Ottawa

Widow · Post by **Widow** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 11:38 am

Looks like I'll be in Ottawa the last two weeks of July (My dad's 70th). Anybody got the do's and don'ts of going out on the town in Ottawa these days - is the Byward Market area still a hot spot? I haven't been back in twelve years.

CD · Post by CD » Tue Jun 05, 2007 2:23 pm

Yes, lot's to see and do in the Market, so that's highly recommended. There are plenty of nice places to eat along Elgin Street as well and it's only a few minutes walk from the market.

I guess it sort of depends on what interests you. While I'm not the best tourist guide, there are also plenty of museums and galleries that could keep you busy as well. Bluesfest runs from the 4th to the 15th, so I guess you'll miss that...

Ottawa Tourism

As always, Vanier is an area to try and avoid. I'm told that's it better than it used to be but...

PopnChipper · Post by **PopnChipper** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 2:51 pm

If you have a rainy day, check out the National Gallery, always time well spent. I have yet to see the whole thing, there is just to much stuff there, but it just seems to get better every time I go. Plenty of good resturants in the vicinity as well.

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 3:07 pm

Go to the airport and meet Mr and Mrs Clunkdriver.

CID · Post by **CID** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 3:16 pm

If you like fish, I highly recommend The Fish Market restaurant or even better "Vineyards". Its underneath the Fish Market restaurant. It's a little candlelit cellar that has loads of charm and lots of wine to chose from.

They often have a live Jazz "band" (usually one guy) playing in the corner.

The Sparks street walking mall is nice for a walk with open air bars etc too.

There's a new war museum that is worth checking out too. The Museum of Civilization across the bridge in Gatineau is cool too. Among other cool stuff they have a replica of the Wildcat Cafe in Yellowknife.

And of course there's the aviation museum. You can drive by 24 Sussex on the way.

I like watching the boats in the hand operated locks in the canal next to the parliament buildings too.

Don't miss walking around the parliament buildings and the cat house out back and if you have time take the tour including the Peace Tower.

If you have wheels I also highly recommend a short trip to Carp to check out the Diefenbunker. It's six stories of underground cold war bunker.

If you still have engery after all that, check out the tattoo parlours on Rideau. You might find a design you like!

. ._ · Post by **. ._** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 4:37 pm

And in my opinion, Bronson Pizza is the BEST pizza in town. They only deliver.

Of course I'm biased, because I lived on the stuff one year in University because they never verified credit cards, and mine was WAAAY over the limit.

-istp

KenoraPilot · Post by **KenoraPilot** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 6:41 pm

YOU NEED TO GO TO DI RIENZO'S!!!! Best sandwhiches in the world! Must go to the Original one just off Carling, ask any cabbie and he'll know the spot! ITS A MUST!!!

Widow · Post by **Widow** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 7:37 pm

I'm really looking forward to exploring the changes in the city ...

Many of my fondest memories focus around hanging out in my school uniform (usually with the kilt rolled up and the socks rolled down) around downtown Bank street and the "new" Rideau Centre. I took my parents car when they were out of the country once, and when I did not have my license. I didn't get caught but I did lock the keys inside the car down in the Market and didn't notice until I returned rather intoxicated after a few hours of bar hopping all the way over to Hull. Good thing I wasn't wearing my uniform that night or I might never have gotten back into the car (oh what a little leg and cleavage can entice a man to do)!

My parents have lived in the Upland area since the late 70's, and we were in the south end (Kanata) before that.

I liked living in Ottawa. I'm looking forward to checking out the "new" Museum of Civilization ... what did they put into the old Museum building? I loved that building. And the National Gallery too ... I'll bet even the "permanent" exhibits have changed since I was last there!

So, let's see ...

I need to have a sandwich at Di Rienzo's off Carling (and what? Carling is a long avenue)...

I need to eat Pizza from Bronson Pizza (somehow I think that might be the same one my parents like ... which end of Bronson is that? or is that near the place I used to order donairs from when I lived near Ottawa U?

I am on Vancouver Island now ... in YBL in fact, the "Salmon Capital of the World", so I probably will stay away from fish (except at dim sum).

Is the Museum of Science and Technology still an itty bitty little thing (especially when comparing to Toronto's)?

I think the kids would like the aviation museum. I remember loving it.

I don't know how interested the kids will be in doing the parliament building thing ... although I might visit!

I've a few friends still there I'll try to hook up with ... been a long time though.

. ._ · Post by **. ._** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 7:48 pm

Bronson Pizza

368 Bronson Ave. (between Somerset and Gladstone)

(613) 238-3800

I had to look it up. When I was in school, we had it on speed dial.

-istp

w squared · Post by **w squared** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 7:54 pm

Have a shawarma. Sandrella's out near the Museum of Science and Technology is quite good.

I can't get good authentic chicken or beef shawarma here in yyc. Nobody has pickled turnips, and none of the garlic sauces will peel paint.

grimey · Post by **grimey** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 9:01 pm

2 and a half weeks is far too long to wait. W, Thompson MB needs a shawarma place so bad it's not funny.

