Free Thinking Film Festival Brings Pro-Democracy Films to Ottawa!
[Source: Free Thinking Film Society]
| Free Thinking Film Festival Brings Pro-Democracy Films to Ottawa!
On November 11th, 2011, The Free Thinking Film Society kicks off its 2nd annual film festival to celebrate liberty, freedom and democracy. The Free Thinking Film Festival will feature three major events, two panel discussion and over 20 films, between November 11-13, 2011 at Library and Archives Canada and the Bronson Centre. There will also be a Free Thinking Alley where attendees can buy books and DVDs, and enjoy food and drink. “I love celebrating liberty, freedom and democracy,” says Free Thinking Film President Fred Litwin. “Get ready for three days of challenging films and discussions with no political-correctness.” The Festival opens at 6:30 PM November 11th with History Wars, a debate between Jack Granatstein (Historian and former director of the Canadian War Museum) and Michael Byers (Professor of Political Science at UBC) on the future of the Canadian military, moderated by Michael Bliss. This event is co-sponsored by the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and will take place at the Bronson Centre. The Festival will end with “Unmasked: Judeophobia and the Threat to Civilization”, the Canadian premiere of a documentary about the current political assault against Israel. Producer Gloria Greenfield will be in attendance. |
Bluesfest beats first day congestion
Chris Cobb, The Ottawa Citizen
OTTAWA — Bluesfest executive director Mark Monahan accepted that “some poor decisions” might have been made ahead of Tuesday’s opening night and he pledged Wednesday morning to fix the problems that saw thousands of fans waiting in lineups for an hour or more.
And he delivered. The congestion of opening night was not in evidence Wednesday evening. Eight of the 12 ticket booths assigned to dole out tickets and youth bracelets were open Tuesday. Wednesday evening, all 12 were manned.
“We are making changes,” said the Bluesfest boss Wednesday.
“We aren’t going to have these long lines again.
“Maybe there were some poor decisions made on our part but we’re going to fix them. That’s all we can do.”
The original plan was to have just one entrance — first point of entry — into the park for this year’s festival but that plan quickly fell apart Tuesday.
We’ll do better tonight: Bluesfest boss
Chris Cobb, The Ottawa Citizen
OTTAWA — Bluesfest executive director Mark Monahan is promising concertgoers that there will be no repetition of Tuesday’s long lineups.
Thousands of frustrated ticket buyers waited for more than an hour to pick up tickets or youth bracelets on the festival’s opening night.
Eight of the 12 ticket booths were open. All 12 will be open tonight.
“We are making changes,” he said Wednesday morning. “We aren’t going to have these long lines again. Maybe there were some poor decisions made on our part but we’re going to fix them. That’s all we can do.”
The original plan was to have just one entrance — first point of entry — into the park for this year’s festival but that plan quickly fell apart Tuesday.
As an emergency measure, Monahan and his logistics crew opened another entrance opposite the main entrance to the Canadian War Museum.
Just for Laughs at the Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest
[Source: press release]
What:
Just for Laughs at the Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest
For the first time ever, comedy titan Just For Laughs will present some of its funniest Festival alumni at the renowned Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest for three themed shows over nine nights. Each show will feature two popular headliners performing extended sets!
Where:
On-site at the festival, inside the Canadian War Museum’s Barney Danson Theatre
Who and When:
Robert Kelly and Alonzo Bodden (Relationship Show, 7:30 p.m., July 5, 6, 7)
Ari Shaffir and Big Jay Oakerson (The Nasty Show – ages 18+ – 7:30 p.m., July 8, 9, 10)
Angelo Tsarouchas and Joey Elias (Canadian Show, 7:30 p.m., July 15, 16, and 17)
How:
Please note, due to limited seating, admission to Just for Laughs in the Barney Danson Theatre is available on a first come first serve basis to all patrons who have purchased Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest ticket[s] for the day(s) in question . Proof of purchase for that day must be presented at the door to access comedy shows.
For a guaranteed seat for any of these comedy shows, reserved seating passes ($20) can be purchased in advance from all Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest ticket outlets and on-site at the ticket trailer and at the Barney Danson Theatre comedy kiosk. Ottawa Bluesfest ticket[s] for the day(s) in question are necessary to purchase a reserved seat. Space is not guaranteed in advance, so comedy fans should buy a reserved seat in advance to avoid disappointment!
Patrons should arrive at least 15 minutes before the posted time for each show. Reserved-seating ticket holders will be allowed entrance first. The theatre will close to latecomers after the posted start time, without exception.
