Capital Chill: Alex invites you to check out this unique blend of local art and music

Alex Hosselet (blog/Twitter) likes to keep it real, and keep it chill. He’s helping put on Capital Chill, an exposition of local artists and musicians.

It’s one of my biggest pet peeves when people dismiss Ottawa as a dull government town: Do even the slightest digging, and you’ll find a vibrant arts and music community with an eclectic number of influences. That’s why I was so excited to help put together Capital Chill!

Capital Chill, happening on Friday, May 25, is a contemporary art and music show, bringing together a group of local artists and musicians for a night off showing off some of Ottawa’s best talent. And this event is planned to be the first of many to come.

The musicians, which specialize in lounge, chillout and electronica, include Adam Saikaley, Matt Dorgan Project, Graciellita and Sticks & Stones Dubs. As a collaboration of artists in this genre is a rare occurrence in Ottawa, it’s a strong reason to come out for the evening.

Adam Saikaley (Photo Credit: Ming Wu)

In addition to the music, Capital Chill includes an exhibition of many cutting-edge artists. The lineup includes Etienne Gélinas, Stefan Thompson, Doll and Dems, Norah Taylor, Mat Dubé, Cristian S. Aluas, Kayla Marok, Shannon Armishaw, Allison O’Connor and Chad Skinner. In addition to being displayed, much of the unique artwork is for sale.

Capital Chill will also be featuring live art projects including live projection art from Stefan Thompson, live sculpting by Kayla Marok, and live painting by Dom Laporte. Also, Jawni Vu will be offering hair tattooing services on site, with a portion of the proceeds being donated to the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation.

Carré Rouge by Etienne Gélinas

Tickets for the event are $15 in advance (more at the door) and available directly on the website, in person at Arts Court (2 Daly Avenue), or by phone at 613.564.7240.

Contest!

As a special promotion with Local Tourist Ottawa, you can win a pair of tickets (two pairs available) for the event: Just send an email to info@capitalchill.ca with your name and “LT Ottawa” in the subject line. Tickets will be awarded shortly before the event. We’ll send you occasional updates about this and upcoming events – but you can unsubscribe at any time.

You can find out more about Capital Chill and stay connected by visiting the website, the Facebook page, and the Twitter feed. We hope to see you on May 25 for this unique and brand-new event!

The most unique party and fundraiser of the year: PROMdemonium!

Alex Hosselet likes to keep it real, and party down for a good cause. He’s attending this year’s PROMdemonium, and wanted to share his excitement for this spectacular event.

When I first heard about PROMdemonium a few months ago – I was immediately sold on it by the event’s description:

“Ottawa’s radical, community-oriented, gender-bending, bike-loving, enviro-humping, queer-diggin, slow dancing, big dress wearing prom that you never had!”

Having somehow missed this event over the past four years, I wanted to be sure to catch the fifth anniversary.

PROMdemonium is more than just a great dance party – it also raises funds for a lot of local charities that would otherwise have a hard time getting funding. This year’s list of recipients include: Families of Sisters in Spirit, Campaign for Safer Consumption Sites in Ottawa (CSCS), APT613′s Heritage Redux Minutes, Ecology Ottawa’s Campaign to Clean Up Our Rivers, and The Tool Shed Zine.

All of the proceeds from the event go directly to these charities, providing them continued opportunities to make a difference in our community.

In addition to the opportunity to dress as fancy or as gaudy as you’d like, there are events throughout the night to make the evening extra special. There’s an automated photo booth (what’s a prom without photos?), slow dance lessons from Dance with Alana, community tables from various organizations, and DJs Meera and Yalla Yalla providing fresh tunes for the night.

While many charity events and dances can have high ticket prices – PROMdemonium offers a sliding scale of $10-25 for their tickets to suit both those on a budget and those with a bit more to give. Tickets are available at Venus Envy and Octopus Books – both great, local stores.

As a side note, I’ll be taking out my new, tailored, Indochino suit for the first time – just in time to decide what I’ll be picking up from their Travelling Tailor shop, which is in town next week. If you’re a man looking for a good suit, I highly recommend them!

It’s not too late to pick up tickets and get in on the great party and fundraising – if nothing else, PROMdemonium is certainly unlike any other event in Ottawa.  And if you do come, look for the blonde guy with the glasses in the gray plaid suit and say hello!

You can get more details about PROMdemonium on their website and the Facebook event. Thanks Alex!

