OttawaStart's Weekly Event Round-Up: October 30-November 5, 2014

_ Our crowdsourced list of the best events in Ottawa this week. _

** October 23, 2014: 8th Annual Babes4Breasts Concert ** A National Benefit Concert fundraising for a variety of Breast Cancer charities. This year’s concert will feature Coco Love Alcorn, Scarlett Jane, Jadea Kelly, Laura Cortese, Amanda Rheaume and Ana Miura. At South Minster United Church (15 Alymer Ave), 8:00pm. A very special music event for a great cause. _

Glen Gower _ ** October 23, 2014: 8th Annual Babes4Breasts Concert ** This Thursday night, Ana Miura, Amanda Rheaume, Coco Love Alcorn, Scarlett Jane, Laura Cortese and Jadea Kelly are uniting to fight breast cancer at the Babes4Breasts benefit concert and CD release. With 6 solid Canadian groups/musicians, this is sure to be a great live show. _ – Eliane Laberge, Eventful Capital _ ** Thursday, October 23: Ottawa City Idol Five ** Local personalities present their ideas for making Ottawa a great city. The audience votes for their favourites, ranking their choices in order of preference. It’s a demonstration of Ranked Choice Voting, which citizens’ group Ottawa123 is encouraging the city to adopt in future elections. The “candidates” are Manjit Basi (Citizens Academy), Joanne Chianello ( _ Ottawa Citizen _ ), Suzanne Doerge (City for All Women Initiative), Graham Saul (Ecology Ottawa) and Brandon Wint (poet). 7 p.m. at Hooley’s Pub and online. _

Denise Deby , Green Living Ottawa _ ** Thursday-Wednesday, October 23-29: The Ottawa International Writers Festival ** The fall edition of Ottawa’s “international celebration of ideas” brings dozens of writers to talk about their craft. Just for example: on Saturday, Heather O’Neill, Christine Fischer Guy and Monia Mazigh present courageous fictional characters in settings from James Bay to Ottawa, while on Tuesday, Alison Pick, Donna Thomson and Catherine Gildiner share the amazing circumstances of their own lives. There’s much more, so check it out. _

Denise Deby , Green Living Ottawa _ ** Friday-Sunday, October 24-26: Ottawa Poutine Fest ** Foodie alert: Poutine Fest is happening this weekend along Sparks Street so if you’re a fan of this classic Canadian comfort food, then be sure to grab some and try the Thai, Greek and Mexican versions. The festivities will also include a poutine eating contest for the brave ones out there as well as street performers and musical entertainment. _ – Eliane Laberge, Eventful Capital _ ** Thursday-Tuesday, October 23-28: Big Library Read ** Big Library Read provides OverDrive partner libraries, including the Ottawa Public Library, free simultaneous access to a selected title that any readerwith a Library card can instantly start reading without holds or waitlists.Free access to the eBook, “Anatomy of a Misfit” by author AndreaPortes. At all branches, free admission. _ – Sara-Lynne Levine, Macaroni Kid Ottawa _ ** Saturday, October 25: Hintontoberfest ** For the beer lovers, the Ottawa Brewery Market presents HintonTOBERFEST at Hintonburg Park this Saturday. This family-friendly Oktoberfest party, will feature local craft beer from Bicycle Craft Brewery, Dominion City Brewing Co., Flying Monkeys, Lowertown Brewery, Nickle Brook, Stone City Ales, Turtle Island Brewing, and Whitewater Brewing Company. Cheers! _ – Eliane Laberge, Eventful Capital _ ** Sunday, October 26: Howl-o-Ween ** The Ottawa Humane Society is holding an open house this Sunday from 11am to 3:30pm at the 245 Hunt Club Road shelter. There will be fun family activities including amazing prize giveaways, face painting, kid’s crafts, Halloween animal portraits, treats and more! Check out their website for more information. _

Gordon Dewis _ ** Wednesday, October 29: Ottawa Food: A Hungry Capital Book Launch ** A book about the changing Ottawa foodie landscape and our local food system? I’m in! _

Laura Gauthier _ ** Wednesday, October 29: Ottawa Food: A Hungry Capital Book Launch ** Don Chow and Jennifer Lim of popular blog foodiePrints launch their new book on Ottawa’s food scene, food providers and food system. At the West End Well, 7 p.m. _

Denise Deby , Green Living Ottawa _ ** October 20-31: The Bat Hunt ** There are bats hiding everywhere in the Children’s Museum. Keep your eyes open, and see how many you can spot. Find them all to win a special Halloween treat! _ – Sara-Lynne Levine, Macaroni Kid Ottawa _ _ Have a great week! _