See the 8 day forecast at the ottawan weather

⚡Flash freeze warning for this evening. Roads and walkways may become suddenly icy. Yet today could also possibly be the warmest day in February ever.

HELLO OTTAWA

The National Capital Commission is redeveloping Ruisseau de la Brasserie (or Brewery Creek) and has an open house tomorrow from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

The Commission not only wants to revitalize Montcalm Street in downtown Gatineau, but the plan will create public access to the water for the first time in a century.

The open house is at Artist-run centre AXENÉO7, 80 Hanson Street, Gatineau and you can read about the plan on the website.

– Martha and Darren

TODAY’S LINE UP

•  Food + Drink Update
•  Ottawa Stats
•  City Hall Agenda
•  What Ottawa is Talking About
•  Events
•  Deals of the Day

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FOOD + DRINK UPDATE

•  We’ve told you before that Bowman’s Bar and Grill has been donating $5 from every burger sold on Wednesdays to WE Gowling Public School’s fund for new play structures. Today is the final Wednesday of the bar's current campaign, and the amount Bowman’s Bar & Grill has raised In 2024 is almost double last year’s total. Help them reach the magic number: visit Bowman’s Bar & Grill at 1170 Carling Ave for a burger between 11:30 am and 10:00 pm tonight.
•  After 40 years in the ByWard Market, the Courtyard restaurant announced yesterday that it would be closing permanently after last night’s dinner service.  News outlets are speculating as to the cause for the closure, and owner Phil Waterman has yet commented about it. 
•  This evening, Junior + The Kid are popping up at Orléans Brewing Co for one night only. This means you could have freshly smoked brisket for dinner, plus potato salad, Mac n Cheese, all washed down with the fine beer from the brewery. From 4:00 pm at 4380 Innes Road, Orléans.
•   Around the Block Butcher & Market has finally opened in its new space at 117 Centrepointe Drive. The larger space can accommodate the usual fine cuts of meat and there’s a new range of ready-to-eat and ready-to-heat meals coming soon.
•  Kudos to the staff at Boston Pizza (Conroy Road), who did something pretty heartwarming recently. Instead of requesting payment from customers at the pizza shop’s grand reopening, they asked for donations to the Royal Ottawa Foundation. Over three days they raised $3,250.
•  Red Apron’s taken all the work out of Easter, with a Ontario ham-based Friday Feast for pick up or delivery on March 29 that will serve six, or a ‘Cook at Home’ turkey dinner that will feed eight for $125.
•  The closed-for-winter Dairy Queen on Merivale Road will not be reopening for spring after 60 years.
•  Ameya Charnalia at Eat the Strip was told by a reader that the Syrian ‘manaqeesh at Jasmine was the best she’d had in Ottawa’. Says Charnalia, ‘The meat pie, priced at less than $5, was like nothing I had ever tried before. Made with ground meat, tomatoes, pomegranate molasses and other delicious herbs and spices, it was complex and paired excellently with the free side of garlic sauce. The molasses made it tart and the chilli powdered they sprinkled on it gave it a nice kick’. Jasmine Bakery is at 2730 Iris St, behind the IKEA.
•  At Ottawa Life, Jordan Pizzuti his own ‘meals of the month’ awards for each time of day. Breakfast: the mariposa duck benny at Wilf and Ada’s. Lunch: the sticky pineapple tofu bowl at Sula Wok. Dinner: the gnocchi Sardini in amatriciana sauce at Giulia. Dessert: The Sharazi tart and the lemon blueberry tart at Tartlette.

OTTAWA STATS

Ottawan of the Day

• Paul Poirier
• – The ice-dancer and former Olympian has joined seven of his Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics team Canada collegues in filing a case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport to be awarded the Bronze Medal. Last month, the International Skating Union took back Russia’s gold medal after proof of doping, bumping up the United States and Japan. The Canadians say that Russia’s points in the semi-finals should also be removed, which would give Canada the Bronze. (Tariq Panja in the New York Times)

Quote

• “

• I would never have moved here if I knew that in two years I would be paying over $2,000 more a month.

