Frosty … we barely knew ya! And yet there he is, looking cheerful with his mitts and top hat and broom, getting a few minutes of sun … before … oh god ! I can hear the grinding of the big truck in the next block … Frosty! Hide! Continue reading Frosty the Snowman going, going, gone
I read on a cycling blog the other evening about a guy visiting Holland. He was impressed with all the cycling infrastructure, but incredulous about one feature of dutch bikes. They don’t have any brakes. Seriously, he thought they didn’t have brakes. Instead he told me, it is necessary to pedal backwards ! He swore it’s true. Am I so old that only I remember when all bikes were “coaster” brake: you pedaled forward to go forward, you stopped pedalling to coast, and you pushed in reverse to apply the brakes. Has everyone born since the popularity boom of the … Continue reading modern cycling
I read on a cycling blog the other evening about a guy visiting Holland. He was impressed with all the cycling infrastructure, but incredulous about one feature of dutch bikes. They don’t have any brakes. Seriously, he thought they didn’t have brakes. Instead he told me, it is necessary to pedal backwards ! He swore it’s true. Am I so old that only I remember when all bikes were “coaster” brake: you pedaled forward to go forward, you stopped pedalling to coast, and you pushed in reverse to apply the brakes. Has everyone born since the popularity boom of the … Continue reading modern cycling
A few weeks ago I posted this pix from our favorite westboro loblaws. The bin was half full/half empty … did buyers figure out the math? This week I saw this bin, and Charlie the Tuna was really on sale for a better price. The bin was full. Go figure. I also noticed the double pack of shreddies was way more expensive than the sale pack of individual boxes of square shreddies at the aisle end. Buy smaller boxes, more packaging, save more. So I returned my big box to the correct shelf on the aisle and took some small ones … Continue reading The price is right
A few weeks ago I posted this pix from our favorite westboro loblaws. The bin was half full/half empty … did buyers figure out the math? This week I saw this bin, and Charlie the Tuna was really on sale for a better price. The bin was full. Go figure. I also noticed the double pack of shreddies was way more expensive than the sale pack of individual boxes of square shreddies at the aisle end. Buy smaller boxes, more packaging, save more. So I returned my big box to the correct shelf on the aisle and took some small ones … Continue reading The price is right
Wanted poster on a pharmacy window in our west side neighborhood. That’s our Yasir in the centre picture, yes sir. Grammar is apparently not on the curriculum at drug mart skool. Still, I cannot be the only one wondering at how quickly the Ontario government trotted out those ‘fighting for the little guy’ responses to “big pharma”. The distrust of the ordinary citizen for big government, big business, big media, big religion, or other vested interests … is huge for a good reason. Like American citizens who wondered how cutting billions from medicare could make the health care system better. Or how American health care … Continue reading War-torn Somerset Street
Wanted poster on a pharmacy window in our west side neighborhood. That’s our Yasir in the centre picture, yes sir. Grammar is apparently not on the curriculum at drug mart skool. Still, I cannot be the only one wondering at how quickly the Ontario government trotted out those ‘fighting for the little guy’ responses to “big pharma”. The distrust of the ordinary citizen for big government, big business, big media, big religion, or other vested interests … is huge for a good reason. Like American citizens who wondered how cutting billions from medicare could make the health care system better. Or how American health care … Continue reading War-torn Somerset Street
The city of Ottawa is considering buying two water trailers for special events similar to the Toronto one pictured above. The City of Toronto created HTO to Go, a mobile water trailer that serves as a big drinking fountain.City crews deliver HTO to Go to local events and connect it to a safe supply of potable water (usually a connection to a water main).They have two mobile water trailers available for free to provide water at special events throughout Toronto. There is a stainless steel trough on each side of the trailer; 10 drinking taps (five on each side); 10 spigot taps (five on each side) … Continue reading Water trailer — first sip, second sip
The city of Ottawa is considering buying two water trailers for special events similar to the Toronto one pictured above. The City of Toronto created HTO to Go, a mobile water trailer that serves as a big drinking fountain.City crews deliver HTO to Go to local events and connect it to a safe supply of potable water (usually a connection to a water main).They have two mobile water trailers available for free to provide water at special events throughout Toronto. There is a stainless steel trough on each side of the trailer; 10 drinking taps (five on each side); 10 spigot taps (five on each side) … Continue reading Water trailer — first sip, second sip
In the late afternoon yesterday, workers planted about 12 more trees along Preston, just north of the Queensway. Some of the trees surprised me by their caliber and size — these are not delicate twigs being planted here. As summer goes on, pedestrians like this lady going to yoga class, will be walking on sidewalks in the dappled shade. Continue reading Tree planting resumes
