Hello Ottawa
In Today’s Edition
→ Lebreton Flats will be the location for the free public watch party for Saturday’s Canada – Morocco FIFA match
→ Capital Pop-Up Cinema screens The Princess Bride at Zibi tomorrow
→ The Deals of the Day: handcrafted games and things from Masterpiece Lasered Wood, Canadian-crafted occasion wear at Arti Gogna, and Organic Wood Dryer Balls at Elva's All Naturals
– Martha and Darren
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THURSDAY DRINKING AND DINING UPDATE
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🍜 Due to a power outage, the Greenbank location of Vietnamese Pho House is closed today. The Barrhaven and Kanata locations are open. Also closed: Bellas Boys at 250 Greenbank Road.
⚽ Tavern on the Hill presents Canada Day 2.0 on Saturday July 4. They’ll have the footie on from 1:00 pm, a cool giveaway, a special Canada Day menu, and a DJ from 9:00 pm. Book your table hill.taverngroup@gmail.com
🥐 🌭 PSA: Red Door Provisions made Croissant Hot Dogs yesterday. Croissant. Hot Dogs.
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🐝 It’s Honey Day at Carp Farmers’ Market on Saturday (July 4). Visit Lacelle's Apiary booth and learn about honey, honeybees, and beekeeping.
🥕 Ottawa’s VegFest is a mix of vendors, expert panels, and family activities, and is a great way to connect with vegan brands. Saturday July 25 at Ottawa Conference and Event Centre. (Overbrook)
🥡 In the Ottawa Citizen, Sofia Misenheimer has found ‘9 lesser-known places to get an affordable lunch near Parliament Hill’. She suggests: $11 chopped chili pepper noodles from Chef Bai, $9 banh mi from Choux Atelier, $15 Thai curry chicken from Corner Kitchen, $14 smoked chicken crepe from Crêperie Rim, $15 tteokbokki from Elisa’s Bunsik, $10 chicken wrap from Fattoush Lady, $17 vermicelli bowl from Ugly Monday, $15 bulgogi bibimbap from Kimbap, $9 wanpaku sandwich from Some Coffee & Some Tea, and $15 rice bowl from SKYBIRD Asian Grill.
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Meanwhile, her food colleague Peter Hum has found what may be the best banh mi in Ottawa and, at $8, the best priced at Banh Mi Haven.
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🛂 Wine & Dine The Glebe starts today and runs until August 30. Pick up a Glebe Passport at any of the seven restos and – if you eat enough – can be eligible to win a $150 tab at each on. Taking part are Thr33s Co. Snack Bar, Feleena’s Mexican Cantina, the St Rita, Glebe Central Pub, Co Oi Kitchen, Lotus of Siam, and Craft Beer Market.
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🥡 After 33 years in Barrhaven, Wan’s Chinese Food has closed.
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🔪 Toronto resto review website made a roadtrip to visit Town and liked it: ‘Good comfort food and a warm, authentic atmosphere’.
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🏆 In the Ottawa Business Journal, Jordan Pizzuti argues that the Capital’s tourist organizations should just suck it up and pay whatever money the Michelin Guide people are looking for. The attention that it would bring to Ottawa’s quality restaurants – he mentions Perch as a resto with Michelin star-potential – is worth the trade off.
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Pizzuti figures it would cost $1.4 million per year to bring the Michelin men by.
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STATISTICS OTTAWA
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However, yesterday was still the second rainest day ever on record, the wettest being September 9, 2004. – Natasha O’Neill at CityNews
The storm was so terrible that the Canada Day celebration at LeBreton Flats was cancelled, roads and basements were flooded, and the Nepean Centrepointe and Carlingwood branches of the Ottawa Public Library are closed to dry out.
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OTTAWAN OF THE DAY
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Renée Levcovitch-McHale
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The retired Global Affairs Canada employee has released a new book piecing together how her mother and father survived the Holocaust.
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In researching Kaddish for My Father, Flowers for My Mother, Levcovitch-McHale learned Polish to interview her father’s wartime companions.
– Zenith Wolfe in the Canadian Jewish News
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QUOTE
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I mean, I guess they tried their best ... you did get good care, just the environment was terrible
– Five time patient in ‘The Garage’ at The Ottawa Hospital general campus Louise Pivato on news that the overflow area has been closed.
A former ambulance bay, the Hospital converted it in 2023 as a ‘surge’ space for the emergency department. In a statement, the Hospital said ‘the physical environment of the surge space did not meet our expectations for patient experience’.
