Cool Kanata: Catherine invites you to the ‘burbs for some last-minute winter fun

The Kanata Recreation Complex is a must-visit spot for outdoor winter fun in Kanata.

Catherine Brunelle (website/Twitter) is a freelance writer who recently moved back to Ottawa after an extended adventure abroad. Born and raised in Kanata, she’s always up for exposing her newly immigrated husband to the wonders of Ottawa. Her own blog offers a light approach to life’s many challenges, from breast cancer and immigration, to traveling and job-searching.

With this bizarre winter promising an early spring arrival, it’s easy to look ahead and say: “I’ll go outside when it warms up.” And you might think it becomes doubly easy to make this self-promise when living in a suburb like Kanata, away from the cafes, culture and social excitement of downtown Ottawa. Yeah, we’ve got the Scotiabank Place in our backyard, but when it comes to free, outdoor and active fun – there’s a certain impression that we suburb dwellers are strapped for choice.

Not true.

Kanata has a little secret, much like many other suburbs. While central Ottawa has it’s shows and bars and poetry readings – all so very awesome – suburbs have a different sort of entertainment, and no, I’m not counting trips to Costco or visiting out the newest WalMart installation.

This winter my husband and I moved to Kanata. Before this we lived in Southampton, England, but following a decision to ‘return home to Canada’ we literally returned ‘home’ to my parent’s house in Kanata. And as winter descended upon us, we looked for inexpensive ways to enjoy ourselves and stay fit.

Here’s what we came up with:

Photo credit: Lucia B, via Flickr

The Kanata Recreation Complex (KRC) hill. It’s got to be number one on this list, simply due to its massive size. You’d be hard-pressed to find another sledding hill this huge. But sled with care, because it’s fast, icy and will send you gliding at breakneck speeds. (All this to say, it might injure you, but it’s really good fun. Since we’re not kids anymore, just be smart and avoid the jumps. Some people wear helmets.) The KRC hill is an integral part of Kanata – hosting winter activities (sledding and skating) and the Canada Day events. I can remember when they built this giant hill. That’s right, it’s not a natural phenomenon to have a huge mound of earth on the edge of farmers’ fields. The soil, at least some of it, was taken from another sledding hill that led onto a busy road. We used to call it ‘Death Hill’ before it was dug up by the city. Maybe that’s why the KRC is so wickedly fast in terms of sledding … memories of Death Hill are persevering.

The KRC is free and fun. The workout walking up, coupled with the adrenaline of sliding down, is worthwhile to anyone  of any age who’s hankering for a thrill.

Photo credit: Gen and Ger, via Flickr

Frozen ponds and public rinks. It’s incredible how these have remained prevalent. Tucked between the paths and parks within Kanata (and chances are, all around Ottawa) are small, frozen over, community-tended skating rinks. The Young’s Pond Park rink attracts crowds of kids, adults and families strapping on the skates, playing hockey and shoveling away the snow.  There’s little better on a winter night in the suburbs than going for a skate in the light of the moon. (Plus the light on that pole in the neighbour’s yard – another sign of community involvement when it comes to rinks.)

Get your skates on while it’s still possible. This weirdly warm February is melting away the ice … but keep your fingers crossed for a few more good days. The rinks are free and open to anyone.

Photo credit: m. gifford, via Flickr

The Greenbelt. Ah, the Greenbelt – for those of us in Kanata, it may otherwise be known as ‘that strip of farm land and trees between Kanata and downtown along the 417.’ But for anyone with a love of bird-feeding, cross country skiing or show shoeing … it’s far more than just scenery. Free trails are available all year round, shared with animals like deer and rabbits. If you feel like taking an hour-long holiday from the city, the high tech, or the big box stores … get yourself some snowshoes and escape to nature. On the outskirts of Kanata along March Road, Eagleson Road, Tim Road and the 417, there are paths for exploration. This is my absolutely favourite way to spend a bright Saturday afternoon. Snow or no snow, the Greebelt is a piece of land that we’re lucky to have close.

Again, it’s free and easily accessible. Beautiful in the winter with mounds of snow and ice … and while the cross-country conditions are abysmal at the moment, try using snow shoes instead – they have no problems with patches of ice.

And that is how we’ve spent our winter. Yes the suburbs are different than the city, but there’s a reason people move out here. This winter, it was a delight to escape and have fun. In terms of ‘touring’ Kanata – can’t ask for better than free hills, free rinks, and free paths.

Sounds amazing, Catherine! Have any must-do winter events Ottawans should take in before spring arrives? Leave a suggestion below!

