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HELLO OTTAWA

• In the weekend ottawan:

  → If you don’t count the library, police, or OC Transpo, the City is running a budget surplus

• → Eat some cricket ice cream and watch the cockroach races tomorrow at Bug Day Ottawa. Hello? Hello? Please don’t unsubscribe.

• → Radio station Lite 98.5 is going off the air at the end of the month
  
  🍸 Congratulations to reader Lauren A, whose name was drawn from Martha’s mom’s choosin’ hat to win a pair of tickets to Split Tree Cocktail Co's Martini Madness this evening. The correct answer was: ticket holders will learn to make three martinis.

– Martha and Darren

STATS

Number

• $10.4 million
• – The City’s budget surplus for the first six months of the year, which is projected to be reduced to a  $5.8 million surplus for the entire year. Most of the savings came from higher water usage charges, lower winter expenses, and staff vacancies. The budget also does not include the Ottawa Police Services Board, the Ottawa Public Library, or OC Transpo. (Josh Pringle at CTV)

Ottawans (honorary) of the Day 

• Donovan Bailey and Kim Thúy
• – The world’s fastest man (at least in 1996) and Governor-general’s Award-winning author Kim Thúy will be in a 90 minute discussion Sept 11 at the Museum of History. (Tim Baines in the Ottawa Citizen) (Game Changes at the Museum of History)

Quote 

• “

• The whole thing is a waste of time, a waste of money, waste of taxpayers’ money. It’s just stupid

• – Shared Services Canada employee Shohreh Khajavi on Federal public employees being required to spend a third day in the office, starting Monday. (Catherine Morrison in the Ottawa Citizen)

Sports

• ⚾ FRONTIER Ottawa Titans 2 – Québec Capitales 1 last night

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CITY HALL AGENDA

What’s going on at City Hall

No meetings Monday.

📋 Meetings and agendas

WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

🗳️ Voting

• The City of Ottawa's Elections Office wants to know what you think about voting in the civic election. Looking at the survey, the ottawan isn’t sure what the Elections Office is concerned about: the questions ask if the ballots were clear, did you know who the candidates were (and who eventually won), how was the signage at the polling place or, for mail in ballots, were the instructions clear. All fair questions, but, to us, nothing about the Ottawa ballot system seems materially different from Federal and Provincial elections. You have until October 3 to let them know what you think. (City of Ottawa)

🚒 Ottawa Fire Service

• All City flags will be lowered to half mast on Sunday in commemoration of National Firefighter’s Memorial Day. The day honours those firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty. (City of Ottawa)

🚨 Ottawa Police Service

• Five Ottawa police officers are suing the Ottawa Police Service, alleging that they and their families were wiretapped. All five constables are of Somali descent and have neither been charged with anything or been given an explanation why they were under surveillance.  ( Shaamini Yogaretnam at CBC News )

⚕️Ottawa Public Health

• Dr Vera Etches is asking parents to keep kids at home if they are ill this school year. The chief medical officer brings this up in a bid to lower the rate of respitory illnesses, including COVID 19, influenza and RSV, as well as whooping cough. (Josh Pringle at CTV)

📻 Capital Music

• Three local radio stations will cease broadcasting as of September 20. Lite 98.5, CHRC FM in Clarence-Rockland, and CKHK-FM in Hawkesbury are being shuttered by Toronto-based owner EVANOV. The company said the stations were a ‘drain on cash and personnel resources’.  (Édition André Paquette)

🚌  OCTranspo

• OC Transpo says it is trying to fix an error with some student U-Passes. Students who are affected get a message that says the pass is not activated. Algonquin College students have been affected, it's unknown if students at other Ottawa colleges and universities have the same problem. OC Transpo says students can still board the bus or O Train. (Ted Raymond at CTV)

🏗️ Development

• Sobeys wants to build a seven building development near the future Orléans O Train station, with no mention of a grocery store. The company is asking for a zoning change to develop ‘“vibrant mixed-use” highrises with six-storey podiums featuring commercial and retail space on the ground floor’. (David Sali in the Ottawa Business Journal)

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MORE FROM THE OTTAWAN

• 🍺 Our Ottawa-Gatineau Craft Brewery Map

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EVENTS

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Please use our easy event submission form

Today

• What are you doing tonight? If you haven’t booked your ticket for Split Tree Cocktail Co's Martini Madness, there’s still time. 

