In Today’s Edition → The City wants your culture comments → Book your seat at Play Food and Wine's upcoming Burgundy Wine Dinner → Deals of the Day on adult toys Made in Ottawa plus socks and City of Om tix → ⛅ High 4° Low -6° and partly cloudy. ☀️ 6:50 am 🌛 7:26 pm
Weather alert: Environment Canada warns of snow mixed with ice pellets, freezing rain, and possible power outages over the the weekend. |
Comments? Questions? Send them to ‘hello@theottawan.com’ – Martha and Darren |
NUMBER - 2
- – The number of roads named ‘Main Street’ in Ottawa, at least for a short period. City workers accidentally erected a ‘Main Street’ sign on the road leading to the Limebank O Train station in Riverside South. The road is actually named ‘Town Place Square’.
Of course, the one and only ‘Main Street’ is in Old Ottawa East.
Josh Pringle at CTV
➕ Related The proposed name of the new secondary school in Riverside South will be Riverside South Secondary School.
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SPORTS - 🏒 NHL Ottawa Senators 4 – Detroit Red Wings 3 last night
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WHAT’S GOING ON AT CITY HALL |
Joint Planning and Housing Committee and Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee
Monday, March 31, 2025 at 9:30 am - New Zoning By-law – Draft 2
Agenda A copy of the draft new zoning bylaw is available at that link for those who wish to view it |
WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT |
🎭 Culture Plan 2025 - 2031 - The City is inviting residents to attend the launch of the Culture Plan process next week. The Municipal Culture Plan process will update the ‘definition of culture to reflect how residents understand, use, and live the word, informing City supports and programming’, ‘establish a strategic vision and goals to guide the City in supporting residents' access to, expression of, and participation in culture’, and ‘compile a comprehensive public access inventory of Ottawa’s cultural resources, including spaces & places, artists, and groups’. Fun!
The English language launch is 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Michele Heights Community Centre in Bayshore, April 2.
The French language launch is 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Richelieu-Vanier Community Centre, April 1.
City of Ottawa
🌜 Night Mayor - Both the CBC and CTV have articles on what Gatineau’s Mathieu Grondin, Ottawa’s Night Mayor, is up to. Some interesting tidbits: a bunch of local entertainment venues say they have not heard from him; others credit him with working within the bureaucracy to loosen the grip of Ottawa Bylaw officers on public events and the ‘over ticketing’ of delivery trucks in ByWard Market.
Reportedly, he will be launching a new website this summer to ‘promote nightlife venues, attractions and experiences’.
Arthur White-Crummey at CBC Josh Pringle at CTV
💥 Only in Ottawa - Yet another home has been struck by a vehicle, this time a truck hit a car which then hit a structural support of a townhouse. Five residents were relocated overnight then allowed to return home. This is the first car hits home item of 2025. In 2024, we recorded four.
Nathan Fung at CBC
🛒 Grocery Flyers - Every week, @Stromanker reads all the local grocery flyers and posts the deals on Ottawa Reddit. This time, he has found ‘excellent prices on apples, cucumbers, grapes, oranges, pears, and pineapples’ and ‘a bit of welcome price relief on olive oil’.
/Ottawa
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The Poll Yesterday, we asked ‘Is your home prepared for four days without power?’ 13% Yes – In fact, I’m prepared for any Mad Max/Fallout/Last of Us-type situation 34% Yes – I'm well stocked with water, food for both human and pet, and warm blankets 5% Yes – As long as a Holiday Inn is open within driving distance 33% No – But I am concerned about it 14% No – I’ll be fine THE OTTAWAN is quite impressed that so many of you are prepared for an emergency. As for the rest of you, here is the City’s emergency readiness page.
Today’s Poll:
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Which local animal most represents Ottawa? |
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HISTORIC OTTAWA LOGO T-SHIRTS |
Ogilvy’s T-Shirt Charles Ogilvy Limited began as dry goods shop on Rideau Street in 1897, and ended its reign as Ottawa's greatest department store in 1992. Help support the ottawan by buying one of our historic logo t-shirts. BUY A HISTORIC LOGO T-SHIRT |
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THE ROLLING THREE DAY CALENDAR |
Is there an event we should know about?
