What can you do to support the International Year of Biodiversity? Positive decisions by individuals can have considerable impact on diversity, such as creating a naturalized garden instead of maintaining a lawn. Everyone who stops spraying and starts to garden with wildlife in mind are contributing another link in urban wildlife corridors. Wildlife corridors are a concept usually associated with attempts to interconnect large, disparate forest regions. However, corridors are relevant on a much smaller scale, too. During this talk, Jeff Skevington, Research Scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, will explore several aspects of naturalized gardens, providing a case study of moving from a “monoculture of grass” to a diverse urban landscape. He will highlight some ideal plants to grow, and introduce us to some of the magnificent mini-beasts that occur in such naturalized settings. Time: 7:00 p.m. Fee: $5. Registration is recommended. Call 613-566-4791. Location: 240 McLeod Street (corner of Metcalfe St), Ottawa.
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Photo courtesy of blurasis on Flickr
Written by Dan Arnott.
Most of us, whatever our relationship with music, have at some point in our lives heard a song and been struck by the genius of such lyrics as:
love is like a flame that burns you when it’s hot
or
pressed in love’s hot, fevered iron like a striped pair of pants.
That is to say, we thought we could write a better one.
What keeps us from doing so? There’s no shortage of things to write about (despite my examples, the topics of love and high temperatures have not yet been exhausted) but it can be difficult to narrow our focus down from this big, inspiring world to a couple of topics. Ottawa songwriting collective Writer’s Bloc wants to help.
Although the Olympics may have saturated our appetite for all things “great” and “Canadian”, the Great Canadian Song-Along is still definitely worth checking out for aspiring songwriters. The premise is dead simple:
1. Writer’s Bloc picks four topics in advance.
2. Local songwriters write a song about one or more of these topics.
3. The songwriters show up to the Elmdale House Tavern on Wednesday April 7 and Thursday April 8 to perform their songs from 7pm onwards for their fellow writers and the general public.
It’s a warm and inclusive celebration of the songwriting craft and the wide variety of interesting and crazy characters that practice it. Writer’s Bloc is partnering with the Spirit of Rasputin’s folk music organization to present this event.
Glebe Clothing Swap
Date: Friday, March 12, 2010
Time: 11:30 AM
Location: Glebe Drama Room
Stop spending your hard-earned money! Start taking advantage of others’ fashion sense! Come to the clothing swap on March 12 in Glebe’s drama room!
Do you have clothing that has lost its appeal long ago? Do you have clothing that you would never DARE wear in public? Do you have clothing that you bought on impulse and would never DARE be caught wearing again? well first, blame the media for making you feel insecure, and THEN bring it to the clothing swap so you can choose a complete new wardrobe!
For every piece of clothing brought you will receive a ticket allowing you to take home ANY available garment. Bring your clothing to the ticket wicket between march 8 and 11th during lunch.
Also, there will be an entrance fee of $4, as proceeds will go towards this years fashion show!
Help put an end to the unnecessary, wasteful, disgraceful addiction to shopping!
All clothing left behind will be donated to a local woman’s shelter.
From March 26 to 28, Carleton University will hold Ottawa’s largest antiquing event. You’ll be able to find one-of-a-kinds, unique home fashion, gorgeous period pieces, cheap chic, terrific textiles, stunning jewellery, decorator finds, country pine, antique furniture, fun fleas and art.
Where: The Fieldhouse at Carleton University Bronson Ave. and Sunnyside
Hours: Fri. 5-9 Sat. 10-5 Sun. 10-4
Cost: Admission $8 (Under 18 free) Free Parking & Re-admission
Photo courtesy of Robbie's Photo Art on Flickr.
By Aneka Rao
This year marked my first winter in Ottawa. I’d heard horror stories about the wet, bone-chilling cold and snow piled up above your head. Stay inside and hibernate, that was the advice I got. But four months is a long time to be cooped up, so in January, I signed up for the Intro to Winter Mix with Ripple Adventure.
Every Thursday, I go on a different winter adventure – downhill skiing at Camp Fortune, snowshoeing along the Ottawa River, cross-country skiing in Gatineau Park, speed skating on the Rideau Canal. As a newcomer to winter sports, which I traditionally avoid like the plague (chalk it up to laziness and an aversion to cold weather), it’s been an incredible experience and a great way to beat the winter blues by staying active. Plus, we get personal instruction from certified professionals, which greatly diminishes my fear of breaking bones and/or making a fool of myself.