Tags: frozen ponds Ottawa, Kanata, Kanata Recreation Complex, KRC, public rinks Ottawa, snowshoeing Ottawa, The Greenbelt, winter fun

‘This is the breath of the last word spoken’: VERSeFest & poetry for the end of the world

Photo credit: Anthony Citrano, via Flickr

Christine Northan is a local poetry enthusiast and volunteer. When she’s not studying to be a massage therapist, she enjoys all things creative that Ottawa has to offer. And long walks on the beach. Can’t forget that.

There’s been a whole lotta talk about 2012 being the end of the world as we know it (oh, you better believe REM was brought up more than once!) Tucked inside Arts Court  (2 Daly ave. ) on  a chilled Saturday evening late last month, VERSeFest celebrated the end of the Mayan calendar, a fundraiser inviting poets to explore such thoughts via apocalyptic poetry. And it was a great teaser of things to come when VERSeFest kicks off at the end of THIS month, so let me share the experience with you.

The all-women's slam was one of the fundraisers taking place in the lead-up to VERSefest, which starts Feb. 28 (Photo credit: Pesbo, via Flickr)

So began the “poetry for the end of the world contest” … Now whittled down to six finalists, tonight they present their pieces — we the audience have a vote — and the winning poem will be sent off into the ether via weather balloon!  How did VERSeFest even get their hands on a weather balloon? I suspect it was Rod Pederson, VERSeFest Director and gracious host of the evening, which began in the studio.

I was greeted by Ottawa’s warm and eclectic poetry scene.  The studio is painted black, and fuschia lighting set the mood.  A stage was set, the fresh VERSeFest logo on display, t-shirts being sold, and I grinned at this poetry festival’s maturation in just one year.

St. Ambroise stocked the bar as well as gourmet sandwiches from Pressed, a new Café in Centretown (750 Gladstone Ave.) The room filled as local folky acoustic trio Call me Katie started things off at 7:00 pm — I dare you to not tap your feet!  After the tunes we jaunted on over to the theatre for Open Mike, which is always so inspiring because you never know who is going to share, or what they’ll share – a safe haven of self-expression.

After a wee break, it was time for the six finalists to present their pieces. Lines that struck a chord:

1- Amanda Earl: “I am afraid, so very afraid of the dark…”

2- Ian Ferrier:  “this is the breath of the last word spoken”

3- Terry Ann Carter:  “for us there is only light…”

4- Sheila Forsythe:  “never ending playlists – heal the world, doom take a backseat…”

5- Ali Fatolahi: “you I and ours…”

6- Carol A. Stephen:  “the walking off place in the end time…”

Ian Ferrier won the 'End of the World' poetry contest (Photo credit: Pesbo, via Flickr)

Voting time! REM’s “End of the World” hit, accompanied by a lyrical slideshow as we contemplated our vote – Congratulations to audience fave Ian Ferrier for his piece “Letters from the Ice Age.”

To everyone’s surprise and delight it was decided that all six poems would share the tube attached to the weather balloon!

After featured readers David O’Meara, Brigitte DePape, Rhonda Douglas and Monty Reid read their work, at 10 p.m., we braved the frigid air and gathered in the parking lot, counted down and launched that sucker! All necks remained extended as the poems bee-lined for the oblivion swirling all the way.  We stared and stared, until the balloon was barely distinguishable from the stars.  They say it can reach up to 100,000 feet before bursting… I wonder where the poems are right now…?  We hurried inside for a second round of open mike, followed by Montreal indie band Puggy Hammer, who closed the night by rocking our worlds, but not before a poetry-karaoke-kazoo presentation.

What keeps me coming back to the poetry scene is the people, how one braves the stage, expressing their authentic self. The words and the silence between and we’re present.  Community. Oneness. All in all a fantastic teaser of what to expect at this year’s VERSeFest -  Feb.28-March 4. 

Thanks, Christine! Feels like we were there! VERSeFest will feature more than 30 poets for here and around the world starting on Feb. 28, and you can buy tickets online, at The Manx, at Collected Works, or at the door.

Tags: Ali Fatolahi, Amanda Earl, apocalyptic poetry, Arts Court, Brigitte DePape, Carol A. Stephen, David O'Meara, Ian Ferrier, Letters from the Ice Age, Mayan calendar, Montreal, Monty Reid, poetry for the end of the world, poetry reading, Pressed, Puggy Hammer, Rhonda Douglas, Rod Pederson, Sheila Forsythe, St-Ambroise, Terry Ann Carter, VERSefest

Extreme athletics: Q&A with Adam Skube, winner of Ottawa’s Red Bull Crashed Ice qualifier

Photo credit: Andreas Schaad/Red Bull Crashed Ice

Adam Skube (Twitter) grew up in Thunder Bay but moved to Ottawa at age 17 for school. A passionate hockey player and sports-lover in general, Adam loves to call Ottawa a “big little city,” describing it as a large city with a small town vibe. LTOttawa chatted with him recently about his participation this week in Ottawa’s own Red Bull Crashed Ice qualifier, which he won!

