My husband and I were in Brockville on a day that was 36 degrees Celsius (43 with the humidex. For…read moremy American friends, that's 97 Fahrenheit and 109 with the humidex). It was HOT! We needed some ice cream to cool us off. Who are we kidding, I'll eat ice cream anytime, but it was a great excuse for ice cream. So Cowan's Dairy is a convenience store plus an ice cream shop. We did not go into the convenience store, we just ordered ice cream from the ice cream window. They have both hard ice cream from Nestle and soft serve ice cream. I initially wanted a scoop of Cherry Cola and half a scoop of Apple Pie (you can get 1 scoop, 1 1/2 scoops or 2 scoops), but they ran out of Apple Pie, so I just got a scoop of the Cherry Cola. My husband, the strange man who he is, got a scoop of Heavenly Hash and a scoop of Mint Chocolate Chip in a waffle cone. Now this order in in itself does not make him strange, but in my opinion, if I'm going to an ice cream shop that serves Nestle ice cream, I'm gonna get me a flavour that I can't easily get at the grocery store. We have Heavenly Hash and Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream in our own freezers at home all the time!! I guess he likes what he likes! And as his wife of many years, I should appreciate that and not call him strange, right? Well, I don't necessarily think strange is a pejorative word. My husband knows he's strange, and he owns and rocks it, lol, but I am digressing from this review. I thoroughly enjoyed my Cherry Cola ice cream. The flavour was subtle and it didn't have that effervescent quality that I was hoping for, but it was still very good. And very different from flavours that I can easily obtain at the grocery store. My husband enjoyed his ice cream too, lol. The one thing I did not like was that no prices were listed. So I actually don't know how much each item cost. We paid $9.16 taxes included for 1 single scoop in a regular cone and 1 double scoop in a waffle cone. The serving size was large. My cone was really big. I really liked that in addition to traditional flavours they had unusual/more exotic flavours. Service was friendly and efficient. Lots of free parking in their private parking lot. There are picnic tables nearby where you can sit and eat. They are right next door to George's Fish and Chips.

Ok but yelp listing misleading. Was expecting local dairy ice cream. Instead basic fudge and ice…read morecream shop serving several flavours of Chapmans commercial ice cream. Their one dairy free offering strawberry sorbet sold out during mid week visit.

Sure, I'll give it five stars. So what if Canada's most-important government landmark turns into a…read moreDisneyland spectacle every night?!? Lights, music, and fog machines - oh my!! Anyway, you just walk up to Parliament Hill 15 minutes or so before it starts (start times posted on their webpage), find a good spot to sit on the grass, and wait for the show to start. Bring a picnic blanket or something if you like ... if it's rained recently, the grass might not be too nice. The entire front face of the Parliament Building is the screen for this culture-infused video/light show that is Mosaika. It was somehow politically charged. I'm not too good with symbolism in the arts, but the European hand kept taking stuff from the First Nations hand, and gave very little in return. Plus there was a lot of French-English controversy. and no Asian representation. Spoiler alert: it all ends happily? Somehow all these differences come together through lights and music to form a happy Canada today. Also, there was a turtle involved somehow. I will admit that it got very very very very awkward at the end when people started to stand up and sing "O Canada!" I was just kicked back on the grass chillin, and I didn't know what to do. but hey, all this for a grand total of zero dollars!! It's definitely worth the cost of free, and that's why it gets five stars!

This is a trippy patriotic offering at Parliament Hill from July to September. The 30 minute shows…read moreare free, twice a night and with seating available anywhere on the lawn, including some bleachers. The Sound and Light Show mainly attracts tourists and families, but I often see many different people out at the show. It basically feels like a crazy, amped up Cliff's Notes version of elementary school social studies. You can't help but get drawn into the energy and feel happy you're able to partake in something like this on Parliament Hill's lawn. Obviously, there are parts where you feel like you're partaking in a bit of propaganda, so take the show with a grain of salt. Actually, the last time I went, the show was usurped by a couple of protesters, including one who peed on the building. I guess it offered a balance through extremes? Anyway, I would definitely recommend this free offering to anyone looking to do something a bit stereotypically Ottawa (capital of Canada, not city of Ottawa). It's a good time, energizing and kinda weird/funny.

