OttawaStart's Weekly Event Round-Up: September 12-18, 2013

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Here are our contributors' picks for the best events in Ottawa this week.

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** ** Wednesday-Sunday, September 11-15: Electric Fields Festival **

Electric Fields, presented by Artengine, is performance art with a technological twist. This year, the city provides the settings for participatory music, media art and creative technology, in keeping with the festival’s theme “We Make The City! We Are The City!” On Wednesday, you can collaborate with artists to add your favourite Ottawa location to a crowdsourced story map, have a musical experience on the Alexandra Bridge, or create and display your own light-powered message using your bicycle. **

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Denise Deby _

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** ** Wednesday-Sunday, September 11-15: Electric Fields Festival **

This year’s original edition, presented under the theme We Make the City! We Are the City! will feature choirs in public squares, a bicycle music ride along the Rideau Canal, secret stories on street corners and a magic pop-up maze in the park. Organizers invite you to come experience the city in a new way by being a part of these uniquely creative projects. If you’d like to join the conversation online, you’re invited to use the hashtag #wemakethecity.

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Eliane Laberge _

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** ** Wednesday-Saturday, September 11-15: House of PainT Festival **

The 10-year anniversary of House of PainT is being held this week at various locations across the capital city. The community festival, which celebrates hip-hop arts and culture, will be celebrating with 5 days showcasing an eclectic roster of local, national and international artists representing all five pillars of hip-hop culture. House of PainT will kick off with an audience-judged poetry slam and House of Merc party on September 11. The lineup will also feature a hip-hop show with headliner DL Incognito, a graphic art show and MC showcase, a live performance by hip-hop culture pioneer Afrika Bambaataa and legendary rapper Big Daddy Kane, and a knowledge conference geared towards Ottawa’s urban arts community without forgetting the Main Event under Dunbar Bridge with something for everyone.

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Eliane Laberge _

** Wednesday-Saturday, September 11-15: House of PainT Festival **

This annual festival celebrating the four elements of hip hop is always a great time. The 10th anniversary will feature performances by Afrika Bambaataa , Big Daddy Kane , Eternia and Zaki Ibrahim to name a few. It’s an incredible line-up, and there are plenty of free and family-friendly activities on Saturday at the Dunbar bridge.

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Ryan Bresee _

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** ** Friday, September 13: The Montreal Toronto Jazz Collective at GigSpace **

The future of Canadian jazz? The Montreal Toronto Jazz Collective consists of some of the best jazz students at the best jazz programs in Canada: McGill, the University of Toronto, and Humber (and at Berklee in Boston). With the two bands will be playing their own originals, you won’t be hearing anything like this again soon!

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Brett Delmage _

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** ** Friday, September 13: UsedOttawa.com’s X-Files 20th Anniversary Party **

I can’t believe it’s been two decades since the start of the X-Files tv and movie franchise. UsedOttawa.com is putting on a big party to celebrate. They’ll be showing the X-Files movie and will have prizes too. The party is at South Fallingbrook Park and Community Centre, right across the street from the intersection of Mulder Avenue and Scully Way.

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Glen Gower _

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** ** Friday-Saturday, September 13-14: Nature Canada BioBlitz at Mud Lake **

Get to know one of Ottawa’s urban wild places and, at the same time, help monitor its biodiversity during the BioBlitz at Mud Lake in Britannia. Local naturalists will lead guided walks to identify plants, birds, insects, amphibians and reptiles at home in the area. The schedule includes a number of nature walks, an “evening critters and sounds” walk and a Saturday morning photography walk. Everyone is welcome to join any or all activities, which run between Friday 3 p.m. and Saturday 3 p.m. **

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Denise Deby _

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** ** Saturday, September 14: Code For Kids: Blogging and Design Workships **

Shopify Code For Kids is back for Fall and this time around, they have tailored their curriculum to suit two different age segments: 7-9 year olds can learn blogging, and 9-12 year old can learn design skills. The Design workshop is sold out but there are still spots remaining for the blogging workshop.

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Tanya Snook _

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** ** Saturday, September 14: Ottawa Sustainability Tour **

There’s a wonderful opportunity this week to see some of Ottawa’s environmental initiatives in action. The Sustainability Tour takes in the Richelieu Park forest, Fletcher Wildlife Garden, the Children’s Garden in Old Ottawa East, green buildings at the University of Ottawa and Algonquin College, the Corktown Footbridge and other sites. The tour is organized by The Ottawa Biosphere Eco-City Council, Tucker House and The Otesha Project with collaboration from several other groups.

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Denise Deby _

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** ** Saturday, September 14: Tastes of Wellington West **

Tastes of Wellington West is an annual event held within the community in order to give back to the customers and clients who shop within the area.  From 11am to 5pm there’ll be a fashion show, a classic car display, street performers, live musical entertainment, a Kid’s Zone and much more.  And from 1:30pm to 3:30pm, come try some free food samples from local eateries.  Great family fun for everyone! _

Jenn Chow _

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** ** Saturday, September 14: AIDS Walk for Life **

At City Hall. ** ** Join or sponsor a team or an individual walker. Help raise money and awareness for this important cause. AIDS/HIV affects many Ottawa residents.  Bywords.ca has participated for over a decade with its own team. It would be wonderful if you could help us meet our fundraising goal . There will be a community fair in the afternoon. The walk itself is a beautiful candlelight walk through the streets of downtown. There is  music, solidarity, friendliness and compassion. What better way to spend a Saturday evening. If you can’t afford money, please offer your time by joining us at the walk. I will be the one in the tutu.

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Amanda Earl _

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** ** Saturday, September 14: Latin Sparks Finale **

After presenting two successful events, The International convenes latin lovers one last time this summer for the Latin Sparks Finale happening this Saturday, September 14. Taking place outdoors along Sparks Street, the block party promises to offer a night of dancing under the stars with complimentary dance workshops, latin music, latin cuisine and live percussionists and entertainment.

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Eliane Laberge _

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** ** Friday-Saturday, September 13-14: Wings over Ottawa Gatineau **

This event brings together vintage warbirds and classic aircraft from the golden age of aviation in Canada and the United States. On Sept 14 & 15, on the 73rd anniversary of the Battle of Britain, the skies over Ottawa Gatineau will be the stage for a thrilling family-oriented aerial circus, featuring aircraft such as the Golden Hawk F-86, Spitfire, Hurricane, P-51 Mustang, Corsair, Lancaster, Yellow Wings biplanes, DC-3, Canso Flying Boat, the Canadian Harvard Aerobatic Team, and much more. Vintage Wings Hangar located at the Executive Gatineau-Ottawa Airport, 1699 rue Arthur Fecteau, Gatineau.

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Sara-Lynne Levine _

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** ** Saturday-Sunday, September 14-15: West End Studio Tour **

The West End Studio Tour continues this week. The participating artists are all conveniently located in the same part of town, showcasing their art from their own home studios. **

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Denise Deby _

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** ** Tuesday, September 17: Polaris Music Prize Salon **

Have you seen this year’s Polaris Music Prize Short List ? Do you love it or hate it? Come out to the NAC’s 4th Stage on Tuesday at 7:30 for the Ultimate Fighting Critics! I will be talking music along with Alan Neal from CBC’s All in a Day, Peter Hum from the Ottawa Citizen, and John Sekerka. It’s free and there will be lots of great prizes. **

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Ryan Bresee _

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** ** Have a great week! **

** See also: ** Ottawa Events Guide

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