10 fun things to do in the next few days: Valentine’s shopping, Comiccon and an online film fest

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Feeling housebound? Let me help! Here are 10 fun things you can do in the next few days while staying indoors or close to home. From learning to make soap to planning ahead for a memorable Valentine’s Day, there’s more to life than Netflix (much as I do love Netflix). Happy virtual travels!

Get your comics fix

Ottawa Comiccon is holding a Facebook live event on Saturday, January 30, starting at 7pm. Among the highlights for viewers: an interview with actress Emma Caulfield (WandaVision, Buffy), and an auction featuring collectibles, autographed celebrity photos, a copy of Star Wars #1 signed by Billy Dee Williams and more.

Help launch Black History Month

On Saturday, January 30, you can attend the online launch of Ottawa’s Black History Month on Zoom or Facebook from 2pm to 4pm. Highlights include musical performances by local artists, awards and the unveiling of the latest Black History Month stamps. The event is free, but you should register in advance on Eventbrite. (Black History Ottawa also has a YouTube channel, where you’ll find videos like the one above, which explores the history of Black Ottawans whose families arrived via the West Indian Domestics Scheme.)

Learn to make soap

A few weeks ago, I mentioned The Globe and Mail‘s new online craft club. The second event in the series is coming up on Tuesday, February 2. Métis artist Natalie Pepin will be guiding viewers through the process of making soap, starting at 7pm. It’s free to watch, but log on now to review the list of supplies you’ll need.

Catch an LGBTQ movie

Kingston’s ReelOut Queer Film Festival has gone online this year (January 29 to February 6). Choose from a wide range of shorts and feature films focusing on a diverse range of LGBTQ experiences—everything from thought-provoking documentaries to a comedy-horror feature called Death Drop Gorgeous (see video above). Due to licensing restrictions, you must be in Ontario to stream the movies.

Start planning for Valentine’s Day

Sure, Valentine’s Day is still over two weeks away, but you know what shopping is like these days—you can’t just run out to the mall at the 11th hour! Even if you’re getting something delivered, mail is taking longer than usual to arrive. And if you’re planning to pre-order a restaurant dinner for pickup, Christmas and New Year’s proved that those meals often sell out in advance. So put your romantic thinking cap on now, if Valentine’s is your thing. Here are a few ways you can support local businesses at the same time.

• Ottawa-based The Loot Bag Lady is selling a Valentine’s gift box packed with local goodies, including YOW champagne and strawberry popcorn, a bar of Alicja chocolate, and a bag of Animated Coffee (see photo above).
• In Gatineau, Soif Bar à Vin is offering a takeout four-course Valentine’s dinner for two (bien sûr) featuring festive dishes such as smoked salmon and chicken with morels.
• The Chelsea Pub is offering two takeout Valentine’s Day menus, featuring luxurious treats such as lobster ravioli with truffle oil, and chocolate-raspberry mousse.
• In the Ottawa Valley, Calabogie Family Farm has a new initiative called Community Blossoms. Sign up for a share and you’ll receive a fresh bouquet each week from late June to late September, with net proceeds going to local food banks. In this, the program’s first year, pickup points are being organized in Arnprior, Renfrew, Calabogie and nearby communities; delivery might also be possible. Sounds like a pretty cool gift. (Watch for a longer interview with farmer Johnny Slack on the website soon!)

• The online Kingston Valentine’s Market will be open for orders from February 4 to 9, selling goodies such as jewellery, dried flowers and chocolates—even dog treats! Delivery is available to Kingston, Inverary and Glenburnie. For more Kingston-area Valentine’s ideas, check out this post on The Kingstonist.
• On Monday, February 15, Ottawa’s Savvy Company is hosting a Virtual Cheese Fondue Party. Participants will get a box packed with melty cheese from Quebec’s Fromagerie La Station, a selection of Ontario wines and ciders, a toffee and dark chocolate bar from Hummingbird Chocolate, and sea salt caramel and chocolate drizzled popcorn from YOW Popcorn. You can nosh on all that while streaming a concert by The Blind and the Beautiful, an acclaimed Ottawa blues-roots duo. Delivery is available throughout Ontario. (And, sure, this is happening the day AFTER Valentine’s…but, hey, close enough!)

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