_ (press release) _ RBC Bluesfest organizers today announced the initial line-up for their 2016 program. Confirmed acts to date include: RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS; DURAN DURAN; BRAD PAISLEY; FUTURE; THE LUMINEERS; WOLF PARADE; BILLY IDOL; SAM HUNT; ALESSIA CARA; JOE JACKSON; SCHOOLBOY Q; THOMAS RHETT; NELLY; THE CULT; MADEON; THE HEAD AND THE HEART; NOEL GALLAGHER’S HIGH FLYING BIRDS; CITY AND COLOUR; BRYAN FERRY; THE MONKEES; BRANDI CARLILE; JOHN FOGERTY; HALF MOON RUN; ZEDS DEAD; AWOLNATION; THE DECEMBERISTS; EARL SWEATSHIRT; BEN HARPER & THE INNOCENT CRIMINALS; COEUR DE PIRATE; CASHMERE CAT; JEFF ROSS; LINDSEY STIRLING; XXYYXX; THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH; COLEMAN HELL; FREDDIE GIBBS; PETER BJORN AND JOHN; SON LITTLE; HOLY FUCK; AMOS THE TRANSPARENT; AMANDA RHEAUME; BOY & BEAR; PUP; BROCK ZEMAN; YUKON BLONDE; THE WICKED MERCY; DZ DEATHRAYS; SAN FERMIN; THE PAUL DESLAURIERS BAND; DEBAUCHE; WILD CHILD; SAMANTHA MARTIN & DELTA SUGAR; THE PEPTIDES; PIERRE KWENDERS; LINDSAY FERGUSON; BOMBINO; JILL ZMUD; TAL WILKENFELD; HARRISON “SWEETTASTE” KENNEDY; THE LONDON SOULS; THE JIMMY TRI-TONE BAND; ARCHER; GINGKOA; PITH AND THE PARENCHYMAS; TYLER KEALEY; DAVID GOGO; MONDAY I RETIRE; THE PAPER KITES; GRAND RIVER RAMBLERS; MEGHAN PATRICK; THE JESSE GREENE BAND; CRAIG CARDIFF; CASHTRO CROSBY AND DJ MES; PAUL JAMES; STEAMERS; JACK DE KEYZER; BROTHERS DUBE; PANDALÉON, among others soon to be confirmed. ...

_ (press release) _ Ice breaking operations on the Rideau River started today between Rideau Falls and Hog’s Back. Blasting will follow starting on March 12. The City, in partnership with the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, undertakes ice breaking operations each year to alleviate possible spring flooding in flood-prone areas. ...

Just Another Gala: Your Ottawa Theatre Podcast Episode 2: [ The one where we talk indie theatre in Ottawa and make one too many inappropriate jokes ](https://soundcloud.com/justanothergala/episode-2) 

Just Another Gala: Your Ottawa Theatre Podcast Episode 1: The one where we LAUNCH the pilot episode and get friendly with undercurrents

_ (via Ottawa Public Library) _ _ Ottawa Public Library partners with CBC to host Ottawa Human Library _ When is the last time you interacted with someone from a completely different walk of life? Or, had a frank conversation with someone whose life experience is far from your own? ...

If you’re looking for great nachos in Ottawa, there’s an Instagram account for you. @Nachos613 is on a mission to review nachos at pubs and restaurants around the city. Launched late last fall, there are currently 14 reviews. Here are some samples… ...

The Shaw Centre and Loblaw Companies Ltd. have made a huge contribution to the National Capital Region’s food banks. Last week, at the conclusion of Loblaw’s national conference held at the Shaw Centre, volunteers spent several days packaging up enough perishable and non-perishable food to fill four 53-foot trailers. ...

Eric Darwin has a good blog post on West Side Action about how the City could improve how it clears snow after major snowfalls like the one we had on Tuesday. _ Why on earth doesn’t Ottawa have a major snowfall protocol? ...

_ (press release) _ The Ottawa 2017 Bureau and Mayor Jim Watson, in collaboration with lead partner CIBC, announced today that the search is on for unique, spectacular and ephemeral events to be presented in surprising and unusual locations across Ottawa in 2017. ...

_ (press release) _ Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Black History Month Gala and Mandela Legacy Awards slated to be held at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, QC, have been temporarily postponed by a month.  The new date for the event, which will celebrate the work of inspiring leaders, athletes, entertainers and social justice activists, is Saturday, March 19, 2016. ...