Mangia! Gen goes dishcrawling on Corso Italia

The latest Dishcrawl took place on Preston's Little Italy

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. 

Here at Local Tourist Ottawa, we love discovering our city’s food establishments. And so, naturally, we love our Dishcrawls.

Since June of this year, when the very first one was held in Ottawa, Dishcrawls have become so popular with foodies here that the latest one, in the Little Italy neighbourhood, sold out within a few hours. In fact, there was so much demand for this event that the organizers decided to do a repeat of it a week later.

I had jumped at the chance to crawl Preston Street, in part hoping to savour some gourmet pizza. Alas, there was none to be had that evening, but I was certainly not disappointed after having tasted the many other Italian-inspired dishes that were in store for us.

Our meeting spot, emailed to us a couple of days before the event, was Allegro Ristorante, a Corso Italia establishment for about 20 years. While Dishcrawl participants usually meet outdoors (so as not to spoil any surprises regarding locations to be visited), the organizers had us meet at the first restaurant due to the cooler temperatures. Good thinking, given that last Tuesday was a very chilly night. The cozy second-floor room of Allegro became packed shortly after my friend and I arrived, what with approximately 50 eager dishcrawlers squished in. Nevertheless, people were chatting away, eagerly awaiting the official start of the crawl.

After a brief introduction by the organizers, Allegro’s owner presented plates of his restaurant’s most popular hot and cold appetizers: fried calamari and zucchini; prosciutto, provolone and melon slices; marinated vegetables; and, sausage bites. The sausage, nicely spiced, was the standout for me. With the food served buffet style, we helped ourselves, and I made sure to leave enough room for the numerous plates I knew were still to come.

Appetizers at Allegro Ristorante

Dishcrawl participants then left in two cohorts, my group leaving with our enthusiastic guide Sarah.

In spite of the cold outside, the atmosphere on charming Preston Street felt festive and inviting, lined as it was with small tree decorated with white lights. It provided a nice backdrop as we explored this neighbourhood’s food.

As we headed north up Preston Street, my anticipation mounted until we reached DiVino Wine Studio. I was ecstatic, having wanted to try this place for a while! We entered the attractive space, passing a wine rack covering an entire wall to our right, and settled in a private room at the back of the establishment. The sommelier spoke to us about DiVino: more than just a restaurant, it also offers room rentals for events, cooking classes, seminars, and even culinary tours of Italy.

We were then taught how to taste our olive oil using a piece of bread before small plates arrived. First came a tuna tartare with greens, orange aioli and crostini, followed by gnocchi in a tomato sauce. The tuna was fresh and delicate, and the gnocchi – all pillowy goodness and melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness – was like none other I had ever had before.

Tuna tartare at DiVino Wine Studio

Gnocchi at DiVino Wine Studio

We crossed path with the other group on our way to our third restaurant of the night: Il Primo. There, we were greeted warmly by the owner, and then served a single plate with multiple components: a Ceasar salad topped with a garlic crouton, bocconcini and fig wrapped in prosciutto, a piece of breaded chicken with a pesto-like sauce, and a roasted potato with rosemary. It was satisfying and hearty food.

Mixed plate at Il Primo

As we left for our last stop, I found myself almost wishing that it was far down the street, since I think we all could have used the walk to digest a bit at this point! We walked into La Roma for dessert. There we were given an olive oil and orange cake, accompanied by a scoop of olive oil ice cream with a balsamic drizzle. Innovative and delightful, it was a great way to finish the evening.

Dessert at La Roma

Upon leaving the restaurant and bidding adieu to our guide and our new friends, we were given a little surprise treat: macarons from the new Macarons et Madeleines. I had tried macarons a couple of times in the past, but absolutely nothing compared to these ones. I had a raspberry and a chocolate one, both filled with a mix of jam and buttercream. They were so fresh and soft – simply divine. I am still dreaming about them.

Treat from Macarons et Madeleines

The four restaurants, plus the French pastry shop, featured during this Dishcrawl of Little Italy Dishcrawl were all new discoveries for me. I will return soon, Preston Street. Ciao!

