Click here to view the embedded video.

Music is magical, so why no make the link more explicit? Following on the success of last year’s space-themed concert (which featured Mr. Spock and lasers!) The CTV Pops Orchestra and the NAC are putting on another show which mixes music and spectacle. Mysterioso: Music and Magic will combine classic songs like “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” and “Witchcraft” with the illusions of Joseph Gabriel and Les Arnold and Dazzle (their tag line - so bad…yet so good - kinda tells you what you need to know). Mysterioso runs from March 18 to 20 and the shows starts at 8pm.

The NAC has kindly offered us two tickets to give away to the show on Thursday, March 18. To enter the draw, just send us an email at editors@apartment613.ca with Mysterioso in the subject line.

Photo courtesy Po' Girl, who will be at the Blacksheep Inn Friday night.

With all of the budget talk going on around this city, let’s undertake a bit of financial analysis of this weekend’s events:

We’re pleased to announce that yes, indeed, there will be some free happenings going on around town. Whether you’d like to gaze at the stars, watch the green parade or participate in a rousing debate on a cohesive civil society, these priceless events will be the highlight of your work-free time.

If you’re willing to spend a bit of your hard-earned cash and need a laugh or two, it’s Ottawa’s Improv Festival this weekend. The Blacksheep Inn has several muscially talented folks coming in for their always-reasonably priced shows. And Raw Sugar, Umi Cafe, Zaphod’s - they’ve all got great shows lined up, too.

And for those willing to splurge, this weekend won’t disappoint. Shell out $100 for the fancy Inaugural Irish Literary Evening (there’s a free book in it for you!), which includes the reception and readings. The Showtunes Showdown, V-Day or Acoustic Waves events are also a little more pricey, but won’t break the bank.

So: the financial outlook for March 12-14, 2010? Sunny and affordable, with a little something for everyone. As always, check out that calendar to the right for everything else happening around town.

Photo Courtesy of Adcuz: N00b's on Flickr

Didn’t get your fill of stars last Sunday at the Oscars? The Museum of Science and Technology is hosting a Free Star Party this Friday, March 12., at the Helen Sawyer Hogg Observatory. Weather permitting, you can head up to 1867 St Laurent Blvd from 7 to 8:30pm for a chance to get a proper look at the night sky with the museum’s old-school telescope or binoculars.

The 105 year-old telescope in the Museum’s Technology Park comes from the Dominion Observatory, formerly situated on the Central Experimental Farm property, which opened in 1905 and ceased operations on April 1, 1970. Its a great way to start off a Friday night and celebrate the impending spring.

Other star paries will be held at April 24 at 8pm, May 14 at 8:30pm and July 16 at 9pm.

Click here to view the embedded video.

I could begin this post by describing in detail one of the many memorable improv skits I’ve seen throughout the years - the snowball wielding nun, an English major getting sports-raped at a bar, parents pressuring their daughter to drop law school for prostitution - but it wouldn’t be funny. Improv is like an inside joke: you just have to have been there to get it.

Which is why you should go in person to see the first annual Ottawa Improv Festival, starting this Thursday, March 11 and running to Sunday, March 14. Every night from 8pm onwards, the festival will feature performances by two troupes from Ottawa, Toronto or Montreal. Later on at 10pm will be a special event, including: ‘Danger prov’ (”more dangerous than rollerblading with scissors down a hallway that’s been greased”) in which the possibility of a performer getting maimed is half the fun; and ‘Gorilla Impov’, which combines love, a giant monkey and likely lots of banana double entendres. The festival kicks off with a free Hockey-style match this Thursday; all other shows are $5.

According to Phil Genest of Insensitivity Training, the festival organizers and one of the performers, Improv in Ottawa is undergoing a resurgence. “To my knowledge there hasn’t been so many people actively doing shows since the late eighties.”  Insensitivity Training (then called Improv at the Bytown) was launched in early 2007, and since then Crystal Basement and Crush Improv have both started doing regular shows, as have Made to Measure. There even a bilingual show - Improcrastination.

This cornucopia of comedy represents a throw back to an earlier time. “Improvisation comedy was incredible present and strong in [Ottawa] the late 70’s and 80’s, with the Improv Olympics (not the Canadian Improv Games) and heavy hitters Skit Row. We’re trying to provide the grounds for current and future improv troupes to energize and renew the scene.”

