Building community here and abroad: Pearl attends the last SLOWest monthly coffeehouse

Part of the crowd during SLOWest's last monthly coffeehouse (Photo credit: Brian Pirie)

Pearl Pirie is an Ottawa arts enthusiast. Her last poetry collection was Thirsts from Snare Books (2011). She coordinates the Tree Seed Workshop Series, the second and fourth night of each month at the Arts Court, 6:45-7:45. It is a free drop-in space provided with the Tree Reading Series for people to explore poetry.

This past Saturday night marked the last of SLOWest’s monthly coffeehouses with us after 2 years of bringing musicians, artists, a choir and poets. It brought a good turnout of around 20 which filled the back corner of Bridgehead, with a few snagged from the coffee shop who were leaning and listening in at the side, now and then. 

SLOWest — which is short for Sustainable Living Ottawa West — will continue other sustainability/community-building activities, including The Great River Project on April 19 (with Ottawa Riverkeeper Meredith Brown,who did a summer-long expedition that traveled 900 kilometres of the 1,271 kilometers of the Ottawa River), a Community garden gathering May 3 and a guided cycling tour of solar panel installations on May 12.

Tom Lips, Karen Second, Pearl Pirie

During the evening, Karen Second gave a description of what she saw and experienced while seeing stoves being installed in Guatemala as part of the Guatemala Stove Project — the happiness and pride of a Maya woman setting up the stove in her home. Second, a freelance writer, has an article on Tom Clarke, who started the project, coming up in the May edition of 55-Plus. Clarke has seen both a Perth and Ottawa branch of the project established. Since 1999, the Guatemala Stove Project has seen about 4,000 stoves built, including two through the efforts of SLOWest’s own group. But more on that later.

The reading evening started with some poetry by Montreal-area’s Czandra, who played in sound and interstitial spaces before reading a tan renga with Grant Savage. Shai Ben-Shalom put on his poet hat (literally, although those photo turned out blurry) and brought us some witty poems of cats and men and the holy grounds of the body. Over the break, John DeMers, who just came to listen, was volunteered to get his guitar from his car and play us some musical interludes.

Czandra, Marilyn Irwin, John DeMers

People from various directions of community got a chance to chat before we came back with coffee or treats and heard some excerpts from Czandra’s chapbook, In Air/Air Out. Poems of rob mclennan, Kevin Spenst and Danielle Susi were read by Marilyn Irwin. Jorge Etcheverry read from some work in English, and then, to give a taste of the language, he read a poem of his in Spanish as well. So much of language is intonation and in the body. We forget that when we only listen to English when we think we can understand every word.

Following him, Monty Reid read from Flat Land, a series of poems from La Gunilla, Mexico, where he was working on development projects, watching the people move stone with homemade shovels:

“the women/who built the road, who left their flesh in the ditches, who/insisted then that to walk is to remember”.

He recounted watching kids at an orphanage play baseball where it was a kind of collaborative agreement on what all the plays were:

“Every pitch is invented. There is no equipment, no ump, no one keeps/ the stats. Here everybody hits.”

In Guatemala, it’s a similar scene. The sixty percent of Guatemalans who are members of indigenous Mayan groups own only six percent of the land. Most live on less than $2 a day. Basic resources, such as health care, electricity and potable water are extremely scarce in the highlands, where the majority of the Maya live. The Guatemala Stove Project was started by Tom Clarke in 1999 to address some of the gap. The stoves burn wood more efficiently than open fires, freeing time for looking for wood and/or freeing money towards other uses. They make a safe cooking surface with kids running around. Each stove, costing $225 CDN, increases life expectancy of the women who cooks by 15 years, allowing the (average) family of five to get more healthy hands continuing to work without breathing smoke and without living in creosote covered walls.

Monty Reid, Shai Ben-Shalom, Jorge Etcheverry

As a sort of sweat-equity in the project, those receiving stoves are trained and assisted as masons and are given materials to add these cinder-block stoves and chimneys to their homes. A simple step but it leverages the communities and lives forward. In fact, after this past weekend, we have now tipped the third stove — enabled through local poetry! Thanks to everyone who put us over the edge, including this project of  In Air/Air Out chapbooks, the reading on the weekend, SLOWest passing the hat (as well as giving all their donations), book sales of the evening donated by Jorge Etcheverry and Monty Reid, the sale of chapbooks, and a couple donors who topped up the total.