Dishcrawl Ottawa is hosted a SOLD-OUT repeat event on Preston Street tonight, but keep your eyes peeled for the next event — coming soon to a community near you!

The (delicious) Taste of Preston Street

LTO's Genevieve, Jessey and Amy at Ottawa's Taste of Preston Street

Last weekend, the lovely folks over at Savvy Company invited Local Tourist Ottawa founders Amy and Jessey, as well as our pizza-loving contributor Geneviève, to attend La Vendemmia’s Taste of Preston Street Food and Wine Show. As I’m sure you can imagine, we were thrilled.

Celebrating the abundance of Preston Street’s Italian and international restaurants alongside some really nice wine, we’re not ashamed to say that between the three of us we sampled just about everything.

It was glorious.

Of course, there was wine...

and pizza....

...and so much more.

A plate of sweets from Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana & Simply Biscotti

The Prescott's famous meatballs (they're famous for a reason)

Delicious deliciousness from Stoneface Dolly's

Amazing clam chowder from Big Easy's Seafood and Steak House

Seriously creative treats from Reggina Pastry

More from Reggina Pastry

The greatest Italian pastry of all, again from Reggina Pastry

Local Tourist Geneviève, who headed straight for the pizza...

Butternut squash soup, clam chowder, escargot, biscotti, ravioli....

A huge thanks to the organizers of this event for including LTO, and for working so hard to put together such an incredible showcase.

It was wonderful to sample the huge diversity of food that Preston Street has to offer, as well as rub shoulders (and clink glasses) with other local bloggers and foodies.

Of course, we also got to meet Geneviève, one of our very favourite Local Tourists, in person for the first time!

What’s your favourite restaurant on Preston? 

Being rendered unmovable by the moveable feast (a delicious night of food, wine and Little Italy exploration)

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.

My Thursday evening ended with me lying in a crumpled mess on the couch with a blanket covering my stomach.

Click the image to go to the La Vendemmia website

No, I wasn’t stricken by some horrible disease, nor was I worn down from a four-day alcohol-induced bender. Rather, my state was the result of six courses of delicious food consumed within a short, four hours. It was the result of the La Vendemmia festival’s moveable feast.

Full, I may have been, but miserable, I was not. Now that you’ve heard how my evening ended, let me tell you how it began.

It’s 5:30 p.m. I rush out of class and jump on my bike, peddling towards Little Italy faster than the speed of light. My destination: moveable feast, the opening event of the neighbourhood’s La Vendemmia festival. The name of the festival – now in its fifteenth year – translates to mean “the harvest.” It is the perfect title for a weekend that is to be filled with food and fun.

For those still gawking at the name “moveable feast,” well, it’s exactly what it sounds like. If anyone has been to any of the Ottawa Dishcrawl events or read my posts about them, they are what I liken last night’s event to be. Except with wine. Lots and lots of gourmet wine, all perfectly paired thanks to the talented sommeliers at Savvy Grapes. This was the seventh year for the moveable feast.

The night was a chance for the 100 attendees to try the culinary gems of the Little Italy neighbourhood. It was also the opportunity to celebrate the diversity of the area – both the Italian and international cuisine housed off Preston Street. Since all 100 of us couldn’t very well storm each and every restaurant one at a time, we were split into a dozen groups, each led by one very qualified Little Italy expert.

Appetizers at Sala San Marco

I wasn’t sure what to expect from the night, but was completely sold by the idea of stuffing my face full of absolutely everything. The evening started at Sala San Marco, a banquet and conference centre just past Preston and Gladstone. Here, I was excited to meet up with Katy Watts, another Ottawa blogger who had decided to write about the event. Someone else who had a mutual desire to eat lots of food. Perfect.

At Sala San Marco were met with appetizers and flutes of (delicious) sparkling wine. It was these initial appetizers that paved the way for my night of gluttony. It’s bad, but I think I use my age and the fact that I’m a student as an excuse to eat way too much food. Be it seconds, thirds or, heaven forbid, fourths, I shamelessly stuffed my face full of smoked salmon-topped bread and deep fried risotto balls. Katy joined me on all counts, and we circled the appetizer table like hungry piranhas.

