Ottawa Daily Foto

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Robak) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 02:59:00 +0000

Time for Reflection....

This is a snap of Constitution Square over on Albert Street in the downtown core. The three-tower high rise is home to many offices and embassies and adds to the city's vibrant atmosphere. I had to prove somehow that the city itself isn't THAT archaic and that we do have some 20th century buildings around. :)

On another– reflective – note altogether, I'm going to be taking a bit of a break from posting everyday. Life's pace has become more like a never-ending, out-of-control polka! I'll post when I can, as I dearly miss you all, so please keep an eye on your inbox. See you back here soon...

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Robak) — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 01:41:00 +0000

Bravo to the Masterminds of 'Megamind'

Today we celebrated my oldest son's tenth birthday in low-key style by letting him bring a friend to any movie he wished. Hands down, 'Megamind' was the flick of choice and a perfect choice it was! The folks over at DreamWorks should be tickled blue with the accomplishment of their latest animated feature. Surprisingly enough, though, the theatre wasn't packed at all. I found this odd for a couple of reasons: 1) it was produced for IMAX 3-D for ultimate theatre experience, and 2) that it only came to theatres here in Ottawa this past Thursday. A film for all members of the family, our review results in a definite two thumbs up.

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Robak) — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 02:42:00 +0000

Lest We Forget

Yesterday it was Remembrance Day. I grew up in provinces that recognized it as a statutory holiday – a day to take time and visit a cenotaph, or attend a ceremony honouring the veterans and the war contribution, past and present. Not here in Ontario, home of the country's Capital. Nor in Quebec or Newfoundland and Labrador. Hence, this poster in a local school suggesting this informal uniform be worn on November 11th. The real irony is that these students found it more important to wear a black top and jeans with the poppy being treated as a fashion accessory. They can look here if they've forgotten what the day really symbolizes.

"On Remembrance Day,

we acknowledge the courage and sacrifice of those who served their country

and acknowledge our responsibility to work

for the peace they fought hard to achieve."

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Robak) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 03:16:00 +0000

Study in Green

Welcome to the Thunder Dome, an inflatable indoor field that is used year-round by soccer fiends who have traveled far and wide. Soccer teams of all ages get to experience learning and playing in such a user-friendly facility. The "turf" is actually made up of recycled tires and gives players that extra bounce in their step. There are three such facilities in the Ottawa area, and were originally developed for a couple of reasons: 1) because of their cost efficiency, and 2) to maximize the soccer season due to Ottawa's long, cold winter.

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Robak) — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 03:56:00 +0000

When One Door Closes...

one can hope that another opens and lets in the sunshine! At risk of being charged "Curious Cate", I couldn't resist temptation to photograph this very rare, beautifully conditioned, original, highly ornate filigree hardware!! Sorry, it's hard to contain my excitement. :) Where can you find such a heart-shaped knob? Only in Sandy Hill, of course... or so I thought until I found this very cool shop in Rochester, New York. Am thinking a road trip might be on the agenda one day soon...

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Robak) — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 03:28:00 +0000

Sunset

This column is the first of fifteen sculptures by artist cj Fleury located along Preston Street in Little Italy. The series, called "Postcards from the Piazzas", is meant to depict the Italian culture in Canada, from religion to soccer to immigration and many subjects in between. You can read about the artist and the historically relevant pieces here. FYI – in case your not literate in Italian – the poem, written by Elio Coppola and entitled "Sunset", reads:

The sun blushed,

Thinking of the

Ugly things he had

Seen on earth

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Robak) — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 01:54:00 +0000

The Aliens are Coming...

Okay, now that I have your attention, you have probably figured out by now that these aren't exactly flying saucers! While again at the airport – this time seeing the husband off – I encountered a previously unexplored corner restaurant with many of these hand blown shades dangling effortlessly. Most likely from a Big Box Store, I love the colour, the texture and tactile quality of these particular shades. If you, too, like original hand blown glass art pieces, you should check out this fellow. He's dazzling!

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Robak) — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 01:19:00 +0000

Theme Day: Public Transportation

An early morning traffic jam on Colonel By Drive in downtown Ottawa, as seen from the McKenzie King Bridge, where only buses are permitted. Definitely a shot in favour of public transport! Did you know that OC Transpo has over 1,000 buses and services over 370,000 riders per day?

