Last night, I had a mini reunion with a former co-worker, now friend. We hadn't seen each other…read moresince we worked at the same company in Winnipeg. It had been so long that the calculation of years that we last saw each other was both scary and ridiculous. He plays hockey. I watch hockey. We are both hockey fans. He invited me to see his game last night. His team was playing at Carleton Ice House (CIH). This hockey facility is located at Carleton University. I continue my trend of visiting university campuses without taking a single course. It was easy finding this complex. There were also two parking lots with lots of spots in front of it. My friend gave me a special code that allowed me to park for free. I felt super VIP. You can either pay for parking at parking kiosks in either both lots or CIH. You can either pay through your phone's browser (that's how I did it) or download the app. It was easy. I walked through the main entrance. A sport medicine clinic and washrooms were on the left. The former was closed when I was there just before 7 pm. I used the washroom after the game was over. It was clean with at least six stalls. This facility is the home of the Ravens varsity hockey team. It's bright and inviting when you walk in. What took me by surprise was that this complex has two NHL-sized ice rinks. What?! I'm so used to going into an arena to watch a hockey game. Arena. Singular. Okay, which rink was my friend's team playing on? I went to Arena A. The second floor is where you go to sit down and take in a game. It looked like the North Stars were playing some other team and all players looked young. It wasn't my friend's game. I watched these teams warm up before I left. I headed to Arena B. Seating is on the first floor. The two teams that were playing were larger. Again, it wasn't my friend's team, but I stayed to watch the game. It was entertaining and both teams were evenly matched. My friend texted me a selfie. He was sporting his team's jersey, which was super helpful! He said that he didn't know which arena he was going to play at. I texted him back and said that Arena B's game was over, so he'd likely be on it. I chose correctly. The zamboni came out to clean the ice. My friend was playing at Arena B. It felt like high school. He found me in the stands, skated over, and tapped the plexiglass. I came down to talk to him for a bit. It was cool, especially seeing him after all these years. The Otters is my friend's team. It's a pride team year-round and is inclusive. My friend's son is transgendered, so it made sense that he joined it. The game consisted of two periods of play. There were two referees. One of them smiled at me during the second period while standing in front of me. Another first! Sadly, his team lost to the Rejects. I sat several benches away from the wife and daughter of the Otters' goalie. They were loud, but I appreciated their enthusiasm. Both ice rinks are cold temperature-wise. If you get cold easily, grab a sweater or jacket. I actually went in with shorts and a t-shirt, and was fine. I run on the hotter side, so I'm a bit different. My friend skated over after the game. He let me know that he'd need some time to switch out of his gear. I told him to take his time. I waited steps away from the Welcome Centre. My friend showered and changed, and we headed to his car with a couple of his teammates that I got to meet. As a hockey fan, this experience was wonderful. My friend had beer in the trunk of his car. We had a mini tailgate drinking a can of beer and chatting. It was a nice tradition that this team has and I was thrilled to be a part of it. I had a good time taking in a free game with my friend in it despite the outcome. CIH is an awesome hockey facility. I'm glad that I was able to check it out. (226)

Of the 7 current NHL arenas I have been to this is 7th out of 7th Here is the rundown…read more Arena feels quite dated compared to the others I have been to, even though our favorite Madison Square Garden is much older and others are of similiar age. Unlike Centre Bell and Scotiabank Arena which have great food, drinks, and WiFi there are limited food and drink options here (at least on 3rd floor where we sat) and no WiFi. The arena is also far away from the city center although luckily they are putting new arena near the War Museum in LeBreton Flats that will be on the light rail line. They do their best to make up for the shortcomings and have a couple restaurants in the arena but we didn't try them as well as great pregame and intermission entertainment. When we went on November 2nd against the Kraken it was Oktoberfest night and they had pregame specials and entertainment we missed along with a beer stein giveaway they ran out of (but we didn't want to fly back with them anyways), and a German dance troupe during intermission that was just to the left and below us on the club level and the Jumbotron was fun to watch throughout the game. The team has so much potential and I love Brady Tkachuk as his dad Keith was my favorite Blues player growing up so I got his jersey in advance. Plus hockey really has its origins in Ottawa rather than Toronto even though the original Senators relocated to St. Louis to become the Eagles before they got the current team several decades later. Looking forward to seeing Ottawa again when Parliament is restored and they have a new and improved arena.