Here’s the whole group who were part of that last reading at SLOWest Coffeehouse: those who were the planned readers, organizers of SLOWest, and people who got roped in by coming to either read or play music. (Back row, L-R) Monty Reid, Jorge Etcheverry, John DeMers, Shai Ben-Shalom, Grant Savage, Tom Lips (Front Row, L-R) Czanda, Pearl Pirie, Marilyn Irwin and Donna Colterman.

The whole gang

Thanks for sharing this memorable night, Pearl! SLOWest and the Guatemala Stove Project are both great ways to get involved with the local community.

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!

On the menu for Hintonburg: A flurry of new restaurant openings, with a side of gentrification

Burnt Butter (1100 Wellington) is just one of several new restaurants moving into Ottawa's Hintonburg neighbourhood

Hilary Duff (blog/Twitter) 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. She is also a contributing editor for Local Tourist Ottawa.

The Hintonburg restaurant scene is on the rise.

The neighbourhood is the latest in Ottawa to facedown with the issue of gentrification. The sweeping of new eateries has caused some businesses, like the old KFC location, to shut down, worrying some lower income families in the area that relied on the diner’s weekly specials. Now, the folks at the Hintonburger (who are moving into the old KFC location in 2012) are looking to help fill that gap.

And so, here’s what the Hintonburg food scene is looking like now. The trend is generally a positive one, and we recommend you check out the up-and-coming restaurants while they’re still young.

This radio piece was first produced for the current affairs radio show Midweek, broadcast every Wednesday from noon until 1:30 p.m. on the Carleton University radio station CKCU-FM 93.1.

Need a visual to illustrate the last few restaurant openings? Here’s a look at the new places that have opened (or plan on opening) in the neighbourhood. Click on the map pointer to find out more.

View Larger Map

What do you think of the new restaurants in Hintonburg? Which is your favourite so far?  

The honey-stay-cation – Project: Pricesless bride Jordan describes how to have a good time in Ottawa when you can’t get away

Brian and Jordan of Project: Priceless

Jordan Kent-Baas is the co-creator of Project: Priceless, a social media experiment with the goal of getting Jordan and her new husband Brian married on August 22, 2011, as free-of-charge as possible.

As much of Ottawa knows, my sweetheart Brian and I were married about two weeks ago. If you’re unfamiliar with our blog, Project: Priceless, this may be a good time to check it out, as you’ll see why a nearly-free honeymoon was the best fit for us.

Photo Credit: Adam Pap (via Project Priceless)

In short, for those who don’t follow our blog yet: we managed to plan and execute a 140-person wedding for very nearly no cost. The trade off: a ton of extra hours, the construction of a viral blog, and lots of glue gun burns.

We knew we wouldn’t be in a position to afford a big honeymoon, but we also knew it would still be beautiful weather in the Ottawa area with two weeks left of August. We decided we’d spend a week off together travelling no further than a car ride from home, using social coupons whenever possible, and to our utter amazement, it was a pleasant and busy week, indeed.

We started off on our wedding night, and the night following, staying at the Hilton Lac Leamy on the Hull side. It’s easy to forget what a beautiful hotel we have just minutes from our doorstep, but Brian and I had the pleasure to stay here once before, in January. This two-night stay was a wedding gift from my parents—and a great one that we looked forward to in the months of stressful planning. We arrived late on our wedding night; as always, I was mesmerized by the beautiful blown glass that adorns the ceilings and walls of the regal lobby.

Photo Credit: Mike Foote (via Flickr)

We hadn’t told anyone we were getting married, so the front desk staff looked a bit surprised to find a bride in white dress and a groom in orange vest standing in their lobby at midnight; but the staff were wonderful and a porter escorted us, and our luggage, to our room. The porter was fairly adorable, barely managing to rein in his excitement and clearly wishing he could inundate us with questions about our big day.

We settled into our room but found that the proximity of the elevator shafts meant that we could hear the zipping of the gears, and we called downstairs. I said we understood if they were booked for the night, but for the second night we’d love to be moved to a different room; the desk staff immediately offered us a new room, and sent the porter up to help us. All smiles again, he escorted us to a full suite, with living area, a bathroom the size of my kitchen decked out with a jacuzzi tub, and a giant flat screen TV. A call from downstairs informed us that there was a special delivery headed to our room, and moments later our grinning porter brought us a bottle of champagne and a plate of chocolate-covered strawberries.

