Explore the Best of Ottawa’s Outdoors this Summer

 Explore the best of Ottawa this summer by cycling through the Gatineau Hills to hiking up the Eardley Escarpment. Ottawa is not only a government city but, one full of nature and hidden gems. Celebrate the best of Ottawa, this summer, through exploring the city by bike, to hiking through

You Know it’s Summer in Ottawa When…

 Feature photo credit: Anna Jonas A heat wave is about to hit the National Capital Region this weekend cementing that summer is officially here! Besides the heat, here are a few other classic, tell-tale signs that the hot season has graced the city. You just know it’s summer in Ottawa

Top 5 Places to Hike in Ottawa-Gatineau This Summer

 Photos by Jake Robillard Summer may be half over, but there is still plenty of time to make amazing memories. Granted, the weather hasn’t been the best this year, but that is no excuse for staying indoors when there is so much natural beauty in every corner of the city.

Festival Fashion: Your Summer Necessities

 Festival season is right around the corner and with that comes lots of questions! In a city like Ottawa where you can experience four seasons in one day, it’s important to think ahead and know what to wear so that you can focus on getting down, not your getup. Festivals

Make the seasonal switch easy with strategic wardrobe picks

 Transitioning your closet from summer to fall can be seamless with a few go-to pieces. Since the warm weather doesn't disappear all at once, neither should your summer clothing. By swapping in strategic items, you can comfortably freshen up your wardrobe without saying goodbye to the tried and true summer

A Trainload of Memories

 All photos by David Eisenstadt. Raised in Calgary, I visited Banff year ‘round, travelled by car through the Rogers Pass and saw much of BC’s interior. I never travelled there by train. That changed when my wife Rhoda and I discovered the Rocky Mountaineer and their various routes through the

Style Made Effortless: Summer Guidelines and Power Dressing for Work

 Photo by Valerie Keeler. Hair by Stefania Capovilla, Soceity Salon. Makeup by Christina Crosier.  1. Don't be afraid to add prints Be bold and master the office-appropriate pattern play. Floral prints and stripes are a safe bet for most work environments, especially when you stick to traditional suiting colours (black, white,

The Very Best Summer Games: Indoor, Outdoor and Online

 Wondering what the best summer games are? Satiate your appetite with these winners! Summer is in full swing and folks everywhere are being entertained in zany and unconventional ways. If you think you’ve seen everything, think again. There are myriad summer games that have emerged and they are unique and

Hit the Links with the Ladies’ Foursome at Hudson Village Theatre

 Summer is here and that means that the Hudson Village Theatre (HVT) season has finally arrived. It is one of the true joys of summer because without fail, the HVT offers up stellar theatre. Ottawa Life will feature more about the HVT in the days to come, but for now

Smoking Meat is Smokin’ Hot!

 Photo courtesy of Weber We are heading into the long weekend, which means one thing: it’s time to get grilling! Why not change it up this long weekend and try smoking your meat on the grill? Weber's SmokersIf you own a smoker you are likely one of 59% of Canadian grillers

Portable grills for BIG outdoor fun!

 If you are looking for the perfect on-the-go grill for camping, tailgating or taking to the beach or on a picnic, then look no further! The 2015 Weber Canadian GrillWatch Survey reveals that Canadians are heavy outdoor grillers with over 40% grilling away from home. With that in mind, Weber-Stephen,

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

 Looking for a fun summer appetizer? Try Nanny Hudson's sweet and sour meatball recipe! Prep Time: 20 minutes Makes: 6 to 8 servings Cook Time: 50 minutes Ingredients Meatballs: 1 lb (500 g) lean ground beef 1/4 cup (60 mL) gluten-free breadcrumbs 1/4 cup (60 mL) grated onion 1 egg, beaten 1 clove

Oven Baked Chicken and Pepper Pasta

 Pasta salads are perfect for summer parties on the patio! Bring Nanny Hudson's chicken and pepper pasta to your next BBQ. Prep Time: 15 minutes Makes: 4 to 6 servings Cook Time: 15 minutes Ingredients Oven Baked Chicken: Pasta: 1 lb (500 g) boneless skinless chicken thighs, cubed 1 cup (250 mL) Nanny

