Ottawa, Canada's best place to live?
Fri, 2007-05-04 05:20
#1
Ottawa, Canada's best place to live?
Fri, 2007-05-04 05:20
#2
quote:
TORONTO (CP) - Go west isn't good advice if what you want to do is wind up in most of Canada's top 10 places to live.MoneySense magazine has come out with its second annual list of Canada's Best Places to Live. It ranked 123 Canadian communities with a population greater than 10,000, crunching the numbers on everything from the weather, real estate values, income levels and unemployment rates to discretionary income, crime rates and signs of prosperity.
The country's capital came out on top, with mid-sized and smaller cities filling out the top 10.
Ottawa was rated as Canada's best overall place to live, said MoneySense features editor Duncan Hood, because it didn't do poorly in any category, had high household incomes but the housing is still relatively affordable - leaving people with more discretionary income. He said MoneySense thinks that means a higher quality of life.
I thought you'd appreciate this one Michelle, since you've said numerous times that I'm the only person in the history of the world to repeatedly profess my love for Ottawa, and the only person who can actually says they miss it! Though [url=http://www.cbc.ca/cp/national/070502/n0502124A.html]the MoneySense article [/url] is looking from a financial perspective, I'd still argue I'm not the only one that loves it. [img]smile.gif" border="0[/img]
Fri, 2007-05-04 06:16
#3
Hey Jrose, I'll back you on the Ottawa-love, it's a cool city! It has enough downtown, it has some great parks and trails, a good rowing club, great museums and sites to see, nice neighbourhoods etc.
It even has a lively tech industry (what I work in). And most importantly, they occasionally bring in a few Dippers!
Just because Michelle is so 'Toronto Centric' doesn't mean Ottawa's bad, it just means she's another one of those arrogant Toronto people that think it's the center of the universe! [img]wink.gif" border="0[/img]
Fri, 2007-05-04 06:33
#4
Haha, don't get me wrong, I love Toronto too, but I find that Ottawa has just the right mix of history, culture, beauty and there is always something to do! It has its faults too...it's often right-wing, though I lived in an NDP riding, there are very, very few independent media outlets, and I find it too isolated, making it difficult to find jobs. But, I'd move back in a second if it didn't mean being so far away from family, my significant other and jobs. I hope theres many more out there that share my Ottawa-love! [img]smile.gif" border="0[/img]
Fri, 2007-05-04 07:23
#5
... close to Montreal, that's one big plus, also real skiing nearby, some good jobs, and unlike T.O. generally, some actual French people around
on the down side, hell finding many real restaurants, and the baseball Lynx leaving town soon [img]frown.gif" border="0[/img]
but for a burg in the under-million category, quite good
[ 04 May 2007: Message edited by: Geneva ]
Fri, 2007-05-04 07:29
#6
Boom Boom
Ottawa is my home town, and I lived there from 1949 to 1975. I used to love the place, but now the summers there are just too hot for me, same with Montreal and Toronto. When I moved from northern Ontario to the Quebec coast in 1995, I spent two weeks in Ottawa and Montreal in August, and I was amazed at just how hot their summers were getting - much hotter than I remember when I lived in Ottawa. When I lived in Ottawa, the highest temp I remember was about 88F; now it regularly goes much higher than that. My rental truck broke down just on the outskirts of Montreal, and the temperature (as given on the outdoor neon sign at the Mercedes Benz dealership beside where the truck broke down) was given as 104F. Holy cow!
As I can not tolerate high heat or humidity, I've chosen to remain here on the Quebec coast in my retirement, where the summer temps never exceed 85F (about what it was in the Ottawa of my youth) although winter windchill factors can reach -40C/F. I can tolerate that better than I can tolerate 104F heat.
That said, it's now the first week of May, and still 5C. We won't get into double digits until Sunday, and then only 11C. I need to get my garden in, but the ground is still frozen. [img]frown.gif" border="0[/img]
Fri, 2007-05-04 08:26
#7
I lived in Ottawa in the late '90s and I loved living there also. We lived just a few minutes from downtown -- one block west of Holland -- and lived within walking distance of really good restaurants, shopping, schools etc.
