Hello Ottawa
In Today’s Edition
→ Premier Doug Ford threatens to take back support of the Alto high speed rail project after the Federal government nixes Toronto airport plan
→ Bowman’s Bar and Grill’s annual IPA Festival returns tomorrow
→ Deals of the Day: Miik and yarn and other items from Wööl
🍖 Old Ottawa South. Way South.
The other day, we were astonished to eat a fall-off-your-fork smoked brisket that not only did not require a special smoker, it was cooked on the OTTAWAN’s own decidedly unfancy BBQ.
We asked the chef, Doug Kelly, how he pulled off brisket for 10 people in a mere 10 hours.
Hey Ottawa,
The sky-high cost of beef or lack of a smoker doesn’t have to stop you from serving up brisket to family and friends this summer.
Brisket, which is from the lower chest of a cow, is an outright bargain compared to most cuts of beef.
If you are willing to devote most of the day to cooking it, you can serve up a beautiful cut of meat for a large crowd for less than the price of a condo on the Rideau Canal.
1️⃣ The rub I use is simple and very tasty. According to heygrillhey.com, all you need is coarse kosher salt, coarse black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, ground coriander and smoked paprika –make sure it is smoked paprika – otherwise just buy cooked brisket at a deli and save yourself the trouble.
2️⃣ Next, you can use a regular BBQ, with your choice of wood chips to smoke it. Simply soak and drain the chips and seal them in aluminum foil and place them on the grill. Poke the foil with a fork to let out the smokey goodness.
3️⃣ Remove any excess fat on the outside of the cut, and after generously applying the rub, place the unwrapped brisket on a rack sitting over a pan of water that is sitting on the main grill of the BBQ. I used a brownies pan for the water and a simple cake rack for the grill. Cook on a low heat of about 250 degrees F for about three hours to moisturize the meat. Run the burner on one side of the BBQ and place the pan of water with the brisket on the other so it isn’t directly over the heat.
4️⃣ After about three hours, remove and wrap the brisket in foil and place back on the grill – again not over the direct flame - for several more hours. I cooked a 6 1/2 lb brisket for three hours over water and five hours on the grill for a total of 8 hours. It was moist and flavourful, so aim to cook the beef for between one and one and a half hours a pound. I love my beef rare, but brisket is the exception. It should be should be medium to well done and not quite falling apart when you slice it.
5️⃣ By now you have spent most of the day presiding over the beast, but it is not quite over. Plan to leave the wrapped meat for about one to two hours before serving.
6️⃣ Do the math so you can serve dinner before people either leave the party or go to bed. I had the meat seasoned and cooking over the pan of water by 9 am, wrapped by noon, off the BBQ by 5 pm and served by 7 pm.
I recommend serving with a great coleslaw and potato salad.
The result is extremely satisfying and will make you many new friends and admirers.
PS: Make sure you start with a full tank of propane or have a backup or those friends and admiriers will turn into enemies and detractors.
If you have a secret recipe that you’d like to share with Capital, please send it to hello@theottawan.com
– Martha and Darren
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WEDNESDAY DRINKING AND DINING UPDATE
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🥪 If you were wondering where to get a good lunch around the Portage buildings, Sofia Misenheimer in the Ottawa Citizen has seven suggestions. She suggests: the turkey sandwich from La P’Tite Épicerie du quartier, the Jerky Jerk sandwich from Créolement Vôtre, the Shabby Chic salad from Olivia Bistro-Boutique, La Québécoise pizza from Naples Pizza, the chickpea wrap from Café Cloudforest, the poutine and hot dogs from La Patate Dorée, and the turkey club sandwich from Bobino Bagel.
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🌶️ Also in the Citizen, Peter Hum, says that despite the name, Spicy Man chinese cuisine on Merivale suits ‘all palates, from fiery to timid’.
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🔪 In Ottawa Road Trips, Laura Paquet notes that Nordik Spa-Nature in Chelsea is offering the Chef’s Table, open to just 12 guests per evening, and featuring a seven-course tasting menu with paired wines on September 2, 3, 9, and 10.
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🍨 Red Apron will be dishing up Housemade Soft Serve Sundaes as well as Seed to Sausage smokies and hot dogs this Sunday August 8. Visit between noon and 4:00 pm.
🌽 This Saturday, Metcalfe Farmers’ Market is giving away cooked corn while supplies last, between 10:00 am and 11:30 am.
🍖 Suntech, the non-GMO, no pesticide greenhouse in Manotick, is celebrating five years in business Saturday with a BBQ and party. Take a tour, play a game, enjoy a slice of cake.
