We had our small wedding at the Orange Art Gallery and the venue was perfect.  The art on the walls…read moreadded a very nice dimension and the character of the building and terrace were enchanting.  The bar was flexible in meeting our desire of showcasing Canadian craft beer, wine and liquor and the bartenders were, as several guests commented, extremely nice and friendly yet professional and mixing a mean drink. Art on the walls also provided spectacular and unexpected backdrop for some of our best wedding photos.    We recommend Orange Art Gallery for small to medium weddings and other functions.

We were in Ottawa to attend a small wedding and this gallery was the venue. It was very charming…read moreand we enjoyed viewing the art as we mingled with other guests over champagne. If you are in the neighbourhood it is an interesting spot.

Amazing and quaint place to hang with friends or with a date for live music, During the Ottawa Jazz…read moreFestival they sometimes host free jazz shows (reservation required!). Love the cozy and intimate ambiance. Will definitely come back!

Great music venue. Located upstairs on Elgin Street. Cosy feel. Art on the walls. Good stage…read more You can usually get food but their source is being renovated so just drinks and snacks for the next couple weeks.

This is such a pretty venue! I wish I had taken photos of those fancy chandeliers. This would be a…read moregood place to host a wedding. And as a bonus, the washroom stalls are quite private. Nice... Unfortunately, we didn't get to try any food here; we were here for a presentation. One of the presenters intimated that it was an expensive venue, but I can't really comment on that as I have no idea. However, I looked them up on the internet, and it seems that they do have a good reputation, apparently especially so for weddings. Good to know! Here's a link to their current lunch menu http://salasanmarco.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Lunch-Buffet-New-Menu.pdf The room was plainly laid out for the event I went to - no tables with tablecloths, just row upon row of chairs, all facing front. The sound system was fine; so was the video. Not sure if the equipment belonged to the presenters or to the hall. There were quite a few people here, but it didn't feel crowded. I will keep this place in mind as a possible venue for future events. If anything comes of this, I will then update this review.

I came here once in university: I liked this Italian girl who invited me here for the Italian…read moreclub's party. I remember it being dark and out-of-date.I also remember wanting to leave pretty soon after I got there. :) Today, 12 or 13 years later, Sala San Marco seems like a hip banquet hall in the new updated and appealing section of Little Italy. During the Labour Day weekend this year, I was a groomsman at a large wedding. It was a 17-hour active day, and at least seven of those hours were spent here at Sala San Marco. Now, I can't tell you exactly who did what to make this place as beautiful as it was that night. But it was just that... Beautiful. The chairs were wrapped in a white cloth. The tables had a metalic, jeweled pattern on top of the white table clothes. The whole thing said "Classy!" The food was great. But the best dishes were (obviously) the Italian ones - tasty penne pasta, creamy tiramisu, pizza served at midnight. The staff were on the ball - very quick. They were like a well-oiled engine running around serving the 200+ guests. Anthony (who introduced himself to arriving guests) was on hand to fix any hiccups, but there were none. During the reception, I was on my third or fourth Molson Dry (remember that stuff?), and my wife said "Gee, wouldn't Sala San Marco be perfect for our daughters' communions?" For a second, I felt like she took me away from my temporary bliss and enjoyment. I didn't want to think about money and my kids right then. Then I thought "Perché no?" It would be perfect for that!

The Glebe Community Centre is a unique structure in the heart of the Glebe. It offers a multitude…read moreof programs for every age group and interest, including painting, theatre, yoga, pottery, sports, dance, baking and cooking classes, dog obedience classes and even random classes like soap and bath-bomb making. Their prices are usually reasonable, but the classes fill up very quickly, so make sure to register well before the first class begins. If you live in the area, you'll receive a calendar for the upcoming season with a grace period to plan your next class. The centre also has many day or weekend long events, such as plays, craft fairs, jewelry shows and food shows. If you're in the area on weekdays between 11:30am-3pm, stop by The Pantry Vegetarian Tea Room for some food. The prices are a bit high and there's not much selection, but the food is fairly wholesome and usually organic. They don't accept debit or credit card, so bring cash!

