Touch You Last

This past weekend, we hit several of the sites participating in Doors Open Ottawa , which is an event where buildings of architectural significance and places that generally aren’t open to the public—you guessed it—throw open their doors to the sweaty, unwashed masses. For Doors Open Elsewhere , check in with Jay . Our first stop was the Algerian Embassy which is at the east end of our street. For those of you who don’t know our neighbourhood (I’ll see you at next year’s Movie Marathon), Sandy Hill is an area filled with old homes and embassies. The Algerian Embassy is a gorgeous building with marble floors and columns, red tile roof, and a huge garden. It put most of the buildings that followed to shame. (And this is where my knowledge of architecture falls short. I should be able to say something somewhat insightful here, but all I’ve got it; pretty !) It was down the road to Laurier House next, former home to two prime ministers: William Lyon Mackenzie King, and buddy on th...

As far as the restaurant situation goes, we’ve expanded our eating repertoire over the last two months. Here are a few quick highlights, with the appropriate props. I’ll also be honest and admit that some of these are restaurants we visited a while back but that I’d forgot about. Thanks to everyone for the wave of restaurant tips; it was greatly appreciated. Azteca – Actually, one of the first restaurants I’d ever been to in Ottawa. Went again yesterday after a two-year hiatus and it looks like they’ve renovated the hell out of the place. I think I preferred the old Azteca, but that may have been my meal’s fault. Never order a meal that the restaurant purports to be ‘an original’ or ‘only available here.’ I had something called Tacos al Pastor, which for all intents and purposes was a pork salad. (Props: Neil & Lorna) Blue Cactus – A good place; no complaints really (though I guess that says something about my general restaurant pessimism if that’s how I compliment a place). (Props...

There are three things I haven’t done since we moved up to Ottawa in late October. In part it’s due to circumstance beyond my control, and some of it can also be blamed on inclement weather. But in the end it’s mostly because I’m so very lazy. 1. I’ve yet to learn the layout of this city. Map and globe skills aren’t exactly my forte, so this isn’t a thing that will just occur to me one day. I’ve got to sit down and study a map for a few hours. Sarah is too good with directions, which makes me lazy. Even when I’ve been to the Costco forty times I still need verbal commands for when to turn. And the odd time where she prompts me and I actually do know where I’m going, I’m all, “I know! I KNOW! What am I, some kind of moron?” 2. I have to go to ByTowne Cinema, Ottawa’s independent theatre, which incidentally is about three blocks from my house. Back in University, I discovered Windsor’s little indie theatre late in my third year, and since leaving I’ve pissed and moaned about ...