During my extensive research for this article, I stumbled upon this clip from 1971’s Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. In the clip, the children are welcomed into the factory by a strange and rather morally ambiguous Gene Wilder. Now, I would contend, and I think anyone who has toured any candy factory, that this scene is somewhat removed from reality. I once toured the now-no-more Hershey’s factory in Smiths Falls, and at the time I was struck by the lack of whimsy, majesty and creepy men singing “come with... | Continue reading article

It’s a good time to be a craft beer lover in the Ottawa region. Beau’s has quickly grown from fledgling start-up to local craft beer institution. Brasseurs du Temps, a Gatineau brew pub, opened its doors in 2009 and, if you’re willing to make a pilgrimage across the river, you’ll get to experience a number of fine brews. It wasn’t long ago that word arrived of two new local upstarts, Kichesippi and Hogsback. Both have now found their base and are beginning to embark upon interesting paths. Just last year, Mill Street... | Continue reading article

Rideau Street is about to get dug up and the construction will last until the end of next Summer. While this is being done to replace old water pipes and even older sewers, it’s also an opportunity to fix the street and make it hipper as Councillor Mathieu Fleury says. The Citizen’s David Reevely took a stroll down Rideau St. with Fleury to see the good, the bad and the what could be of Rideau. We’re getting another festival this Summer and I think many of you will be excited... | Continue reading article

What a difference a year made between  the first and second editions of Gatineau’s Festibière. While last year’s edition was a resounding success, “it’s much bigger this year,” explained Monsieur Guy Blain, founder and chef at L’Orée du bois in Chelsea. The number of kiosks increased from 32 to 63, doubling in size. This means there’s a lot more choice. Unfortunately, due to provincial liquor laws, don’t expect local breweries like Beau’s or Kichesippi to be present (I really wonder if someone’s working on fixing this issue). Festibière is a... | Continue reading article

Post and photos by guest blogger Art Hill. Festibiere (Gatineau Beerfest) is scheduled for May 25, 26 & 27 at Lake Leamy Park. This annual festival features the best of the brew coming out of Quebec’s ever growing brewery industry, featuring both established brewers like Boreal or the artisan beer producers springing up almost everywhere around the province.  Apartment 613 was invited to a lunch and presentation hosted by organizer and beer aficionado Mario D’Eer to get the scoop on what Ottawa can expect at this year’s festival. Being a... | Continue reading article

Take an Italian café with a contemporary touch serving up ethically-sourced beans and locally-made treats. Add a dairy case filled with milk, butter and eggs from nearby Cochrane’s Dairy and Stirling Creamery for those early-morning milk runs. Layer on a carefully-edited wall of magazines and newspapers. Combine it all in a Bauhaus-inspired floral shop and the result is Blumenstudio. The brainchild of Katrin (Kat) Kosk and partner Nathan Turner, Blumenstudio is a calm oasis of smooth coffee, colourful blossoms, playful vignettes and subtle beats. Located on an otherwise car-focused stretch of Parkdale Avenue between Wellington... | Continue reading article

Apartment613 Live March 8 Full show FINAL by saxby This week on Apartment613 Live, Ryan Saxby-Hill and Trevor Pritchard reunite to co-host the show and celebrate International Women’s Day. Ryan and Trevor show their appreciation for the women in their lives and celebrate by bringing in some fantastic women to talk about everything from beer to music and local trivia. Do you love beer enough to put it in your salad? Turns out it’s possible and delicious. Ryan chats with Caroline Isshi from Zen Kitchen to talk about their upcoming... | Continue reading article

Wish you could sit back and just listen to what Apartment613 has to say? You can. This week, Ryan Saxby and Karen Diepeveen host Apartment613 Live. Ryan interviews Malorie Bertrand from Ef Magazine and Karen chats with fellow Apartment 613 editor Katrina Marsh about beer and sex. If you noticed Apartment613′s recent blackout, Ryan explains the web’s response to SOPA and why Apartment613 joined in the black out. [podcast]http://traffic.libsyn.com/apt613/January_19_mixdown_final.mp3[/podcast]

Trudeau once famously quipped that “there’s no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation”. Of course, he never said anything about bloggers. Once again Apartment613 and Venus Envy are sticking our noses in where they don’t belong. The second annual Big Sexy O-Town Survey will get the intimate details of what really goes on in Ottawa’s bedrooms, bars and bordellos. Our goal: to satisfy our own voyeuristic streak to provide a safe and serious place to discuss sexual issues of great import, such as what’s your favourite Ottawa... | Continue reading article

The Gatineau Beerfest invites you to join its other guests for a big country party in May 2011. Our festival marks the arrival of warmer weather and family outings in nature. The Outaouais region is a strategic place to access all kinds of specialty beers.Its residents are served by four major distribution networks on both sides of river. They offer an impressive choice of flavors which are ever evolving. This wide selection of beer can now accompany most meals. . The phenomena of artisan beer production and the tasting experience... | Continue reading article