OttawaStart's Weekly Event Round-Up: Tea Fest, Christmas events, Chefs & DJ's, more...

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_ Here are our contributors' picks for the best local events in Ottawa this week. This list is also published every Wednesday night in this space. You can bookmark this link for easy access: http://ottawastart.com/weekly _

** Thursday, November 29: Pop-Up Gallery Launch Party **

My event pick is a shameless plug for our pop-up gallery opening this Thursday. A new concept in art opens on Thursday night with the launch of the Pop-Up Gallery in Ottawa’s arts district of Wellington West. Three local artists, Andrew King, Alison Fowler and Katherine Jeans join together to open a temporary gallery space at 77 Holland Ave. from Nov.29-Dec.22. Opening night reception Nov.29 from 5-9pm with music, art and the unexpected. Register online for this free event.

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Andrew King , artist _

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** ** Thursday, November 29: Comedy Social **

At Avant-Garde Bar (135 1/2 Besserer St) at 8:00pm.  A monthly show that highlights alternative comedy and performance art.

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Rachelle Todd , comedian & actor _

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** ** Thursday-Sunday, November 29-December 2: Christmas in Merrickville **

The Canadian Pacific Christmas Holiday Train rolls into Merrickville on Thursday at 6:45 to kick off the annual Christmas in Merrickville event.  Then on Friday, the Village Lighting Ceremony takes place at 4:45 when all the village merchants will simultaneously light up their shopfronts and the towering, 100-foot tree in the Blockhouse Park will be set aglow with strings and strings of glittering lights.

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Jean Labelle , photographer _

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** ** Friday, November 30: Freshly Chopped Supper Club **

The idea is simple: Chefs and DJ’s are paired based on their specialties and expertise; The Freshly Chopped crew works with them to deliver a collaborative unforgettable dinning experience for your eyes, ears and taste buds. With all of the details taken care of, you’re free to have fun eating, listening, and enjoying the service and intimate vibe of the Freshly Chopped Supper Club inside your favourite Kitchen and Coffeehouse.

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** _ Laura Gauthier _

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** ** Friday, November 30: Capital Vox Presents: An Evening of Duke Ellington at St. Brigid’s Centre for the Arts and Humanities **

Love jazz singers? How about more than 25 of them on the same stage, singing arrangements of tunes written by and made famous by the great jazz bandleader, Duke Ellington? Now five years old, the Capital Vox Jazz Choir has made a name for itself as an interpreter of jazz and new standards, and will also be releasing its first CD at this concert.

_ – Alayne McGregor, OttawaJazzScene.ca _

** Friday, November 30-Sunday, December 2: Christmas markets, craft fairs and book sales **

So many seasonal markets, craft fairs and book sales, so little time! Options include local and aboriginal artisans’ wares at the Odawa Arts and Crafts Sale on Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Odawa Native Friendship Centre. For books galore, try the Ottawa International Writers Festival Holiday Book Sale at the Jack Purcell Community Centre on Saturday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (proceeds support children’s literacy programs). Or come back to Jack Purcell on Sunday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. for the Ottawa Independent Writers’ Ottawa Authors and Artisans Fair .

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Denise Deby , Green Living Ottawa _

** Saturday, December 1: Come Sing Messiah: Open Public Rehearsal **

At Parkdale United Church, 10:00 am. Admission $5. This one is for choir geeks and Handel-heads. As they do every December, CAMMAC will be mounting their epic Come Sing Messiah sing-along again at Dominion-Chalmers United Church on Friday, December 7, 2012. Imagine 700 voices screaming the Hallelujah high notes at once (in a tuneful way) and you get the idea. BUT chances are you’re already too late to get a ticket for that. The good news: you can sing at Saturday’s final rehearsal! Why pay money to go to a rehearsal? Alan Thomas. That’s why. He’s a brilliant pianist, organist, and choir master, but more importantly, he’s screamingly entertaining. Seriously. If you’re a singer and you want to warm up your voice or your Grinchy heart for the season, give this a try.

