I recently visited the National Arts Centre (NAC). It wasn't to take in any performance at this…read morevenue. I was downtown for Canada Day. I wanted a place to park. Its parkade was where my car was for a few hours. My original plan was to park at CF Rideau Centre and walk over to where the festivities were. I did it four years ago and it worked out nicely. Afterwards, I'd simply walk around the mall. However, I was curious to check this parking lot out. It's a part of NAC that I was not familiar with. The parkade is a 24-hour one. If you enter it before 4 pm, it's $3 for each half hour, to a maximum of $20. That's actually not bad if you consider that it would be an arm and a leg in other Canadian cities. It's automated. You do get a parking attendant when there's a performance or some activity happening at NAC. I don't know how all that works. I just know that for this national holiday, the parking attendant got a break. I inserted my credit card to enter the parkade. I used to same one leaving. It was pretty straightforward. I parked on level P1. I took the stairs to get to street level. It was perfect. I have only seen one concert at NAC. It was years ago when I lived in Winnipeg and travelled to Ottawa for vacation. It was a meaningful concert that holds a lot of fond memories. I saw my first Jann Arden concert here. Back then, I bought a ticket over the phone. The box office was a block away from my hotel on Slater Street. I walked over to fetch my ticket. On the night of the concert, I walked over to the NAC. It was November. There was snow on the ground. It was pretty, but a bit nippy. The female usher was so great showing me where my seat was. My seat was the last row of the orchestra section, the first seat on the left by the aisle. I was extremely happy. This concert set up countless Jann Arden concerts that I have attended all over the place. She is a wonderful performer and singer. Opening up for Jann Arden back then was Melanie Doane. This show alone sparked me to also see Melanie whenever she was playing over the years. What is cool is that when Jann recent played a couple of shows in Toronto, she had a bit of a reunion with Melanie. The latter has a ukelele school and students came down the aisles playing their ukes with Melanie leading the way to Jann. Such a cool moment! I got a Jann Arden t-shirt at the merchandise table. It said Happy? on it, to mark her newly released album back then. It's crazy to think that this album is nearly 26 years old. Yikes! I didn't grab any refreshments or snacks that night. I only remember happily walking back to the hotel and the sound my boots made walking on the snow. I had a great time then. I also had a decent parking experience on Canada Day just over two weeks ago. The NAC has changed since I last stepped foot. It looks like for the better. The digital leaves blowing around that you see above the NAC's main entrance was a nice touch. (240)

Beautiful space and always a pleasure to attend shows there…read more The ushers are always helpful and washrooms are easy to find. But the seats are a bit small and uncomfortable. I think they might need to update the seat or at least change the couchions - my left leg kept falling asleep and my back got noticeably sore at the end of the last show.

I have been a guest piano teacher here and found this school to be impeccable. Reception and…read moreteachers are very friendly, even with my accented French. The kids here work hard and are very enthusiastic! There is a cafeteria here, so kids do not eat in the classroom as I did at my school when I was younger. There are computer labs and gyms and several recess areas so that the younger and older kids are not mixed during that time. There are recess monitors that watch the kids at recess. The school is down a residential street that provides a nice quiet atmosphere for them. The kids all seem to be really hard working and motivated!

Very biased towards children that they think have a problem…read more Drop a 4 year old in an unfamiliar environment, in a language he does not understand, with people who have already formed opinions about him, and of course said child will act out. My 4 year old was treated poorly there. Endless complaints every single day from the school. He barely spoke or understand french. Adding to that he has a language delay so learning a new language was challenging. Educators automatically assumed he had autism (he does not he was finally tested). I switched him to a new school, an english school since last year September. And he has been thriving there. Is able to read, write, and never, not once do I get calls about my son being disruptive, a menace, or being prelabeled as being on the spectrum. This school did us wrong. I was forced to pick up my son every day by 12pm latest because the school just did not want to deal with him and made it seem like it was for his good that he needed to be picked up early. I do not recommend this place to anyone, having taken the time to see how the other school handles children who are neurodivergent (my son was diagnosed with ADHD).

great source of Japanese beads if all sizes…read more great selection of findings. lots of bead shapes. lots of needles and tools. great customer service if store not busy. easy parking.