• – Retiree Penny Eccles who is fighting a massive increase in rent at her Park Place seniors residence. The landlords, Alavida Lifestyles say that the increase is the ending of a ‘marketing discount’, not an increase in rent. (Nicole Williams at CBC)

Sports

• 🏒 NHL Ottawa Senators 1 – Nashville Predators 4 last night

CITY HALL AGENDA

What’s going on at City Hall

Light Rail Sub-Committee
Thursday, February 29 at 9:30 am

• Update on the LRT Action Plan – response to OLRT Public Inquiry recommendations
• Stage 2 light rail transit project

📋 Agenda

WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

🚨 Ottawa Police Service Board

•  The Ottawa Police Services Board has ordered a review into the response to the fireworks incident by Convoy supporters. In a statement, the Board said it ‘has been made aware that there may be a discrepancy between information provided to the Board at its public meeting on February 26th, 2024, and information circulating on social media with respect to the fireworks incident on February 17, 2024’. Police Chief Eric Stubbs had told the board that the Police did not observe any fireworks and none happened after officers left. However, videos presented to the Board showed fireworks with Ottawa Police officers present. (Luke LeBrun in Convoy Watch)
  
  ➕ Related Ottawa Police arrested a tow-truck driver for attempting to steal a car by hooking it up to his vehicle at 2:30 am.

🚊 OC Transpo

•  The north-south Trillium Line extention has been pushed back from its expected April/May opening. OC Transpo says it may open in September. The line is now two years behind target. (William Eltherington at CTV)  
  
  ➕ Related The City and the National Capital Commission may have worked out a solution in the East End. The City wanted to build a major extention to Brian Coburn Blvd through a part of the environmentally sensitive greenbelt, while the Commission wanted the extention to be detoured. Each gave a little and despite new asphalt being laid, the ‘southern part of Renaud Road would be closed and returned to greenspace’.

🏒 Le Bob

•  Gatineau’s Aréna Robert-Guertin has made it to the demolition list. The 1957 building has been empty since the Olympiques de Gatineau moved to the Hush Puppy Arena in 2020. (Ottawa Citizen)

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MORE FROM THE OTTAWAN

• 🍺 Our Ottawa-Gatineau Craft Brewery Map

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• 🏆 The Best Of Ottawa Awards 2023

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• 🎧 Best Podcasts from Ottawa

EVENTS

Is there an event we should know about?
Please use our easy event submission form

Today

•  UofO’s Moon Time Connections raises funds to send menstruation products to northern Indigenous communities, which can pay up to four times more than southern areas for these essential items. Tonight’s Concert for a Cause at Rainbow Bistro will look to redress that imbalance, as all proceeds from the show will go towards the purchase of period products for Northern communities. Pay $10 plus HST now or $15 at the door.
   
•  Turns out yesterday was World Spay Day. You can still help the Ottawa Humane Society today, thanks to a generous donor who has agreed to match all donations. Donations of $75 will neuter or spay a cat or rabbit, and $150 will do the same for a dog. That said, donations of any amount are welcome.
   
•  Choux Atelier, the bakery that blends Vietnamese flavours with Western pastry, is holding free menu tasting sessions all week for groups of six to 10 people. Most of the sessions are full but there are spots here and there for individuals and groups of smaller numbers.
   
•  On the last Wednesday of each month, Montgomery Scotch Lounge hosts a Scotch Talk from 5:00 pm. Not only do you taste four half ounces of the drink, but you’ll get a free meat and cheese board from Seed to Sausage when you reserve a seat. $45 per person.
   
•  The in-person job search workshop at OPL will help students, adults, and over-50s looking to step into or return to the workforce. Presented by CERC.
   
•  Disney’s Frozen continues at the NAC.
   
•  ByTowne Cinema: The Monk and the Gun, La passion de Dodin Bouffant (The Taste of Things), Perfect Days
   
•  Mayfair Theatre: The Zone of Interest, The Sweet East, Rollerball (1975)

  
  Gigs

•  Vinyl Nights. Cold Bear Brew Co (Arnprior)

•  Open Mic. Pour Boy

•  Trivia Night. Royal Oak pubs

•  Chase Rice. Bronson Centre

•  Taproom Trivia. Stray Dog Brewing Co

•  Spark Trivia. Spark Brewing Co

•  Video Game Music with F8-Bit. House of TARG

•  Celtic Celebration. Red Bird

Tomorrow

•  Ottawa International Writers Festival and Author Meets Readers present Care Homes in a Turbulent Era: Do They Have a Future? The book’s editors will be in attendance to discuss the current and future challenges and possible outcomes of care homes. This event is open to Carleton students and members of the public. Irene’s Pub Restaurant 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm.
   