Please use our easy event submission form
✳️ Means change from previous edition FRIDAY ✳️ 🆓 The spotlight is on the Canadian art publishing scene at Possible Worlds’ Object/Project Art Book Fair. More than 50 exhibitors including artists, community organizations, and publishers from Toronto, Montréal, and beyond will be showing books, zines, printed ephemera, and experimental forms of publication. Tonight and tomorrow at Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre. ✳️ At Arts Court, it's opening day of a new exhibition by artist Serena, which takes a close look at the effect of excessive screen time on young people. The 5th Ottawa Black Film Festival opens with a live red carpet and in-person screening of Samia at Library and Archives Canada. Pay $59+ tax to attend all screenings in person or $49 + tax for the online programme. The vibe is Maritimes at the Orléans Legion East Coast Kitchen P:arty. At Art House, the jazz flows straight out of a 1920s speakeasy. Get a Friday night pass for $25 for the VERSeFEST Ottawa readings tonight at Carleton University Dunton Tower 2017 and Happy Goat Laurel. Sing like you’re in the movies at the Pitch Perfect Sing Along with Deke Sharon (he was the Musical Director for all three films). The 27 Club plays indie pop, rock, punk, and new-wave from 10:30 pm til late. New dance music venue Gridwrks welcomes Pleasurecraft, a techno duo from Washington DC and Stockholm. With opener Madison, a rising star in Ottawa’s house music scene. OK Naledi performs at Queers & Beers. From 6:00 pm at Queen St. Fare. Silent Sky continues at the Gladstone Theatre. ByTowne Cinema: The Penguin Lessons, Miséricorde (Misericordia), Flashdance w/Frisque Femme Burlesque Mayfair Theatre: I’m Still Here, The Way, My Way, Mulholland Drive Gigs Mindful Drones, LoganWow live painting. Night Oat Still Youth, Never Easy, Corascene. 27 Club June Body, Out By Lucy, Cardamom Years. LIVE on Elgin Neon Ghosthouse, Sea-Red, Sourpussy, Dolonia. House of TARG Kristine St Pierre and Band. Stray Dog Brewing Co Brent Butt. Bronson Centre Qwan, Rockpyle, Gallowspine, Look Upon the Heart, Wormburner (short film). Avant-Garde Bar The Ya-Yas (Rolling Stones tribute). Overflow Brewing Co
SATURDAY
✳️ Vanier Sugar Festival is turning 40 this weekend. Visit Richelieu Park and Vanier Sugar Shack 300 & 320 Pères-Blancs Ave for pancakes, maple taffy, hot chocolate, Orléans Brewing Co bevies, free live music performances, a huge paint-by-numbers collective art project, axe throwing, a petting farm, and other family activities. ✳️ Affianced couples will be descending upon EY Centre for inspiration and to chat with experts about the big day at the Ottawa Wedding Show. ✳️ The Possible Worlds Object/Project Art Book Fair runs from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre, with the after party getting underway at Ten Toes (837 Somerset St. W) at 7:00 pm. If you’ve been accustomed to buying your Filipino rice bowls to enjoy at home, take a seat at the brand new Saboroso Bistro at 782 Eagleson Road. The storefront is becoming a dining space, shared with Chicha Sen Chan Bubble Tea. Update the kids’ wardrobes with items from the St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church Swap and Sew. Road Trip: We’re pretty sure you don’t need an extra reason to visit one of the most attractive small towns in the region. If you do, Merrickville’s Makers Spring Market will offer some early Mother’s Day shopping from more than 30 vendors. - As Ottawa Black Film Festival continues at Library and ArchivesCanada and online, the schedule ranges from a program of Narrative Shorts; films about Being Black in Canada; the feature Hanami, and the documentary Legacy: The De-Colonized History of South Africa.
Pay What you Can at Swizzles for School of Bass #68.4: bass house and electro jungle. Bring a non-perishable for the Ottawa Food Bank, too. Nicaraguan-Canadian composer, producer, and musician Brandon Miguel Valdivia, aka Mas Aya, brings his dreamy soundscapes to SAW Centre. Overflow Brewing’s 80s Dance Party features a live and authentically British vibe courtesy of The Start. Shop the new season of ultra romantic and stylish womenswear from Rightful Owner from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Victoire Boutique and meet the brand’s designer Rose in person. Shop from the vintage experts at Vpop613. The Youth Infringement Festival gives Ottawa youth ages 16 to 25 a chance to develop and produce original work with the support of professional mentors. Pay What You Can. As Algonquin College prepares to end its Performing Arts Program, the current students are holding a performance during Youth Infringement Festival today at Arts Court. The performers are hoping past grads and staff attend. Pay What You Can. Which do you love better: 70s disco, or 80s music? You don’t have to choose at the All Disco All 80s All Night experience at the British Hotel in Aylmer. Hole-istic Heath is an educational event for LGBTQ+ people about booty pleasure and care. Join MAX Ottawa and two sexual health speakers for a vibrant afternoon of games, learning, and community!
