BARNSTORM 11
Escape from the city and revel in the country air at this unique event. The annual Barnstorm party takes place in a 150-year-old barn, in a space known as “the Odditorium.” Local bands Flow 14, Ashley Newall & Friends, The Reverb Syndicate, and others get the party started; CKCU DJs offer a different vibe in another barn (aka the Chill Zone). Guests are encouraged to “BYOB and whatever makes you happy.” With lots of room for camping and campfires, strolling and swimming, Barnstorm is a great way to let off some of that urban angst. Bus transportation available ($20). Sept. 11. 6 p.m. $10. 15328 Concession 3-4, Finch, ON. www.barnstorm.ca
CATWALK (FREE!)
Prowl through the home studios of 11 Centretown artists during the fourth annual Centretown Art Tour. Get a glimpse of the spaces inhabited by working artists (they’re usually pretty stylish) and take in loads of photography, sculpture, paintings, and more. Watch for the work of Jim Davies, a cognitive science professor at Carleton University who blends Chinese calligraphy, English text, and graffiti-style composition to create truly compelling art. And Meaghan Haughian’s fictional femmes (left) are waiting to stare you down. Sept. 12. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Various locations. www.catwalkottawa.ca
GLEBE’S GOT FLAVOUR (FREE!)
Still not completely festivaled out? Glebe takes on Westboro with its fall fest in Central Park. And, hey, the beer garden and barbecue open at 5 p.m. on Friday night as well as an outdoor family movie. Bring a blanket or chairs. Onstage music and entertainment run from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Local hipster store Slaysh puts its name on the daily skateboarding and bmx competitions. Sept. 10 – 12, Central Park (between Bank, Clemow and Paterson streets). www.Glebesgotflavour.ca
REPLAY- TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES
To all those who missed their chance to see the Beatles live, tribute band Replay is the next best thing, with Liverpudlian accents and retro costumes. Groove to favourites like “She Loves You,” “Yesterday,” “Penny Lane,” “Hey Jude,” and all the other hits that fuelled Beatlemania. Even better? Before the show, the casino’s chefs whip up dinner from their seasonal menu. Now that’s how you do date night. Sept. 10. 8 p.m. $40, plus $30 for dinner. Le Théâtre du Casino, 1, boul. Du Casino, Gatineau, 819-772-2100. www.casino-du-lac-leamy.com
NORSE TALES: MYTHS OF THE NORTH LANDS
If you want to get the kids away from the TV for a night, take them into a world of ancient gods in this performance that is brought to life by local storytellers and the Orleans Young Players Theatre School. Learn about the adventures of Odin, Loki, and other inhabitants of Asgard (capital city of the Norse gods), who have inspired everything from operas to J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. Sept. 12. 7:30 p.m. $15, students and seniors $12. Shenkman Arts Centre, 245 Centrum Blvd., Orleans, 613-322-8336. www.ottawastorytellers.ca
PHOTO STROLL (FREE!)
Three of the city’s coolest art shops/galleries are all within a block or two of one another and have some great photography on show. Wander down and discover some talent. First up, La Petite Mort Gallery showcases “User Men Photographs,” a series of moving portraits by photographer Tony Fouhse of drug users who hang out on Cumberland Street. Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (306 Cumberland St., 613-860-1555. www.lapetitemortgallery.com). Canteen gallery ties into the House of Paint weekend with a photo exhibit of hip-hop history in Ottawa. They’re promising a licensed event with music. Friday, Sept. 10, 7 to 10 p.m. (238 Dalhousie St., 613-216-0083, canteenlife.com). And, if you want to be the one to discover them first, The School of the Photographic Arts presents A+3, the best images from their part-time students, past and present. Friday, Sept. 10, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 11, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 168 Dalhousie St., 613.562.3824, www.spao.ca