
  
     

  
 **
   

 **
  
     

  
 **
   

 **
  
   Sunday, July 31
  
 **
   

   

 **
  [
   Josee
  ](http://twitter.com/#!/frugalfunottawa)
  from
  [
   Frugal Fun Ottawa
  ](http://frugalfunottawa.ca/index.html)
  :
 **
   

 **
  
   FESTIVALS:
  
 **
 I can never pass up a chance to see fireworks! The
 [
  Rideau Canal Festival
 ](http://ottawastart.com/festivals.php)
 is on this weekend, and activities include a fireworks show Sunday night at Dow's Lake. The light show starts at 10 pm!
   

   

 **
  [
   Max Keeping
  ](http://www.google.ca/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=max+keeping)
  ,
  [
   CTV Ottawa's
  ](http://ottawa.ctv.ca/)
  Community Ambassador:
 **
   

 **
  
   FESTIVALS:
  
 **
 Another suggestion from the
 [
  Rideau Canal Festival
 ](http://ottawastart.com/festivals.php)
 :
 **
  Silver Creek at 3pm
 **
 at Confederation Park.
   

 **
  
     

  
 **
   

 **
  
   Monday, August 1
  
 **
   

   

 **
  [
   Yasir Naqvi
  ](http://www.yasirnaqvimpp.ca/)
  , MPP Ottawa Centre:
 **
   

 **
  
   FAMILY:
  
 **
 I'm really looking forward to attending the
 **
  Colonel By Day festivities at the
  [
   Bytown Museum
  ](http://www.bytownmuseum.com/)
 **
 on Monday, August 1. Opening ceremonies start at 11 am, but there are activities all day for the entire family at the museum.






   







 **
  [
   Max Keeping
  ](http://www.google.ca/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=max+keeping)
  ,
  [
   CTV Ottawa's
  ](http://ottawa.ctv.ca/)
  Community Ambassador:
    

  
   FESTIVALS:
  
 **
 A 3:00pm on Monday at the
 [
  Rideau Canal Festival
 ](http://ottawastart.com/festivals.php)
 , join
 **
  Robin Averill at Confederation Park
 **
 to help set a world record singalong of his Rideau Canal song. I need you there - I'm the (honourary) choirmaster!
   

   

 **
  [
   Brett Delmage
  ](http://ottawajazzscene.ca/about-us/47-about-brett-delmage)
  ,
  [
   OttawaJazzScene.ca
  ](http://ottawajazzscene.ca/)
  :
 **
   

 **
  
   JAZZ:
  
  Phil Nimmons
 **
 , the Canadian Dean of Jazz, and Juno award winners
 **
  David Braid
 **
 and
 **
  James Campbell
 **
 collaborate for a night of new jazz and structured improvisation, as part of
 [
  Chamberfest
 ](http://ottawastart.com/festivals.php)
 . You don't get many opportunities to hear these great Canadian musicians, especially together. A great way to wrap up your long weekend! Monday, August 1 - 10:30 p.m. to midnight, Kildare Room, St. Brigid’s Centre for the Arts, 314 St. Patrick Street (at Cumberland).
 **
  
     

  
 **
   

 **
  
     

  
 **
   

 **
  
   Tuesday, August 2
  
 **
   

   

 **
  [
   Juliette Giannesini
  ](http://correresmidestino.com/)
  , aka Zhu, photographer:
 **
   

 **
  
   PHOTOGRAPHY:
  
 **
 Taipei Economic and Cultural Office is presenting a photo exhibit about Taiwan, covering its history, development and many other aspects.
 [
  **
   Retracing Our Steps: A Photo Journey through 100 Years of the Republic of China
  **
 ](http://www.roc-taiwan.org/CA/ct.asp?xItem=210960&ctNode=145&mp=77)
 is a free event held at the library at Gatineau City Hall. As a graduate of Langues Orientales, a French university dedicated to the study of Asian languages and civilizations, I’m going and I hope you’ll join me! This exhibition closes on August 14, 2011.
 **
  
     

  
 **
   

 **
  
     

  
 **
   

 **
  
   Wednesday, August 3
  
 **
   

   

 **
  [
   Tanya Snook
  ](http://www.twitter.com/spydergrrl)
  , aka
  [
   Spydergrrl
  ](http://spydergrrl.blogspot.com/)
  :
 **
   

 **
  
   THEATRE:
  
 **
 Does last week for
 [
  Lion King
 ](http://www.nac-cna.ca/en/broadway/event.cfm?ID=6573)
 count? The NAC production was just as good as the Pantages production in Toronto, and we managed to get amazing tickets at the last minute. There are still seats available via Ticketmaster. Parents and kids alike with love it. The Dude rated it "awes-mazing" ;)  (Daily until August 7.)






   







 _
  **
     

  **
 _
   

 _
  **
   
    Please add your event ideas to the comments below!
   
  **
 _
   

   

 **
  See also:
 **
 [
  Ottawa Events Guide
 ](http://ottawastart.com/events.php)
   

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