• Latin Sparks Festival, or ‘Canada’s Baddest Latin Fest’ takes over LeBreton Flats for two days of beats, dance battles, workshops, DJs, live music, and flavours from more than 10 food trucks. Tickets are almost gone, so get booking. $49.95 (or $39.99 each when you book two); VIP Bottle Service also available. 

• Aero Gatineau-Ottawa 2024 officially takes off with a drone and pyrotechnics show tonight. 

• The Sci-fi star power at this weekend’s Ottawa ComicCon is electrifying, with every Hobbit you can think of from Lord of the Rings (including Frodo himself, Elijah Wood), The Orville’s Chad Coleman, Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, and Calum Keith Rennie from Battlestar Galactica, Giancarlo Esposito, Lucy Davis (‘OMG! Dawn Tinsley of the original The Office!’ squeals Martha), Denis Lawson of the original Star Wars trilogy, Robert Patrick of Terminator 2, and more in attendance.

• Summer isn’t over yet; enjoy one of the final festivals of the season in Gatineau with music stars like Sean Paul and Deadmau5. Riverside Festival at the Canadian Museum of History.

• 🆓 Bring a picnic and your favourite throw blanket to the Capital Pop-Up Cinema screening of Matilda, right around 8:00 pm (dusk) at Churchill Seniors Community Centre, 345 Richmond Rd, K2A 0E7 

• The Laylit party series stops at Club SAW for the evening, offering multi-genre music from the Arab and North African countries. From $25.57. 

• Laugh among the flowers at the Luxe Blooms Comedy Night. Louise Gingras hosts, with comics Eva Wong, Farrah Samuels, Lauren Lane and Loot Spot providing the laughs. 

• ByTowne Cinema: Dernière Danse (Last Dance), Close Your Eyes, Didi, Fallen Angel

• Mayfair Theatre: Across the River and Into the Trees, His Three Daughters, Big Shark 
  
  Gigs

• 80s Dance Party. House of TARG

• Ed Lister Group. Montgomery Scotch Lounge

• Wyntr. Café Dekcuf

• Warpark. LIVE on Elgin

• Out by Lucy, Pretty Good, Lady Grey, The Phantoms. Rainbow Bistro

• Blingo Night. Pour Boy

• Lilac. The Brass Monkey

• Loon Choir. Irene’s Pub

• The Yodas (night one of two). Barley Mow Merivale Road

Tomorrow

• 🆓 We’ll never know how we neglected to mention Bug Day in last Wednesday’s Food and Drink update, but if you’ve been longing to sample cricket ice cream, tomorrow’s your chance. On the other hand, if eating bugs isn’t your thing, you might enjoy the cockroach races, learn how to identify the critters you encounter, speak to an entomologist about all things bugs, and generally immerse yourself in the world of insects. Bug Day Ottawa is presented by Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids, and Nemotods. 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Experimental Farm, 960 Carling Ave., K1A 0C6. 

• Road Trip: The 2024 Akwesasne Powwow fills Lamoureux Park in Cornwall with two days of drumming, dancing, and great food and drink. 

• Road Trip: It almost sounds too good to be true, but the Harvest festival at Carleton Place Farmer’s Market will run both a Chili Contest and a Pie Contest. As exciting as those competitions are going to be, there’s a slight chance that all eyes will be glued to the 4H Rabbit Relay. You’ll only know for sure if you go to the event at 7 Beckwith St., Carleton Place. 

