Definitely one of my favorite galleries in Ottawa. It's got such a nice, cozy atmosphere, lots of…read moregreat art and friendly staff, sometimes they even have cheese and bread to snack on while you're browsing the gallery.

Cube Gallery is one of the best modern art galleries in Ottawa. The work shown there is never…read morestuffy or boring or touristy. In addition, it's a great place to hold an event. My company has shot several weddings there and I always appreciate that the backdrop is different at every "shoot". The rotating art pieces make for a different wedding experience for every couple. It helps keep me inspired to shoot their weddings a little bit differently each time too! All in all, it's a great setting for big gathering. I'd highly recommend that you check it out as a venue if you're looking for an event space in Ottawa.

Great option for travelling light. We were visiting Ottawa for the Canada Day weekend…read more Fast, inexpensive, no hassle. staff was very helpful and they delivered all the gear I needed for my 2 year old baby. Definitely recommended!

Great location in the South Keyes Centrum. Lots of supplies for pretty much any hobby or craft you…read moremight be in to. This location also has a big seasonal section with lots of house decorations. As with all Michael's locations, sales are frequent here and usually worth your time (buy one get one free, or 40% off type of deals). Don't forget your coupons as well!

Although it's liike pulling teeth to even try to convince me to head into Miichael's, I have to…read moreadmit that they have a tonne of stuff that, although you may not need, you'll always walk out with an arm-load... This particular location is always clean, and the staff are very helpful. There is a framing department near the back of the store, and even have a customer bathroom. Try to avoid weekends as they get pretty busy, but other than having to whine and stomp my feet to convince my significant other to finally leave the store, I've never really had a bad experience xD

Almonte, Ontario is an eclectic tourist town with many surprises but I wasn't expecting a New York…read moreor Toronto quality art gallery along the banks of Canada's Mississippi. The owner is an attorney, turned astronomer, artist and gallery owner. His own work looks like it was taken from the Hubble telescope but apparently he works here on earth. Beware that light on the horizon, it may not be sunrise or sunset but the glow of Toronto in the far far distance of the night sky. I imagine with all the light pollution it must be increasingly difficult to work without heading to the far north. Sanjeev Sivarulrasa does a fantastic job of sifting through the stars and time itself to capture magical moments. A real 'must see' for anyone visiting Almonte. He also exhibits sculptures derived from the human form by Sue Adams and Deborah Arnold's carved stone formations of chlorite, alabaster, and marble. Adrienne Dagg, an emerging young artist, also on exhibit, explores the depths of portraiture and narrative figure painting. Dale Dunning is another of the galleries sculptors, working primary with very creative masks... at least in the exhibit I saw. Several other artists are also represented by Sivarulrasa's Studio and Gallery. Certainly worth the drive out from Ottawa. I'm glad I stopped in from California.

3 1/2 stars if only I could!…read more I love when towns take an old building (previous post office or whatever) and convert it to modern current day use. That is exactly what they have done in Almonte! This lovely old stone building has been converted to boutique stores and a crepe restaurant, for that perfect small-town visit, so close to Ottawa. In Giligalou you will find all kinds of bird feeders and seeds. They used to carry a long line of wood carvings by local artist Dave Card. The owner / proprietor is very friendly. the shop is a fair size. The crepe restaurant food and service is very good. The mall offers free parking on its own private lot. Who doesn't love a flower shop? It's like retail therapy for your nose (?) There's also a Crush Marketplace here, with a fairly good selection. Sharing the same parking lot is a stretch of plaza containing Dragon's Lair Beads, which is the main reason I have come up to this mall so often (to restock supplies for my hobby of making stitch markers) and on the way back to Ottawa, I often stop in on the Equator coffee shop, where they roast the coffee in the back of the shop. So, gather your girlfriends, or do a couples day out - and put Almonte on your list of places to go and things to do.

Won't bother coming back as a shopper due to the unbelievable laziness off owners who use most of…read morethe booths as storage for boxes, junk, shelves and XXL clothing! There are only a couple good vendors left, and the mall feels deserted. As a shopper there, I have experienced allergies due to dust and actual mold on furniture! The lady at reception has made rascist comments which are unacceptable and is curt and rude . Waste of time to go anymore because the owners won't fill the booths with nice objects. No dogs allowed here even though the owners keep their dog there. The lady turned away a girl with a small dog who wanted to browse and said it was too hot to leave dog outside. The owner actually says she hates when kids come in. Been shopping here since 2005 and there is nothing more here. Come well before closing as owners pack up mall and usually close early.