And, we were close to the [url=http://www.ottawaplus.ca/shopping/ottawa_parkdale_market/711955] Parkdale Market[/url].
Now we live in Halifax -- which came second on MoneySense's list! [img]smile.gif" border="0[/img]
[ 04 May 2007: Message edited by: Sharon ]
Fri, 2007-05-04 09:22
#8
I lived in Ottawa in ’94 and I loved it. I would have loved to stay, but the timing wasn’t right for me. I thought it was a reasonably diverse city in terms of culture, ethnicity, language, immigration, etc. It was clean, had plenty of services and amenities and plenty to do. In my year there, I didn’t even get a chance to check out the numerous museums and so forth. There was a lot of green space (not to mention the forests, mountains and water nearby) and due to lacking industrial activity, the air was pleasant; I don’t know how that is now with traffic congestion. I would love to move back some day.
Personally, I almost despise Toronto, not quite but almost. It’s just too large and polluted. The diversity of the city is amazing sure, but the cost of real estate is atrocious, and I find the pollution almost unbearable. I live in a town of 2000 people in a valley with 4 lakes and a river winding through all of them. It’s beautiful, it’s clean, there’s almost no pollution (particularly air pollution). I’m definitely a sucker for clean air, trees, water and so forth. Ottawa has a lot of those great things about a small town, plus the added benefit of diversity. I have to agree, Ottawa rocks.
Fri, 2007-05-04 09:32
#9
I went back to visit about two weekends ago. I lucked out with 22 degree temperature, and spent most of my free time there roaming the Byward Market, sitting on some patio bars and meeting up with friends. It was beautiful, as always. And I think this ranking does make an excellent point about the affordability of housing in Ottawa, as compared to other major cities. I had an adorable little basement apartment in South Ottawa, right on the border of the Glebe, with everything I needed within walking distance. It was a place that I know would have cost me my first born in Toronto, but it was still in walking distance to some great restaurants, galleries and the Rideau Canal.
Sigh...I miss you Ottawa...and the fun times we spent together. [img]smile.gif" border="0[/img]
[ 04 May 2007: Message edited by: jrose ]
Fri, 2007-05-04 11:01
#10
I'm in awe of Canada's largest cities. I like Montreal because of family connections with the city and surrounding areas. Montreal is alive 24-7, and it's only a couple hours drive from Ottawa.
I love Ottawa in summer time. The city itself just seems more manageable for someone like me who grew up in a small town. Downtown is so beautiful in summer. When skirting around city limits and outlying areas, you realize Ottawa is surrounded by nature, and that's a bit of home for me.
Fri, 2007-05-04 11:40
#11
quote:
When skirting around city limits and outlying areas, you realize Ottawa is surrounded by nature, and that's a bit of home for me.
That’s for sure. I hiked the Gatineau Hills for the first time in the fall. It was one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen. It was that perfect time of year where the leaves have turned a dozen different colours and the lake is so brilliantly calm. It was incredible, and only a twenty minute drive from downtown Ottawa. It’s one of my only regrets of living there for so long, is that I didn’t spend more time exploring the outskirts.
Fri, 2007-05-04 12:14
#12
Boom Boom
How do folks deal with the summer heat in Ottawa _ Toronto - Montreal when the temps go well over 90F? I was in Montreal in '95 when the temp in August hit 104F. I had to find a shelter with a/c in order to breathe.
Fri, 2007-05-04 12:28
#13
Having lived in Ottawa from 97 to 2005, and comparing it to other cities I've lived in, I'd say that among cities, Ottawa is tops for quality of life and general living, although housing prices and the general cost of living crept up significantly during the time I was there, like it did elsewhere. The urban diversity of the place, which exists in tandem with a small town interaction among its citizens, to me was the most striking. Mooney's bay, Hog's back and Vincent Massey park, all connected, are like a huge oasis at the east/west center of the city that is host to the most delightful cultural festivities. I try and get back at least once a year, and after making a round of the global village of stores along streets like Gladstone, Main and Bank, I always max over the allowable luggage weight on the return check-in at the airport. And then there's the restaurants representing the world of culinary delights. Some drawbacks of course that are affecting all of southern Ontario are the summer smog and unbearable humidity. All in all though, a great city if one ignores the political tempests that stir on that little hill off Wellington Street. Would I live there again by choice though, no to that...I like my view of the Atlantic Ocean with the temperate breezes in the summer too much.