Giovanni's Ristorante was our first formal stop of the night

After enjoying the fare at Sala San Marco, my group headed over to Giovanni’s Ristorante, a Little Italy gem that was apparently once a local haunt for Mr. Trudeau. Under low light, the nine of us were ushered to our table and promptly served glasses of our second wine of the evening, a 2010 MURELLE Trebbiano D’Abruzzo D.O.C. Our meal arrived in the form of a too-neat-to-eat piece of chicken stuffed with mozzarella and prosciutto and served with a white wine sauce. My wine glass was refilled and I used crispy, warm-on-the-inside bread to soak up the savoury sauce. It was bliss.

Our second stop of the night was our international location. Each group on the moveable feast went to two traditional Italian restaurants and one international place. We went to The Lindenhof a 37-year-old restaurant serving German cuisine. Here we met Alison, the women who bought the restaurant two years ago. Alison was very hospitable and sat with us through our entire meal, chatting about the food, wine and atmosphere of the location.

The Lindenhof: (top left) Alison explains the wine choice, (top bottom) a piece of the flammkuchen

On the subject of food, our dish at The Lindenhof was definitely my favourite of the night.

Here, we had flammkuchen, a harvest pizza that literally translates to mean “flame cake or flame tarte.” The Alsatian (technically French) dish was a thin crust pizza covered with a special smoked cheese, caramelized onions and bacon. It was to die for and there was so much of it. To accompany the flammkuchen was another white wine, a 2010 Riesling from the Niagara Peninsula. Alison told us that “prost” was the German word for toast, and so we all shouted the phrase and clinked glasses. Danke schön (thank you very much, in German) to Alison for the delicious course.

My three courses at La Favorita

Our last stop was La Favorita restaurant. At this point in the night, I was already half keeled over while walking, and felt like my stomach was being pulled towards the ground by the sheer power of gravity. Things were not looking up. Despite my lack of appetite, La Favorita had plenty of food to offer us, and three out of my six courses came from this final location. To start, we had an artichoke, tomato, red onion and hazelnut salad. For the record, artichokes in salads are a revelation. For the main dish, we got a seafood linguine that I was shamefully not able to even nearly finish. For dessert, we had a variety of pastries, bites of which got passed around the table so everyone could share their unique tastes. Two types of wine accompanied the meal – one red (2009 Italian Bar Bera Q) and one white (2010 unoaked chardonnay, again from the Niagara Peninsula).

My moveable feast group at La Favorita

After doing my best to pick away at the three courses (which were good, although painfully filling), it was time to go. Kicking myself for biking, I peddled my bloated, insanely full self home and collapsed on the couch. The night ended with a big glass of water, stretchy pajama pants and sleep.

The moveable feast had accomplished its ironic goal, and made me incapable of moving by the end of the night.

A huge thank you goes out to my group leader, Preston Street BIA executive director Lori Mellor for leading a successful tour. The La Vendemmia festival is happening all weekend in Little Italy and there’s something for everyone, from the classic wine and food events to art displays aplenty. Maybe I’ll see you there.

Did any of you attend the moveable feast? Could you still walk afterwards? Local Tourist’s very own Jessey and Amy will be heading to the wine show on Sunday – we hope to see you there!

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!

Tasting gourmet pizza across the National Capital Region: Geneviève Brisson visits La Dolce Vita

Geneviève Brisson 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.

La Dolce Vita (180 Preston St.)

A warm Tuesday evening at the beginning of July simply called out for a lingering dinner on a patio. And so, my exploration of gourmet pizza restaurants continued with a visit to La Dolce Vita in Little Italy.

We called ahead to make sure that their patio was in fact open, and were assured that it was and that there was plenty of room. Upon our arrival at the restaurant, my boyfriend and I thus settled at a table outside. The patio felt a bit more intimate and private than your average spot, being located below street level.

