Capital Oh-So-Cute

In my spare time, I enjoy taking pictures of others people's dogs that I meet on the street. There is nothing more satisfying to me than when an animal will literally pose like a human for the camera. Capital Oh-So-Cute was conceived in the summer of 2011, when J was gone and I was hitting a wall creatively, so I went for a walk hoping that "the cool" would stumble upon me, instead of the other way around. It sort of happened, I guess,  as I ran into some really friendly pet owners who loved the idea of me putting pictures of their pooches online. Now that it's nice out, I will pursue this endeavor more often. Apologies to those who are into cats, llamas, roosters, and chinchillas, however, as dogs tend to dominate this blog (take your cat/llama/rooster/chinchilla out for a walk? Maybe we'll take its photo too!). - S

School of Photographic Arts Ottawa: Vernissage

Last Friday, I went out to the launch for SPAO's final exhibition, and man was I impressed by the student work.  It's so great to be able to check out the talent that Ottawa has to offer.  Tomorrow is your last chance to attend the event, and I highly suggest taking a look.  We posted the dates here, but you can also check out their website and tumblr for more info. Go! - J

These past few days have been full of crazy and oh-so-cool things, and this weekend shows no signs of stopping the fun.  This coming Friday, until the 27th, the School of Photographic Arts: Ottawa will be hosting Exposition No. 7, featuring work from all levels in the program.  Everything you need to know is posted below.  - and you can check out their tumblr for a sneak peak. Come check out even more awesome Ottawa talent - see you there!  - J

EXHIBITION NO. 7

Vernissage Friday April 20th

On Friday, April 20th between 15:00 and 21:00, the School of the Photographic Arts: Ottawa will host the vernissage of Exhibition No. 7, a compelling blend of work from students in all three levels of the SPAO Portfolio Program. This group of work pays tribute to classic processes while reflecting ideas of self-discovery, our natural environments and the contemporary social issues that surround them.

This exceptional collection of unique photographic work will be on view as exhibition pieces and in completed portfolios during these hours:

Friday, April 20th 15:00-21:00

Saturday, April 21st 10:00-18:00

Sunday, April 22nd 10:00-18:00

Monday, April 23rd 11:00-19:00

Tuesday, April 24th11:00-19:00

Wednesday, April 25th 11:00-19:00

Thursday, April 26th 11:00-19:00

Friday, April 27th 11:00-15:00

Artists' talks Saturday, April 21st and Sunday, April 22nd beginning at 13:00 hrs.

Come celebrate with us and view the achievements of this exceptional group in their pursuit of VISION CONTENT and CRAFT.

Press Release for Exhibition No. 7

We are located at 168 Dalhousie, at the corner of Bruyère, in the Byward Market.

For more info contact : 613.562.3824 or info@spao.ca

Event: Made in Ottawa Closing Night

It’s been a Falldown fun-filled weekend for Capital Oh, eh? Last night J and I hit up the closing party for Made in Ottawa to support our friends, listen to some bands, and shop local. It was a fantastic end to a fantastic weekend and once again proved the reality of Ottawa’s elusive cool. There’s a lot of good stuff coming up at Falldown in the next few weeks, so keep your eyes peeled for great shows and parties. It’s the perfect time to explore the city too: for a lot of you, school is winding down, and for all of you, the change in weather is making you less-inclined to stay at home, curled up in your snuggie, and more-inclined to get out and make new friends! Yay! - S

Falldown Gallery on Facebook 

Just in time for tonight's closing events for Made in Ottawa at Falldown Gallery (and for yet another study break for myself), I thought it would be a good idea to show you guys some of the cool stuff you can buy tonight!  S already posted a profile with Danny Rustik, one of the local designers who provided some neat jewelry and accessories to the show.  You'll find everything from backpacks and coasters to stationary holders and hand carved cabinets.  I've stopped in a couple times this weekend and have been super impressed by all of the talent our city has to offer.  More events like this please!  You still have time to stop in tonight if you haven't already - we'll be there all night!  Come out and support our local talent - buy some stuff and have some drinks! - J