• Visit more than 50 vendors Square Lemon Ottawa’s Fall into Craft Marketat the Glebe Community Centre (175 Third Ave). 

• Kick up your heels at Barn Dance in support of the Navan Pavilion Project. The Young Bucks will supply the tunes, with Wooden Nickels opening. 

• Almonte Fibrefest weekend means shopping from more than 80 vendors selling completed pieces, fibres, and other supplies, and you can also register for the workshop series, which run until September 11. Until Sunday at Mississippi Mills Textile Museum and Almonte Community Centre. 

• Urban Art Collective’s Antique & Vintage Market 2 promises homewares, vintage clothing, toys, and vinyl records, alongside tasty food and drink from the onsite vendors. It's a pet friendly. Noon to 5:00 pm at 1088 Somerset St W. 

• One of the best things about Fall (even when it’s still technically Summer) is the chance to peek behind the curtain during artist studio tours. There are nearly 30 artists taking part in the Arteast Ottawa Fine Arts Studio Tour, today and tomorrow from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. 

• Stray Dog Brewing Company celebrates their 7th anniversary Saturday with a family-friendly Seven Year Itch Party. This celebration will have everything a good gathering needs: Beer, food, music, games, and dogs. 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Buy beer tokens in advance to save time and hassle.

• Ottawa’s newest market and event space, Next Door, officially opens today with a shopping experience provided by 20 vintage retailers.

• (Massive) Road Trip: Savour East Ontario – a network of food and agricultural businesses in Eastern Ontario – presents Savour the Field / Au coeur du champ: a one-day celebration of the agri-food community. From 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, enjoy unique experiences at one or more stops on the event's impressive list of participating farms, restaurants, and other producers. Each location has a QR code that you can scan, and once you’ve collected five or more you’ll be entered into a draw to win a gift basket with items from many of the participating businesses. the ottawan loves a challenge, and we want to hear from you if you make it to five or more stops on the trail. 

• One for the nerds, in the best possible way: Rogues & Reveals is a burlesque, drag, and music event based on fantasy table-top role-playing games. This event is brought to you by Toronto’s Nerd Girl Burlesque. 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm at Arts Court. Tickets $27.96 

• BeechFest is Vanier’s favourite street party, with live music, food and drink, a drag show, and MPCCC Pints in the Park. 

• Afrofestival celebrates African cultures with food, drink, fashion, art, dance, drum classes, and an incredible line up of live music by African-Canadian artists. Tickets $30 plus fees. Today and tomorrow at Mooney’s Bay Park. 

• We've entered the corn maze season. The 3-acre maze is ready at Log Farm, and once you and the kids have found your way out there’s plenty of other fun stuff to do. Take a wagon ride, go scarecrow spotting, visit the animals, turn the littles loose in Matilda’s Pioneer Play Kitchen, wander through the Enchanted Forest, and soak up the late summer sun. The farm is open rain or shine, so dress accordingly. 

• The gates open at 10:00 am at the Aero Gatineau-Ottawa 2024 show. 

• Road Trip: Ridge Rock Brewing in Carp is holding a fundraising concert for the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre. As I am Kentucky provides the live tunes, you can bid on the auctions offering fabulous prizes and enjoy the fine beer and food. While you’re at the brew pub, take note of the local touches like the steel around the bar, which was taken from the old railroad, and the tables made from area trees. Ridge Rock is a true community meeting place. 

• Road Trip: Art lovers will want to catch the artists in action at the Smiths Falls Heritage Museum Rideau Artist of the Year Competition 2024. Watch today and tomorrow (Sunday September 8) in Centennial and Murphy Parks as artists recreate the scene in front of them, live and in the open air. The finished works will be submitted for judging, and all pieces will be on display at the Artisan Village in Smiths Falls. 

• Road Trip: Today’s highlights from the Almonte Fair: after the gates open at 9:00 am check out the Light Horse Show. They say there’s an actual unicorn in the Agricultural Education Tent (let us know what you find!). Meanwhile the competition will be hot in the Chili CookOff at 4:00 pm. 

