Tag Archives: Sandy Hill Seen

Weekend RoundUp: Live Local… it’s what we do.

Posted on November 7, 2013 | Leave a comment

Ok we always strive to live local – it’s why we love our urban hood – and this weekend it is easier than ever thanks to all the great merchants and artists kicking off the good times.

auntieloosThe event of the weekend has got to be Auntie Loo’s Treats Grand Opening – YES she is HERE – this Saturday but first ….

This is the final weekend for the Extremely Short New Play Festival. Ten plays under 10minutes each and they are all really good. Seriously, you should go. Nightly at 8pm til Sunday @ArtsCourt Theatre, 2 Daly Ave.

Thursday head down to SAW Gallery for Cafe Ex the showcase for independent experimental films.  Tonight’s edition features the work of award-winning film-maker and photographer Bridget Farr.  An Ottawa native Farr has screened films and worked all over the world and will be in attendance tonight to introduce & discuss 9 of her films. An outstanding opportunity to meet a local & international gem. Club SAW, 7pm

On Friday we keep it local again with Customer Appreciation Night at A Curious Shop. This wonderful boutique is co-owned by a Sandy Hill creative and is jam-packed with one-off, unique clothes and accessories that you simply will not find anywhere else!  If, like us, you keep it fresh & fun then this is the shop for you. The evening promises tasty treats, fire spinning, discounts, manicures and more. It’s all happening at 159 York St from 5pm.

Looking for a little hip hop to round off your Friday? Check out Rwandan-born Canadian artist Shad headlining at Ritual Nightclub with Vancouver’s We are the City and local Ottawa band Zoo Legacy.  Friday at Ritual Nightclub 137 Besserer st.

Saturday it’s the event of the weekend! Have you heard?  There is a new yummy scrummy bakery and they’re throwing a launch party!

Saturday 11am-4pm head to Auntie Loo’s Treats to discover just how delicious vegan cupcakes, scones, whoopie pies (and more) can be! The event poster cautions us to wear loose pants as there will be plenty of samples to whet your new local addiction. The Rideau Valley Roller girls are putting in an appearance, there is a BBQ and neighbouring businesses are joining in too. See you at Auntie Loo’s Treats 112 Nelson (across from Loblaw’s parking garage entrance) Unit101 C.

Finally on Sunday prep for party season at the Ottawa Vintage Clothing Show. In keeping with our love of all things unique and inventive we are sure there will be both quirky and glamorous finds for you to discover. Ottawa Convention Centre 10am-5pm.

Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized, Weekend RoundUp

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

10-Minute Theatre @ the Extremely Short New Play Festival

Posted on October 28, 2013 | 1 comment

Ever wondered what would happen if writers were asked to come up with gripping yet super-condescended 10-minute plays? Well you’d get the New Theatre of Ottawa‘s Extremely Short New Play Festival!   Starting Halloween night Ottawa’s closest thing to speed date theatre kicks off at Arts Court.

Eric Craig as Gorilla in Top Job & Colleen Sutton as Tammy in Out of Gas Photo: Andrew Alexander

Eric Craig as Gorilla in Top Job & Colleen Sutton as Tammy in Out of Gas
Photo: Andrew Alexander

That’s right it’s 10 short sharp productions in this the 2nd Annual Extremely Short New Play Festival – a title so long they, thankfully, gave it an acronym E.S.N.P.F.

The festival offers up a varied canapé of productions inviting emerging and established playwrights to present brand new plays under 10-minutes in length.  The flow of the evening is a serving of 5-plays followed by a digestive intermission and a second-helping of the remaining 5 productions. It’s basically theatre tapas so there’s bound to be something to your taste. Curated by ESNPF judges John Koensgen, Mary Ellis and Robert Marinier the 10 selected plays are the winning submissions vetted earlier this year.

Come to the opening on Halloween night where organisers encourage dressing up as your favourite dead author and sticking around for the after theatre reception.

E.S.N.P.F
31 October – 10 November (Tues-Sat 8pm)
Arts Court Theatre, 2 Daly Ave.

1 Comment

Posted in Theatre

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Eye Spy: Petition for UofO on-Campus Residences

Posted on October 20, 2013 | Leave a comment

Action Sandy Hill / Action Cote de Sable has launched an online petition to encourage the University of Ottawa to build on-campus residences for its growing student population.

ottawa-campus_0University of Ottawa’s student body has grown by 15, 000 in roughly the last 10 years. The vibrant student community contributes greatly and positively to the energy of Sandy Hill yet the growing housing demands are now physically transforming the neighbourhood.  The petition underlines that any conversation must involve the entire population of the neighbourhood in an inclusive discussion on how to address the needs of the growing University.

