Archive | April, 2009

Blogging Ottawa: It Just Keeps Getting Better!

Lately, it seems that Ottawa’s burgeoning blogsphere just keeps on getting better and better.  Since I began a year ago, this girlaboutOtown has seen many new great new blogs join the scene.  Slowly, I have been adding to feeds to my reader, and now I am following all sorts of unfiltered local news and views delivered direct to my inbox.  What better way to be in the know, stay cool and take advantage of all of the interesting, entertaining and inspiring things to see and do around town?

Here, for you, are a few of the latest and greatest to check out…

Adorn Inc. – Adorn Inc., is a delightful blog done by local freelance writer April Overall. Sharing mostly images and inspiration, April comes across some of the most pleasing pictures and products out there on the Internet.

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Thriftkitty – This recent addition to Ottawa’s blogging scene offers readers quirky, crafty insight into the joys and triumphs of thrift shopping right here at home and out there on the Information Superhighway. With passion and zeal, Thriftkitty occasionally reveals her secrets and steals, but given her intermittent posts – this girlaboutOtown suspects she would rather be shopping!

OttawaDiva – This brand new blog – started just in the last week or so – has been brought to life based on the notion that Ottawa needs to embrace bolder attitude. Brace yourself. The Ottawa Diva does not mince words.

Apartment613 – Also new to Ottawa’s burgeoning blog scene, Apartment 613 is a very clever, very cool site covering everything from neighbourhoods and city news to books and brunch. Regularly updated, and featuring a handy weekly wrap up, this one site is definitely worth watching. clip_image002

Spins and Needles –Ottawa’s creative types have been convening regularly at The Spins & Needles Craft and DJ night since 2005. This convergence of craft and community is always enjoyably enhanced with spun sounds and spirits. Now, the “crafty half” of Spins and Needles – co-founder Melanie Yugo, shares some “spin off stuff” with readers of her recently started blog.

Designing Ottawa – Maria Cook from the Ottawa Citizen is to be commended. Finally, someone is talking about architecture, public space and urban design with insight and intelligence that applies right here in Ottawa.  If you were following the Lansdowne Park/Kanata Soccer Stadium debate, you should not have missed Maria’s contribution.

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Modern Ottawa – Launched just since January, interior designer Marie-Judith Jean-Louis’s blog about local modern design is definitely something different for Ottawa. Take a peek inside some of the city’s most contemporary spaces, learn about the fundamentals of urban design, or even consider some of her constructive – but kind – criticism of Ottawa’s most recent Home and Garden Show.

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Design Ties – Kelly, of Jax Decor & Design in Ottawa, and her co-conspirator Victoria of EdinDesign Interiors in New Westminister, B.C., are each building business in the design field. Blogging about all things home & garden related with enthusiasm and energy, it is nice to see some more local content in the design and decorating domain.

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Beautiful Destruction: Art in Favour of change

Some of  you may recall awhile back this girlaboutOtown whipped up a few Courage City profiles.  These were short little pieces written to provide just a sliver of insight into the hearts and minds of courageous and creative entrepreneurs right here in Ottawa.  It was my intention to better understand their motivations, share their stories, and to celebrate their bold strokes.

Anyway, these Courage City profiles have proven to be some of the blog’s most popular posts, and have been a favourite feature of mine.  As it turned out though,  spending a few hours talking to totally interesting and inspiring people was easy and entertaining.  Reflecting afterwards and actually doing justice to their stories in print was not so easy.  Instead, it was a wee bit intimidating, not to mention time consuming, and since starting back to school, I’ve been hard pressed to carve out the required hours. 

Fast forward to today, and to the Earth Day launch of Beautiful Destruction, an exhibit of  Louis Helbig’s compelling aerial photographs of the Alberta Tar Sands being held in conjunction with the Ottawa International Writer’s Festival. 

Helbig, a local photographer, pilot, and owner of Egami Image, once the subject of one of my most daunting Courage City assignments, spent 6 weeks last summer flying West in antique plane and taking pictures that truly are worth a thousand words.  These photographs with their abstract artistic sensibility, striking colour and fascinating detail, make a powerful statement about what is happening at the Alberta Tar Sands.  Even for those of us who aren’t fully engaged in this issue, Helbig’s images make it hard not to stop, to think and to start to pay attention.

Read more about Louis Helbig’s Tar Sands journey here, and check out his exhibit if you can.  It runs from April 22-May 2 at St. Brigid’s Centre for the Art & Humanities, 314 St. Patrick Street.

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