Editor’s note:You might think one way to get to know a neighbourhood might be, oh, checking out its official boundaries. While Hintonburg once might have extended all the way to Western Ave., it’s now subdivided into Hintonburg (east of Holland) and West Wellington Village (everything west). And while we wandered through both neighbourhoods, and visited Hintonburg highlights like Cyclelogik, the Al Jazeera market, and the recently-relocated Heavens to Betsy, our post focused almost squarely on WWV. So our apologies. We promise to come back and give your neighbourhood its due, if only for an excuse to drown our inaccuracies at the Carleton Tavern.
Better know a Neighborhood is Apartment 613’s knockoff homage to Stephen Colbert’s famed Better Know a District. Our goal is simple: find and write about interesting parts of the city. For the first part of this not-so-innovative series, we head west down Wellington to a neighborhood that is often described as staking Ottawa’s claim to hipness.
Hintonburg has been Ottawa’s up-and-coming neighbourhood for a while now – so long in fact that some feel it may be time to cede that title to a younger, bustier neighbourhood. For those who’ve spent any time in the Glebe, the shops and restaurants might seem eerily familiar: there’s a Herb and Spice, Francesco’s, Nicastro’s, Bridgehead, and the Royal Oak. But take some time to venture off of Wellington – or just head east of Parkdale – and you’ll soon realize that Hintonburg, with its working class taverns and unpretentious restaurants, isn’t ready to give up its down-to-earth charm just yet.
A few other notes about Hintonburg: it’s home to the QUAD, Ottawa’s self-proclaimed arts district. The QUAD is a loose collective of local cultural businesses, not to mention the the ArtsPark at Parkdale Market every May. Add the fact that housing is still a bit cheaper, and it’s some members of the Apartment613 crew not living in Hintonburg jealous of those who do!
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The Wellington Diner
KT – I love anything for 99 cents, and on weekends that’s what they charge for a cappuccino. I was pumped for the breakfast poutine (home fries, cheese curds and hollandaise sause) but found it a bit disappointing… apparently a huge pile of yellow viscous sauce was less appetizing then I had imagined. This is Hintonburg’s version of the Elgin street diner: in fact, they are both owned by the same guy. Karen – Too bad John’s (restaurant down the street) was closed when we went. Anyone have an idea why? The food at the W-Diner was super filling – this prevented sampling at the various bakeries we passed, which did make me kind of sad. |
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Street murals on Wellington
KT – Get your head patted by a giant! There were a lot of cool Murals in this part of town, which definately gives it an arty kind of feel. François – Speaking of street art, we managed to get a great shot for one of our new banners: the one with flower graffitti off Heavens to Betsy’s wall! |
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Local News
KT – What the @#$% is a Kitchissippi? A Kitchen Store in Mississippi? |
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Mostly Danish Furniture Store
François – There’s a great assortment of teak furniture, quirky wood carved chairs and benches, and awesome asian cabinets. Will definitely go back. Saxby – Don’t get lost in here and keep track of exits in case of fire. |
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Red Velvet
Karen – Lovely clothing – all Canadian! Good sale rack, along with pretty picks for spring – with an entire half dedicated to fashion for moms-to-be. |
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Collected Works Independent Bookstore and Coffee Bar
Trevor – Collected Works made news last year when the loonie was at par with the American dollar, by offering book buyers the choice of paying either the Canadian or the U.S. price. Word on the street was that many people still paid the higher Canadian price out of loyalty to the owners. KT – What I like about this place is they have toys to keep your boyfriend occupied. Saxby – There always seem to be great readings hosted at Collected works too. David Sedaris read there! |
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Elmdale Tavern
François – A true tavern. Some say that it’s slowly gentrifying – perhaps our presence there is an indication of this? But I say that a tavern that still has jars of eggs in vinegar, gherkin pickles and salty cheese is a-ok in my book. The salty cheese was awesome. KT – The small glasses with the pitchers reminded me of my undergrad days at the MoHo… small glasses make anyone feel like a champion drinker. Saxby – I loved everything about the Elmdale Tavern and looking at the list of shows certainly confirmed that I will be back. |
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Trevor – I am hereby challenging the bakers of Ottawa to come up with a loaf of bread that is superior to the Harvest Loaf’s rock salt baguette. I have doubts it can be done. |
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François – The only place in town you can find an upside down map of the world and see how it feels like to live in Australia. Trevor – Nerd heaven. And I say that as a guy who would spend hours as a kid poring over maps, memorizing rivers, cities, and highways. Saxby – I made fun of the World of Maps (and people excited by it) before going in, but had to admit the selection is nuts and the custom printing of topographic maps would be great for determining smuggling routes. In the era of Google Maps, World of Maps is a throw back to a simpler time.
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Ottawa Bagel Shop and Deli
François – I think everyone loved this place; from its Jewish folk band that plays on Sundays (see photo above) to its fancy cheeses, meats, and assortment of teas, it’s a great place to go to. Saxby – Don’t buy bagels at the grocery store. They are gross and pastey. Montreal-style bagels are the only way to go, so buy from here or Kettleman’s. |
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