Fri, 2007-05-04 12:32
#14
This is a slightly off topic question, but I'm thinking of taking a trip out East for the first time ever. I'm not going to have enough time to do all of the maritime provinces. Where would you all suggest checking out for my first trip out that way? Which province?
Fri, 2007-05-04 12:40
#15
Boom Boom, I'm sure I've mentioned before that I love the heat and one thing no one ever hears me say is, "It's too hot!"
Now, I grant you, I've never been to parts of Africa or Afghanistan or India where the temperature can climb into the 50s (Celsius) and even I might find that too hot.
But I don't find Canada too hot. I do, on the other hand, find Canada too cold and I complain all winter about the cold -- even though Halifax tends to be more moderate than Ottawa or Montreal, where I also lived for several years.
Our house in Ottawa did have air conditioning but I used it very rarely because I like open windows and screen doors so I can hear and smell the outdoors all summer.
The only time I would turn it on was if my husband was away and I had to get groceries so I would have to walk the hot streets pulling a wagon-load of heavy stuff and trying to hang on to a three-year-old with my other hand.
At such times, it was nice relief to come home to a cool house! [img]wink.gif" border="0[/img]
Fri, 2007-05-04 13:33
#16
quote:
Originally posted by jrose:
[b] It was incredible, and only a twenty minute drive from downtown Ottawa. It’s one of my only regrets of living there for so long, is that I didn’t spend more time exploring the outskirts.[/b]
My Ottawa nephews are spoiled, they have a pool in their backyard. And so they look at me with trepidation when I suggest a drive up to Lac Philippe or Meech when it's like 80 or 85 degrees outside. They know I don't know the roads and sometimes end up stopping to ask directions at least once. And the lil buggers think my broken Francais is funny when the locals answer me back in perfect Anglais. But we get there, eventually.
Fri, 2007-05-04 14:09
#17
I used to love Ottawa, but then we elected Larry O'Brien. Now I don't know what to think.
Fri, 2007-05-04 14:09
#18
Boom Boom
My brother who lives south of Ottawa told me spring came very early this year - the earliest he has ever seen it. I wonder what their summer will be like. Montreal at 104F in 1995 was the hottest city temperature I've experienced in Canada, but one summer I was up in Sorrento, British Columbia, where it went to 105F, and I think even higher than that! [img]eek.gif" border="0[/img] The highest temperature I've experienced in North America was at the airport in Phoenix, Arizona in 2001 - an incredible 112F! [img]eek.gif" border="0[/img] [img]eek.gif" border="0[/img]
Fri, 2007-05-04 14:33
#19
As a relatively recent transplant to Ottawa, it's taken me some time to warm up to it, but even I will grudgingly admit admiration for all the green space, especially all the pedestrian and bike paths running along the canal and throughout the city. The canal is stunning in the summer. Last year, my sister and I saw a giant fish leap up from the canal and twist in mid-air before splashing back into the water, in one of the most naturalistic scenes I've ever seen in my life. Never expected to see something like that in a city, so maybe there's something to be said for Ottawa and its amenities. [img]tongue.gif" border="0[/img]
Fri, 2007-05-04 17:43
#20
quote:
Originally posted by Boom Boom:
[b]My brother who lives south of Ottawa told me spring came very early this year - the earliest he has ever seen it. I wonder what their summer will be like. Montreal at 104F in 1995 was the hottest city temperature I've experienced in Canada, but one summer I was up in Sorrento, British Columbia, where it went to 105F, and I think even higher than that! [img]eek.gif" border="0[/img] The highest temperature I've experienced in North America was at the airport in Phoenix, Arizona in 2001 - an incredible 112F! [img]eek.gif" border="0[/img] [img]eek.gif" border="0[/img] [/b]
Actually, it hasn't come early at all. In fact, it's still quite cool out. There was snow on the ground only a couple of weeks ago.
