🚌 Passengers have discovered that some bus routes take so long that OC Transpo changes them twice. Transit riders have a 90 minute window to use a transfer but some trips – like Tunney's Pasture to Barrhaven – now take close to two hours under the new way to bus. – Arthur White-Crummey at CBC
 

🤝 Two more ‘safe trade zones’ have been created by the Ottawa Police Service. The new locations are in the parking lots of the police stations at 245 Greenbank Road and 4561 Bank Street. ‘Safe trade zones’ are places that people who buy and sell items online can meet for the handover and feel relatively safe. While constables are not stationed in the zones, it would take a very nervy criminal to attack a person in the police parking lot. The area is also monitored by video. – The Ottawa Citizen
 

🛢️ The Leamy Lake beach closure is related to a spill of ‘hydrocarbon’. We knew that the beach was closed yesterday due to a spill but the substance was not known. The substance is still not known, but because a National Capital Commission spokesperson said ‘Mitigation measures have been in place since yesterday and have helped limit the extent of the spill, including a boom barrier that absorbs hydrocarbon products’, it has become slightly clearer. Without any other information, we would suspect gasoline or diesel fuel. – Ted Raymond at CTV
 

💸 Over 1,800 tips about out-of-province license plates have been received by Gatineau police. Québec requires that people who move there register their car within three months or face $336 in fees and fines. The reports stem from a request by Gatineau police for residents to report their friends and neighbours who have overstayed the grace period. – Josh Pringle at CTV

WEDNESDAY

• At Bluesfest today, noted bluesmen Def Leppard headlines the RBC Stage, while The Decemberists play River Stage. Reignwolf lead the way at Lebreton Stage, and D. K. Harrell plays Barney Danson Theatre.

• The Canadian Museum of History will be closed today (July 16) and tomorrow (Thursday July 17) or a private event. This includes Panorama Café, the Second Cup, CINÉ+, the Gift Shop, the Canadian Children’s Museum as well as the parking garage.  

• Bring your current sewing project and enjoy live music under the tent at Mad About Patchwork.

• All aboard the Summer Train Ride at Canada Science and Technology Museum. Members of the Bytown Railway Society will be operating a train comprised of a 1923 caboose that's pulled by a 1946 engine.

• If the weather allows, A Company of Fools presents The Comedy of Errors in Stonewall Park in Nepean  from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.

• 🆓 Franco-Ontarian five-piece Les Rats d’Swompe play a second evening of rock, pop, and punk on the NAC's Wood Terrace. 

• ByTowne Cinema: Materialists, Art House Classics: The Green Ray, Black Dog

• Mayfair Theatre: The Phoenician Scheme, Materialists, Scanners  

  Gigs

• Music Trivia. Art House

• Pallbearer Industry, Reaching Needles, Gong Seer. House of TARG

• Campfire Chaos. Clocktower Brew Pub Westboro

• The Montvales. Red Bird

THURSDAY

• The lunchtime series Songs from the Shed continues on Sparks Street. 

• The Canadian Museum of History will be closed today for a private event. This includes Panorama Café, the Second Cup, CINÉ+, the Gift Shop, the Canadian Children’s Museum as well as the parking garage. 

• The NAC’s Symphonic Waves: Beethoven for Everyone concert will ‘sweep you away with pure sound and emotion’.  All tickets are $20. 

• Today at Bluesfest, bluesman Sean Paul headlines RBC Stage, Peach Pit play River Stage, Moontricks play Lebreton Stage, and Harry Manx tops the bill at Barney Danson Theatre.

• ‘Up Yours! A Butt Workshop’ by Venus Envy is pretty self explanatory, and will be presented as a hybrid irl and virtual event. 

• Insider Trading is back at the City Centre location of Beyond the Pale Brewing Co. The taps open at 8:00 pm and prices rise and fall throughout the evening. 

• ByTowne Cinema: Black Dog, Super Happy Forever, Drawn In: Millennium Actress 

• Mayfair Theatre: The Phoenician Scheme, Materialists, Contempt  
  
  
  You have a choice of wonderful night markets to meet your retail therapy needs: 

• Ottawa Mystic Market (5:00 pm –10:00 PM at 955A Gladstone Ave) is a night of spiritual energy and local makers. Free market entry from 5:00 – 8:00 PM, followed by a live psychic reading with @TristenSky at 8:00 PM. Tickets: $35
• Hintonburg Night Market by Urban Art Collective is pet friendly as usual.  
• ByWard Night Market by Minerva Ottawa rolls out on William Street.  
  
  Gigs

• Settle For Sleep. Dominion Tavern

• Music Bingo! Brew Revolution

• Open Mic. Stray Dog Brewing Co

• Bingo Thursday. Broadhead Brewing

• Corky Kealey, Vince Halfhide. Irene's Pub

• The Foreign Resort. House of TARG

• PAKT: Progressive Jam-Fusion Supergroup. Rainbow Bistro
   

FRIDAY

• 🆓 Catch an outdoor screening of the original Parent Trap (1961) with Haley Mills playing the dual roles of scheming twins. Bring your own blanket or lawn chair to the Churchill Seniors Rec. Centre  

• 🆓 Book a pass and take a day trip on Ontario Parks Free Day

• 🆓 There's something fun brewing in Stittsville. Grab dinner from a food truck and settle in for Music and Movies in the Park at Village Square Park (6000 Abbott St. E).

• Today’s Bluesfest lineup includes bluesmen Green Day (RBC Stage), Dwayne Gretzky (River Stage), Ron Sexsmith (LeBreton stage), Fantastic Negrito (Barney Danson Theatre).

• 🏳️‍🌈 Queers & Beers: Summer Edition happens at Lowertown Brewery.  

• 🆓 The Summer Exhibition: Claudia Gutierrez and Guillermo Trejo opens at De Montigny Contemporary gallery.

• 🆓 Go stargazing with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. Meet in the parking lot of Carp Library at 9:00 pm. (3911 Carp Road)

• Chamberfest opens with a free masterclass with Katherine Dowling at 10,000 Hours Piano Rehearsal Studios  (4:30 pm) and Montréal Horn Stars play Great Canadian Theatre Company at 9:30 pm.  

• ByTowne Cinema: Sorry Baby, Eddington

• Mayfair Theatre: The Phoenician Scheme, The Room

  Gigs

• Duo Joe Ray McDonald. Panorama Patio at Canadian Museum of History (100 Laurier St, Gatineau)

• Rube and Rake. Red Bird

• Dimestore Playboys, Eddie Gazel. Irene's Pub

• LXSTCAUZ. Rainbow Bistro

• Perfect Strangers. House of TARG

• Marcus Visionary. City at Night

• Cardamom Years. Art House
   

JUST ANNOUNCED / NOW BOOKING

• The Purple Tie Gala for Cornerstone Housing for Women will be at a new venue on Friday October 4. The Delta Hotel Ballroom downtown will set the scene for  the black tie event, which includes dinner, silent and live auctions, the famous Buy-A-Brick fundraiser, live music, and signature cocktail. Dress code: your glitziest purple ensemble.