An Urban Getaway to Montréal’s 16th Edition of MUTEK

 Farewell to the departed polar vortex. Outside, the drone of air conditioners is interrupted by fast afternoon thundershowers. The height of summer. Adventures await. Plans are pushed into action in hopes of creating everlasting memories. As summer approaches, the great outdoors are still too cold, however there is an omnipresent

An Old Guitar and an Ottawa Bar

 Union Duke’s soaring vocal harmonies and throbbing beats have enlivened hearts and dance floors across the nation. The quintet is sure to have Ottawa concertgoers heel-stomping and hip-swaying with their performance at the Black Sheep Inn on July 31. Balancing a mixture of soulful indie rock, bluegrass and country, the

A Fashionable Round of Lawn Bowling for Cystic Fibrosis

 All photos courtesy of Kara Taylor Imagine being 13, and finding out that you only have 20 more years to live. Imagine nearly facing your death every time you catch a cold. That's only a glimpse into Maxwell McGuire's life with Cystic Fibrosis. As guest of honour and returning champion, he

Sweet and Spicy Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwich

 Nanny Hudson's pulled pork recipe is tender and tasty with a bit of a kick! Try it with a coleslaw salad and don't forget the napkins! Prep Time: 20 minutes Makes: 6 servings Cook Time: 5 hours 15 minutes Ingredients Pulled Pork: 3 1/2 lb (1.6 kg) pork shoulder or butt roast (bone-in), trimmed

The Brothers at Bluesfest

 Roots-rockers, The Bros. Landreth will be showcasing their unique “Canadiana” style at Ottawa’s Bluesfest this Sunday. With wailing electric guitars, thundering organs and naturally harmonious vocals, at first listen The Bros. Landreth may sound like they hail from the American south, and not from the isolated prairies of Manitoba. “Down

Playing Chicken: The line between beauty and tension in Andrew Moncrief’s “Unseen”

 Moncrief stands in front of paintings featured in this month's exhibit. All photos by Kerri Fukui. Andrew Moncrief is a 28-year-old artist who’s talented enough to create beautiful, classically styled figures, and brave enough to smear paint over their faces. His latest exhibition, a collection of portraits called “Unseen,” is

Burn Baby Burn at The Dailey Method

 New to Ottawa this year, The Dailey Method is a full body workout that will work all of your major muscles (and all of the other muscles that you never knew existed) in less than sixty minutes. The two classes offered, Dailey Basics and Dailey Barre are designed to help

Mellow Yellow

 Fun, fresh and often associated with the warmer months of the year, yellow is a worn-to-be-seen colour that will liven up your wardrobe this season. The sunny shade was seen on the Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, Burberry Prorsum and Naeem Khan runways and the statement shade is also a sunshine basic at budget-friendly stores. Whether

In Defence of Parliament

 As I watch the frenzied, over-the-top media coverage of the supposed Senate scandal, I'm reminded of the famous Will Rogers adage. “All I know is just what I read in the papers, and that's an alibi for my ignorance.” Lost in this mass media morass is balance and proportionality. There

Splash into Summer!

 Jump in the pool this summer for some fun, family-friendly exercise! Swimming is a great sport everyone can enjoy, regardless of age or ability. It is a cost-effective activity that almost always provides a good time—plus, it’s good for you! The health benefits of swimming include building immunity against disease,

RBC Ottawa Bluesfest Celebrates Festival Fashion in New Campaign

 Photo credit: Alexander Vlad/Captivate Creative Music festivals are all about music…and fashion! Both on the stage and on the street, artists and audience members are embracing festival fashion, from Coachella to Osheaga and now RBC Ottawa Bluesfest! For the first time, RBC Ottawa Bluesfest is launching the I Love #RBCBluesfestFashion

Try Orange Grove’s 14-Day Skin Care Challenge

 Are you in need of a spa day but don’t have time to make the trip? Orange Grove is bringing the spa to you with two weeks of easy tips and tricks! You’ll learn about everything from beauty to building flexibility with this online event. Starting on June 22, Orange