BY MATT HARRISON
Soup And A Vote
Unless you’re serving a gazpacho, one might imagine this dinner-themed event is more suited to colder months. But soup aside, “Making Ottawa ____” (yes, fill in the blank) isn’t limited by seasons. The city, as a community, is evolving year-round, and so why not have a say in how that evolution unfolds? This is your chance. On Thursday, August 28, Soup And A Vote will gather participants around a shared meal — soup (generously provided for by Adam’s Apple Café) and bread (Good Eats Ottawa) — to listen to six presenters pitching projects to Make Ottawa ____. At the end of the presentations, participants will be asked to put down their soup spoons and vote for one of the projects to receive a micro-grant. Cost is $10. This event’s at City Hall, starting at 6:30 p.m. More info, visit here. As for that soup — while it may appear to be gimmicky, but in fact it’s meant to symbolize the idea of an affordable and shared meal served from the same pot. Sort of like creating an event to give everyone a voice to Make Ottawa ____.
City Hall is at 110 Laurier Ave.
Ladystache
Er, Bjork impressions, a wolf hat, and — best of all — lady staches. Intrigued? This is just a taste of the madcap hilarity one can expect from Toronto comedy duo, Ladystache, who perform their brand of improv on Friday, August 29. Their show is part of My Summer Crush, a three week-long improv event, that concludes this weekend at Arts Court. In other words, there’s still time to check it out. The Ladystache show starts at 9 p.m. inside Arts Court. $10. For more info on My Summer Crush, visit here. The improv event closes with a show by the Summer Crush ensemble on Saturday, August 30 at 8 p.m. at Arts Court. Again, $10. There’s a free after party as well — 10 p.m.
Arts Court is at 2 Daly Ave.
Pop-Up Museum
Show and tell — that staple from your childhood school days, which encourages kids to bring something from home to show to their classmates at school — gives adults another go at this experience during the Museum of Science and Technology’s Pop-Up Museum. The event, on Saturday, August 28, allows registered participants the free opportunity to display items that tell their personal history. Billed as a BYOA (Bring Your Own Artifact), the one-day-only event encourages participants to scrounge around for items that are intriguing, unique, rare, funny, or just plain nostalgic, and to share them with visitors — from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Don’t feel like sharing? Stop by instead to check out the collections. More info or to register to get a table, visit here.
Museum of Science and Technology is at 1867 St. Laurent Blvd.
The Heat is On
I imagine the fourth installment of Latin Sparks — a five-part street festival in Ottawa — on Saturday, August 28 is much needed in the wake of the losses suffered by South American teams at this past summer’s World Cup (I gather the July 26th’s Latin Sparks ‘party’ would’ve lost some of its heat due to the Argentinian loss to the Germans a week prior). But time heals all wounds, and so, soccer aside, Latin Sparks takes over Sparks Street, from Metcalfe to O’Connor, for another electric evening of music (two dance floors, as well as live entertainment), dance (free workshop), food, and drinks. Tickets are $10 adv., deals for groups. The event begins at 9:30 p.m. and goes until 2:00 a.m. More info, visit here.
Event is on Sparks Street, between Metcalfe and O’Connor.
A Grannie Celebration
If you have a grandmother, she may be one of many who belong to a group of grannies that exist nationwide and which has its roots in Wakefield, Gatineau. The Wakefield Grannies is a group of grandmothers which — for the past decade — have been raising funds to support their contemporaries in South Africa struggling to raise their children’s children who are motherless because of AIDS (in fact, many of the children have AIDS themselves). Since 2004, the Wakefield Grannies — along with Grannie groups throughout Canada — have raised millions of dollars for the sub-Saharan grandmothers. This Sunday, August 31 the Grannies will be celebrating their 10th anniversary at the Fairbairn House (a newly renovated heritage home) in Wakefield, near the covered bridge, from noon until 4 p.m. There will concerts by a Senegalese musician, Élage M’Baye; an a cappella singing group, SIFA, and from the village’s own Fiddleheads Musical Theatre — plus food (BBQ) and vendors selling unique trinkets and clothing. Tickets are $12 adults, $5 for youth, and $25 for families — available at Jamboree, from a Granny, or at the door.
Chemin de Wakefield Heights, Wakefield, Quebec
The Zilis FREE
Looking for a free! show on the holiday? Check out Hamilton’s rising blues-rock trio, The Zilis, for a show at The Rainbow Bistro on Monday, September 1. The Zilis — a name that may have emerged from the band’s early beginnings as a Red Hot Chili Peppers cover band (The Led Hot Zili Peppers) — embody that hard working, blue collar (are we still discussing workers in terms of collars?!?) one might expect from Steeltown. With opening gigs for Bon Jovi, Matt Mays, Said The Whale, etc., and two albums under their belt, they’re developing into a well-honed group, carving out their unique niche in the Canadian music landscape on this, their Give Me Liberty! Tour. Show’s at 9 p.m., it’s free.
The Rainbow Bistro is at 76 Murray St.