This is the 7th hockey arena I've visited. It's almost 30 years old, but the place still looks…read morepretty new. Pretty easy access to get in and out and there are plenty of restrooms and food choices. Staff was also super cool and friendly along with all of the Ottawa fans we met. It is out in the middle of the boonies, so we didn't drive there and stayed at the hotel that was 0.5 miles down the road. It is pretty easy to walk on Huntmar Dr and across the bridge to the arena. That's the only downside is that the place is like a 30 minute drive to downtown. There are some things around the area, but it is still pretty dead and you can't really pregame like you can at other arenas.

The Arts Court is great because you can go to see many different galleries without leaving the…read morebuilding. Within the Arts Court "complex" there is Saw Gallery, video and Club, The Ottawa Art Gallery, the Firestone Collection of Canadian Art, Le Groupe Dance Lab. Entrance is pay what you can, though I did not see where to put my donation! I really enjoyed browsing around, as the gallery was literally empty except for my friend and I, so we could see things at our own pace. It's great to have works by such different artists all in one place. It would have been nice to have some help finding the different galleries though, there were not many staff people around to give directions or answer questions about the exhibits.

I might be a bit biast as I work in the building, but it is truly a hub of local artists and arts…read moreorganizations (over 25!). There is so much going on inside these heritage building walls! From the Ottawa Art Gallery, to the Theatre, Club Saw/Saw Gallery/SAW video to Ottawa Dance Directive - there is always something happening here. Most of the activities in Arts Court are free, fundraising or at very low cost and the programming benefits a wide audience. The down side is that the listings aren't grouped anywhere together, outside of the Artlist (Artengine's e-blasts). In addition, the old Courthouse's layout is a real maze to navigate and unfortunately, some people get lost, give up and get out before they've discovered something exciting or found what they've come to see in the first place.

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!

The City of Ottawa puts on cooking classes at the Shenkman Arts Centre throughout the year for very…read morereasonable prices considering you get instruction from a chef, get to eat a communal meal you helped make and bring home any leftovers. Maria, the chef, is super friendly and knowledgeable. I recently took a Mexican cooking class with her and my mother-in-law. It was a lot of fun and the food was delicious. There is a commercial kitchen in the downstairs of the Shenkman Arts Centre that is used for the cooking classes. The kitchen is well equipped and there are volunteers to help with cleaning dishes as the class cooks along with provided recipes. The communal meal afterwards is really nice to be able to talk to fellow classmates and to enjoy what we made together. You're allowed to bring containers with you to the class in case there are any leftovers. We ended up bringing home a bunch of things because there was plenty to go around. I highly recommend checking out a cooking class here!

I have to give it up to the Ottawa Fashion Week (OFC) crew that runs this event every few months…read more It can't be an easy thing getting designers to come out of their way to Ottawa let alone come up during our winter season. The event is made up of multiple daily fashion shows and after parties for people to mingle with. It hasn't got to the size of the Milan Fashion Week but I bet the OFC crew is trying to grow it there!!! I reviewed Milan here ;) http://www.yelp.ca/biz/settimana-della-moda-milano This event has happened all over the city, from the National Gallery, to Little Italy and now the Convention Center. Previous events started off with a lot of Canadian talent but over the years they've brought in more International designers. It's actually pretty cool! You might be asking what I know about female fashion? Let me be the first to share a secret with you. Absolutely nothing! I just like kicking back, watching the show, listening to the music and hoping my jaw doesn't hit the ground. Come check it out and support the Ottawa fashion scene or come out to an after party to mingle! Part of your ticket sale goes to a charity, this current one to UNICEF.