Adam Skube before 2011's Crashed Ice event in Quebec City (Photo credit: Dan Mathieu/Red Bull Crashed Ice)

Tell us about the Red Bull Crashed Ice challenge. What should people unfamiliar with the event know?

If you’ve never seen the event, check out a couple of clips online to really get a sense of what it’s all about. It is a mix of hockey, boardercross and downhill skiing all packed together. Rules are fairly simple: athletes skate head-to-head on the downhill ice track and first to the bottom of the hill wins. Everyone should know that Quebec City is the place to be on March 17, when the 2012 Crashed Ice World Championships roll into town. The atmosphere and experience — not only on the track but also within the city — is amazing. Red Bull puts on a great show and everyone should be there to experience it.

Why did you decide to participate in the Ottawa qualifier for the Crashed Ice challenge?

This is actually a bit of a funny story, but to keep things short, it was my Mom’s idea. I was home for Christmas last year and we saw a TV commercial for the event. She told me that this is something I would love and that I should try out. I put my name in the lottery and was one of the lucky ones to be randomly selected to compete at the Qualifier event in Ottawa. I was able to land a top place finish at the qualifier event, which then gave me a spot in at the Finals in Quebec City.

Have you participated in the Crashed Ice challenge before? Describe the experience.

Yes, I participated in the Quebec City event last year, in 2011. The experience is absolutely incredible! I would have to say I enjoyed racing down the track as much as I enjoyed the experience as a whole. Red Bull puts you up in a nice hotel and provides everything you need for the weekend. The feeling you get going down the track is something else, something you can never really experience until you do it. Going that fast on only two small blades is a great thrill.

Finishing first at the Ottawa Qualifiers this year really feels great. I was feeling a bit of pressure after qualifying last year and really hoping I could pull though again this year. Turns out I had a great couple of qualifying runs and will be back in Quebec City for 2012!

Adam Skube (right) competes during qualifying of the 2011 Red Bull Crashed Ice Word Championship in Quebec City. (Photo credit: Jörg Mitter/Red Bull Crashed Ice)

How, if at all, had you been training for the event?

I wish I could tell you that I am in the best shape of my life right now and I have been training nonstop, but that just isn’t the case. I continue to play hockey at least three times a week and stay active as much as I can, but I have not been doing anything out of the ordinary. That being said, now that I have qualified I may have to take it up a step in the next month in order to be ready for Quebec City.

What’s your athletic background? Do you still participate in any sports/activities/teams here in Ottawa?

I have grown up playing all the sports I could handle, and still essentially do just that. I focused more on hockey when I moved to Ottawa for university, and played four years with the Ottawa West Golden Knights. I still play hockey in a couple of leagues here in town, as well as with the guys from work, which is a blast.

What does Ottawa have to offer the city’s athletes?

Ottawa has a lot to offer to all types athletes. Since I’ve been in Ottawa I have been able to participate in numerous different sports, at many of the local facilities. From hockey and softball leagues, to rowing or running (even skating) on the canal, Ottawa can offer any type of physical activity one would be looking for. I cannot say enough about what Ottawa has given me as an athlete, and I am extremely happy to have this opportunity.

Good luck, Adam! To support Adam, you can head to Quebec City on March 17 for the 2012 Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championship to watch this fast-paced event LIVE! Or tune into Rogers Sportsnet to follow the action.

Tags: Crashed Ice, extreme sports, hockey, Ottawa West Golden Knights, Quebec City, Red Bull, Red Bull Crashed Ice Championships, skating

Ottawa Citizen: 2011 Census – The lure of Ottawa-Gatineau

The Ottawa Citizen caught our eye yesterday, tweeting with new(ish) residents about why they moved to the region. Today, they published a great little story that’s worth checking out.

Just look at these stats: 

• Another 102,691 people are calling Ottawa — Gatineau home, compared to five years ago
• There’s been a 9.1-per-cent growth rate in the Ottawa-Gatineau region
• The population of the Ottawa-Gatineau metropolitan area is now 1,236,324

What can we say, we think it's cool when journalists use Twitter to track down local sources.

