... memories …read more... When I lived and worked throughout Canada's Atlantic Provinces, Ottawa was almost like a second home to me during the 70's and 80's. I travelled / stayed there often, via business, and even more so for pleasure stays. I chose to stay at hotels offering rooms with kitchenettes. Which allowed me the option to shop during walks and stays, and dine back at my hotel. The Byward Market area was one of my favourite spots to walkabout, browse, and shop. And especially so during the summer and fall months, when it was so alive with street venders, and others featuring locally-grown fresh fruits and veggies. It was a good while ago, but a standout for me during these stays was a fish/seafood shop. I used to purchase squid there. Then on the way back to the hotel, catch a bottle of white wine, and some butter. Cooking the squid back at the hotel was fun, and made for several very fragrant, tasty, and much-enjoyed meals. Street vendor selections of farm-fresh offerings of fruits and veggies, were a delight to see during summer and early-fall stays. Their products not only contributed to meals, were often purchased and enjoyed 'in hand' and enjoyed during walkabouts. And before I forget, so were the several tasty 'beavertails' enjoyed, at any time of year, from a bakery there. (previously reviewed) My visits to the Byward Market, and area, were via day time browsing and shopping walkabouts. They were fun, interesting, and much-enjoyed.

This area of the city is a popular destination that you must see for sight seeing in Ottawa…read more There's a lot to see and do down here, and more Restaurants than you can possibly eat at in a month of Sundays! They also host special events down here. Certain streets are pedestrian only, where you will find crafters and fruit/vegetable vendors, people who sell honey and maple syrup, Beavertails, and seasonal items all sold at booths on the streets. This visit, I found a rare treasure: a bracelet with my name on it!! The Byward Market is coming up to a remarkable anniversary: in 2026, it will be 200 years old!! Found this snippet on the internet: "The ByWard Market is where Ottawa was born. Established by Lt-Col. John By in 1826, the ByWard Market is one of Canada's oldest and largest public markets. The legendary builder of the Rideau Canal; Lt-Col. By himself laid out the street plan of the Market, designating George and York Streets to be extra wide to accommodate the horse-drawn carriages that brought foodstuffs to the market every day." We seem to gravitate there at least once a year in the warmer months. It's also a terrific area for people watching!!

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 saw Globe Mags & Cigars. It looked like it was a souvenir store. I was a tourist in ByWard…read moreMarket. It made sense to check this store out. I am guessing that this store used to be more of a convenience store that sold cigars, magazines, and souvenirs. When I walked in, I didn't see any cigars or magazines. This store seemed to have transformed its business plan over the years. The merchandise at this store reminded me of going to a store in Chinatown in Toronto. It offered a lot of fun jewellery, traditional Chinese silk jackets, cute handbags, and more. Did I find any souvenirs at this store? It depends on your definition. It's a yes if you buy a ring here as a memory of your time in Ottawa. If you are looking for a sweatshirt with Ottawa across the front, you won't find one here. This store had some cute purses. I liked a small purple one, but it was way too small for it to be functional. The earrings at this store were great. There were plenty of styles to choose from at decent prices. I ended up getting a pair of flip-flops earrings. They looked cute. I went to pay for my item. I asked the man what payment types he accepted. He said that he accepted everything. I loved that answer. I paid with a debit card. The transaction was smooth. I didn't need a bag. I placed my earrings in my purse, thanked the man, and happily left this store. There was a couple looking at sunglasses and taking their time. They were in the store when I had arrived and I left with them still there. It's nice that you can browse at your pace here. It was great stopping by this store. The name of the store is a bit misleading. However, if you like jewellery, clothing, purses, and more at decent prices, pay a visit here. (312)

It is a small cigars and souvenirs shop. I think the owner have an issue with the humidor because I…read morebought a Romeo Y Juliette No.3 and it was too humid. The prices were in the average for the type of cigars offered. The service is friendly. The selection is okay, but could be better. Unfortunately, it is not the best place in Ottawa to buy cigars despite the nice service.

Canada Four Corners in a cute art shop tucked between various parliament buildings. The store has a…read morevariety of goods (T-shirts, postcards, maple syrup, and various paintings) all reasonable priced for being in the capital. They offered a large number art pieces and other items from indigenous groups. I was able to meet the artist for one of the shops painting and she was such a nice person and provided amazing service.

