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Canada > Central Canada > Ontario > Ottawa

STAY, DINE, DO: Find a hotel, restaurant or attraction.

Listings to get the most out of the city: where to dine, what to see, where to shop, and more.

Weekend Roundup: Best Bets for February 24 to 26

A still from "Bruce-O-Rama" by Claire Hodge.

Friday, Feb. 24
The spirit of martial arts — and Bruce Lee — comes alive in “Bruce-o-Rama,” an interactive exhibition by Claire Hodge at the Ottawa School of Art that opens Feb. 23. You may feel like you’re entering a cinema when you first walk into the gallery, but this is no movie theatre. Here, floor pressure sensors trigger footage of Bruce Lee’s films, which plays in loops. Clips interact with each other in new and complex ways, fitting together like a mixed-up jigsaw puzzle. You don’t have to be the world’s biggest Bruce Lee fan to enjoy this exhibit — you just need an open mind and a willingness to see things in a new light.

“Pay it forward” is today’s theme for Ottawa Kindness Week, which began on Feb. 17 and ends today. The idea behind Kindness Week is to promote different kind actions in order to build a sense of community, which will hopefully last beyond this dedicated week. So, in sticking with the “pay it forward” mantra, the next time someone is kind to you, make a conscious effort to pay that kindness forward by being kind to another person, which will help make a positive difference in the daily life of our society.

Saturday, Feb. 25
Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane Farm has been producing authentic maple syrup since the 1800s. Be part of this experience on opening day when maple syrup season kicks off with a flurry of family friendly activities. See horse drawn sap collection, enjoy tasty taffy in the snow, go for a sleigh ride, visit the Sugar Shack, and have a pancake brunch at the Pancake House in this celebration of Canadian traditions. The season runs until April 8.

Spontaneous hilarity and imagination are all part of the experience at the Canadian Improv Games: Regional Tournament Finals taking place this Saturday at the National Arts Centre, which sees high school students from around the city compete. See the final four teams and the wild card winners battle it out in this final round of the tournament that will make you LOL. (more…)

Hot Shopping: Surprising Spot for Sunglasses

The Oakley "Caveat" sunglasses are just one of the styles available at Watch It!

Don’t assume a store named Watch It! is the purveyor of only timepieces. While this shop does carry an astounding array of brand names for your wrist, it’s also a prime spot for sunglasses (in fact, it carries the widest selection of Oakley sunglasses in Canada). Protect your peepers by donning the slick “Caveat” by Oakley (featured here in polished gold and dark brown), which are ideal for driving on sunny winter days. $175. Three locations, Bayshore Shopping Centre, 100 Bayshore Dr., 613-721-2777; Place D’Orleans Shopping Centre, 110 Place D’Orleans Dr., 613-834-1000; St. Laurent Centre, 1200 St. Laurent Blvd., 613-741-4144.

Hot Shopping: Sweet Scarf from Roots

Roots Cable Lace Scarf, seen here in oatmeal, also available in light grey.

Bundle up against the cold with this Cable Lace Scarf from Roots. Made with acrylic, wool, and cotton blend, you’ll feel cozy, but still lady-like. Pair with a pea coat, dark jeans, and knee high boots to add a touch of whimsy to a streamlined look. Available in oatmeal and light grey. $48. Rideau Centre,
50 Rideau St., 613-236-7760, and four more stores in Ottawa.

Hot Dates: One Night of Tango Pasión

Dancers bring Buenos Aires to Ottawa with Tango Pasión. Photo credit: Jimv McCann.

Feb. 21. If you love powerful music, mesmerizing dances, and beautiful people, you’ll love a performance by the Argentine dance company Tango Pasión. For just one night, the music and dancing of Buenos Aires will take over Ottawa, so you can experience the fancy footwork and sexy beats for yourself in this sizzling spectacle. (Fun fact: 2o12 is the company’s 20th anniversary, and the show returns to Canada for a handful of performances in select cities.) The show weaves together multiple tango stories and features dancers who represent the full range of Argentine society. Don’t miss your chance to see the dance moves that everyone will be talking about when the performers heat up the stage at the National Arts Centre.

Hot Shopping: Where to Get Unique Accessories

Check out Eclection for unique accessories that make great souvenirs.

Looking for a great souvenir? Eclection in the ByWard Market houses a colourful collection of hats, jewellery, clothing, and accessories, and specializes in work by Canadian artists and designers. (Fun fact: many of the staff members are artists whose collections are carried in the shop.) Prices are affordable, with jewellery starting at $10, accessories starting at $25, and clothes starting at $50. But it’s the fun, whimsical vibe and sheer assortment — eco-plastic jewellery, fascinators, scarves! — that will have you returning.
55 ByWard Market Sq., 613-789-7288.

