Let’s Go Ottawa
Rollicking Shakespeare in the great outdoors
- Wednesday, 21 July 2010 04:52
- Written by Jantine Van Kregten
A Company of Fools performs Shakespeare's plays in Ottawa-region parks. This photo, taken three years ago, well before the performance began, gives a sense of the beautiful "willow grove" setting at Strathcona Park.One of my favourite summertime rituals is going to see Company of Fools perform a work of Shakespeare in the great outdoors. This fun, frenetic troupe performs Shakespeare in a very engaging way. While they follow the original texts, they also add a liberal dose of pop culture references that keeps the audience’s attention. And while their “stage” is often a sheet, a series of boxes and decidedly low-cost props, they make up for any visual shortcomings with a broad physicality that inevitably leads to laughter.
Each actor plays many roles — meaning quick costume changes and occasional visual hijinks to make it all make sense!
This year’s production is A Midsummer Night’s Dream and I’m hoping to catch it next Monday night in the beautiful Rideau River-side Strathcona Park in the downtown neighbourhood of Sandy Hill. But don’t worry if you can’t make it to that performance — they’re also playing in Wakefield, Westboro, Kanata, and Nepean, among others. Their website has the schedule (and directions). The shows continue nightly except Sundays until Monday, August 2.
Performances begin at 7pm and end by about 8:30pm with no intermission. You’re asked to bring your own lawn chair, or blanket (or you can just sit on the grass!). Some people arrive early and bring a picnic dinner. It’s oh so civilized!
At the end of the show, they literally “pass the hat” for payment. People generally give $10 or more per person — trust me, it’s worth it!
Recent BlackBerry photos
- Monday, 19 July 2010 04:52
- Written by Jantine Van Kregten
My job and my interests bring me to some pretty cool places in and around Ottawa. Sometimes I have a camera handy; other times I rely on my BlackBerry to take a snap so the moment isn’t lost forever.
However, it sometimes takes me a while to download those photos. That’s what I did today and I thought I would share the results:
The first photo is from Rideau Hall, home and workplace of the Governor General of Canada, currently Michaëlle Jean. (It was just announced that David Johnston will replace her in September.) They have a tradition at Rideau Hall that visiting dignitaries plant a tree. Last year, the Emperor of Japan visited and planted an eastern hemlock tree, shown below. (Next I have to get a snap of the tree that Queen Elizabeth II planted during her visit in early July this year.)
In May, I visited the Shenkman Arts Centre in Orléans (the eastern reaches of Ottawa). It’s abeautiful, breezy building with a great theatre and interesting programming. There’s not a bad seat in the house!
I’ve blogged about this before but I just love yoga on Parliament Hill (every Wednesday, weather permitting, until September 29 thanks to Lululemon Athletica). Lucy Zilio of OMNI TV filmed one of her “Tuned In” spots here. It’s just so colourful and summery and as you can see, hundreds show up!
Then on June 30, #1 Toronto breakfast show, Breakfast Television, broadcast live from Ottawa from 6 to 9am! It was an early morning but what a show! The crowd that showed up was enthusiastic, with Spartacat, Mounties, Ceremonial Guardsman, the band Silver Creek, the crews from the National Gallery of Canada‘s Pop Life show, the staff from the Canadian Museum of Civilization, the Haunted Walk gang and more!
There was such a hubbub around Ottawa around Canada Day that I never did get to the National Arts Centre for the unveiling of the Oscar Peterson statue by Queen Elizabeth II. It was only later when I was able to snap a shot. It’s very tempting to join the Canadian jazz legend on his bench and imagine him tickling the ivories!
And then it was Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest — the no-holds-barred party of the year! My favourite show, shown below, was a blistering show by John Hiatt on the smaller Subway stage but people raved about everyone from the Flaming Lips to Santana to Iron Maiden to Drake to the B-52 to Rush. Party on, Ottawa!
So now I’m caught up… can’t wait to see what pops up next on my BlackBerry camera!
Their Majesties Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan planted this tree at Rideau Hall on July 9, 2009.
The lobby of the Shenkman Arts Centre in Orléans.
Say "ommmmm" and stretch it on Parliament Hill every Wednesday during summer in Ottawa.
Marie Lemay of the National Capital Commission (in pink) prepares for an interview with Breakfast Television co-host Dina Pugliese while members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police look on, on June 30, 2010.
Canadian jazz great Oscar Peterson sits at his favourite piano outside the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, thanks to sculptor Ruth Abernathy.
