OttawaStart's Weekly Event Round-Up: Vodou, Storytelling Fest, Souljazz, Science Play Day, 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

** Saturday, November 17: Help Santa Toy Parade **

Ottawa’s annual Santa Claus parade happens downtown on Saturday. The parade leaves Wellington Street in front of the National Archives at 11:00am, then travels east along Wellington, Bank and Laurier and ends at City Hall. There are also local parades in Kanata, Kemptville, Cornwall and Barrhaven this weekend.

** Thursday, November 15: Vodou **

The Canadian Museum of Civilization is launching its newest special exhibition entitled Vodou this Thursday, November 15. Visitors will get a chance to view this unique exhibition, which offers a rare opportunity to better understand this complex spiritual tradition, its beliefs and rituals from the viewpoint of those who practise it, until February 23, 2013.

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** ** Thursday-Sunday, November 15-18: “Fly Me To The Moon” at GCTC **

Have you ever had a workday go from bad to worse? Francis and Loretta are home care workers in Belfast. They take care of an elderly man named Davy, who has a passion for Frank Sinatra and playing the ponies. When Davy dies in the loo, Francis and Loretta tell one lie that leads to another and another… and then another. An attempt to beat the system throws them headlong into an excruciating – yet hilarious – wild ride.

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** ** Thursday-Sunday, November 15-18: The Ottawa International Storytelling Festival **

The theme of this year’s festival is “Naked Narrative”—meaning storytelling without props, just the expression, energy and skill of the storyteller. The stories come from Nunavut to Newfoundland, Mali to Ottawa. On Saturday, check out internationally acclaimed Jan Blake at 7 p.m. and “Vernacular Spectacular,” which includes several local and fascinating-sounding performers, at 10 p.m.

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** ** Thursday/Saturday/Tuesday, November 15/17/20: 70 Years of Canadian Film **

The National Film Board has been the source of wonderful, weird and award-winning films over its 70 years. Now you can take a look back, thanks to former NFB producer Jack Horwitz, the Crichton Cultural Community Centre and the Ottawa Public Library. Thursday’s event at the Main Library, 7 p.m., traces how the NFB and Canada have changed over time. Saturday’s films at the North Gloucester Branch, 2 p.m., are animated shorts (with popcorn!), while documentaries are on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Carlingwood Branch. It’s free, but you should register.

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** ** Saturday, November 17 (10-3 pm): Glisten **

The organizers behind Urban Craft Market, a successful monthly craft fair, hold an annual event on behalf of their venue and host, the Irving Greenberg Theater, which is home to the GCTC. You will find the same high quality vendors, offering great gift ideas. Vendors like Bake Mob, Epidemic 613, Kokobaru, Liv Well Toys, My Stow N Tow, Om Nom Cupcake, Perribella Arm Candy, Purple Urchin, Urbanite Jewelry, VersaTile Design and World Of Tea. There will be hand-made jewelry; fashion and accessories; housewares, and sweet treats. Everything is unique. Start your holiday shopping early!

_ – Don from foodieprints _

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** ** Saturday, November 17: the ottawa small press book fair **

Noon to 5pm at Jack Purcell Centre (320 Jack Purcell Lane). This is a room full of small press publishers & indie authors with zines, chapbooks, books, graphic comics for sale. the small press is differentiated from the mainstream because it isn’t trying to appeal to mass market demands. You won’t find any copies of 50 Shades of Grey at the fair, but you’re likely to find copies of Jasmine Aziz’s Sex & Samosas. You won’t find Best Canadian Poetry 2012 here, but you might find some hand sewn gorgeous chapbooks in limited editions of 50 copies by up & coming poets at the Apt. 9 Press table, or back issues of the Bywords Quarterly Journal or the latest comic by artist Colin White. if you’re into indie & DIY, if you rebel against convention, this event is for you. **

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** ** Saturday, November 17: Science Play Day **

At the Canadian Museum of Science and Technology. Head to the museum for exciting games, experiments, stories and crafts. Bring the kids and be a kid as you have fun exploring science and technology. The Museum is proud to offer this programming in celebration of Universal Children’s Day—a day of worldwide fraternity and understanding between children and of promoting the welfare of the children of the world.

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

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** ** Saturday, November 17: The Souljazz Orchestra **

The Souljazz Orchestra will be performing live at the Petit Chicago in the Old Hull neighbourhood of Gatineau in an effort to promote their latest album Solidarity, which has already been praised in Europe and by various music connoisseurs. For only $10, this show is guaranteed to make you move and groove to the tropical sounds of the Ottawa-based sextet.

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** ** Monday, November 19: Vince Rimbach Jazz Trio at Les Brasseurs du Temps **

Vince Rimbach is a mainstay in jazz groups in the Ottawa-Gatineau area, on a variety of saxophones and flute. This Monday, he will be showing off his compositional skills as well, in company with veteran jazz musicians Mark Ferguson on piano and trombone, and John Geggie on bass. Expect sophisticated mainstream jazz with a mixture of standards and originals.

_ – Alayne McGregor, OttawaJazzScene.ca _

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** ** Wednesday, November 21: Dialogue & Debate on the role of Canadian development NGOs **

If you’re looking for a good thinking-type event - check this out. Nikolas Barry-Shaw, co-author of “Paved with Good Intentions: Canada’s development NGOs from idealism to imperialism” will participate on a panel with University of Ottawa Professor Nipa Banerjee, who has served as a practitioner and policy analyst in international development and foreign aid for over 30 years, including heading Canada’s aid program in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and in Afghanistan. They will consider the question “Is there a future for Canadian development NGOs? Should there be?”

** _ Have a great week! _ **

** See also: ** Ottawa Events Guide

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