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Saturday, August 02 August 2025 | ![]() | View Online | Sign Up | Shop |
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☀️ High 31° Low 12° and sunny ☀️ 5:49 am 🌛 8:29 pm |
Welcome to a rare Saturday edition of THE OTTAWAN. Internet issues prevented us from sending out yesterday’s newsletter.
Monday is a holiday, so we will see you again Tuesday, Internet connection willing.
– Martha and Darren
NUMBER
The number complaints received so far by Ottawa Bylaw about alcohol in the eight designated parks since July 1. There were 10 complaints about alcohol in all the other parks. Alcohol is permitted in Brewer Park, Champlain Park, the Great Lawn at Lansdowne Park, McNabb Park, Minto Park, Queenswood Ridge Park, Riverain Park, and Strathcona Park.
OTTAWAN OF THE DAY
The volunteer with Safe Wings Ottawa is campaigning to have the gull wires above Ottawa’s beaches removed. The wires are intended to discourage seagulls from flying over beaches and using swimmers for target practice, however some birds are getting caught up in the cables.
QUOTE
– Glebe resident Marc LeBlanc, one of many locals who say that the constant sound of the air conditioning at the Clemow apartment building near the corner of Carling and Bronson is ‘ruining their summer’.
SPORTS
🏈 cfl Ottawa RedBlacks 31 – Calgary Stampeders 11 last Thursday
🏀 cebl Ottawa BlackJacks 96 – Niagara River Lions 93 last Thursday
⚾ frontier Ottawa Titans 9 – Trois-Rivieres Aigles 3 yesterday
⚾ frontier Ottawa Titans 13 – Quebec Capitales 0 last Thursday
🏉 women’s rugby Team Canada 42 – Team USA 10 yesterday
the ottawan was launched in 2020 as the daily answer to the questions: What’s going on? What should I do? Where is somewhere good to eat? Please consider joining the many other readers with a monthly, annual, or one-time donation to keep the ottawan on its mission. All annual or one-time donations over $60 include an ottawan or historic logo t-shirt of their choice. | Membership levels ✅ $5 mo / Technically Beautiful ✅ $10 mo / ByTowner ✅ $20 mo / City that Fun Remembered ✅ $25 mo / Truly ott ✅ Or make a one-time donation Join Us |
No meetings Monday
🏃 Travelling downtown tomorrow will be its own Ironman event. A dozen streets will be closed, as will most of the bridges at various times. The event starts at 6:00 am with a 3.8 kilometre swim at Britannia Beach followed by a 180-kilometre bike ride through local neighbourhoods, wrapping up with a 42.2 kilometre run around Parliament Hill.
• Tourism Ottawa has good info on how to watch the races.
• The City has an online map of how to avoid the races.
• And if you want to live vicariously, here is an interactive map on competing in the races.
🚌 OC Transpo will start charging 11 - 19 year-olds adult fares starting September 1. City councillors cancelled the youth pass as part of the 2025 City of Ottawa budget. – Josh Pringle at CTV
⚕️The expanded 350-bed medical boarding home at Large Baffin has been put on hold. The facility is intended to board residents of Nunavut who come to Ottawa for medical care unavailable in the territory but funding has come to a halt. Neighbours opposed to the plan took Large Baffin to the Ontario Land Tribunal last year but were unsuccessful. – Nehaa Bimal in Nunatsiaq News
✈️ A small plane that crashed near the Ottawa airport took the life of the pilot. Two passengers survived. The plane had taken off from Gatineau airport. – CBC
Do you have a secret BBQ recipe?
Previously in ottawan polls:
We asked, ‘Have you ever gone to the free Thursday evening at the National Gallery?’
7% Often
14% Once
79% Never
0% Still too expensive
Commentary
▪️ “A free treasure.”
▪️ “The National Gallery has to be a great date spot - you can chat, laugh, admire beautiful things and gage if moving forward to a drink is a good idea! Plus, it’s really yours to enjoy ...”
▪️ “Annual passes are cheap. A couple of hours at the Gallery and Dinner is a great date night.”
▪️ “K, more than once but not always!”
▪️ “I did not know that it was free on Thursdays. I’ll certainly have to check it out.”
▪️ “Honestly though, worth it to buy an annual pass and go any time you want — mid morning is especially idyllic in the NAG.”
▪️ “I am a member and enter free at any time.”
▪️ “Between parking nightmares and the difficulties in the Byward area after dark it’s not something I'll likely take advantage of.”
▪️ “I do think it’s great they offer this to make art accessible to all.”
▪️ “I get a membership now, so I don’t need the free hours.”
▪️ “I tried to once, but it was so busy, I left. I'd rather pay for entry when its quieter.”
▪️ “I have a friend who is a new immigrant who has often gone on Thursdays.”
▪️ “I don’t live close.”
▪️ “I enjoyed it so much, I bought a membership.”
▪️ “Even ended up buying a membership.”
▪️ “A good option for response would have been ‘I’m a member and go when I want’.”
▪️ “Would go again!”
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Is there an event we should know about?
Please use our easy event submission form
✳️ Means change from previous edition
✳️ The Race for Wishes at Hard Rock Ottawa’s racetrack aims to raise enough funds to grant three life-changing wishes for Ottawa-area children facing critical illnesses.