Strawberry surprise from the Hilton Lac Lemy (Photo Credit: Jordan Kent-Baas)

We slept in that day, enjoying the view of downtown Ottawa’s glowing lights as we fell asleep, then the pinkish morning skies when we woke. After a delicious buffet breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant, Arome, (where Brian discovered a waffle machine and stuff himself to painful proportions with eggs Benedict), we headed out to Wakefield for the afternoon.
A quick stop into the Wakefield Bakery for butter tarts was followed by a leisurely walk along the Wakefield Train tracks and the river, stopping into various country craft-style shops along the strip.

We renewed our commitment to make it out to the Black Sheep Inn for a concert soon. We finished our trip with tapas at the Wakefield Mill; it was our first time trying it, so I’m not sure if all tapas involves such a serious amount of uncooked meat (tartare, ceviche, and fumée), but it wasn’t our favourite thing. As an Irish girl raised on steak and potatoes, Brian had a bit of a surprised chuckle at the end of the meal; when I asked what was funny, he said he hadn’t actually expected me to eat the food! Delectable or not, it was an adventure and we enjoyed it.

Sunflowers in Wakefield, Quebec (Photo Credit: Jordan Kent-Baas)

Our evening was spent in the outdoor heated saltwater pool at the hotel, and the next day saw us head home for 48 hours of quiet time before heading out into the world again. We spent time hanging out in our own ‘hood, Westboro, eating awesome sushi at Naked Fish; having tasty pub fare at Corner Bar and Grill; and tearing apart a ham and gruyere croissant at Bridgehead while planning the decorating process for our apartment—a major project that will be chronicled on the Project: Priceless Newlywed blog we’re launching…and relying heavily on UsedOttawa and local rummage sales for ‘priceless’ treasures, of course.

The end of the week saw us on the road again, this time using a social coupon (read: a groupon-like coupon, from which company I cannot recall) to visit a Bed & Breakfast in L’Orignal near Hawkesbury. We checked in to the B&B, a very new establishment nestled unexpectedly at the end of a cul de sac of suburban-style homes. Our room, while small, was prettily decorated, though very modern—the owners are German expats who veered far left of the usual Victoriana and went for a cutting-edge look and feel.

Hitting up the Harley Davidson dealership in Hawkesbury (Photo Credit: Jordan Kent-Baas)

Brian particularly loved the half-sphere of glass that served as the bathroom sink. My personal taste runs more towards the kitschy gingerbread-home type of place, but our stay was comfortable, the owner was very amiable, and the breakfast—whole wheat German waffles with endless other goodies—was delicious. Hawkesbury itself was (I’m sorry, Hawkesbury) boring as sin, with the exception of the enormous Harley Davidson dealership, where we found a shirt for Brian, and a hat for me, on super-sale.

We did, of course, make a stop in Vankleek Hill to see Beau’s Brewery, where Beau’s All Natural Beer is brewed (say that five times fast). Brian, an aficionado of anything you imbibe, was enthralled with the tour that showed us the giant vats, the bottling area, and the various behind-the-scenes areas. Brian bought himself a souvenir beer glass, and when I got home he presented me with my own: a tiny one about the size of a juice glass. Brian says it’s for beer tastings, but it’s absolutely perfect for me and holds exactly the right amount of ale. We also brought home a couple bottles of Beau’s Lug Tread, and I loved it, as did my Mom and Dad, who had us over that night for a fantastic dinner made entirely of local produce purchased from (local only) vendors in the Byward and Parkdale markets.

We actually ran out of time before running out of activities; we still have a social coupon for paintball, and a lesson at the Ottawa Fencing Club to attend. We did, however, make time to go for a two-week-anniversary dinner at Vineyards with yet another social coupon we’d procured. It was a nice chance to sit in the Vineyard’s cozy atmosphere, with its wine cellar feel, and enjoy just staring at each other like total nitwits. Brian had a wine flight and steak au poivre while I opted for a plate of scallops and shrimp with rice and veggies, sautéed in garlic and herbs. We wrapped up the evening by—and this is why I am the luckiest girl in the world—watching You’ve Got Mail in bed while Brian rubbed my back ‘til I fell asleep and he had to carry me to the bathroom to brush my teeth.

