OttawaStart's Weekly Event Round-Up: Zombies, superstar conductors, stargazing & much more...

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_ Here are our contributors' picks for the best events in Ottawa this week. Welcome to our newest contributor, Marilou.  You can add your event suggestions to the comments at the bottom of this page. _

** Sterling Lynch , editor of the Ottawa Arts Newsletter : **

** THEATRE: ** New Theatre of Ottawa launches its first season at Arts Court as a Resident Theatre Company with _ Dreams of Whales _ , written by a local playwright with an impressive pedigree. It opens on the 20th and runs until the 29th.

** Gordon Dewis ** aka ** KeeperOfMaps ** :

** SCIENCE: ** This week is National Science and Technology Week . Among the events being held by the various museums in the area this week are a couple at the Canada Science & Technology Museum taking place this Friday evening. At 7pm, you can attend a presentation entitled “Simplified Stargazing from City or Country” given by SkyNews magazine editor Terence Dickinson and learn some tricks on how to identify stars and constellations. Immediately afterwards at 8pm you can go to a free star party and enjoy views of the Moon, Saturn and Mars through a variety of telescopes, including Canada’s largest refracting telescope. The star party is weather permitting as it takes place outside. Be sure to dress warmly!

** Marilou ** from ** Twenty York Street : **

** CULTURE/FASHION: ** Zambia-Canada Cultural Exchange at Sala San Marco - sponsored by the High Commissioner of Zambia. One of the highlights is a fashion show by Ottawa Designers Emilia Torabi and Jana Hanzel. Also features a concert by the Amayenge Cultural Ensemble. Friday, Oct. 21.

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** Bryony Etherington, aka @ladylovewell : **

** ZOMBIES: ** This week is a no brainer for me. Literally. Everyone should come out to the Ottawa Zombiewalk this Saturday. The walk starts at 3:00pm and will leave from MacDonald Gardens Park on Cobourg at Rideau and will make its way through the Byward Market (during their Oktoberfest celebrations!), University of Ottawa Campus, down Elgin and Sparks to Parliament Hill. Show up at the start location as early as 1:30 to partake in coffin rides, makeup and blood, and to drop off your donation of non-perishable food items for the Ottawa Food Bank . During the walk you can get live updates and answers to any questions by following @zombiewalk613 and using the #hashtag #OZW11.

_ (also recommended by ** ** Juliette Giannesini , aka Zhu, photographer) ** ** _ ** ** ** **

** Denise Deby , who writes for Green Living Ottawa : **

** WRITERS FEST: ** So many wonderful writers are at the Ottawa International Writers Festival this week that I almost can’t choose what to highlight. But between you and me, I’d love to hear the Air Farce’s Don Ferguson with Barbara Budd on Sat. Oct. 22 at 2 p.m., and take in the global sweep of “Books and Brunch” with Robert Rotenberg, Richard Gwyn, Pius Adesanmi, Craig Oliver and host David Dollin on Sun. Oct. 23. The Mon. Oct. 24 noon fundraiser for children’s literacy with Ian Rankin (hosted by Alan Neal) is compelling, but I’d hate to miss “Is It Hard to be Funny?” with Christian McPherson and Miriam Toews (hosted by Peter Simpson) at noon on Mon. Oct. 24.

_ (also recommended by ** Laura Nicol , aka @311Laura ** ) _

** Josee from Frugal Fun Ottawa : **

** MOVIES: ** It’s community day at Cineplex Theatres on Saturday, and they will be showing free, family-friendly movies as of 9 am (doors open at 8:30 am). There will be snacks for $2 each with all proceeds going to the Starlight foundation. Click here for a list of the movies that will be playing at Silver City and The Coliseum in Ottawa.

** Amanda Earl , poet & publisher: **

** LITERARY: ** Saturday, October 22, 2011, 8:30pm the Bywords John Newlove Poetry Award, Ottawa International Writers Festival, Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Lisgar (at Elgin). Join us for the launch of Beneath Black Surface by Winter Fedyk , the 2010 recipient of the John Newlove Poetry Award. Featuring readings by this year’s honourable mentions and award recipient (to be announced at the reading), plus music by Jesse Rose!

