The saga of Somerset Street

Those of us who live in the neighbourhood, and even those who don't, will recall the closure of the Bank and Somerset streets intersection last fall due to a partial collapse of Somerset House, the heritage building on the southeast corner.

Throughout the nine-week closure, I wondered to myself how much it was costing the city to keep the intersection closed. Well, in January I filed a Freedom of Information request and what I got in return helped me write this.

On an unrelated note, mega props to the women and men behind last night's Promdemonium. This is the type of event that Ottawa so desperately needs, which is why I'm hoping the organizers do it again soon (ie - please don't wait an entire year!)

The city and the country

It's often said the best part of Ottawa is Montreal. I think what people who say this really mean is that Montreal is just out of spitting distance, and therefore one can easily go there and locate the best things in life (apparently) absent in the Capital.

I'll be the first to admit Montreal has an awful lot going for it, but if I wanted to live there, I'd live there. I wouldn't live in Ottawa and pine for it like some long lost love.

I'll also be the first to admit that Ottawa is far from perfect. Our mayor is facing criminal charges, there is no good medium-sized concert venue, and the local alternative media is depressing at best. There's also the challenge of social ills, namely poverty, homelessness, and the drug trade.

Journalist Andrew Cohen attempted to highlight some of these shortcomings in a book last spring, but his criticisms, albeit harsh in some spots, were drowned out by the indignation felt by many Ottawans at the suggestion that our fair city isn't anything but a gem in the nation's eyes. One need not look further than this editorial from the Ottawa Citizen to hear the points many took issue with.

Still, I think Cohen put forth some strong arguments when addressing the inadequacies of public transit and the homeliness of some parts of Ottawa. The city's public transit system would be laughable if it wasn't so frustrating. Take, for example, the case of a dear colleague of mine, a fellow Carleton student. She lives near Bronson, a major North-South thoroughfare on which the university is located, yet in order to take the bus to school, she would either have to walk about 15 south on Bronson to catch a bus or stay closer to home, but take two separate buses (neither of which will likely be running on anything that resembles their posted schedules). What's up with that?

OC Transpo should also reconsider and re-assign its articulated (accordion) buses, so they run at peak times when their large capacity could be better utilized. I can't tell you how forlorn people look when yet another over-capacity bus passes them at their stop, thus ensuring they will be late for wherever it is they are going.

Cohen also noted that two of the city's main thoroughfares - Bank Street and Rideau Street - reveal the city's scruffy underside in a way outsiders or newcomers might find unwelcoming. I'll declare a bias of sorts here: I live off Bank Street, and do so by choice. The promenade from Gladstone to Wellington has a mix of charm and chaff, but it's a mix that imbues the area with an authentic neighbourhood feel, particularly between Gladstone and Laurier. Further south, Bank Street's stock rises considerably because both the Glebe and Old Ottawa South engender an even more pronounced community vibe than their Centretown cousin.

Rideau Street, I'll admit, is a bit of a mess in spots. This morning's Citizen has a story marking the 25th anniversary of the Rideau Centre, but perhaps the mall is part of the area's problem. Specifically, the overheard walkway from the Bay to the rest of the mall darkens the area and crowds the horizon, making for an ugly view in either direction. There is also a general sketchiness to the area, but it dissipates further south.

Missing from the defense to Cohen's attack was a mention of Ottawa's greener side. Beyond the city's many parks, primped tulip gardens and the arboretum at Dow's Lake, Ottawa boasts a quick and easy route to nature that many cities would covet.

In particular, Ottawa's proximity to Gatineau Park is something to celebrate (and boast about). And it's so close, a mere 25-minute drive from downtown. I'm never surprised when I take someone there for the first time and they say something like, "I can't believe this is so close. I should come here all the time."

I was reminded of the beauty of the place last night while cross-country skiing with some friends. We skied into a public access cabin and had fondue by candlelight, a wood stove crackling away in the corner of the creaky, snow-covered cabin. Looking out over the twinkling lights of the city, one feels at once so close yet so faraway, and the quiet of the night and the forest provide a welcome respite from the light and noise of the city.

For me, the best part of Ottawa isn't Montreal. The best part of the city, rather, may in fact be the country.