Last Wednesday, my friend Melanie was kind enough to bring me along to an intimate little event called Bellinis & Bling with Stella & Dot.  I was not very familiar with Stella & Dot jewelry, and was pleasantly surprised when I walked in.  Plus, as the event name suggested, we got to sip on delicious peach bellinis and yummy appetizers.  Best idea.  Also, stay tuned for a possible S & D giveaway - our first one! Check out the jewelry here, or you can contact Allison Plunket, the lovely independent stylist who organized the event, by email or check her website. - J

Capital Oh Profile: Danny Rustik

My friend Danica Olders, aka Danny Rustik, has had quite a month. Between preparing for art shows at Raw Sugar Cafe, Falldown Gallery and an upcoming show at Invisible Cinema, moving out of her studio and launching a lookbook for her Spring/Summer collection “Tribe”, it’s surprising she looks so bright-eyed and impeccably chic on this sunny afternoon. Danica is an artist, and the founder and designer of The Lost City: a clothing brand that has gained quite a significant following in Ottawa and beyond. We visited her booth at “Made in Ottawa” at Falldown, ate breakfast at Bank Street Diner (which has a poutine breakfast special!!! We didn’t dare try it, but I’m putting in on my Ottawa-summer bucket list for sure), and talked Wicca, hip-hop and canoeing on the Canal. Here ya go:

Capital Oh: What inspires you?

Danny Rustik: Everything. Everything really, I get inspired a lot by books that I read and movies that I watch and people that I see on the street, nature, cool buildings, infrastructure. A lot of by patterns are inspired by patterns on walls, bricks and stuff. So it’s a lot of what I see day to day.

Do you have a muse?

I don’t know if I have one, but I’ve been reading a lot of books about witchcraft and Wicca and Salem trials so maybe, a lot of my work is influenced by that: the dark side of humanity. Instead of the devil, it’s more like a devil within. Or the different vices that people contain. So I’ve been reading a lot of books related to that. Collective spirits.

Tell us about your latest collection.

My latest collection, for Spring/summer 2012 is called “tribe”. It features…it’s really witchy but then it has a lot of hip hop vibes to it so I refer to it as “Tribe Called Quest has a Séance.”

That’d be a fun Séance! 

So I’ve got really witchy hands, third eyes, the babushka that looks a little dark too. It’s a little bit dark but I’m kind of exploring my dark side right now. I like it a lot. I’m friends with it.

Where did “The Lost City” start? How did you come up with the whole concept? 

Well, I used to go under the name “Rustik”, which has now sort of become my alias. But when I was in school in Halifax I was doing fashion shows, and the fashion program, and I just needed a change. I needed  my own brand that was different, and I was sitting in my studio trying to think of what I could name it and “The Lost City” just sort of came to my head. I guess I used to always imagine this dark corner of my brain that I could go to that was everything that I ever wanted the world to see and that’s what I try to do in my work. Create things or a world that I wish I lived in. I guess the “The Lost City” is that, this magic place where magic things happen. And the products that come from it speak to that.

What advice do you have for people starting projects like “The Lost City” in Ottawa?

Don’t give up, keep going. Try to stay new. Don’t do things you’ve seen before, it’s really easy to do that. Don’t do things you see other people doing that you wanna seem just like. Try to make things as original as possible. And you’ll find a spot.

What do you like best about Ottawa in the summer?

Biking. It’s beautiful. Ottawa has so much green space, its really inspiring. I haven’t been in Ottawa for the summer in a really long time so I’m excited to see a bit of that this summer. It’s just awesome, everybody goes out, everybody’s on bikes, and skateboards and walking around and then you have the canal, you can go paddle boating or canoeing, and you’re right in the middle of the city.

Describe your ideal night in Ottawa, starting with dinner and ending...whenever.

My best night would probably be getting a bunch of friends together, drinking and making food together, and if I had to go to a restaurant, I’d probably go to Oz, or the Manx. Then maybe hit up an art show, come to Falldown like we did on Friday at my launch party and then maybe go to Babylon, I really like Babylon right now.