Fri, 2007-05-04 18:07
#21
Boom Boom
quote:
Originally posted by hatman:
Actually, it hasn't come early at all. In fact, it's still quite cool out. There was snow on the ground only a couple of weeks ago.
I may have misunderstood him then - but he did say there were no ice storms, no blizzards, no really extreme colds this winter. And I saw Ottawa last month in a CBC National news story - no snow to be seen at all.
Fri, 2007-05-04 18:19
#22
Boom Boom
[QUOTE]Originally posted by M.Gregus:
Last year, my sister and I saw a giant fish leap up from the canal and twist in mid-air before splashing back into the water, in one of the most naturalistic scenes I've ever seen in my life. [QUOTE]
That's odd, I never saw any fish in the canal when I lived there, and from the Bronson Avenue bridge to the locks under Wellington, the canal is rarely more than five feet deep, from what I've seen when it's drained. It's not very suitable habitat for fish, either, as it's thick with algae all summer in many places. Unless something has really changed with the canal.
Fri, 2007-05-04 19:40
#23
My fish incident occured mid-way between the bridge at Bank and the Pretoria bridge, and let me tell you I was surprised, not only because of the absurd nature of what happened (fish flipping in the air--highly unusual unless it's salmon spawning in BC on nature TV) but also because it does seem like the canal can't sustain life. But I was walking along that same stretch just a few days ago with a friend and of course I was telling my fish story, and sure enough, we both looked in the water and saw fish swimming around. So [i]something's[/i] alive down there...some kind of monster of the deep!
Fri, 2007-05-04 19:41
#24
quote:
Ottawa, Canada's best place to live?
Ask the poor, the homeless and the mentally ill roaming its streets! Three shelters within 2 square miles.
Fri, 2007-05-04 20:27
#25
I moved from the Okanagan Valley to Edmonton for school this winter and holy friggin hell, I couldn't feel any of my extremities for about 4 straight months. I'm much better with heat than cold. I'll probably be wishing it's winter when I'm working outside and its 36 degrees.
The warmest it's ever been here was 42C/106F in '98. We've only crested the 40 degree mark one other time. It's not pleasent.
And this is a Canadian board Boom Boom. We use CENTIGRADE. [img]wink.gif" border="0[/img]
Fri, 2007-05-04 20:34
#26
Boom Boom
quote:
Originally posted by West Coast Greeny:
And this is a Canadian board Boom Boom. We use CENTIGRADE. [img]wink.gif" border="0[/img]
Maybe so, dude, but 106F sounds much more extreme than a measly 42C. [img]tongue.gif" border="0[/img]
Fri, 2007-05-04 20:48
#27
Not when your outside.
Sat, 2007-05-05 18:59
#28
quote:
Originally posted by West Coast Greeny:
[b]I moved from the Okanagan Valley to Edmonton for school this winter and holy friggin hell, I couldn't feel any of my extremities for about 4 straight months. I'm much better with heat than cold. I'll probably be wishing it's winter when I'm working outside and its 36 degrees.[/b]
I know what you're saying, West Coast Greeny, when I lived in Edmonton the winter months were the coldest I've experienced in my life. You could actually feel your flesh starting to freeze when the wind chill dipped low enough.
To get back on topic, there was another piece in the media extolling the virtues of Ottawa, this time in the weekend Globe and Mail.
From John Ibbitson's take on the city:
quote:
It is quieter, it is simpler, it emphatically lacks adventure. But it can be a deeply pleasant way to spend an evening, and a satisfying way to live a life.Ottawa has other assets, of course: Being a national capital, it enjoys museums, music and theatre beyond what its population could support...Everything the tourism people say is true.