This is an amazing community feature right in the heart of one of the loveliest spots in the city…read more I've recently had the opportunity to drop by with two little ones to bring them to playgroup and their toddler music class, and I was blown away. I would never have suspected from the relatively boring outside of this building that the inside is alive with great programming. You're greeted by a lovely staircase that leads up to Scotton Hall - the "gym" that Reviewer R mentioned. This is a stunning room with huge vaulted ceilings, stained glass, a kitchen and tons of room for the little ones to run around during playgroup (which is what I was there for!). It would also be amazing for an event. The playgroup was amazing. The facilitator Andrew, was great with the kids and there's even snacktime for kids and parents. The music class is similarly well-run and all the staff I have interacted with her are sweet and friendly. There' a whiteboard in the front lobby that details all the happenings going on that day and it's always packed! They have tons of classes (I even say mention of a "mother-daughter glee group" - unreal!) for all ages and the prices aren't bad at all. There's a great play structure outside for the little ones, as well as a sweet Thomas the Tank Engine table under the stairs. Be sure to ask the lovely lady at the front desk for the trains - clearly these have gone missing in the past, haha! If you're in the area, this is a great option for activities for kids and adults alike. Pop in and see the space - you won't be disappointed!

Dow's Lake is a man-made lake on the Rideau Canal. It's the site of many fun activities and there…read moreare several restaurants there with beautiful views of the water. You can rent canoes, kayaks, and pedal boats/paddle boats in the summer. In May there's the Tulip Festival which is technically in Commissioner's Park, but this park surrounds Dow's Lake. In the winter when the lake freezes over, you can skate on it, and it's connected to the Rideau Canal, so you can skate for a pretty good distance. There are 3 restaurants at Dow's Lake. Over the years they have changed, but currently the restaurants are Lago, Umbrella Bar, and Mexi's (aka Mexicali Rosa's). There's a paid parking lot nearby ($3.50 per 30 minutes up to a maximum of $14), or street parking ($0.25 per 6 minutes) a bit further away, or free parking on residential streets in neighbouring Little Italy (3 hour limit as per by-laws).

Dow's Lake Pavilion is a short distance away from the airport and Ottawa's downtown core. I like…read morethat you can escape from your daily routine to this picturesque area without doing a road trip. There are canoes and pedal boats that you can rent. You are required to sign a waiver, wear a life jacket, and put down a $20 deposit. You can use cash, and debit and credit cards, except for American Express. Sadly, Amex doesn't seem to be as widely accepted as it used to be. There are lockers where you can store your belongings when you are on the water. I recommend coming with what you truly need. I parked in the lot across from the Pavilion. Parking is $3.50 for 30 minutes, to a maximum of $14. I paid by credit card, which was great. I didn't risk parking on the street, but I know that I can now. It's cheaper that way, but you do have to be cognizant of the time. You can also dine here after a fun time out on the water. We ate at Mexi's. You have the option of dining in the restaurant or sitting out on the patio. I missed the tulip festival. Perhaps I'll plan my vacation and take them in next time. (254)

TL;DR/The Short Version: Cool event space in the Zibi complex…read more The Long Version: I've been to Place des Festivals Zibi twice now, both for Cirque du Soleil performances, but they hold other events there too like the Gatineau Festibière (beer festival). My first visit to Place des Festivals Zibi was in 2017 when they first opened and my second visit was in 2024. They have parking on-site, which I used during my 2024 visit. It's quite large and while not paved (and had no parking lines painted) it wasn't too chaotic (but I was sure to come earlier, park near the exit, and I backed into my parking spot to facilitate a quick getaway, lol). Our parking was included in our show tickets but signage said it was $20 otherwise. For the events I went to, they had security who checked your bags and you have to walk through a metal detector. The security staff were pleasant and respectful. The washrooms were port-a-potties, but they were the most modern port-a-potties I've ever seen (mind you, I avoid public washrooms as much as possible and even more so port-a-potties, so I haven't used many in my life, haha). These things had flushing toilets and running water (!) They were like the washrooms in airplanes and trains. I think these were brought in by the Cirque du Soleil folks though, so the type of port-a-potties might depend on what event is going on. The event space itself is large. I'll talk a bit about my experiences there, but keep in mind they were both for Cirque du Soleil shows (Volta in 2017 and Echo in 2024). For Volta, I was there on I believe Media Night (it was 6 years ago and my memory of details of it is not the best, sorry), so I got some bonus perks like free champagne and some snacks like pretzels and macarons. For Echo, my husband won a pair of VIP tickets through Hilton Rewards and our experience was magnificent. The VIP tent opened an hour before the show and we were greeted with red or white wine and Prosecco. There was an open bar. They had a small self-serve food station and staff walking around offering more food. The self-service station had cold cuts, cheese, spreads and salads. The staff distributed food were cute small plated portions dishes like pulled beef with mashed potatoes, chicken with rice, gnocchi and fish tacos. The food was delicious and staff were professional. We got popcorn for the show. For intermission, we had access to the open bar and the self-service station was filled with mini desserts. We also got a gift which was a tote bag and an umbrella. The VIP experience was excellent and we loved it, especially since we won the tickets, lol. The price printed on the ticket was $290 per ticket. This did not include the "meet the artists" after the show component, which I believe is the next tier of VIP tickets. So we didn't meet the artists, haha, but two artists did come by the VIP tent for some photo ops briefly before the show. Kudos to the event organizers for not overselling VIP tickets. The VIP tent was not overcrowded, between the actual tent and the cordoned off outdoor area, there was lots of space and tables and plenty of food to go around. There was never a long line up for self-service stations, the food was regularly replenished and used plates and cutlery were cleared in a timely manner. Everything worked like a well oiled machine. Entrances were well marked and which entrance to use was on your ticket. They had ushers to help you find your seat. When the show was over they had people directing traffic. I was impressed how things were well organized. (203)

