Festival Capital Summer in the of Canada Nation’S Capital Is Just One Bash After the Other
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GUIDE TO OTTAWA Ottawa’s own Rebecca Noelle performs at TD Ottawa Jazz Fest and RBC Bluesfest FESTIVAL CAPITAL Summer in the OF CANADA nation’s capital is just one bash after the other. SUMMER 2019 DINING | SHOPPING | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | MAPS EDITOR'S LETTER Summer in the City You reallY can't beat summer in this citY, and the magazine you're holding should prove it. Where to start? Ottawans love the outdoors all year round but they capitalize on the warmer months to host as many outdoor activities, festivals, and parties as they can fit into a calendar. Our music scene has been vibrant for decades — particularly for underground music genres — and now it has taken centre stage as Ottawa evolves into a legitimate music city. The culinary scene has also exploded over the last few years. We’ve curated a list of recommendations for the best cuisine the city has to offer in Chinese, Mexican, French, Japanese, Greek, Italian, Indian, Vietnamese, and more. Seeking delicious vegan? Craving pizza or steak? Want to relax in the city best lounges and winebars? Our Food & Drink section is for you. Just as plentiful are the shopping options. We highlight some of the best stores and boutiques in adesigner art and jewellery, womenswear and menswear, and kid’s toys and games. Music isn't the only thing that keeps the city humming. Our Arts & Entertainment section is one wide umbrella, covering everything from historic buildings and national museums to our many theatres, art galleries, and clubs. There's a lot going on. The events calendar and recommendation sections should provide you with a complete look of what to see and do while you're here. If you like what we did or feel that something is missing, let us know by writing to [email protected]. From a local who loves his hometown, welcome to Ottawa. All the best, Joseph Mathieu WhErE Ottawa IS publIShED quArTErly by SubscrIpTIOn WIThIn CAnada: $25 by ST. Joseph COMMunicationS MEDIA pEr AnnuM FIrst Class ISSn 1701-9591 GrOup, A DIVISIOn OF 1772887 OntarIO Ltd. prInTED In CAnada. WhErE IS ThE OFFICIAl All rIGhts rESErVED. rEprODuction In publication OF ThE Ottawa GatinEAu WhOlE Or In pArT IS strictly prOhIbITED. Hotel Association WITh ExCluSIVE WhErE IS A registerED TrADEMArk OF ST. distrIbuTIOn In ThE Guest rOOMS OF Joseph MEDIA. WhEre makES EVEry efforT All MAJOr hotelS In ThE region. WhErE to EnSurE ThE accuracy OF Information IS A MEMbEr OF ThE Hotel Association IT publIShES buT cannot bE hElD rESpOn- OF CAnada AnD ThE TOurISM InDustry SIblE for Any conSEquEnCES ArISInG Association OF CAnada. publicationS FrOM ErrOrS Or omissionS. MAIl Registration nO. 484113. MembEr of ThE bDA DIVISIOn OF CCAb, InC. 8 where.ca SUMMER 2019 RAISE THE FLAG A GUIDE TO THE MAJOR MUSIC FESTIVALS OF OTTAWA by Joseph Mathieu ktktk t photo by by photo photo (left) by marc desrosiers; (above) steve gerecke EVERY CANADIAN KNOWS ABOUT CANADA DAY IN THE CAPITAL. BUT DO THEY KNOW THAT OTTAWA IS ACTUALLY THE FESTIVAL CAPITAL OF CANADA? Every summer weekend is packed with WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA? concerts, dances, cultural showcases, and Every July, RBC Bluesfest can sell up to family fun. Arts and culture has become an 300,000 tickets to its 10-day lineup of acts increasingly big draw for tourists and talent that, in the past, has included Kanye West, as efforts transform Ottawa into a music hub. Foo Fighters, and Kiss. Mark Monahan, Ottawa has been recognized three times Bluesfest’s executive and artistic director, as a World Festival and Event City by credits the festival’s success over 25 years to the International Festivals and Events one major thing: always listening to the fans. Association, most recently in 2018. But a question — sometimes earnest, The city’s biggest festivals and cultural sometimes sarcastic — continues to come institutions are all in it together. They up: why keep calling it Bluesfest? Despite bring more visitors to the nation’s capital, its name, Bluesfest has always hosted a mix encourage the existing music scene, and help of genres. This year, local and international make Ottawa a better place to live. blues acts like Sue Foley, Buddy Guy, and ktktk t TJ Wheeler will grace one stage, while the Killers, Wu-Tang Clan and Alexisonfire slay photo by by photo (left) steve marc gerecke by desrosiers; (above) photo on another. SUMMER 2019 where.ca 17 Monahan says he saw great interest in the ESTABLISHED AND EMERGING blues shows he once booked as talent buyer When Catherine O’Grady became executive of the now defunct Penguin Club on Elgin producer of the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival in Street (Chicago blues legend Junior Wells was 1996, the 16-year-old event was