Sunday, June 15
Rose expert Edythe Falconer is giving a workshop and answering your questions, followed by a self-guided tour through the Experimental Farm’s beds, 1 p.m. at the ornamental gardens. Bring your own folding chair. No ticket price, but donations accepted. friendsofthefarm.ca
The Ottawa Explosion Weekend (OXW) celebration of independent punk/hardcore/garage music ends today with performances and DJs at Club Saw from 2 to 8 p.m. and at House of Targ starting at 9 p.m. Tickets: $5 for each venue, or $60 pass. ottawaexplosion.com
Please everyone in the family at the Father’s Day breakfast or brunch at the Canadian Museum of Nature, starting at 9 a.m., or visit the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum for themed activities all day. nature.ca . cafmuseum.techno-science.ca
Westfest continues with roaming street buskers, local vendors, the fun kidzone and free performances by Fevers (5 6p.m.), GOOD2GO (8 p.m.) and Juno-winner A Tribe Called Red (9:30 p.m.) westfest.ca
Women interested in the Ottawa Police Service as a career are invited to attend the women-only information session which will give candidates a chance to see if they can meet the physical requirements of the job and have questions answered, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Algonquin College Woodroffe Campus, P building. Gym attire required. Register at www.surveymonkey.com/s/PREPsession
Monday, June 16
The Meditation Gardens at the First Unitarian Church, 30 Cleary Ave., featuring a mix of domestic and native plants are said to be at their peak right now, so why not pop along for a look. The gardens have been open to the public since 1995 and are wheelchair accessible, open 24 hours a day. Free parking. [Watch a video of the garden here: www.gaiamtv.com/video/first-unitarian-congregation-meditation-garden]
Chef Danny Mongeon of Hooch Bourbon House hosts Flux, a 16-course meal with wine pairing in support of Shepherds of Good Hope along with other notable local chefs at Mariposa Farms, 5:30 p.m. A shuttle will get everyone safely there and back. Tickets: $175, $25 tax receipt. shepherdsofgooshope.com
Tuesday, June 17
Your questions about Lansdowne games planned for this summer will be answered at a public meeting, including representatives from the City of Ottawa, NCC, OC Transpo, Ottawa Sports & Entertainment Group, 7 to 9 p.m., Glebe Community Centre, 175 Third Ave. www.oldottawasouth.ca
Writers Karen Dudley, Robin Riopelle and acclaimed author Scott Fotheringham will read from their books at the Chiaroscuro Reading Series, 7 p.m., Maxwell’s Bistro and Nightclub, 340 Elgin St. chiseries.com
The Italian ambassador is hosting an elegant fundraising garden party for Opera Lyra, featuring Italian wines, food and fashion and arias, 6 p.m. at the official residence. Tickets: $60. operalyra.ca
Doctors without Borders presents a screening of the documentary Fire in the Blood, about the fight to lower the cost of life-saving generic medecins for millions of people living with AIDS/HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, 6:15 p.m., The Mayfair Theatre, 1074 Bank St. Free. www.msf.ca
Wednesday, June 18
Iconic women rockers Heart perform their hits at the Canadian Tire Centre, with guitarist Jason Bonham, 8 p.m. Tickets: $49.50 to $95. capitaltickets.ca
Jim Belushi and the Board of Comedy are at Centrepointe Theatres, 8 p.m. Tickets from the April 29 postponed engagement will be honoured. centrepointetheatres.com
Get sticky at the Ottawa Ribfest on Sparks Street, bringing the best ribbers from across North America, a pulled pork eating contest and live entertainment, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. until June 22. (There will also be tasty things on offer that are not ribs.) sparksstreetmall.com