Weekend Roundup: Best Bets for February 17 to 19

Friday, Feb. 17
Add some class to your Friday at On the Rocks, a Russian-inspired art party hosted by the Ottawa Art Gallery and the Avant-Garde Bar and Gallery in partnership with Winterlude. Along with music and dancing, there will be a special showcase of Paraskeva Clark’s painting “Homage to a Soviet Film, Baltic Deputy” (1968) from the Firestone Collection of Canadian Art, and a screening of the film that inspired it. Caviar, vodka samplings, and other Russian appetizers will be on offer.

Catch the melodic stylings of Ottawa musicians Matt Ouimet and Andrea Simms-Karp at Irene’s Pub this Friday. Ouimet is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, engineer, mixer, and producer who transcends musical styles effortlessly. He has become a staple on the Ottawa music scene, managing his time between intimate shows and performing at festivals of more than 15,000. Andrea Simms-Karp (who attended Canterbury, the local arts high school) is an indie musician who draws on folk, pop, and classical vibes to create her own unique sound.

Kick off Family Day weekend with some good ol’ arts and crafts at The Canadian Science and Technology Museum. At “Groovy Galaxies,” a fun, family workshop for kids ages four to 12, you can make your own suncatcher of spiraling galaxies. The workshop is meant to encourage exploration of astronomy and space science, and what better way to encourage a love of, and interest in, space than with hands-on activities?

Saturday, Feb. 18

Mini Cirque is just one of the entertainers taking part in the Funatorium Explorium Family Extravaganza.

Worried about going stir-crazy this long weekend? Round up the kids and make a beeline to the exciting Funatorium Explorium Family Extravaganza. The whole day is designed for parents and kids to have a blast together in four activity areas: the play space, the shared experience centre, fun central, and the marketplace. Learn tricks from a magician, sweet dance moves from the Flavor Factory urban dance school, and circus arts from Mini Cirque (featured), or try your hand at tons of other activities on the bill. (more…)

Hot Dining: Limited Edition Beer

The Deviator Doppelbock by Cameron's Brewing in Oakville.

Sick of ordering the same beverage time and time again? Looking for something to really make you “buzzed” with excitement? Look no further than Cameron’s Deviator Doppelbock, a seasonal beer available until early spring. Right now you can only get it on tap in Ottawa at Restaurant E18hteen and the Wellington Gastropub, but there are more locations to come – and for good reason. This dark beer boasts a 7.1% alcohol content as well as a warm, full-bodied taste and colour with subtle undertones of toffee, caramel, and coffee. Its richness will fill you up (and also warm you up during a cold Ottawa winter). Don’t miss your chance to try this distinctive-tasting beer before the Deviator Doppelbock disappears with the snow. — Erin Morawetz

Hot Date: Disney Characters Come to Life – on Ice!

Disney On Ice Treasure Trove gathers the gang from your favourite movies into one rockin' show.

Feb. 15 to 20. Take a journey with Snow White, Peter Pan, The Lion King, and more, as characters from your favourite movies come to life — on ice! Disney on Ice Treasure Trove combines the best of some Disney classics for nine shows at Scotiabank Place this February. The graceful movements of the skaters will add an extra element of awe to the medley, which will delight children and remind adults why they always loved these classic stories.

Hot Art: “Enfolded” at the Ottawa Art Gallery

Just one of the pieces by Ghitta Caiserman on view in "Enfolded." Photo credit: "Bedscape," (1976-79), Firestone Collection of Canadian Art.

For most people, clothing, towels, and linens just serve a basic purpose. For Ghitta Caiserman, they were forms of art. Caiserman, a modern artist from Montreal, passed away in 2005; since her death, many of her pieces have been acquired by the Ottawa Art Gallery. Take these last few days to check out the exhibit, which ends Feb. 12, to see these newly acquired works in the exhibition “Enfolded,” which shows just how prominent textiles were in the Canadian artist’s drawings, paintings, and collages.

Weekend Roundup: Best Bets for February 10 to 12

Friday, Feb. 10
This Friday, leave the kids at home and head to Sexapalooza, an upscale adult consumer show and sexy shopping experience at the Ottawa Convention Centre. With workshops; entertainment such as burlesque dancing, the Sex Museum, and the Alley of Fantasy; as well as a plethora of products, this show is definitely dedicated to education and entertainment on all aspects of sex and sexuality in a safe environment. Learn new tips and tricks and pick up some lingerie just in time for Valentine’s Day.

