Comments for Apartment613

Comment on Ottawa, we need to talk: What’s with the weird brown shoes? by kate

kate — Tue, 22 May 2012 19:36:25 +0000

As yet another recent addition to Ottawa’s population, I can’t really complain about the poor choices in footwear — it makes everything I wear look great by comparison

Comment on What to look forward to at this year’s Gatineau Beerfest by Ravi Shanghavi

Ravi Shanghavi — Sun, 20 May 2012 19:22:40 +0000

Thanks for sharing!
Can’t wait to taste some of the beers this year, should be a top event!
This is why we love our Ottawa.

Comment on Ottawa, we need to talk: What’s with the weird brown shoes? by Cee

Cee — Sun, 20 May 2012 15:27:45 +0000

If I have to choose between ill-fitting moccasins or comfortable running shoes for wearing with my business attire when I’m not meeting clients or upper management, running shoes it is.

I’ll wear one of my pairs of lovely mid-range Allen Edmonds Park Avenue’s if I feel like it, but if I don’t… well running shoes work too.

I think Ottawa’s style can be defined as “don’t give a (darn)” – we just don’t care about style, and don’t understand why anyone would.

Comment on For fishes with bicycles: Ottawa’s best bike-accessible swimming holes by bike’sploring « Bake + Bike

bike’sploring « Bake + Bike — Sun, 20 May 2012 00:13:36 +0000

[...] ride was a bit of an exploratory one. I meant to go to Mooney’s Bay, which I’ve read is a great urban beach but I somehow missed the turnoff and ended up going back up the canal on the [...]

Comment on Scary Bear Soundtrack presents Asian Fetishist! Sexual politics have never been so cute! by Headlining Fall Down Gallery tonight « scary bear soundtrack

Headlining Fall Down Gallery tonight « scary bear soundtrack — Sat, 19 May 2012 18:53:44 +0000

[...] “Asian Fetishist”. In particular, we want to Katie from Apartment613 for her great article about the music video, and Alan Neal for playing our song and [...]

Comment on Ottawa, we need to talk: What’s with the weird brown shoes? by Graham

Graham — Sat, 19 May 2012 18:41:54 +0000

I agree with GP. Many people, myself included, deceived by the tall-ish buildings and occasional crowds, have come to the conclusion that Ottawa is a city. It’s not. It’s an urban basecamp. How else could the town support so many outdoor / running stores? You can go broke trying to find a good meal for a decent price, or you get can buy a nice softshell.

Once you understand this it will all make sense.

I myself have started running. I think my eyes have stopped watering at spectacularly expensive “small plates” as well. Maybe my next car will be a Subaru. All-wheel drive is so practical, what with all the snow and all …

Comment on Ottawa, we need to talk: What’s with the weird brown shoes? by Jimmy J

Jimmy J — Sat, 19 May 2012 15:49:59 +0000

Being an outsider, I’ve noticed the differences as well.

Along with the brown shoes, there are so many things to add to what is a typical Ottawan, but i wont put Ottawans down as that is their style here.

Comment on Ottawa, we need to talk: What’s with the weird brown shoes? by G.P.Butler

G.P.Butler — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:26:08 +0000

This article had a great hypothesis, but I think its false. The idea is that even well paid Ottawans lack the style of Montrealers and should fix that – store referrals included in article.

However, I think the author doesn’t get Ottawa yet. Wardrobes cost a lot of money and like any city, the middle income bobo (bohemian bourgeoisie) class sets the style vibe of the place. Montreal and Toronto are very urban places in which bobos live in the city, go to clubs, ride subways and rarely get out of the city. They spend their money on attire for urban fashion. 416ers and 514ers spend clothing allowance on snazzy leather shoes and new fashions.

Ottawa is an outdoorsy town. In twenty minutes you can be in the Gats, there is great skiing a short drive away, there is amazing biking on the trail network. Plus, winter is really cold. You need a warm jacket (goose down costs a pretty penny), Gortex shells are also important for layering (that will be $600 please). You need great shoes for hiking, boots for winter, and as for shirts and pants, you want good quality thermal layering with high-tech fibers.

Keeping a wardrobe like that is expensive and who has money left over for funky indie label clothes or Holte Renfrew on top of that. Besides, until we get subways, fancy suit trousers will just get ruined by the salt, so why bother.

So, its not that we don’t admire Montreal fashion, its just that we are a different species of Canadian – Homo Outdoorsus.

Comment on Ottawa, we need to talk: What’s with the weird brown shoes? by Mike

Mike — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:17:14 +0000

Or women wearing New Balance sneakers while also wearing a business attire!

Comment on Craig Cardiff in Concert to Fight Cancer by Peter Gardner

Peter Gardner — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:44:57 +0000

This is awesome! Can’t wait to get tickets and go.