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• In today’s ottawan:

  → We feel terrible about the Ottawa Citizen writer forced to down cookies and ice cream just to do his job.

  → How often do you get to go to a barn dance? How about this Friday?

  → Someone stole the peanuts and crackerjack! Who knows if they’ll ever get it back.

– Martha and Darren

FOOD + DRINK UPDATE

• We thought our readers should know that we spotted Halloumi Fries on the menu at this Saturday’s Open House at Bibi’s Middle Eastern Kitchen. The event, which runs 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm at 1087 Wellington St. West, will also feature Little Victories coffee, giveaways, and food samples.
• 🆓 Ottawa Asian Fest brings K-Pop performances, beer gardens, music, and more than 70 vendors selling everything from Bubble Waffles to Squid on a Stick to town this weekend. Friday July 19 to Saturday July 20 from noon to midnight, and Sunday July 21 noon to 8:00 pm. Lansdown Park.
• Formerly just a Sunday thing, Stray Dog Brewing Co’s Yappy Hour is now an every single day thing, with $6 pours from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. 
• Staring Monday July 22, Overflow Brewing will be open seven days per week from noon to 11:00 pm. Also at the east end brewery, their menu mentions a Red Thai Chicken Curry Taco that has Darren mumbling about starting the car, getting in the car, driving the car, the car is gone.
• Somehow last week we missed mentioning the Thali Biryani and Craft Beer Festival, on until Saturday (July 21). Alongside dishes like Lobster Biryani, Lamb Shank Biryani, and Assorted Vegetable Biryani, choose a pint from the participating local craft breweries: Beau’s, Bicycle Craft Brewery, Dominion City, Flora Hall, Overflow Brewing, Stray Dog, and White Water. 130 O’Connor St.  
• Peter Hum in the Ottawa Citizen has had a terrible week and we should all feel so, so, so sorry for him. 
  
  First, he was required to conduct a review of high-end ice cream parlours in Ottawa:  Chris’s Ice Cream, Happy Rolls Dessert Bar, Ice Flame, Love & Electric Ice Cream, Sadie Beans Ice Cream, and Saffron Rolled Ice Cream and Desserts.
  
  Then he had to decide who made the better cookie, Toronto chain Courage Cookies or new US import Crumbl Cookies. He preferred the cookies from Courage.
• At Eat the Street, Ameya Charnalia tries out new Stittsville Japanese-Korean fusion joint, Maki Sushi + Poke. While Charnalia finds that the resto may not be a favourite of traditionalists, he says ‘Maki Sushi + Poke is not a good restaurant. It is an incredible one’.
• In Apartment 613’s Best Bites column,  Zachary Resnick had a great time with the trivia, item sales, pop-up kitchen, and cocktails of Ward 14 Consignment Bar.
• The YMCA of National Capital Region is celebrating the unveiling of the Walter Krepski Conditioning Floor. The late Krepski donated $500,000 to the Y, where he got his first job, as a dishwasher, after he immigrated to Canada from Poland as a young man. Krepski was later involved in such old school Ottawa restaurants as The Mayflower, The Marble Works, Maxwell’s, The Mill, Bravo Bravo, and Buffalo Charlie’s.

STATS

Ottawans of the Day

• John Rapp, Stéphane Cliche, and Karianne Cliche
• – The three lifeguards are heading to Paris to protect the swimmers at the Paris Olympics. Their first stop will be training by France’s national lifeguarding organization, the Fédération Française de Sauvetage et de Secourisme. (CBC)

Quote

• “

• If you're on a long car ride or just got home from vacation and you can stop in on a place like this, you're a new man a couple hours later

• – Andre Havreluck, describing the joy of radio controlled car racing. Thethe Electrosport RC racetrack operates out of an old barn in Manotick. (Isabel Harder at CBC) (Electrosport RC)

CITY HALL AGENDA

WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

⛺ Shelters

• Alta Vista and Barrhaven are on the shortlist for City tents to house asylum seekers. The City does not want to lose Provincial and Federal money to shelter people in need but City councillors are balking at using community centres due to resident complaints. Each tent would house around 150 people. (William Eltherington at CTV)