So what are some of Phil’s not-to-miss shows happening during the festival?

“Uncalled For will be playing Thursday night. They are rambunctious and a thrill to watch. They were recently awarded best ensemble at the 2009 Ottawa Fringe with their performance of It’s all your Birthdays.” (Thursday night @ 10pm)

“DangerPROV is a new show created by myself (Phil Genest) and Mike Kosowan, It’s an hour long show melding the likes of Jackass and improvised comedy together. It’s a show themed on risk and consequence and danger. The performance will end with a scene performed on a stage littered with Mousetraps.”  (Friday night @ 10pm)

“Widow Maker (WDWMKR) is an all girl improv troupe from Toronto. In an industry and scene normally dominated by males and testosterone this troupe blends storytelling and strong characters to their show.” (Saturday @ 8pm)

What in the future for the troup? They are planning a CSI inspired show for the 2010 Ottawa Fringe Festival, plus a Stand up/Improv show in mid April. They are also making an effort to host another troupes once a month at Yuk Yuk’s, in a mock-competition style event and would love to start offering a weekly improv classes at the beginner and intermediate level.

So event if you can’t make it to the festival, they’ll be lots of other possibilities to check out this growing local scene. “What I can see is a movement of people who are excited about doing improv, in a environment where there is enthusiasm, encouragement, and support from the community.”

Photo courtesy of blurasis on Flickr

Written by Dan Arnott.

Most of us, whatever our relationship with music, have at some point in our lives heard a song and been struck by the genius of such lyrics as:

love is like a flame that burns you when it’s hot

or

pressed in love’s hot, fevered iron like a striped pair of pants.

That is to say, we thought we could write a better one.

What keeps us from doing so? There’s no shortage of things to write about (despite my examples, the topics of love and high temperatures have not yet been exhausted) but it can be difficult to narrow our focus down from this big, inspiring world to a couple of topics. Ottawa songwriting collective Writer’s Bloc wants to help.

Although the Olympics may have saturated our appetite for all things “great” and “Canadian”, the Great Canadian Song-Along is still definitely worth checking out for aspiring songwriters. The premise is dead simple:

1. Writer’s Bloc picks four topics in advance.

2. Local songwriters write a song about one or more of these topics.

3. The songwriters show up to the Elmdale House Tavern on Wednesday April 7 and Thursday April 8 to perform their songs from 7pm onwards for their fellow writers and the general public.

It’s a warm and inclusive celebration of the songwriting craft and the wide variety of interesting and crazy characters that practice it. Writer’s Bloc is partnering with the Spirit of Rasputin’s folk music organization to present this event.

Song-Along’s roots reach far beyond the capital city. Conceived by Karen Leslie Hall in 1993 in Toronto, the idiosyncratic festival spread across most of the continent and beyond (Anchorage, Vancouver, Regina, Wolfville (NS), and Leeds (UK) to name a few stops). Here in Ottawa, Writer’s Bloc and the former Rasputin’s Folk Cafe latched on to it, and it’s been a spring tradition ever since. It even survived the closure of Rasputin’s by relocating to the Legion last year before finding a new home at the Elmdale.

So if you’ve got a song in your heart, why not put it down on the page. There’s no due date for entering and April is fast approaching, which is good for people like me that can’t seem to produce anything without the deadline doggies nipping at their ankles. This year’s topics, no doubt specially selected to get that mojo working, are:

-Lucky

-The Trouble With…

-I Wonder

-Ghosts

Interpret those as loosely as you’d like. If you’re interested in participating,  get in touch with Tony Turner (tony.turner at rogers.com) or Greg Kelly (gregoryk100 at rogers.com) and let them know on which night you’d like to perform.

Photo courtesy laverrue on Flickr.

When particularly thrilled with life, I’m wont to break into song at the drop of a hat. And for some reason (I’m blaming my 10th grade drama teacher for this), that song can often be the title track from “Hello Dolly!”, one of those all-time musical greats.

Musical tunes are great for inspiring happiness, evoking a tear or two and are, more often than not, familiar to even those with a strong distaste for musical theatre.

If you’re in the mood for a bit of showtune sunshine this weekend, you’re in luck, because Saturday night is Ottawa’s own Showtunes Showdown. It’s Canadian Idol meets Name that Tune meets Family Feud, featuring local choirs throwing down their best songs for a chance at the title of Showdown champion.

