DOORS OPEN OTTAWA (FREE!)
The City of Ottawa is hosting its 10th annual Doors Open, a popular event that gives residents a chance to explore the architecture and heritage of 111 local buildings. This year, stop by the oldest wood-frame house in Ottawa, see our city’s greenest roofs, and enjoy the view from a multi-faceted glass dome in the heart of downtown. Create your own adventure as you get to know the places in your town – it’s up to you where to visit, and when to arrive. Check the website for a full list of participating locations. Saturday, June 4 and Sunday, June 5. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. www.ottawa.ca/doorsopen
THE NEW ART FESTIVAL (FREE!)
Formerly Art in the Park, this annual delight returns with an assortment of art, including exquisite jewellery, lively paintings, and extraordinary sculptures. The city’s largest community-funded art festival is a great setting to discover new art, and to chat with the people who created the art you love. Get there early to make sure your favourite pieces are still available, and enjoy some locally made goodies as you see what Canadian artists have been up to. Saturday, June 4 and Sunday, June 5. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Central Park, Bank Street between Patterson and Clemow Avenues. www.artinfoboy.org
DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS
Get ready to laugh! Presented by Orpheus Theatre, this re-make of popular 1988 comedy Dirty Rotten Scoundrels tells the story of two con men on a series of misadventures. The first, Lawrence Jameson, flirts his way into the pocketbooks of wealthy women, while the other, Freddy Benson (a more humble crook), steals his way into the hearts of women by telling them phony stories of his struggling grandmother. The two men soon realize that this small town on the French Riviera isn’t big enough for the both of them, and the competition begins. Friday, June 3 and Saturday, June 4 at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, June 5 at 2 p.m. Adult $40, seniors and children $37. Centrepointe Theatre, 101 Centrepointe Dr. www.centrepointetheatre.ca
EXIT THE KING
And now for something completely different…. Third Wall Theatre Company concludes its season with Exit the King. Described by the company as “the unlikely lovechild of Monty Python and King Lear,” the play takes a comical look at how we all face death (or, rather, refuse to face it). Friday, June 3, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, June 4, 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Sunday, June 5, 3 p.m. Runs until June 10 $29, students and seniors $22. Irving Greenberg Theatre, 1233 Wellington St. W. www.thirdwall.com
ORLEANS FESTIVAL (FREE!)
Back for another year of family-friendly fun, this bilingual festival is a great event for fans of local art, food, and culture. The second annual Orleans Festival will feature performances and creations that will engage all members of your crew. Catch up with neighbours while your kids fool around with art projects, a fun-filled play zone, and a soapbox derby. The Iron Chef Competition will have foodies working with ingredients from the Farmers’ Market on Centrum Boulevard. Local celebrities will be getting their hands dirty in the ‘most intense cake decorating competition in town.’ At night, take in performances by bands like My Favourite Tragedy and La ligue du bonheur. Friday, June 3, 11 a.m – 11:30 p.m. and Saturday, June 4, 9 a.m. – 11:30 p.m. Shenkman Arts Centre, 245 Centrum Blvd. www.orleansfestival.ca
LINDSAY FERGUSON
Local folkie Lindsay Ferguson spent a few weeks in May recording her latest, Monkeys Under Stars. Hear the fruits of her labour this Sunday at an all-ages afternoon CD release party. After touring and writing in Europe over the winter, Ferguson returned home (and to the studio) with fresh energy and some fab new songs. Sunday, June 5. 4:20 p.m.
The Black Sheep Inn, 753 Riverside Dr., Wakefield. www.theblacksheepinn.com
SPENCERVILLE HERITAGE FAIR
Here’s one for “get out of the city” types. The pretty town of Spencerville, south of Ottawa, hosts a heritage fair to raise money to preserve the town mill. The weekend’s events include an Antiques Appraisal Fair (always popular!) with well-known appraisers there to check out your treasures for a donation of $10 per item; a Historic Market, with heritage craftspeople selling wares and giving demos; horse-drawn carriage rides; and a Victorian Tea. Oh, and Beau’s Beer and great food from The Branch Restaurant. Saturday, June 4 and Sunday, June 5. For a full lineup of events, check out www.spencervillemill.ca
CAPITAL VÉLO FEST (FREE!)
Ottawa’s first bicycle festival has arrived! Visit the Bicycle Rodeo to check out unicycle demonstrations, a display of unique bikes, and bike polo matches. Drop by the decoration station to add some bling to your bike! There will also be workshops on maintenance and proper bike fitting. Later on, take to the streets for Tour La Nuit – an 18 km night ride. As cyclists get ready to take off there will be live music, which will continue until the cyclists return. The organizers of Capital Vélo Fest have plenty of other events planned for the summer, so this is a great place to connect with other passionate cyclists. Saturday, June 4. Festival: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Tour La Nuit: 7 p.m. – 11 p.m. Daytime activities and nighttime concert: free. Tour La Nuit: $20 adult, $15 youth, children 11 and under free. Ottawa City Hall, Festival Plaza, 110 Laurier Ave. W. www.capitalvelofest.ca
CERTIFIED COPY
Written and directed by award-winning filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami, this romantic drama brings us on a journey between two strangers. Juliette Binoche plays an art dealer who meets an English writer, played by William Shimell. The pair travel through Tuscany on a daytrip, where they act like a married couple, arguing and revealing many deeper questions about life and love. Although it’s a drama, the film is well equipped with light-hearted jokes and uplifting philosophies. An Official Selection at the New York Film Festival and AFI Fest. Friday, June 3, 6:55 p.m.; Saturday, June 4, 9:10 p.m.; Sunday, Jun 5, 1:45 p.m.; Sunday, June 5, 6:20 p.m. Runs until Thursday, June 9. $10; seniors and students, $7 . Bytowne Cinema, 325 Rideau St. www.bytowne.ca
— by Kathleen Black