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

Head to Hudson for a Great Blind Date

 It takes an incredible combination of wit and talent to create what Rebecca Northan has ingeniously done in her play Blind Date. It is an innovative piece of theatre that brilliantly mixes improvisation with traditional theatre. It has had successful runs in London, New York, Toronto and across Canada for

Female-Driven Canadian Action Drama Picked Up by American Broadcaster

 Photo courtesy of Skycron Three street-smart women will be stepping on screen to “return what is taken” and “heal what is wounded,” next fall. The Undersigned will air initially on ABC-TV affiliate WSYR-TV in Upstate New York. The new show is a female-driven action drama. The action might take place in Syracuse,

Quesada: The Taste of Success

 Steff Charbonneau behind the counter at his restaurant. Order up! Quesada, the Canadian-owned and operated Mexican fast casual chain, is busy building burritos as it continues to expand. When Steff Charbonneau, a full-time Ottawa firefighter and father, tasted Quesada for the first time, the authentic flavours of Mexico captured his attention.

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

Don’t Miss Craig Cardiff this Summer

 Craig Cardiff is coming back to Ottawa this summer! The Canadian, Juno nominated, singer-songwriter from Arnprior, Ont., known for his steady and smooth folk rhythms, is hitting the Ottawa festival circuit with performances on June 13 at Westfest and June 28 at the Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival. Don’t

Up the Ante of your Summer Pedi

 What happens when two successful Ottawa business women collaborate on a new product development journey? The answer will ‘leaf you bubbling’ for more! More pedicures that is. Natalie Esau, owner of The Upkeep Shoppe (TUS) on Preston Street, has recently paired up with Rebecca Pereira, mastermind behind Ottawa’s famous Purple Urchin.

Margaret Chwialkowska Illustrates Reflection in Annex Gallery Exhibit

 All photos by David Barbour  Ottawa-based artist Margaret Chwialkowska’s solo exhibition, “The Illusion of Reality,” brings a marvelous must-see energy to the Ottawa Art Gallery’s Annex Gallery at Ottawa City Hall. In this collection, Chwialkowska delves into the theme of reflection. Her work explores the evolving natural landscapes and the mind

Ask Alex Summer Style

 COOL KHAKI Khaki is back with a bang. Appearing in varying styles and from a number of fashion houses, sleek khaki-coloured dresses appeared on the Gucci and Donna Karan runways. Marc Jacobs offered military silhouettes and Ralph Lauren opted for safari-style glamour. The updated khaki trend works brilliantly as a

Doors Open Ontario Hits Ottawa

 The word ‘heritage’ has been a regular part of my vocabulary since the age of five. I grew up in Markham Heritage Estates, a neighbourhood in Markham, Ontario, dedicated to preserving heritage houses. I call an 1871 Gothic Revival farmhouse ‘home,’ even though my friends say it resembles more of

The NAC’s Needles and Opium Mesmerizes

 Photo credit: National Arts Centre Spectacular is the only way to describe Robert Lepage’s reproduction of his 20-year-old play Needles and Opium, currently playing at the NAC. Photo Credit: NAC The play centres around three characters. Jean Cocteau shares his thoughts and impressions on his first visit to the U.S.

Poetry in the Capital

 Poetry has a long history, and while it’s unclear when it started exactly, the oldest surviving poem was said to have been written in 2500 B.C.E. To this day, in every country and at every age, poetry continues to be written, read and listened to for the purpose of sharing

Everything He Plays, Turns to Gold

 Photo Credit: Scarlet O'Neill For more than eight years, Toronto-based singer-songwriter Ben Kunder has been writing and producing music every Canadian can relate to. His long awaited debut solo album, Golden, will be released May 26, followed by a number of shows throughout Ontario and Quebec. One of the tour’s

Preserving History: Reinstating the Ogilvy Building Heritage Façade

 Rendering of the Rideau Centre Expansion The corner of Rideau and Nicholas Streets is getting a facelift. The Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited and Barry Padolsky Associates Inc. have started reinstating historical elements of the former Ogilvy Department Store as part of the Rideau Centre Redevelopment Project. “By preserving the heritage

Is it Fair to Make a Public Appeal for a Live Organ Donor?