Westboro is a cool neighbourhood that I got to frequent for the first time last month in Ottawa. I…read moreliked it so much that I returned one last time before I headed home. If you are a resident living in this area, practically everything that you can think of is here. The Shoppers Drug Mart is great, with everything that you need for your health and more. There's a lot of shopping. From local boutiques and gift stores, to franchises like MEC and Roots, there's everything for everyone. You have no problem finding an eatery here. I saw so many restaurants that you feel like you're travelling around the world, but you save a ton on travel itself. We sat outside Fratelli, for instant. The area is also accommodating to visitors like me who do way too much walking in new sandals that benches to rest my tired legs helped a ton! Both times that I was here, I found free street parking. I liked that it wasn't difficult to find some. I parked by Highland Park Lawn Bowling Club my first time. I felt like I was transported back to the Beaches in Toronto, as there's a lawn bowling club there. There were some folks crazy enough to do lawn bowling when I left the area at around 5 or 6 pm. It was a hot, humid day and they were out there enjoying themselves. Do you like cafes? I saw many that were local. They were cute and quaint. There were even spots outside to chill. Nice weather helps get folks out and about. There were a lot of healthy-looking people walking around. Many had their cherished pet dogs on leashes with them. Others looked like they were either going to the gym. The LCBO and Real Canadian Superstore would be two reasons to drop by. Booze and groceries. Perfect! They are huge stores. I didn't frequent the latter, but the former had a better selection of beer and spirits than my local one that I don't enjoy visiting. My friend showed me Winston Square. It's not every day that you see a concrete park. It was cool. Sadly, it's not recognized as a listing on Yelp. Ugh! It's a quaint neighbourhood, offering different glimpses of its personality. You see modern, intricate artwork on some businesses. You then see a classy clock that transports you to years past. I hit COBS Bread on my second visit. I could live in this store alone. It's nice that my first visit to COBS was in this neighbourhood. I don't know if other COBS locations give you free samples all day long. This one does. So generous and nice! It's a lovely area of Ottawa. I'm so glad that I got to visit it. (305)

Making my way through Ottawa's Local Flavours, this review is for Westboro. So I'd say Westboro…read morespans from Scott St to the north and Carling Ave to the south. The eastern boundary is Island Park Dr, and the western boundary is a little fuzzier, I'd say probably around Broadview Ave. However, most of the action is along Richmond Rd from Golden Ave to Island Park Dr (where all the businesses are), the rest is mostly residential. The thing I love about Westboro is that everything is within walking distance in the community: grocery store, pharmacy, restaurant/café/bakery, clothing/shoe/accessories store, liquor store, hair salon, spa, gym, medical clinic, and dental offices. There are schools, churches, and a large Community Centre - Dovercourt (with a swimming pool) nearby too. There are so many cute little independent shops along Richmond Rd and a good variety of restaurants. There are lots of pubs, but there's also Italian, Japanese, Indian, French, and more. There could be more variety in my opinion, but it's still pretty good. There's a good mix of pricier places if you want a special night out (e.g. Gezillig or The Savoy) and more low-key places with more affordable prices if you want a casual "I don't want to make dinner, let's just eat out" spontaneous dinner out (e.g. Churchill's or MHK sushi). There are also plenty of cafés (both chains and independents) where you can sit and chat with a friend over a cup of coffee/tea and a pastry. There are lots of Yoga studios in Westboro, and several outdoor adventure stores like MEC and Bushtukah. It's also a very dog-friendly neighbourhood. In the summers you will see almost every business along Richmond Rd with dog dishes filled with water outside their door. Westboro also has a Farmers' Market every Saturday from 9:30am-3pm from May to October along the Byron Linear Parkway. Westfest, a street festival along Richmond Rd used to be in Westboro, but has since moved to a park in Hintonburg. Now Westboro's street festival is called Fuse, which happens in August. Richmond Rd is closed off to vehicular traffic and there's a huge street sale with musical performances and other entertainers. There are events like face painting, henna tattooing, and sometimes even a huge bouncy castle. It's lots of fun. Westboro is a great neighbourhood and definitely worth checking out!