** Natasha Gauthier , dance & theatre critic and horse competitor: **

** CLASSICAL: ** Russian superstar conductor Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky (Kirov) Orchestra of St Petersburg are on a North American tour, and they’re stopping at the NAC on Sunday, October 23 at 2 PM. Two Tchaikovsky symphonies are on the program: No. 1 (“Winter Dreams”) and No. 6 (“Pathétique”). Students get 10% off ticket prices.

** Andrew King , artist: **

** COMMUNITY: ** This weekend marks the 4th Anniversary of the " Take A Veteran To Dinner " event, which offers you a chance to personally thank Canada’s service personnel — both active and retired.  This year’s dinner is set for Sunday, October 23, 2011 at Tudor Hall in Ottawa.  Tickets are $50 each and the evening will include a dinner (with a vegetarian option), a draw for door prizes, guest speaker and much reminiscing. Ottawa artist Alison Fowler will be donating some of her distinct poppy paintings for both decoration and door prizes.

** Yasir Naqvi , MPP Ottawa Centre: **

** COMMUNITY: ** This Sunday, I’m headed to Windsor Park for the Old Ottawa South (OSCA) Fall Festival from 11am - 2pm. There are a variety of activities for all to enjoy. There will be a free BBQ, games for everyone, raffle tables, face painting, a scavenger hunt, a jelly bean guessing contest, pumpkins for sale, local vendors, a petting zoo and live music. There will also be the annual Best Soup Contest, Best Jam Contest and Best Pie Contest (I’m really looking forward to being a judge for these ones).

** Ryan Bresee , radio host of CKCU’s Whatever’s Cool With Me : **

** MUSIC: ** One of Ottawa’s best bands, Amos The Transparent is playing a rare hometown gig on Wednesday, Oct. 26 at Mavericks. If they are good enough to have one of their songs used in a commercial for a dating website , they are good enough for you to head downtown to be entertained. That particular song features Amy Millan from the band Stars.

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** Don from foodieprints :

FOOD & DRINK: ** Highly published and distinguished wine and food writer, Natalie Maclean has published a new book, entitled Unquenchable. Its 320 pages chronicle her travels around the world, in search of bargain wines and the stories behind them. Maclean’s destinations involved sharks, goats, polo horses, and magpies. On October 25, Maclean visits Play Food and Wine (1 York Street) on her national book tour, unveiling Unquenchable. The evening includes a reading and signing by the author, canapes prepared by Play’s talented kitchen, and a tasting of Malivoire and Catena wines featured in the book. Tickets are available for online purchase at TicketWeb.

** Jean Labelle ** ** , Photographer: **

** HEALTH/COMMUNITY: ** CHEO, The Royal and OCDSB Reach Out To Parents , Tuesday, October 25 at 7:00pm. CHEO, the Royal Ottawa Health Care Group and the Ottawa Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) would like to invite parents in the community to a free information session that will address suicide, depression and bullying.

** Tim Schobert, Classical Music Ottawa : **

** CLASSICAL: ** There are so many great classical music concerts on this week, it’s difficult to pick out just one.  From chamber music for winds to African choral music to Spanish music of the 18th century to  music from the court of Louis XIV to Shostakovich quartets – a delectable choice is yours. Check them all out here .

** Eugene Haslam , Zaphod’s Owner: **

** MUSEUMS: ** From now until January 8, 2012 - Cindy Stelmackowich: Dearly Departed . Stelmackowich examines the highly charged visual and written language of mourning in the 19th century, drawing her inspiration from historic objects in the Bytown Museum and her own artefact collection. Stelmackowich’s digital prints and sculptures reconsider and transform traditional mourning objects such as Victorian hair wreaths, bereavement verse and women’s black lace clothing with one eye on the cult of grief and remembrance promoted by Queen Victoria and the other on critical, 21st century feminist discourse.

** Glen Gower , Editor/Owner of OttawaStart.com : **

MISCELLANY: The Sens play the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night… United Way hosts Schmoozefest on Thursday night… Mini-Vet School begins at Algonquin College… Bumps On The Road Walk for Pregnancy on Sunday … Live Architectural Performance + Exhibition from Carleton’s School of Architecture …

** See also: ** Ottawa Guide

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