The article reads:

Steven and Jensina Wilson were attracted to Ottawa because it’s a nice, clean and safe city.

The couple had been married less than a year when they packed up their lives in Regina, Saskatchewan and made the trek east in June 2010. They’re expecting their first child in May.

“We decided to move here to start a family. It’s a lot nicer a city than a lot of Saskatchewan,” [Steven Wilson] said. “We like the landscape — it’s so green here. And, compared to a lot of the rest of the country, Ottawa has a really low crime rate.”

To read the story (and we suggest you do!), head on over to the Ottawa Citizen. 

Tags: 2011 Census, newcomer, Ottawa Citizen, population, statistics

Crafting your wedding? Free tickets to Ottawa indie wedding show Wed By Hand

Photo credit: Anne-Marie Bouchard

The ever-so-crafty Krista Leben is the owner of Urbanite Jewelry, director of The Craft Co-op, and producer of Urban Craft and Wed By Hand. 

What happens when a craft show falls in love with a wedding show and they make a sweet little baby together? You end up with something called Wed By Hand, Ottawa’s Indie Wedding Show. Taking place at the Glebe Community Centre this Saturday, Wed By Hand is a DIY, eco-friendly and handmade wedding show that’s designed to help couples find something different  for their wedding day!

Photo credit: Anne-Marie Bouchard

Now in its third year, the show not only gives you the opportunity to chat with more than 40 unique vendors—from vegan bakers to jewelry makers to picture takers—but it also gives you the opportunity to actually learn how to DIY your big day. This year, Wed By Hand will offer eight DIY and informational workshops to help you create the wedding day that you’ve always wanted.  Learn how to create your own bouquet from local flowers, print your own invites –and- plan an awesome wedding on a budget from experts that really know their stuff!

Photo credit: Anne-Marie Bouchard

This year the show has also expanded to include a tasting room, full of local bakeries, caterers and more. From a DIY candy bar from The Candy Store to a tea bar from DAVIDsTEA to vegan baked goodies from Auntie Loo’s, attendees will be able to sample tons of scrumptious food. Consider Wed By Hand’s tasting room your one stop shop for getting all those cake tastings done in one place!

Photo credit: Anne-Marie Bouchard

And if you’re looking for fancy duds for your special day, we’ll have everything from dresses to fascinators to ties for you to check out. Victoire and With Love Bridal Boutique will be on hand with some seriously sweet dresses, and there will be plenty of jewelry designers on hand to help you accessorize. For the grooms-to-be, we’ll also have screen printed ties and bowties made from vintage fabrics—perfect ways to spruce up your groom!

Sound like fun? We’ve got two tickets to attend + a coveted swag bag for one lucky winner. Wanna win? Just comment on this post and let us know what you’re looking forward to seeing at the show the most! Be sure to include an email address where we can contact you and enter by Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. to win!

Wed By Hand, Ottawa’s Indie Wedding Show
When: Saturday, February 11 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Where: The Glebe Community Center, 175 Third Ave (Third & Lyon)
$10 at the door, $8 in advance at wedbyhand.com (Workshops, Swag Bags & Tastings included in your ticket price!)

Thanks for the great post Krista, Local Tourist Ottawa will be there this weekend! Like the photos? Check out Anne-Marie Bouchard of AMBphoto.

Tags: arts and crafts, Auntie Loo's, crafts, DAVIDsTEA, DIY, Glebe Community Centre, The Candy Store, Victoire, Wed By Hand, wedding, With Love Bridal Boutique

Tasting gourmet pizza across the National Capital Region: Geneviève Brisson visits Dantessa

Geneviève Brisson (Twitter) is a master’s student in communication at the University of Ottawa, working on a thesis on gastronomic tourism. An Ottawa native, she has an appetite for discovering everything the National Capital Region has to offer, especially its burgeoning food scene.

I had been meaning to pay Dantessa Italian Restaurant & Bar a visit for a while now, and an online voucher promotion was the little push I needed to finally make my way over to try their pizza.

My boyfriend and I had made a reservation for a Friday night this past January, but realized upon our arrival that it had been unnecessary, as the restaurant was only about a third full. (Perhaps the location is to blame? While Dantessa is situated in the Golden Triangle, it is a block off Elgin Street with its many restaurants.)

As we found out, the restaurant and the adjoining hotel share the use of the washrooms, which may explain why Dantessa serves breakfast and lunch in additional to dinner. Dantessa’s dinner menu is quite extensive, featuring a large variety of pizza, pasta and meat entrées as well as appetizers and desserts.

