OttawaStart's Weekly Event Round-Up: September 17-23

_ Our crowdsourced list of the best events in Ottawa this week. You can find even more events on our Ottawa Event Calendar . _

** Wednesday-Sunday, September 16-20: Marvest ** As part of CityFolk, organizers are introducing Marvest, a free musical harvest of local music, food and beverages. Created in an effort to attract festival-goers to local settings along Bank Street, the hope is that people will discover and appreciate the National Capital Region’s music scene and local food-makers. Marvest will feature live performances by over 60 local bands and musicians including The Split, Amos The Transparent, The Strain, Zoo Legacy, Tindervox, The Lionyls, Cody Allen, The Gallop and many more. _ – Eliane Laberge, Eventful Capital _ ** Saturday, September 19: Whatever’s Cool With Me’s Marvest Showcase at the Wild Oat Bakery ** The Ottawa Folk Festival is now called CityFolk and this year it will be held at Lansdowne Park. There will also be a complementary free festival called Marvest happening on Bank St. in the Glebe. CKCU’s Whatever’s Cool With Me (that’s me!) is hosting an amazing show featuring Amos The Transparent, The Gallop, and Amanda Lowe. This will be a unique opportunity to see three great acts for free in small and unconventional venue. Space is very limited, so show up early if you want to get in! _ – Ryan Bresee , CKCU’s Whatever’s Cool With Me _ ** Wednesday, September 16 - Sunday, September 20: Ottawa International Animation Festival ** This is a competitive festival, screening short animation entries from around the globe, so you’re sure to see the most innovative and ground breaking techniques being used in the world of animation. Special guests include Oscar winners, directors, artists, animation studios and media companies like Pixar, Disney and Nickelodeon. ** Friday, September 18: Ottawa Charity Ping Pong ** This year’s event will raise money for Christie Lake Kids, changing the trajectory of disadvantaged childrens’ lives through sport, arts, camp, mentoring and leadership programming ** Saturday, September 19: Breakfast Club Retro Dance ** A high-school dance for grownups who want to relive the ’70s, ’80s, and early ’90s. Come as you are or dressed from your high-school year. Tickets are $20 (plus an administrative fee) and proceeds go to the Ottawa School Breakfast Program. Ages 19+ _ — Ross Brown _ ** Saturday, September 19: Chinatown Remixed ** Chinatown Remixed kicks off this Saturday along Somerset West. This annual month-long art festival launches with a day-long vernissage at various locations between Bay and Preston Streets including visual and performance art, music, child-friendly workshops, live food demos and more. A great way to discover or re-discovery Ottawa’s Chinatown neighbourhood! _ – Eliane Laberge, Eventful Capital _ ** Saturday, September 19: Eat, Think, Vote ** It’s an urban picnic, a block party and a chance to chat with federal candidates. Food Secure Canada, USC Canada and other organizations are hosting this event to discuss ways to create a sustainable food system and end hunger. _ – Denise Deby , Green Living Ottawa _ ** Saturday, September 19: Nuit Blanche Ottawa-Gatineau ** The National Capital Region’s fourth annual Nuit Blanche is taking place this Saturday, September 19 at various central locations. This year’s cultural event, which has for theme “Hype”, will once again include select venues in the Hull sector of Gatineau in its programming along with offerings in the Byward Market and downtown core. With a lineup filled with art creations of all sorts, the 2015 edition of Nuit Blanche Ottawa-Gatineau is sure to abound with exciting surprises. _ – Eliane Laberge, Eventful Capital _ ** Saturday, September 19: Power in the Blood: A Conversation with Buffy Sainte-Marie ** The legendary Buffy Sainte-Marie sits down with Alan Neal to talk about her five decades as a singer-songwriter and activist, and her latest album. Part of the Ottawa International Writers Festival. _ – Denise Deby , Green Living Ottawa _ ** Saturday, September 19: Mrs Tiggy Winkles Warehouse Sale ** This cash or credit card only sale