Reserved seating passes, now on sale. Details available on ‘TICKETS’ page at: www.ottawabluesfest.ca
Ottawa Bluesfest brings The Roots, Frampton
Source: CBC News
An eclectic mix of more than 200 headlining acts, ranging from indie-rock darlings The Flaming Lips to music legends like Peter Frampton and Bootsy Collins, will take the stage at this summer’s Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest.
The 18th edition of Canada’s biggest blues festival released its lineup Tuesday, spanning 13 days between July 5-17, with an off-day in the middle of the festival to allow fans, volunteers and staff to rest before the music kicks off again.
Among other acts confirmed so far were: Soundgarden, Huey Lewis & the News, Ben Harper, Steve Miller Band, The Black Keys, Death Cab for Cutie, Erykah Badu, Jennifer Hudson, The Roots and Girl Talk.
As far as Canadian content goes, fans will have their pick of seeing performances from: the Tragically Hip, Death From Above 1979, Bedouin Soundclash, Blue Rodeo, Billy Talent and Buck 65, also known as Richard Terfry, the host of CBC Radio 2’s Radio 2 Drive show. More artists are still being confirmed.
The annual music festival site at LeBreton Flats Park, on the grounds of the Canadian War Museum, is expected to draw fans from around the world for what Billboard Magazine has ranked as one of the top 10 music festivals in North America.
Tickets go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. on April 30.
For updates on schedules, tickets, and programming information, visit www.ottawabluesfest.ca.
To view the article visit CBC.ca
O Ottawa. When did you get so hip? Discovering Canada’s cool capital
Michael Kaminer, Special to The Washington Post
In fact, if anything now characterizes the city, I’d say it’s an unselfconscious cool. There’s a proudly indie aesthetic in its neighborhoods, but without the hipster posturing of Toronto. Unlike language-obsessed Montreal, the city has a relaxed attitude toward bilingualism — everything here comes in both official languages — that lends Ottawa an easy cosmopolitanism.
Oh, yes: Ottawa also boasts Canada’s Parliament, along with the National Gallery, the Royal Canadian Mint, the Canadian War Museum, Rideau Hall, the Canadian Museum of Nature, the Canadian Children’s Museum, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum and the Canadian Museum of Civilization. They’re all gleaming, serious attractions, with collections often lauded as some of the world’s best.
They used to be the reason for a visit to Ottawa, with restaurants and shopping an afterthought. These days, don’t be surprised if you find the opposite to be true.
Read the full article in the Washington Post: O Ottawa. When did you get so hip?
Bluesfest attendees should use common sense
Bruce Ward, The Ottawa Citizen
He said organizers rely on those attending Bluesfest to use common sense to combat the hot, humid weather.
“People are adults and we can’t micro-manage their behaviour but we do strongly advise people to stay hydrated — there’s lots of water on site.”
Fans can duck into the air-conditioned War Museum if they get hot and tired, Sauve said.
“Thankfully, the museum is air conditioned and we have access to that. You can pop in there if you start to feel a little tired.”
He added that the Bluesfest has several medical experts on site and an army of about 4,000 volunteers to help anyone who feels discomfort because of the heat.
Full story on the Ottawa Citizen website: Bluesfest attendees should use common sense
It’s festival season in the capital
TRACEY TONG, METRO OTTAWA
Ottawa is widely known as the city of festivals.
For residents looking for something to do on weekends without having to leave the city, the lineup doesn’t disappoint.
Read the full article on the Metro website to see a run down of a few of the many, many events that will be happening over the course of the next few months: It’s festival season in the capital
Ottawa Bluesfest lineup announced: Festival nabs Rush, Drake, Keith Urban, Arcade Fire, Great Big Sea and Santana.
Lynn Saxberg, Canwest News Service
One of the biggest summer music festivals in the country, Bluesfest runs from July 6 to 18 on the grounds of the Canadian War Museum at LeBreton Flats. This year’s event starts on a Tuesday, a day earlier than the festival’s traditional start date, but includes a day off on July 12. The newly devised schedule divides the festival into two separate weeks.
In all, about 230 acts are performing at Bluesfest, including about 60 from the Ottawa area. Concerts take place on five outdoor stages and in the museum’s indoor Barney Danson theatre.
Last year’s festival attracted more than 350,000 people, according to statistics gathered by the festival.
Full story on Canada.com: Ottawa Bluesfest lineup announced
