🏃 Travelling downtown tomorrow will be its own Ironman event. A dozen streets will be closed, as will most of the bridges at various times. The event starts at 6:00 am with a 3.8 kilometre swim at Britannia Beach followed by a 180-kilometre bike ride through local neighbourhoods, wrapping up with a 42.2 kilometre run around Parliament Hill.  

• Tourism Ottawa has good info on how to watch the races.

• The City has an online map of how to avoid the races.

• And if you want to live vicariously, here is an interactive map on competing in the races.

– City of Ottawa
 

🚌 OC Transpo will start charging 11 - 19 year-olds adult fares starting September 1. City councillors cancelled the youth pass as part of the 2025 City of Ottawa budget.  – Josh Pringle at CTV 

⚕️The expanded 350-bed medical boarding home at Large Baffin has been put on hold. The facility is intended to board residents of Nunavut who come to Ottawa for medical care unavailable in the territory but funding has come to a halt. Neighbours opposed to the plan took Large Baffin to the Ontario Land Tribunal last year but were unsuccessful.  – Nehaa Bimal in Nunatsiaq News 

✈️ A small plane that crashed near the Ottawa airport took the life of the pilot. Two passengers survived. The plane had taken off from Gatineau airport. – CBC

SATURDAY

• ✳️ The Race for Wishes at Hard Rock Ottawa’s racetrack aims to raise enough funds to grant three life-changing wishes for Ottawa-area children facing critical illnesses. 

• ✳️ Crack a geode at the Rock and Gem Expo. Today and tomorrow at the RA Centre.  

• ✳️ Tonight’s Les Grands Feux show is inspired by the rich culture of Japan. 

• It’s all about “Lammas” or “Loaf Mass Day” (the first harvest of the season) at this weekend’s Ottawa Mystic Market. 

• 🆓 View the staterooms, gardens, and greenhouses at Rideau Hall, today through Monday.  

• The Ottawa-Galaxy Psychic and Crystal Fair continues at Nepean Sportsplex. 

• Butterflyway Rangers, Ottawa South Eco-Action Network (OSEAN) and Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library will be gathering to plant a native plant garden at Gaia Organic Seeds from 10:00 am.  

• The Rocking Dock becomes Margaritaville as the Polar Reefers Jimmy Buffett Tribute band plays all the hits at 4:30 pm and 6:30 pm. Enjoy Rocking Dog cheeseburgers and Bay-Yo frozen treats by the Ottawa River.  

• Broadhead Brewery welcomes François for an afternoon of acoustic tunes. 

• See the Bees at Gees Bees Honey Company.

• ByTowne Cinema: Kidz Klassics: Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, The Phoenician Scheme, Don’t Let’s Go To The Dogs Tonight, Together

• Mayfair Theatre: Saturday Morning All-You-Can-Eat Cereal Cartoon Party, Volume 37, It Happened One Night, Eggington, Boogie Nights 
  
  Gigs

• Invicta, Raider, Warsenal, Slim & Popular. House of TARG

• Macmuwsa. The Shed (Sparks St)

• Crime in Progress. Carleton Tavern

• Alley Beers, Gilgamesh, Speed Bump Sally, Lars Arms, Live Wrestling. Rainbow Bistro

SUNDAY

• Such a good time was had by all at last weekend’s Garlic Festival that the folks at BeetBox Farm have declared an “impromptu garlic volunteer day” today from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm. Yes, there will be a BBQ. Just remember your hat and water bottle. 

• 🆓  You should also bring your water bottle as well as a yoga mat to the hour long session of vinyasa flow at Uncommon Space (Bank at Florence).

• Meet more than 100 local creators and vendors at the Heart of Orléans market. 

• Go Foraging For Fungi & Friends - August Edition.

• Stittsville’s Market at the Barn is back with vendors offering locally grown produce, locally made crafts and decor, and live music. 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. 

• Crack a geode at the Rock and Gem Expo. 

• ByTowne Cinema: Samia, Restoration: Singin’ In The Rain, The Phoenician Scheme, Together 

• Mayfair Theatre: Sorry, Baby, American Gigolo
  
  Gigs

• Legendary Sunday Afternoon Blues Jam. Rainbow Bistro

• Core & Catalyst. Club SAW

• Dan Kelly, You Might Be Sleeping, Crows Feet. LIVE on Elgin

• The Sunday Night Revue. Irene’s Pub

• St. Bless and Friends. Rainbow Bistro

MONDAY

• 🆓 It’s Colonel By day at the Bytown Museum. 

• Go on a culinary adventure at the Soca Kitchen. For $32 per person, you’ll get a chef-created meal of..well, you’ll just have to wait and see. The experience runs 5:00pm (order by 6:30 pm).

• ByTowne Cinema: Kidz Klassics: Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, Don’t Let’s Go To The Dogs Tonight, The Phoenician Scheme, Together 

• Mayfair Theatre: Sorry, Baby, It Happened One Night, American Gigolo 

  Gigs

• Alien to the Ignorant, The Disconnect, Brutal Play. Rainbow Bistro

• Karaoke Mondays. Atomic Rooster

TUESDAY

• 🆓 Today’s Songs From the Shed lineup: Jing Xia | Brian Gallagher. Be on Sparks St. Between Bank and O’Connor) from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm. 

• 🆓 Whether you’re a master or you want to learn to play, check out the Chess Hive Pop-Up in Uncommon Space in the heart of Centretown this evening. 

• Play unlimited games at House of TARG for just $12.50 per person (plus tax). 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm. 

• 🆓 John Kofi Dopaah plays a midday jazz piano concert in the NAC’s Atrium O’Brien. 

• ByTowne Cinema: The Phoenician Scheme, Samia, Together 

• Mayfair Theatre: Eddington, Sorry, Baby, Boogie Nights 

  Gigs

• BigXthaPlug. Bronson Centre

• Trivia Tuesday. Irene’s Pub

JUST ANNOUNCED / NOW BOOKING

• Enjoy a creative afternoon at BeetBox Farm with “Miniatures in the Flower Patch - A Workshop by Willow's Flowers & Miniature Veg”. You’ll leave with a full size bouquet that you picked yourself as well as a tiny bouquet that you’ve crafted from polymer clay. 

• Ottawa Circus School is now booking its Fall adult courses in Silks, Aerial Rope, Hula Hooping, and more. 

• 🆓 Bowman’s Bar & Grill’s IPA Day returns Wednesday August 8 with live music, raffle prizes, and, naturally, the best IPA from seven local breweries (5:00 til late).  

• Also on Wednesday August 7, bring your pup to the Red Apron patio for the Dog Costume Contest for your chance to win a gift card.