Re-examining the leftovers of life: Nature and art collide in ‘Unrequited Death’

Alex Hosselet likes to keep it real, and jumps at the chance to see two of his passions come together at one of his favourite places. Here’s his take on “Unrequited Death”, the newest exhibit at the Museum of Nature.

I was very excited to be invited back to the Canadian Museum of Nature having been there just a few weeks earlier for the Whales Tohorā opening. As a tremendous fan of art and an ongoing devotee to the many phenomenal exhibits the museum hosts, attending this vernissage of artist Helen Gregory’s work was a real treat.

Unrequited Death, the first collection of Gregory’s work outside of her homeland of Newfoundland, was a completely unique and distinctly Canadian perspective. Gregory, who identifies herself as a lifelong collector and appreciator of nature, juxtaposes images of taxonomical specimens and lush, ornate backgrounds.

Blue Tanagers (Work property of Helen Gregory)

Her art is simultaneously beautiful, gritty and visceral: it offers a different viewpoint on a subject matter that some would consider otherwise macabre. Gregory boldly forces us to re-examine what she calls the “leftovers of life”, as she superimposes them on a backdrop inspired by Victorian-era prints.

Unrequited Death has a style of detail and colour palette that reminded me of David Blackwood, another one of Newfoundland’s greatest artists. In that regard, this is one of the most rewarding aspects of Gregory’s work: both her style and subject matter, while very modern, is classically Canadian.

Desiccate I (Work property of Helen Gregory)

Whether you’re a fan of art or just fascinated by nature, Unrequited Death is a unique and fulfilling collection.  Part of the museum’s Celebrating the Art of Nature series, Unrequited Death will be on display until Labour Day. Don’t miss this chance to see one of Canada’s rising artists’ phenomenal work!

Thanks, Alex! Sounds like a stunning showcase of great Canadian work.

Ten Oaks Project and Ottawa’s Most Fabulous Bowl-A-Thon

Our friend Alex Hosselet likes to keep it real, and help out when he can. He’s recently gotten involved with a great charity and would like to tell you about it.

Ottawa is home to a lot of phenomenal organizations and groups striving to make a difference in our community and abroad. A good friend of mine, Little Jo Berry, recently introduced me to the Ten Oaks Project: a charitable and volunteer-driven organization that engages and connects children and youth from LGBTQ communities through play.

tenoaksproject.org

The organization has two flagship summer programs: Camp Ten Oaks and Project Acorn. Camp Ten Oaks is a summer camp for children and youth aged 8-17 from LGBTQ communities, families and allies. Project Acorn is a youth-led leadership retreat for LGBTQ youth and their allies aged 16-24. The retreat brings together youth participants, youth leaders, adult leaders, guest speakers and facilitators for a four-day mixture of workshops, speakers and typical camp activities. Ten Oaks has a unique and valuable offering to the Ottawa community, and works closely with a lot of other organizations to accomplish its objectives.

Ten Oaks’ main fundraising event is an annual Bowl-A-Thon, now in its eighth year. On Saturday, March 31, more than 200 bowlers and supporters will take over the McArthur Bowling Centre for the Ten Oaks Project Bowl-A-Thon, which aims to raise over $45,000 to continue funding the flagship programs.

There are several ways that you can get involved and help make a difference

1. You can put a team together and fundraise. Ten Oaks is completely inclusive, so don’t feel like you have to be LGTBQ to get involved! There are only a few lanes left for teams, so email bowl@tenoaksproject.org if you’d like to secure one of the last lanes.
2. You can make a donation – any size helps – by visiting the Ten Oaks donation site. You can even donate to your favourite bowler!
3. You can volunteer some of your time. A few hours with some extra helping hands can make this event amazing. Get involved by emailing hannah.mcgechie@tenoaksproject.org or calling 613-614-1537.

You can ask anyone that’s participated in a Ten Oaks program – this organization makes a huge difference in the lives of everyone it touches.

For more information and to keep up-to-date, you can visit the Ten Oaks website, the Bowl-A-Thon Facebook group, or the Ten Oaks Twitter feed (@TenOaksProject).

Diving in with Whales Tohora: Alex visits the Museum of Nature’s latest showstopper

A full-size skeleton of a sperm whale is the showstopper at Whales Tohora (Photo credit: Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa)

Alex Hosselet (blog/Twitter) likes to keep it real, and there are few places in Ottawa more real than the Museum of Nature. That’s why he we went back to see the newest exhibit and write about the highlights.

