For the past few days or so, I’ve been on a bit of a virtual vacation. Now this is not to say I have strayed too far away from my computer, but it does seem that I’ve been otherwise occupied by some serious Ottawa-related fun!
This girlaboutOtown was lucky enough to win two tickets to the February 21 matinee performance of Girls Night: The Musical, at Nepean’s Centrepointe Theatre. Admittedly, it was my first visit to this west-end gem of a facility, and I was suitably impressed. Apparently, I’m not alone! This classy community venue was awarded Performing Arts Centre of the Year (2009) at the Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry Awards last March.
Anyway, Girls Night: The Musical was a barrel of laughs, and was followed up by “Girls Night: For Real” at one of my perennial favourites, the always fantastic 4th Ave. Wine Bar. What more could a couple of gossiping girlfriends want on a Saturday night?
Fast forward to last Thursday, and it was over to Somerset Street’s Raw Sugar Cafe to see Ottawa’s own Kirk Ramsay aka Giant Hand, and opening acts Ben Somer and Matt Paxton both from Hamilton, Ont. For someone like me, who is a sucker for singer songwriters, these young artists offered up acoustic music that was intelligent and provocative, but each in their own way. Warm but not raucous inside, the Raw Sugar Cafe was the perfect setting for an intimate couple of sets, and the show an excellent antidote to the cold and snow outside.
While this girlaboutOtown thoroughly enjoyed all three performances, it was Giant Hand I went to see. Having taught himself to play guitar only 2 years ago, Kirk Ramsay has been steadily gathering steam ever since, and has found himself stage front in record speed. Not only has he conquered the instrument, he has confronted his pent up emotion with raw honesty and shaped it into a series of hauntingly beautiful folk ballads. If you haven’t heard him yet, listen here and/or check out Ramsay’s next show coming up March 20 at the Irving Greenberg Theatre.
Photo by Aaron McKenzie Fraser for Ottawa Magazine, via Giant Hand.
Finally, last Friday afternoon, I managed to squeeze in a lovely lunch with friends at one of my favourite new stops, Babbo’s Italian Food Shop on Main St. at Lees. This unassuming little eatery specializes in panini sandwiches, homemade pasta and Italian pastries made from scratch. With just a few window tables, the food is good to go - but if you’re eating in – the service is super friendly and the short wait painless.
This week is shaping up nicely too, as my lucky streak continues!
Thanks to a great giveaway over at arts & culture blog OttawaTonite, I won another set of tickets, this time to see STOMP at the National Arts Centre tonight. I’ll be taking my equally lucky little girlaboutOtown, who will no doubt be inspired to continue her improvisational kitchen dances once she’s seen what can happen when you follow the beat of your own drum.
Thursday, the good folks at the Great Canadian Theatre Company are hosting a few very fortunate OTown bloggers for the opening night presentation of blood.claat, a one ooman story, and for this opportunity, I am most grateful. I look forward to seeing the coming of age story of a 15 year old Jamaican girl performed by award winning dub poet, actor and playwright d’bi.young anitafrika, and to experiencing an entirely new perspective.
All in all, not a bad stretch for a culture-loving, bootstrapping businessperson on a budget!