Our beautiful National Capital Region (Photo credit: Jordan Kent-Baas)

We do want, one day, to take that long-distance honeymoon, ideally when the weather here sucks…ideally mid-January, once all the fun of the holidays has passed and all we’re left with around here is brown gritty snow. And because of our clever use of local free fun combined with deal coupons, this staycation didn’t put a dent in any travel savings we may start. But after planning one of the craziest weddings of all time, and all the running around we did for months, it was really wonderful to stay close to home, enjoy some Ottawa Valley treasures, and focus on what a honeymoon is really all about: the new sheets we got as a wedding present!

Wow, great post Jordan! Congratulations to you both!

Q&A with Ottawa photographer Kathy Roussel

This Is A Standoff, Ottawa 2010

Kathy Roussel was born in Riviere-Du-Loup, Quebec, but being raised by a military family fostered her moves across the country throughout her childhood. She eventually settled in North Bay, Ontario where her parents still reside, until her move to Ottawa in 2006. After studying for three years at Carleton University, Kathy enrolled at the School of the Photographic Arts: Ottawa, where she is currently in her second year of studies.

Kathy Roussel

When did your passion for photography begin?

I have always been passionate about photography in general, but I didn’t start getting seriously passionate about the idea of myself as a photographer until late in high school. In my final year or two, I attended as many local music shows as I could and that’s when I really discovered that there was more to photography in me than being interested in other people’s images.

 

Craig Cardiff; Singer/Songwriter, Ottawa 2010

Being in that environment and beginning to photograph live bands made me see that I wanted to blend my passions of photography and music together to create great images myself. I would buy various music magazines and just think that if I worked hard enough, one day that could be my photographs in there.

Music-related photography is not my only interest, but it’s definitely what got the ball rolling. I wish I still had all the band T-shirts I had collected.

What brought you to SPAO? How has the school changed your photography, if at all?

Despite my great interest in photography, after high school I decided to enroll at Carleton University, where my goal was to become a journalist (ideally music-related). I ended up not making it past the first year of journalism, but I stuck the university life out for another two years in a different program because I felt it was important, even if only for myself, to get a degree.

Eric Stone; Bassist (Today I Caught The Plague), Ottawa 2011

At the beginning of my third year, I made the decision that I wanted to pursue my dream of photography full time — my original plan was to apply to a few colleges, and go from there, until an at-the-time acquaintance told me about SPAO and the unique program that it offered.

The school has definitely changed the way I approach photography. The instructors there have taught me the importance of slowing down and shooting with intent, and over the last two years they have truly guided me into creating a body of work which I am proud of. At SPAO you are aided and guided by the amazing teachers and professionals who are there to help you grow — and being only just over twenty students in the entire school, we get a ton of one on one instruction. I now view photography in a whole new way, and how I approach it has definitely changed.

Dan Mangan; Singer/Songwriter, Ottawa 2010

Your love of portraiture is quite evident from your portfolio. What attracts you to that style?

I find portraiture fascinating. The camera has this ability to connect people, to create a relationship between a photographer and a subject even with a short amount of time. Most often, my subjects are able to give me a good amount of time to shoot them, but I have photographed a few people whom I only had ten to twenty minutes with — a short amount of time connect with a subject and get a great image.

Either way, it’s always a thrill, and that connection is something that I am so interested in. The connection is different with each sitter, and after each shoot I have an image to always remember that connection by – an image that was created by our experience. I just find that idea so interesting.

You’ve done a lot of work photographing musicians . . . but not necessarily on stage. How do you capture their essence away from their natural “scene”?

Depending on the band or singer/songwriter, it can sometimes involve some research, most of which will consist of spending a lot of time listening to the band to get a feel for them. Their sound will be the main influence on how I will approach the shoot with regard to setting, posing, lighting, etc.

As much as I also enjoy live music photography, you really do not get the same experience that you do when taking an artist’s portrait. I always feel privileged after a band or an artist has given me the chance to photograph them. I really value the time they give me. I have photographed a small number of bands/artists who were only in town for one day, and they gave me that time. I am so thankful for that.