The Canadian Museum of Nature is easily one of my favourite locations in Ottawa, which is why I was incredibly excited to be invited to the reception and launch of the museum’s newest exhibit: Whales Tohorā (tohorā being the Maori word for whale). Presented through a partnership with the New Zealand High Commission and the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (New Zealand’s national museum), Whales Tohorā brings us a glimpse into the lives of one of nature’s most majestic and mysterious creatures – all from a uniquely New Zealand perspective.

The evening was started with an introduction to the exhibit by the curator, an ambassador from the High Commission, and a representative from the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. An especially nice touch was the selection of New Zealand wine being served – as an aside, if you haven’t tried New Zealand wine, I highly recommend it! Afterward, the guests were given a first glimpse of the exhibit, which opens today.

Whales grace the entrance of Whales Tohora (Photo credit: Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa)

Reproduction of a right whale head ... and a prop from the movie Whale Rider! (Photo credit: Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa)

Whales Tohora begins with a history of the relationship between New Zealanders and whales, particularly the native Maori. On display is an impressive collection of tools, ornaments, and jewellery carved intricately by the Maori. Although a Commonwealth cousin, I feel that there’s a lot that we can learn about New Zealand, and this exhibit is a great starting point.

As you move further into the exhibit, you learn more about the whales themselves: 153 graphic panels, 7 interactive stations, 11 videos, as well as 75 rare animal specimens that are on the endangered species list. In the centre of it all is the most impressive piece in the collection: a full sperm whale skeleton, suspended in the middle of the room. In order to bring the whale into the space, the museum had to install a whole new hoist system in the atrium roof! You can see a video of it below:

The most notable parts of the exhibit were the most unconventional. There is a full-sized model of a blue whale’s heart, which children (or adventurous adults like myself) can crawl into. The interactive stations use game-like learning, such as designing a dolphin body to maximize speed and energy. There’s even a sample of ambergris to smell – ambergris being a residue on whale intestines that was traditionally used for a lot of applications, including perfumes. I’ll warn you: it is potent!

Model of a full-sized blue whale heart, fun for kids and adventurous adults alike. (Photo credit: Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa)

The exhibit has a lot to offer for both adults and children, with an impressive collection of bones, artifacts, and information. For anyone that is a remote fan of whales, animals, or nature in general, I strongly recommend taking in Whales Tohorā.

Sounds like a whale of a time, Alex! The exhibit will be at the Canadian Museum of Nature until September 3, 2012, so lots of time to check it out!

Beaver Boxing: Alex goes toe-to-toe with a knockout experience

Coaches Ernie and Jill, with competitor Jamie, in the Beaver Boxing Club gym

Alex Hosselet likes to keep it real, even during a long hiatus. After many projects and a new job, Alex returns to share his new favourite hobby: boxing!

After trying many gyms and still left looking for more, a friend of mine suggested that I try boxing training as a great way to stay in shape. Considering I was lucky enough to have a boxing gym right across from my apartment, I decided to give it a try. What I found is a sport, hobby and workout unlike anything I had ever tried before!

Photo credit: Sergio Béjar via Flickr

Beaver Boxing Club has a long, rich history in Ottawa. Established in the early 1940’s, the club has gone on to train five Olympic boxers (Joe Sandulo – the current president of the club, and Clayton Kenny) as well as numerous Canadian champions (including two of the resident coaches, Jill Perry and Greg Gayle). The club is one of the oldest amateur boxing clubs across Canada and has changed locations over the years, settling into its newest home on 145 Spruce Street since December. As a non-profit organization, the club is dedicated to the love of the sport and the Ottawa community.

I’ll admit that I came into the club with some stereotypes about boxers. I expected the gym to be full of ultra-tough macho men that wouldn’t give a newbie like me the time of day. I couldn’t have been more wrong! Firstly, the gym is co-ed and has many female members. Members are a wide range of both age and experience, but they all share one common trait: they are extremely friendly and encouraging. I have never been to another gym where the people have been as supportive and helpful!

I asked one of the coaches, Ernie, about what members say they love most about boxing.

“Boxing is an individual sport. You have a coach to advise you, but when that bell rings, it’s all you. We have both competitive boxers and people that come in for the boxing class, which is great exercise and teaches the basics of boxing. That’s what draws people in – we have about 200 members, and around 18 competitors. People join for various reasons, but most enjoy the workout.”

