Winter-feud? (Mostly FREE)
As controversy continues to dog the upcoming FIFA Women’s soccer tourney this summer in Canada regarding turf, one wonders how this will play out during Winterlude? I mean, will snow sculptors feature soccer players playing on grass or the artificial stuff? And how does one distinguish that critical difference in snow? I guess we’ll see as FIFA’s “joys of winter” exhibit gets carved during Winterlude, which officially kicks off on Friday, Jan. 30.

This exhibit is but one of many events over three weeks. Lansdowne Park is the newest notable venue — it will feature an outdoor skating rink (refrigerated just in case the soul-destroying winter temps as of late magically disappear), as well as the Winter Design Festival, Design & Build Competition.

A few other things of interest — The opening ceremonies take place on Friday at 7 p.m., typically at Confederation Park… but I’ll admit, information regarding the location appears vague. Introduce your kiddies to downhill skiing (ages 5 to 8) at Snowflake Kingdom everyday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There’s also the Explore 150 Youth Photography Showcase, which highlights places around the country that have most influenced our identity. Curious to see what locales made the cut? Check out the exhibit at Confederation Park. Explore150.ca. Thirsty (and 18+)? Festibiere beer festival will be held inside Canada’s Museum of History (held this Friday and Saturday, from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.) featuring a wide range of beers to imbibe. Tickets and more info here.
Winterlude runs until Monday, Feb. 16. More info, visit here.

New ‘apocalyptic’ date (FREE)
Mark it on your calendar: 2050. That’s when approximately 80 percent of the world’s population will be living in cities — mega-cities. These gargantuan ‘hives’ can, however, be a place that is hospitable, according to Danish architect and professor Jan Gehl — the star of the 2012 doc, The Human Scale. The documentary is being screened, for free, on Thursday, Jan. 29 at Bytown Cinema. Afterwards, a local panel of experts (guest speakers include Catherine McKenney, Somerset Ward Coun.; Alain Miguelez, City of Ottawa planner; David Sweanor, uOttawa adjunct prof. of law; and Inge Roosendaal, development officer of Ottawa Public Health) will discuss what the City of Ottawa has done well and what it can do better with regards to urban planning, sustainable transportation, and creating a more liveable space. Capacity is 650. Event starts at 6 p.m. More info, visit here.
Bytowne Cinema is at 325 Rideau St.

Trick or Treaty? (FREE)
In Canada, one photograph in particular helped define the year 1990 — it featured a Private Patrick Cloutier and a masked Brad “Freddy Krueger” Larocque Mohawk warrior standing face-to-face. That shot — taken by Canadian Press photographer, Shaney Komulainen — helped define for many the Oka Crisis in the fall of that year.

However, this other photograph (above) — a still from Alanis Obomsawin’s film Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance — also shot during the Crisis, perhaps better captures the reality of the tragedy that First Nations people continue to struggle against.

Fifteen years later, acclaimed Canadian filmmaker, Obomsawin once more turns her camera towards issues facing Aboriginals. Her latest, Trick or Treaty?, will be shown on Friday, January 30 at River Building Theatre at Carleton University as part of The Canadian Film Institute’s ongoing guest series, The Enlightened Screen. Obomsawin will be present at the event, which begins at 7 p.m. Admission is free. More info, visit here.
Carleton University is at 1125 Colonel By Drive

Freshly Chopped
There are some who believe that your of taste should align with the other four senses. And those that do, have created an event that combines photography, music, and food into a unique sensory experience — The Freshly Chopped Supper Club. Not necessarily new, the event on Saturday, January 30, will be the first event of the New Year. It will feature 8 courses from “around the globe” along with music by DJ Sash and photography by Theak Chhuom. It happens at Grounded Kitchen & Coffee from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tickets from $48. More info on ticket prices, visit here.
Grounded Kitchen & Coffee is at 100 Gloucester St.

Mercer, the Snowman…
Want to see Rick Mercer break a world record? On Sunday, February 1 CBC funny man, Mercer, will be in Ottawa to tape — and break — the record to build the most snowmen in one hour. According to Guinness, the record stands at 1, 279 snowmen built in one hour, which took place on January, 2011 in Salt Lake City. Over 350 people took part; each snowman had two eyes and a carrot nose. C’mon Ottawa, we can do better than that!

And so, Mercer needs your help — bring gently used mittens, scarves, and hats to decorate your snowmen; after the event, these will be donated to the Salvation Army. The event begins at 10 a.m. at Lansdowne Park; the actual recording-breaking occurs at 11 a.m. There will be a post-event reception as well.
TD Place (Lansdowne) is at 1015 Bank St.