Things to do in Ottawa this week: October 18–24

This is a comedian's week in Ottawa, and the weather is cooperating. Sunday through Wednesday deliver a run of clear skies and mild temperatures—highs touching 13 to 15 degrees early on—that makes moving between venues painless. Clouds roll back in toward the weekend, so plan outdoor errands and walks for the front half; by Saturday, you're looking at an overcast, cooler day around 11 degrees.

The marquee draw is Jimmy Carr at The Arena at TD Place on Thursday night. The British and Irish comedian, who began his stand-up career in 1997, has built a reputation for sharp, uncompromising comedy. He takes the stage at 7:30 PM—a midweek commitment that lands right in that sweet spot between early week and the weekend scramble.

If Thursday doesn't fit your calendar, Jonathan Van Ness brings his particular brand of charm to the Bronson Centre on the same evening at 7:00 PM. Van Ness—the grooming expert from Netflix's Queer Eye and host of the Getting Curious podcast—has sharpened his comedy chops on dedicated tours, most recently with his 2023 show Fun & Slutty. Expect personality-driven material from someone equally comfortable riffing on pop culture as he is on his own life.

Sunday is a full day if you want it. Sal Vulcano, the improvisational and stand-up comedian from the troupe The Tenderloins, performs at Algonquin Commons Theatre at 7:00 PM. That same afternoon, Collective Soul—the Atlanta-based American rock band fronted by brothers Ed and Dean Roland—plays at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa at 7:00 PM, though the venue sits roughly 16 kilometres outside the city. If live rock appeals more than comedy, the band's catalog spans decades of alternative rock radio hits.

Menopause The Musical runs at Algonquin Commons Theatre on Monday and Tuesday with two performances each day. The 2001 musical by Jeanie Linders follows four mature women navigating a lingerie sale at Bloomingdale's, set to parodies of baby boomer-era pop songs rewritten around menopause. It's the kind of theatrical comfort food that plays well on cool autumn evenings indoors.

Beyond the stages, the city's food scene has been quietly reshaping itself. Zen Bowl, the new Shanghainese spot on Gladstone Avenue in Centretown, opened in late July and has already earned attention for its made-in-house soup dumplings and pan-fried buns—particularly the buns, which locals say rival the city's established dim sum houses. Given the clear, cool weather early in the week, it's an ideal time to venture to Centretown and settle into a bowl of Shanghai comfort. Later in the week, when clouds thicken, Bistro Ristoro offers Italian warmth and the kind of intimate, reliable space that justifies a Thursday or Friday evening out.

Mike Epps closes the weekend on Saturday at 7:00 PM at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa, also outside the city proper. The stand-up and actor—known for his film roles in Next Friday and The Hangover—brings live comedy to the weekend tail, though plan for Saturday's cooler, overcast conditions and the 16-kilometre drive.

If you book one night out this week, make it Jimmy Carr on Thursday: sharp comedy, a proper theatre, and the last truly mild evening before the weekend turns cool.