Opera Lyra Ottawa kicks off with a Double-Bill of Italian Classics and Ottawa Stars

 “The show must go on.” It is an adage familiar to all that hear it. While its origins come from theatrical arenas outside of opera, the statement is a perfect fit for Ruggero Leoncavallo's 1892 opera Pagliacci – the tragic story of famed clown Canio who finds he must go

Cleaning Out My Closet… Kind Of

 I have a shoe collection that rivals that of Payless. I have nine blazers, twelve pairs of skinny jeans, ten pairs of black leggings and over thirty dresses – and this is just the first shelf. Needless to say, I am a shopaholic – a condition my family has unwaveringly

Argentina, More than just Malbec

 By now most consumers have seen the signage announcing the LCBO's Argentina promotions - the word Malbec is, after all, displayed all throughout.  The Argentineans have made a name for themselves from this French grape, which can also be found in its traditional home of Cahors, France, and is also

“Dangerously” Good Looking: Why Personal Care Products Can Be Harmful

 The average Canadian has a rigorous morning routine - we scrub, brush, paint, and spray with reckless abandon, all in an effort to "look our best" for the coming day. In our day-to-day life we are exposed to a multitude of choices in personal care products, including toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant,

Get A Taste of Wellington West!

 The 5th Annual Taste of Wellington West (which includes Hintonburg, Parkdale Market and Wellington Village) is slated for Saturday, September 17 from 11am to 7pm. Organizers promise this year’s Taste of Wellington West will be more flavourful than ever! According to Annie Hillis, Executive Director, Wellington West BIA: “Thirty-five of

Hockey’s Summer of Discontent

 Wade Belak was found dead last week in Toronto. He committed suicide. He had a wife and two children and was only 35 years old. His is the latest in a string of deaths of National Hockey League enforcers.  Only a few weeks ago Rick Rypien of the Winnipeg Jets

The Politics of America’s Economic Decline

 America’s economic crisis is showing no signs of abating. Late last week it was announced that no new jobs were created in the month of August. The most recent figures suggest over 14 million Americans are jobless; the real figure is undoubtedly much higher. Panic grips the stock market every

Senate Reform, Part X: The End of the Beginning

 Now it all makes sense. You bleed for your team, you follow them through thick and thin, you monitor every free-agent signing, you immerse yourself in Draft Day, you purchase the jerseys and caps, you plan your Sundays around the games… and there’s a little rainbow waiting at the end.

Counting on the Drinkers’ Vote

 A few weeks ago I sat down at my computer and opened an email  that had a link to a special interview with the leader of the Provincial Conservatives, Tim Hudak. With an election only weeks away the rhetoric and the promises are flowing like water. However, in terms of the

Jean Paul Gaultier’s World of Fashion

 Montreal just become even more stylish! Only 2 hours away from our nation's capital resides every fashion and art-lovers dream exhibit.  Entitled, "The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk" the Montreal Museum of Fine Art (MMFA) is the first to showcase some of famed designer, Jean

Ottawa Vocalist Honours the Greatest Generation

 Professional singer Erica Feininger will present a live rendition of Bewitched, her first full-length CD of standards from the 1930s to the 1950s on Saturday, October 1, at the National Art Centre’s Fourth Stage. The show starts at 7:30pm. Ms. Feininger is a well-known Ottawa performer with 20 years’ musical