Archive | November, 2008

A Delightful Downtown Date – Snow & Sketches at the SAW GALLERY

Those of us who prefer to deny winter exists can no longer ignore the cold hard facts.  While not yet in full swing, the sub-zero season has most definitely arrived, and the snow has finally started to fly.

Conventional wisdom would suggest we embrace it.  We are urged to get outside and boldly face its frigid character, and we are constantly reminded of all that Ottawa has to offer by way of winter sports.  “Go play” they say, as if the nostalgic echoes of childhood can somehow overcome our chilled bones, frozen toes and fogged up lenses.

Each year I begin with the same resolve.  I vow to  maintain a cheery attitude and enjoy the adventure.  I upgrade my gear, I muster up a smile and I optimistically prepare myself for wonderland fun.   “This year,”  I always tell myself, “this year I will finally get what all the excitement is about!”.

So, with the canal not quite yet frozen, and with the ski hills still bare, I  kicked off this year’s snowy season with the same dogged determination I always do.  A  downtown date after dark , I wistfully envisioned.  How romantic!  How delightful!

Last night, my mate and I headed down to the Byward Market for a walk outside.  While not exactly a winter wonderland, it was cool enough to catch a bit of the spirit, but warm enough to be bearable.  Starting off at the Chapters Indigo at Rideau and Sussex,  we perused the stacks and stopped in to Starbucks for a Grande European Blend Hot Chocolate, the perfect accompaniment for an evening stroll around town.

The shop windows were lit up with lots to see and the fresh air seemed to clear our heads enough to inspire insightful conversation outside our normal range of subjects.  We looked and laughed and wandered aimlessly past boutiques, bars and bistros filled with people out seeking experiences of their own. 

Then, when the hot chocolate had run dry, we headed over to the SAW Gallery for SKETCH, their annual holiday fundraiser.  The artist-run SAW Gallery located at Ottawa’s Arts Court, has become a premier destination for contemporary art in the city.

The underground space was jammed packed with art lovers of all kinds keenly straining for a look at the many sketches hung casually by string and paperclip across the gallery wall.  The room itself was full of creative energy, and the diverse crowd was lively and engaged.   The sketches, donated by more than 100 participating artists provided an eclectic selection to choose from, starting at the very low price of $5.    I myself found a fabulous pen and ink drawing done by Maya Hum, a recent graduate of the Ottawa School of Art.

SAW-gallery-sketch-soft   

In the end, our downtown date was black and white and gray all over.  And, it was absolutely delightful.

So far so good with this winter thing…

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The Tinted Edge – Hair History in the Making

Haircuts.  Hair colour.  Hair stylists.  

A hairstyle – or lack of one – speaks volumes about the person wearing it. 

More than any other physical feature, hair is an ever present visible manifestation of a woman’s sense of personal style. 

A hairstyle can say we’re serious.  Or sporty.  Or sexy.  Or sloppy.  It can say we’re young – or young at heart.  It can be beautiful.  Or bold.  Or it can just scream boring.

Recently, I felt the need for a change.  Not only was I ready to “break up” with my stylist after a few years too many, I wanted to convey something new.  Something different.   Something somehow more accurate, and  I wanted to shout out “I’m me, and I like it!”.  I wanted my hair to better reflect how I feel about myself at this point in my life, and I wanted to appear as authentic as I am finally beginning to feel.

I am young, but not that young, and I am both smart and sexy.  I guess I would describe my style as 80% /20% classic/boho, with a penchant for vintage clothing, a weakness for high heeled boots and an addiction to big bags.  I am medium maintenance woman who wishes to live  gracefully, and who is serious about expressing personality without being short on substance. The more self-aware I become, the the easier it is to communicate who I am through my aesthetic choices.

Unfortunately, my hair no longer fit this picture.  It was way overdue, and as is the case with hair – it was out of my hands.  I needed to find someone who would understand, and who I could trust to help me make the kind of change I was looking for.

womanbutterflies

So after doing some homework, and reading about their hair philosophy, I ventured over to the Tinted Edge Artistic Hair Studio on Cumberland Street.  This tiny little salon had been recommended to me by a like minded friend who raved about Christina, the owner and chief stylist.  I was reassured that Christina would know exactly what to do , so I had high hopes and huge expectations.

                        christina01

Well – let me tell you – I have never had a better hair experience!   I don’t think it would be overstating to say that Christina is a genius. 

Walking into the Tinted Edge I felt immediately at ease.  This was a place where everybody was happy.  Really happy.  Customers were happy, the team (stylists Zac and Allison ) was happy and Christina was downright pumped.  It was almost 6pm, and they had been there all day having fun!  What a relief it was for me to find myself among experts who were genuinely in love with their work, and who were so clearly serving their clients well. 

From our very first exchange, Christina wanted to know all about me.  Not just about my hair, but about who I am and how I live.  She asked me what kind of style I wanted, which I couldn’t really say, and seemed to understand intuitively when I instead began to try and described how I see myself.  She had definite ideas, but was careful to listen first to mine.  Then she spun my chair around to face her with my back to the mirror, looked me square in the eye, and said “what colour are they?”.  I was instantly and irreversibly impressed. 

Not only was she going to apply her knowledge of shape and texture,  Christina would also demonstrate her sophisticated understanding of colour.  Here was an artist who  was actually taking the colour of my eyes and the tone of my skin into account!  So far in my life, I had only ever seen this happen on TV.

Over the course of the next while, we  chatted comfortably about everything from our Moms and men to food and fashion, and I watched while she busily tinted and snipped.  In the end, the change was subtle but significant.  Having not really understood what I wanted, this new “do” was exactly what I needed. 

Interestingly, we talked about our passions.  While I confessed to my difficulty  passing abandoned furniture on the side of the road, Christina “sees heads” everywhere she goes!  Kudos to her for living her passion, and for bravely stepping up to share her talents through her business.  She sets a fine example for women who wonder whether they can make a go doing what they love…

So, I left the Tinted Edge with a new friend, a fabulous hairdo and a renewed sense of myself.  Upon returning home, I was met with a WOW.  What more could a girlaboutotown  ask for?!

Images from The Tinted Edge Hair Studio.

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