But that's not what the place is really about. The place is really about those dinner parties, and bumping into someone you know during the Saturday shop and chatting for a while, and going for a bike ride in the park, or the Central Experiment farm – bike through cornfields in the heart of the city! – or along the Rideau River, then throwing yourself into the river at Mooney's Bay.
[url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070504.wottawa0505/... portrait of a capital.[/url]
Sat, 2007-05-05 22:18
#29
The important thing in Ottawa just now is:
quote:
The Senators scored three second-period goals on a surprisingly mediocre and porous Brodeur Saturday night on their way to a 3-2 victory and a 4-1 win in their Eastern Conference semifinal series.
from [url=http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=bfdf12fd-4d10-416... Citizen[/url] for the moment it out ranks the beginning of the [b]Tulip Festival[/b]
Fortunately the flowers are still there, unfortunately someone has decided to increase its' popularity by morphing it into a festival of ideas and holding a 'by invitation only' lecture fest. [img]eek.gif" border="0[/img]
Despite that
quote:
A revamped Canadian Tulip Festival is blossoming into a multipurposecultural fest, bringing together film, art, books and a lecture series under one umbrella and giving visitors something to admire other than tulips.
again, [url=http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/local/story.html?id=df430998-f8... Citizen[/url]
What I have found since moving here in '04 is that Ottawa pays attention to the [b]'Sens'[/b] in the playoffs, but nothing is more important than beating [b]Toronto in the regular season.[/b]
Sun, 2007-05-06 05:00
#30
Ottawa is my hometown. I was brought up in Sandy Hill (still an area with great character)and lived as well in Ottawa south and the Glebe.
The Glebe is the best. I lived off Holmwood Ave right by the canal. During summer weekends we portaged my ol' grummin canoe 2 blocks dumped her in the rideau canal and paddle to the NAC where we tied her up, shared a carafe of sangria and then trekked over to the Byward market to do our shopping. When finished buying the fresh veggies, cheeses, fish and meat we had a quick few drafts at the "Chateau Lafayette (the laff)and headed home.
In the winter we donned our skates and I actually skated to work at Carleton univeristy where I was a TA.
Ottawa is not just the best city in Canada. Its one of the best in the world.
Sun, 2007-05-06 05:43
#31
Boom Boom
My fmily lived on Second Avenue near Bronson Avenue, then Third Avenue, then Fourth Avenue, all quite close to Dow's Lake and I attended Mutchmore PS in the Glebe. Then we moved out to Alta Vista, then out to Nepean, then Pleasant Park (west of Alta Vista) and then Kanata. In the early days our family would buy a house, fix it up, sell for more than we paid for it, then later we started building our houses from scratch and selling them after living in them a while. We built two really nice houses that have since been sold a few times, and both of them today would fetch over a half million bucks. Unreal.
Sun, 2007-05-06 06:28
#32
quote:
Originally posted by Boom Boom:
[b]My fmily lived on Second Avenue near Bronson Avenue, then Third Avenue, then Fourth Avenue, all quite close to Dow's Lake and I attended Mutchmore PS in the Glebe.[/b]
Hi Boom boom:
Nice (as always) to see you
I am right now sitting about two blocks from Bronson (on Summerset) and pass Dows's lake pavilion every day on the way to work.
[b]I hope to check out the tulips along the canal this afternoon ..... [/b]
I think most of the flowers are on the 'other' side of the Experimental Farm.
Sun, 2007-05-06 06:35
#33
Boom Boom
Hi Croghan, hope you're enjoying Ottawa! I wish I could afford a visit, but my new place needs renovations, and I'm just getting started on the gardening, so any visit back to Ottawa is sadly a long way off. I forget what the area west of Bronson Avenue near the Rideau Canal is called, but I spent a lot time there when I was growing up. It's a gorgeous neighborhood.
[ 06 May 2007: Message edited by: Boom Boom ]
Sun, 2007-05-06 07:31
#34
quote:
we had a quick few drafts at the "Chateau Lafayette (the laff)and headed home.