Featuring special guest judges, the evening will feature some of your favourite songs, musical trivia (that’s triva about musicals, not trivia performed musically) and more. It’s $22 in advance, $25 at the door, and will take place down at the Ottawa Little Theatre (400 King Edward Ave). The showdown will get underway at 8pm on Saturday, March 13th.

Photo courtesy of PitsLamp Photography on Flickr.

By long-time Ottawan, Samantha Everts, who ended up out west for love but quickly came back to the city she loves.

A while back, my best friend decided to cut his teeth on the open mic scene of Ottawa. Having worked on his own stuff for a while he still wasn’t brave enough to go it alone, so I dutifully padded along. Disclaimer- this research has been conducted over the last few years.

The first place we hit up was the now closed Elephant and Castle in Rideau Centre. It was the most bizarre setting to consider original music was being heard every Thursday night with Ottawa songstress and now Big Money Shot signed Amanda Rheume hosting the thing. People masquerading as cowboys without horses, high school kids in their first band, and this one guy that without fail played the same song set every week. Tourists and alternative rock radio listeners made up the audience. The waitresses would constantly hassle the crowd to buy more drinks or get out. A good first time.

The Royal Oak on Bank Street’s open mic is a bit of a secret. A local musician doing covers of Sweet Home Alabama and Honky Town Blues encourages bar goers to drink more. The few open mic’ers that do go ahead in are for the most part are ignored. There’s a reason why know one knows about this one. Even the placard on the street’s chalk writing has been smeared, ‘open m’’ This Royal Oak is not to be confused with the Royal Oak in the Glebe that has a thriving open mic crowd.

A newcomer on the scene that offers ‘live recording studio quality’ is the Live Lounge, a bar that is partnered with local radio station Live 88.5. I’ve been here a few times supporting the same friend and have been surprised at the professionalism of the players. Generally, each of the performers has confidence that many open mic’ers lack, despite the equally as empty bar. Each Wednesday night people seem to meander in and out of the pub for their friends alone so despite the excellent recording and audio capabilities, few ears are there to be leant. One major bonus for any up and comers, the stage is equipped for full electronic instruments including keyboards and powerful rock guitar power! If you’re lucky too, the DJ will play some Think About Life in between sets.

I haven’t made it to Café Nostalgic yet, but I’ve heard through the grapevine that it’s also an awesome place that showcases talent. Thursdays sign up at 8:30 p.m., music at 9 p.m. 603 Cumberland Street near University of Ottawa.

Also to be noted, Irene’s Pub on Bank Street offers a Saturday afternoon slot from 3 pm – 6 pm for any open mic’ers. Make sure to try their incredible homemade veggie burgers (vegan!)

The most popular destination for any serious open mic’er has got to be Umi Café on Friday nights. Make sure to get there early as the sign up list fills up quickly. The most unique and powerful performances are to be found here. Guaranteed, there will be a mix of hippies, families, intellectuals sketching the artists playing, and poets always up for a slam. The artwork is constantly in rotation to highlight local artists or members of the Umi co-operative. Unlike the others listed, Umi offers fair-trade coffee and tea in lieu of alcohol and during the day is a cozy place to read. Umi is also home to a piano and full drum set for any open mic’ers or coffee shoppe folk in the mood to entertain.

Just up the street from Umi is the still new Raw Sugar Café in the heart of Chinatown. I feel like I’ve heard of open mics happening there but can’t find anything to support this. Check them out regardless, as they support lots of new local artists (mainly acoustic).

For the literary folk, In Words (Carleton University’s literary magazine) holds an open mic monthly at Montgomery Legion. The music is reserved for the ‘inhouse’ band of older folk musicians eager to share classics with young ears. Readings typically start about an hour after music. Literary readings are not limited but include poetry, song, short fiction, and monologues. Alcohol is available but make sure to chuck in a few coins for the zines for sale first.

Honourable mentions go to Avant Garde Bar who occasionally hold an open mic. How could an open mic with constant Aqua and Kraftwerk videos streaming behind the performer be bad? Plus, their vodka list is so extensive you’ll be calling out ‘vstrobe’ before you know it.

Mercury Lounge also acts as venue for Capital Slam events.