• What’s on your shopping list for the farmer’s market this weekend? Apples are in season, but so are beets, celeriac (they make delicious chips, btw), cucumber, garlic, new potatoes, Swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips and zucchini, along with many others. Stop by a market near you:
  
  🥕 Ottawa Street Farmers’ Market at Grande Allée Park (Saturday) 
  
  🥕 Beechwood (Saturday) 
  
  🥕 Westboro (Saturday)  
  
  🥕 Lansdowne Market (Sunday) 
  
  🥕 Road Trip: Almonte (Saturday) 
  
  🥕 Road Trip: Carp (Saturday) 
  
  🥕 Ottawa Organic Farmers Market (Saturday) 
  
  🥕 Alta Vista (Saturday) 
  
  🥕 Elgin St (Sunday) 
  
  🥕 Road Trip: Carleton Place Farmers Market (Saturday) 
  
  🥕 Cumberland (Saturday) 
  
  🥕 Kanata Farmers Market (Saturday) 
  
  🥕 Road Trip: Kemptville (Sunday) 
  
  🥕 Road Trip: Metcalfe (Saturday) 
  
  🥕 Manotick (Saturday) 
  
  🥕 North Gower (Saturday) 
  
  🥕 Stittsville (Sunday) 
  
  🥕 Road Trip: Perth (Saturday) 
  
  🥕 Across the Ottawa River: Old Aylmer Farmers’ Market (Sunday)
   

• ByTowne Cinema: 2024 Cat Video Fest, Saturday Afternoon Classic: It Happened One Night, Dernière Danse (Last Dance), Didi

• Mayfair Theatre: Across the River and Into the Trees, Cuckoo 
  
  Gigs

• Angelina Hunter Trio. Atomic Rooster

• Barrelhouse Tribute Night. Rainbow Bistro

• The Bushpilots, Ken Dirschl. Irene’s Pub

• Big Newton Live. Conspiracy Theory Brewing

• We Walk the Line: Johnny Cash Tribute. Centrepointe Theatre

• Saravah Nights. Club SAW

• Punk Frenzy: Sugar Bomb, Loch Nisse Monster, Victor Complex. Café Dekcuf

• Sorry Snowman, Frown Line, Fleeting Colours. House of TARG

• Bayash Sisters. Red Bird

• Annam’s Family Jazz Project. Montgomery Scotch Lounge

• Big Shiny Nite with the Social Distance Band. Bar Robo

• Barrelhouse presents the Beatles: Abbey Road. Rainbow Bistro

• Hadi Kubba: Dirty and Afraid Comedy Tour. LIVE on Elgin

Sunday

• 🆓 Barrhaven Harvest Fest supports Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ottawaand offers fun for the whole family, from the bouncy castle to shopping with the many local food producers and artisans on site. 10:00 am to 2:00 pm 

• Cheer on the heroic participants in the Canadian Ovarian Cancer Walk at Andrew Haydon Park (3127 Carling Ave., Nepean K2H 5A6. the ottawan salutes all teams and participants but we love a good pun so we’re rooting for the OvaryAchievers team in particular. Whether you’re there to participate or support a team, don’t forget to visit the Merry Dairy truck on site. 

• Bring your appetite to Vankleek Hill’s Festival of Flavours. Main St E, Vankleek Hill K0B 1R0 

• Road Trip: Today’s highlight from the Almonte Fair: Let the Demolition Derby banish your end-of-weekend blues. 

• Ottawa’s newest market and event space, Next Door, is officially open, offering a market experience with 20 vintage retailers. 

• Afrofestival concludes today with a full day of music, food and drink at Mooney’s Bay Park and Beach. 

• Meet fur friends seeking their forever homes at the Riverview Rescues Meet & Greet at Rens Pets, Barrhaven.