After some deliberation, we started with the calamari alla grigli, grilled calamari with market greens, which was listed on the menu as a house specialty.

I found the calamari too tough, and it also left me wanting in terms of taste; blobs of tangy pesto on the plate helped to liven up its flavour. The salad, on the other hand, was crisp and fresh, and nicely dressed in its simplicity.

Grilled calamari

For our entrées, we naturally gravitated towards the pizzas. There are two styles of pizza on offer, and we went with the Old World thin crust pizzas without hesitation, after seeing that the New World medium crust ones were limited to your typical takeout pizza toppings. The individual-size thin crust pizzas range in price from $11 to $15, and can be made on gluten free dough for those with a sensitivity.

I chose the Napoli pizza, which was dressed with tomato sauce, pesto, roasted red peppers, artichokes, grilled Portobello mushrooms, Fontina cheese, and fresh basil. It was delicious! The flavours were in harmony, the toppings of good quality, and the mushrooms and artichokes exceptionally tender and meaty.

Napoli pizza

My boyfriend, going for the obligatory meat, went with the Siciliana with its tomato sauce, pepperoni, smoked prosciutto, Bocconcini cheese, sundried tomatoes and spinach. Again, it was absolutely delicious. I don’t think I would have changed much about that pie.

Siciliana pizza

The pizza crusts were thin and nicely crisp throughout, with barely-there edges as the toppings spread almost to the extremities of the circle of dough. Both pizzas had been dusted with fresh Parmesan cheese – a nice touch.

From a wine list populated with international choices, but necessarily heavy on the Italian options, we opted for the good value house red wine, a Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. It was perfectly pleasant, and a nice accompaniment to the pizzas.

To end the meal, since I am almost unable to resist a little something sweet, we decided to order a dessert. We split the housemade tiramisu, which was delightfully light and creamy, if a little lacking in the presentation department.

Tiramisu

Service at the restaurant was welcoming and courteous, although a little uneven at times, our order having to be reconfirmed by the staff on a few occasions during the evening for instance.

The large restaurant space is classy, and offers a good variety of seating arrangements, from small and large booths, intimate tables, large tables for groups, and seats at the bar.

The next time you venture in the direction of Elgin Street, consider walking a block east towards Dantessa if you are in the mood for a quiet dinner over delicious pizza and wine.

We love your reviews Gen, thank you so much for sharing!

Tags: Dantessa, Dantessa Italian Restaurant & Bar, Elgin Street, gourmet pizza, local food, pizza, Restaurants

Literary snapshot: What’s happening in February

Photo credit: Ben Oh (via Flickr)

Kathryn Hunt is a displaced Maritimer who first arrived in Ottawa 15 years ago. A published poet and freelance writer, Kate blogs, performs and talks the city’s budding literary scene at every opportunity! She also enjoys cycling and rock-climbing in her spare time.

It’s probably a good thing there’s an extra day in February this year, it’s so packed with literary events.

I’ll actually start at the end with the biggest literary event for the month: VERSeFest 2012. This new festival dedicated to bringing ‘page’ and ‘stage’ poetry together starts on Feb. 28 and goes till March 4 Last year’s Festival was a rousing start for this new venture and this year they’re going much bigger, with international stars, workshops and a full six days of events. Headliners include The Summit Reading, with top poets from Canada, the U.S. and Mexico (Phil Hall, Philip Levine, and Pura López-Colomé), American spoken word and hip hop star Ursula Rucker, Pulitzer Prize winner Rae Armantrout, and beloved blues poet C.R. Avery.

There are also a lot of workshops going on this month: In/Words, the Carleton-based literary journal and writers’ group, is holding a series of workshops in 1811 Dunton Tower on campus, all starting at 6:00: on Feb. 6 it’s “Humour in Poetry” with Bardia Sinaee; on Feb. 9 it’s “Editing and Publishing Fiction” with Dave Currie; and on Feb. 13 it’s “The Spoken Word” with Brandon Wint.

The Tree Seeds workshops, held before the Tree Reading Series, are also a great free resource for stretching your poetry skills: their next one focuses on reshaping a rough poem. It’s on the 14th, with Glenn Kletke, at the Arts Court at 6:45.

VERSeFest will also feature a couple of free workshops on Saturday, March 3, at Arts Court: At 1:00 local poet and teacher Danielle Gregoire will be hosting an all-ages writing workshop (Danielle is great at working with different age groups), and at 3:00 there’s a slam workshop with former World Slam Champion Ian Keteku.