For instance the Retirement Residence at 300 Friel was transformed this summer in to a 98-unit apartment building aimed specifically at students. An application has been submitted to the City (see billboard on Laurier Ave. at Friel) to knock down 6 low-rise (including one neglected yet beautifully elegant apartment on the corner) buildings and create a large 9 storey apartment with 162 units! At 87 Mann a development company has an application in with the city to transform the church at this location in to a 60 unit residence.

The public comment period on the last TWO projects are still open the associated project codes are:
D02-02-13-0086 & D01-01-13-0012 for Laurier and Friel and
D02-02-13-0076 & D02-02-13-0084 for 87 Mann.

Ottawa plaque UofOttawa19

Bear in mind there are likely more developments ongoing that Sandy Hill Seen is simply unaware of at the moment.

The University itself is building a 165 unit dwelling on Henderson Avenue whilst additionally seeking proposals from developers to build 750-bed units within 10 minutes walking distance of Campus.

These executed developments and on-going requests clearly speak to the need for greater accommodations.  Thus it is time for all residents within 10 minutes  walk of campus to sit down with the University, our Councillor Mathieu Fleury, the Mayor’s office and City Planners to find the solution to meet the entire neighbourhood’s needs.

Together a solution can be found to maintain the vibrant student population without encroaching on other diverse communities and businesses within our colourful urban neighbourhood.

Please sign the petition to have a voice in these ongoing conversations.

Leave a comment

Posted in Local Politics, Uncategorized

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Socialites & Psychological Twists in “Deadly Murder”

Posted on October 19, 2013 | 2 comments

An edited version was published in Apt613.ca

Deadly Murder Marghetis Maria Vartanova

Connor Marghetis as Billy in Deadly Murder
Photo: Maria Vartanova

What’s in a name?  Not much or so says Shakespeare but as murder is in its essence deadly this name sticks for all the wrong reasons. Playwright David Foley weighed other monikers including the superior “If/Then”; alluding to the Cause and Effect theme running throughout the play.  One thing we can say for his chosen designation is that it fairly screams “Christie-sque Thriller” and, for all the right reasons, that is exactly what the evening delivers.

Set in the luxury apartment of a Manhattan socialite of “a certain age” Camille (Kim Strauss) this three-hander gets straight to business with Camille attempting to divest herself of one-night stand waiter Billy (Connor Marghetis) who, in turn, most ungallantly rejects this post-romp dismissal. Attempted offers of “cab-fare” escalate to sex tape blackmail and the summoning of security guard Ted (Tim Finnigan). Revealing himself as an accomplished hustler Billy soon has both Camille and Tim disarmed with a scenario shift from opportunistic burglary to pre-mediated shakedown. From this point hairpin twists come fast and furiously throughout the 2 Acts with murders, both real and imagined, moving the action along in thoroughly entertaining order through to the final curtain.

In the interest of full disclosure thrillers are not my predilection so the competence and enthusiasm the cast brought to the stage was a gratifying element of the evening. Marghetis is a charming and scheming interloper though a dollop of pure menace could only enhance his part.  Finnigan though capable at times struggles to characterise the full weighed of down-trodden desperation in the role of the indebted gambler security guard. Kim Strauss however is a stand-out as Camille embodying the quintessentially clever, slightly-jaded, socialite with energy, insights and timing as sharp as any hustlers.

Strauss & Finnigan Photo: Maria Vartanova

Strauss & Finnigan
Photo: Maria Vartanova

It was with trepidation transformed to admiration that we watched Strauss, without training or experience, take to the stage commanding the room with a highly believable personification of a rather multi-faceted Camille.  From the very outset while attempting to shift her unwanted lothario Strauss moved seamlessly from charmingly indulgent to confidently direct telling Billy to “suck it up and move on”.  On stage almost throughout and with the lion’s share of dialogue Strauss assuredly kept pace, drama and our avid attention.

The trio’s witty delivery and obvious synergies alongside Foley’s psychological contortions elevate the evening above whodunit plotlines to a fully-formed production that’s a pleasure to watch through to the clever if/then ending.

Deadly Murder at Ottawa Little Theatre until Nov 2, 2013

7:30pm (except Mondays)
Matinee October 27th, 2013
400 King Edward Ave. Ottawa, K1N 7M7

2 Comments

Posted in Theatre

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

FreshMeat: Serving Bite-Sized Theatre with a Brew

Posted on October 15, 2013 | 1 comment

This post was also published by Apt613.ca
Grab your drink and take your seats as FreshMeat2 Theatre rolls in to town for not one but two consecutive weekends October 17-19 and 24-26!