Why the hell did I leave there for Thompson?

grimey · Post by **grimey** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 9:01 pm

istp wrote:Bronson Pizza

368 Bronson Ave. (between Somerset and Gladstone)

(613) 238-3800

I had to look it up. When I was in school, we had it on speed dial.

-istp

Did you have 234-BEER on there too?

tellyourkidstogetarealjob · Tue Jun 05, 2007 11:02 pm

You could always go see the Stanley Cup.

On the other hand, Anaheim's a long way from Ottawa

xsbank · Post by **xsbank** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 11:15 pm

We used to come panting out of Montreal in the spring sunshine to soak up some WASP-E (English) culture - we used to drive like Quebecois 'til we hit the border then slowed down like the rest of Canadians and hit the aviation museum and the market and usually stayed in the Chateau Laurier so we wouldn't need a car. Lots of nice little dives around there.

Walking the canal is nice; before they built one in Montreal, we used to get a fix at MEC (being from the Wet Coast, its essential).

Its amazing how many of my friends have connections to the air museum - one flew the Banshee that's in there, another the Starfighter, another wrenched that exact Beav.

There is nowhere else in Canada that you can get a 'real' bagel than in Montreal! I miss those, and the East Indian/Paki restaurants in Montreal are better than anywhere in Vancouver!

CD · Post by CD » Wed Jun 06, 2007 3:59 am

Widow wrote:Is the Museum of Science and Technology still an itty bitty little thing (especially when comparing to Toronto's)?

I think the kids would like the aviation museum. I remember loving it.

Yes, Science & Tech is still itty bitty... They were all set to get a new facility large enough that they may have been able to display more of their holdings but the Government cancelled the project. Every now and again, they do open up some of their storage areas for viewing and it's amazing to see some of the things they don't have space to display. Still, the display's that they do have are great, especially for kids.

The aviation museum has a new storage wing that is also available for guided tours.

Hedley · Post by **Hedley** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 4:26 am

Another new attraction near Ottawa is Mike Potter's Museum at Gatineau Airport ... last time I was there, they were flying the Moth, Corsair and Hurricane:

http://www.vintagewings.ca/page?s=65

Don't get me wrong, I love the NAM, but the airplanes there are dead - covered with dust, growing roots to one spot. They don't smell or sound like airplanes - they might as well be full-scale models. Hard to explain.

CID · Post by **CID** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 6:03 am

widow, Vineyards usually has "twelve dollar fries". It comes with steak!

If you're over on Elgin (between Cooper and Frank) there are tons of cool places to eat and a gelato place for after.

Wilbur · Post by **Wilbur** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 9:02 am

If your kids are about 12 or older, the parliment buildings should be a must see. They are the seat of our democracy. Bitch as we want to about the state of politics in this country, but if you are lucky enough to be in a tour group with a good mix of people from other parts of the world, you will appreciate what we have when you hear the comments others make. In most countries, buildings housing the governemnt are off limits to all but the chosen few, and there are even fewer sporting public viewing galleries from where you can watch the liars in action.

Widow · Post by **Widow** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 10:15 am

My oldest is thirteen and he did go to the buildings when he went to Ottawa three summers ago. He would probably want to go with me.

The others are six and two years of age, so I don't think the buildings will hold their interest!

Unfortunately, my parents aren't exactly child friendly, so I'm not sure we'll be able to arrange it. The house and senate will be on holiday, so we likely wouldn't see much "action"!

I always liked the Museum of Science and Tech ... my littlest will love the train out front - it's still there I hope?

Hedley, that museum sounds like lots of fun ...

BTW CID, I'm pretty sure I've been to Vineyards ... if it's the place I'm thinking of it's been there a long time ... is it on that sort of courtyard thing where Beavertails started? (I went to high school for a year with the Hookers! - please tell me Beavertails is still there???)

What I really want to know, is Guadalajara's still there and do they still sell deep fried ice cream?

lilfssister · Post by **lilfssister** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 5:45 pm

I also vote for the Museum of Ciivilization (usually have some kid friendly stuff as I recall and if they get bored there's a theater, should be able to find something they would enjoy). Not sure they'll like the National Gallery, but I vote for that too if you can go yourself. WAY more stuff than the old Elgin Street one. Aviation museum for sure, if they won't associate it too much with their loss. Always great food in various spots in the Market, Sparks, and Elgin. Hmmm..haven't been there in a while myself, hoping for a trip this fall!

CID · Post by **CID** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 6:12 pm

One thing you won't see in Ottawa is the Stanley Cup.

lilfssister · Post by **lilfssister** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 6:46 pm

CID wrote:One thing you won't see in Ottawa is the Stanley Cup.

Look up...look WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY up (like about nine posts?)

CID · Post by **CID** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 7:55 pm

Look up...look WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY up (like about nine posts?)

Well...that was before it was sure thing.

Brantford Beech Boy · Post by **Brantford Beech Boy** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 8:07 pm

Best steak in town at Al's Steak house on Elgin.

The little ones will enjoy S&T Museum more than the other museum (IMHO) with all the "hands-on" stuff there.

Unfortunately no Cup to see.

Cheers
BBB

Widow · Post by **Widow** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 12:55 pm

So I'm on my way tomorrow ... if there are any of you folks around that might like to share a cold one, pm me and maybe we can "hook up"!