will see up to 75% off of all sorts of Tiggy Winkles goodness! Those with kids - or who are kids at heart - won’t want to miss this! _ – Laura Gauthier _ ** Saturday-Sunday, September 19-20: ** ** 5th Annual 2015 Ottawa Pinball & Gameroom show ** Purchase games, parts, or gameroom treasures from the Playdium store and Pinball Customs, plus many great used games from local collectors in our vendor booth and flea market areas. Compete in the IFPA sanctioned “O-Town Throw-Down 2015″ tournament for IFPA points, cash and prizes, and the bragging rights of becoming the capitol’s Grand Wizard. ** Sunday, September 20: Launch of Mouthquake by Daniel Allen Cox ** With special guests Amanda Earl, Marcus McCann, & Billeh Nickerson, at Venus Envy, 226 Bank Street. Free. “Written with a poetic bravado and in a structure that mimics a stutter, the elegiac Mouthquake is speech therapy for the bent: the signal is perverted and the sounds are thrilling.” Quick & dirty poetry & prose from the fabulous four. Stop by en route to City Folk for an hour of sweet, sexy words & stories & good company. _ – Amanda Earl , Bywords _ ** Sunday, September 20: ** ** Heritage Ottawa Walking Tour of Sandy Hill ** The tour looks at late nineteenth – early twentieth-century buildings of historical or architectural importance in the northeast quadrant of Sandy Hill, an area favoured by lumber barons, mining magnates and politicians in Ottawa’s early years. Sandy Hill was home to four Canadian Prime Ministers. ** Monday, September 21: Science Fiction Book Club – On the Steel Breeze by Allistar Reynolds ** Share the enjoyment of good books in a relaxed atmosphere. Join us for a discussion of On the Steel Breeze by Allistar Reynolds. At the Centrepointe Branch of the Ottawa Library ** Monday, September 21: Bugs That Visit Your Backyard ** With Diane Lepage at Top Generation Hall, 4373 Generation Court. Besides exploring the world of backyard insects, Diane will speak about the benefits of native plants to attract insects.  Sponsored by Gloucester Horticultural Society. Admission Free. ** Tuesday, September 22: Virtual Ventures: Earth Science for Girls ** Come help the Library celebrate Science Week as we host our friends from Carleton University’s Virtual Ventures initiative! Free admission / registration required. _ ** Upcoming… ** _ ** Saturday, September 26: ** ** Ottawa Police Chorus presents “The Beat and the Drums” ** The Beat and the Drums, – a concert featuring the Ottawa Police Chorus, joined by the Baobab Tree Drum and Dance Community, the York Police Service and the Waterloo Police Service. Tickets $10 available at the door.  Proceeds to the Police Memorial Fund. _ (Sponsored) _ ** September 26 - October 3: Opera Lyra presents The Barber of Seville ** Opera Lyra presents our own unique take on Rossini’s great classic, The Barber of Seville! Set in a 1940’s movie studio in Seville, Rosina is a young movie star kept in check by her producer, and the owner of the studio, Bartolo. She is constantly surrounded by his “goons”. Figaro is the studio stylist and confidant. The movie they are working on is the story of Carmen. Mayhem ensues! At the National Arts Centre _ (Sponsored) _ ** Friday, October 30: Music on a Mission - Family Services Ottawa’s Music Trivia Fundraiser ** _ Music on a Mission _ – Family Services Ottawa’s Music Trivia Fundraiser, formerly known as Juke Box Mania, is taking place on Friday, October 30, 2015, at St. Anthony’s Soccer Club, from 6:00 – 11:00 PM. This spectacular game night is also a part of Family Services Ottawa’s milestone 100th Anniversary celebrations. Visit the event website at www.musiconamission.ca . _ (Sponsored) _ _ ** Continuing… ** _ ** Until December 31: Mary Pratt: This Little Painting ** What’s the story behind Red Currant Jelly (1972), which the artist Mary Pratt affectionately calls “this little painting”? See how Pratt developed her technique, which today stands as a defining example of painterly realism in Canada, a style strongly associated with the country’s Atlantic provinces. _ (Sponsored) _ _ For more events, check out ottawastart.com/events/ … or add your event via ottawastart.com/start/ _