Across the street from me, there is a housing coop for active adults over 55. They water their driveways pretty much every day. They either want the asphalt to grow, or have some sort of cleaning fetish. In the photo above, the guy is pressure washing his driveway at the same time as it rains. His behaviour is not odd on this street, his neighbours do this too. What explains this? The desire of older men to play with water? Boredom? Or is it because the water is almost “free”? In this co-op, the water is bulk-metered, so it’s cheaper … Continue reading No water shortage here…

  Continue reading Social Life on the West Side

There are so few large trees left in the City, and the City is determined not to (re)plant large-maturity trees, instead preferring small-size trees. Even in areas with no overhead wiring, or underground utilities, where there is plenty of room for a large tree, new tree stock is generally what I have heard some refer to as “toy trees” or furniture-size trees. As for fruit and nut trees … fergetaboutit. Yesterday I saw this large limb knocked off the tree at the corner of Albert and Commissioner (Bronson) Streets: Continue reading Storm damage

If Darth Vader lived in Ottawa, he’d have a copper helmet. Continue reading Darth Vader, Ottawa style

Bridgehead has made it official that they will be the third major coffee chain to open on Preston Street. There is a Starbucks at 333 Preston, at the base of the three Sakto office towers; and Tim Horton’s in the government office tower at the south end of Rochester/Booth at Carling (this shop is behind the security cordon, so don’t try to drop in for a jolt unless you have a pass). Bridgehead will take the former Bell building on Preston at Anderson, initially moving into the location of Preston and Leif and all the “back” areas of the building, … Continue reading Bridgehead flagship store and HQ

This is the northeast corner of Preston and Gladstone. The little survey sticks on the slope have been there for six months, but something has just changed. There are five fewer trees there now. The pines have been removed to make way for the entranceway feature to Little Italy called the Bambinos. Located on the north and south sides of Gladstone, it will read as a continuous horizontal arch. The decorative sidewalk paving on the west sides of Preston were designed to continue across the road to join the east side, but City engineering requirements were so onerous that it became … Continue reading The Bambinos are coming!

This is the Nepalese Embassy on Queen Street. Notice the size of the Diplomatic zone at the front. Is their other car a Smart Car? Do they drive in it or do they carry it up mountains? This grand old house is much diminished by the conversion of the front sidewalk and garden to more parking spaces. This clearly violates city parking rules, but I somehow suspect we won’t see the greenspace again until the snow melts on Everest. All hail the sacred parking space! Continue reading Smart Car Diplomats

The City has now published a list of who donated to the various candidates in the last municipal election. In my mind, it is appalling that this list comes out months after the election. I think it should be a public list being updated daily. If candidates can have a treasurer that cashes cheques, they can type in the name and amount to an on-line list at the same time. It might be necessary to “cut off” donations in the last three days of the campaign, to prevent a sudden dump of money (and consequently conceal the publicity of donors) in the last moments, in … Continue reading Hand in hand, we’re all in this together …

  Apparently, some Walter Mitty-type will be presiding: Continue reading Should be interesting …

Every spring the melting snow reveals all sorts of “treasures”, aka garbage. This spring will be worse, with election signs spring-ing up already. While walking on Sunday, I saw this blue one — surely the candidate should have chosen a wider sign shape: He kept his email simple, using his first name only: While there is some show through from the other side of the sign, the ones further west showed too much show through, which is concealed a bit by one side of some signs having a solid red and the other side white with red: I also saw … Continue reading What the melting snow reveals

Fairmont Avenue, just south of the Queensway; a house is gone, a vacant lot is born. And it shall be named Infill. This word from a reader: One home is gone but three will take it’s place.  The developer is Tom Gallivan and his company Gallivan construction has built several infill projects and custom homes throughout Wellington village and Westboro.  The lot is 70×85 in size which will accommodate a semi to the north and a single to the south side of the lot.  I believe the single will have a frontage of 30 feet with the remainder 40 feet … Continue reading Infill in training

I received a phone call earlier this week from a reporter doing a story on Earth Day, the sit-in-the-dark hour. She cheerfully wanted my contribution to how I was honouring or observing Earth Day. There followed a most awkward conversation, she could not decide if I was joshing her or was serious. I assure you I am serious. My Christmas lights in the front tree will be on tonight. Electricity is a marvellous blessing, a mark of our civilization. It represents enlightenment, learning, opportunity, advancement. I have no desire to sit freezing in the dark. It bothers me that the save-electricity … Continue reading My lights will be on !

This bundle of cable wire sticks up out of the soil immediately adjacent the sidewalk on Carling. I wished I had a sign in my pocket to park beside it: Danger ! 40,000 volts! Continue reading Shocking Exposure !