Ottawa, we have a problem. I was speaking recently with a friend from out of town when she told me she heard something catchy, funny and slightly believable about the nation’s capital.
She said she had heard that “Ottawa is the city that fun forgot.”
I jumped to Ottawa’s defense, because I like to think that I have fun here all the time.
I found myself hastily listing experiences and anecdotes to prove that this certainly wasn’t the case. She retracted her comment, but I was left feeling somewhat irked. Regardless of what I have experienced personally, my time as arts editor has taught me that there is always something new happening in Ottawa – you just need to do a little digging.
And, that’s what I did. If you hop off your couch and onto Google you will find there are all sorts of hidden gems in the city.
There are all sorts of exciting events and oddities occurring right around the corner, every week.
For those wanting to celebrate the newfound warm weather, “Spring Forward,” an exhibit of artwork by Gatineau artist Natalie Mantha and Ottawa artist Alison Fowler, is on at the Wall Space Gallery from March 27 until April 11, and costs nothing at all.
The show consists of lively spring colours and floral images and sounds like the ideal spring afternoon outing for the city’s visual art fans.
Fashion fanatics can celebrate the opening of one of the city's trendiest boutique's second location on March 27. Victoire is hosting a Wild West Hoe-Down at 1282 Wellington, which includes food, tunes and discounted clothing.
Music lovers have a variety of choices when it comes to what they can check out in the coming month.
Also on March 27, jazz pianist Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concerts are being presented by the Impressions in Jazz Orchestra at the Dominion-Chalmers United Church on Cooper Street.
For the younger, indie-enthusiast crowd – where do I begin?
On April 1, Canadian electro-pop group Dragonette will be performing hit songs at Babylon night club for only $20 in advance. The show promises high-energy and a packed house. Shows like this come almost weekly to clubs like Babylon, Zaphod’s and Mavericks.
Two weeks later, on April 14, Jason Collett of Broken Social Scene will be hitting Zaphod Beeblebrox in the Byward Market with guests Zeus and Bahamas.
Collett is known to put on a great show, and the intimate vibe of Zaphod’s allows for both old and new fans to enjoy and relish in the indie-alternative tunes.
If you want to go enjoy a movie, but are reluctant to leave your pup cooped up at home – there is a way to combine canine and cinema.
On March 28, the Mayfair Theatre is showing the Disney-Pixar film “Up!” and is letting you bring the dog along too – for under $20 and with proceeds going to Good Dog Rescue.
If you’re looking for a mystery adventure that ends in a place you didn’t expect – that can be arranged.
Look into Ottawa UrbanQuest – a package of online clues and rules for under $20 that take about an hour to complete and lead you to an unsuspecting but delightful place, like a nice restaurant in the market.
And for adults who missed out on high school prom, they'll have a chance to dazzle the masses at PROMdemonium. Prom-wear is mandatory at this radical fundraiser . Don't miss the "community-oriented, gender-bending, bike-loving, enviro-humping, queer-diggin', slow dancing big dress wearing prom that you never had" May 1 at Saint Brigid's center for arts and humanities on Patrick Street.
Once-in-a-lifetime opportunities come by the dozen in this city.
Like the chance to hear world-renowned chimpanzee researcher Jane Goodall speak as part of her “Global Perspectives Series: Hope for Animals and their World” on April 12 at the Dominion-Chalmers United Church.
It should be quite worthwhile to hear of the progress made during Goodall’s 50 years of groundbreaking primate activism.
And these interesting and unique events just graze the surface of what is out there.
Maybe outsiders see Ottawa as boring, and that is fine – because we locals know that there is something for each of us.
Non-Ottawa residents might also want to be careful with the name-calling, or else we could become less inclined to let them in on the capital cool.