We had our small wedding at the Orange Art Gallery and the venue was perfect.  The art on the walls…read moreadded a very nice dimension and the character of the building and terrace were enchanting.  The bar was flexible in meeting our desire of showcasing Canadian craft beer, wine and liquor and the bartenders were, as several guests commented, extremely nice and friendly yet professional and mixing a mean drink. Art on the walls also provided spectacular and unexpected backdrop for some of our best wedding photos.    We recommend Orange Art Gallery for small to medium weddings and other functions.

We were in Ottawa to attend a small wedding and this gallery was the venue. It was very charming…read moreand we enjoyed viewing the art as we mingled with other guests over champagne. If you are in the neighbourhood it is an interesting spot.

Dow's Lake is a man-made lake on the Rideau Canal. It's the site of many fun activities and there…read moreare several restaurants there with beautiful views of the water. You can rent canoes, kayaks, and pedal boats/paddle boats in the summer. In May there's the Tulip Festival which is technically in Commissioner's Park, but this park surrounds Dow's Lake. In the winter when the lake freezes over, you can skate on it, and it's connected to the Rideau Canal, so you can skate for a pretty good distance. There are 3 restaurants at Dow's Lake. Over the years they have changed, but currently the restaurants are Lago, Umbrella Bar, and Mexi's (aka Mexicali Rosa's). There's a paid parking lot nearby ($3.50 per 30 minutes up to a maximum of $14), or street parking ($0.25 per 6 minutes) a bit further away, or free parking on residential streets in neighbouring Little Italy (3 hour limit as per by-laws).

Dow's Lake Pavilion is a short distance away from the airport and Ottawa's downtown core. I like…read morethat you can escape from your daily routine to this picturesque area without doing a road trip. There are canoes and pedal boats that you can rent. You are required to sign a waiver, wear a life jacket, and put down a $20 deposit. You can use cash, and debit and credit cards, except for American Express. Sadly, Amex doesn't seem to be as widely accepted as it used to be. There are lockers where you can store your belongings when you are on the water. I recommend coming with what you truly need. I parked in the lot across from the Pavilion. Parking is $3.50 for 30 minutes, to a maximum of $14. I paid by credit card, which was great. I didn't risk parking on the street, but I know that I can now. It's cheaper that way, but you do have to be cognizant of the time. You can also dine here after a fun time out on the water. We ate at Mexi's. You have the option of dining in the restaurant or sitting out on the patio. I missed the tulip festival. Perhaps I'll plan my vacation and take them in next time. (254)

The Observatory is run by the Algonquin Students' Association. I've been here once before for an…read moreevent where they had Perez Hilton come in, talk on stage, and sign autographs. A bunch of wooden chairs were set up facing the stage, and Perez gossiped about celebrities for an hour or so, told us how he got to be a famous blogger, answered some questions, signed t-shirts, and dropped as many F-bombs as he possibly could. The bouncers were a little too serious for the nature of the event and the guest of honour. You'd think that they'd lighten up a little considering it was Perez Hilton talking and not a concert or anything, but at least they made sure to keep everything safe and fight-free. Food and alcohol are offered at the Observatory. They are fully licensed and offer Starbucks coffee and a decent selection of sandwiches, salads, pizza, pub-fare, and breakfast, all for affordable prices. For those of you that are Algonquin College students, you can use your meal plan here. They also have couches, TVs, and pool tables if you want to hang out and/or study. It's also available for private rentals when it's not being used for other events. To contact the Observatory directly, here is their information via the website: Paul Norman, The Observatory Manager (613) 727-4723 ext. 5327 or by e-mail at normanp1@algonquincollege.com

I've eaten here three times now, and maybe it's the oil they use to cook their food or something…read moreelse but every time I've stopped by the observatory for food I've been sick right after. I usually get their chicken strips with fries, and it NEVER sits well with me. Sure, they taste good, but after twenty minutes I'm running to the washroom to toss it back up. A friend of mine has had their wrap and quesadillas and even she agrees that there's just something about the food that doesn't sit right in one's stomach. Overall, it's a really nice restaurant space - the fireplace is a nice, cozy touch. The food, however, leaves a bit to be desired. Prices are decent though, and they accept student meal plan, which is why I'm not giving them 1 star out of five.

Our workplace rented 2 days of the meeting room of this co-working space for meetings. The…read morereceptionist was helpful but also kept an eagle eye on everyone that walked through the door. Meeting room was well lit, well equipped with TV, HDMI cable, whiteboard and markers. The door seems to keep the sound from the outside well. But the walls weren't sound-proofed and we were able to hear the other room's conversation if we weren't talking. The biggest issue were the chairs. They were stiff, plastic chairs! When we asked if we could swap them with the ergonomic chair, they asked us to swap no more than half. This was on a Monday and there were over 20 empty workstations and unused chairs.

