J and I during a celebratory Dairy Queen trip,

after handing in my final assignment of my university career.

"We're done!"

 

See you later!: S says good bye to Capital Oh

 

As the sensuous glow of the city lights and a new job opportunity draws me to the Big Smoke, I can’t help but feel a little sad about leaving behind great friends, and all of the uncovered cool Capital Oh had to offer J and myself. Four years ago, J and I were two girls who were new to the city. Frankly, we were two girls who were pretty disappointed with the city. Now, as I settle in to my new place in Toronto, I realise that Ottawa had been pretty great to us all along. From stumbling into cute shops on Dalhousie street, to sitting front row with new friends at Ottawa Fashion Week, my experiences with Capital Oh brought me to the best of this capital city, and the incredible people I’ve met along the way only furthers the truth of the saying: “it doesn’t matter where you are, it’s who you’re with.” With that in mind, I have to say that throughout all of the Capital Oh adventures, I couldn’t have asked for a better blog partner than J. Her creativity and drive and no-bullshit attitude inspires me still. I can’t wait to see what capital-cool things she’ll be doing in the years to come. Ottawa, it’s been fun. After four years, I can safely say that I finally understand you, and will miss when I leave. You’re a tough one to crack: you come across as a little bit stuffy, and a little bit confused, but after a wild night of dancing or a delicious dinner, I’m always reminded of how you make it work. To newcomers, I say this: Ottawa will surprise you. You will convince yourself that there’s nothing here for you, and that you’re better than this, and then you’ll find yourself in an all-girl rap group at a Hip Hop karaoke event, or biking along the canal, or snapping at a spoken word poetry event, or eating a gourmet maple-bacon doughnut, or dancing along to a drag show, or drinking ciders on a friend’s rooftop, or trying on old furs at a vintage sale, or thrashing around at an Electric Pow Wow, and you’ll realise: hey, this works for me. Give it time, it’ll come. Or perhaps you’ve already found it.

Love you forever Capital Oh,

S.



The Wardrobe Stylist

Today's post is a little bit different than normal, but we are always open to new things here at Capital Oh, so here goes!

One of Ottawa's own fashion designers, Rania Abdulla, is showcasing her latest collection of menswear this week at Fashion Art Toronto (on until the 27th). Abdulla began designing the collection, Pairing Paisleys, in 2010, which she describes as clothing "tailored for the modern gent." The collection reflects the trendy, classy, and urban male and is intended to make the men who wear it feel handsome and luxurious. With a philosophy that states, "innovate, don't imitate," Abdulla strives to bring originality in her designs.

Aside from designing garments, Abdulla started her own styling consultant business called, The Wardrobe Stylist. Over the course of her seven year styling career in Ottawa, Abdulla has worked with a long list of high-profile clients which will only get longer. As a stylist, she noticed a lack of options for men who wanted to look put-together. Now, she is pursuing her true passion for designing and aiming to fill that void in fashionable menswear.

We're super excited for Rania to represent Ottawa's fashion scene in Toronto, and we wish her luck with the show! Go get 'em girl!

(If anyone is in Toronto on Wednesday, the 24th, you can check out her collection at Fashion Art Toronto, or you can check out The Wardrobe Stylist and see what Rania's all about!) - J

*photo by Mitch Lenet

Why We Love It: The Mud Oven

This post probably should have happened a while ago, but I finally got the chance to do some arts and crafts at The Mud Oven.  I've been eyeing the ceramic skulls from outside the window for some time, so I ventured over with some friends for a night of fun and relaxing DIY-ing.  We chose our pieces (two skulls and a big mug) and our colour palettes and got our hands dirty.  The whole experience definitely made me feel like a kid again and the bright primary coloured interior and furniture really enhanced that experience even more.  The staff member who was working that night was also very helpful, giving us tips and tricks for properly painting our masterpieces.  Once we were satisfied with our designs (two hours later!) we handed them in to be glazed and fired in the kiln.  The ceramics come out shiny and ready to use – they’re even microwavable! – but the whole finishing process takes about 5 days.  I can’t wait to pick my sugar skull up!  - J

Why we Love it: Art Is In Bakery

Located just a couple of steps away from the Bayview O-train stop, Art Is In Boulangerie is an Ottawa brunch hot spot. It was hoppin' when J and I visited--but for good reason! They have pretty much the best bread I've ever had. No, seriously when I used to buy their baguettes at the Lansdowne farmer's market, I would eat the ENTIRE baguette in a matter of hours. I literally had to fight my roommate off a few times whenever I'd bring home their Jalapeno Cheddar bread because it was THAT GOOD. And you know what? Art Is In may be known for their bread, but they also house incredible soups, sammies, and baked goodies. J and I had delicious grilled cheese sandwiches. We finished them so fast that we both realised after the fact that we didn't even photograph them for the blog (our empty plates are pictured). So I had to ask some kind strangers if I could take pictures of their sandwiches. They politely obliged, but I could tell they wanted those sandwiches FAST so I was quick. Check Art Is In out. I will seriously come with you! - S