✳️ Crack a geode at the Rock and Gem Expo. Today and tomorrow at the RA Centre.
✳️ Tonight’s Les Grands Feux show is inspired by the rich culture of Japan.
It’s all about “Lammas” or “Loaf Mass Day” (the first harvest of the season) at this weekend’s Ottawa Mystic Market.
🆓 View the staterooms, gardens, and greenhouses at Rideau Hall, today through Monday.
The Ottawa-Galaxy Psychic and Crystal Fair continues at Nepean Sportsplex.
Butterflyway Rangers, Ottawa South Eco-Action Network (OSEAN) and Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library will be gathering to plant a native plant garden at Gaia Organic Seeds from 10:00 am.
The Rocking Dock becomes Margaritaville as the Polar Reefers Jimmy Buffett Tribute band plays all the hits at 4:30 pm and 6:30 pm. Enjoy Rocking Dog cheeseburgers and Bay-Yo frozen treats by the Ottawa River.
Broadhead Brewery welcomes François for an afternoon of acoustic tunes.
See the Bees at Gees Bees Honey Company.
ByTowne Cinema: Kidz Klassics: Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, The Phoenician Scheme, Don’t Let’s Go To The Dogs Tonight, Together
Mayfair Theatre: Saturday Morning All-You-Can-Eat Cereal Cartoon Party, Volume 37, It Happened One Night, Eggington, Boogie Nights
Gigs
Invicta, Raider, Warsenal, Slim & Popular. House of TARG
Macmuwsa. The Shed (Sparks St)
Crime in Progress. Carleton Tavern
Alley Beers, Gilgamesh, Speed Bump Sally, Lars Arms, Live Wrestling. Rainbow Bistro
Such a good time was had by all at last weekend’s Garlic Festival that the folks at BeetBox Farm have declared an “impromptu garlic volunteer day” today from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm. Yes, there will be a BBQ. Just remember your hat and water bottle.
🆓 You should also bring your water bottle as well as a yoga mat to the hour long session of vinyasa flow at Uncommon Space(Bank at Florence).
Meet more than 100 local creators and vendors at the Heart of Orléans market.
Go Foraging For Fungi & Friends - August Edition.
Stittsville’s Market at the Barn is back with vendors offering locally grown produce, locally made crafts and decor, and live music. 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.
Crack a geode at the Rock and Gem Expo.
ByTowne Cinema: Samia, Restoration: Singin’ In The Rain, The Phoenician Scheme, Together
Mayfair Theatre: Sorry, Baby, American Gigolo
Gigs
Legendary Sunday Afternoon Blues Jam. Rainbow Bistro
Core & Catalyst. Club SAW
Dan Kelly, You Might Be Sleeping, Crows Feet. LIVE on Elgin
The Sunday Night Revue. Irene’s Pub
St. Bless and Friends. Rainbow Bistro
🆓 It’s Colonel By day at the Bytown Museum.
Go on a culinary adventure at the Soca Kitchen. For $32 per person, you’ll get a chef-created meal of..well, you’ll just have to wait and see. The experience runs 5:00pm (order by 6:30 pm).
ByTowne Cinema: Kidz Klassics: Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, Don’t Let’s Go To The Dogs Tonight, The Phoenician Scheme, Together
Mayfair Theatre: Sorry, Baby, It Happened One Night, American Gigolo
Gigs
Alien to the Ignorant, The Disconnect, Brutal Play. Rainbow Bistro
Karaoke Mondays. Atomic Rooster
🆓 Today’s Songs From the Shed lineup: Jing Xia | Brian Gallagher. Be on Sparks St. Between Bank and O’Connor) from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm.
🆓 Whether you’re a master or you want to learn to play, check out the Chess Hive Pop-Up in Uncommon Space in the heart of Centretown this evening.
Play unlimited games at House of TARG for just $12.50 per person (plus tax). 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm.
🆓 John Kofi Dopaah plays a midday jazz piano concert in the NAC’s Atrium O’Brien.
ByTowne Cinema: The Phoenician Scheme, Samia, Together
Mayfair Theatre: Eddington, Sorry, Baby, Boogie Nights
Gigs
BigXthaPlug. Bronson Centre
Trivia Tuesday. Irene’s Pub
Enjoy a creative afternoon at BeetBox Farm with “Miniatures in the Flower Patch - A Workshop by Willow's Flowers & Miniature Veg”. You’ll leave with a full size bouquet that you picked yourself as well as a tiny bouquet that you’ve crafted from polymer clay.
Ottawa Circus School is now booking its Fall adult courses in Silks, Aerial Rope, Hula Hooping, and more.
🆓 Bowman’s Bar & Grill’s IPA Day returns Wednesday August 8 with live music, raffle prizes, and, naturally, the best IPA from seven local breweries (5:00 til late).
Also on Wednesday August 7, bring your pup to the Red Apron patio for the Dog Costume Contest for your chance to win a gift card.
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In the Montréal Gazette Susan Schwartz talks to author Louise Penny about her choice to risk book sales by moving her next launch from the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington to the National Arts Centre in Ottawa on October 28. And sorry, it’s all sold out.
What did you think of today’s ottawan? |
Comment of the Week: ‘Loved all the food and drink suggestions! And other summer activities’
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. | ![]() |