– Kimberley Molina at CBC
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SPORTS
Tonight
🏀 CEBL Ottawa Blackjacks at Brampton Honey Badgers
⚾ FRONTIER Ottawa Titans vs Tri City ValleyCats
Yesterday
⚽ CPL Atlético Ottawa 3 at Halifax Wanderers 1
⚾ FRONTIER Ottawa Titans 3 vs Tri City ValleyCats 11
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PLEASE SUPPORT THE OTTAWAN
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THE OTTAWAN was launched in 2020 as the daily answer to the questions: What’s going on? What should I do? Where is somewhere good to eat?
Please consider joining the many other readers with a monthly, annual, or one-time donation to keep the ottawan on its mission.
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WHAT’S GOING ON AT CITY HALL
No more meetings this week
Agenda
Whose flag is flying at City Hall today? None
City Hall flies the flag of embassies and high commissions on their national days.
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WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT
🏬 The former Hudson’s Bay store at Place d’Orléans will become a Walmart. The new two-level supercentre will open sometime in 2027 and include ‘a full grocery offering, general merchandise, pharmacy, and pickup and delivery services’. – Josh Pringle at CTV
⚽ Lebreton Flats will be the location for the free public watch party for Saturday’s Canada – Morocco FIFA match. The party animals at the Federal government and the City of Ottawa have jointly organized the watch party, which starts at 11:00 am in the Ottawa Bluesfest space. Food and beverages will be available. – Government of Canada
🪑 The fourth Street Seats has opened in Chinatown. This location at Cambridge Street North and Somerset West, the latest in a City plan to enliven public areas, features a ping pong table and is painted with symbols of the Chinese zodiac. – Alayne McGregor in the Centretown Buzz
🛒 Every week, @stromanker reads all the local grocery flyers and posts the deals on Ottawa Reddit. This week, he highlights bacon ($2.98/375g at Food Basics), eggs ($4.99/18 pack at Sobeys), and sweet peppers ($2/lb at FreshCo). – /Ottawa
🗳️ Ottawa Civic Election
- ‘Time for Very Serious Issues? Brigitte Pellerin and Evan Harold Potter talk about a campaign heading into the summer. Will it get boring? Probably not’ – City of Ottawa Politics
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THE DAILY POLL
Which of these Ottawa plagues can you tolerate the best?
▪️ “Because of insane taxes.”
▪️ “Who knows what it really means today ... but let’s celebrate our beautiful land and keep it alive and well!”
▪️ “I have a Canadian flag on my water bottle, proudly showing off my patriotism in the least visible way possible.”
▪️ “Our Canadian Flag has been flown since Flag Day in 2025 ... and it’s not coming down til Trump is gone, I suspect.”
▪️ “Still pretty happy to be a Canadian. Thanks, Mom & Dad.”
▪️ “Always patriotic!”
▪️ “We are very fortunate to live in Canada. I would not trade it for any other country.”
▪️ “Always patriotic! I love Canada! I was born and raised here and will stay even with our challenges — we are like a dysfunctional family who sort of gets along! LOL — Happy Canada to all!”
▪️ “I have always been patriotic, I cry when we sing our National Anthem. I am so grateful to live in this democratic country.”
▪️ “And we need to win more Soccer and Football games!”
▪️ “Always. So many simply don’t understand how good we have it here.”
▪️ “I love living in Canada! 🍁 🇨🇦”
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HISTORIC OTTAWA LOGO T-SHIRTS
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Nortel T-Shirt
Northern Electric was founded in Montréal in 1895, growing into one of the world’s largest and most important telecom companies. Nortel hung up the phone in 2013. It's campus on Carling Avenue became the new home of the Department of National Defence.
Help support the ottawan by buying one of our historic logo t-shirts.
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THE ROLLING THREE DAY CALENDAR
Is there an event we should know about?
Please use our easy event submission form
✳️ Means change from previous edition
THURSDAY
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✳️ If you’re heading out to find relief from the heat with littles in tow, check this handy guide to the Ottawa Valley's public splash pads, from Inside Ottawa Valley.
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✳️ It wouldn’t be summer in Wellington West without Where’s Waldo. Visit the businesses in the neighbourhood all month, and be sure to get your passport stamped. You could win one of four prize packs and a $100 gift card for one of the businesses.
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Step back in time and enjoy 2000’s Throwbacks at Metcalfe Plaza (Downtown).
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The RBC Ottawa Summer Tournaments brings the best of Canadian show jumping to Wesley Clover Parks. Kids 12 and under get in free and speaking of the littles, there are lots of activities and experiences to keep them busy. The competition runs today through July 5 and July 9 through 12.
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The National Arts Centre Orchestra explores German Romanticism with a program comprised of music by Joannes Brahms, Robert Schumann, and Clara Schumann. (Downtown)
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The Hintonburg Night Market brings makers, food and drink vendors, artists, and performers to 1088 Somerset St. W. from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm. (Centretown)
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Close the day with Sunset Yoga and Sound Healing in Britannia Park.