Planning a party, wedding, bar mitzvah or birthday? Stonefields Heritage Farm is holding an open house, 4 to 8 p.m., to showcase itself as a venue and offering tastings from local caterers, Beau’s Beer, bakers, local vendors and musicians, 1985 9th line, Beckwith, 30 minutes from downtown. For more information, visit stonefieldsheritagefarm.ca
Thursday, June 19
The Ottawa Fringe Festival, the place where you can see utterly compelling shows, truly outrageous performances and the-next-big-thing all under one umbrella, launches tonight with notable shows Against Gravity (shadow puppetry from B.C., Academic Hall at 6 p.m.), Mr. and Mrs Jones (about mind readers from New Zealand, Courtroom, 6 p.m., Songs and Stories (dramedy from Toronto, ODD Box, 7:30 p.m.), Women who Shout at the Stars (drama from Ottawa, Studio Léonard Beaulne at 10:30 p.m.) and The Surprise (from Fringe favourite Martin Dockery, storyteller from New York City, ODD Box, 10:30 p.m.). Festival continues until June 20. Full schedule, including lots of free programming, maps and tickets available at ottawafringe.com
Le pArty at the Ottawa Art Gallery is a fundraising silent auction of works by 65 regional artists, punctuated with samples of food and drink from some of the city’s finest restaurants and caterers, 6 p.m., 2 Daly Ave. Price of an arts lovers admission may be deducted from purchases made. Tickets: $85/$150 art lovers admission. Tax receipts available. ottawaartgallery.ca
Celebrate Aboriginal heritage at a day of song and dance in the Grand Hall of the Canadian Museum of History with Métis, Cree and Inuit performers, on all day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Included with admission. historymuseum.ca
Friday, June 20
The Glow Fair will transform Bank Street from Slater to Gilmour into a light wonderland Friday and Saturday — day and night — with light shows, performance art, games, food to taste and drinks to slurp along nine blocks and free concerts from 6 p.m. tonight, 5 p.m. tomorrow. Acts include Judith Hill, The Soul Jazz Orchestra, Drum Addiction, Chus & Ceballos, Hex Hector and more on two different stages. glowfair.ca
Dust off your pristine party frocks, the Bash en Blanc fundraiser for The Snowsuit Fund is on the eve of the summer solstice at Lago, Dow’s Lake. Remember: dress code is all white. Tickets: $75 for 10 p.m. opening, more for VIP packages with doors opening at 8 p.m. bashenblanc.com
Ottawa Jazz Festival opens tonight with something for everyone, including world music from Jaffa Road (6:30 p.m.), jazz pianist Jon Ballantyne (NAC fourth Stage, 8 p.m.), Richa Sharma (Bollywood, 8:30 p.m.), and DJ Rekha in the After Dark series (10:30 p.m., Laurier Ave. Stage). Festivla continues to July 1. Schedule and tickets at ottawajazzfestival.com.
Saturday, June 21
Damaged teddy bears and other stuffed animals will be lovingly mended at the 31st annual Teddy Bear’s Picnic on the ground of Rideau Hall in support of CHEO, starting with a celebrity breakfast and featuring other forms of kid-friendly entertainment, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. cheofoundation.com
The Hintonburg Happening is on this week, beginning with a launch event from 1 to 8 p.m. today featuring local performers, art, poetry, food and drinks, interactive crafts, children’s activities and more, 2 Spadina Ave. Entrance free. hintonburghappening.ca
There are spaces left on a bus travelling from Ottawa to Canada’s largest rock festival Amnesia Rockfest — featuring 150 bands such as Blink-182, Mötley Crüe, Weezer, Alice in Chains, Megadeth, NOFX, Billy Talent, Primus, Dead Kennedys, Joan Jett and so much more — in Montebello all weekend. Tickets: $151. Bus tickets: $20 to 25. spectrasonic.com /amnesiarockfest.com
Comedian Mike McDonald returns to his home town stage as a headliner for the first time since his recent, much-publicized liver transplant, shows at 7:30 and 9 p.m., Yuk Yuk’s, 292 Elgin St. Tickets: $25. yukyuks.com