The club also has an event this Friday at 8 p.m. at St. Anthony Soccer Club on Preston Street – a 10-bout card, with a cross-section of competitors including experienced fighters and novices. This event is part of Beaver Boxing Club’s goal of hosting an event each quarter to highlight some great local talent. Tickets for the event are $20 and can be purchased at the club. I know that I plan to take in the fight and then catch a cold beer on one of the many local patios.

Photo credit: Sergio Béjar via Flickr

Beaver Boxing Club is a hidden gem that really offers a workout and experience unlike any other. Members require only wrist wraps and bag gloves to get started, and membership is an affordable $120 for three months, offering unlimited access to the club and participation in any and all of the three classes a week offered by the coaches. If you’re looking for a great way to stay in shape, build your confidence and learn a new sport, I would strongly recommend boxing at Ottawa’s own Beaver Boxing Club!

Beaver Boxing Club is open 4:30 – 8 PM on weekdays with classes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. 

Thanks, Alex! And don’t forget to check out the match this Friday!

Alex explores the venerable Château Laurier

Photo credit: Fairmont Château Laurier

Alex Hosselet likes to keep it real and keep it classy. Alex recently visited the Château Laurier and was thoroughly impressed by the classiness of this Ottawa landmark.

I hadn’t been to the Château Laurier (properly called “Fairmont Château Laurier”) since my high school prom, and for numerous reasons was not able to fully appreciate the beauty of this hotel at the time.

The hotel has its origin and history on display with a series of captioned photographs. It was commissioned by the Grand Trunk Railway (which, unfortunately, has no connection to the Grand Funk Railroad) in 1909, designed in conjunction with the Union Train Station (which is now the Government Conference Centre, and a marvel of architecture in itself). The Château Laurier was completed in 1912, but never seen by the Grand Trunk Railway commissioning chairman, Charles Melville Hays, as he was returning from England on the ill-fated RMS Titanic.

However, Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the hotel’s namesake, was present for the opening ceremony. The hotel was Ottawa’ hot spot for decades to come, hosting a plethora of royalty, politicians, celebrities and artists. After the closing of Union Station, the hotel went through a slump in the 60s and 70s. However, it was heavily renovated in the 1980s, restoring it to glory. Eventually, the hotel chain that owned the Château Laurier, Canadian Pacific Hotels, was purchased by Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, and the name was updated to “Fairmont Château Laurier”.

In addition to the beautiful photo gallery which describes the history above, the hotel is filled with uncountable interesting details. It is host to a collection of shops carrying both tourist goods and works of Canadian art. It also hosts an upscale restaurant (Wilfrid’s Restaurant), a seasonal patio (La Terrasse), and a lounge (Zoé’s Lounge). Zoé’s offers a daily tea service, which is a tradition for many Ottawa residents.

For the holiday season, the hotel has a stunning array of Christmas trees on display, as well as extensive holiday programming. I know my brief trip to take in the sights was enough to plunge me into the holiday spirit.

The Château Laurier is remarkable – to stay at, eat at, or just visit. If you’re like me, and haven’t taken in everything the hotel has to offer, then I would strongly encourage you to stop by next time you’re downtown. All the better if you can make it before the holiday season is over!

Do you have a favourite memory from the hotel that you’d like to share? Feel free to leave a comment or send us an e-mail at LTOttawa@gmail.com!

The Museum of Nature: 2010 recap and look ahead to 2011

Photo credit: The Museum of Nature

 

Alex Hosselet likes to keep it real, especially in buildings that contain dinosaurs. Alex has been to just about every museum in Ottawa, but has a special place in his heart for the Museum of Nature.

I’ve been going to the Museum of Nature for as long as I can remember. This year, after along restoration and renovation project, the museum re-opened: and what an opening! I went to the museum’s annual public meeting to get the score about what happened in 2010 and what’s happening in 2011.

Opening comments from Florence Minz, the chair of the museum’s board of trustees, addressed the museum’s ongoing research projects, which work towards a national mandate to preserve Canada’s natural history. As well, the museum will have a new, official president and CEO in 2011. After, the interim president and CEO, Maureen Dougan, took the podium.

The Museum of Nature is in the first year of a five year strategic plan that focuses on environmental, public and financial responsibility. The grand re-opening in May revealed many new aspects of the museum, including the Queen’s Lantern (unveiled by HRH Queen Elizabeth, herself), the cafe and other amenities, the RBC Blue Water Gallery (which includes a full blue whale skeleton), and the Vale Earth Gallery (which has the biggest collection of gems and minerals I’ve ever seen).