What a swanky name for one of the BEST holes in the wall in the city. Gotta love a bar that has a backway connection to the neighbouring Subway sandwich shop! I always loved that place.
The green space in Ottawa is one thing that I really miss. Not only is there a lot of it, but it's connected to the downtown core. Within minutes you can go from great shopping to a patio bar, to a wonderful museum, and then find yourself walking along the beautiful Ottawa River. Wow, I'm starting to sound like an advertisement for Ottawa! [img]smile.gif" border="0[/img]
There is still a lot of Ottawa I never had the chance to explore. I was a Carleton student and I worked at South Keys, so the area in between I knew pretty well, plus my stomping grounds of Ottawa South and the Glebe, and of course I spent a lot of my time downtown, but as for Sandy Hill, Bronson and many other parts of the city I never took the time to explore like I maybe should have.
[ 06 May 2007: Message edited by: jrose ]
Sun, 2007-05-06 07:49
#35
I'm really hoping to travel to Ottawa and visit some of my old friends for a while. I have been in Ottawa a handfull of times and I really like the city. I found it to be more comforting for me than, say, Toronto. I don't know why. Perhaps Ottawa and Oshawa just sound similar. [img]wink.gif" border="0[/img]
Sun, 2007-05-06 08:01
#36
quote:
Originally posted by Boom Boom:
[b]Hi Croghan, hope you're enjoying Ottawa! I wish I could afford a visit, but my new place needs renovations, and I'm just getting started on the gardening, so any visit back to Ottawa is sadly a long way off. I forget what the area west of Bronson Avenue near the Rideau Canal is called, but I spent a lot time there when I was growing up. It's a gorgeous neighborhood.[ 06 May 2007: Message edited by: Boom Boom ][/b]
It begins with beautiful new [b]War Museum [/b] in Lebretton Flatts and extends through the [i]Italian Village[/i] down Preston.
Yes, it is a lovely and colourful area: many ideosyncratic little restaurents and some interesting bars and stores.
Sun, 2007-05-06 08:16
#37
The War Museum is one that I regretfully never found the time to check out. I spent many hours at the National Gallery, Civilization and many others, but though I promised myself many times to go, I never made it in time. I'll have to make an effort on my next visit for sure. I'm thinking of heading back for a week in July, because I can't imagine Canada Day anywhere else, and Bob Dylan is headlining Bluesfest that same week.
Sun, 2007-05-06 08:21
#38
Boom Boom
quote:
Originally posted by Croghan27:
It begins with beautiful new [b]War Museum [/b] in Lebretton Flatts and extends through the [i]Italian Village[/i] down Preston.
No, that's another area of the city altogether. I was referring to the tiny little hamlet bound by Bronson Avenue, the Rideau Canal, Dow's Lake, and almost over to just south of Carling Avenue.
Sun, 2007-05-06 09:40
#39
Know the area well; the ol' Prescott hotel, Ciccio's cafe (some of the best homemade Italian cooking anywhere), and an Italian bakery (forget the name) that made THE BEST canollis ever!!!!
Sun, 2007-05-06 10:20
#40
Boom Boom
quote:
Originally posted by ohara:
[b]Know the area well; the ol' Prescott hotel, Ciccio's cafe (some of the best homemade Italian cooking anywhere), and an Italian bakery (forget the name) that made THE BEST canollis ever!!!![/b]
I believe that's north of Carling Avenue, and nowhere near the area (west of the Glebe) I was talking about. But, it's an interesting area of the city, regardless, although awfully hot and dusty in the summer. I wasn't happy to see the Queensway bisect all these nice areas.
