The French Baker

Why we love it:

The rich smell wafting out of Ottawa's The French Baker is enough to trigger an intense mouth-watering for baked goodies. With glistening crescents, delectable pastries, and an atmosphere that makes you suddenly feel all chic and Parisian, Julia and I immediately scheduled a breakfast date here in the very near future! - S

As soon as you walk in to The French Baker, you can smell the buttery goodness of the flaky croissants - The Baker's specialty (and Paula Deen would definitely approve). It is a quaint little pastry shop up front, and in the back there is the lovely Benny's Bistro, a perfect spot for breakfast/brunch/lunch. I loved the black and white tile, with primary colour accents - best! - J

The French Baker/Benny's Bistro

119 Murray St. (Byward Market) Ottawa, ON
www.bennysbistro.ca

Capital Oh! Presents: 

Dans La Rue

En route of their fabulous Capital Oh! adventures, J and S take on street fashion and style stalking. The first installment occured on a very sartorial sunday, as the Ottawa Vintage Sale attracted some stupendously stylish shoppers. Delicious! - S

Canteen

Why we love it:

I am keen on canteen! Every time I leave Ottawa's gallery/art shop I feel three inches cooler and get this sudden urge to explore my craft box. The art books are phenomenal: stuff you can't get anywhere else and they always have the greatest notebooks and stationaries. The local artwork featured in the gallery at the back is always worth a visit as well! Keep calm and carry on!!! - S

I love going into canteen and browsing through the great selection of books. I like to consider myself an "artsy" person sometimes, so this place definitely makes me feel at home. It's a small space with big ambitions, and it's a great support for local talent. The back gallery space changes often, and it's always nice to see what Ottawa's artists have to offer. I've also had my eye on a few prints for a while now - especially the Day of the Dead "Keep Calm and Carry On" posters. And since I have an odd obsession with notebooks, I managed to buy two, one of which was a great shade of fluorescent orange. Sweet! - J

Ottawa's 26th Annual Vintage Clothing Sale:

I love vintage. Shopping vintage is like shopping at a museum. It's fashion ancestry. And why I have never made the effort to attend Ottawa's annual vintage clothing sale before this year is beyond me. It was so incredibly mythical, magical, and coooool with a capital C that I intend to make an effort to go every single year for the rest of my life. The rest of my life. Seriously. Poor J had to work on Sunday, so I headed to the show alone, camera in hand, and a 20 in my wallet. Held in the luxurious ballroom of the Chateau Laurier, walking into the sale is a time-machine journey into an era of sequins and furs. There's so much to take in that I'm sort of glad I went alone as I wandered directionless for nearly two hours--I could have spent days in that ballroom! Days! With vendors from all over Canada, it's really hard to decided where to buy, as every booth is totally unique. One of my favourite finds of the sale (I really should of just gone for it..silly Sarah) was the armadillo purse. It was literally a real armadillo, hollowed out and made into a purse. WHAT?! A REAL ARMADILLO??!! Like, yeah... It even had a head. I perhaps would have felt a little guilty carrying around a real armadillo on my arm but it was just too cool. 1920's apparently. This event is un-missable. Even if you are a vintage lover who is not an O-towny, make the trip next November. -S

Workshop Boutique

The presentation in Workshop is mind-blowing! I mean a fridge? Really? Genius! Workshop is a beautiful store featuring local designers and hand-made wonders. My purchase of the trip? One of those flowery 1950's bathing caps fashioned into a clutch. In my favourite colour no less (mmmm...mint green)! As soon as I saw it I was smitten. I also came extremely close to purchasing the clear soaps which feature plastic animals doing the nasty...hilarity ensues. - S

I love the fact that workshop supports Canadian talent. Our nation's got some pretty creative minds in fashion and design. The entire store is full of things you probably can't get anywhere else (at least not anywhere close) - like Sarah's bathing cap clutch (so good!). And dare I say it, using a fridge as part of the display definitely ups the "cool" factor in this neat Ottawa boutique. Definitely check it out for fun, unique pieces! - J

Workshop Studio & Boutique

242 1/2 Dalhousie Street

Ottawa, ON

613.789.5534

www.workshopboutique.ca