Why We Love It:

Ideal Coffee

Ideal Coffee may be a small, tucked away and somewhat hidden coffee shop, but it definitely packs a big punch.  The seating is limited, but the old time booths give this place a homey, go-to diner type of feel.  Plus, they roast their own coffee beans in-house and they make one of the most delicious lattes in town.   Along with the coffee, which they serve in mismatched mugs (just like at home!), they offer an assortment of delicious baked goods to keep you satisfied.  - J

 

Capital Oh-So-Cute

 

I am a firm believer in puppy-therapy. Spend a few minutes with a dog, and your life instantly gets better. At the end of December, J and I took a quick trip into A Guy, A Girl, Two Dogs, and a Cat to hang out with some furry pals and get out of the cold. We both left automatically feeling like the world was a better place. I highly reccomend you do the same thing. Don't live downtown? Why don't you ask people you see walking their dogs if you can say hello (always ask first!)? They almost always say yes, because it's a compliment to them for having such a rad pooch. Seriously, dog-friends are the best therapists, take it from me. - S

Last Thursday, I had the pleasure to attend the opening reception for Canadian artist, Heather Benning's Field Doll.  The exhibition features a 16-foot long doll placed on the floor of the gallery space, accompanied by photos of the doll in locations across Canada.  The doll looks pretty awesome in pictures, but I highly recommend checking this out in person - it is so much cooler! - J

For more information on the exhibit, click here.  The exhibit is open until March 3 at the Karsh-Masson Gallery. 

Karsh-Masson Gallery

136 St. Patrick Street 
613-580-2424 (ext. 14167)  TTY 613-580-2401
Free admission. Wheelchair accessible.
facebook.com/Public.Art.Ottawa

Bluebird Coffee

For not even being a whole four months old yet, Bluebird Coffee definitely seems to be off to a good start.  Located on Dalhouse (right around some of our other favourite places!), this not-so-little coffee shop is the perfect place to cozy up with a warm drink while you watch the snow fall outside.  They impressively brew their own beans so the coffee is always fresh and delicious.  They also offer free wi-fi, which is a huge bonus, especially during exam season.  And, if you plan on spending a while there, they have paninis and soups too, so you won't have to rely on muffins to keep you full . S and I are definitely fans - maybe we'll see you there sometime!  -J

*On a side note, our photos seemed to have gotten much bigger and on some screens, they may be wonky - bear with us as we try to fix!*

 

Dans La Rue: Winter Wears

Resisting the temptation to go the puffy parka-route in the winter time (and don't get me wrong, considering Ottawa's sometimes-artic temperatures, the puffy-parka is often the most logical option) is very difficult. Despite our best attempts, it becomes more and more of a challenge to be chic when you're so chilly your nose has been running for the past half hour and you were too cold to even notice. Somehow, these ladies were able to emulate some impeccably stylish winter-looks regardless of low temperatures, and for that, I commend them. They make stylish winter wear look like a piece of cake. Layer* cake, that is...considering their....you know, layers. -S

Capital Oh-So-Cute

Puppies! All the puppies! Put your pawz up for these friday-furballs. - S

Why We Love It: Melt 

I strongly believe that any meal is made 1000x better if you melt cheese on it, unless of course you're lactose-intolerant, in which case I strongly apologize for the following post. Considering my love for all things melted cheese-related, I was obviously pretty pumped to visit Ottawa's Melt, a gourmet grilled-cheese sandwich shop located just off Rideau Street that opened in the summer. This place is fantastic: you pick your bread, your toppings, your cheese, and then you watch it get grilled into gooey deliciousness right before your eyes! I had spicy eggplant and caramelized onions, while J had bacon, avocadoes and tomato. Both choices left us convinced that we'll no doubt be back soon. - S

As S said, any meal is instantly improved with the addition of gooey, melted cheese.  And, with a wide selection of toppings and delicious sides, Melt is sure to have something you will thoroughly enjoy. They even have yummy dessert options too, like the Sweet Tooth and The Campfire (Nutella, marshmallow and graham cookies...mmmmmm).  Another good thing about Melt is their prices - super affordable, which is perfect for us students.  (It is a small place though, so don't plan on a sit down meal) Once S and I got our sandwiches, we couldn't even hold off long enough to take photos of them.  Too much cheesy goodness, that needed to be eaten immediately!  - J