 

Hunter City Madness, Ottawa 2010

 

Who is the most interesting local talent you’ve shot to date?

I’m not entirely sure I could just pick one. But for the sake of continuing with this thread on musicians, I was beyond honoured to get the chance to photograph local band Today I Caught The Plague last fall. 

Today I Caught The Plague, Ottawa 2010

 

They are largely influenced by hardcore and metal, but I had never heard a sound quite like theirs. I had also never met them prior to photographing them, but they are honestly six of the most incredibly kind dudes I have ever met — I can never say enough good about them. They are actually in the studio right now recording and I’m really looking forward to hearing the final mixes.

I have also photographed two of the band’s six members — drummer Mike Ieradi and bassist Eric Stone — as single portraits, and it’s always an amazing experience. They are down for whatever I have planned and really understand my process, so it’s really nice. I’m really hoping I get more opportunities to photograph them in the future. 

Dinosaur Bones, Ottawa 2011

 

Where’s your favourite place to shoot in Ottawa?

I have to admit — this past year I did not do much work outside of SPAO’s studio, so that would be my answer. I have really grown to enjoy the connection you can develop with a person in that kind of environment and I was really lucky to be able to take advantage of that space while I was given the opportunity to use it. I’m hoping that this summer I’ll get the chance to use photography to explore the city further, and possibly find some new favourite places to shoot.

Beyond the camera, how else do you enjoy exploring the city?

I love going out for tea with friends — Bridgehead or Ideal Coffee is often where I end up. But I love being introduced to new coffee or tea shops. I also try and explore as much of Ottawa’s music scene as I can.

This city holds some great local bands, and we have some awesome venues (whether it be smaller cafes like Raw Sugar Cafe on Somerset or something bigger like the downtown located Mavericks or Ritual). We are quite lucky.

Thanks Kathy!

Ottawa Cupcake Challenge part VIII: Hilary receives a visit from the Cupcake Fairy

The Cupcake Fairy

Hilary Duff (blog/Twitter) 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. She is currently writing an LTOttawa series on her hunt for Ottawa’s perfect cupcake.

Last Sunday the sun was shining and birds were chirping as I made my way down to the Bridgehead for my next cupcake sampling.  As an aside, I’m mildly concerned that the baristas at Bridgehead hate me.  I’m the girl who goes in, gets an enormous box of cupcakes, and talks about nothing but baked goods before promptly leaving.  I’m going to become notorious for my shady baking-related Bridgehead dealings, and apologize for my frequent visitation.  Please don’t kick me out, I like your tea, I swear!

Now, if there is one thing I’ve learned from this cupcake challenge, it’s that the bakers’ stories are as good as the cupcakes themselves.

Daphney Deroneth aka the Cupcake Fairy

Such was the case with Daphney Deroneth or, as she likes to be called, the Cupcake Fairy (not to be confused with the tooth fairy who would be less than happy with all the sugary treats I’ve been eating).

As with all the bakeries I try, I’m always curious to the origin of their name.  “The Cupcake Fairy” seemed like a particularly strange choice, and when trying to imagine where it was conceived, I came up only with a mental picture of Tinker Bell delivering cupcakes around to the Lost Boys.

Daphney’s start-up story was the most heart warming I’ve heard on my search so far.

Daphney brought Hilary three cupcakes to try: strawberry, coconut and chocolate Guinness

The Cupcake Fairy began in July 2010.  Prior to this Daphney had been baking only for friends and family, ignoring their suggestion that she should open her own bakery.  She preferred to perform cupcake ambushes.

Let me explain: whenever Daphney logged onto Facebook and saw that her friends were having a bad day, she would whip up a batch of cupcakes and deposit them on their doorstep.  Accompanying the cupcakes would be a tiny note, jokingly signed “The Cupcake Fairy.”  One day, Daphney says her husband answered the door, only to find a KitchenAid stand mixer sitting on the doorstep. There was a note attached to the box that said, “follow your dreams” and was signed The KitchenAid Fairy.  Daphney launched her website and has been baking for the public ever since.  Her glossy red KitchenAid mixer is named Scarlett and serves as her partner in crime.

Is this not one of the happiest stories you’ve ever heard?  Daphney says she still doesn’t know who the KitchenAid Fairy is, and has delivered cupcakes to too many friends to narrow down her search.  Whoever you are, if you are reading this, just know that she is grateful.  PS: KitchenAid Fairy, want to know where I live…?

