Festivals, shows, tours, and talks for those craving big ideas, beautiful objects, and inspiration

Oct. 15 – Nov. 7

Window Shopping by Eryn O’Neill is based on the act of searching for inspiration by “window shopping” for source material, and features oil-on-canvas paintings of restaurants, stores, and other places around town you might find familiar. Dale Smith Gallery, 137 Beechwood Ave., 613-321-0101,
www.dalesmithgallery.com

Oct. 21 – 24

Handmade creations by more than 150 artisans, artists, and designers are on the bill at the Signatures Ottawa Christmas Show. If you covet unusual pieces, check out fine art cement decor from Montreal artist Dapila. $7. Aberdeen Pavilion, Lansdowne Park, 1015 Bank St., www.signaturesottawa.ca

Oct. 20 – 24

Pieces of furniture are the stars of the show at Furniture of My Mind, a series of screenings at the Ottawa International Animation Festival that look at these household mainstays as adversarial, comical, ironic, even sex-crazed. The films include an Academy Award winner, plus flicks by Walt Disney and Pixar. $12 per screening. Various locations, 613-232-8769,
www.animationfestival.ca

Oct. 22 – 24

Silvano “Nano” Campeggi is renowned for movie posters and graphic illustrations created for over 60 Academy Award-winning films. The Artophile Gallery, exclusive dealer of his original works, will be on hand at this year’s Ottawa Antiques Show. $10. Carleton University Field House, 613-521-1970, www.asinter.com

Oct. 28

Urban Capital presents New Thinking in Designing Cities as part of the Trends in Design Series for 2010-2011. George Dark, a landscape architect and urban designer, leads a discussion on the changing dynamic of building a successful Canadian city. $20, full pass $80. 453 McLeod St., www.urbancapital.ca