Today (at around 15:30), December 6th, my wife and I went to the store and bought a few items as…read moresouvenirs for family and friends back in Chile. Today, our experience at the store was not the best (to say it nicely). I don't expect to be attended by someone with a smile on their face, but I do expect to be attended with the same cordiality as I do when shopping. The woman at the register was a rude. When we arrived, we said hello but got no response back. Then, at the moment of paying, my credit card didn't work, so I had to try with a different one the did work (could that be what upset her?). Then, she instead of putting our purchased items on the bag she threw them very rudely (luckily they were not fragile). Finally, she did not asked me but kind of ordered me to take the receipts printed by the POS machine (the failed and the approved ones) but I declined and told her to discard them. I took that as an insult because of the way she talked to me. If someone doesn't like their job, it is not my fault. Maybe she could take that rudeness with her boss. I'm from Chile, visiting friends in town, and they encouraged me to write this complaint. Last time I visited Ottawa (ten years ago), I shopped at the store and had a great experience. Now, I don't really know if I will be shopping there again. To be honest, I never expected this kind of service in Canada.

Sparks Street is a bit of a let down. No, it's a lot of a let down. There are some restaurants, a…read morefew more unique businesses and a lot of souvenir shops. Enter North Star Souvenir. What it has going for it is its size. Compared to most competitors it is big. But just because it is big, doesn't mean it does much differently. They sell the same Canadian Flags, Mountie figurines and all the other Canadiana you would expect to find in a souvenir store. Unless you're a tourist, I can't see you finding anything of interest.

Another souvenir shop along the Sparks street route, North Star is not as unique or teeming with…read more"Canadiana" as Four Corner's down the road, giving off a much more typical store atmosphere. The usual souvenir fare of postcards, flags and arts can be found here. What is cool about North Star is the wide range of comedic 'slogan' t-shirts available. One entire wall is pretty much filled with them, so if that sort of thing interests you this is a good place to visit. The prices are decent, considering its right in downtown.

So Winterlude is a winter festival, where the Rideau canal is open and you can skate on it, there…read moreare ice sculptures throughout the city and other winter-related things like an inflatable igloo, a snow playground and hockey nets to shoot goals. Winterlude is advertised as this cool event that people should flock to, but my personal opinion is that it is boring. Sure, the sculptures are pretty, but only if the weather cooperates and pretty much only immediately after the ice is carved. All the times that I've gone to see the sculptures, they are almost always half-melted or partially broken. As for skating on the Rideau canal, I've done it a few times and am thankful I made it off in the same condition as when I got on. It is a fact that the staff at the The Ottawa Hospital call Winterlude, "Fracturelude", I'm just sayin'. Winterlude is usually the first few weeks of February, every year. It's not my cup of tea, but hey, it might be yours. It's a celebration of winter. If you like winter, then celebrate on! I only like Spring and Autumn, which in Ottawa is like 2 weeks out of the year, haha (joking, not joking).

I can't believe there are so many negative reviews. I will admit they made me a little nervous…read morewhen we planned a winter trip to Ottawa, but boy was I glad I did, and if you enjoy winter in the least, you will be too! If you're not a fan of the cold, snow or winter season, than I can understand how this would not be for you. The festival at least as it was this year is split among different sections of Ottawa and even a little bit into Gatineau, Quebec. We stayed in Gatineau very near Jaques Cartier park which hosts the Snowflake Kindgom. If you're visiting and want to go snow tubing, come early, the lines do get long, but is that surprising when it is free? We came right at opening on Family day and were the 6th and 7th person in line. After that we hopped into line for the zip line (the zip line is an additional fee, but at 12 Canadian for a single ride I thought it was very reasonable), we were also paid, put into gear and down the zip line within 20 minutes or so. Then we waited about 20 minutes for another snow tube ride. They also had life size foosball table for people to partake in, a small hill and equipment for small kids to ski, an obstacle course and a variety of lifesize outdoor games. Tim Hortons also sponsored and had a van giving out a free small coffee or hot chocolate! They also have food to buy. Sparks street was another favorite spot for us. It featured a variety of free shows. We enjoyed the speed carving competitions where the competitors had 45 minutes to create their display. As we went during the last weekend the street also featured plenty of ice sculptures displayed from competitions earlier in the festival. They also had a hockey player doing a variety of stunts including juggling flaming hockey sticks, and loggers juggling chain saws. Tim Hortons had another free van here, and there were a variety of fires and cozy chairs around to keep people warm in addition to a variety of art installations. Byward Market is an area of stores and restaurants. We were there during a lego pop up which was cool, and they had wood carvers, horse and carriage rides, but they were more spread out and harder to find than the events on Sparks Street and Jacques Cartier Park. The "Glebe" seems to be the name of a certain section of Ottawa, and they were the disappointing part of the festival. There was reference to snow sculptures and some other events, however, the area was huge, countless blocks to traverse, and not much directino as to wear to find any sculptures or things going on. We wandered around a bit, but locals didn't prove much help and this was definitely the most disappointing part of the festival. But with the other sections being so enjoyable it was hard to dock much for that. We also attended a "Night Lights" event that was a little hidden and didn't seem to be well publicized. It was small, but something to do in the evening. The fire performers were cool and they had some good music and glow art. There is a free "Snow Bus" on weekends and Family Day. We only utilized it once after skating the entire length of the canal. At that point it was a nice break, but otherwise we enjoy walking ourselves, but it is nice and convenient for those who want to use it. Overall I thought this was a really enjoyable festival, a lot of unique parts, especially when you throw in the canal which as it is separate I will review separately. There was also many, many interactive exhibits and things to do for people of all ages! Great way to get out and enjoy the winter season, and not a far trip for New Yorkers! Plan a little trip for next year and help yourself beat the cabin fever! I would definitely be interested in coming back in the future!