To further describe the cityscape, on the left is Parliament Hill, the Rideau Canal, and in the centre is the Chateau Laurier Hotel. To the extreme right is going to be the new convention centre, under construction until April 2011.

Check out how creatively others have interpreted this month's Theme Day. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Robak) — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 02:11:00 +0000

Trick or Treat

Kids dressed in costumes, ready to go – okay, run! – door-to-door, looking for enough candy to fill their sacks and rot their teeth. I know it's not the most creative vantage point of what Halloween in Ottawa looks like, but I am occasionally a mom, too. Hope those who also participated in the tradition had a safe and enjoyable time.

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Robak) — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 01:24:00 +0000

Enter If You Dare...

All over the country you can find houses like this where Halloween decorating becomes very unique and dramatic. The era of the home is what adds that extra dimension, I think, and is a reminder of those B-movies from junior high school or even the Goosebumps book series. I wonder how many kids will brave this house tomorrow eve? We're experiencing our first snowfall as I am writing and so hope that the sidewalks get cleared in time for Trick or Treatin' tomorrow night!

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Robak) — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 00:52:00 +0000

Where Stories Begin

No, this isn't a scene from one of Arthur Miller's plays! This is rather the authentic interior of the much-loved, out-of-the-way Cheshire Cat Pub – a cozy inn for a spot of lunch and a chance to catch up with old friends. It also boasts one of the widest selections of beer you will enjoy anywhere, including a few local varieties like those from Ottawa's own Hogs Back Brewery.

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Robak) — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 02:29:00 +0000

Perfect Pitch

Today I attended ARTpreneur, a Conference for Artists and Artisans that was held at Art Court, hosted by the Entrepreneurship Centre. There were the typical discussions about grants, funding, motivation and business basics. I must say, though, that the most inspiring portion of the day came in the early moments, when Professor Bruce Firestone shared his first-hand accounts surrounding the realities of entrepreneurship. I came across some further enlightening information that Dr. Firestone has posted online including this little ditty entitled: How To Make a Great Elevator Pitch. Why not put the theory to the test the next time opportunity knocks – which is often, by the way, if keep your eyes open. These simple event posters prove that point exactly. So what's stopping you?

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Robak) — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:17:00 +0000

The Peoples Church

I am still uncertain if this Church on Preston Street in Little Italy really exists or is a joke on tourists and passers-by like myself. Either way, it is hilarious as the location couldn't be more appropriate. After a night on the town (or even just in the bar next door) party-goers can visit the Church on Sunday morning to ask the reverend for forgiveness. Guess they figure with a clean slate and a fresh week, the cycle can begin all over again... just in time for the Halloween parties!

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Robak) — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 00:43:00 +0000

World of Colour

Provincial flags hang behind a wall of fiery red maple trees at the Ottawa MacDonald-Cartier International Airport today, as I saw a friend off to exciting Winnipeg, Manitoba. On the left – where the flags are – is the parkade (presently under expansion) that joins up to the terminal on the right via multiple walkways. The airport is an independent corporation that is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Annually, over 4 million travelers from all corners of the globe are part of the airport's dynamic growth, injecting approximately $1.9 billion into the local economy. Welcome to Ottawa. Bienvenue à Ottawa.

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Robak) — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 17:46:00 +0000

Decisions, Decisions

Municipal elections are happening today, as Ottawa residents are voting for a new Mayor, City Councillors and School Board Trustees. These signs are meant to sway voters, but with so many placed together on such a busy corner, I think it does the opposite – confuses the voters and adds too much of a visual overload for the drivers. Rules for signage aside, it has been an interesting race. Results will be shared by the City Clerk on Thursday so stay tuned...

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Robak) — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 00:15:00 +0000

Meet 'Maisy'

We visited this unnamed beauty in the main barn at the Experimental Farm while celebrating my son's 6th much-belated birthday with his school mates. 'Maisy' (not her real name), a dairy cow, is one of the many types of cows who are part of the working culture of the farm. As the name says it all, really, the Experimental Farm does some rally interesting work. For example, scientists have actually injected goats with spider DNA in order for the new 'silk milk' of the goat to be used in making a web-like product called BioSteel. This new byproduct is highly praised because of its tensile strength and its compatibility with human tissue, and BioSteel could one day actually be used for artificial tendons, ligaments, and limbs. Happy Moooonday!:)

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Robak) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 02:44:00 +0000

The Secrets of Mary

This statue of Mother Mary can be seen standing in a niche at the Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church in West Wellington. The church resides in what was formerly known as St. George's Home, a distribution centre for 'Home Children'. If you're not familiar with the term, 'Home Children' refers to the 100,000 or so children from varied backgrounds who were brought to Canada from England from 1869 to 1930, a 61-year blemished period in our Canadian history. You can read more about the specifics here.