•  Ottawa Bluesfest drops the 2024 lineup at 10:00 am. At the same time, information about the new festival passes will be released, from a revised VIP experience to the Platinum pass. These passes will go on pre-sale on Friday (March 1).
   
•  43 Québec brewers will be represented at Festi Biere Gatineau, running today through Saturday at Place des festivals Zibi, Gatineau (60 rue Jos-Montferrand).
   
•  Ottawa Farm Fresh’s Deep Winter CSA subscription starts today. Get a weekly dose of nutrient-rich locally grown organic veggies for 14 weeks.
   
•  Pity the comedians who play Absolute Comedy’s Write ‘Em Up show: as they perform, writers are busily writing roast-jokes about everything the comics say an do on stage. Host Todd Van Allen will then read the roast jokes out loud.
   
•  Disney’s Frozen continues at the NAC.
   
•  ByTowne Cinema: La passion de Dodin Bouffant (The Taste of Things), Perfect days, The Monk and the Gun
   

•  Mayfair Theatre: Ru, The Zone of Interest, The Sweet East

  Gigs

•  Irene’s Thursday Blues Sessions with Host Joe Mcdonald. Irene’s Pub Restaurant

•  Rebel Rock Concert Series with The Lazy. The 27 Club

•  Love Language, Valley Girls, Grey Brisson. LIVE on Elgin

•  Scott Reeves. Il Vicolo

•  Aurora’s Reef. Montgomery Scotch Lounge

•  Open Mic. Stray Dog Brewing Co

Friday

•  Swing dancers have registered in their dozens for O-Town Showdown 2024, which is back after a hiatus of three years. While the competition slots are all filled, you can buy dance tickets and passes at the door for the social dancing on Friday night and Saturday.
   
•  The Ottawa Polar Plunge dares you to be #freezinforareason to raise funds for the Ontario’s Special Olympics athletes. The current fundraising total is at 88% of the $30,000 goal.
   
•  Visit almost 100 exhibitors at Salon du Vélo de Gatineau-Ottawa to learn the latest about cycling and cycling tourism in our region. Today through Sunday at the Gatineau Convention Center.
   
•  Search for the big answers today through Sunday at the Ottawa East Psychic & Crystal Fair. Holiday Inn Ottawa East, 1199 Joseph Cyr Street.
   
•  ByTowne Cinema: Perfect Days, About Dry Grasses, The Peasants, Mean Streets
   
•  Mayfair Theatre: The Teachers’ Lounge, The Zone of Interest, Drugstore June 

  
  Gigs

•  High Waters EP Release, Annie Martel, Megan Francoeur. Irene’s Pub Restaurant

•  John Allaire. O’Brien’s Roadhouse

•  Slo’ Tom record release plus The Reverb Syndicate, Doubletalker. House of TARG

•  Excuses Excuses, Neon Ghosthouse, Rebel, Quiet Crimes. Rainbow Bistro

•  Skid Row vs. Mötley Crüe. Brass Monkey

•  Thievery Corporation. Bronson Centre

Just Announced / Now Booking

• Ottawa Food Bank says although they are frequently requested, menstruation products aren’t donated often. Until March 5, every Tuesday Move 100.3 is taking donations of menstrual hygiene products at Carlingwood Shopping Centre. Donations can also be dropped off at the station’s studios at 87 George St.

• Fashion forward kids can spend their March break creating their own pieces at the Richard Robinson Fashion Design Academy March Break Fashion Camps. There are programs for 8 to 10 year olds and 11s to 17s.

• For the first time ever, members of the public will be able to wander through the vaults and libraries of Library and Archives Canada’s Preservation Campus in Gatineau on May 24 and May 25 (10:00 am to 4:00 pm). Free.

DEALS OF THE DAY

BUT, ONE MORE THING ...

Randy Boswell in the Ottawa Citizen wonders who really was the first to promote skating the Rideau Canal Skateway. Former National Capital Commission honcho Douglas Fullerton usually gets the credit, but turn-of-the-previous-century journalist AC Campbell, 1870s Citizen-owner Andrew Holland, and 1950s Ottawa Board of Control* official CE Pickering were also early advocates.

* We just read up on the 1908 – 1980 Ottawa Board of Control. They were four people elected to do the executive work of the City because it was assumed City Councillors were not able to properly do their jobs as they were part time. If you have opinons on this odd state of affairs, let us know at hello@theottawan.com

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