From Feb. 8 to 11, the Algonquin College Theatre Department is showing two one-act plays by playwright Christopher Durang: The Actor’s Nightmare & ‘Dentity Crisis. In The Actor’s Nightmare see George (Alain Chauvin) perform a show he has never rehearsed, with a script he hasn’t read, and with actors he is meeting for the first time. In ‘Dentity Crisis join Jane (Elizabeth Franklin) as she moves from confusion to a psychological breakthrough in dealing with her dysfunctional family.

"In the Belly of the Whale" is just one of six plays in the Undercurrents theatre festival. Photo credit: Andrew Alexander.

Saturday, Feb. 11
The second annual Undercurrents: theatre below the mainstream is showcasing six inventive and entertaining shows from Feb. 7 to 19. This series of plays covers a variety of topics. Explore the ferocity of the family unit and the secret worlds children create in Live from the Belly of a Whale, or learn what it’s like to live on the front lines of the Athabasca oil sands in Highway 63: The Fort Mac Show.

Can’t make it downtown for Winterlude? Start your Saturday with a pancake breakfast for the whole family at Fête Frissons, hosted by the Heart of Orleans Business Improvement Association and the Shenkman Arts Centre, in partnership with Winterlude. Then hop on their outdoor skating rink, try snow painting and ice carving, or take in the ice skating show by the OYP Theatre School’s “OYPCapades.” Even better, these daytime events are free! In the evening, put on your dancing shoes for some home-cooked Southern food and upbeat music at the Mardi Gras Dinner and Show with Zydeco Loco. (more…)

Hot Dining: Where to See Skaters on the Rideau Canal

We round up the best spots to grab a bite with the added enjoyment of watching skaters on the Rideau Canal.

Skaters take a snack break at the BeaverTails counter.

BeaverTail Shacks
Located on the Rideau Canal Skateway, you can skate up to the window, order one of these delicious Canadian treats, and grab a spot on a picnic bench without ever leaving the ice. Be honest: isn’t one of the main reasons you go skating here to have a BeaverTail and a hot chocolate after?
Several locations along the Rideau Canal. www.beavertailsinc.com

Canal Ritz
This Italian restaurant boasts one of the most scenic views of the canal and is located right near one of the entrances to the skateway, so after you’re done your meal it’s easy to lace up your skates and join in on the fun. Rather watch? Snag a seat by the big windows and curl up with a specialty coffee.
375 Queen Elizabeth Dr. (at Fifth Avenue), 613-238-8998. www.canalritz.com

Canal Oak
Part of the Royal Oak Pubs chain, this unique two-storey location is situated near the Pretoria Bridge, which crosses over the canal. Order a pint, relax by the fire, and enjoy some colourful people watching. It’s also a top spot to head after you’ve traversed the ice and need to refuel.
221 Echo Dr., 613- 234-3700. www.royaloakpubs.com

Hot Art: Retro Road Trip Art

"After 8" at Wall Space Gallery opens Feb. 4 and runs to Feb. 26. Photo credit: Andrew King, "Closed Til Further Notice."

Have you ever felt an urge to recreate the past? Artist Andrew King had that feeling, and decided to go for it. For 10 days in November, King drove from Ottawa to New York City as if it were the mid-20th century. He drove a vintage car, only took two-lane highways, and ate and stayed at places from that time period. On his journey, he absorbed everything he saw, especially after 8pm when, in his words, “small town diners, motels, stores and other locales have a ghostly lit, neon, almost surreal look to them.” The sketches and paintings (along the lines of this artistic rendering) that were inspired by his trip will be on display in the exhibition “After 8” at Wall Space Gallery and Framing from Feb. 4 to 26.

Hot Attraction: Animals Up Close at Parc Oméga

Wolves are just one of the types animals you can spot on a visit to Parc Oméga.

If you’re willing to drive about an hour and twenty minutes east of Ottawa, you’ll be rewarded with a highly unique experience that brings you face to face with the animal kingdom. Located in the beautiful area of Montebello, Quebec, is Parc Oméga, an 1,800-acre park where wild animals such as bison, deer, wolves, and boar roam free. As you drive along a 10 km circuit, animals will come right up to your car (especially if you hold a carrot out the window!). Available year-round, rain or snow, this outdoor activity is magical for children and adults alike.

Weekend Roundup: Best Bets for February 3 to 5

Quinsin Nachoff is just one of the performers taking the stage at the Ottawa Winter Jazzfest.

Friday, Feb. 3
Jazz up your weekend by taking in the international and local talent at the first annual Ottawa Winter Jazzfest. Whether you’re a seasoned jazz enthusiast or looking to diversify your musical tastes, this festival promises to thaw that winter chill. Hop all over downtown Ottawa, from the National Arts Centre to Club SAW to the Mercury Lounge to catch the smooth sounds of artists such as Megan Jerome, Quinsin Nachoff, Remi Bolduc, and the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble of Chicago.