Forty two people, plus some media types and politicians, showed up for the 7.30am rally at the corner of Bayswater and Scott for a rally to raise awareness of the possible shifting of transitway buses onto Scott/Albert during LRT construction period. Councillor Leadman was there, as was challenger Katherine Hobbs. Paul Dewar and Yasir Naqvi were also present, as was one city transit planning honcho, and there were a few residents also wearing suits. Dogs and children in strollers and one in a 19th century costume, completed the picture. The streetside venue was somewhat noisy, so I didn’t hear any … Continue reading Stop the Busses rally
In the late afternoon yesterday, workers planted about 12 more trees along Preston, just north of the Queensway. Some of the trees surprised me by their caliber and size — these are not delicate twigs being planted here. As summer goes on, pedestrians like this lady going to yoga class, will be walking on sidewalks in the dappled shade. Continue reading Tree planting resumes
Forty two people, plus some media types and politicians, showed up for the 7.30am rally at the corner of Bayswater and Scott for a rally to raise awareness of the possible shifting of transitway buses onto Scott/Albert during LRT construction period. Councillor Leadman was there, as was challenger Katherine Hobbs. Paul Dewar and Yasir Naqvi were also present, as was one city transit planning honcho, and there were a few residents also wearing suits. Dogs and children in strollers and one in a 19th century costume, completed the picture. The streetside venue was somewhat noisy, so I didn’t hear any … Continue reading Stop the Busses rally
Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation (CCOC) owns a number of apartment buildings and other units in the centretown and centretown-west areas. They acquired this small apartment building on Primrose at Arthur Street during the winter. It contains small bachelor units. CCOC intends to upgrade the building with federal grants, including new windows, new insulated roof, and other energy upgrades. As neighborhoods in the west side undergo gentrification, many rental units are lost. Mostly these are inside homes, which were converted or subdivided into smaller units. These converted units deliver affordable units, but also accelerate the wear and tear on elderly wood frame housing, … Continue reading CCOC expands
Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation (CCOC) owns a number of apartment buildings and other units in the centretown and centretown-west areas. They acquired this small apartment building on Primrose at Arthur Street during the winter. It contains small bachelor units. CCOC intends to upgrade the building with federal grants, including new windows, new insulated roof, and other energy upgrades. As neighborhoods in the west side undergo gentrification, many rental units are lost. Mostly these are inside homes, which were converted or subdivided into smaller units. These converted units deliver affordable units, but also accelerate the wear and tear on elderly wood frame housing, … Continue reading CCOC expands
The first meeting of the business advisory committee and the public advisory committee (BAC,PAC) meet with City officials and their consultants last night for the first time about the reconstruction of Bronson Avenue, which will take place in segments over the next few years and chew up $40million dollars. There was no issue with the need to replace the sewers and watermains, most of which date to the 1887-1907 period. The construction project itself will be major, with trenches up to 24′ deep and years of digging, dust, mud… The main focus was on what is put back on the … Continue reading Bronson — stick to the status quo …
The first meeting of the business advisory committee and the public advisory committee (BAC,PAC) meet with City officials and their consultants last night for the first time about the reconstruction of Bronson Avenue, which will take place in segments over the next few years and chew up $40million dollars. There was no issue with the need to replace the sewers and watermains, most of which date to the 1887-1907 period. The construction project itself will be major, with trenches up to 24′ deep and years of digging, dust, mud… The main focus was on what is put back on the … Continue reading Bronson — stick to the status quo …
Large wasp or bee’s nest hanging over Spruce Street near Booth. Continue reading Home sweet home
Large wasp or bee’s nest hanging over Spruce Street near Booth. Continue reading Home sweet home
Presuming the conversion of the transitway from buses to LRT goes ahead after the upcoming municipal election — and this is a big presumption since Watson, for one, is running on a platform of reexamining not just the tunnel component but even whether we should have LRT service at all (he seems to favour perpetual bus service)— there will be many transitioning issues to deal with. One contentious issue is what to do with the buses that currently run on the transitway while the road is being removed and rails and LRT stations are being installed. This was a big … Continue reading Bus Traffic on Scott/Albert
Preparatory work is well underway for the Chinatown Arch. The Ottawa Hydro trucks shown here have been working all week to relocate the wiring on the south side of Somerset between Cambridge and Bronson. The Chinatown arch groundbreaking will be in two weeks and the unaesthetic wiring needs to be out of the way. The cost of removing the wiring … not cheap!… is being borne by the Chinatown BIA. Continue reading Chinatown arch
Presuming the conversion of the transitway from buses to LRT goes ahead after the upcoming municipal election — and this is a big presumption since Watson, for one, is running on a platform of reexamining not just the tunnel component but even whether we should have LRT service at all (he seems to favour perpetual bus service)— there will be many transitioning issues to deal with. One contentious issue is what to do with the buses that currently run on the transitway while the road is being removed and rails and LRT stations are being installed. This was a big … Continue reading Bus Traffic on Scott/Albert