Sun, 2007-05-06 13:35
#41
quote:
Originally posted by Boom Boom:
[b]I believe that's north of Carling Avenue, and nowhere near the area (west of the Glebe) I was talking about. But, it's an interesting area of the city, regardless, although awfully hot and dusty in the summer. I wasn't happy to see the Queensway bisect all these nice areas.[/b]
Either was I ..the area to which you refer does not have significant restaurants or landmarks of which I am aware. Its nice by the lake and canal though. I jog there often
Sun, 2007-05-06 14:05
#42
Boom Boom
quote:
Originally posted by ohara:
Either was I ..the area to which you refer does not have significant restaurants or landmarks of which I am aware. Its nice by the lake and canal though. I jog there often
It is a really nice, quiet place. I can't remember what that area is called. And, yes, there is a complete absence of commercial establishments in the area. [img]smile.gif" border="0[/img]
Sun, 2007-05-06 14:08
#43
Ahh yes, know the area well...green, quiet in the city yet not in the city (if you know what I mean)..part of what makes Ottawa so special
Sun, 2007-05-06 14:17
#44
Boom Boom
Reading this thread makes me yearn to be back in my hometown. Well, maybe some day.
Mon, 2007-05-07 04:58
#45
quote:
Reading this thread makes me yearn to be back in my hometown. Well, maybe some day.
Me too. It will be an interesting summer away from it, that's for sure. I've somewhat contented myself to the fact that if I do choose to settle down and have a family somewhere along the line, Ottawa seems like the best place to do it. Now the hard part will be to convince the boyfriend of the same!
Mon, 2007-05-07 06:59
#46
quote:
Originally posted by jrose:
[b]I've somewhat contented myself to the fact that if I do choose to settle down and have a family somewhere along the line, Ottawa seems like the best place to do it. Now the hard part will be to convince the boyfriend of the same![/b]
Ottawa seems to have that effect on people! I can think of at least 3 friends (and their respective partners) who are currently eyeballing Ottawa as their preferred location for settling down to raise their families. I believe they are all originally from here or spent some part of their formative years here. After moving to Ottawa myself, I had a few conversations about whether I would be around long enough to be here when long-distant friends made the move. It also seems to be the location of choice for people from Halifax to move. It's something of a crossroads, I guess. All roads lead to Ottawa! [img]smile.gif" border="0[/img]
Speaking of which, even Heather Mallick's column this week is Ottawa-themed. Suddenly, everything is coming up Ottawa...
Thu, 2007-05-10 17:51
#47
[b]Boom Boom:[/b]
I finally made it, this afternoon, to the area you were speaking about:
quote:
My fmily lived on Second Avenue near Bronson Avenue, then Third Avenue, then Fourth Avenue, all quite close to Dow's Lake
That is the area of the [b]serious tulip action[/b]. [i]I shudda known[/i]
While I had not been there (I go down Prince of Wales to go to work) you can see it from the top outside bar of [b]Mexicali Rosa's [/b] from Dow's Lake Pavilion. [img]wink.gif" border="0[/img]
Thu, 2007-05-10 17:55
#48
Boom Boom
quote:
Originally posted by Croghan27:
That is the area of the [b]serious tulip action[/b].
Yup. The residential area just above the tulips is one of my favourite places to live, I had a gf there. I also like the Island Park area just before you cross the bridge over the Ottawa River. If I were to inherit a million bucks (unlikely), that's where I'd move.
Thu, 2007-05-10 17:59
#49
quote:
Originally posted by Boom Boom:
[b]
If I were to inherit a million bucks (unlikely), that's where I'd move.[/b]
From the look of some of the houses along the canal, that million could possibly get you a garage in that area. [img]eek.gif" border="0[/img]
Thu, 2007-05-10 18:03
#50
Boom Boom
Yes, the prices have inevitably gone up. My brother had a house there originally priced at a half mil in the early 70s, now about four times that much. He's been on a farm, well south of Ottawa - almost 30 years now. There's some very expensive real estate in Rockcliffe Park where my dad's best friend lived.
Sat, 2007-05-12 08:47
#51
There are still some nice flats and apartments near the canal, along Holmwood for example where I used to live.
An Ottawa original for the best egg rolls and wonton soup in North America is the Golden Palace on Carling Ave. This place has not changed one iota since it opened in the early 60s. Its like stepping into a time machine. Same owners and waiters.
And for the best shave and haircut anywhere try Gino's barber shop Rideau and Charlotte area. He is also one of the best political pundits in the business.