Managing editor @CanGeo + @CanGeo_Travel. City Bites columnist @ottawamag. Locavore. Design nerd. Bird lover. Hiker. Camper. Lurker.
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Articles by Sarah Brown
Webinar: What's Next for Sitecore XP Licensees?
Like many WCM and DXP vendors, Sitecore has struggled to find stable ground as modern MarTech stacks evolve. Despite a decade of acquisitions and pivots, core questions remain for current licensees: stay, modernize, or move on? Join RSG’s Scott Simmons — a longtime Sitecore analyst, advisor, and consultant — for a candid, fast-paced session exploring what’s really happening behind the spin.
By Natural Design
When Jake Herring sees an old barn, he sees something much greater–an opportunity to repurpose the wood to better serve a family or business while reducing waste. Herring, an avid rock climber who loves to travel, attended Michigan State, where he received a degree in construction management. This led him to work in the commercial sector in Las Vegas. But it was not a good fit for a hands-on person like Herring.“It just wasn’t for me,” he says.
Ali Smith’s new novel Gliff is a dystopian nightmare with flashes of fairytale enchantment Original
Ali Smith’s Gliff is set “once upon a time, not very far from now”. It is a kind of fairytale of the future in which two children, Briar and Rose, navigate a world which seems increasingly baffling and hostile. Gliff is the first of a planned pair of novels – the second to be called Glyph. Although the two words sound identical, their meanings are quite different. The Scottish word “gliff” means a shock, fright or sudden glimpse. A “glyph”, meanwhile, is a written character or symbol.
New library books
These works about pets are newly available through the Allen County Public Library. “What It Takes to Save a Life: A Veterinarian’s Quest for Healing and Hope” by Kwane Stewart Full of warm and inspiring stories of human-animal relationships, this powerful memoir follows a struggling veterinarian’s nine-year journey caring for pets and their humans who are living on the streets, showing animals provide more than companionship. They offer love, hope and a sense of security.
Review: IT’S HER TURN NOW, The Mill at Sonning
The Mill at Sonning is home to The Ray Cooney Auditorium so it feels a very fitting place to enjoy an adaptation of his 1990 farce, Out of Order. The original was about MP’s behaving badly but in this world premiere of the reworking by Michael Barfoot, it’s a female MP who comes under scrutiny for her dishonest deeds.
Review: NOISES OFF, Theatre Royal Haymarket
The Theatre Royal Haymarket provides an appropriately grandiose setting for this 40th anniversary production of Noises Off. Michael Frayn’s 1982 play within a play is often credited as being one of the greatest British comedies ever written and Theatre Royal Bath have done an admirable job in upholding the farce’s reputation.
Immersed in Nature – Common Kosci by Alan Powell - Issue 12 Feature - The Local Project
Originally Featured in The Local Project Issue No. 12 Originally Featured in The Local Project Issue No. 12 Issue No. 12 Issue No. 12 features new work from Fearon Hay Architects, Partners Hill, Tribe Studio Architects, Warren and Mahoney, Room11, Kerstin Thompson Architects and more. Located in the alpine outback of the Snowy Mountains, Common Kosci offers an intimate experience of place, enabled by luxury design.
Random Desires: Arts, crafts, and other lovely distractions
What we love, where to find it, and sometimes why — Sarah Brown’s regular roundup of coveted locally made goods Elder Statesman All that’s old is new again at Westboro’s Gallery Elder, a boutique gallery celebrating the craftsmanship of furnishings from the 17th through 19th centuries. Here, owner Tyler Patrick Brand arranges furniture and art into carefully curated still lifes.
Storm Eunice in Suffolk: Look back on February 2022 winds
On February 18, 2022, Storm Eunice wrecked havoc across Suffolk as it brought wind speeds in excess of 70mph. Storm Eunice in Suffolk: Look back on February 2022 winds p Comments A huge tree fell on a home in Sudbury in Storm Eunice Picture: Sarah Lucy Brown A year ago today, Storm Eunice wrecked havoc across Suffolk as it brought wind speeds in excess of 70mph.Storm Eunice Weather warning Community Felixstowe Ipswich Suffolk p Comments Get involved p the news Send your news & photos Loading.
Rebuilding a family cottage on Big Rideau Lake
Cottage memories are the best memories — warm summer days, splashing around in the lake, relaxing with family and friends. And so Steve Ardington admits to being just a little nervous when he was given the responsibility of designing a new cottage for clients Mike and Suzie*. The couple confessed they were still very attached to their old cottage on Big Rideau Lake. It was where their two boys had grown up, and the walls were crowded with framed photos of summertime memories.
Random Desires: Our curated list of local finds
Our curated list of local finds inspired by a yearning for warmth and beauty Wax Poetic Launched in 2016 when Anna Chandler Merlo was just nine, the Wax Studio has been a huge success since the get-go. Her candles are now stocked in local stores, and she boasts a busy online shop. Chandler Merlo’s latest design is a sophisticated narrow taper that caters to fans of midcentury modern design whose vintage candle holders are too narrow for traditional candles.