 The public response to the appeal on behalf of Eugene Melnyk, owner of the Ottawa Senators hockey team, for a liver donor has been a heart-warming demonstration of the generosity of our community. Fortunately, a donor was found and the transplant was performed in time to save his life. But

Eryn O’Neill Explores Ottawa’s Urban Side

 Above: “Infrastructure” Oil on Canvas by Eryn O'Neill, 30x48, 2015. If someone asked you to describe Ottawa, what would you say? The first images that come to mind might be the canal, Parliament Hill or one of the many museums in this historic city. But Eryn O’Neill had a different idea. O’Neill,

The Kids are Alright

 Photo credit: David Hawe There is only one place you should be on Sunday night at 8 p.m. and that is at the National Arts Centre to catch the only Ottawa performance by Kids in The Hall (KITH). Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney and Scott Thompson have

Wine and Art—A Natural Match

 Above: Savvy Company Event - Erin Sue Bolling serving Denise Yaternick Looking to organize an event? Ottawa has come a long way. Gone are the days when hotel ballrooms and restaurant backrooms were the only options. Whether you are looking for somewhere to host an eclectic ‘cinq à sept’ cocktail reception

Ottawa 10K is Living up to Gold Label Expectations

 Lately, it seems like everyone’s been getting into running. Whether it’s for the purpose of trying the new sport-leisure fashion trend or for health benefits, we will never know. But one thing is for sure: while many people enjoy going for a leisurely jog during the warm weather seasons, it

Fast Forward to the Weekend with Boogat’s Newest Album

 Photo credit: Guillaume Simoneau It’s everything you need on a Friday night after a long week: catchy, danceable and totally infectious music! Montreal MC Boogat’s newest album release, Neo-Reconquista, is enough reason to celebrate on its own. He’s been recognized for constantly evolving his music. Boogat’s unique mixed Latin-urban-electro-pop sound will instantly

From Shepherding Sheep in Cuzco to Shepherding Souls in Canada

 When Nicanor Sarmiento Tupayupanqui was grazing his sheep on ochre hillsides surrounded by towering mountains reaching up to 3,600 meters above sea level, he never imagined in his wildest dreams where he would eventually end up living and working. Nicanor was born in the Quechuan community of Lares, in Cuzco, Peru. From

Latin Expo 2015: Visit Latin America Without Leaving Ottawa

 Culture, community and commerce are coming together for one high-powered event that’s sure to spice up your Sunday. The third annual Latin Expo will take place at Ottawa City Hall on Sunday, May 17, 2015. “It’s like going to Latin America without getting out of Ottawa,” says Red MELOG public

Celebrating the Flower of Freedom

 This month the 2015 Canadian Tulip Festival marks the 70th anniversary commemorating the close ties between Canada and the Netherlands. The close ties between the countries can be traced back to the liberation of the kingdom of Netherlands, when Holland’s Princess Juliana and her family sought refuge from the invading German military during the Second World War. In 1943,

Pick Zaac For Your Weekend Concert

 Zaac Pick will have Ottawa stargazing with his performance at the Black Sheep Inn on May 7, where he will be sharing songs from his new folk-pop album Constellations. The Vancouver-based singer-songwriter released his debut full-length album last month. Co-produced by Jonathan Anderson, the album was recorded over a span

Eat, Drink, pARTy

 Artist: David Kaarsemaker Looking for new artwork to freshen up your home? The Ottawa Art Gallery’s leading fundraising event Le pARTy Art Auction will lead you to the perfect piece! On Thursday, May 21, prepare to be whisked away in a cultural fantasy land surrounded by Ottawa’s best food, drinks and