This is a nice Antiques Market with probably 25-30 individual dealers. There is a good selection of…read morea variety of things, including vintage clothing, furniture, old jewelry, art, and books. Here are a few key points... 1. Some of the dealers are actually in their booths on weekends, which makes it nice when you have questions or are wanting to make an offer. 2. The business does not face the street, but faces a small private lot on Bank St. I did not see it at first, but it was there. 3. There are more small items here. You will find furniture, but definitely more in the way of books, art, jewelry, etc. I noticed an over abundance of dishes and crystal decanters. 4. They have a staffed information booth at the front which doubles as both shoplifting patrol and actual information source. 5. You can probably breeze through here in 30 minutes. It is not huge, but big enough to make it worth a stop.

Ah, Sparks Street Mall! I was doing all things touristy on Canada Day around Parliament Hill. I…read moredecided to walk down a block and check out this street that I hadn't set foot on for at least a decade. Sparks Street Mall is essentially a pedestrian strip mall with a bunch of shops, eateries, and more. It's nice, especially with various performances scattered along the street to celebrate the country's national day. I dig that you don't have to deal with traffic along this street, especially on Canada Day. It was nice casually roaming around, seeing how everyone was into wearing red and white, and taking paper Canada flags from folks to wave around. I have a few memories visiting this stretch over the years. There was a time where I was so busy with work that being on vacation made me realize that I should get a haircut. I started getting haircuts on vacation. My first one was at a salon on Sparks Street. I don't recall the name of it. I'm pretty sure that it is long gone. It was owned by a husband and wife team. They were hands-on running the business, and did all the hair cutting and styling. I recently had lunch at Bier Markt. I realized that it had taken over the old Zellers store, along with Winners at the corner. The eatery was buzzing. It looks a bit weird seeing a huge patio in front of a store that I loved. I bought a Jann Arden CD and a portable CD player at this Zellers. It brought back some cool memories. I also remember some sort of public service announcement (PSA) on television of a woman rattling off, "56 Sparks Street. Ottawa," as a young kid. I was perhaps four years old at the time, already exhibiting a thing for numbers. I didn't know what she was talking about, though. Well, I did visit 56 Sparks Street on my most recent trip. There was a sign on the building. She actually said, "This is Lotta Hitschmanova of the Unitarian Service. 56 Sparks Street. Ottawa," in this PSA. I'm pretty sure that I couldn't spell this woman's name as a four-year-old kid. I still can't as an adult. She was attempting to get Canadians to help others in need in far away places. Lotta held a PhD in philosophy and died in 1990. The Unitarian Service of Canada still exists, but under SeedChange. It is still at 56 Sparks Street. Ottawa. I managed to take in an outdoor musical performance in front of the CBC-Radio Canada building. I nearly bought bubble tea at a small ramen place before the thunderstorms and rain caused everyone to seek shelter. Great memories getting caught in a downpour without an umbrella are now with me. Luckily, I had a Canada cap on and managed to walk to my car parked at the National Arts Centre. This stretch is cool, with a lot of history and self-discovery. I always learn so much when I'm walking along streets as a tourist and spot buildings of interest. It forces me to do some research if an informational sign isn't there for me to read. The Post Office building at 59 Sparks Street is a good example, with a running Canada Post across from it. I feel that this street is more for tourists like me. If you're into shopping, box stores elsewhere would be better. If you're staying downtown, it's cool coming here to check it out. I love the history. I also love the charm of souvenir shops and eateries with live music outdoors on dry days that makes this street cool. (256)

I love Sparks Street Mall!! It's a pedestrian strip full of restaurants such as the famous Riviera,…read moreas well as The 3 Brewers, The Rabbit Hole, and Nates Deli. There is not a lot of shopping, but there is a Winners, and who doesn't love Winners? Sparks Street also holds events on the strip like the Ribfest, poutine fest as well as pop up night markets. The strip is decked out during the holidays with tons of beautiful lights. Access to the LRT and a quick walk to the Parliament.

I dont think they are in business anymore. I placed an order a month ago, no news, no deliveries…read moreand no contact. They don't answer emails and their phone is disconnected. This seems like a scam. Will need to charge back with my credit card company

Readi Set Go is a cool store that has a ton of gift items notably geared towards travel. My friend,…read moreJennifer, introduced me to this store and everything in the Glebe. You can get everything from travel cutlery, including sporks, chopsticks, and straws, to reusable glass cups. Do you need silicone squeeze containers for your shampoo? It's here. How about a small fork with a stamped-out happy face? Yep, it's here. Do you want a Paul Frank insulated lunch bag? Of course, you do! I found my current set of Sistema cutlery, which consists of chopsticks, a fork, a spoon, and a knife. This store has everything that I need when I am on the road. The selection of universal travel adapters is impressive. I'm glad that I stopped by this store. I loved everything it has to offer. (218)