Another day, another extension of the stay-at-home order. I totally understand it—we have to get the numbers under control—but, sigh. Don’t worry TOO much, though, because there are LOTS of fun things you can still enjoy over the next week or two. Don’t forget to stay within your community, if you’re out and about. Thanks!
Support the Mayfair Theatre and the Hintonburg Public House
Local businesses are getting even more creative in their efforts to sustain their operations during the shutdown. The Mayfair Theatre, a repertory cinema in Old Ottawa South, is holding two online fundraising concerts this weekend—one at 7pm on Saturday, May 15, and the other at 2pm on Sunday, May 16. In both cases, a slew of local musicians are donating their time to the cause. As well as enjoying great music, you can also bid on cool auction items, chat with the artists online, enjoy “film clips and quips” segments, and more. The suggested donation is $15.
Meanwhile, just to the west, the Hintonburg Public House is running a clever crowdfunding campaign to raise $20,000. Donors are eligible for rewards ranging from colouring books and a beer tasting to an online sculpture class. The campaign runs until June 9.
Paddle, sail or motor along a scenic waterway
Ontario’s Water Trail is a new initiative to promote boating and paddling along three of Eastern Ontario’s gorgeous waterways: the Ottawa River, the Madawaska River and the Rideau Canal. On this one website, you can learn about outfitters who can get you out on the water in a houseboat, raft, canoe or kayak in a COVID-19-safe way.
Visit a farmers’ market
Up in Wakefield, the local farmers’ market opens for the season on Saturday, May 15, in a new temporary location near Ski Vorlage. A number of other markets are already operating, including those in Carp, Metcalfe, Kemptville and Brockville. If you’re wondering whether your local market is up and running, check out my recently updated list of 35+ farmers’ markets.
Sign up to learn about camping
The travel restrictions of the last year or so have led many Canadians to think about camping. If you’re keen but seeking a little guidance, the Ottawa Public Library has just the thing for you: a series of free online talks about camping, including an introduction to camping, a session on camping with young kids and a talk about wildlife tracking. There are separate sessions in English and French, and the events are free. You don’t even have to be an Ottawa Public Library member to sign up. The sessions will be held in June, but registration is open now.
Celebrate all things tulip
The Canadian Tulip Festival (May 14 to 24) is a virtual event this year, so you can enjoy all those pretty flowers without fighting for a parking spot! You can take a livestreamed virtual tour of the gardens, enjoy online painting classes, watch a moving Veterans’ Day Ceremony (May 18) and more.
Meanwhile, this is the last weekend this season to pick your own tulips at Green Corners Farm near Edwards in southeast Ottawa. All visitors aged four and up must have a ticket, and the farm strongly advises people to purchase them online in advance. COVID protocols are in place.
Get cooking
This weekend’s classes are already sold out, but there are still spaces available in the Urban Element’s two online culinary classes next weekend—so now’s the time to sign up if you’re keen to make a vegetarian Italian menu featuring eggplant Parmesan, cheese-and-peas arancini, and a torta Caprese (Friday, May 21), or Middle Eastern specialties such as lamb kofta, zaatar pita chips and baklava (Saturday, May 22).
Learn about Oz author L. Frank Baum—and his famous mother-in-law
Did you know that L. Frank Baum, the author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and many sequels, has a connection to upstate New York? Further, did you know that his mother-in-law Matilda Joslyn Gage was a noted suffragist and social activist? You can learn more about both of these eminent folks during an online chat with some of their descendants on Saturday, May 15, at 8pm. Sponsored by the Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation in Fayetteville, NY (not far from Syracuse), the virtual event will also feature a musical performance by neo-cabaret artist 3rian King. Tickets are US$10. (Want to find out a bit more about Gage and Baum? Check out Peter Johansen’s post about the All Things Oz Museum in Chittenango NY.)
Read my new book—and enter a contest for a Merrickville getaway
I hadn’t even had my first sip of tea yet this morning when the amazingly energetic owner of Ottawa Press and Publishing, Ron Corbett, arrived with my author copies of Ottawa Road Trips: Your 100-KM Getaway Guide! Yes, folks, it’s off the press and if you pre-ordered a copy, it will soon be in your hands. If you live in the Ottawa area, a rep from the company will actually drive to your house and deliver it; if you live further afield, it will come by Canada Post. Either way, you’ll soon be able to thumb through it to plan your post-lockdown adventures (with an emphasis on “post”—as we’ve learned to say in the travel writing biz this year, “dream now, travel later”).
Didn’t pre-order a copy? Don’t despair! You can still order one directly from the publisher, buy it from Chapters/Indigo, or buy it from your favourite independent bookstore (if they don’t have it in stock, they can easily order it).
And don’t forget to subscribe to the publisher’s mailing list by June 14 for the latest news on all of Ottawa Press and Publishing’s regional books AND for the chance to win a one-night getaway for two to Merrickville!
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