It’s funny because in Edmonton you could open up the local arts newspaper and dozens of places would be hosting open mics on any given night. Maybe Ottawa needs to pick up on this, or does Ottawa really need more Jewel covers and John Mayer-wanna-bes distracting from the true talent.

Photo courtesy of Dani_Girl on Flickr.

Ontario held two provincial by-elections last Thursday, one of which was in Ottawa. Former mayor Bob Chiarelli won for the Liberals in the Ottawa West-Nepean, while former Brockville mayor Steve Clark is now the Conservative member for Leeds-Grenville. While the win at first seems like positive news for the McGuinty government, the relatively small margin (43.46% vs. 38.99%) by which Chiarelli beat his little known rival, Beth Graham, might make the Liberals a bit nervous.

U.S. Ambassador, David Jacobson, and federal Transport Minister John Baird announced Saturday that the ‘Jersey’ barriers will be gone in little more than a year and replaced with “a visually appealing” compromise. The project, which will cost a little over $3 million, will be split between the federal government (2.5 million), the City of Ottawa ($125,000) and the U.S. Embassy ($500,000).

The paralympics are getting underway next Friday in Vancouver. This meant that another Olympic ceremony was held at at Parliament last Wednesday. Multiple paralympic gold medallist Arnold Boldt became the first torchbearer for the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, taking up the flame from the Olympic cauldron at a lighting ceremony on Parliament Hill.

Canada’s getting plastic money! No, not an influx in credit cards. Rather, the Bank of Canada announced last week that Canada’s paper-cotton banknotes would be replaced by newly designed plastic ones next year. The new notes made from a polymer material, will be harder to fake, recyclable, and two to three times more resistant to tearing.

Photo courtesy of Robbie's Photo Art on Flickr.

By Aneka Rao

This year marked my first winter in Ottawa. I’d heard horror stories about the wet, bone-chilling cold and snow piled up above your head. Stay inside and hibernate, that was the advice I got. But four months is a long time to be cooped up, so in January, I signed up for the Intro to Winter Mix with Ripple Adventure.

Every Thursday, I go on a different winter adventure – downhill skiing at Camp Fortune, snowshoeing along the Ottawa River, cross-country skiing in Gatineau Park, speed skating on the Rideau Canal. As a newcomer to winter sports, which I traditionally avoid like the plague (chalk it up to laziness and an aversion to cold weather), it’s been an incredible experience and a great way to beat the winter blues by staying active. Plus, we get personal instruction from certified professionals, which greatly diminishes my fear of breaking bones and/or making a fool of myself.

Ripple Adventure is the brainchild of Erin Hope, an Ottawa resident who wanted to create a way for Ottawans, both newcomers and long-time residents, to take advantage of the incredible outdoor opportunities the city has to offer while also meeting like-minded individuals.

The winter programs have something for everyone, from novices who are finally ready to embrace the Canadian winter to experts looking to try a new sport, make new outdoor activity buddies or get some extra instruction. Besides the Intro to Winter Mix, Ripple also offers a Winter Mix for more experienced athletes, an All Day Winter Mix (which includes dog sledding), a Cardio Camp for those looking for a winter gym alternative and a Speed Camp. Participants can sign up for a program – two-and-a-half months of weekly activities, including lessons and equipment rentals – or elect to drop in. A list of weekly activities is posted on the Ripple Adventure website.

While the winter session is almost over, the spring session is set to begin and it looks pretty exciting. Canoeing, kayaking, dragon boat racing, road and mountain biking, hiking and horseback riding are among the activities on offer. I’m hoping to sign up for an Intro to Spring Mix. Hopefully, I’ll meet more cool people, and maybe even become outdoorsy in the process.

Photo courtesy drunknmonkey on Flickr

They might have relocated to Montreal, but Trevor James and the Perfect Gentlemen are still Ottawa dudes at heart. The band - which formed out of the ashes of The Architects in 2008 - is hitting the 401 next week to take part in the aural smorgasbord that is Canadian Music Week. But before they do, they’ll hit the stage March 11 at Babylon along with Owel Five, Corboe, and Krupke. We caught up with Trevor over email, and he was gracious enough (being a gentleman, after all) to chat with us about the band’s upcoming EP, gigs that went horribly wrong, and our Prime Minister’s tonsorial preferences.

(Thanks to Terri at Two Way Monologues for making this interview happen - go check them out,  especially if you’re going to be in Toronto for CMW.)