The staff are really friendly and helpful, and they have mentors called "Experts in Residence" that…read morereally help you get your social enterprise started. I've met so many people through it, and it's great for those who usually work at home to connect to others. If you're working on a social enterprise, this is the place to be.

I loved my stay at Hotel Indigo in Downtown Ottawa. I am glad that I chose to book a room here…read moreduring my first trip to the Capital. It's situated in a great location and is within walking distance to Parliament, Major's Hill Park, and Rideau Canal. You can even walk to Elgin Street from there. My boyfriend and I drove to Ottawa from Jersey, driving through Pennsylvania and New York State. After seven hours on the road, we were beat. Luckily, we found a parking spot in the hotel's available underground parking garage and went through check-in at the front desk fairly quickly. When we got to our room, we dropped our bags and rested. The beds were comfy and the room was nicely decorated. The bathroom had a shower and there were Aveda toiletry products on the sink counter (loved them). We didn't get one of the rooms facing the lobby, so our window looked out to the street. Overall, I liked our room. Plus, there is free Wi-Fi. There is a restaurant downstairs. Didn't try the food, but we had a couple of beers there after a long day of sightseeing. The gym in the hotel was good - it has variety of machines and free weights. The hotel also has a pool. Also, there is a little business center where you can use a computer and printer; I pulled up our MapQuest directions there which was very helpful. Next time I come to Ottawa, I'll most likely book here. Highly recommended!

I don't know what to expect when I saw the facade of Hotel Indigo. It looks like an old traditional…read morehotel but the interior is nicely decorated with a boutique hotel feel. The room we stayed in was spacious with excellent amenities: Aveda Beauty Products and Keurig Coffee Maker. I love the location as it is just a few blocks away from Parliament Hill and walkable distance or a short taxi ride from Byward Market. With only 106 rooms and lack of conference facilities, you know you would not be overwhelmed by groups and groups of Conference goers like other bigger hotels in the area. Indoor Swimming Pool and 24/7 Fitness Centre Free WiFi Access throughout the property. Great place to stay if you visiting Ottawa.

The Glebe Community Centre is a unique structure in the heart of the Glebe. It offers a multitude…read moreof programs for every age group and interest, including painting, theatre, yoga, pottery, sports, dance, baking and cooking classes, dog obedience classes and even random classes like soap and bath-bomb making. Their prices are usually reasonable, but the classes fill up very quickly, so make sure to register well before the first class begins. If you live in the area, you'll receive a calendar for the upcoming season with a grace period to plan your next class. The centre also has many day or weekend long events, such as plays, craft fairs, jewelry shows and food shows. If you're in the area on weekdays between 11:30am-3pm, stop by The Pantry Vegetarian Tea Room for some food. The prices are a bit high and there's not much selection, but the food is fairly wholesome and usually organic. They don't accept debit or credit card, so bring cash!

This is an amazing community feature right in the heart of one of the loveliest spots in the city…read more I've recently had the opportunity to drop by with two little ones to bring them to playgroup and their toddler music class, and I was blown away. I would never have suspected from the relatively boring outside of this building that the inside is alive with great programming. You're greeted by a lovely staircase that leads up to Scotton Hall - the "gym" that Reviewer R mentioned. This is a stunning room with huge vaulted ceilings, stained glass, a kitchen and tons of room for the little ones to run around during playgroup (which is what I was there for!). It would also be amazing for an event. The playgroup was amazing. The facilitator Andrew, was great with the kids and there's even snacktime for kids and parents. The music class is similarly well-run and all the staff I have interacted with her are sweet and friendly. There' a whiteboard in the front lobby that details all the happenings going on that day and it's always packed! They have tons of classes (I even say mention of a "mother-daughter glee group" - unreal!) for all ages and the prices aren't bad at all. There's a great play structure outside for the little ones, as well as a sweet Thomas the Tank Engine table under the stairs. Be sure to ask the lovely lady at the front desk for the trains - clearly these have gone missing in the past, haha! If you're in the area, this is a great option for activities for kids and adults alike. Pop in and see the space - you won't be disappointed!

I organized an axe throwing night for me and my friends. I was really impressed with their customer…read moreservice on the phone to book my event. They were very patient with me as I wasn't sure how many people would commit to the evening I selected. When I got there I was greeted with such friendly people that made our evening wonderful ! We had someone show us how to throw axes and organized games and a final tournament for us who was super friendly, and the bar service was also excellent. I recommend this place. It was my second time there. And I can't wait to go again !!

Held a family reunion at LumberJaxe in April 2023 (for 25 people, which included my 87 year old…read morefather... he loved it!). The event was a huge success and I received rave reviews from the family. This was all due to LumberJaxe and their incredible staff which were very knowledgeable, helpful, friendly and so much fun. After receiving safety instruction and practice time, the staff organized a tournament for us which was a huge success, and a lot of fun. I would strongly recommend LumberJaxe whether it is for a small or large group. Would make an awesome team-building event. Thank you LumberJaxe! Karen