🍑 Everything’s peachy at Whiprsnapr Brewing this Saturday. First, they’ll be releasing their brand new collab with Dunrobin Distilleries, The Bourbon Peach. As if that's not enough, they’ll also be serving up peach pizzas.
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🍻 While the LCBO says that sales of Canadian-made alcohol has gone up, Almonte’s Vodkow and Arnprior’s Cold Bear Brewing Company say that money is tight and people are drinking less in general.
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OTTAWAN OF THE DAY
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Josh Greenburg
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The Carleton University Journalism and Communication professor has written The Record Keepers, a book of interviews and backstories of record store owners across Canada.
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The Record Keepers website has some good stuff, like a playable Spotify playlist of 50 Tracks From 50 Albums Recommended By Canada’s Record Store Owners.
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QUOTE
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When I think back on those first few months, I have mixed emotions: excitement and dread
– Ottawa Business Journal publisher Michael Curran gives his inside story of the first 30 years of the publication, starting from his first meeting with then-publisher Mark Sutcliffe.
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SPORTS
⚾ FRONTIER Ottawa Titans at Brockton Rox
Yesterday
⚾ FRONTIER Ottawa Titans 10 at Brockton Rox 3
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WHAT’S GOING ON AT CITY HALL
No meetings tomorrow.
Meetings and Agendas
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
🚄 Premier Doug Ford threatens to take back support of the Alto high speed rail project after the Federal government nixes Toronto airport plan. The Premier’s cabinet has started making noise about not supporting projects that ‘infringe on treasured public spaces’ such as farmers fields. The Premier supported a plan to allow the small propeller-only airport in downtown Toronto to add jets, a proposal which was recently turned down by the Federal government. – The Hub
⚖️ The producers of Shen Yun are suing the National Arts Centre. After nearly 20 years of annual performances, this year the Centre declined to programme the show. The producers, an operating company of religious and anti-Communist Falun Gong movement, suspect that the decision may have been made over pressure from China. – The Canadian Press
🦟 The first mosquitoes with West Nile Virus have been found in Ottawa. Ottawa Public Health found the infected bugs through routine testing of mosquito populations, no human has been found to carry the virus in the Capital. In Ontario at large, two people have been found with the virus this year. – CBC
🎉 If anyone knows how to party, it is the City of Ottawa, and it has dropped a new OttaTalk podcast to tell you how to do it safely. But as the podcast is hosted by two public health nurses, THE OTTAWAN feels awful about making light of the topic. – OttaTalk
⚡ The National Capital Commission has made an agreement with Hydro Ottawa to bring a next-generation low-carbon district energy system to LeBreton Flats. The City-owned utility has a 99 year lease to provide heating and cooling to the LeBreton project as they roll out new buildings and housing. – National Capital Commission
🗳️ Ottawa Civic Election
‘Leiper unveils ‘Transit that Works’ mayoral platform’ – Josh Pringle at CTV
‘Mayoral rivals spar: Does solving Ottawa's transit woes require experience or fresh eyes? Fixes suggested so far range from more fare enforcement to ‘Buck a Ride’’ – Elyse Skura and Cassandra Bellefeuille at CBC
‘Hintonburg community association president Brian Innes runs for Kitchissippi council seat’ – Charlie Senack in the Kitchissippi Times
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THE DAILY POLL
How often do you go to a record store?
Commentary
▪️ “Used to go often but when the pandemic hit, we stopped going and never really got back into it. Last time was last summer for the latest Naked Gun movie. There were only 8 people in the whole theatre!”
▪️ “Love the Mayfair and Cinestarz.”
▪️ “We didn’t go for a few years until last week. We saw The Invite. It is a quirky comedy that would not be [for] everyone. It has Canadian Seth Rogan in it and his laugh is worth seeing anything with him in it! :).”
▪️ “Preferring the Mayfair.”
▪️ “Waaaay to expensive and too many people making noise – talking, snack bags crinkling, slurping etc Will wait for online and watch at home!”
▪️ “I’ve been to two movies this summer, but it had been about 5 years since the previous one!”
▪️ “My last visit was before the pandemic. At that time, I was not impressed by the cleanliness of the movie theatres. My feet stuck to the floor with all the split soft drinks and the seats were dirty. Much more comfortable at home.”
▪️ “Not interested anymore.”
▪️ “The responses don’t really line up with the question. I usually go to the movies once or twice a year. Last time was 2 weeks ago to see Hadestown (a filmed stage play :P).”