⚾ Renfrew Baseball Theft

• Someone has robbed the foodstand at Ma-Te-Way Park in Renfrew of $1,000 in cash and even more in snacks. Non-monetary items included chocolate bars, ice-cream, and the player-of-the-game prize. (R Bruce McIntyre in the Eganville Leader)

🕳️ Pontiac Sinkhole

• A large sinkhole has closed Chemin Parker in Municipalité régionale de comté des Collines-de-l’Outaouais. Proof that sinkholes do not just happen in Ottawa. The road will remain closed until further notice. (William Eltherington at CTV)

🌸 Lavender Farm

• That lavender farm we mentioned the other day is for sale for $3,250,000. The fine newsletter Ottawa Road Trips gave us a shout out for mentioning the Prince Edward County farm created by Ottawa retirees the other day. In return, we thank Ottawa Road Trips for finding this Toronto Life article which gives a proper sales pitch – with pictures. (Realtor listing)
  
  ➕Related Ottawa Road Trips’s guide to gorgeous lavender farms near Ottawa

MORE FROM THE OTTAWAN

• 🍺 Our Ottawa-Gatineau Craft Brewery Map

•  

• 🏆 The Best Of Ottawa Awards 2023

•  

• 🎧 Best Podcasts from Ottawa

EVENTS

Is there an event we should know about?
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Today

• Dunk your friends and raise money for Parkdale Food Centre at Parkdale Public Market’s 100th birthday party. The Dunk Tank is by donation (at least $5, please) and is joined by a Photo Booth, kids’ games, and live music at the Pat MacLeod Community Stage in Parkdale Park from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm. 366 Parkdale Ave.
   
• Carp Fairgrounds become a drive-in bingo hall on Wednesday nights in July. The gates open at 5:30 pm with play starting - rain or shine - at 7:00 pm. 3790 Carp Road
   
• 🆓 The National Arts Centre’s Wood Terrace Series are free concerts each Tuesday and Wednesday night. This week, the Okavango African Orchestra brings the music and you should bring a chair.
   
• Festi Biere Gatineau takes over Hôtel Casino du Lac-Leamy today through July 27. It’s obviously about the great selection of beers from Québec and beyond but there’s so much more: a Ferris wheel, live music, dancing, even a pool for cooling off. Daytime and evening sessions available.
   
• A Company of Fools open air theatre is back, this time bringing a fresh take on Shakespeare's Macbeth to the stage. Catch the play tonight at Bel Air Park (Nepean).
   
• Tonight’s Music and Beyond Closing Gala is a programme of music requested by audiences.
   
• ByTowne Cinema: A Little Something Extra (Un p’tit truc en plus), Jaws, MaXXXine
   
• Mayfair Theatre: L’été dernier (Last Summer), Tuesday, Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia

  
  Gigs

• BUG Jam Live (Bytown Ukulele Group). Red Bird

• Open Mic Night. Pour Boy

• Jazz Night with Gerri Trimble

• Jazz James with Peter Hum Trio. Montgomery Scotch Lounge

• Focused, Pady Paystub, Sule in Ottawa. Avant-Garde Bar

• Bytown Ukulele Group JAM. Red Bird

• Eden Moore’s Huanted Christmas in July. LIVE on Elgin

• Disco Town - Dave Smith Youth Center fundraiser. House of TARG

Tomorrow

• Don’t despair because Bluesfest is over; Kemptville Live Music Festival starts up Thursday July 18 with a lineup that includes Burton Cummings (July 19), Dean Brody (July 20), and Glass Tiger (July 21), plus guests.
   
• Stop by Urban Art Collective’s parking lot to see who’s selling cool stuff and who’s playing live music at the Hintonburg Night Market. 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm at 1088 Somerset St. W.
   