An enthusiastic crowd ate up whatever John Hiatt dished out at this year's sprawling, red-hot Bluesfest!
Ottawa in the news! What are they saying about us?
- Tuesday, 13 July 2010 04:52
- Written by Jantine Van Kregten
Recent media coverage of Ottawa has done a good job of showing off Ottawa’s attributes.
A July 11 travel article in the Washington Post described Ottawa as “Canada’s cool capital.” Journalist Michael Kaminer spent some time in Ottawa in April and was impressed! A quote: “In fact, if anything now characterizes the city, I’d say it’s an unselfconscious cool. There’s a proudly indie aesthetic in its neighborhoods… “
Or this: “And there’s a buzzing food scene that turned out to be the weekend’s big reveal. Larger cities get the glory, but Ottawa’s kitchens might be some of North America’s best-kept secrets. Locavore-fueled creativity here arguably rivals that of San Francisco or Chicago, albeit with less ego, zero attitude and gentler prices.”
Ottawa’s culinary scene also received great coverage at LuxuryWeb.com, where writer Barbara Angelakis waxed poetic about our offerings: “There are in fact so many high-quality dinning establishments located throughout Ottawa’s downtown and neighborhoods that, like her more famous foodie sister cities of Quebec and Montreal, she should also be considered “destination gastronomic” when planning a toothsome getaway.”
And overall look at the city formed the basis of another post, as did a visit to Holtz Spa.
And if you’ve been watching OMNI TV, you may have seen one of Lucy Zilio’s fun “Tuned In” spots. My favourite is the Yoga on Parliament Hill piece that shows a colourful group enjoying free yoga classes each Wednesday in front of Canada’s seat of government, thanks to Lululemon Athletica.
The piece on the Haunted Walks of Ottawa is pretty darn good, too! You can also watch a piece on the Rideau Canal, the ByWard Market neighbourhood and La Terrasse at the Fairmont Château Laurier.
Enjoy!
Music abounds this summer
- Wednesday, 07 July 2010 04:52
- Written by Jantine Van Kregten
Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest -- one of the side stages between the Canadian War Museum and the Ottawa River, with Parliament Hill in the distance.Last night, the incredibly popular Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest began its 13-day run (it ends on July 18). What a show — from Iron Maiden last night to Arcade Fire, Santana, Rush, Weezer, Keith Urban, the B-52s, Gipsy Kings, Moody Blues, Crowded House, Joan Jett and more, there’s a lot more to the fest than just the blues!
New this year is a comedy component, featuring Lewis Black, Mark Forward and many others.
As well, the popular Bluesfest in the ByWard Market is back this year with FREE concerts in Ottawa’s most eclectic neighbourhood. In conjunction with the National Gallery of Canada‘s blockbuster summer exhibit, Pop Life: Art in a Material World, you’ll be able to catch performers between July 8 and 13 on York Street on the Pop Life stage.
But Bluesfest is not the only game in town.
Lovers of classical music can indulge in the brand new Music and Beyond festival by noted impresario Julian Armour. Music and Beyond runs July 5-14 and in its first year, it has an impressive lineup: soprano Kathleen Battle; pianists Peter Serkin, Menahem Pressler and Janina Fialkowska; the Emerson String Quartet; the Hilliard Ensemble, Daniel Taylor and the Theatre of Early Music; the Canadian Brass; Les Violons du Roy; and literally hundreds of the best musicians from across Canada and around the world.
So there’s absolutely no excuse not to get out and enjoy the music this summer in Ottawa!
Happy Canada Day!
- Wednesday, 30 June 2010 04:52
- Written by Jantine Van Kregten
Canada Day comes each July 1 and nobody celebrates like Ottawa!
Hundreds of thousands of people congregate on Parliament Hill, Major’s Hill Park and Jacques Cartier Park in Gatineau — the official sites — as well as in downtown neighbourhoods such as the ByWard Market and Downtown Rideau.
Everyone dresses in red and white, paints their faces and otherwise celebrates the joy of being Canadian! It’s a real party day.
There’s a fun run first thing in the morning, a carillon concert on Parliament Hill, the Changing the Guard ceremony, the RCMP Musical Ride show, then a noon-hour show with Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip! The aerial acrobats from Canada’s air force, the Snowbirds, will also do a fly-past.
The party continues all afternoon and into the evening show with the Barenaked Ladies and many other performers. It’s all capped off by a huge fireworks show just after 10pm!
There’s no better place to celebrate Canada Day than in Canada’s capital, Ottawa.