▪️ “I only go to Bytowne or Mayfair now. Support your independent neighbourhood cinema!”
▪️ “Our independent theatres need a solid commitment from people who love the movies. I try to go to the Bytowne and the Mayfair, at least once a month each.”
▪️ “Last movie I saw in theatre was John Wick 3. COVID made me realize that I don’t enjoy the theatre experience as much as I used to.”
▪️ “I love going to the theatres as long as the other people going know how to exist in public (please put your phone and bare feet away).”
▪️ “Only for special effect movies or taking the grandkids to a weekend matinee. Still enjoyable and you can get special prices for most films e.g., seniors day, kids matinee, etc. Forget the popcorn etc. as this is a big ripoff. Bring your own snacks!”
▪️ “It’s been since Christopher Nolan’s last movie, so a couple of years, but I’m going again tomorrow. Guess what I'm going to see :-).”
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HISTORIC OTTAWA LOGO T-SHIRTS
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Ottawa Journal T-Shirt
The Ottawa Journal began in 1885, edited by the legendary William Dafoe, later of the Winnipeg Free Press. It was closed in 1980.
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
WEDNESDAY
Cinema
Gigs
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Roddy Ellis Guitar Nite. The Robo Lounge
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Daniel Caesar. Canadian Tire Centre
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Bluegrass Wednesday ft. Crooked Creek. Red Bird
THURSDAY
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✳️ Road Trip: Winchester DairyFest will keep kids of all ages busy today through Sunday.
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The 79th Navan Fair opens with competitions, live shows, educational displays, dog shows, and more.
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🆓 Beer lovers, your favourite IPA celebration is back at Bowman's Bar and Grill. Rain or shine, the big tent in the parking lot will be hopping with IPA, live music, and a raffle for Capital Wave Water Polo & Swim Team.
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Find out for yourself why rap rockers Hollywood Undead have a cult following at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
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The City of Ottawa’s Lansdowne Park Movie Nights screens Paws of Fury: The Legend of of Hank at 9:00 pm.
Cinema
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ByTowne Cinema: The Golden Spurtle, Sheep In The Box, I Want Your Sex
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Mayfair Theatre: Disclosure Day, The Invite, Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass
Gigs
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Eva Danielson. Motel Chelsea
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Zach Top. Canadian Tire Centre
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Spells, Audio Visceral, Seth Anderson, Prospect Nelson. House of TARG
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Zooloo and The Seaweeds. Rainbow Bistro
FRIDAY
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Plant-based folks can meet likeminded souls at the Ottawa Vegan Drinks meetup. (Westboro)
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Road Trip: Twist Festival returns to Saint-André-Avellin with workshops, demos, presentations, book signings and all the yarn you could need for your upcoming winter projects.
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It’s Opening Day at Ouimet Farms Adventure. From now until October 31, head there for the incredible 7-acre corn maze (bring comfy shoes for the 4km in trails), the adventure park, the pedal kart track, the sunflower fields, and the farm market and museum. (Vankleek Hill)
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🆓 Meet up with friends at Orléans unplugged.
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🆓 Catch the best in music, comedy, and spectacle from the streets of the world, as Ottawa International Busker Festival 2026 takes over Sparks St. Until Sunday August 9 (Downtown)
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It’s a legacy match between Ottawa Redblacks and Montréal Alouettes at TD Place (The Glebe)
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Across Town at Ottawa Baseball Stadium, Ottawa Titans play Trois-Rivières Aigles at Country Night. Expect country music, JED the Mechanical bull, mini-putt, and after the game, fireworks.
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Navan Fair continues.
Cinema
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ByTowne Cinema: Reading Lolita in Tehran, Sheep in the Box, 2026 Cat Video Fest, I Want Your Sex
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Mayfair Theatre: The Invite, Once Upon a Time in a Cinema, Mulholland Drive
Gigs
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Wheatus, Double Experience. Overflow Brewing
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Zach Top. Canadian Tire Centre
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Save Ferris, the Divetones. Rainbow Bistro
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Daam! The Hip Hop Party. Bronson Centre Music Theatre
JUST ANNOUNCED
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DEALS OF THE DAY
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Made in Canada women's fashion brand Miik has a really cool way for you to earn a 15% discount: From now until September 26, shop from a small, independent Canadian business (apparel, decor, home goods, beauty.. it's up to you), upload your receipt, and once Miik verifies your submission, they'll send you the discount. What a great way to support Canadian businesses.
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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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