La Dolce Vita (180 Preston Street, 613-233-6239) offers an impressive selection of pizzas. You can choose from 25 different gourmet pizzas which come in three sizes: the small ones ranging in price from about $15 to $17, the medium ones from $21 to $26, and the large ones from $25 to $29. Celiacs should note that all pizzas can be made gluten-free upon request, at an extra charge. The menu also has a good assortment of appetizers, other typical Italian fare like pasta and calzones for main courses, as well as desserts.

To start off our meal, we had a salad of chickpeas, romaine lettuce, bruschetta tomatoes, red onions and feta cheese with an olive oil and lemon dressing. It was fresh and flavourful, and had a wonderfully crispy texture. Plus, I found the feta cheese especially pleasing – creamy without being overly salty.

Chickpea salad

Now on to the pizza! We opted for a large with half the verdi (lamb, sundried tomatoes, kalamata olives, feta cheese and mozzarella cheese) and half the cinque formaggi (hazelnut pesto, fresh tomatoes, red onions, mushrooms and five types of cheese). Note that choosing a half/half pizza will set you back a negligible $3. The verdi had caught our eye with the rare topping of lamb, and the pizza itself had a good, robust mix of flavours. As for the cinque formaggi, the freshness of the tomatoes and red onions nicely balanced out the appropriately cheesy pizza. But for me, the real standout was the hazelnut pesto: nutty, crunchy and deeply flavourful! Also, both types of pizzas had a generous helping of toppings.

Half Verdi (top) and half Cinque Formaggi (bottom) pizza

The pizza crust was moist, with a nicely crisp bottom. However, it was thicker than I was expecting – it seemed like an Old World crust trying to conform to the perceived New World preference for thick crusts. As a result, it was pretty filling. A few pizzas on the menu were explicitly listed as thin crust, so I would recommend you to choose among those ones or ask to have your pizza made with a thin crust, if you favour slimmer crusts.

To keep hydrated on this warm evening, my boyfriend opted for a German beer on tap, a dark Warsteiner, while I had a glass of the house red wine, a Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. This medium-bodied wine was pleasing and easy drinking.

Our meal ended with the homemade tiramisu. It was light in texture, but also creamy and decadent, and tasted of good espresso and rum. Simply fabulous!

Homemade tiramisu

The service was friendly and attentive to our needs: Sensing that we were in no hurry that evening, they let us linger and go at our own pace.

La Dolce Vita is a little gem in Little Italy that has a wide selection of gourmet pizzas and caters to people with gluten sensitivity. The restaurant also does takeout and delivery.

All in all, our evening at La Dolce Vita was just that: pleasant and sweet.

Yum! Do you have a pizza place suggestion for Geneviève? Leave a comment below!

Renée Rietveld’s first Ottawa Race Weekend (but certainly not her last!)

Renée Rietveld standing on Elgin Street getting ready for the start of her race in Ottawa Race Weekend.

Renée Rietveld is a lifetime Ottawan and current Sttitsvillian, who is a senior public servant by day, and a documentary filmmaker (and co-owner of On the Street Cinema) by night. Apart from her sometimes unhealthy obsession with the world of film, she also enjoys long distance running, traveling, photography, reading, and having a pint at Darcy McGee’s. But not all at the same time. 

I first started running last year, when the running bug bit me as I was looking for a new and healthy way to stay fit. I always used to think that runners were crazy, because really, who actually enjoys running. As time went on though, I found myself doing it more and more. It became a great way to get outside, see the neighbourhood, and challenge myself a little. So when New Year’s Day 2011 hit and I was looking for my next resolution, I came to the conclusion that it was time to sign up for a real race. After doing some research, I decided upon Ottawa Race Weekend’s 5K run.

Why not do my first race in the beautiful downtown core of my hometown?