The Canadian Tulip Festival happens every year in Ottawa in May. The exact date changes year to…read moreyear. The history of the Tulip Festival is very unique. It dates back to World War II. Canadian Troops played a significant role in the liberation of the Netherlands from German occupation during WWII. Furthermore, when Germany invaded the Netherlands, Princess Juliana (heir to the Dutch throne) and her 2 children fled to Canada and sought refuge in Ottawa. Princess Juliana gave birth to her third child, Princess Margriet, at the Ottawa Civic Hospital. Princess Margriet's birth in Canada would have been problematic as then she wouldn't hold sole Dutch citizenship and thus wouldn't be in the line of succession to the Dutch throne. Recognizing their predicament, the Canadian Government (temporarily) declared where she was born, Dutch soil. This act of goodwill was remembered by the Dutch. In 1945, the Dutch Government sent Canada 100,000 tulip bulbs to express their gratitude for Canada's role in their liberation and for the kindness Canada bestowed on their royalty. And they have continued to send tulip bulbs every year. So the tulip has become a symbol of international friendship. The tulips became a big tourist attraction, and it was photographer Malak Karsh, who in 1952, suggested the idea of a Tulip Festival to the Ottawa Board of Trade, and the inaugural Canadian Tulip Festival occurred in 1953 and has been going on every year since. So every May, Ottawa is filled with tulips. There are over 1,000,000 tulips in bloom (and over 100 varieties) in Ottawa during the festival. The largest concentration of them can be found in Commissioner's Park by Dow's Lake. However, they are literally everywhere in the city. And not just real tulips, but sculptures of tulips too get erected through the city. Local businesses even get in on it, offering tulip shaped cookies. It's truly a sight to see for tulip lovers. Or admirers of flowers in general. After a long, cold and dreary Canadian winter (it pretty much snows October to April, lol), welcoming Spring with colourful tulips all over the city is so wonderful. I absolutely love walking around and seeing (and occasional photographing) all the tulips. When I was new to Ottawa, I went to Commissioner's Park during the Tulip Festival. While it was beautiful, I found crowdedness and busyness incredibly annoying, lol. Now as a long-time Ottawa resident, I admire the tulips scattered throughout the city instead ;)

So I'm not sure what it was about this year but the Tulip festival was way more epic last year with…read morethe amount of flowers they had going on at Major Hills onwards. I'm comparing this years to last years tulip festival I guess... They had other events that were scattered around and those were ok but something seemed missing. The kick off ceremony was in a small cramped place in between Sidedoor and Planet Coffee. Most other times this would be an awesome place to kick off anything else but a festival? It was very difficult to fit people in there. I've seen more things happen in the past. It was cool that they had it across multiple sites this year. I'm not sure if that happened in the past. I hope they go all out again next year and do it better than this year!

I came here for the Vintage Village of Lights…read more Similar to Upper Canada Village,closer for the "east enders" It was just under $20 to get in. Babies are free. Free parking, and everything was included in the entry free: parking, visit with santa, gingerbread cookies that you can decorate, wagon rides and games. If you come here during the winter, I recommend dressing VERY warm as most of the activities are outdoors, and to skip the stroller and bring a sled if anything. Strollers are also not allowed in the indoor exhibits, so your stuck leaving them outside. Much smaller than Upper Canada Village, but did the trick for a festive night out.

This place was such an amazing, fun and educational way to spend the afternoon. It was inexpensive,…read moretoo. What's more, the staff were very friendly, helpful and the demonstrations of skills from the period were interesting and informative to watch. Having travelled to Ottawa more times than I can count, the only thing I wonder is why I hadn't discovered this gem sooner. The place is very family-friendly and has lots of space for young ones to burn off steam - as they often don't have the patience to see everything that's offered. If you want a great way to spend a few hours with the family, it's worth considering the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum.