Let’s Go Ottawa
Ottawa Race Weekend and Great Glebe Garage Sale
- Thursday, 26 May 2011 18:46
- Written by Jantine Van Kregten
Two great options for visitors this weekend.
On Saturday, May 28, the famous Great Glebe Garage Sale takes place. An entire neighbourhood, known as the Glebe, holds a garage sale at the same time. The area stretches roughly south of Highway 417 (known as the Queensway — check out an earlier post on “Do you Speak Ottawan?“), west and north of the Rideau Canal and east of Bronson Avenue.
If you’re a true bargain hunter, you’ll arrive early — it’s not unusual to see people roaming at 6am! — but there are bargains to be had throughout the day. Your best bet is to take public transit as the streets get very congested with cars looking for parking spots. Remember, too, that Bank Street — the main thoroughfare — is under construction but that the businesses along it are open and some are offering special deals. Happy bargain hunting!
It's a fun, festival atmosphere at the Ottawa Race Weekend. Photo credit: Victah Sailo
Later that day and on Sunday, May 29, you’ll want to check out Ottawa Race Weekend. It’s Canada’s largest running event, attracting about 40,000 people in its various events. On Saturday afternoon at 4:00, there’s the family-friendly 2K race, leaving from Elgin Street and Laurier Avenue West. At 5:00pm, it’s the 5K and at 6:30pm, it’s the 10K, leaving from roughly the same location. Check out the course maps for details for all races.
On Sunday, it’s the wheelchair marathon at 6:55am, the marathon at 7:00am, and the half-marathon at 9:00am. At 8:00am, children will run the last segment of the “Y Ottawa Kids Marathon” — where they ran one-kilometre distances in the preceding weeks to eventually run a total of 42.2km.
If you’ve never heard the sound of thousands of shoes slappin’ the pavement, it’s quite something. Go on out and cheer on the runners — they certainly appreciate it!
Savour Ottawa Field House adds pizzazz to Parkdale Market
- Thursday, 19 May 2011 18:46
- Written by Jantine Van Kregten
The Savour Ottawa Field House is an innovative new offering at the Parkdale Market, the “other” public market administered by the City of Ottawa (which is also responsible for the larger ByWard Market downtown).
Ten area farmers, all of whom are verified members of the Savour Ottawa initiative to promote local foods, have banded together to cooperatively sell their products four days a week from a small “store” at the Parkdale Market in the Wellington West neighbourhood just west of downtown.
From Thursday to Sunday, 8am to 5pm, the farmers will take turns staffing the 300-square-foot location (with additional outdoor space). The rest of the Parkdale Market operates 7 days a week, from dawn till dusk.
Products on offer so far include eggs, honey, maple products, apples, cheese, vegetables, beef, lamb, red deer and wild boar!
This is an exciting new initiative, and one that Savour Ottawa and the City of Ottawa are hoping could be a model for future developments both in Ottawa and potentially throughout the country.
The Field House was officially launched on Friday, May 13, when this video was created. Enjoy!
Ottawa Tourism Awards celebrate local excellence
- Friday, 13 May 2011 18:58
- Written by Jantine Van Kregten
Ottawa Tourism presented the 2011 Ottawa Tourism Awards last night at a gala event in the new Ottawa Convention Centre.
More than 300 industry insiders attended, including The Honourable Michael Chan, Ontario Minister of Tourism and Culture, Robin Garrett, President of the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation (OTMPC), and Bill Kenny, Vice President of OTMPC.