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Dennis Van Staalduinen , blogger & community activist _

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** ** Saturday, December 1: Ottawa International Writers Festival Holiday Book Sale **

The Writers Festival puts on two excellent festivals a year with amazing authors. Doubtless the books will be the kind you salivate over.  A not to be missed sale for the avid reader & those who wish to buy gifts for the avid reader. Jack Purcell Community Centre (320 Jack Purcell Lane), starts at 11am. Three hardcovers - $10; paperbacks - $2. 100% of the funds in support of children’s literacy programs.

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Amanda Earl , poet & publisher _

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** ** Saturday, December 1: Ottawa Tea Festival **

Tea lovers, drinkers, makers and beginners will want to attend this year’s festival at the Convention Centre. The event will feature tastings, workshops and expert presentations on a variety of tea-related subjects. This is the perfect place to meet other tea lovers and to learn more about this beneficial aromatic beverage.

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Elly Laberge , blogger _

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** ** Saturday, December 1: 12th Annual Alight the Night Festival at Upper Canada Village **

This sounds pretty impressive: over half-a-million lights strung up on heritage buildings and trees and fences at Upper Canada Village. Plus horse-drawn carriages, music, a life-size toy train, and more. The lights are on from November 30 to January 5.

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Glen Gower , Editor/Owner of OttawaStart.com _

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** ** Sunday, December 2: Ringing In Christmas **

Rideau Park United Church’s annual _ Ringing In Christmas _ concert takes place this Sunday evening at 7pm (2203 Alta Vista Drive). Featuring Christmas favourites played by Rideau Park’s five handbell and chimes choirs: Touch of Brass, Grace Notes, La Bell Ensemble, Note-Able Sound, and Ringing Praise, this is a great way to get into the Christmas spirit. All are welcome!

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Gordon Dewis aka KeeperOfMaps _

** Monday, December 3: Austra at Ritual Nightclub **

Austra will be hitting up Ottawa on Monday night with their dark, infectious and very danceable tunes. Check out this very weird video for a very great tune.

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Ryan Bresee , host of CKCU’s Whatever’s Cool With Me _

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** ** Monday, December 3: The Mansfield Press Fall Book Launch **

At Raw Sugar Cafe, 692 Somerset W., 7pm. A combo of fiction & poetry with launches by Sarah Dearing — The Art of Sufficient Conclusions; Paula Eisenstein — Flip Turn; Jason Heroux — Natural Capital; Jim Smith — Happy Birthday, Nicanor Parra & hosted by entertaining poet & editor Stuart Ross. Aside from the books by the featured readers, there will also be books from the Mansfield Press backlist for sale. a fun night out on a Monday plus the possibility of great books to read over the hols or to give as gifts.

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Amanda Earl , poet & publisher _

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** ** Wednesday, December 5: Info session for Climb for CARE Kilimanjaro 2013 **

Dream it. Or live it. Climb Kilimanjaro in August 2013. This is a golden opportunity to do something for yourself (and CARE ) that will create memories for a lifetime. Join volunteer recruiter Doug Thicke and hear from past climbers about what it takes to reach the summit, while raising funds to help fight poverty around the world.

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** _ Laura Gauthier _

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** ** Wednesday, December 5: Dramatic readings of Dickens' other Christmas tales **

At Glebe St. James United Church. “A dramatic reading of Charles Dickens’ _ other _ Christmas stories. Performed by Resident Acting Company members Mary Ellis, Kristina Watt and Andrew Moore in his Third Wall debut, in celebration of bicentennial of Dickens’ birth.”

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Glen Gower , Editor/Owner of OttawaStart.com _

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** ** Wednesday-Sunday, December 5-9: The Nutcracker at the NAC **

The best way to begin the holiday season - at the NAC and with The Nutcracker! An instant success following its premiere in 2010, this production is one of the most lavish ever mounted by Alberta Ballet – returning to the NAC by popular demand. Choreographed by Edmund Stripe, and danced to Tchaikovsky’s timeless score, Klara, the Nutcracker Prince, and the Sugar Plum Fairy delight in intricately choreographed scenes.

_ – Sara-Lynne Levine, Ottawa Capital Region Macaroni Kid _

** Have a great week! **

** See also: ** Ottawa Events Guide

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