Ottawa’s Neighbourhoods: Downtown Ottawa

 From the Parliament buildings south to the 417, we are looking at downtown Ottawa. This is the part of the city that makes Ottawa really feel like a major capital, from the centres of industry tucked into skyscrapers, to the most iconic historic halls of politics in the city, especially Parliament

Head to Bank Street to check out Ottawa’s new mural

 The Bank Street BIA, in partnership with Wallak’s Art Supplies and the City of Ottawa, is proud to announce that artists Kalkidan Assefa, Allan André and Jimmy Baptise have completed a new mural in Ottawa. Located at the intersection of Bank Street and Lisgar Street, the mural depicts a positive

Menard lane closure moving ahead despite business concerns

 Councillor Shawn Menard says that after consulting with businesses along Bank Street he will continue his push towards closing a lane in the Glebe to allow pedestrians to physically distance while accessing essential services. Menard’s proposal is to close the southbound curb lane from Glebe Avenue to Third Avenue to

Ready, Set, Glow!

 For two nights, enjoy as Bank Street is lit up like never before! Glowfair Festival is back on June 14-16 and it's going to be bigger than ever. Celebrate the start of summer at this weekend-long event which aims to empower local artists and businesses. Glowfair is a full trifecta of

Carving Space in The World’s Human Landscape

 Photo credit: Radhika Shastri Gone are the days of the traditional stuffy art scene. Indigenous and ethnic-minority art is making its presence known across the art and fashion world in a big way. Art can be a powerful medium to bring people together, to share deeper messages about culture and,

Glowfair 2018 Brings the Shine Back to Bank Street

 Photo credit: Jonathan Marshall The summer sun had finally arrived; families were out walking and laughing; music filled the air, and when the evening set, the lights came on and dancers took to the streets in a myriad of colours. Glowfair was back. A party all weekend long where everyone

Neighbourhood Spotlight: The Glebe

 With Light Rail on the horizon, here at Ottawa Life, we’re giving you the series that breaks down each of Ottawa’s neighbourhoods by price, transportation, and lifestyle. Whether you’re a young professional or a family-making nest-builder, we’re giving you the details on every corner of our city. These statistics were

Centretown Profile

 Photo credit: Creative Commons Centretown is what some might consider to be the ByWard Market’s older sibling. Not because it is physically or geographically older than the other, but rather, because of the crowd it attracts. To put this into perspective, if the Market’s nightlife draws 19-24 years olds, then

BEST OF OTTAWA: Festivals

 With 20-years writing about Ottawa life we think we have a pretty good idea of the best of what this city has to offer. In this new weekly summer series we’ll share it with you. From our top picks of hotels, live music venues, local brews, bands and more, check,

Three Festivals, One Weekend

 Ottawa Life’s Festival City Series is back! We'll provide a unique look at some of your favourite events. We’ll go beyond the music with artist interviews, volunteer profiles, concert reviews and spotlights on the tastes, sights and sounds of the festival season.  Your city! Your festivals and events! Like a good sunscreen,

The Land of Glow

 Ottawa Life’s Festival City Series is back! We'll provide a unique look at some of your favourite events. We’ll go beyond the music with artist interviews, volunteer profiles, concert reviews and spotlights on the tastes, sights and sounds of the festival season.  Your city! Your festivals and events! Like a good sunscreen,

Ho-Ho-HO-town!

 All photos by Andre Gagne. The first holiday party of the season rolled through downtown Ottawa today with thousands lining up to see that jolly old man in the big, red suit. The help Santa Toy Parade, now in it's 47th year,has been the annual kickstart to the holidays ever since

Capital Pride!