When I was heading back home from my trip to Ottawa in November 2015, I wanted some bagels and a…read moresnack to keep me content during my drive. I stopped by Kettleman's and got my onion bagels, and snacked on a chocolate puff as I drove home. It took me this trip to realize that I had stopped by the Kettleman's location in The Glebe. I have been here. I just didn't know it! Earlier this month, I got an extensive tour of The Glebe (thanks, Jennifer!). I learned that glebe, the word, means church lands. It was originally known as the glebe lands of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church. How fascinating! The Glebe reminds me of Osborne Village in Winnipeg. There are a ton of eclectic, unique stores. You can walk for hours, exploring various stores and stopping for a bite to eat or a drink as you continue leisurely checking out everything. Parking can be a challenge. I remember parking in a lot where construction is happening next to Kettleman's these days. I parked on a residential street this time around and walked over to check out 613flea. Even though it was a three-hour parking limit, I exceeded it by nearly an hour (oops). Luckily, the parking police were probably consuming a baked good in the area somewhere and I was okay. The residential part of this area felt great to walk through. There is a sense of community, with folks being friendly and smiling as you pass by them. This area has a nice, safe vibe. I need to return and explore some more. (297)

Ok folks, I'm trying to make it through some more Ottawa Local Flavour. Today it's The Glebe. The…read moreGlebe is a very eclectic neighbourhood. Technically I think it spans from Highway 417 to the north, to the Rideau Canal to the south and east, and then Bronson Ave to the west. However, the action really is along Bank St from about Glebe Ave to Lansdowne Park. There are a variety of businesses in the Glebe that range from kitchen supply stores, to specialty paper stores, to a compounding pharmacy (called The Glebe Apothecary - sounds a bit archaic yet cool, huh?). There are also lots of restaurants, cafés, and bakeries. It's considered a well-heeled neighbourhood, so prices are set accordingly. It's no surprise that The Glebe is home to Ottawa's only Whole Foods, and only Sporting Life. Since The Glebe is an old neighbourhood, houses are mostly very old and large, but some have been torn down and newer in-fill construction have been erected. Walking around, you will see lots of "book sharing structures" that people built and put on their lawns. They are like mini libraries. Very cute. Yay, literacy! The Glebe is home to the Great Glebe Garage Sale which is always the fourth Saturday in May (rain or shine) and it's been going on every year since 1986! Glebe residents pretty much sell things from their lawns, driveways, or porches. I've heard of people who don't live in The Glebe renting people's driveways/lawns in The Glebe to sell their stuff because the event attracts so many potential buyers. I hate crowds, traffic, and getting up early, so I have never been to this famous event, but apparently it's awesome (if you like garage sales). At the northern part of The Glebe, there's a park called Central Park which is quite pretty. You'll often see couples taking wedding or engagement photos there. Central Park is also where The New Art Festival takes place every June (it used to be called Art in the Park from 1992-2008). It's essentially an outdoor art exhibit that features artists from across Canada. The art is in all media - paints, woods, ceramics, metals, textiles, photographs, etc. This I have been to, and it's cool. Parking is a bit of a pain in this area. There are some paid parking lots and street parking is available but difficult to find. Read the parking signs carefully, folks, because some places are limited to 1 hour, others 2 hours, and others 3 hours, and there are limitations depending on day of the week and time of the day. Each street is different, and some stretches of the same street are different. Parking enforcement are usually out in full force (I see them often when I'm in the area) and ready to ticket you for parking infractions. If you don't want to deal with parking, there are several buses that run along Bank Street. Overall, a charming and eclectic part of town with some interesting shops, good restaurants, and pretty parks.