Click to continue reading “Making Waves with Ripple Adventure”
Photo courtesy Innes Wilson and the Opposition's myspace page.
So, in the interests of giving us all as much time to spend outside as possible (it’s supposed to be 10 above this weekend!), here’s your short and sweet weekend round up:
Music! Babylon has two great nights (one and two) in store if you’re looking for a little dancy action. Especially exciting is GOOD2GO at the Elmdale on Saturday night - Ottawa needs more taverns with regular music shows. The regulars playing pool in the background always add a quirky element…
Need a new spring wardrobe? Umi Cafe (610 Somerset W) is hosting a clothing swap on Saturday. Bring your tired old clothes and trade them in for something new and exciting! And if you happen to find a really great vintage outfit, just stick around for their Retro Dance Extravaganza later that evening.
For those in need of more words in their life, there’s another installment of the Dusty Owl Reading Series on Sunday. And there’s some classic community theatre happening Friday and Saturday, too, in addition to a Capital Slam event.
And yes, it’s that dude from Fear Factor who’ll be in town tonight.
So this short list probably misses one great event, but really? Make sure you get some time out in the sun. It’s practically summer out there!
Photo courtesy of py3mdwg on Flickr.
Climbing the walls? I suggest climbing a wall.
By Rachel Thistle, sporadic contributor and Ottawa enthusiast
The canal has officially closed, which tells me one thing (well okay, many things, but one is useful here): March. And March weather in Ottawa is notoriously gross. Sure, today might be nice and sunny, but I know that before Spring really kicks off, my feet are going to be freezing and damp and everything is going to be unpleasant.
So if you’re going stir-crazy and need a little exercise, what do you do when you can’t skate and live in fear of the weather? Ladies and Gentleman, Ottawa has two fantastic rockclimbing gyms to Help You Out.
Sunday, March 7 @ 2:00: The Dusty Owl “Open Hoot” returns
In the six years we’ve been housed at Swizzles, the open mike has been one of our favorite aspects of the Dusty Owl. Always entertaining, often surprising, our open mike has seen everything from song to storytelling, from poetry to drumming, from interpretive dance (yes, interpretive dance) to improv comedy.
So we’re kicking off our anniversary month with another classic Open Hoot. Bring your songs, your stories, your poems, your rants and raves. Bring your instruments and your voices. Our shiny antique mike and friendly, welcoming stage are waiting for you. And so is our Object of Desire - the strangest on-the-spot poetry competition in the city!
We’re at the corner of Queen and Kent, down the stairs beside the Thai restaurant! See you there!
Date: Sunday, March 28, 2010
Time: 10:00am - 4:00pm
Location: Routhier Community Centre
Street: 172 Guiges ave.
City/Town: Ottawa, ON
Over 30 vendors offering paintings, crafts, clothing, accessories, jewellery, beauty products, and yummy treats!! $2 entrance fee for a chance to win door prizes from all vendors. Tickets will be drawn every hour!!
Come and shop to your hearts’ content!
Spring Thaw Vendors:
Alice Hinther
Allen’s Creative Crafts
Andrea Sutton
Annette Bellamy
Art by Lois
Baggosh
Beaded Elegance
BeadWorks
Bite
Bloom
Blue Robin Studios
Canteen Art Shop & Gallery
Crafting with Company
Erika’s Essentials
Fingerprint Felts
Food Matters
Harvest Honey
Heather Massie
Hermitage Bags
Joan Alexander
Kathrin von Dehn
Kieran Galbraith
Kristina B
Liebchen Designs
Mains de Mariposa
Maria Lezon
Mariam Qureshi
Meeka’s Creations
Scattered Minds
Shutterflies
Spins and Needles
Sugarbum designs
The Candy Shoppe
The Drama Queen
Three Cheers Cupcakes
Winged Beast Outfitters
I would also like to give a BIG thank you to Michael Kanstrup and Allegra Printing for sponsoring the cost of the printing for the advertising materials and CKCU 93.1fm for running a radio ad for us. We couldn’t have done this without you!
On March 28th at Live Lounge, there will be a Hip Hop and Break Dance showcase and competition to raise funds for Children’s Wish Foundation.
Culture Shock and other local dance crews from Carleton, Ottawa U and Algonquin will be performing. The Doors will be opening at 9:00pm and tickets can be bought at the door for $10 with all of the proceeds will be given towards The Children’s Wish Foundation charity to help children living with a life threatening illness.
There will be many prizes given away throughout the night, as well as programming to involve all participants. Check out their Facebook page here.