Following Hole-Istic Health, keep the good times rolling at MAX's Hole Night Long afterparty. Bring your friends, celebrate community, connection and good vibes, and dance the hole night long! ByTowne Cinema: Exhibition on Screen: Dawn of Impressionism: Paris 1874, Miséricorde (Misericordia), The Penguin Lessons, Detour: Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979) Mayfair Theatre: Rani, Through A Glass Darkly, Unforgiven, Super Secret Saturday Night Sinema Gigs Chaös, Sawmill Road, Les Ismore. Avant-Garde Bar One Night Stand. Bar Robo I, The Mountain, Tin Constellations. Irene’s Pub Sarah Ramsay. Art House Café Some Hollow Tubes. House of TARG
SUNDAY Silent Sky continues with a 2:30 pm matinée at the Gladstone Theatre. Community Hang Out: A Gathering for Body Positivity for Fat / Plus size / Voluptuous Baddies. "We will have discussions, games, activities for a low key afternoon. This is meant to be a space to share experiences, build connections, and embrace our unique selves." 🆓 Unbelievably, it's the 1st Annual CKCU’s Got Talent show this weekend (how have they never had one before?). Come and support your favourite on-air volunteers as they sing, dance, joke, and juggle. Buy snacks on site. Set your sweet tooth on stun for Day 2 of the 40th Vanier Sugar Festival at Richelieu Park and Vanier Sugar Shack. 🆓 Genocide Prevention 25, organized by The Alliance of Genocide Victim Communities, "sets to shake the foundations of societal apathy and ignorance." The two day initiative features a press conference and art exhibit on March 30, 2025, followed by a parliamentary seminar on March 31, 2025. The epic Mosaic Eid Festival runs throughout the day, with three separate programs all offering kids’ activities, food (and lots of it), live performances, and goodie bags for the littles. Have some laughs while you raise money for Ottawa Dog Rescue at Yuk Yuk’s. Chris Borris hosts. Barely Bruised Books opens the doors for an Open Mic Poetry Night. The winner, as chosen by the audience, will receive a $30 store credit. A caveat: the space can accommodate just 20 people. All ages are welcome at DA Studio’s Beginner Line Dancing. Beginner Mouse Taxidermy Class teaches the basics of the art form for those aged 16 and over (under 16s must bring a parent or guardian). If you’ve never met a cheese you didn’t immediately love, take note of Maker Food Co’s Sunday Night Dinner: Gruyere Mac & Cheese. ByTowne Cinema: Restoration: Swept Away, The Penguin Lessons, Miséricorde (Misericordia), Detour: Buffy The Vampire Slayer Mayfair Theatre: The Way, My Way, Unforgiven, Ghost Dog: The Way of The Samurai Gigs Open Blues Jam hosted by the Crossroads Blues Band. Rainbow Bistro Chris Holmes. The Brass Monkey Ryan King, Dan Kelly. Stray Dog Brewing Co Wide Mouth Mason. Shamrock Stage at Gavan’s (Quyon) Sunday Night Revue. Irene’s Pub Femininomenon. The Laff Bella White. Club SAW Danny Michel. Red Bird
MONDAY The deadline to enter the Ottawa Humane Society For The Love of Animals lottery, with its grand prize of a new 2025 Audi Q5 Technik 45 TFSI Quattro is Monday morning at 11:00 am. ByTowne Cinema: Miséricorde (Misericordia), Exhibition on Screen: Dawn of Impressionism:Paris 1874, The Penguin Lessons Mayfair Theatre: I’m Still Here, Flow, Mulholland Drive Gigs Anita Velvet, Neurotypes, Apostlebird. Dominion Tavern Daisy Chain Karaoke. The 27 Club Karaoke Mondaze. Atomic Rooster
JUST ANNOUNCED / NOW BOOKING |
Andrew King at Ottawa Rewind has come up with another cracker of a story: Is there ‘an ancient solstice monument south of Ottawa?’. In 1846, the Smithsonian Institution investigated ‘mounds and embankments’ near Prescott. They didn’t prove anything but King says something is there. |
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