FireFlood Theatre1The pop-up festival brings 14 top theatre companies together to showcase brand spanking new short and sharp edgy works in a single, comfortable and ‘serving’ venue. Keeping it fresh the 14 companies are split over two weekends – so it’s a completely new experience any time you drop in. The 7 companies selected per weekend (Thursday-Sunday nights) perform a total of 4 brief, 20-minute, pieces per night. The rotating schedule and time-restricted performances create concentrated bursts of creativity throughout the evening while comedy hosts keep the flavour fresh between troupes.

Local aficionados will recognise companies including: Prix Rideau Award nominees May Can Theatre, Future of the Fringe Award winners Backpack Theatre, and Dead Unicorn Ink returning from a sold-out Fringe run and subsequent re-staging of Chesterfield.

New companies include THUNK! Theatre creators of smash-hit Bread at this year’s Undercurrents,  Norah Paton, director of touring Fringe show Around Miss Julie and, 2 ½ Women the relentlessly funny trio from last year’s Crush Improv “Bout Time” tournaments host the second weekend as well as performing a twenty-minute set, with GRIMprov hosts of the first weekend.

Immerse yourself for the weekend or take a first theatre dip at a collaborative event where artists take risks they might not otherwise explore in 20-minutes explosive theatre bites.

FreshMeat2: DIY Theatre Fest
Lunenburg Pub & Bar, 14 Waller Street, Ottawa, K1N 9C4
October 17-19 and 24-26 doors 6:30, show 7pm
Tickets: $15/night, $25/weekend, $40/full festival pass.
Tickets available at door and via fresh.meat.theatre@gmail.com .

1 Comment

Posted in Theatre

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Eye Spy: Sept 19th Road Closure Nelson St between Stewart St & Daly Ave 7am-7pm

Posted on September 18, 2013 | Leave a comment

Eye Spy: Sept 19th Road Closure Nelson St between Stewart St & Daly Ave 7am-7pm

Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged , , , , ,

Action – & Art – Sandy Hill (event round-up)

Posted on September 16, 2013 | Leave a comment

Lace up your boots because it’s non-stop Sandy Hill action.  Details on our Events page.

NBOG13_768_432Supernova! Nuit Blanche Ottawa – is the highlight of our week! The all-night art extravaganza launches at our very own Ottawa Art Gallery. Be amongst the first to celebrate the 2013 kick-off then roam the streets from dusk to dawn taking in performances, exhibits and interactive installations.

The week kicks off Monday night at City Hall with a meeting on building conversions. Action Sandy Hill amongst others will be speaking as City Planners take the pulse of local neighbourhoods.  A big issue in Sandy Hill. How do you feel about dwellings being converted to smaller units?

Thursday Sept 19th sees two major events at the Ottawa Art Gallery. At noon Sook-Yin Lee discusses the inspiration behind her latest exhibit We are Light Rays. In 2011 her sister was diagnosed with cancer and together she and her sibling explored the immediacy of the present through photography. The series spanning 2 years is presented via light panels giving the images a ghostly ephemeral essence.  Show runs to January 26th. 

Thursday 6pm is the Opening for both “We are Light Rays and “Sell Out”. The latter is a provocative and intriguing exhibit that questions the necessity and, in equal measure, the vilification of artists that sell-out by producing commercial works. The timing of this piece is particularly compelling as it coincides with a case brought to the Supreme Court of Canada by a collection of artists (CARFAC) against the National Gallery of Canada (NGC) on copyright laws and artist fees – there is no minimum payments to artist for works exhibited at the NGC. 

Catch Sook-Yin Lee and Benjamin Kamino on Friday 20 Sept for the première of their multi-media performance art piece “How Can I Forget” at University of Ottawa’s Academic Theatre.

Friday Night 5-11pm it’s the ELE music concert of emerging urban artists with a FREE (suggested donation of 5$ in support of childhood cancer support group Candlelighters) on Tabaret Lawn.

Saturday is busy busy busy. First up is the Sandy Hill Yard Sale but don’t forget to save a bag for the Pop-up Sandy Hill Farmer’s Market at Laurier & Chapel. As if that wasn’t fun enough we’ve taken the stress out of Saturday night dinner with a Community BBQ providing the sustenance required to re-charge for the Nuit Blanche night ahead.

Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Aside

Two new Bixi bike stations in Sandy Hill: one on Waller the other at King Edward by the Minto Sports complex.  Also a contraflow (biking against traffic) has been added to the Ottawa University one way system in recognition of … Continue reading →

2 Comments

Posted on September 13, 2013

Counting on Sandy Hill by the Numbers

Posted on September 10, 2013 | Leave a comment

NumbersSandy Hill is a neighbourhood of many facets and this website will provide residents and visitors with information to fully enjoy this eclectic and exciting quarter.

This site will equally be a “listings” home for the many events held locally including Art in The Park, Dusk Dances, Jane Walks, Yoga classes, ASH meetings, Community days, garage sales and more.

The current site will be developed, and lay-out rapidly improved, but for now we leave you with some Sandy Hill stats rather than an Under Construction place holder.  Welcome and enjoy!

People – over 10 000 strong 

  • 12,451 (2011 census).  A bilingual neighbourhood with an eclectic mix of families, professionals– from Ambassadors through Chefs – and students.

Incredible Public Transport  – Get Anywhere in Ottawa Car-free

  • The Transit Way at Ottawa University (Laurier & Campus stops) or the Rideau Centre (Mackenzie King stop) provide over 50 bus options
  • 5 & 16 running off Laurier Avenue
  • 7, 12, 14 & 18 on Rideau Street
  • Multiple VrtuCar car-sharing sites

IMG_5864Bike Paths & Walking – Minutes to Centretown, The Market & Beyond
Sandy Hill is a community that embraces walking and cycling due to the easy access of this neighbourhood to schools, shops and amenities from Rideau St, the Byward Market, Rideau Centre, Elgin street/Centretown and Vanier.  On foot or by bike these neighbourhood are mere moments away whilst further biking to Westboro beach, the Old Ottawa South farmer’s market and beyond is a cinch on two-wheels.

  • Rideau Canal bike paths can be accessed via Ottawa University & the pedestrian/bike Corkstowne Bridge
  • Rideau River Bike Paths are accessed via Strathcona Park
  • Stewart Street has a dedicated west-bound bike path
  • Wilbrod has a dedicated east-bound bike path

Parks:  (# square feet of green space) Sandy Hill is a green neighbourhood with elegant old trees lining the streets and beautiful parks and community gardens.

  • IMG_5857Strathcona Park runs along the Rideau River at the east end of Sandy Hill. A beautiful expansive oasis with a sparkling fountain on the crest where park meets Laurier Avenue.  Strathcona is home to art and theatre events in the Summer months (Odyssey Theatre, Dusk Dances, Art in the Park, Rag and Bone and more). Has gothic ruins to climb and two play structures , 2 wading pools (Strathcona Park & Dutchy’s Hole)and great tobogganing in the winter months.  One of Ottawa’s premiere parks it meets every comer’s needs.
  • Dutchy’s Hole and Robinson’s Field – often considered part of Strathcona Park these two green spaces are located at the southern end of Strathcona and joined up by the pedestrian cycling path along the river.  Dutchy’s Hole has playstructures, a great dog entrance to the river, a wading pool and is home to the Sandy Hill Community Garden. Robinson’s field is, as the name indicates, a very large playfield with lots of green space for sun worshiper’s, book readers and dog-walkers.  Robinson’s Field also houses the Strathcona Heights’ Community Garden.IMG_5868
  • St Germain Park – nestled next to the Sandy Hill Community centre at the South Western tip of Sandy Hill where King Edward meets Mann Avenue this park is perfect for active Sandy Hill residents. A play field, dog park, extensive new climbing facilities and a wading pool are some of St Germain’s key features. In the winter a well maintained outdoor rink is located on the playing field and they even have a small ice-run for new skaters.
  • Chapel Street Splash Park – A small shady park between Rideau and Laurier the Chapel street park is an ever popular destination for water play, relaxation and picnics.

Businesses & Services:  Sandy Hill is spoiled for services, eateries, and coffeeshops. For a complete listing see our comprehensive  Business Directory.

Embassies – The elegant tree-lined neighbourhood is home to over 30 embassies. From Albania, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Egypt, Switzerland, Tanzania and so many more the international flavour of Sandy Hill is undeniable!  See a complete list of embassies here.

IMG_5861

Education

  • University of Ottawa
  • Le Cordon Bleu – Culinary Arts Institute
  • Ecole FrancoJeunesse
  • Viscount Alexander Public School
  • Bettye Hyde Daycare & After-School Care
  • Wilbrod Daycare

Come and visit us again soon as the information and events on this site grow and flourish. Live your Sandy Hill Seen (sic) to the full!

Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,