Help me get it on this weekend.
May 17, 2012 5:09 AM Subscribe
Fun, nerdy, date ideas in Ottawa, On?
I'm supposed to be planning a super hot date for this weekend, but I'm so wiped from work all I can come up with is dinner and a movie (boring, although we do like food and movies) I'm looking for some out-of-the-box ideas that are a) not too pricey, b) can be slightly physical/active as long as c) I can wear a dress (so no rock-climbing etc) Things that strike my fancy: roller derby, indie movies, live music; ideally in the Westboro area. Neither of us have a car.
I'm supposed to be planning a super hot date for this weekend, but I'm so wiped from work all I can come up with is dinner and a movie (boring, although we do like food and movies) I'm looking for some out-of-the-box ideas that are a) not too pricey, b) can be slightly physical/active as long as c) I can wear a dress (so no rock-climbing etc) Things that strike my fancy: roller derby, indie movies, live music; ideally in the Westboro area. Neither of us have a car.
More Hintonburg than Westboro, but the Elmdale Tavern is a pretty decent venue for live music. You could ramble around the neighborhood, grab dinner at any of a zillion restaurants in the area. There's also about a million art galleries in the neighbourhood, if that's your thing.
posted by peppermind at 6:37 AM on May 17, 2012
posted by peppermind at 6:37 AM on May 17, 2012
Exploring a new neighborhood is always fun. If you haven't been up to Hintonburg in the last year, there is a ton of new stuff to check out. Tacolot, Susie Q's donuts, Tennessee Willems, Hintonburg Public House are all newish and reasonably priced. Unfortunately, it's too early to use RightBike to get around, but it will be up and running next weekend.
If you are willing to take the bus, I can recommend Mini Golf Gardens in Nepean as a non strenuous, fun activity.
You can check out events across Ottawa at Apt613 or Couch Assassin. Apt613 covers art events, music, etc, while Couch assassin is a mega list.
posted by Gor-ella at 7:06 AM on May 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
If you are willing to take the bus, I can recommend Mini Golf Gardens in Nepean as a non strenuous, fun activity.
You can check out events across Ottawa at Apt613 or Couch Assassin. Apt613 covers art events, music, etc, while Couch assassin is a mega list.
posted by Gor-ella at 7:06 AM on May 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
Cangames is this weekend - a couple of hundred nerds getting together for board games, role playing games and general geekery. It's probably the nerdiest thing going on this weekend.
posted by deadtrouble at 7:27 AM on May 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by deadtrouble at 7:27 AM on May 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
Oh man, when you said nerdy I was thinking TOUR OF PARLIAMENT, but I see that you are not the same kind of nerd as I. But perhaps the National Art Gallery or a museum? You have so many options in Ottawa!
posted by snorkmaiden at 8:06 AM on May 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by snorkmaiden at 8:06 AM on May 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
In re. TOUR OF PARLIAMENT -- just walking AROUND it is quite nice too. There's a whole area behind the buildings by the river that's just lovely, and if you go for a little wander and bring blankets and wine and a picnic basket (good take-away? Lots of near-ish options -- Boushey's, Bank St Herb and Spice, the Place Bell Deli, Bottega Nicastro) you'll have a nice time.
If you're drinky sorts you could go bar-hopping at the downtown hotel bars after it gets dark out. I have not been to any of these places for a long time so some Googling may be needed (there are some spots I am sadly backspacing over after finding them to be no more and ARC and Indigo are uncharted territory for me, but perhaps...?) but it used to be that the Delta Hotel had a nice tucked-away thing with plush chairs, the Lord Elgin's pub was nice, and the Westin and Chateau Laurier are reliably swishy places for cocktails. The paths along the river are just non-rugged enough and hotel bars just enough of what they are that you'd be able to swing the same not-TOO-fancy dress for both.
posted by kmennie at 10:18 AM on May 17, 2012
If you're drinky sorts you could go bar-hopping at the downtown hotel bars after it gets dark out. I have not been to any of these places for a long time so some Googling may be needed (there are some spots I am sadly backspacing over after finding them to be no more and ARC and Indigo are uncharted territory for me, but perhaps...?) but it used to be that the Delta Hotel had a nice tucked-away thing with plush chairs, the Lord Elgin's pub was nice, and the Westin and Chateau Laurier are reliably swishy places for cocktails. The paths along the river are just non-rugged enough and hotel bars just enough of what they are that you'd be able to swing the same not-TOO-fancy dress for both.
posted by kmennie at 10:18 AM on May 17, 2012
---This is downtown, but for movies, you know about the Bytowne on Rideau, right?
---Find your way to Brittannia park for a picnic--the views of the river are gorgeous there. You could probably find a bus there, or walk from Westboro.
---I love the Table in westboro for vegetarian food.
---In the evening, strolling around behind the Parliament is very pretty with the sunset and the view of the river.
---Grab some Bixi bikes and take a ride along the river, or the canal!!!!! I don't know if they have them in Westboro but you could easily bus downtown together.
---Thursday nights all the museums and galleries have free admission
---Just get ice cream and walk around westboro and look at all the cute little restaurants and shops
posted by costanza at 12:35 PM on May 17, 2012
---Find your way to Brittannia park for a picnic--the views of the river are gorgeous there. You could probably find a bus there, or walk from Westboro.
---I love the Table in westboro for vegetarian food.
---In the evening, strolling around behind the Parliament is very pretty with the sunset and the view of the river.
---Grab some Bixi bikes and take a ride along the river, or the canal!!!!! I don't know if they have them in Westboro but you could easily bus downtown together.
---Thursday nights all the museums and galleries have free admission
---Just get ice cream and walk around westboro and look at all the cute little restaurants and shops
posted by costanza at 12:35 PM on May 17, 2012
Is the cat man still on parliament hill? There used to be a man who fed all the stray cats on parliament hill, and when they tried to kick him off people put up a fuss, so he got to stay for a while.
posted by whalebreath at 9:24 PM on May 17, 2012
posted by whalebreath at 9:24 PM on May 17, 2012
when they tried to kick him off
I think maybe you're confusing that with when he retired or...?
But yeah, the cat colony is an official thing (see also: FB page) and fun to go check out.
posted by kmennie at 6:31 AM on May 18, 2012
I think maybe you're confusing that with when he retired or...?
But yeah, the cat colony is an official thing (see also: FB page) and fun to go check out.
posted by kmennie at 6:31 AM on May 18, 2012
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not sure exactly what you mean by nerdy but you could go to the art gallery or a museum? IMAX dome shows are pretty fun and nerdy too.
posted by randomnity at 5:48 AM on May 17, 2012