⛸️ Tonight is your last chance to skate on the Rideau this season.  It has been a fantastic 56 days but, at 10:00 pm, the National Capital Commission is calling it a season. – Ottawa Citizen

↪ A flood watch has been announced for homes in North Gower by the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, due to melting ice.

🛏️ The 96 year-old O’Brien House on Meech Lake has been leased out as a boutique hotel by the National Capital Commission. The mansion, built for Montréal Canadiens founder John Ambrose O’Brien, has been empty since 2019. The new operator is Square Old Chelsea, which operates a collection of businesses nearby.  – Liam Baker at CBC 

🧳 Ottawa Tourism has announced a nightlife tourism development fund. Applications will be accepted for projects that attract visitors and enhance Ottawa’s nighttime appeal between 6:00 pm – 6:00 am. Deadline for applications is March 31.  – Ottawa Tourism

 

🎣Some details of the proposed early retirement incentive for Federal public employees have been released. If the offer receives Parliamentary approval, early retirees would not pay the five per cent penalty on each year taken early, as is currently the case. Employees will have to make their decision this year.  – Matteo Cimellaro in the Ottawa Citizen    Federal government portal

🚌 A new bus route has begun between Ottawa – Toronto – London corridor. Flixbus service began last Sunday, and also stops in Kitchener, Cambridge, Peterborough, Madoc, Perth, and Kanata. The trip is a quick 10 hours.  – Brian Williams in the London Free Press 

↪ We can all agree that we know which London we are talking about, right? 

• 🆓 Carleton’s School of Journalism and Communications presents an evening with Canadian journalist and author Theresa O’Leary, whose new book Race to the Cape: The Daring News Chase, the Birth of the Associated Press, and the Journalist at the Heart of It All, recounts the founding of the news organization in 1846. (Carleton Campus) 

• 🆓 Watch the trailer then decide if you can afford to spend 1.5 hours of your life on A Bad Night at the Movies’ screening of Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine (1965), starring such luminaries of the screen as Frankie Avalon, Jack Mullaney, and a deadpan Vincent Price. 6:30 pm. Ottawa Public Library main branch. (Downtown) 

• A Bear & Co and Three Sisters Theatre have joined forces to mount Blood Relations, the psychological mystery of Lizzie Borden, who may or may not have murdered her parents in 1892. At the Gladstone Theatre (Little Italy)  

• Volleyball teams intending to register for the 44th Hope Volleyball Summerfest, you need to be at the Lone Star Loft (1211 Lemieux Street  for the Official Launch Party. You'll sign up your team, find out which bands are playing the festival, and have access to great food and drink deals. (Cyrville)

• Direct from Carleton University’s music program and successful gigs all around town, Seren Dubé (alto and soprano saxophone), Declan Workman (piano) and Kent Religa Nesrallah (electric bass) aka Seren Dubé Jazz Trio perform at Art House this evening. Tip: even if you purchase a ticket, get there early for a seat with good sightlines (Chinatown) 

• Aurelius and Savvy Company invite a limited number of guests to book their place at the EH VIP Tasting Evening to sample the 2025 Early Harvest Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Choose from Wednesday March 4 at the Wellington location, Thursday March 5 in the Glebe, and Friday March 6 in Kanata. The experience includes two glasses of Ontario wine, a charcuterie board featuring Canadian artisan cheeses, and sour dough bread. 

Cinema

• ByTowne Cinema: A Poet, 2026 Oscar Nominated Short Films: Documentary, Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie 

• Mayfair Theatre: Pillion, Hamnet, A Better Tomorrow  

Gigs

• LoveToFolk Prime: The Barra MacNeils. Saint Brigid's

• Bluegrass Wednesdays. Red Bird

• August John, Phasez, GRFN. House of TARG

• The Prime Rib Big Band. Irene’s Pub

THURSDAY

• Aurelius and Savvy Company invite a limited number of guests to book their place at the EH VIP Tasting Evening to sample the 2025 Early Harvest Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Attend on Thursday March 5 in the Glebe or Friday March 6 in Kanata. The experience includes two glasses of Ontario wine, a charcuterie board featuring Canadian artisan cheeses, and sour dough bread. 