I also got the scoop on all of the upcoming exhibits and attractions!

The current exhibits Frogs – A Chorus of Colours and Moths at Large will be closing on January 9. If you haven’t seen them yet, you really should – they are some of the most amazing selections of animals I’ve ever seen! For the holiday season, the museum has Let It Snow, highlighting the ways various animals adapt to the snow and cold. At the end of January, the museum will be hosting Ends of the Earth – an exhibit on the Arctic and Antarctic regions, as well as Arctic Kaleidoscopes – a gallery of arctic photography. In early June, be sure to come by to see Extreme Mammals – an exhibit which promises to include the most amazing mammals from around the globe. As well, the museum will be hosting (for the third year in a row) the Canadian Wildlife Photography of the Year gallery, run by Canadian Geographic. The museum is also gearing up for a multitude of activities in April for Earth Day and Earth Month.

I had an opportunity to chat with Ms. Dougan after the meeting and ask her a few brief questions about the museum.

What was it like to host the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh this summer?

It was very exciting! Royal visits don’t happen often, so it was a very special occasion. The building which hosts the public collection, the Victoria Memorial Museum, is named for her grandmother, after all. We were thrilled to name the Queen’s Lantern after her, and have her present for the ceremony.

I caught the screening of Isabella Rossellini’s “Green Porno” at the opening weekend – it was hilarious and educational! What else is the new HD theatre being used for?

Well, we’re actually following that up with “Seduce Me”, also by Isabella Rossellini, in February just before Valentine’s Day. We’re also playing “The Sound of Music” throughout the holiday season. And throughout the year, we regularly screen various nature films.

You’ve got a really great social media presence. Can you tell me about that?

Thank you! Yes, social media is very important to us, and we want to keep up with the public. So we’ve been using Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Flickr. We’ve received good feedback about it so far!

If you haven’t been the Museum of Nature since the reopening, you really need to check it out.  Do you have a favourite memory from the museum, or an opinion about the newly renovated version? Feel free to leave a comment or send us an email at LTOttawa@gmail.com!

Not sure about whether you want to check out the museum? Watch this:

Ottawa’s specialty grocers: Dutch, Chinese, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Indian, Pakistani, Italian food…and beyond!

Alex Hosselet likes to keep it real, especially in the kitchen. One of his favourite pastimes is to relax at the end of a long day by whipping up delicious meals for family and friends.

Ottawa is a very diverse city. Beyond the embassies, festivals and multicultural neighbourhoods, Ottawa boasts a tonne of terrific specialty grocers, stocked with delicious and exotic foods from around the world.

Here is a selection of some of my favourites.

Dutch Groceries and Imports

This has to be mentioned first because it is the oldest grocer I ever remember going to. Being Dutch, my family has been coming here as long as it has been open – decades. They have delicious sweets like Dutch chocolate (including the chocolate letters I receive EVERY year for Christmas), Speculaas cookies (which are ginger-flavoured and shaped like windmills), and black licorice (including the salted variety for the hardcore).  The deli has a great selection of meats and cheeses, and prepares tasty sandwiches for a very low price. The deli even stocks horse meat, which is maligned by every non-Dutch person I’ve ever met, although I’ve been raised eating it and I find it’s both very tasty and very healthy (see here). There is a wide selection of Dutch goods and decorations, and an impressive selection of Indonesian food and spices, as Indonesia was once a Dutch colony. As a last added bonus, Dutch Groceries and Imports is right beside The Comic Book Shoppe, making the Bleeker Mall on Clyde an incredibly alluring location for me.

Kowloon Market

It seems like everyone, Chinese and non-Chinese alike, got incredibly excited when the T&T Supermarket on Hunt Club opened. I didn’t seem to get the same thrill, having frequented the Kowloon Market and other East Asian grocers for years. Put simply, Kowloon has every Chinese ingredient I’ve ever needed for cooking. They also have a great bakery with a great selection of inexpensive snacks. If you haven’t tried Chinese baked goods, my recommendation is to stop by and spend just over a dollar on a delicious coconut bun – I have a feeling you’ll be eager to try more. Kowloon recently went under renovations to expand and re-design their store, leaving it in a much improved and spacious condition. They’ve also expanded their traditional stock to include more products such as milk, OJ and white bread. As I live a few blocks away, I appreciate this convenience a lot.