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Art Battle heats up with the Ottawa City Championship: two 20 minute rounds and a final 30 minute round of live art. Patrons watch the artists at work, vote for the winners, and bid I a silent auction to take the works home. (Heron Gate)
Cinema
Gigs
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Free Happy Hour with DomLand. The Robo Lounge
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Open Stage Burlesque. House of TARG
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Art of the Duo. GigSpace
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Ardèche, Paco Dvoi. Night Oat
FRIDAY
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Almonte Celtfest is a family-friendly, three day festival in the attractive town's Gemmill Park. Entrance to the festival, which features performances by local musicians as well as those from further afield, is by donation. Almonte Celtfest runs Friday July 3 through Sunday July 5.
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Ease into the midway point of this extra long weekend (or celebrate the start of a regular weekend, you do you) with hot dogs, music and drinks at Henry Arlingtons (aka Happy Goat at 35 Laurel St). (Mechanicsville)
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Capital Pop-Up Cinema screens The Princess Bride at Zibi (Albert Island, 8 Booth St). 8:30 pm.
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Gibbs Honey opens the operation for behind the scenes tours of their home apiary, honey house, hives, and wildflower meadows. It's on every Saturday and Sunday until August 9. (Vankleek Hill)
Cinema
Gigs
SATURDAY
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🆓 We all know how Wednesday's Canada Day festivities turned out. So maybe we should just consider the massive Canada v Morocco Watch Party at LeBreton Flats a do over. It's completely free, opens at 11:00 am, and will take customers until capacity is reached. Oh Canada, Go Canada!
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Don’t stress about missing the football action while you explore the Ottawa On Tap Beerfest. They'll have two large tents with screens. You can also expect live music, line dancing, karaoke, and games for kids of all ages, plus local food vendors.(Bells Corners.
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The dress code is baby dolls, PJs, onesies, or lingerie at the Pillow Talk Slumber Party drag show at House of TARG.
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Cumberland Farmers’ Market has indoor and outdoor sections, so be sure not to miss any vendors.
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Next Door and Big Baddies Secondhand present the Retail Rebels Punk Market, with more than 20 vendors, a punk craft workshop, and tons of vintage fun. (Wellington West)
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The 2026 Music and Beyond Festival launches with the Celebrating Ottawa Gala at Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre, featuring Bytown Barcarolle by Matthew Larkin.
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Almonte Celtfest’s first full day of programming leaps into action with performances on the Main Stage, the Celtic Market in the Park, an informative session with kiltmakers, and workshops at other locations around Almonte.
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A new series of garden tours has dropped at the Central Experimental Farm. They’re free, but each person must register for each separate tour they wish to attend. First up: the WT Macoun Memorial Garden Tour on July 8.
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🆓 Live from the Booth launches your Saturday night on Spark Street. Get down from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm before you head off on your adventures. Thank the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition and Downtown BIA for this groovy collab.
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The Tea Party plays Hard Rock Casino & Hotel.
Cinema
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ByTowne Cinema: Addams Family Values, Romería, Couture, Backrooms
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Mayfair Theatre: Saturday Morning All-You-Can-Eat Cereal Cartoon Party Vol.41, The Sheep Detectives, Amores Perros
Gigs
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Andrea Scala. Avant-Garde Bar
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Four-eyed Muscle Men. Irene’s Pub
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Experiment Specimen, Spirit of Rebellion, Mortal Rites. Dominion Tavern
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Mike Rudd Trio. The Robo Lounge
JUST ANNOUNCED / NOW BOOKING
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🆓 Parkdale Market welcomes back the Second Annual Summer Romance Market on Saturday July 18. What you'll find: Ottawa writers, local makers, preloved books, coffee by La Petite Ballerine Café, and Silent Book Club will meet on a grassy spot for some reading time. (Parkdale)
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Canoeists and kayakers: assemble for the flash mob that is Lock & Paddle, returning to the Rideau Canal on Saturday August 15. You'll paddle to the locks and travel down with hundreds of like-minded adventurers, making new friends on the way. August 15.
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BUT, ONE MORE THING ...
Artist Lynne Rennie has an interesting piece in Maclean’s where she attempts to illustrate ‘A History of Canada in 24 Objects’.
There is only one mention of Ottawa – it’s where she first tasted poutine – but that’s enough for us to count the story as relevant for THE OTTAWAN.
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RAPID RESPONSE QUALITY CONTROL
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THE END
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THE OTTAWAN is written and edited every working weekday by Martha and Darren.
Is there something that Ottawa should know about? Email to us at hello@theottawan.com. We read every single comment.
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