NEW U.S. ENVOY PUTS ON A GREAT BASH

“Get your dancing shoes ready!” Vicki Heyman urged some 3,000 guests of the Fourth of July shindig she hosted with her husband, U.S. Ambassador Bruce Heyman, at their official residence in Rockcliffe Park on Friday.

Moments later, the fun and friendly couple was seen cutting some serious rug on the dance floor at their first American Independence Day in Ottawa.

There was nothing stuffy nor pretentious about this bash, billed as a Great American Picnic. It wasn’t even considered a true party unless you left with a little barbecue sauce on your top — which should’ve been white if you followed the “summer white” dress code.

Bruce Heyman, who’s only been in Ottawa a few months, told the crowd he’s committed to listening to and learning from Canadians. “For Vicki and me, it’s just a privilege and honour to be here in Canada for the 4th of July (in) a country that cherishes the very same values and ideals: liberty and democracy, peace and freedom,” he said.

Guests helped themselves to barbecued pork ribs, hotdogs, grilled chicken and an assortment of salads and desserts catered by the National Arts Centre. Attendees included former prime minister Joe Clark, Mayor Jim Watson and Canada’s former ambassador to Iran, Ken Taylor.

YOUNG LAWN BOWLERS SUPPORT CF

The grass is always greener at the Elmdale Lawn Bowling Club, especially when it’s teeming with young professionals decked out in fedoras, clown suits and pink tutus. Such was the funloving scene Wednesday when a costumed crowd of about 160 kicked off the second-annual Lawn Summer Nights, a lawn bowling tournament that takes places each Wednesday in July to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis Canada.

This year’s event sold out almost instantly and is being co-chaired by Meredith Taylor, a consultant at Environics Communications, and Alexandra Gagnier, a consultant at Deloitte. The tournament raised more than $35,000 last year and organizers are hoping for $60,000 this summer. The guest speaker was Max McGuire, the Ottawa-native filmmaker behind the semiautobiographical, coming-of-age movie Foreverland about a young man with CF who goes searching for a miracle cure.

GUESTS GRAVITATE TO HADFIELD

Michael Potter threw a soirée Monday that was out of this world — and not just because retired astronaut Chris Hadfield was there. Potter, founder of Vintage Wings of Canada and honorary colonel of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, had some 140 friends and supporters over to his galaxy-sized property in Rockcliffe Park. Everyone gravitated toward Hadfield, who’s just been named to the Order of Canada. Earlier that day, the national hero gave an inspiring talk to several hundred young people from the Royal Canadian Air Cadets and the Ottawa Boys and Girls Club. The Hadfield youth summit was hosted by Vintage Wings, a non-profit organization that aims to inspire, educate and commemorate through its collection of vintage aircraft. Party guests included members of the famed Snowbirds; Gen. Tom Lawson, chief of defence staff; and retired Lt. Gen. Steve Lucas, a former chief of Canada’s air force. University of Ottawa president Allan Rock and Carleton University president Roseanne Runte attended, as did British High Commissioner Howard Drake.

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PHOTOS: CAROLINE PHILLIPS/ OTTAWA CITIZEN U.S. Ambassador Bruce Heyman and his wife, Vicki, left, dance at the Independence Day party at their official residence.

Cyandra Carvalho on the greens after the rain lifted at the Lawn Summer Nights event. The unique lawn-bowling fundraiser for Cystic Fibrosis Canada takes place over four summer evenings in July.

Event co-chairs Alexandra Gagnier, left, and Meredith Taylor, right, with Tiffany MacLellan at Lawn Summer Nights, a fundraiser for Cystic Fibrosis Canada that kicked off Wednesday at the Elmdale Lawn Bowling Club.

From left, Bernie Normand and Linda Normand with former Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield at the Hadfield Youth Summit Soirée hosted by Michael Potter in Rockcliffe Park.

Cyandra Carvalho and Yohan Rodericks sneak some romantic dancing on the greens of the Elmdale Lawn Bowling Club during the CF fundraiser.

Broadcaster Catherine Clark with her husband, Chad Schella, at the U.S. Embassy’s annual Fourth of July party.

Filmmaker Max McGuire spoke about his personal battle with cystic fibrosis at the kickoff of Lawn Summer Nights, a fundraiser at the Elmdale Lawn Bowling Club.