They’re also presenting a workshop with the legendary spoken word and hip hop star Ursula Rucker, from Philadelphia. She’s in town for VERSeFest and running a workshop at the Mercury Lounge on Sunday, March 4. The workshop is $50 and includes a ticket to her Saturday show. Signup is first-come, first-served: email versefest@live.ca anytime after 10:00 am on Feb. 1. The first 20 people to email will reserve space, and have seven days to get payment to VERSeFest to confirm. A waiting list will be maintained as well.

Voices of Venus for February will feature Abby Paige on Wednesday the 8^th at 8:00 pm: Abby is a writer, actor and editor who’s just moved to Ottawa. Voices of Venus is always a good time: one of Ottawa’s rowdier, and cheerier, literary audiences. The (ladies only) open mike is fun too. The show’s at Venus Envy at 320 Lisgar.

The Undercurrents theatre festival runs from the 7^th to the 19^th at the Irving Greenberg Centre – a great mix of independent, new, adventurous productions from across the country and local shows. Undercurrents was a huge hit with its inaugural festival last year, and this year’s edition’s been hotly anticipated.

Capital Slam on Feb. 11 (this is at a different time from usual because of VERSeFest), features local, national, and international champion Ian Keteku as well as the usual slam competition. Also, February’s slam will give priority in the signup to people who haven’t competed yet this season, so show up early to get on the list.

The Tree Reading Series is featuring Leslie Vryenhoek (an editor at Riddle Fence) and Marilyn Bowering (shortlisted for the Governor General’s Award) on the 14^th – yes, that’s Valentine’s Day, but think about the long and storied history of poetry and romance!

For any Lord of the Rings fans, or fans of Wagner, there’s the Ottawa Storytellers show at the Fourth Stage on the 16^th: “Dragon’s Gold: A Sword Reforged, A Ring Accursed.” Three storytellers – Jennifer Cayley, Jan Andrews, and Katherine Grier – all of whom are great at telling Norse legends, will be telling stories from the original Quest of the Ring. The show’s at 7:30: tickets are $20.

Also on the 16^th, the A B Series presents GEODE, a music and poetry group including poet Susan McMaster and a group of musicians on bass, winds steel guitar, keyboards and percussion. Their work blends poetry, jazz, blue, new music, world music and classical. They’ll be performing at Gallery 101 at 8:00. Tickets are $9.

The next night, the 17^th, the Factory Reading Series is hosting Deanna Young, Mike Blouin and Robin Macdonald, over at the Carleton Tavern (upstairs). Two of the writers – Deanna Young and Mike Blouin – are launching new chapbooks, and Robin Macdonald has poetry in the latest issue of the online journal Ottawater.

On Sunday the 19^th, Dusty Owl is hosting their annual fundraiser for Ottawa’s delegates to the Black Youth Congress; they partner with 3 Dreads and a Bald Head, a group that works to provide opportunities to black youth in Ottawa, on this fundraiser each year. It’s at the Elmdale House Tavern on Wellington, at 3:00 pm, and will feature poets Joanne John, Jacqueline Lawrence, and John Akpata.

Friday the 24^th is Once Upon a Slam, one of the only storytelling slams in the country. It’s just like a poetry slam, except you get five minutes to tell a story. Audience judges rate the stories – it’s all in fun – and there’s a featured performer. I’ve become a regular at OUAS: the stories are always varied and fun, and whenever I can, I sign up for the slam. It’s at the Mercury Lounge: doors at 6:45, slam at 7:15.

And then we’re all off to VERSeFest!

Lots of opportunity to take in some great events, Ottawa. Which are YOU going to attend?

Tags: AB Series, arts events, Capital Slam, Factory Reading Series, In/Words, literary snapshot, Ottawa arts, Ottawa poetry, Ottawa Storytellers, Tree Reading Series, Undercurrents, VERSefest, Voices of Venus

A true Canadian experience: Ottawa’s first-ever winter bike parade!

Hilary Duff is a quirky 21-year-old who loves multimedia journalism, cycling, food blogging, and churning massive amounts of baked goods out of her cramped student kitchen. When she’s not living the chaotically busy life of a Carleton journalism student, she also enjoys winter jogging and exploring the ins and outs of her Ottawa neighbourhood. She’s also a contributing editor for LT Ottawa.

Ottawans love biking and so do I.

For three seasons of the year, I bike absolutely everywhere: to school, to work, to visit friends, to do interviews, etc. etc. As I’ve mentioned on Local Tourist before, I even bike while balancing half a dozen cupcakes on my handlebars. I’m fairly proud of that last one.

Still, on Sunday I went where my roughed up Schwinn bicycle has never been before. I went winter cycling.