Thanks Danica!


The Lost City
The Lost City is available at Falldown Gallery, Victoire and Top of the World.

We here at Capital Oh love local events, and we love sharing them even more.  Made In Ottawa is an event that features independent designers here in the city, organized by a student of Carleton's Industrial Design program.  Awesome! 

From the site:

Are you a maker, craftsmen or designer in Ottawa. If you have some interesting products that you would like to submit to be displayed and sold at Ottawa’s first design pop-up, send them over to made.in.ottawa.design@gmail.com. 

Not sure what counts? Anything from the smallest cast ring, acrylic wall hook, to even furniture items. Were looking to show stuff that you’ve made. If you have any other questions, send over to the previously mentioned e-mail. The variety of items on display will be a reflection of space available and the submissions received.

When: April 14 - 15 

Where: Falldown Gallery - 288 Bank St.  

Why: Because Ottawa has talent! 

Victoire and White Elephant's Spring Fling Vintage Dress Sale

Well, if this doesn't whet your appetite for delicious Spring fashion, you must be a) totally, absolutely nuts or b) someone who doesn't wear dresses (I guess I can forgive you for that...) ....Anyways, See you there, friends! I know I'm excited. - S

From the lovely ladies at Victoire: 

Victoire's bi-annual vintage sale has become a staple for the city's fashion lovers. Their collection of dresses from the 40s, 50s and 60s is beyond your most girlie dreams!  It has become the sale for all those that love tulle, silk, taffeta and bows, worship ladies such as Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly and  Mia Farrow, or those who are Mad Men obsessed. Come down to 246 Dalhousie St. on Saturday, April 28th from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. to have your chance to purchase one of these treasures from the past.

Sourced from New York, Austin, Portland, Victoria, Southern Ontario, Montreal and of course the Ottawa Valley, Victoire never ceases to amaze fashion enthusiasts with their stellar collection of dresses at each vintage event. Once again Victoire will be partnering with fellow vintage enthusiasts White Elephant (www.loveitalot.com) from Hamilton to bring an even bigger selection of vintage treasures.  

You love this event, your friends love this event and Victoire loves hosting this event! Whether the piece is reminiscent of a star of the silver screen or your very own grandma, vintage is meant to be loved and cherished. But don’t forget, vintage is truly one of a kind, so once these dresses are gone: they are gone! In other words, this is not the occasion to arrive fashionably late!

Spring Fling: Victoire's Vintage Dress Sale

Saturday, April 28th from 10:00 a.m. -7:00 p.m.
246 Dalhousie Street
            613-321-1590      

Good Bye Cafe Nostalgica

Hi friends, we're almost at 20 000 views! That's not crazy-impressive but hey! If you like us, share! Tell your buddies, "Like" us on facebook and we'll give you a kiss. As exams/finals wind down, J and I are finding WAY more time for blogging so expect some pretty exciting stuff in the very near future (remember Capital-Oh-So-Cute from last summer? I'm on it as we speak). Also, J's at the Junos currently (IKR), so tweet @capitaloh for that. In the meantime, here's more from concert-goer/blogging-babe Lim with the lowdown on last weekend's bitter sweet good-bye party for music haus Cafe Nostalgica. Yeehaww! - S

This is the end of an era, Café Nostalgica has reached its end. On Friday, its past and new guests had gathered to pay a tribute to the last standing moments of the wonderful house.

For those of you who visited Café Nostalgica over the years, for breakfast, a drink or a show, this place will be missed dearly. I have had the chance to go to a few different events this past year and enjoyed an atmosphere of music, authenticity and art. And for all of you who never had a chance to come by, you can rest assure! Café Nostalgica is closing down for reconstruction so hopefully you will be able to create new memories and experiences there in no time!

Last Friday consisted of an open mic that begun in the morning and continued later on into performances of the Nostalgica employees (with the wonderful “Nostalgica Blues” song), past musical guests, music enthusiasts and friends!

Café Nostalgica, thank you for the great experiences, I hope the next building will be just as amazing! - Lim