Experience Ottawa’s diverse architecture and examine the relationship between architecture, the arts, and politics through music with Polytectures. This sound walk was created by Montreal’s Antoine Bédard and 10 local musicians. Through a variety of musical styles, Polytectures allows visitors and locals alike to experience Ottawa’s architecture in new ways by pairing songs with local landmarks. Although the entire walk is an hour long, it has been divided into sections with warm-up breaks for Winterlude.

If you’re a film buff with a soft spot for independent cinema, then you’re going to want to Get Iced this weekend. The Independent Filmmakers Co-operative of Ottawa is presenting 10 new Super 8 short films made by local filmmakers in cooperation with Winterlude. Afterwards, unwind with drinks at the Soviet-style reception hosted by Avant-Garde Bar and Gift Shop. The party continues at the bar after 9:30pm with live music and no cover charge.

This Friday, Yamantaka //Sonic Titan and Boyhood bring the party to Babylon. Yamantaka //Sonic Titan are a psychedelic opera group that fuses noise, metal, folk, and pop music to create an east-meets-west culture clash extravaganza. Boyhood is new on the Ottawa scene, bringing catchy songs with haunting melodies. (more…)

Winterlude: A Canadian Tradition

Skating on the Rideau Canal is an essential Ottawa experience. Photo credit: NCC.

From Feb. 3 to 20, Ottawa transforms into a winter wonderland. This annual festival offers an abundance of indoor and outdoor activities, so we’ve rounded up some of the highlights from this classic Canadian event. By Misa Kobayashi. (more…)

Fitness on the Go:
3 Places to Get Your Workout on in Ottawa

When you’re travelling, it’s easy for your fitness regime to slip up. All of a sudden you’re no longer hitting the gym – and all the eating out and afternoon drinks start to add up. Luckily for you, Ottawa has no shortage of fitness options, so we’ve rounded up three great ones with drop-in rates that will get you moving. By Erin Morawetz. (more…)

Hot Dining: Tasty Eats at The Village Café

Head over to Westboro for a scrumptious meal at Village Café.

Ever tried a caesar salad with grilled romaine hearts? If not, drop what you’re doing and head to The Village Café in Westboro. The unique, smokey flavour will change how you look at this restaurant staple. Described as “fresh, contemporary, handcrafted comfort cuisine,” there’s really no better way to sum up the food, which includes vegetarian pot pie, a daily sustainable catch, stuffed chicken, and Brome Lake duck salad. And that’s just dinner – they also do lunch and Sunday brunch. 295 Richmond Rd., 613-728-2162.

Hot Attraction: Evolution of Ottawa at the Bytown Museum

Bytown Musuem is an easy stop on a day of sightseeing.

Want to know how Ottawa ended up as the nation’s capital? Pop into the Bytown Museum to learn all about it. Located right beside Parliament Hill at the Rideau Canal locks, this museum can easily fit into a day of downtown sightseeing. View over 7,000 artifacts, learn how Bytown formed – and later became Ottawa – and check out their newest exhibition, “Six Moments in the History of an Urban Forest,” which explores the role of trees in Ottawa’s history. Even locals will learn a thing or two about this city!

Weekend Roundup: Best Bets for January 27 to 29

Friday, Jan. 27
This weekend, the NHL All-Star Game hits Ottawa! One of the many events happening in the city is the Energizer Night Skate, hosted by the NHL and the Sens Foundation. Come out with friends and family for this one-of-a-kind 5K skating event along the Rideau Canal. All participants will wear a headlight to light up the skateway, giving the evening a magical glow. Money raised goes towards the construction of future outdoor ice rinks in eastern Ontario and western Quebec. Make young hockey players’ dreams come true while having a great time yourself! (Editor’s Note: This is a weather dependent event, for a full list of activities taking place this weekend, see here.) (more…)

Hot Dates: The NHL All-Star Game Comes to Ottawa

Scotiabank Place. Photo credit: Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images.

After months of waiting, the stars are finally coming to town…the NHL All-Stars, that is! Just in time to celebrate the Ottawa Senators‘ 20th season, Scotiabank Place will be the battleground for the 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game on Jan. 29, which sees some of the best players in the league face off (and our Captain, Daniel Alfredsson, lead one of the teams). But the game itself is not the only event taking place. On Jan. 28, check out the NHL Skills Competition, and from Jan. 26 to 28 the NHL Fan Fair will offer interactive games and attractions, plus special appearances, entertainment, and more. It will definitely be a weekend to celebrate Ottawa, hockey, and the National Hockey League.