What to do if you’re stuck in Ottawa during the study break
If you’re not going away for Reading Week, you have an entire week in Ottawa without classes. Once you’ve slept in, eaten ice cream for breakfast, and spent at least a day watching Netflix, you’ll need to get out of the house and into the world. Here are some things to do instead of the homework you weren’t going to do anyway.
Art!
You can pursue an arts career without being a starving artist. ARTpreneur Ottawa 2013 is a one-day conference intended to help artists at all stages of their careers learn the business side of art. The conference features sessions on self-promotion, networking, and applying for public art calls. Tickets for the conference on Oct. 19 are $45, but students can get a discounted rate when they use the promo code STUDENT2013 at artpreneurottawa.com.
Zombies!
There’s a way you can both simulate a zombie apocalypse and raise money for a good cause: the Zombie Run for Humanity. The 5-km race on Oct. 19 takes place at the Nepean National Equestrian Park.
You can sign up as either a zombie or a human. Zombies are classified as walkers or chasers depending on their state of decay as they try to infect the humans. Humans run the race with three flags representing lives and run the course trying to avoid infection. All humans are encouraged to complete the race regardless of their state of infection.
Sex!
If your Friday night booty call of choice went home for the week, Sexapalooza can keep this vacation from being a total bust. Check out a dungeon showcase, learn a new technique, or get your body painted at the sex-themed consumer show. The sexpo takes place Oct. 18–20 at the Ernst & Young Centre on Uplands Drive. Tickets are $20 at the door or $15 online.
Geeks!
Whether you like to get your geek on with cosplay, manga, or board games, the Geek Market has something for you. The event brings members of Ottawa’s geeky community together with geeky artisans and vendors to raise money for Kids Help Phone, Jer’s Vision and the Ottawa and Region Distress Centre. From Oct. 19–20 at the Carleton University Fieldhouse, the Geek Market costs $10 for one day or $15 for the weekend.
Fall Festival!
Do autumn Persian style. The Mehregan Festival, a Festival of Fall at the Centrepoint Theatre on Oct. 12, will feature local singers, kamanche, tonbak, flute players, visual artists, dance groups, and Persian food. Student tickets are $15.
