With May being just around the corner, it’s time to look ahead at the upcoming events that are scheduled to take place in the National Capital this month.
To start things off, Gatineau visual artist Isabelle Boucher is presenting an exhibition at Bistro Ambrosia Ristorante in Aylmer from April 29 to July 29, 2012. The vernissage takes place next Sunday, May 6 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Isabelle principally utilizes pastel colors in her artwork to depict bird’s eye view renditions of her native Abitibi region. A must-see!
If you’re into hip-hop, you might be interested to know that Termanology, Reks and Statik Selektah will be stopping in Ottawa on Thursday, May 3 as part of the Showoff Tour. The show is happening at Ritual Nightclub and tickets can be purchased in advance for $10 and at the door. More info available below.
The 60th edition of the Canadian Tulip Festival kicks off May 4 and continues until May 21, 2012. The opening event takes place on Friday, May 4 at the Mercury Lounge and is themed around the festival’s new tulip logo called “Embrace”. The largest tulip festival in the world will present many events that will take place in the ByWard Market, Little Italy, Chinatown and other popular areas of the city. From music in the streets, to the Great Canadian Tulip Treasure Hunt, to the popular International Pavilion, and a Commemorative Garden Party, this year’s edition promises to delight both visitors and local residents who plan to partake in the festivities. Let’s just hope Mother Nature cooperates with the tulips this year. You can find all of the festival details on the official website here.
On Friday, May 4, the Austrian Cultural Forum presents Florian Kmet live at the Mercury Lounge. The Austrian musician, guitarist, and singer, who’s main project is called KMET solo, will perform at 7:00 pm on the occasion of his first visit to Canada. Please note that this is a FREE event thanks to the Embassy of Austria. You can obtain more details here.
Also on May 4, for those who enjoy funk and soul music, Lee Fields & the Expressions will be performing at Ritual with Ottawa’s own soul and reggae providers Slim Moore & the Mar-Kays and Deejay Zattar. The soul singer and his band will be in the National Capital to present songs off of the new record Faithful Man along with some classics. Tickets are $23 presumably at the doors since it isn’t indicated anywhere that you can purchase tickets online.
On Saturday, May 5, DNA Entertainment presents Static featuring Zomboy, an electro/dubstep DJ from the UK. The event takes place at Babylon Nightclub starting at 10pm with Bass Machines. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here.
Earlier on Saturday, May 5, the Urban Craft Market is taking place at the corner of Holland and Wellington St. The website describes it as “Ottawa’s first and only monthly craft market, featuring the freshest and hippest vendors around! Taking place the first Saturday of every month in the heart of Hintonburg, Urban Craft is the place for you to find that perfect gift, your new favorite cupcake, or the perfect accessory for your next night out on the town.” Sounds like a great place to browse and discover unique things and enjoy delicious treats.
Then on Sunday, May 6, North America’s Biggest Clothes-Swap takes place at Mambo Restaurante with a suggested donation entry price of $10. The S.W.A.P. Team, a non-profit organization based in Montreal, created the largest known public effort in community clothing recycling for North America: a giant clothing swap called Take Off Your Clothes. People who wish to participate should bring gently worn, clean clothing items for men, women or children in wearable condition. They will then be issued tickets valid for a 1-for-1 exchange at the event. Any clothing remaining at the end of the event will be donated to partner organization The Goodwill. This is perfect if you’re looking for inexpensive clothes for yourself and/or the family.
On Sunday evening, John Carroll and the Epic Proportions will be doing a show at the Blacksheep Inn in Wakefield with special guest Andre M. Bluteau starting at 4pm. The group, which offers a mixture of country blues, folk, roots and rock music will be presenting their second performance to date at the Blacksheep Inn. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased in advance at http://www.worldfamousmusic.net
This is just a start as more events will be announced next week. Stay posted!