But on to the cupcakes.

Daphney brought me three different kinds to try: strawberry, coconut and chocolate Guinness cupcakes.

As per usual, I was aided in my cupcake tasting by a few of my roommates.

A strawberry cupcake from the Cupcake Fairy

We tried the strawberry one first, which had chunks of fresh strawberries scattered throughout.  The strawberry mousse on top was light and lush.

A coconut cupcake from the Cupcake Fairy

Next was the coconut cupcake.  The cake had the consistency of shredded coconut (you know the one that I mean, that satisfying soft chew), but not necessarily the flavour.  The lemon meringue on top was awesome though, and exploded in my mouth like a fragrant lemon gumdrop.

Guinness cupcake from the Cupcake Fairy

Last, was the Guinness cupcake with a Bailey’s liquor filling and frosting.  This was the cupcake that I was arguably most looking forward to trying and, being half Irish, expected the most from.  I’ve never tried Guinness before, so perhaps I wasn’t the best one to diagnose the flavour.  I have, however, tried Bailey’s on numerous occasions, and found this to be the flavour that won out.  Regardless, the cupcake was extremely original.  Even though there could have been a tad more of a Guinness flavour, this cupcake was still a stellar post-St. Patty’s day treat.

Overall, all three were really good, and each had a   particularly nice cupcake topper.  The chocolate fondant rose on top of the Guinness cupcake was adorned with edible gold dust and made my first fondant tasting experience a memorable one.

You can also follow the Cupcake Fairy on twitter @_cupcakefairy

Another neat thing that the Cupcake Fairy started in October was a Cupcake of the Month Club.  Club members get a dozen cupcakes each month, all in a specialty flavour that Daphney has specially developed.  Past flavours have included champagne, eggnog rum, and the Guinness cupcake that I tried.  For cupcake lovers looking to expand their tasting palate, this is the club for you.

Daphney herself is not only a cupcake baker, but a cupcake lover as well.  She mentioned that she’d love to have her cupcake club expand to include other bakers in the city.  For a change of pace, she’d like to try cupcakes she didn’t have to make.

In the meantime, try out the Cupcake Fairy for yourself, and let Daphney cast a sugary spell over you.

Cupcake personality: ***½

Cake: **½

Icing: ***

Cupcake overall: ***½

Thanks for sharing your story with us Daphney!

A taste of Ottawa’s best: Beau’s, Bridgehead and Hintonburger

For more info on Beau's All Natural Brewing Company visit: http://www.beaus.ca

Conor (a soon be lawyer) and Renée (a dedicated public servant) have lived in Ottawa their whole lives and couldn’t imagine living in a better city.  Their love affair with Ottawa stems from the serene calm that seems to surround the city, the camaraderie of the Ottawa Trivia League (they’re both on the team Spoiler Alert) and by trying new local things.

Conor was first introduced to Beau’s in the summer of 2008 when a friend gave him one of those easily recognizable ceramic bottles.

The Lugtread was delicious, local, and family brewed.  So when we heard that another rising local institution was teaming up with Beau’s we had to make it out to Bridgehead to celebrate Winterlude with Winterbrew, a coffee infused beer.

Bridgehead

The event took place at Bridgehead’s newest location on Sparks Street.  The place was jammed with all types. Who knew so many people liked beer and coffee! While we joked that The Drew Carrey Show had this idea years ago, Beau’s and Bridgehead put a little more thought into this beer’s recipe than getting buzzed on beer and coffee.

According to a press release from Beau’s, they “wanted to go with a medium altitude Central or South American coffee, because they tend to be very clean with flavours [they] thought would be complementary to the beer – nuts, cocoa powder and warm spices. There were a few coffees that would have done the trick, but we settled upon a coffee from around the town of San Juan del Rio Coco in Madriz, Nicaragua because of the pronounced Dutch-processed cocoa aromas.”

Bridgehead

The beer did not disappoint.

We were warned that the first sip would be strange and it was.  But half way through it became really tasty.  Peter and Conor, both heavy coffee drinkers, appreciated the sensation of getting pretty buzzed  and compared it to an iced Americano.  Renee and Kristen, who do not often drink coffee, didn’t enjoy it as much but finished their drinks in true Winterbrew style.