• 🆓 Check out the live performances at the Shenkman Centre for the Arts 15th Anniversary Open House starting at 11:00 am. 

• ByTowne Cinema: 2024 Cat Video Fest, Dernière Danse (Last dance),The Godfather Part II 

• Mayfair Theatre: Across the River and Into the Trees, His Three Daughters, Cuckoo 

  Gigs

• Lady Grey and the Phantoms. LIVE on Elgin

• Sunday Night Revue. Irene’s Pub

• Veeze. Bronson Centre

• Accoustic Coffee House. Red Bird

• TRiPOD. Westboro Masonic Hall

• The Radicals. Atomic Rooster

• Big Band Music and Dancing. Buster’s Bar & Grill Kanata

Monday

• 11 O’Clock Numbers is the theme of this months’ Broadway Nights Ottawa’s Musical Open Mic and Sing A-Long. ‘An 11 O’clock Number is a theatre term for that big, show-stopping song that usually happens late in Act 2, typically sung by a major character that comes to an important realization.’ Defy gravity and sing like it’s Rose's Turn. $15 per participant. 

• ByTowne Cinema: Dernière Danse (Last dance), Nos beels-sœurs(Sisters and Neighbors!), Close Your Eyes 

• Mayfair Theatre: Across the river and Into the Trees, His three Daughters, Repo Man 
  
  Gigs

• Jazz Jam with the Beeched Wailers. Irene’s Pub

• Karaoke Mondaze. Atomic Rooster

• Conquer Divide, Civilian, Burn the Evidence, Sovereign Council. The Brass Monkey

Long Runs

• Ottawa Little Theatre’s production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time continues until September 7. 

• Enjoy one of the final outdoor music events of Summer 2024 as the Riverside Festival plays on over the River until Sunday.

• Cirque du Soleil ECHO continues in Gatineau until September 22. 

• The University of Ottawa created the Department of Visual Arts 50 years ago. The Ottawa Art Gallery commemorates those five decades with the exhibition Art School Confidential, until September 22.

Just Announced / Now Booking

• Harvest is a multi-chef food and beverage experience that brings together the city's top award-winning chefs, artisanal beverage producers, and passionate foodies for a night of Farm to Table-inspired delights. All proceeds go to Youturn (non-profit, helping our most at-risk youth), whose mission is to provide evidence-informed, individualized service to help develop the skills to become strong participating members of the community.

• Run an event and it’s a one-off; bring it back the next year and it’s a tradition. Almanac’s second annual Real Bread Festival (Sunday September 22) celebrates the city’s best bakeries with plenty to sample and buy.  In addition: listen as Evelyn’s Crackers founder Dawn Woodward delivers a keynote presentation about the power of whole grain baking,  take part in the workshops, and watch as community members enter their creations for judging in the Real Bread Festival Home Baker Competition. All this for $11.98 per ticket (plus fees). 

• If you register by September 10, your ticket to the Beyond the Pale Bike Ride on Sunday September 29 includes participation in the ride, a cool cycling jersey, refreshments at The Cheshire Cat Pub in Carp and Beyond the Pale, and a donation to Ottawa Mission. If you register after September 10 you won’t get the jersey. $135 per person.

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DEAL OF THE DAY

BUT, ONE MORE THING ...

The Suburban newspaper in Montréal has some thoughts for a weekend jaunt: ‘The City of Ottawa has everything a driveable holiday can offer’. 

So what do they recommend? Go to Ottawa Titans and the RedBlacks matches and eat at Starling, The Métropolitain Brasserie, Cocotte, Somewhere Dine Bar, Red Lobster, Zola’s Restaurant, Nate’s Deli, and The Wellington Diner.

RAPID RESPONSE QUALITY CONTROL

Comment of the week: ‘Good information in an easy to read format’

THE END

the ottawan is written and edited every working weekday by Martha and Darren.

Is there something that Ottawa should know about? Email to us at hello@theottawan.com. We read every single comment. 

We’ll see you Monday.

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