Located on SUNY POtsdam campus this place is open to the public- M-F 11-2 PM- WOW do we ladies…read moreenjoy the wide variety of healthy food! Their soups always are fresh and fantastic and a nice selcection. Great selection of breads, meats, toppings, salads... Gourmet flair... Great variety of teas, drinks, and coffee. I had the Roasted beet & fennel salad... Had to get more to take home. My roasted veggie sandwich on whole grain with dijon mustard was a healthy must. Was able to stay on calorie and fiscal budget when I eat here. Love it!!! My companions goot the seafood surprise soup..the surprise was the load of real lobster in the bottom! Pretty darn good.!

Yet another fascinating and new public art installation! Located in Hull/Gatineau, on the corner of…read moreBoulevard des Allumettières and Boulevard Maisonneuve. The Alexandra and Portage bridges intersect here. Great addition by the NCC!

This is a no frills Chinatown. The main stretch is Somerset with a few side streets. If you are…read moreexpecting authentic Chinese shops and restaurants please get back into your car. If you are ready to take photos of Chinese monuments or statues, put your camera back in your pocket. There are more Vietnamese restaurants than Chinese who are heavily "pho based". Then there is a sprinkle of Indian and farm to table restaurants. It is a shame that the streets are filled with garbage and smell like urine. I do enjoy passing by though. I did pass by the Asian festival and enjoyed the dragon dance. Other than that, the food was astronomically high to the point that I could not fathom paying $13 for cut mango.

As of late, I seem to be visiting Chinatowns while being a tourist in my travels. It's fun…read morecomparing. My rating for Ottawa's Chinatown is 3.5 stars. I'm rounding up. I got to experience walking the entire area on my birthday, on a hot summer day. This Chinatown spans several blocks. It's twice as long as Winnipeg's! As you can tell, I have been on both sides of the Chinatown coin. I have lived in cities where their Chinatowns are either super tiny (Winnipeg) or non-existent (Rochester, MN). Both required that I import favourite products from the GTA. GTAers shouldn't take our access to numerous Chinatowns for granted. Ottawa has a good Chinatown where, if I lived there, I'd be content getting what I need and then some. Shrimp-flavoured chips? Yes. Bubble tea with six different types of coconut jelly? Check. At least half a dozen Vietnamese places to get high on pho? Definitely. I liked the Chinese gate. I've had dim sum in this area in the past and had a great experience. It's cool seeing what's here and how it continues to grow. I felt at home, which is the best feeling when you are on vacation. (274)

The first thing I noticed after arrival on Parliament Hill to watch The Changing of the Guard, was…read moreone of the Red Coated soldiers collapse in a heap with his AK(real?), a victim of the sun and heat. He was carried off to a corner of the field, treated, and ultimately taken away in a van. It is easy to understand how that could happen to these fine young men. Their coats are either wool or polyester, designed to hold in body heat. Their black bear fur hats appear thick and also better for winter dressage than a hot August first. Most importantly, a closer examination shows a battalion drilled only for this show, and not for combat. So, it occurs to me that this spectacular Is primarily show business, secondarily nationalistic, and thirdly having anything to do with protecting the realm. That's cool, as it is very well attended, and draws cheers and applause from the thousands present to witness it. Too, the band has it going on! Especially the bagpipers in green. They blow their lungs out!

The Changing of the Guard Ceremony happens every year. It takes places at Rideau Hall on Sussex…read moreDrive, or, more popularly, Parliament Hill. In the summer, from about late June until late August, the Ceremonial Guard march to music and perform military drills. The ceremony begins at 10am sharp, and goes on until 10:30. They suggest arriving early at 9:45 to get more information and for the best view. I've gone to the Changing of the Guard on a few different occasions, mostly as a child. The kids seem to really love it and I remember thinking it was kind of like watching red toy soldiers come to life, with all of the marching. You'll find larger audiences on Canada Day, so it's definitely worth it to get there earlier to beat the crowd, especially if you're with your family.