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Robak) — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 01:45:00 +0000

Doorway to...?

By now you know me and my over-active imagination. But, honestly. What would YOU think if you discovered a doorway such as this, in the side of a hill, not far from the residence of Canada's first Prime Minister Sir John A. MacDonald, across the park from a row of embassies, a stone's throw from the Rideau Canal...? Is it a secret escape hatch or a convenient storage space? hmmmm..... Sandy Hill has an intriguing history, one that is rich in layers of folk lore (not to mention sand, for that matter!) and so I am convinced that someday I will find the answer.

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Robak) — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

If These Walls Could Talk

Standing on the corner of Laurier Avenue East and Marlborough in the upstanding community of Sandy Hill, Parker House Bed & Breakfast is walking distance to "Embassy Row", Strathcona Park, the Cordon Bleu Institute and the University of Ottawa. Many powerful and influential guests passed through this arched doorway including former Prime Minister, Pierre Elliot Trudeau. It is also the former residence of politician Ed Broadbent. Imagine the conversations that went on under this roof and the many stories these walls have to tell! If you are looking for a new home and/or business prospect, then you may want to consider purchasing the residence for yourself as it is presently up for sale.

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Robak) — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 23:59:00 +0000

Necessity of Life

Accesibilidad para todos is a striking mural in the community of Hintonburg by Nicaraguan artist Julio Cesar Moreno to raise awareness to the sheer necessity of clean-water access. It speaks of teamwork and of helping hands and of community working towards a common goal. Together with his assistant Peru Dyer and young aspiring artists from the area, Moreno's team spent four weeks creating this stunning work of art. I was admiring the mural when reality struck! A woman with a young child approached me, asking if I knew the neighbourhood, or knew where they could get some food. Apparently the Food Banks in the area are only open on Wednesdays and it was only Monday morning.

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Robak) — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 02:34:00 +0000

Déja Vu

Years ago I did a reproduction oil painting of a fountain in a park, among large flourishing trees. My mom still proudly displays my unconvincing effort in their dining room. Déja vu struck me today, as I walked into a scene that felt so much like the one I painted so long ago..... Lord Strathcona Fountain was the final large-scale commissioned piece by French sculptor Mathurin Maureau (1822-1912). It was a gift to the city of Ottawa that was donated by its namesake and unveiled in 1909. The fountain – with its inexhaustable cherubs – overlooks Strathcona Park and is the most prominent feature of the 15-acre (6.1 ha) park, located on the west bank of the Rideau Canal.

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Robak) — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 21:07:00 +0000

Winter Stash

Chipmunks are working hard to fill up their stashes of nuts for the looming winter and naturally, we like to help them out on occasion. Have a great start to your week, everyone.

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Robak) — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 01:30:00 +0000

A Green Education

The University of Ottawa's School of Information Technology and Engineering has earned distinction around the globe for it's advanced design. Completed in 2002, this amazing $42.2 million project bestows a carefully intertwined system of structural, mechanical and electrical capabilities that work together, along with a concrete fabrication, to heat and cool the interior of the building. Designed by IKOY Architects, the sustainable design also allows for the capture and use of natural light to achieve the lowest possible external-source energy use. These thoughtful 'green' considerations help to reduce the university's annual energy costs – to a mere $375,000 – and minimize their eco-footprint considerably.

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Robak) — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 19:13:00 +0000

Like Clockwork, Seasons Change

This scene west of Ottawa speaks of summer that has since faded and autumn that is now upon us, while the white sky and scant berries are reminders of a winter that is peeking around the corner.

noreply@blogger.com (Angela Robak) — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 01:21:00 +0000

Tight Squeeze

Like in all downtown centers, parking in the downtown core of Ottawa can sometimes be a challenge... even for bicycles. Thankfully, some creative measures have been taken with vertical bike racks having been installed throughout town. They accommodate the cyclists' dilemma while making use of space that would otherwise go unnoticed. This rack I am certain was designed by a Nepean company, BikeUp, but if you are looking for some fancy designs that actually include a solar-heated shower station, check this out.