So, what makes a perfect gentleman?

The name The Perfect Gentlemen has sort of always taken on a bit of a sarcastic connotation. When it comes to our band and the vision we have for it, we are always early, always focused and always say please and thank you. However, when it’s time to party we have a tendency to be silly, loud and much drunker than everyone else. That’s what it takes, I suppose.

You formed two years ago in Ottawa, but now you call Montreal home. How do the two cities’ music scenes compare? Has moving to Montreal helped the band’s prospects?

Yeah, we moved here from Ottawa exactly one year ago this month. I don’t think you can compare the two music scenes because they serve entirely different purposes. At least, for us it was that way. Ottawa is a great city to start a band in and play a lot, develop your act and create a solid and loyal fan base, as we managed to do there.  On a global level, however, I personally think that trying to launch a career out of Ottawa is pretty tough. We hit a plateau while living there, and decided we needed a change. It was either MTL or Toronto and we chose MTL. Keeps us closer to our hometown fans. As for prospects, all I can really say at this point is that the move has been very good for us both as musicians and humans.

I remember reading one review of your debut self-titled album that compared Trevor James and the Perfect Gentlemen to  artists like Sam Roberts and Wintersleep. Is that how you’d define your sound? And what do you think of those sorts of comparisons?

When it comes to reviews and sound comparisons, I never let them define us in any way. I have met Sam Roberts a couple times and he is one of the most genuinely kind and down-to-earth dudes I have ever met. I love Sam’s songs; I don’t really think we sound like his band, though. Wintersleep? Maybe a little. We’re definitely influenced by all sorts of great Canadian artists and I think it shows in our songs, for sure.

You’ve got The Lunchbag EP coming out in 2010. Excited? Settled on a release date yet?

The Lunchbag EP has got us very excited, yes. We’re extremely proud of it and can’t wait to have it come out in whatever capacity. Release date is pending.

I hear you’ve got plans to package the EP in an actual lunchbag. True?

We had originally planned on just putting it out in a brown lunchbag, for cost effectiveness. We’re about to shop the EP around to various labels so we’ll have to wait and see about packaging. I mean, if we get a good deal maybe we can ask the label to package it in gold . If no one picks it up, expect to see it in a brown paper lunchbag.

What was it like working with engineer/producer Dan Lagace (Stars, The Dears) on the forthcoming EP?

Working with producer/engineer Dan Lagace was an amazing experience in every way. He really pushed our limits and forced us to ask more of ourselves and our performances. Plus, it was the first time we had ever recorded live off the floor which was fuckin’ rad. Also, Dan likes scotch and I like scotch too. Which was…nice.

What are your touring plans for 2010?

We’re hoping to tour as much as humanly possibly as soon as we know what’s happening with the new EP. We have plans for Canadian and U.S. dates.

Let’s say you could only cover one Canadian song released in the past 10 years. Which would you choose, and why?

Hmmm. I don’t really like covering songs but if I had to choose one…maybe “Dollar Signs” by Snailhouse.

Got any good show-related mishaps you can share with us?

Show mishaps. I wouldn’t know where to start. Well, one time I got beat up by three asshole townies out east. They attacked me in a washroom because my jeans were too tight or something along those lines. Anyways, the next day we drove to Cape Breton and opened for Wintersleep. I played the show with a black eye and a fat lip. That was a bit of a mishap. All my gear worked that day though, which was sweet.

Do you still keep in touch with the Ottawa music scene? Any local artists you’d like to give some love to?

Our ties with Ottawa are as strong as ever. We love all our friends family and fans back home. As for Ottawa bands and artists that we love, everyone should check out Amos The Transparent, The Love Machine, Brights and The Bad Ideas (now in London, Ont.).

You’re playing Babylon on the 11th. What should showgoers expect?

The 11th should be a great show! It will be a fun night. Lots of talent on that bill. People should expect a party, with a lot of shirtless men.

Stephen Harper invites you to play a personal show at 22 Sussex Drive. Accept or decline?

What does the gig pay? And can I touch his Lego hair? Probably we’d decline. I don’t think he could afford us.

Finally: what would make CMW the best week ever for Trevor James and the Perfect Gentlemen?

For CMW we just want to play well and gain as much exposure as we possibly can. We want to network with other sweet bands and industry folk, and have the last night of the festival be a drunken blur.