• 🆓 Spark Beer has created a lively new pilsner in collaboration with Side by Side Weekend (July 26-27, see Just announced / Now booking, below). The limited release beer will be available at the festival, but if you just can’t wait you can get your mitts on one this Thursday (July 18). Even cooler: that same night at Spark Beer, Side by Side weekend passes will be for sale at $10 off. If you need a final reason to drop by Spark Beer, they’ll have stone fired pizza on hand as well. 702 Somerset St. W from 8:00 pm.
   
• 🆓 William Street becomes the ByWard Night Market, with Cinq à sept musicians serenading you while you shop and eat. From 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm on William Street between George and York.
   
• Drag icons Saltina Shaker and Sunshine Glitterchild return with their guests to Heart & Crown in Barrhaven for a show you won’t soon forget. If you want in on the action, during the second set audience members can take part in the dance battle for the chance to win prizes. This show is 19 and older. Tickets from $17.31. Find the fun at 3161 Strandherd Drive #300 Ottawa, ON K2J 5N1
   
• A Company of Fools open air theatre is back, this time bringing a fresh take on Shakespeare's Macbeth to the stage. Catch the play tonight at Lansdowne Park in the Glebe.
   

• Festi Biere Gatineau continues at Hôtel Casino du Lac-Leamy in Gatineau (until July 27).

• ByTowne Cinema: Challengers, Thelma, MaXXXine

• Mayfair Theatre: Tuesday, In a Violent Nature

  Gigs

• The Liquor Store. Rainbow Bistro

• Passarim. National Arts Centre

• Nick Posthumus and the Soft Maybes. LIVE on Elgin

• Indie Thursday - The Rambles. Overflow Brewing

• Supernatural Buffalo. Montgomery Scotch Lounge

Friday

• 🆓 Asian Fest opens at Lansdowne Park (see Food and Drink, above).
   
• Road Trip: The Avonmore Fair opens for the 164th time tomorrow, but you can get into the country spirit tonight from 7:30 pm to 1:00 am with the Barn Dance, featuring the County Lads and The Whiskey Brooks. $20.
   
• Road Trip: If you need another reason to visit the gorgeous town of Perth this weekend, take note of Stewart Park Festival. Not only is there a full lineup of music on the main stage, but after hours you’ll find a whole new roster of performers at the town’s Crystal Palace and Perth Brewery Patio. This is the 33rd year for the festival, which is bringing artists like Kathleen Edwards, Ian Tamblyn, Skydiggers, Allysan Mei, and the Commuters to perform in the park. Alongside the music, shop for food and crafts at the marketplace and don't forget to visit the Secondhand Stories booth, where book sales will support their chicken sanctuary. Entry to the festival is by donation.
   
• The legend that is Burton Cummings headlines Kemptville Live festival.
   

• A Company of Fools open air theatre is back, this time bringing a fresh take on Shakespeare's Macbeth to the stage. Catch the play tonight at Lion’s Park in Westboro.

• Festi Biere Gatineau continues at Hôtel Casino du Lac-Leamy in Gatineau (until July 27).

• ByTowne Cinema: Mother, Couch; Thelma; Sisi & I, The Crow: 30th Anniversary

• Mayfair Theatre: Thelma, I Saw The TV Glow
  
  Gigs

• Good 2 Go. Irene’s Pub Restaurant

• Leo Bautista Grant Trio. Montgomery Scotch Lounge

• Go Long. Club SAW

• Occult Witches. Avant-Garde Bar
   

Just Announced / Now Booking

•  The Stittsville ReStore is holding a Book Donation Drive until July 28. Drop off your new and gently used books for the upcoming ReStore Reads Book Fair August 10 & 11. All proceeds from the fair will go directly to Habitat Greater Ottawa, supporting the organization as it builds more safe and affordable housing for local families.
  
  ➕ Related If you're interested in volunteering for the ReStore Reads Book Fair, reach out to the Book Fair Committee at: bookfair@habitatgo.ca.

• $25 will get you a spot in the Stray Dog Brewing Brewchre Tournament on Tuesday August 13. Also included: a fine Stray dog beverage, two slices of local pizza, and a chance to win great prizes.

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