Happy Birthday “Fat Tuesdays”!

On Thursday, October 4th, “Fat Tuesdays” in Ottawa turned 10. Shucks! They grow up so fast!

I swung by to check out the action, stopping first for a glass of vino at Vittoria Trattoria.

The place was buzzin’. They’d rolled out the red carpet literally, and girls were dressed like Mardi Gras princesses. Thick black eyelashes, hair done to the nines, sparkles galore, and wearing very little aside from heaps of beaded necklaces. I regret to inform you I didn’t stick with the theme, although I did wear a somewhat low cut top. Very “Mardi Gras”, I know.

Duelling pianos, one of the coolest things that goes down at “Fat Tuesdays” had alas wrapped up. That said, I did get to see the very honourable Tyler Kealey strut his stuff with a couple of other musicians in the house. The band blared out Canadian bar favourites such as Billy Joel’s “Piano Man” and the Tragically Hip’s “New Orleans is Sinking”.

Tyler Kealey can be found @ Fat Tuesday’s Thursday and Saturday nights for duelling piano competitions!

Arriving close to midnight this place looked very much like the streets of New Orleans towards the end of Mardi Gras celebrations. Confetti and discarded curled ribbon littered the floors, and empty cups were strewn everywhere. Balloons which had begun their slow decline from the ceiling floated feebly near the ground. Beaded necklaces were strewn everywhere. People at their tables were shouting to be heard over the loud entertainment.

A gleaming silver fountain poured the punch for those who wished, and cake was provided to partygoers. Your presence was present enough for this establishment, as this bustling joint was packed that night.

Here’s to another year gone by!

“The Hill”: My View from the Top

Burning bright on a rainy day.

Rain poured down steadily as I looked up at the majestic sodden Parliament buildings on a wet day in downtown Ottawa. Some of the bricks were darkened by the precipitation. Despite the on pour, the Centennial flame burned brightly as visitors huddled around, trying not to bump one another with their umbrellas.

As I climbed the steps towards the Centre block, a few drenched protestors wearing ponchos were scattered about, dejectedly holding signs that indicated their cause: Climate Justice.

Craving some shelter, I splashed onward up the steps to the Visitor’s Centre. Once inside, I waited in line with what I observed to be a diverse group of people. A blind woman was guided through the line by a government official. A small Asian baby bobbled out of line, giggling, and those waiting in the lineup smiled at the frazzled dad who followed closely behind.

The security check was extensive. It was conducted by officials dressed in shades of blue, and caps adorned with gleaming gold maple leafs. There were plenty of these officials, and they cheerfully directed us to the House of Commons. This building is a well-run machine, and at every turn there was someone asking you how they might help.

A lineup similar to the one downstairs awaited us before entering the House of Commons. Following the coat and bag check, we were silently ushered in. Initially, I was leaning in and having a hard time hearing. It took a minute or two to discover the small, black telephone located to the left of the seat in order to hear the topic being hotly debated. I felt pretty silly. All around me I watched people who entered make the same mistake. The topic of the moment was “Motion 312”.

“Motion 312” seemed to be a sly way to reintroduce the abortion debate. A blonde, Conservative, female MP from Kitchener introduced the subject. She went on at length with much information about the development of a fetus, concluding that she would “only like to align the Criminal Code’s definition of a human with that of science”. She at no point made it clear that this was an abortion argument, but it was strongly implied.

The opposition’s rebuttal was fierce, and the NDP woman who spoke, impassioned. She cut right to the abortion implication of the Motion, and strongly advocated for a woman’s right to choose. Her anger was fuelled by the fact that the abortion debate has been closed for many years. She also felt that internationally Canada has blazed the trail on this issue, and taking a step backwards diminishes our position. It was evident that she was furious, and it made her all the more compelling.

I left feeling simultaneously exasperated and inspired. I walked out into the rain, towards the flame, and away from the action.

The NEW Pho Bo Ga La

Not to be confused with “The New Pho Bo Ga La 2”, this gem in Ottawa’s Chinatown offers the most soul soothing soup one could ever dream of. I’ve never had a dream that revolved around soup itself, but if I did, this one would provoke a subtle smile on my sleeping visage.

It doesn’t matter what you wear. This place is not pretentious. Don’t comb your hair! Come in sweatpants! No need to dress like a total slob, but you don’t want to go splashing broth on your best dress. This stuff is my saving grace after a long hard day on the grind, or after a particularly tumultuous sleep, or after a very sound, deep slumber. I should also mention that pho will take your hangover at the door. It will just hang it up like a jacket. And by the time you leave, you forget your coat. See what I’m sayyyyin? (If you don’t, I’m merely saying that you will feel significantly more like a functional human being).

It actually hits the spot no matter the circumstance. Which is great, because they’re open late! And when I say late, I mean it’s actually open later than most fast food drive thrus. Fridays and Saturdays you can get your fix until 4 AM! Alas for you weekday night hawks you have only until 1 AM to suck back some soup.

If you haven’t checked this place out yet, and you live in Ottawa, and you like pho…well, then heed my word and stop in! Honestly, I had it tonight and I’m still salivating…

Pho-Pho-PHO SHO!

Balloons

Every time that I see a balloon floating in the sky I am filled with joy. A smile darts across my face. Then I remember that somewhere there is probably a child crying because that balloon is gone, and I feel like a bad person. Still, I like to see a balloon float wild and free.

Frankly, I wrote this post because my theme calls to mind balloons, and my feelings on them.

Catapulting into the blog-esphere

And so it begins. I’ve committed to diving into Ottawa’s community and culture. Originally from the metropolis of Barrie, Ontario I’ve landed in Ottawa post-undergraduate degree. Sure, those university years were crazy. We went to the same restaurants for $3 breakfasts and the same bars for $2 drinks. Although perhaps I can’t afford it more now than I could then, I’m exploring Ottawa for all that it has to offer gastronomically and culturally. It promises to be a lot of fun. And for those of you reading, it should keep you in the know for all that this city has to offer.