one of the a particularly big draw). This inspired him few of its kind taking place outdoors. to start a blues festival of his own, but with a slightly different slant. “The Montreal International Jazz Festival was outdoors, but most jazz fests were Bluesfest, which began featuring pure blues indoors,” she says. “Everyone had outdoor in Major’s Hill Park in 1994, evolved to components, which were free, but we hosted mimic the success of the New Orleans Jazz major works out of doors. I think we were in and Heritage Festival. Monahan first visited many ways a prototype that has had to evolve the New Orleans festival in 1997, and it and surpass itself.” opened his eyes to the possibilities. More than 241,000 people attended the “The whole concept was a multi-genre, Ottawa festival last June, when it welcomed multi-stage, massive event,” he says. “It was over 800 musicians and hosted more than really the basis of other music festivals like 100 concerts across 11 days. Now in its 39th Coachella, Bonnaroo, and Firefly. year, the festival continues to program a wide “And the key takeaway was to bring in range of music at city hall’s Festival Plaza, the popular artists, regardless of genre." National Arts Centre, and additional venues throughout the city. O’Grady, who is also artistic producer of the Ottawa Children’s Festival that takes place every May, says events like the Ottawa Jazz Festival exist to present amazing world-class works, while also developing up-and-coming artists. “The pros — those bands on the road for 200 shows a year — are setting a standard that’s just extraordinary,” she says. “How they pull steve gerecke (below) photo 18 where.ca SUMMER 2019 WHAT MAKES OTTAWA STAND OUT? it off every night to do something amazing is TD Ottawa Jazz Festival's Catherine O'Grady: always impressive.” I've been to most major cities in Seeing the standard set by those professional the world and I still believe it's the most beautiful. That includes London, Paris, musicians inspires younger performers to Rome, and Berlin. I think Ottawa has so much bring their A-game, O’Grady says. This year, charm, ease and safety. It's so easy to just rent the jazz fest's TD Main Stage will feature a bike and ride along the Rideau Canal. There's a real sense of friendliness and helpfulness. local rising stars, such as powerhouse pop and soul singer Rebecca Noelle and upright- RBC Bluesfest's Mark Monahan: bass-wielding wunderkind Angelique Obviously lots of music. It's also Francis, opening for household names like a city that is easy to get around, accessible by bike and public multiplatinum jazz pianist Norah Jones and transit, and most events are happening within New Orleans jazz-funk jam band Galactic. walking distance to downtown. There's so much to do literally within walking distance of “The pros — those bands on all the major hotels, including Bluesfest. the road for 200 shows a year — Chamberfest's Roman Borys: There's a real buzz going on. are setting a standard that’s just Each of our festivals has a certain period during which it is the main extraordinary.” event in town. We're all creating experiences, catherine o'grady which combine live music with a social aspect. It's long been a priority for both Jazz Fest Ottawa Tourism's Jantine Van Kregten: Definitely the festivals. and Bluesfest, as well as other major Ottawa There's something going on every festivals like Monahan's autumnal Cityfolk, day, sometimes multiple things on to support local artists and ensure the the weekend. I know it's a cliché to say there's something for everyone, but there truly is! success of tomorrow’s Paul Ankas and Alanis Whether you go to the Children's Festival Morissettes. Their stages have supported the in May, or a craft beer festival, or a culture next generation of Ottawa musicians that festival like the Lebanese, or Ukrainian, or are already making waves: MonkeyJunk, Latin Sparks, or Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival. There's just such a huge variety of Kathleen Edwards, Souljazz Orchestra and, things to see and do that really showcase our more recently, A Tribe Called Red, Rita cultures. photo (below) steve gerecke (below) photo Carter, and Elijah Woods x Jamie Fine. SUMMER 2019 where.ca 19 AN EMBARASSMENT OF RICHES Since he first attended Chamberfest as a touring musician, Roman Borys felt like the Managing a talent development hub is part of nation’s capital had one of the most engaging Heather Gibson’s job as executive producer and attentive of audiences. of the National Arts Centre's NAC Presents series, a multi-genre showcase of Canadian “I think Ottawa is a festival town unlike popular music. just about any I know, certainly in this part of North America,” says Borys, who tours “A lot of what I’m trying to do is give the the world as the cellist of the Juno Award– opportunity and provide access for new winning Gryphon Trio.