First things first. It's a private club and all that entails: by invitation only, strict jacket…read moreand tie dress code, no cell phones. Not everybody's cup of tea but if you've ever wondered about the 'special elevator' in the Sun Life Building, here's the deal. Legend has it that the original venerable Rideau Club burnt down shortly after they admitted women (Ha!), so they moved it to the swanky (and fire-resistant) top floor of the Sun Life Building at 99 Bank. Once you get up top, there are lots of portraits of PMs (Poor Kim Campbell sticks out like a lamb among the goats). Also, there a big chunk of sculpted stone from the original Rideau mounted on the wall. You enter the main lobby and are greeted by the most gracious and professional concierge ever. After discreetly giving you the dress-code once-over, the concierge will direct you to the mens' or ladies' dressing rooms. The dressing rooms encompass a coat room, little lounge (to make forbidden cell phone calls) and a super-deluxe washroom. The "club" is divided into various private dining and function rooms, the members' dining room, a bar and other little nooks and crannies. Decor is plush - like a swankier and slightly more modern Chateau Laurier. The coolest part - if you find this kind of thing cool - is that the place is full of (mostly retired) politicos, journalists, etc. It's a bit like your grade 10 social studies text book has come to life. The second best part is the food and the service. The food is excellent - full meals, appetizers at receptions - all are very very good. I had a creme brule with shortbread the other night that made me faint with delight. I have never seen anything too experimental or fusion in their repertoire. This is your grandfather's food (if grandpa was a governor general). The service is also excellent. These folks are pros. Despite the strict entry and deportment requirements, once you clear the door, every guest is treated with equal warmth and attentiveness. Yup, private clubs are anachronistic and elitist but if you get a chance, polish your shoes, borrow a necktie and check it out - if only for the creme brule.

Beautifully new conference centre. I went to the FI conference here, and felt the venue contributed…read moreto the success of the event. Lots of natural light, comfortable seating, and modern interiors. Conveniently located right next to Rideau centre, and it connects to the mall too!

Since it's opening, I've been to the Ottawa Convention Centre about 6 times, with the latest visit…read morebeing today, for the Wedding Palace Bridal Show. My husband-to-be and I just got engaged and decided to attend the show to get an idea of all the things we should be planning for in the next year or two. While being around hoards of women tend to give me "b*tch, please" anxiety, all of the vendors' booths were set up in organized aisles, which helped us weave through the crowd and tame my OCD tendencies as much as I could have in such sardine situations. I've been here for the Food and Wine Show, a couple of women's shows, Sexapalooza, and last year's wedding show. Though it's always packed with people, I don't remember there being this many vendors wall to wall. Not going into too much detail about the specific event, the actual venue itself is pretty ginormous for its prime, downtown location. With all of the glass globe windows, it's pretty hard to miss. I must admit, however, that because the large events I've attended are held on the top floor, it takes 2-3 escalators to get up there, and though I'm not afraid of heights, my first time going up those things made my eyes pop out of a head a little bit when I looked back and down after getting to the top. They seem so long and steep! Obviously, considering the height of the building, but still! Oh, and who could forget the ATM so strategically placed right at the top of the escalators before entering the main area through the open doors. It's been awhile since I've bought anything to eat there, but they usually have food and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks available. You can take the drinks around with your while you peruse whatever show is currently happening at the time, and there's also a fair-sized seating area with tables to eat at, and some couches to lounge on when your feet need a rest. Multiple restrooms are also easily accessible all around, though I found waste bins to be scarcer than they should have been for such large groups of people. The decor isn't anything special, really. It's generally a greyish color, but at night they turn on different colored lights, like pink and blue. Because of this, the venue lends itself to both business- and pleasure-related events. Of course, you can rent out the space for your own events, but I'm sure the cost will be up the wazoo, just like the coat check, which was $3 each and no two-coats-on-one-hanger allowed (whatever, I'm cheap, so sue me). 5/30 #30DaysOfYelp