Winners were chosen among 20 finalists in four major award categories:
New Company of the Year
- *** WINNER *** Calypso Theme Waterpark
- C’est Bon Cooking
- Classic Theatre Festival
Innovation of the Year
- *** WINNER ***National Capital Commission: Mosaika
- Calypso Theme Waterpark
- C’est Bon Cooking: Foods of Ottawa Tours
- Canadian Museum of Civilization: Blackberry App
- National Arts Centre: Oscar’s Corner
Tourism Partnership of the Year
- *** CO-WINNER ***National Capital Commission & Museum of Civilization – Winterlude opening
- *** CO-WINNER ***Somerset Street Chinatown BIA, City of Ottawa, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China & City of Beijing – Ottawa Chinatown Gateway Project
- Wilderness Tours & Windmill Developments – Whitewater Village
- Savvy Company and Thyme & Again Catering – Local Culinary Experiences
- Downtown Rideau BIA & Arts Court Productions, Ottawa Little Theatre, Salamander Shakespeare Company – Downtown Rideau Summer Fling
- Haunted Walks Inc., The Ottawa Jail Hostel, The Bytown Museum & The Canadian Museum of Nature – Unique Tours of Ottawa
- National Capital Commission, City of Ottawa, Ville de Gatineau & Google Maps – Capital Pathway Network
Event of the Year
- *** WINNER ***Bell Capital Cup
- Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest
- Canadian Museum of Nature: Grand re-opening
- National Capital Commission: Canada Day
- National Capital Commission: Mosaika
The Tourism Volunteer of the Year was Michael Crockatt, Vice-President of Business Development and Marketing at the Ottawa International Airport Authority.
The Outstanding Tourism Achievement was the new Ottawa Convention Centre, presented to Patrick Kelly, President, and Jim Durrell, Chair.
Three other award winners were recognized at the event:
- Benoit Legault won the Ottawa Tourism Travel Writing Award for an article called “Ottawa – La non-capitale” published in the June 19-20, 2010 edition of Le Devoir. (Runners-up were Amy Eckert for her story “Fest Stops: Canadian Tulip Festival” in the March 2010 issue of Cleveland Magazine and Jeff Heilman for his story “Capital Ventures” in the November 2010 issue of Business Traveler magazine.)
- Kamalesh Kasinathan of the Holiday Inn & Suites Ottawa – Kanata was congratulated for being named the 2010 Star of the City
- Christie Barr, a student in Algonquin College’s School of Hospitality &Tourism, received the annual Tourism Scholarship
The Ottawa Tourism Awards are coordinated by Ottawa Tourism and celebrate the individuals, organizations and events that have set high standards and demonstrated outstanding achievement, contributing to the growth and development of tourism in Ottawa and Canada’s Capital Region.
Congratulations to all the nominees!
Add a commentTulip Ball a colourful success!
- Tuesday, 10 May 2011 19:13
- Written by Jantine Van Kregten
The Canadian Tulip Festival launched this year’s event with a sparkling Tulip Ball on Friday, May 6 at the gorgeous new Ottawa Convention Centre. Take a look at some amazing photos from that night, featuring one-of-a-kind floral gowns and more!
A gold tulip supplied by the Royal Canadian Mint was under careful watch at the event.
The gowns were created by Joel Marc Frappier, MFA, CAFA and Sylvie Bigras. Students from La Cité collégiale were also involved.
The black tie affair attracted an impressive crowd, who enjoyed fine dining and a silent auction, as well as the impressive view of Parliament Hill and the Rideau Canal.
The 59th edition of the Canadian Tulip Festival continues its run until Monday, May 23. And rest assured that there are still lots of tulips left to bloom. You can book your Tulip Celebration getaway through Ottawa Tourism.
Guests were greeted by Daniel Richer, Town Crier, and a model wearing one of the spectacular floral gowns.
There's a woman in there somewhere!
A gold tulip supplied by the Royal Canadian Mint was under careful watch at the event.
There was a definite safari feeling to this tulip gown.
This whimsical gown is ready for inclement weather -- it incorporates a transparent umbrella!
Colour was not in short supply at the Tulip Ball!
Jane’s Walk Ottawa shows off diverse neighbourhoods
- Friday, 06 May 2011 19:18
- Written by Jantine Van Kregten
One Jane's Walk will explore Ottawa's Little Italy neighbourhood, including viewing frescos by Guido Nincheri, called the Michelangelo of North America.Looking for a fun thing to do this weekend — beyond attending the first weekend of the Canadian Tulip Festival?
Why not participate in a Jane’s Walk? You’ll explore neighbourhoods in Ottawa and the region on foot with knowledgable people sharing their passions. For example, local author and naturalist Katharine Fletcher leads a tour of the Central Experimental Farm; you can explore the hidden gems of oft-overlooked Bronson Avenue; meet the Cats of Parliament Hill; or learn to forage for wild food in the heart of the city.
Check out the full schedule of walks, including some offered en français, offered on both Saturday and Sunday, May 7-8. Best of all? The walks are free!