Photo credit: @sherriemae23

Ottawa Race Weekend is the city’s largest and most well known road race, one that has grown tremendously from its inaugural run of 146 people in 1975.  Throughout the years, organizers have really worked to make it one of the most well known racing events in Canada. Case in point: more than 40,000 runners were expected to pound the pavement this past weekend. It has also become a great charity event, with many participants raising money for various causes as part of their run.

The first stage of my Ottawa Race Weekend experience was on Friday, when I stopped by the beautiful new Ottawa Convention Centre to pick up my race kit. This included my bib, a commemorative t-shirt, and a shoe sensor that would log the start and finish of my race. The air was electric inside the Centre, as everyone seemed to buzzing with excitement and anticipation. After picking up my kit, I weaved through the many booths of racing gear at the Pfizer Health and Fitness Expo. It was a great chance to pick up some last-minute items and meet my fellow runners.

The green corral where I was assigned to start.

On Saturday afternoon, I got over my jitters and made my way to the 5K start line in front of City Hall at the corner of Laurier Ave. and Elgin Street. Each race was broken up into “corrals” or coloured-coded sections based on what you think your finishing time would be. I was in the green corral, with an estimated finish time of 35 to 40 minutes.

Photo Credit: @KenMores

If I thought the air was electric the day before, there are no words to describe what it felt like to be standing in that sea of people right before the race started. Everyone was smiling, stretching, focused and ready for a good time. As a massive set of cheers rose up from the front of the start line and rolled all the way to the back, I couldn’t help getting caught up in it all.

After hitting the official start line we were off, thousands of people from all over the country (and elsewhere) running together. For those 5 kilometres we were a team.  Even the sun managed to poke out from the gloomy grey sky and urge us on. The feeling of being a part of this random group of strangers was unlike anything I have ever experienced.

Photo Credit: @LoveBugAngel

The route itself was beautiful. We started on Elgin Street, and then weaved down Queen to Wellington, going past the Chateau Laurier. We then made our way alongside the canal all the way to the Pretoria Bridge, and back down the other side of the canal to the finish line.

Despite the amazing scenery, it was the spectators along the route that were my favourite part of the experience. My fellow Ottawans were lined up on the sides of the road, from the very start to the very end, with cowbells, clapping hands, and signs of encouragement for family and friends.

As the race began I actually had to stop myself from getting overly emotional. There was such a sense of community and encouragement that it was infectious. Best of all, every time I felt myself getting tired or wanting to stop, someone would yell out a positive “don’t give up!” or give me (a perfect stranger) a big smile, and it would give me the energy I needed to keep going.

As we neared the end the cheers got louder, and we were greeted at the finish line by smiling volunteers and fellow runners giving us high fives. Everyone was given a 5K finishers medal and some refreshments, and I watched thousands of my fellow runners hugging, laughing and celebrating.

Photo Credit: @GCanada

In the end, for me this first Ottawa Race Weekend had nothing to do with the finishing time (30:35, not too shabby for a first try!) and everything to do with the experience.

Finished and feeling fine (although a bit sweaty!)

From the amazing volunteers handing out water and catching people when they fell, to the people who lined the route just to encourage us, to my fellow runners who were so kind and considerate, it is one of my favourite Ottawa memories to date.

Thank you Ottawa, I would not have wanted to do my first race anywhere else. I’ll be back next year, and I hope some of you reading this are encouraged to do it then too!

Wow! Thanks for this wonderfully written post…and congratulations to you and all of the runners in this year’s Ottawa Race Weekend!

Theatre-lover Peter James on The Gladstone

 

Patrons leave The Gladstone after It's a Wonderful Life, Saturday Dec. 18. (Photo credit: Carolynne Burkholder)

Peter James is Twitter-obsessed sports fanatic, theatre-lover and journalist living in Ottawa.

Ottawa is a great city to be a live theatre enthusiast.

From the first-rate professional productions at the National Arts Centre and the Great Canadian Theatre Company, to the outstanding community troupe at Ottawa Little Theatre to the formidable student group at Carleton’s Sock ‘n’ Buskin Theatre Company, there is no shortage of places to watch a play and plenty of opportunity for thespians to perform.

