Out in Ottawa: Sept 18–30, 2015

Choice events in the city


Community

LGBTQ Election Debate

Ten Oaks Project president Dawn Moore moderates a debate on issues affecting the queer community. Hosted by the One World Film Festival, the debate is between candidates from the Ottawa Centre riding — Paul Dewar (NDP), Catherine McKenna (Liberal), Tom Milroy (Green), and an unconfirmed Conservative candidate.

Friday, Sept 25, 6pm. National Gallery of Canada, 380 Sussex Dr. oneworldfilmfestival.ca

Leisure & Pleasure

Gaymer Night at Swizzles

Queer game enthusiasts gather to play “hosted” games — games where a narrator walks players through a story, and each participant must make choices in order to win. Games include the popular Werewolves of Millers Hollow, Mafia (similar to Werewolves, with a gangster twist), and Black Stories (where participants try to solve a mysterious death).

Tuesday, Sept 22, 6pm. Swizzles, 246 Queen St. For more information, visit Facebook.

Meet and Greet

The 23-year-old sex store Wilde’s has a new owner, Trevor Prevost, and everyone is invited out to the store to meet him and say farewell to the store’s previous owner, Rob. Attendees enjoy snacks and mingling and participate in draws (for $25 and $50 gift certificates). Any purchases this night get you a voucher for 15 percent off a future purchase.

Thursday, Sept 24, 5pm. Wilde’s, 386 Bank St. facebook.com/wildesottawa

OSPN Bowling

It doesn’t take much skill, but it’s always fun, and there’s something joyous about the clatter of tumbling pins and the weirdness of wearing shoes only 1,000 people (at least) have worn before. Folks 50 years and older and their allies bowl a few frames at this recurring bowling event for seniors. For more information, contact georgis@rogers.com.

Monday, Sept 28, 6:30pm. West Park Lanes, 1205 Wellington St W. ospn-rfao.ca

Literature

The Naughty Bits Book Club: A Safe Girl to Love

Literature lovers discuss Casey Plett’s book A Safe Girl to Love. Taking readers from rural Canada to hipster gay bars in Brooklyn, this collection of 11 short stories feature young trans women dealing with loss, sex, harassment and love. Billing for the event says, “growing up a trans girl can be charming, funny, frustrating, or sad, but never will it be predictable.”

 

Wednesday, Sept 30, 7:30pm. Venus Envy, 226 Bank St. venusenvy.ca

Stage

Canada’s Capital Kings: A Royal Affair

This performance has so many kings, it puts the royal houses of Europe to shame. Ottawa’s own 6-man drag king troupe, Canada’s Capital Kings, will be joined by a host of other kings — more than 15 — of varying levels of experience, for a night of bad moustaches, plaid shirts and lip-synching. In short, like any good affair, it’s very, very sexy.

Saturday, Sept 26, 7:30pm. Maxwell’s, 340 Elgin St. facebook.com/canadascapitalkings

Ottawa Burlesque Festival

Here’s a chance to stare at bare bums, decorated nipples and scarcely obscured bulges, on an occasion when it’s socially acceptable to do so. Returning for its second year, The Ottawa Burlesque Festival blends dancing, singing and revealing costumes in a big casserole of hilarity, silliness and art. Includes a diverse array of acts in venues across the city.

Runs until Sunday, Sept 20. For more info, visit ottawaburlesquefest.com

(For more event listings, visit dailyxtra.com/lgbt-events)

Jeremy Willard is a Toronto-based freelance writer and editor. He's written for Fab Magazine, Daily Xtra and the Torontoist. He generally writes about the arts, local news and queer history (in History Boys, the Daily Xtra column that he shares with Michael Lyons).

Read More About:
Culture, Event listings, Arts, Ottawa, Nightlife

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