BY MATT HARRISON
FAKERS GONNA FAKE
I guess you could blame it on the rain… or these two fakes: Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus, aka Milli Vanilli, who really brought lip synching into the foray when it was discovered that they weren’t the ones singing on their 1989 record, Girl You Know It’s True. To say the least, the masses were aghast. Like Milli & Vanilli, lip syncing appeals to those of us without talented vocal chords. And on that note (pun) Babylon is hosting a lip synching battle to raise money for lung cancer. Contestants will have 2 minutes to wow audiences with their ability to fake it. Afterwards, a panel of judges — including China Doll — will hand down their verdict. Trophies, tunes by DJ Gerdzilla, and costumes will be part of this spectacle. Lipsync Battle for Life happens on Thursday, Nov. 13 at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $5.
Babylon is at 317 Bank St.
TANGLED DREAMERS
“We have one dream, entwined in a prism, threaded thru a tribe of tangled dreamers…” — Stefan Thompson the WZRDS GNG
Those ‘tangled dreamers’ are gathering for a special night of transformation: specifically, local artist Stefan Thompson and Montreal’s WZRDS GNG, who will be turning Wall Space Gallery into an “immersive environment and spectacle of multidisciplinary and multimedia work inspired by urban/graffiti art” on Friday, Nov. 14. Along with the installation, the art event (called Tangled Dreamers) will include collaborative video art, music by DJs CPU & IAMRURIK, and live digital and mural art. $10 at the door, which opens at 7:30 p.m. — the event goes until midnight.
Wall Space Gallery is at 358 Richmond Road
FAIR-TRADE FASHION SHOW (FREE!)
Looking for fairly-traded coffee? No problemo. Thanks to a growing movement in the past few decades of conscience-minded entrepreneurs and organizations, fairly-traded coffee can now be found in coffee shops (in one form or another), and at most grocery stores. Ditto for chocolate. Fairly-traded clothing, on the other, is harder to find — especially stylish items. There are places in Ottawa to find clothing not made in sweatshops (recall this nightmare), but often it’s a bit of a hunt, and the style isn’t always ‘hip’. It gets a little easier with this weekend’s 10,000 Villages 2nd Annual Fashion Show on Friday, Nov. 14. Teaming up with the Byward Market’s Adorit Boutique, and hosted by CTV’s Melissa Lamb, the free fashion show begins 7 p.m. Stick around for some shopping afterwards. The event takes place at the Ottawa Mennonite Church.
The Ottawa Mennonite Church 1830 Kilborn Ave.
SPEECHES RUIN WEDDINGS
The most painful aspect of watching Rachel’s Wedding (2008) were hands-down the speeches — because no one likes sitting through long-winded speeches about people you don’t really know. That’s because you don’t get the jokes and you’re not so emotionally attached that the tears come easy. But without the speeches, you’re left with good food, free booze, and sometimes (though it’s rare), good music. In other words, a great party. Which is what this weekend’s Best Day Ever Wedding Show Gala will be since I’m pretty sure there won’t be many speeches, if any. Held at the Museum of Nature on Saturday, Nov. 15, the event features 2 inspirational weddings, a 5-course gourmet meal, a swag bag, dueling DJs, and 40 wedding vendors. The event is $89 per person or $75 if you buy a table (6-10 people). Tickets can be purchased here. Door opens at 5 p.m. Speeches start… never.
Museum of Nature is at 240 McLeod St.
ONE & ONLY CRAFT FAIR (FREE! — buffet that is)
Can you beat that?!? Yep, free lunch buffet for vendors and shoppers — which is probably you. What buffet entails is anyone’s guess, but that kind of ‘surprise!’ is often an element of most buffets (whether that surprise comes during the buffet, like, ‘Spring rolls! Goodie’ or hours later, if you catch my meaning). Regardless, the buffet is but one of many enticements at Sandy Hill’s One And Only Craft Fair, happening on Sunday, Nov. 16 at the Community Centre. Lots of local vendors will be selling their handmade wares at affordable prices. See full list here. It runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Sandy Hill Community Centre is at 250 Somerset E.