Cynical curmudgeon, Conor, scoffed at both Beau’s and Bridgehead who pride themselves on natural and organic as well as fair trade means of crafting their brews, for serving the Winterbrew in plastic cups until Peter realized that the cups were compostable. Nice touch.

Running with the local and organic theme of the night, we headed to Hintonburger on Wellington for dinner.

Hintonburger is located at 991 Wellington Street West

From the outside, it looks like a dive, but you should never judge a book by it’s cover because within is pure deliciousness.

The beef comes from Ottawa O’Brien Farms and are filled with herbs and seasoning.  No pictures of the burger themselves because we were too busy eating them and/or they were so delicious we ate them too fast.   We haven’t ventured away from the burger, but I hear they’re corn dog is delicious (and can’t wait to try it).

If you’re in Hintonburg you really need to stop in and try anything on their menu, but make sure to have money on hand as it’s cash only.

Thanks for the post you two! We hope to see more of you here…and in person!

Holiday shopping in Ottawa – Part II (Westboro – Wellington)

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Annie McEwen is the best. She is currently studying at Oxford University in the United Kingdom. We miss her! And we’re sure she misses us too. Last week, Annie shared a little holiday shopping nostalgia with us, writing up a great guide to shopping in Ottawa’s Glebe.

This week? Westboro – Wellington.

I’ve lumped these together, which is sure to offend some, but maybe it’ll inspire and extra long Christmas walk from one end to the other? Or maybe I’m forgetting how cold Ottawa winter is…. in any case, here’s my picks East to West of this constantly evolving area.

Wabi Sabi

Too the very far east you’ll find Wabi Sabi. I love this place. If you’ve got a fibre-artist in your life, or would-be-knitter, consider encouraging them with some of the beautiful yarns and fibres stocked here. Maybe if you’re lucky you’ll be regifted the yarn as toque or socks! Also consider checking out their workshops on offer for everything from dyeing to weaving.

World of Maps

Whether outdoor adventurer, global backpacker, or armchair traveller, this place inspires. From travel books to posters and topomaps, this place is interesting even if it doesn’t fit the bill for someone’s gift.

Nectar Fine Teas

Specialty teas from a special place. Stop in to collect a stocking stuffer of exotic tea, or warm up with cup yourself!

Ottawa Bagel Shop and Deli

I prefer Kettleman’s Bagels for my bagels, but the Bagel Shop is stocked to the brim with interesting foodie delights and chocolates. Stop by to pick up finishing salt or a pound of Callebaut chocolate (apparently at a much cheaper price than the competition I’m told).

Bushtukah

Westboro it the mecca for yuppie (that’s Young Urban Professional, in case you’re too young to know the less-derogatory origin) outdoorsy gear, and heading east to west it starts with Bushtukah. Even if you haven’t got a skier on your list, you might find something neat for the world traveller or summertime camper in here. You can also check out Mountain Equipment Co-op in this area, if that is your preference.

Quichua World Market

A relatively new addition to the Westboro scene, this import store has some great affordable gifts from South America and the wider world, including some very cozy alpaca toques last I was there!

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Roots, Lulu Lemon, and American Apparel

If you really must go for the big brands, a few have storefronts on Richmond Road. Easy in and out without the mall music.

The Candy Store

Well, the name sort of gives it away. Stop in to treat yourself or grab something to stuff a stocking.

The Expedition Shoppe

Another source for outdoorsy and travel things, but really, who doesn’t love smartwool socks?!

Ten Thousand Villages

If you’re feeling a little more ethical and the consumption of Christmas is getting you down, the fairtrade offerings of Ten Thousand Villages might be a good idea.

Food and drink while you shop…

Thyme and Again

A well-known Ottawa catering institution. Mostly I’m listing it here because it carries my very favourite bread in Ottawa… and no, I’m not talking about the ubiquitous Art-is-in breads. True Loaf bread is simply the most marvellous baked thing to have hit Ottawa since the French Baker brought real croissants to town, and last I was there Thyme and Again was stocking it!

Three Tarts

I simply love everything they bake. No place really to sit down, but consider picking something up for a treat on a cozy evening in.

Bridgehead

Always popular for a break from the winter weather.

Where are you doing your holiday shopping?