One theatre that’s sadly been overlooked in recent years is The Gladstone. Converted from a truck repair garage into GCTC’s first home in 1982, the theatre has been operated in its current incarnation the past three years by Steve Martin. It’s a become a place for local professional actors to show off their talents.

Crowds have not met owner Martin’s expectations and he put the building on Gladstone Avenue near Preston Street on the market this fall. This year’s mini-season is still going ahead and their production of It’s a Wonderful Life wrapped up Saturday. Oscar Wilde’s classic The Importance of Being Earnest is set for February.

An admirer of live theatre ever since my mother bought season’s tickets to the Manitoba Theatre for Young People when I was a child growing up in Winnipeg, I’ve seen shows at most of Ottawa’s venues over the years. But like too many other theatre-lovers I’d ignored The Gladstone until this weekend when I attended It’s a Wonderful Life.

Walking up to the theatre, the Gladstone’s classic marquee brings patrons back to a time when live theatre was the thing to do for a night on the town. Once inside the small, yet charming lobby, it’s easy to see the work Martin had done to restore the building. It’s a comfortable space to rub elbows with other theatre goers, enjoy a pre-show drink at the bar or simply take advantage of the free volunteer-run coat check.

The theatre itself gives patrons an intimate atmosphere — even sitting in the back row feels like you’re right on top of the stage.

The production of It’s a Wonderful Life itself was superb. It was conceived as a show with a show. The audience was transported to the studios of a radio station and watched the cast perform the radio play. Aside from reading the script, director Teri Loretto-Valentik made sure there was enough action going behind the scenes — playful personality conflicts between the actors, microphones weren’t the proper height and funny signals to the production team — to keep the eyes entertained while the ears heard the heart-warming Christmas story.

Tony Palermo’s stage adaptation of Frank Capra’s iconic 1946 movie worked wonderfully with the simple set used for the show. Keeping true to the 1940s era, the sound effects were done manually and watching sound artist Karen Benoit do her work was entertaining unto itself.

The 236 seats were packed for Saturday’s matinee and the crowd got involved in the show “ooohing” and “ahhhing” on cue and joining the cast in singing Auld Lang Syne at the end of the show.

Located in the heart of Little Italy, The Gladstone is situated perfectly to give patrons a chance to enjoy a fine dinner and a show in one stop. (My favourite restaurant in the neighbourhood is Da Sergio on Preston).

There is no parking lot associated with the theatre and parking on Preston is often at a premium, so remember leave early enough so you’ll have time to find a spot.

Martin told the Ottawa Citizen when he put the building up for sale this fall that Ottawa “probably is a hockey city more than a theatre city.”

With The Importance of Being Earnest coming up soon, theatre fans have a chance to prove him wrong.

Thanks for the post Peter!

Q&A with Nadine Thornhill, award-winning playwright, actor and spoken word poet

Nadine Thornhill

Nadine Thornhill is an award-winning playwright, actor and spoken word poet.  She honed her theatre  skills amongst the freaks and geeks at the University of Waterloo.  Upon graduating, she moved to Canada’s capital where she has been living, loving and working ever since.   By day, she is the program coordinator for Planned Parenthood’s Insight Theatre. In her spare time, Nadine enjoys running, an occasional triathlon, and the antics of her husband and son.

Where did your passion for theatre begin?

When I was four or five, living in Toronto, a local designer asked my mom if I could model part of her upcoming collection for a fashion show.   I was a pathologically timid child, so I’m not sure why she thought I could handle the runway.  But my mom said yes and not long after, I was strutting my little stuff in front of a crowd.  And even though I could barely say two words to most people, as a model, my relationship to other people was different.  On the runway, I knew exactly what I was supposed to do.   And I knew exactly how the audience was going to respond.  The social interactions were all prescribed, which put me very much at ease.  I quickly developed a strong association between being on stage and feeling secure.