Mario’s Food Centre

I will admit that I have a crippling and irrational fear of Vanier. I’ve been trying to get over it by going out to experience more that Vanier has to offer. And Mario’s Food Centre is enough for me to make a trip out. I agreed to make dinner for a friend one time – a meal of their choosing. They asked for Portuguese cuisine, which I had absolutely no idea how to make. I consulted a Portuguese friend, looked up some recipes online, and called grocer after grocer until I found that Mario’s Food Centre carried all the ingredients I was looking for. A great selection of meats, spices, condiments and baked goods made this little shop a jewel on McArthur. Much like Dutch Groceries and Imports, they also carry Portuguese decorations: not surprising, many of them soccer-themed. If you are like I was, and haven’t experience much Portuguese food, do yourself a favour and put together a meal from Mario’s.

Phuoc Loi

I spent several years working with a Vietnamese family, and was lucky enough to pick up a handful of recipes. When I have a craving for Vietnamese, I pick up groceries from Phuoc Loi. They carry the right blend of vegetables, noodles and spices to put together all of the meals I learned to make. If you’re a big fan of the pho, spring rolls and rice wraps you find at Vietnamese restaurants, why not learn to make them yourself? You’ll find everything you need at Phuoc Loi.

Nasa Food Centre

Nasa Food Centre is my one-stop shop for Indian and Pakistani food. I learned about it from my former roommate, who taught me how to prepare Pakistani delicacies. They have great canned and dry goods, as well as mixes and spices blends for preparing great foods like curries, masalas, chutnies and haleem. They carry many pre-made goods, such as their paneer parathas. They carry baked sweets, including the addictive gulab jamun, and make their own naan bread. To top it off, the staff is always exceptionally friendly with me.

Luciano Foods & Home of Fresh Pasta

I have been told on numerous occasions that I eat an inhuman amount of pasta. I would say that I eat a very reasonable amount of extremely compelling pasta. These two grocers, located right beside each other, are my destination for all my Italian needs. Luciano Foods has the largest variety of pasta and artisan sauces I’ve ever seen. They have every sort of ingredient, preserve and condiment you could want. They have a great butchery on-site with an impressive selection of meats. They have freezers stocked with cheeses from around the world, single-serving desserts, home-made gelato by the pint, and refreshing Italian beverages. If you haven’t managed to overdose on your main course, you can even pick up some of their Italian chocolates. The Home of Fresh Pasta is pretty much exactly what you’d think: a specialty vendor of very high-quality, fresh pasta. Italian food isn’t hard to find or particularly hard to make, but Luciano Foods and Home of Fresh Pasta has the very best.

There’s not enough time in the world for me to sample food from every corner of the world, especially with so many favourites that I keep coming back to. Ottawa has a great selection of grocers like the ones above that can provide you ingredients and experiences that you’ve never known before. If there’s a specialty grocer in your neighbourhood that you’ve never been to, why not try it out? You just might end up loving it.

If you have another grocer you’d like mentioned, feel free to leave it in the comments or send your write up to LTOttawa@gmail.com. If you’d like to criticize Alex for condoning horse meat, that’s okay, too. He’s used to it.

Battle of the Ottawa brunch spots: part II

Photo credit: www.pubwells.com

Alex Hosselet likes to keep it real.  He also can’t stop thinking about waffles and eggs Benedict. Thanks for sharing your two cents in the battle of the Ottawa brunch spots, Alex!

I could have overlooked Pubwells as any other pub if it weren’t for the fact that it is down my street (Spruce) on Preston. Luckily, many others (beyond Pubwells’ usual classy clientele) don’t seem to know it, as breakfast and brunch times don’t get too crowded.

Pubwells does great waffles, with a wide selection of toppings including maple syrup, chocolate syrup, hot caramel, yogurt, fresh fruit (with a more exotic blend than you’d expect!), whipped cream and English cream. They make a killer eggs benedict with ham, spinach or salmon. All of the staples like homefries, sausage and bacon are great, and they offer a good number of combination plates in case you can’t choose between fresh waffles and eggs benedict with spinach.

Brunch of the Gods!

If you live anywhere near Preston or Somerset (Pubwells is one block north), you have no excuse not to try this spot. The prices are good, the service is friendly, and the whole place is warm and cozy.

Care to share your favourite Ottawa brunch spot? Send us a note and tell us about it!