3 1/2 stars if I could…read more This place was a-mazing! It was my last stop in the annual "Bead Bop" event, otherwise I might never have found it, as it's nestled in a community area, on a side street off the main drag. However, walking in the door, you get overwhelmed with beading ideas! It's fantastic! the store is HUGE! The staff is very friendly, knowledgeable, helpful and welcoming. They offered coffee, water, and treats, and allowed me to peruse their selection of beads at my own pace. This store has a very affordable collection, some lovely wooden beads, some plastic, a lot of unusually carved items. They had a demo of one of their tools that looks like a ring, to help open a ring to attach something to it. Cool! They offer classes too. Edited to add: while I was there, they did a demonstration of one of the tools they offer for sale. Very informative! This would be a great place to bring your kids to, to learn some new beading tricks!

Good experience doing a BLS certification here. Easy to book online at this Heart and Stoke…read moreaffiliated company. Slightly more expensive than H&S-affiliated private instructors. Parking available at the location. They provide free coffee and tea and snacks are available for a small fee The instructor, Jeff, was friendly and clear. Class started and ended on time. Would recommend this company for your first aid class needs.

I've tried coming by a few times but didn't realize they were open breakfast and lunch only…read more Thankfully I ran into Chef Ric the other day and he let me know. Do you know Chef Ric? If not, here's his story https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/ottawa-mission-s-food-service-training-program-finds-a-home-at-the-former-rideau-bakery-1.5177765. He's located in the old Rideau Bakery location. Daily breakfast specials at $4.99 and lunch specials at $6.99 prepared daily. They also have a sandwich bar, foods to go and a frozen section. I walked in to a lineup out the door today and their special was meatloaf with mash potatoes a veggies. Honestly it was awesome, I'd give it 4+ stars for the food today. Staff are friendly, line moves pretty quick. It's a take out counter so there's no in store dining. I honestly wanted to get some frozen food and a sandwich but that would have been bad for my waistline. I'll be back on the regular though.

Great little place for breakfast. $4.99 for two poached eggs, two sausage links, fresh fruit, two…read moreslices of toast and home fries. I gave it 4-stars because you can't choose the type of eggs you get -- they only serve over-easy. Have had their sandwiches before too at an event that was catered. Excellent wraps and deli sandwiches. Staff are super friendly. When you eat here you are supporting a good cause.

I've been to this ymca a couple times, though it's not the main one I go to. It is located in the…read morebasement of Carlingwood Mall and I didn't know this existed for the longest time. They have a pool which is great. The change rooms are clean and the lockers seem new which is good. They offer a variety of classes like the other ymca, I just wish the classes went a bit later. The gym itself has a variety of equipment and the equipment works well and is fairly up to date. They also have a room with free weights, mats and medicine balls where you can stretch and workout (if there's no class happening). I really like this ymca because the few times I've gone it hasn't been too too busy which means I got to work out on the machines that I wanted without waiting around-huge plus. Tip: if you go later it will be even less busy!

Walking past the Dovercourt Recreation Centre on my way home from another appointment, I decided to…read moredrop in and see if John Rapp, executive directer of Dovercourt, was in his office. Dovercourt was bursting at the seams with, as John told me, over 1,000 children and youth registered in their summer programs. It was busy! Dovercourt's fundamental goal is to make room for everyone. And, they certainly do. They has been hosting the KLEO Book Sale for many years, supporting our work with the Karen refugees in Ottawa. John reassured me that they would once again be happy to offer us space. We spoke for only a few minutes but as usual John had some interesting insight about supporting refugee. It went something like this; support for refugees is when everyone arrives with the bells and whistles, a short term parade. Community development is the work that is done for the long haul until the reigns can be handed on to those who have been helped. A special thank you to Dovercourt for helping KLEO to be here for the long haul.

They make you sit inside even when there is like no rain????!?!???…read moreThey do not have value.

This has to be the best facility in all of Ottawa! It's absolutely huge!! There's plenty of…read moreparking, too. Two hockey rinks for winter sports and lacrosse in the summer. A gym that can be used for a badminton tournament. The facility is massive inside! You don't even know anyone else is in there. Lots of seating in the rink. I was impressed with the size and scope of the facility.

Love bringing my daughter here for extracurriculars. The staff always seem nice and the…read moreinfinity-type pool is really nice.