 Despite the rain slicking the sidewalks on Bank Street, hundreds still ensured that this weather would include plenty of rainbows as they lined the street for today’s Capital Pride Parade. This being the 31st Anniversary of the festival, Ottawa Life takes a look back at Pride past along with today’s events through

The Weird and Wonderful of the Great Glebe Garage Sale

 All photos by Andre Gagne “Is that a genuine stuffed platypus?” “What’s the point of selling a Vulcan without any fingers?” “Pennies only exist now in myth and legend.” “I’d buy it if it wasn’t naked.” These are just only a few things you may have heard today while wandering

Pour A Cold One: CRAFT Beer Market Opens in Lansdowne Park

 Photo courtesy of Alexandra Gunn. Could it be a coincidence that CRAFT Beer Market opens its doors on one of the hotter days this spring? Likely, but there couldn’t be a better excuse to head to Lansdowne Park to taste test one (or two) of their 100 plus beers on

Co-Op Students Explore Ottawa Part Three – Valerie Visits the Glebe

 All photos courtesy of Samantha Lapierre. What would you do if you were a tourist in Ottawa? Ottawa Life Magazine asked our co-op students this question and put them to the test. Each student was asked to pick an area of the city that they wanted to explore for an

10 Reasons You Can’t Miss Glowfair

 If you haven’t heard of Ottawa’s latest light, art and music festival, you are clearly living in the dark! Glowfair 2015, running from June 19-20, is Bank Street’s biggest block party and street festival held between Slater and James Street. There is so much going on during this two-day festival,

Self Renovation — a weight loss success story

 Angie Prudhomme loves food. Unfortunately, it is not the type of food that stabilizes your blood sugar levels and contributes to good heart health. However, the 36-year-old also loves herself. Two years ago, Prudhomme looked in the mirror and decided it was time for a major lifestyle makeover. At 270

Ottawa Antique Market: For Serious Antique-Lovers

 The Ottawa Antique Market is one of the city’s retail gems. Located on Bank St. in Ottawa South and tucked in the side of the building, stepping through its doors transports you to the best flea market you’ve ever laid eyes on. You can shop all the usual suspects commonly

Youth on the Streets: Anything but Hopeless

 Kevin Belisle begs for money and attention. He sits on Bank Street, holding a carton that reads, “Extremely hungry. Please help.” In his backpack: high school equivalency, a criminal record and a dirty jacket. Homeless Kevin Belisle, 23, asks the government for a job, so he doesn’t have to beg

Ottawa’s Best Kept Fashion Secret

 Consignment stores, or C-shops, are experiencing a heyday lately. While technically second-hand clothing stores, their merchandise is very gently worn and sometimes not worn at all and still boasting original price tags. The fashions at C-shops are more current and high-quality, and you’re more likely to happen upon a brand

Zombies Invade Ottawa’s Bank Street this Halloween

 Get ready. Zombie flesh-eaters are coming to town. Ottawa’s Bank Street is predicting a zombie infestation this Halloween, and the mindless, ghoulish creatures aren’t showing up empty-handed. Hosted by the Bank Street Business Improvement Area (BIA), the first-ever Zombie Crawl is a scare-fest that won’t disappoint. The terrifyingly spirited zombies

Crazy for Condos in Canada’s Capital City!

 Take a look around our city. Condos are sprouting up everywhere,  rejuvenating older, traditional neighbourhoods and filling in vacant lots. New condo sites will forever change a district’s character – specialty retailers, exotic or down-home eateries and unique hole-in-the-wall attractions that are emblematic of an area’s particular ambience and style

Lynn Miles – Songs of Love and Truth

 I was fortunate enough to attend a Lynn Miles show at Irene's Pub on Bank Street a few weeks ago. Irene’s Pub is an amazing live music venue. Alex Golota, the owner, recently finished some major renovations to the bar's performance area, and let me tell you, the sound and

The O-Train: Getting It Right the First Time

 The City of Ottawa's plan for an expanded 0-Train is being tackled in rather a piecemeal fashion. Eventually, trains will replace much of the bus service that clogs downtown streets at rush hour. Futuristic trains (aka Light Rail Transit — or LRT — vehicles) will glide from Bayview Station to