READ THIS FIRST: Vaping / ecigarettes helped me to quit smoking. If you are at all considering…read morequittin, please consider that this stuff is a great tool. My life is changed. That said, the equipment, liquids, and vape/ecig shops come in a lot of variety. Do not discouraged if you find equipment or a setup that doesn't work for you. You can quit smoking, and I hope that you do. What I want from vape shops: Good quality liquid; knowledgeable staff; good variety in equipment and supplies; good service. I want it to feel like I am buying a cellphone or picking up groceries. What I get from vape shops (including this one): vaping people who make it seem like it's a tree-house of stoners. The one thing that I absolutely detest about "vaping" is that it's somehow become the same riff-raff as head shops that sell $14 pipes so you can go smoke a bowl in an alley or in your parents' basement, or something like that. This place is the your run of the mill vape shop in the strictest sense. It's front door is like some souvenir shop in the country, and when you walk in, you can't tell whether you're in somebody's backyard shack or an actual place of business. You will be greeted by somebody who is giggly and squinty, and they'll refer to you as "buhhhh-deyy!" like it's the 90s and Pauly Shore is still relevant. You also get the Rideau Street walk-in crowd. While I was waiting for his giggle-fest buhhhh-dey stuff to stop with his active customer, I proceeded to scrape a line in the grimy glass counter top with my fingernail. Their hardware inventory is weak, unless you need something that is popular and sells well. I wanted a specific coil; they didn't have it. Don't expect to find any premium liquids that you're looking for. The guy just goes and mixes things to order from myriad concentrated flavour bottles on display like its some apothecary.

DONT SHOP HERE! I went in to buy new coils for my aspire…read moreatlantis V1, they told me they don't make atlantis coils anymore (they still do, but I didn't know at the time) and that I had to buy the triton coils. I asked them if that would work with my eleaf 30W battery, and they said absolutely. Once I got home, guess what? Nope, my battery cant take this coil. I walk back in to buy a better battery (I was kind of due), they sell me a eleaf TC40W for 60$ (I looked around afterwards, they shouldn't be retailing over 40$). Both times I went in, they were very friendly, but they looked desperate for my business, and wouldn't stop trying to sell me their custom juice. I told them sorry, I get a better deal online, MULTIPLE TIMES, and they would still keep trying, quite desperately. And from the looks of things, I'm the only yelp post that isn't one of their friends handing out a 5/5 review.

What an awesome concept. Most souvenir shops have some corny logo that says Canada and the shirts…read morearen't that cool. This place allows you to design your own unique souvenir. The owners are super sweet and helpful. I LOVE my personalized sweatshirt from tremblant. Definitely gives you something special to go home with. Highly recommend.

Had a great time painting tee shirts with our kids. A fun activity for kids of all ages. So much to…read moredo with skiing, sledding, and tubbing, adding an artistic endeavor that is also a cool fun time is great! The screen printing demo alone is worth the trip, and the artistic masterpiece that the kids created, very nice.

The Glebe Smoke Shop is the area's 24 hour supplier of tobacco, snacks and magazines. The snack…read moreselection is pretty meager, but they have an extensive selection of magazines, cigarettes and cigars. Between the Glebe Smoke Shop and Britton's next door, patrons are very likely going to find the magazine they're looking for. Their cigars are pretty cheap and an aficionado will not be pleased with the quality, but I'm sure they'll do in a pinch. Of course, for the 3AM nicotine addict, this place is always a reliable source.

According to a friend who went there, the shop owner doesn't wear a mask, and he's quite nonchalant…read moreabout it. Claims his plexiglass shield is good enough, which it is not, according to public health guidelines.