As someone who does everything in her power to be more like an action star, winter biking seemed like a natural next step. But motivation was lacking, until I discovered the perfect event to debut my winter transportation plans: Ottawa’s first-ever winter bike parade.

What could be more fantastic than that? The event was organized by the good people at Citizens for Safe Cycling and sounded like the best excuse to garner stares and honks from annoyed and encouraging drivers.

But before I could take part in the parade, I had to get there first. And so, at 11:30 a.m., I carried my intrepid, wheeled friend out of its hibernation cave in the garage and geared up for my first below-freezing bike ride. I made my way downtown without too much huffing and puffing, and turned a few scary skids into a vision where I was drifting like a cast member of Fast and the Furious.

Along the way, my bike ride became less lonely, too, and a handful of cyclists joined me on the commute, donning weathered rain boots and scuffed up backpacks. One woman in front of me was towing a special cycling stroller behind her, and I watched anxiously as the tiny cart bopped roughly as it travelled over speed bumps and into potholes.

Part of the group gathered in the Percy/Laurier Avenue parking lot

We knew we were near our destination when we saw a collection of bikers sitting in the parking lot at the corner of Percy Street and Laurier Avenue. Approaching, someone was playing tunes from a bike radio. People are chitter-chattering and laughter flows freely.

The clock struck noon – it was go time.

To the sound of dozens of chiming bells and boots slamming kickstands, we travel as a group across the street and into the Laurier Avenue bike lane. Up until now I’d been collecting sounds at the scene, my recorder cradled warmly in my mitten as the cord of my microphone grew solid and inflexible with the cold air. In hindsight, I should have MacGyvered a way to strap my microphone onto my handlebars, but I wasn’t that perceptive on a Sunday morning. For anyone who has ever wondered, reporting in the winter while riding a bicycle is a difficult task.

Along the way, a few groups of people lined the street cheering and clapping with their gloved hands. “We looooooove winter biking!” one shouted. The woman on the bike behind me had a line of bells dangling from her handlebars, making me smile and feel as though I’m being followed by Santa’s sleigh. We waved back at the enthusiastic watchers, and I kicked myself for not changing my rusty bike bell in time for the ride.

Eventually, I got off my bike and joined the street-liners, not wanting to miss any more of what was happening around me.

I did a few interviews and recorded some sound from the bike parade – want to get a better idea of how Sunday’s event was? Listen below.

The parade ended at City Hall where we took a big group picture (after good sport Coun. Mathieu Fleury arrived on his brown bicycle) and took over the bike racks in front of the building.

More than 50 riders took part in the parade

The last stop was a heated reception of Bridgehead-donated apple cider and cookies provided by Coun. Katherine Hobbs. It was a satisfying (and more importantly) warm end to a terrific hour out.

CfSC director and parade organizer Risa Sargent says they want to continue the parade in years to come, and I certainly hope they do. A city can never have too many wannabe action stars.

Ottawans love winter biking and now, so do I.

Did any of you attend the bike parade or see it in action? What is your favourite part of winter biking? See you on the streets!

Tags: biking, Bridgehead, Centretown, Citizens for Safe Cycling, City hall, Katherine Hobbs, Mathieu Fleury, winter, Winter bike parade, winter biking

Rustic and romantic: Alan shares his favourite lodges that are ideal wedding venues

Dr. Alan Viau has been performing weddings and other life celebrations in Ottawa since 2004. On his own blog, he compiles useful tips on what’s gone well and what to watch for based on the hundreds of weddings he’s conducted in the National Capital Region. He’s also a part-time theatre buff!

Brides and grooms are always seeking out a wedding venue of their dreams.

One dream I see often is to have their wedding at a rustic lodge. Lodges are part of our romantic images of Canada like canoes and roaring fireplaces. They form the fabric of our heritage, just like weddings.

There are several lodge venues in Ottawa. I’ve enjoyed how the exposed wood adds warmth to their decor and consequently the ceremony. Usually, I am standing in front of a fireplace with the couple to perform the wedding ceremony. Occasionally, my buns get toasty by the flames.

Here is my list of lodges that I’ve experienced. They are listed by the number of people they can accommodate.

Econoniche

Econoniche: A rural conference and retreat centre located in the Gatineau Hills a mere 20 minutes from Parliament Hill in Cantley, Québec. It can accommodate about 20 people overnight and host up to 60 guests.

Canada Club

Canada Club: A gorgeous cottage near Perth on Big Rideau Lake, I’ve performed ceremonies on the dock. It is available by invitation only (you need to apply) but is worth it. It can hold 20 overnight guests. It features a huge common area overlooking the lake.