I sought out experience to perform and be on stage throughout my childhood, but it didn’t develop into a driving passion until I was twelve.  My parents took me to see Les Miserables. The first notes of music sounded through the theatre and within five minutes, I was head-over-heels with the conviction that I wanted to be on that stage.  Now that I’m an adult, my interests have expanded, but I can’t imagine that I’ll ever stop loving the theatre.

As a playwright and actor, how would you describe Ottawa’s performing arts scene?

I think Ottawa’s theatre scene is coming-of-age, so to speak.  The talent, intelligence, desire and resources required to be a strong presence in Ottawa’s art community all exist, but we’re still in the process of discovering and developing a unique, authentic identity.  In the eleven years I’ve lived in this city, I’ve seen incredible growth in Ottawa’s theatre scene.  It has grown, matured, and I have every confidence that it will continue to do so.

Meanwhile, I think Ottawa’s spoken word community has really come in to its own. This past October, Ottawa’s spoken word team won the national title for the second consecutive year, and  the world slam champion is an Ottawa poet.  Every spoken word event I attend is packed.  Every open mic seems to reveal a brilliant new artist.   Spoken word in this city was strong when I first got involved five years ago, but the work Ottawa poets are producing today is incomparable.

As an actor, how would you describe the Ottawa audiences you perform in front of?

I find Ottawa audience very generous.  Literally.  This past February I was the spoken word feature at Voices of Venus. It is a monthly event that takes place at Umi Cafe, and during my set, I mentioned how much I love Umi’s Nanaimo bars.  When I finished performing, three different people offered to buy me a bar.  It is possible I accepted all three…

But that experience is typical of the audience members I meet.  They’re very friendly.  And I think they appreciate that a lot of Ottawa performers are local people who live in their communities.  What better way to get to know your neighbour than over a rich, chocolately sweet, post-performance dessert?

Where do you find inspiration for your writing?

I’m self-centered, I’m opinionated and I’ve been through a LOT of therapy.  My poetry and plays are either thinly veiled autobiography; pontificating on various social issues; pseudo-psychoanalysis of an emotional problem I’m having; or some combination of the three.

Nadine Thornhill performing in “Oreo”

Why do you think it is important for Ottawa to have a vibrant arts community?

I think it’s important for Ottawa for exactly the same reasons I think it’s important for any place.  The arts are a mode of communcation and interpretation.   We rely on artistic products to make sense of our world every day.  Even something as routine as a daily commute on the bus, involves an encounter with artistry.  Every ad on a bus was conceived and executed by a creative team.   A graphic designer determined the look and layout of the tickets we use.  Even the maple-leaf motif that identifies the vehicle as being part of the OC Transpo fleet is art.  What we read, what see, the way we speak, even the way we move through our community, is influenced by art and creativity.

It’s a necessary part of life.

You answer sex and relationship questions for our friends at Apartment 613, can you tell us a bit about that?

I LOVE writing Dirty Laundry, my column for Apartment 613.  As I said, I’m opinionated.  I also love talking about sex.  Once a month I get to combine all my loves into one awesome writing assignment.  I’ve had some very interesting, intelligent questions.  I enjoy the challenge of an unexpected letter that really forces me to consider an issue I may not have thought about much before.

You also have your own blog, and you are a pretty active participant in Ottawa’s social networking community – what are your favourite local blogs to read?

Ottawa is bursting with must-read blogs.  Apartment 613 is all excellence all the time.  I also love Spacing Ottawa.  Hello Ottawa is a newer blog that features everyday Ottawans and what they love about this city.  The O-Dot is a hilarious, satirical Onion-esque blog, but with a local focus.  A couple of my friends have launched a new blog, Ottawa Sneezers, a place where people can spread the word about must-see arts events around the city.

I gather from Twitter that you’re an avid jogger – what is your favourite route to run in our city?

There are a lot of great places to run in this city.  The recreation paths along the canal and by the river are beautiful, especially in summer and fall.  But there’s something about running in the city that I absolutely love. I like to start out from my home in Westboro and run out the University of Ottawa – that route takes me through Wellington West, Hintonburg, Little Italy, Chinatown, Centretown, Sandy Hill…some of my favourite neighbourhoods.

