The Observatory is run by the Algonquin Students' Association. I've been here once before for an…read moreevent where they had Perez Hilton come in, talk on stage, and sign autographs. A bunch of wooden chairs were set up facing the stage, and Perez gossiped about celebrities for an hour or so, told us how he got to be a famous blogger, answered some questions, signed t-shirts, and dropped as many F-bombs as he possibly could. The bouncers were a little too serious for the nature of the event and the guest of honour. You'd think that they'd lighten up a little considering it was Perez Hilton talking and not a concert or anything, but at least they made sure to keep everything safe and fight-free. Food and alcohol are offered at the Observatory. They are fully licensed and offer Starbucks coffee and a decent selection of sandwiches, salads, pizza, pub-fare, and breakfast, all for affordable prices. For those of you that are Algonquin College students, you can use your meal plan here. They also have couches, TVs, and pool tables if you want to hang out and/or study. It's also available for private rentals when it's not being used for other events. To contact the Observatory directly, here is their information via the website: Paul Norman, The Observatory Manager (613) 727-4723 ext. 5327 or by e-mail at normanp1@algonquincollege.com

I've eaten here three times now, and maybe it's the oil they use to cook their food or something…read moreelse but every time I've stopped by the observatory for food I've been sick right after. I usually get their chicken strips with fries, and it NEVER sits well with me. Sure, they taste good, but after twenty minutes I'm running to the washroom to toss it back up. A friend of mine has had their wrap and quesadillas and even she agrees that there's just something about the food that doesn't sit right in one's stomach. Overall, it's a really nice restaurant space - the fireplace is a nice, cozy touch. The food, however, leaves a bit to be desired. Prices are decent though, and they accept student meal plan, which is why I'm not giving them 1 star out of five.

great service friendly,there music was also good young man did a great job food was fantastic ,wine…read moreandshampan were very good and main meal was real good will go back to them again with friends or family

We discovered this gem recently, and think everyone should try it. They have a smaller menu that…read morechanges regularly, which allows them to concentrate on making each item perfection. The staff are very friendly and go out of their way to ensure you have a great experience.

This is my first time visiting this hotel. My friend and I didn't stay here but we came to check…read moreout their patio & lovely river view. We enjoyed our visit and will return again for sure . Thank you for having us.

Had a 3 day stay here on business. Decided to watch some of Game 7 of the World Series at the bar…read more Greeted enthusiastically by Megan the bartender and had a few pints with a co-worker. Friendly regulars and awesome service from Megan made it an enjoyable evening. If they had HD television it would have been even better.

Great venue. I recently attended a wedding there and really enjoyed myself. The food was good…read more Staff were polite and amazing, and we were able to celebrate with the newly weds until the next day! The setup was beautiful as well. Kudos to management and team! I was highly impressed!

One of these days I actually WILL get in to try the cafe. But darn it - I'll have to try that again…read morebefore 2:30 pm! We were about 45 minutes too late for this today, as we were looking for a coffee date together. Meanwhile, I've got to say that this is a great big facility; bright and clean, except I can't speak for the cafe coz I missed it again! The garden centre is open till 5:00 but the cafe closes at 2:30. They do cater weddings, and as a result this facility is more upscale; expect to pay over $30 per person. They will provide the staff, linens, and food of your choice. I will keep trying to get to the cafe for breakfast or lunch, and re-evaluate the experience once I am able to do that.

Great place for wedding, I didn't get married but my friend did and it is absolutely beautiful. The…read morefood tasted amazing the staff was very friendly. Bonus points because it is close to home.

We have come here for sugar shack often. It is available in the mornings or at night. At night,…read morethere will be entertainment after the last service. The place is very picturesque. The price of the sugar shack meal also include a horse sleigh ride which the kids love. Service is prompt and courteous. There is a small selection of beer on tap and many bottled ones. The food is fresh, delicious and plenty. They bring you more if you ask. I particularly like the "Oreilles de crisse" which are essentially deep fried bacon with lots of fat. The desserts are self serve: sugar pie and vanilla cake baked in maple syrup. So, after the meal, the horse sleigh rides takes you to a shed across the pond where they serve syrup taffy on snow.

Our workplace rented 2 days of the meeting room of this co-working space for meetings. The…read morereceptionist was helpful but also kept an eagle eye on everyone that walked through the door. Meeting room was well lit, well equipped with TV, HDMI cable, whiteboard and markers. The door seems to keep the sound from the outside well. But the walls weren't sound-proofed and we were able to hear the other room's conversation if we weren't talking. The biggest issue were the chairs. They were stiff, plastic chairs! When we asked if we could swap them with the ergonomic chair, they asked us to swap no more than half. This was on a Monday and there were over 20 empty workstations and unused chairs.

The staff are really friendly and helpful, and they have mentors called "Experts in Residence" that…read morereally help you get your social enterprise started. I've met so many people through it, and it's great for those who usually work at home to connect to others. If you're working on a social enterprise, this is the place to be.

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)