Stonefield's Heritage Farm

Stonefield’s Heritage Farm: Located in Beckwith/Carleton Place just 40 minutes from downtown Ottawa. The unique property features a historical stone farmhouse, picture-perfect log buildings and charming country gardens. Their capacity is 50-225 guests.

Strathmere Inn

Strathmere: Strathmere’s Lodge is a imaginatively-renovated 100-year-old barn, with 3 fieldstone fireplaces, comfortable lounge, open loft, and large dance floor.  Overlooking rolling farm fields is a charming outdoor ceremony site, with arbor, bench seating and signing table. It is one of my popular spots in Ottawa for wedding ceremonies. The maximum capacity for the Lodge is 210 guests for dinner and 250 for a reception. Strathmere is located near North Gower which is within 25 minutes of most Ottawa locations.

Beantown Ranch

Beantown Ranch: Nestled in the countryside, east of Ottawa, near Wendover it features a natural log hall with a capacity of 150 guests and spectacular lakeside terrace wich can accomodate another 75 guests. Make your wedding spectacular with your first dance on a small island with fireworks going off overhead.

Timber Run Golf Course

Timber Run Golf Course: Sculpted from the rugged Lanark Highlands, along the banks of the Clyde River, Timber Run has been desribed as a true “rustic gem”. Timber Run’s clubhouse is one of the largest, most dramatic log structures found in Ontario and can easily host 230 guests.

Temple's Sugar Camp

Temple’s Sugar Camp: Located west of Ottawa, its two hundred seat timber frame building is surrounded by forests and gardens making it a lovely setting for a country wedding through all four seasons. It can host 240 guests for your reception.

Chateau Montebello

Chateau Montebello: Inspired by the chateaux in the Swiss Alps, it was built in the 1930′s on the grounds of a Seigniorial estate. The stunning red cedar log cabin exudes a rustic elegance and a warm welcome. It can accommodate a variety of venue choices and can house 211 overnight guests.

Thanks Alan!

Tags: Beantown Ranch, Canada Club, Chateau Montebello, Econoniche, Ottawa lodges, Ottawa wedding venues, Stonefield's Heritage Farm, Strathmere Inn, Temple's Sugar Camp, Timber Run Golf Course

All-Star Weekend vs. The Weekend Warrior: Innaugural shinny tourney evokes an Ottawa neighbourhood’s past

The Carlington Cup will take place on Saturday, January 28

Josh McJannett is a local public affairs professional and a volunteer with the Carlington Community Association.

On Saturday January 28th Ottawa will be overrun with the greatest hockey talent on earth as the NHL’s biggest names fly in from across the continent for the All-Star game. Absolutely none of that talent will be on display at the Carlington Cup – the first ever neighbourhood shinny tournament in west central Ottawa’s Carlington community. What will be on offer, however, is a showcase of the game’s humbler roots, harkening back to a simpler chapter in Ottawa’s history.

Organized by the local community association, the tournament started with a desire to find a way to get neighbours meeting neighbours and most importantly, to get folks out of their houses through the long Ottawa winter. The result is an afternoon of old-fashioned Canadian hockey, the way it used to be played when locals–in Carlington’s case, mostly returning WWII veterans who moved into Ottawa’s original suburb after 1945–would meet up at the neighbourhood rink, catch up over a cup of something warm and make the most of the city’s harshest season.

Local teams made of up of friends, neighbours and in some cases total strangers will suit up to compete for the honour of being the first team to raise a cup that is distinctly Carlington’s. Crafted by Sarah Waghorn, a local set and prop maker, the trophy evokes the neighbourhood’s history with a nod to the distinctive post-war homes that still dominate its streets.

The unique Carlington Cup trophy has been designed by Sarah Waghorn

There’s still space for local players to sign up a team or as and individual. Solo players will be placed as part of a friendly neighbourhood squad. Families and spectators are invited to come out to take part in kids’ games, a skills tournament and pick up broomball games. Participants willing to brave the January weather will be kept warm with locally crafted chili and hot chocolate.

So while Scotiabank Place might have the big names playing under the big lights, it’ll be in Carlington where you’ll find a healthy dose of Canadian hockey spirit this All-Star weekend.

Amazing!!  Thanks so much for sharing, Josh, and for rallying people to get outside and get involved in their community.

Tags: All-Star hockey, Carlington, Carlington Community Association, Carlington Cup, hockey, NHL All-Star Game, Sarah Waghorn, shinny tournament, winter