Things to do in Ottawa this week: August 9–15

This week splits cleanly: Monday brings heavy rain and a midweek soak that'll keep you seeking shelter, but the weekend breaks into clear skies and a reason to get outside. The defining draw is Bonnie Raitt at the National Arts Centre on Thursday evening—a blues-rock institution with decades of chart presence, backed by special guest Maia Sharp. It's the kind of show that justifies a whole evening out, especially on a night when rain showers are still lingering but manageable.

Start your week with Sunday's Ottawa Rapid FC match at TD Place Stadium at 2:00 PM, a sunny afternoon slot before the weather turns. Then brace for Monday: heavy rain and 27 degrees means staying indoors. This is prime time for Speakeasy Tapas Lounge in the Glebe, where small plates and a lively room will feel like the exact antidote to a grey afternoon. If live music calls, Ben Nichols takes the stage at the 27 Club on Tuesday evening at 7:30 PM—a quieter night to slip into a basement venue while the city drains itself overhead.

Thursday is your main event. Bonnie Raitt's 7:30 PM show at the National Arts Centre draws crowds across the city; the blues-rock legend has shaped generations of players, and a live performance is never routine. Rain showers ease by then, and the venue itself is reason enough to dress up and cross the Canal if you're in the west end. Before the show, The Shore Club on Bank Street serves proper steak and a classic room—the kind of dinner that makes an evening feel intentional rather than rushed.

Friday clears into overcast cool, 11 to 20 degrees, with barely any rain. It's not warm, but it's honest weather, and the weekend improves from there. Saturday stays overcast and mild, 11 to 23 degrees, with almost no rain—finally a patio-friendly night. This is when Amit Tandon, an Indian singer and actor known for his work on Indian Idol, takes Algonquin Commons Theatre at 7:30 PM on Saturday. If you want something quieter, the stretch from Friday evening into Saturday is perfect for wandering the ByWard Market, though vendors there have had a rough season; the Vendor Village has seen foot traffic plummet since the container shops opened, and several sellers are struggling. That said, Preston Street's Little Italy keeps expanding its culinary pull—16 standout restaurants now draw serious food lovers to the neighbourhood, from Burmese tea leaf salads to hand-made sausages. On a cool Friday or Saturday night, that's where your appetite will lead.

If you're choosing one night, make it Thursday for Bonnie Raitt at the NAC: a world-class performer in a world-class room, and the kind of show that reminds you why live music still matters.