Acoustic, roots, pop, twang: Q&A with singer/songwriter Amanda Rheaume

Photo Credit: Sandy Ziegler

Amanda Rheaume is a very talented singer/songwriter who has lived in Ottawa for 27 years. I first saw her perform several years ago at a wonderful show she put on with Ana Miura at Cafe Dekcuf. She has a couple of shows coming up this month, and we are so happy she made the time to have a quick chat with us!

For someone who has never heard your music, how would you describe your sound?

Acoustic, roots, pop! Sometimes there is a hint of twang in there too!

What is it like to be an Ottawa-based musician: how would you describe the scene?

Ottawa has a fantastic music scene, with a lot of amazing artists and musicians! There is a great sense of community but I can only hope for that to grow. There are little pockets all over the city that have amazing music happening, Umi Cafe, Irene’s Pub, Quinn’s Ale House, Rainbow Bistro etc….and all the Ottawa musicians know about them, but I’d really like to see a greater awareness of music LOVERS at all of these spots.

Looking back on your own career, would you say Ottawa is a supportive city for new artists?

Ottawa is an incredibly supportive city for local, rising talent! For me, Ottawa was an amazing place to start performing live and showcasing my songs. The city is very supportive and there are a great number of amazing venues. Also, because it is smaller than Toronto, it always felt friendlier!

You’ve toured across Canada and through the United States – what is special and unique about Ottawa?

Ottawa is beautiful in all seasons; spring, summer, fall, and winter. Whether I am playing on a patio in the summer or in a warm cozy club in the winter, I find all the shows are warm and friendly. Ottawa crowds are quiet yet appreciative, and even though sometimes it is hard to know if people are enjoying the show, when I speak with Ottawa folks post show I always get a great response.

In March 2009 you traveled to Kandahar, Afghanistan to perform for Canadian troops. Can you tell us a little bit about that experience?

I wanted to travel to Kandahar for many reasons, first and foremost to support our men and women over there. Bring them a piece of home and joy if I could. I also figured WOW what an opportunity to see a part of the world that not everyone gets to see and experience. I was greatly inspired and touched by the strength and commitment of the men and women posted at Kandahar Air Field. I would go back in a heartbeat.

You’re currently producing Bluebird North Ottawa – what’s that all about?

Bluebird North is an intimate, interactive musical showcase hosted by the Songwriters Association of Canada that brings together some of Canada’s most inspiring songwriters to share their songs and stories. During this acoustic, informal evening, each featured songwriter will perform their songs and share the ‘back story’ and inspiration about how each song was written.

Bluebird North is based on Nashville’s famed Bluebird Cafe, which opened in 1982. The venue is well known for helping launch the careers of Garth Brooks, Ashley Cleveland and Pam Tillis. Bluebird North is endorsed by the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville.

Basically I book the artists and manage all the details for the show, aside from publicity!

Last December you recorded and released an Acoustic Christmas album with the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa – how did that partnership come about?

Late summer 2009 I was approached by a man named Greg Waite, a friend/client of my father’s. Greg had some money in his late brother’s estate that he wanted to use for a good cause and to try and help people in some way. He had the idea of producing a Christmas CD and selling it for $5 at local retailers and having all money from the CD go to the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa! Greg, through the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa, funded the production of the entire record. He gave me full artistic control and away we went! December 2009 Acoustic Christmas was born!

You can get it online at  iTUNES and CD BABY, and in person at Bridgehead locations, Alfa Diner, The Morning Owl, Compact Music, Greenfields Barrhaven,  and Studio B Hair Salon.

You have a big Christmas show coming up on December 8th at the Rainbow Bistro in the ByWard Market – what can the audience expect?

They can expect to hear all of the tunes off of Acoustic Christmas as well as a few others! My good friend John MacDonald will be opening the show up with some Christmas songs as well! It is going to be a great night of friends and music to get everyone into the spirit!

Also, a portion of ticket sales are going to be donated to the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa. CDs will be available at the show as well! Local musicians in the band are: Ana Miura, Ross Murray (producer of the CD), Chris Brietner, Elise Von Teichman and Jeff Logan.

When can we expect a new album from you?

Summer 2011!!!!!!

Want to see Amanda Rheaume live? Check her out December 8th at her Christmas show at the Rainbow Bistro.