For gearheads, this week offers an auto show and a display of vintage snowmobiles. For the stylish, there’s a vintage clothing show and two museum exhibitions devoted to fashion designers. Music fans are spoiled for choice, from country in Merrickville to ska-dub-reggae in Wakefield. Beverage lovers can choose from a new coffee festival and a three-day whisky event. And on top of all this, it feels like spring might arrive soon! Happy road tripping, everyone.
Enjoy Leonard Cohen’s works as a ballet in Montreal
This is a new twist on the works of Leonard Cohen: Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal has created Dance Me, a piece for 14 dancers that brings to life themes and images from Cohen’s music and poetry. You can catch it this week from March 20 to 23.
Learn about bootlegging history in Smiths Falls
Attention, history lovers: Author Larry D. Cotton will be giving a talk called Whiskey and Wickedness in the Rideau Valley at the Rotary Hall at the Settlers Ridge Mall in Smiths Falls on Thursday, March 21. The talk, presented by the Smiths Falls & District Historical Society and the Smiths Falls Heritage House Museum, delves into the history of brewing, taverns, hotels and more.
Get your java fix in Ottawa
Do you love espresso, mocha cake or a great latte? Are you powered by caffeine? Then the first-ever Ottawa Coffee Fest at the Horticulture Building at Lansdowne Park on Saturday, March 23, may be just your cup of java. As well as sampling blends from Bridgehead, Equator Coffee Roasters and the Happy Goat Coffee Company, you can nibble on coffee-friendly munchies, enjoy live music, and learn more about your favourite beverage at workshops on topics such as cooking with coffee and at-home roasting.
See vintage snowmobiles in Malone
If you have a lovingly preserved snowmobile and you’d like to take it out to meet some friends, head to Titus Mountain in Malone, New York, for the third annual Vintage Sled Show on Saturday, March 23. The ski resort will have a dozen of its own vintage snow vehicles on display.
Learn about couture in Montreal
Fashionistas, take note: The newest shows at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts are Thierry Mugler: Couturissime (which features more than 140 garments created by the famed French designer, along with scores of sketches and photographs) and Montreal Couture, paying tribute to 10 Montreal fashion designers and collectives. Both shows run until September 8, 2019.
See the latest cars in Ottawa
Car lovers, start your engines: The Ottawa Gatineau International Auto Show roars into the Shaw Centre this weekend (March 21 to 24).
Catch some live music in Westport, Wakefield, Renfrew, Morrisburg or Merrickville
The Ria Reece Band from Montreal is at the Cove Country Inn in Westport on Friday, March 22, for an evening of soul, rock, R&B and blues, as part of the Blues on the Rideau series.
There’s a full slate at the Blacksheep Inn in Wakefield, with Rosie and the Riveters playing their women-focused folk anthems on Thursday; Ottawa folk singer Claude Munson with Shadowhand on Friday; and local ska-dub-reggae band The Rotators holding a release party for their Pay Your Dues EP on Saturday. (Note that Rosie and the Riveters will also be on stage at the Upper Canada Playhouse in Morrisburg on Saturday.)
It’s a similarly busy weekend at Batstone’s Northern Ramble in Renfrew, with singer-songwriters David Olney and Brock Zeman on a double bill on Thursday, and blues with the Tony D Band on Saturday.
Fans of traditional country music can catch a show by One More Last Chance at the Merrickville United Arts Centre on Saturday. According to the organizers, you should bring your dancing shoes.
Revel in all things maple in New York State
South of the border, New York State Maple Weekend is a bit of a misnomer; it’s actually two weekends (March 24 and 25, and March 30 and 31). You can search for participating maple farms across the state, or head to local tourism board sites for lists. For instance, here’s a list of maple fun in the western Adirondacks, including events in Malone, Keene, Jay and Saranac Lake, while this site lists maple sugar houses in the Adirondack Coast region, a bit further east, in communities such as West Chazy and Ellenburg Center.
If you’re looking for maple fun a bit closer to home, many maple sugar bushes in Eastern Ontario and West Quebec are open now. To find one, check out the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers Association and Tourisme Quebec’s searchable list. And mark your calendars for Ontario’s Maple Weekend on April 6 and 7!
Get home and garden ideas in Ottawa
The Ottawa Home and Garden Show is the big draw this weekend (March 21 to 24) at the EY Centre. Highlights include Living Landscapes, featuring seven new gardens; presentations by outdoor design columnist Carson Arthur and lots of other experts; and exhibitors galore.
Catch a film festival in the Outaouais or Toronto
Almost 80 movies are on the schedule at this year’s Outaouais Film Festival (March 21 to 29), including Hollywood flicks, less widely distributed films, animation, documentaries and a wide range of Quebec productions. There are galas, an awards ceremony and a series of workshops in French.
The Canadian Film Fest (March 19 to 23) screens feature films and short movies by Canadian directors at the Scotiabank Theatre in Toronto. If you’re tired of seeing movies set in New York, London or L.A., this is a great bet.
Shop for vintage clothes in Ottawa
The Ottawa Vintage Clothing Show—returning to the Carleton University Fieldhouse on Sunday, March 24—showcases stylish fashions from the 1920s through the 1980s. As usual, vendors will be selling some serious glam, including designer handbags, couture dresses and much more. Note that the admission fee is payable by cash only.
See a play in Brockville or Kingston
The Brockville Theatre Guild is staging the classic drama 12 Angry Men, in which one juror holds firm to his unpopular decision during a murder trial—to the frustration of the other 11 jurors.
In Kingston, you can see Straight on stage at the Grand Theatre from March 21 to 23. This comedy-drama focusing on issues of sexual identity and acceptance in today’s America has the catchy tagline, “Ben likes beer, sports and Emily…and Chris.”
Raise a glass in Cornwall
For serious connoisseurs of Scotland’s most famous spirit, the Wonderful World of Whisky Show (March 21 to 23) offers a wide array of whisky-pairing dinners and specialist tasting workshops at NAV Play in Cornwall. Some activities are already sold out, but tickets to a number of events on Friday and Saturday are still available. (Ticket sales for some events end on Thursday, so check quickly if you’re interested.)
Laugh a lot in Ottawa
The Alterna Savings Crackup comedy festival is bringing standup of all descriptions to Algonquin College this week. Events include an under-30 “rising stars” competition on Wednesday, March 20, and a gala comedy and awards show on Saturday, March 23.
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