You recently performed at Our Unspoken Words, a book launch and fundraiser for the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Ottawa, as well as the Ottawa Storytelling Festival. Can you tell us a bit about those events?

Our Unspoken Words was powerful, but challenging.  The evening began with women reading stories from the book, Our Unspoken Words.  Those performance were challenging – affecting, but brutal and heartbreaking.  I was part of quintet that also included Danielle K.L. Gregoire, Jessica Ruano, Michelle Blackburn and Faye Estrella.   We were all very emotional charged.  After hearing stories of women whose children had been killed, I had a great deal of difficulty performing a piece a wrote about my own son.  At the same time, I knew I had the support of my fellow poets, and the audience was one of the most attentive I’ve experienced.   In the end, I was honoured to have been part of it.

The Ottawa Storytelling Festival was a blast.   I didn’t really perform, but I had the privilege of introducing Ben Haggarty, a world-reknowned professional storyteller.  My favourite part of the evening was sitting backstage before the show.  Mr. Haggarty and a couple other storytellers were chatting – small talk between storytellers is conversation on a level that I have never experienced.  There were metaphors, characterization, and witty rejoinders flying around the room.  I was so riveted, I forgot to be discreet about the fact that I was eavesdropping.

What’s next for you?

I definitely want to do more spoken word in the new year.  I  would love to create a collection of my poems, either as a book or a CD.  I have a really exciting project in the works with Apartment 613.  We’re not quite ready to announce it yet, so I can’t say more, but I think it’s going to be a big hit!  I’m writing a new script which I plan to produce for next summer’s Fringe Festival.  And I’m going to try my hand…erm…feet at a half-marathon in the spring, so I’m learning to embrace the chilly joys of winter running.

What is one thing about Ottawa you think people don’t know that they should?

Did you know that it’s illegal to eat ice cream on Bank Street on a Sunday?  Apparently it’s an old obscure law, that’s never been taken off the books.

Do you want to share more about Ottawa’s theatre scene? Send us a note!

A day in the life of an Ottawa artist

I first met Karina Bergmans in October 2008, when I wrote a profile of her for the Ottawa Citizen, and last week, she was kind enough to offer herself up for a Q&A. She also had the idea of doing a “day in the life” piece…thanks for contributing Karina!

My days as an artist are always varied and very rarely the same.  Even if I have consecutive days at the studio, I mix it up with my modes of transportation.  Sometimes drive, sometimes bus/OTrain and I bike as much as I can.  It has been a nice November, and I love a late season bike ride to the studio.  Until the snow flies, it is good to get out and enjoy some of the great bike trails we have in the city.  My route takes me through the Arboretum, part of the Experimental Farm, near Dow’s Lake and the Carleton University’s end of the canal.

One of my favorite places to grab a bite to eat is at Dirienzo’s at 11 Beech St, just west of Preston Street.  They are best known for their great $5.00 sandwiches, but I love their yummy pasta dishes as well:, cannelloni, manicotti, ravioli, or a stuffed pepper, $5.00 each, you can’t go wrong. If you are there on Saturdays, make sure you save room for the tasty pastries.

At the studio, it is cut, sew, cut, sew.

If I need a break from the studio, a walk along Preston Street is always welcomed. A new public art commission by c.j. fleury was recently unveiled along Preston Street. This photo is the top of a sculpture featuring an eggplant and fruit. I work part time for the City’s Public Art Program which keeps me busy with art installations, and it is great to see the community ornamented with public art.

To get back to the studio, there is pathway between Preston Street and the OTrain tracks which I like to walk on for a change of scene from Preston Street.

Back to the studio for more sewing.  It is fast becoming Fuzzy Gaiter season again. These cozy, fun-fur boot covers will make you cute and keep you warm. This year, the gaiter design has been modified with snaps at the back easy removal. They are available on www.KBergmans.com or find me at the Sandy Hill Craft Show on November 21 or Idle Hands on November 28!

Do you want to tell us about a typical day in your Ottawa life? Send us a note!