The day after

What began early yesterday afternoon with some scattered flurries blew on into the night until at least 30 more centimetres of snow fell on snowbanks already far taller than the average ninth grader. When I was out for a walk last night around 8, the sky was filled with postage stamp-sized flakes, the streets were deserted, and all of the movies I wanted to rent (Little Children, The Bubble, Into the Wild) had already been snagged.

This morning, the streets remained empty and eerily quiet. It was like waking up to a snowy armageddon. The snowbanks are piled high and people are just starting to dig themselves out.

This was the scene in my backyard, where my car was all but buried by the snow.



















And here's the same scene after a couple of hours digging.



















I suppose one benefit of the storm, combined with daylight savings time, is how easy it was to score a table at The Wild Oat (817 Bank Street). As my friends this morning all agreed, The Wild Oat is amongst the closest eateries in Ottawa get to something you'd find along Vancouver's Commercial Drive. It serves up organic, vegetarian goodness with a delicious bakery attached, so you can take something home when you're done. If you go, try the crepes, but make sure to leave room for a rosemary and goat cheese croissant.

A very musical neighbourhood

Alanis Morissette has been in the news recently, what with an upcoming album and an opening slot on tour with Matchbox 20. Yes, you heard me correctly when I said Matchbox 20, they of the dispirited, derivative rock music popularized by suburban commercial radio and sold in spades at Best Buy and Wal-Mart. This is, of course, the same Matchbox 20 whose frontman, Rob Thomas, has oft been rumoured to be Tom Cruise's co-pilot.

I digress. Returning then to Alanis, who has never been accused of being Cruise's co-pilot. She is, however, from Ottawa and the city definitely claims her as its own. A story in this morning's Ottawa Citizen reminds us that she spent her awkward teen years at Glebe Collegiate, but I can't imagine how much time she actually spent in class considering she landed a record deal at 14.

In the interview, Alanis also gives a good quote here and there. My favourite: "I've always compared human beings to flowers, like people who are relatively low maintenance but beautiful are like roses. You just throw water on it, stick it in the sun and it's fine." She goes on to say she thinks of herself as an orchid.

Speaking of blossoming, Glebe-raised musical talents, I caught Ottawa blues sensation Steve Marriner's set at the Rainbow last night. Blues music has an ethic and a feel all its own, one that I've had little formal (or informal) experience with. Yet every time I hear fine blues music, I make a note to myself that it's time for a little immersion. Muddy Waters, here I come.

At only 23, Marriner (who also attended Glebe Collegiate) is apparently one of the nation's best harmonica players, not to mention a pretty entertaining vocalist. He's appeared on stages around the world (including once alongside Bruce Springsteen) and is heading west on tour later this spring.

It's a good thing Marriner's show was last night. The snow has already begun to fly in what is expected to be the worst winter storm of the season. If you haven't heard from me again by dinner tomorrow, please send a search party.

Everyone's talking about the weather

One of the sad truths about life in Ottawa, particularly this year, is the long, drawn-out saga that is winter. After yesterday's dump of more than 30 centimetres and in anticipation of the storm expected to arrive sometime this weekend, it's no wonder many of the people you pass on the street have a detached, dispirited look in their eye.

Not surprising, most of the local media outlets have amped up the winter weather coverage. Today's Ottawa Citizen has a clever story about a man who has calculated the amount of snow he's shovelled this year in terms equivalent to the weight of an average white rhinoceros (2,300 kilograms). Turns out he's shovelled the weight of about 16 white rhinos. You can read the full story here

Still, my favourite weather story (well, more like rant) comes from Maclean's funny man, Scott Feschuk. Read it here

On the Hill, the past week has been anything but cool. In fact, things have been heating up in the wake of suggestions that a misstep by the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff may have had something to do with Barack Obama's showing in Tuesday's Ohio primary. The man at the centre of the storm is Ian Brodie, and whenever I see him in the news or on the Hill, I can't help but be reminded of when he taught me Canadian Politics. That was back in 1999/2000, when I was in second year at the University of Western Ontario, in London. Brodie often brought lightness and fun to our discussions of the separation of powers, and the butt of his jokes was often the Canadian Wheat Board. One can't help but wonder if his apparent dislike for the organization had anything to do with the Harper government's attack on it in recent years.