• It’s opening night of A Bear & Co and Three Sisters Theatres’ production of Blood Relations, At the Gladstone Theatre (Little Italy)  

• Watch the magic happen in three 20-minute rounds of Art Battle. Overflow Brewing (2477 Kaladar Ave (Heron Park) 

• Rising star in vocal jazz and double JUNO Award winner Dominique Fils-Aimé is a Montreal singer-songwriter who puts the history of African-American musical culture into the heart of her work. National Arts Centre (Downtown)

• Five-show subscription packages for the 2026-2027 season of Broadway Across Canada go on sale today. The season is filled with exciting live theatre including The Great Gatsby (September 8-13 2026) The Sound of Music (December 29, 2026 - January 3, 2027), A Beautiful Noise: A Neil Diamond Musical (April 6 - 11, 2027), Disney's Beauty and the Beast (June 8 - 13, 2027), and The Outsiders (July 20 - 25). As an added bonus you can also purchase tickets to The Book of Mormon (March 9-14, 2027).  

Cinema

• ByTowne Cinema:  A Poet, The Zone: Dark City: The Director’s Cut  

• Mayfair Theatre: Hamnet, Second Wind, Big Trouble in Little China  

Gigs

• Deep Currents: Greer/Geggie/Garcia Trio. The Robo Lounge

• Animal Tonic, The Re-A-Rangers, Holly Acres. LIVE on Elgin

• Gallery of Rythm. Club SAW

• Sloan. Bronson Centre

• Bella Donna and Friends. Rainbow Bistro

• Rick Fines. Red Bird

FRIDAY

• It’s opening night of Orpheus Musical Theatre’s production of Jesus Christ Superstar, one of the original rock operas.  The show runs Tuesday through Saturday evening at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 2:00 pm until March 15. (Nepean)

• You'll get four 5oz samples from the rotating taps at Byward Beerfest (today and tomorrow at Lowertown Brewery)

• Thirteen Strings welcomes Canadian-Romanian conductor Andrei Feher and Innu rising-star soprano Elisabeth St-Gelais for a concert of Mendelssohn, Anna Clyne, Wagner, Florence Price, and Britton. Make a real evening of it with a special three course dinner from Working Title Kitchen before the concert.(Sandy Hill)

• Toronto-by-way-of-Glasgow comedian John Mostyn plays Yuk Yuks tonight and tomorrow. (Lincoln Heights)  

• Bicycle Craft Brewing’s After Hours Tour & Tasting will ease you into the weekend with samples of multiple varieties and a behind the scenes glimpse into the brewery (Industrial Avenue) 

• With International Women’s Day on Sunday this is the perfect time for the two-night Feral Femmefest. Harley Olivia headlines tonight's lineup with Wet For Days, Sugar Bomb, and Rising Flame guesting.(ByWard Market) 

• The Duelling Magicians bring the magic to The Prescott (Little Italy). 

• Ottawa’s hardest-working UK-transplant band The Underground bring the authentic vibe to House of TARG's 80s Dance Party. 

• All skill levels are welcome at the Konnection Konpa, Bachata, and Salsa workshop and social dance at Studio X. 

• Multi-faceted Ndidi O  is JUNO-nominated, has released five albums as herself as well as a bunch of singles under her trip-hop outfit BOGA, has played everywhere from Gap commercials to gigs in Europe, and tonight you get to see her at National Arts Centre’s Fourth Stage (if you book now, that is). (Downtown)

• Indie rockers The Rembros play The Carleton Tavern as they prepare to unleash their new album of original tunes. (Parkdale) 

Cinema

• ByTowne Cinema: L’Étranger, The Testament of Ann Lee, The President’s Cake, Bohemian Rhapsody with Live Burlesque  

• Mayfair Theatre: All That’s Left of You, Pillion, The Room

Gigs

• Absolute Losers, Dart Trees, Go Long. The 27 Club

• Main Street Revival. Hard Rock Ottawa

• Orbit Culture. Bronson Centre

• Tom Wilson with Graham Greer. Red Bird

• Feral Femmfest I. Rainbow Bistro

• Southern Comfort. Hard Rock Ottawa

• The Rough Go. Dominion Tavern

• Friday Night Folk ft. Jack Pine and Lefty McRighty. Art House Café

JUST ANNOUNCED / NOW BOOKING

• Shift, the women and gender-non conforming film festival lands at Arts Court for two days of programming (Saturday March 7 and Sunday March 8). (Downtown) 

• Award-winning Indigenous playwright Tomson Highway of The Rez Sisters and Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing fame gives us the musical Rose, the "deeply moving and fiercely funny third chapter in his acclaimed “rez” cycle. NAC Indigenous Theatre is honoured to bring to the stage the professional world premiere." March 25-April 4 at National Arts Centre's Babs Asper Theatre. (Downtown)