Four Times Shakespeare Has Inspired Stories About Robots and AI
Science fiction is a genre very much associated with technological marvels, innovations, and visions of the future. So it may be surprising to find so many of its writers are drawn to Shakespeare – he’s a figure associated with tradition and the past. Sometimes his plays are reworked in a science fiction setting. The 1956 film Forbidden Planet is just one of many variations on a “Tempest in space” theme. Sometimes the playwright appears as a character caught up in a time travel adventure.
Four times Shakespeare has inspired stories about robots and AI Original
Science fiction is a genre very much associated with technological marvels, innovations, and visions of the future. So it may be surprising to find so many of its writers are drawn to Shakespeare – he’s a figure associated with tradition and the past. Sometimes his plays are reworked in a science fiction setting. The 1956 film Forbidden Planet is just one of many variations on a “Tempest in space” theme. Sometimes the playwright appears as a character caught up in a time travel adventure.
How Survival Skills Shaped You since Childhood
Whether or not we like to admit it, knowledge shapes us. It determines how we turn out to be and even the unconscious decisions we make that lead us toward the different forks in our life’s journey. One such knowledge is survival skills. Survival skills have been described by some as the several techniques that we use to keep alive in different natural and even man-made environments.
The home-office mini-reno of Grassroots Design's Emma Doucet
BY Sarah Brown POSTED August 24, 2021 4:21 pm When the pandemic shut down offices and schools, Emma Doucet’s family of five found themselves together 24 hours a day. Navigating work and school proved to be a challenge for the owner of Grassroots Design and her family. Emma’s husband, Sébastien Labelle, set up in the dining room, son Félix retreated to the basement, and daughters Cléa and Éva, who shared a bedroom, figured out a system that saw Cléa move into the living room for her online classes.
Homes | Ottawa Magazine
BY Sarah Brown POSTED August 24, 2021 4:21 pm When the pandemic shut down offices and schools, Emma Doucet’s family of five found themselves together 24 hours a day. Navigating work and school proved to be a challenge for the owner of Grassroots Design and her family. Emma’s husband, Sébastien Labelle, set up in the dining room, son Félix retreated to the basement, and daughters Cléa and Éva, who shared a bedroom, figured out a system that saw Cléa move into the living room for her online classes.
Plan Your Perfect Day in OKC by Season
Reading Time: 5 minutes When your family has an open day on your calendar to explore the best of OKC, how will you spend it? Use these parent-vetted recs for inspiration! Three metro families share their favorite metro spots for family fun and local eats. with the Brown Family The Browns enjoy a summer day at Lake Arcadia. With the weather warming up and the end of school, my family and I have been planning all the fun things we want to do this summer.
UrbanTurf Listings: New This Week
UrbanTurf Listings: New This Week by UrbanTurf Staff UrbanTurf Listings is a premium property listings service that showcases some of the most appealing for-sale homes from across the DC metropolitan area. Every week we will display the newest additions from the previous seven days. Below are this week's newest properties for sale. Click the photo for each property to learn more about it. Agents, to learn more about UrbanTurf Listings, see the introduction and FAQ.
House Planted - how the pandemic sparked a house plant boom
BY Sarah Brown POSTED June 17, 2021 1:30 pm Working from home also means more time to care for house plants. Three plant enthusiasts talk about their collections — and the joys that come with a horticultural hobby Name: Jordann Brown Day job: Interior photographer at Jordann Brown Imaging Plant count: 56 What do plants mean to you? Plants have been a great hobby and pastime for me, especially with being at home so much lately.
A tale of two (amazingly cute) Airstream trailers
BY Sarah Brown POSTED May 19, 2021 10:09 pm Chic camper vans were trending long before the pandemic hit but lockdowns and quarantines have certainly added to the interest in recreational vehicles. Here, we take a look inside two renovated Airstream trailers that have come in handy as staycations become the norm. The 1981 Airstream The outside bore no resemblance to what was happening on the inside.
Calm, creative, and custom - A chic sanctuary in Alta Vista
BY Sarah Brown POSTED May 3, 2021 2:21 pm The most meaningful endeavours are those that are close to the heart, the best collaborations forged through a shared history. In the case of this unique renovation, a big dollop of serendipity also played a part. Let’s start at the beginning.
Local Love - a roundup of stylish treasures by city designers
BY Sarah Brown POSTED May 3, 2021 1:49 pm What we love and where to find it: our curated roundup of lovely local finds. Left: Beaded earrings by Christina Ballhorn. Right: Emerald tiles add eye-catching warmth Pair Up In these uncertain times, artist Christina Ballhorn of Lost Thread Weaving finds comfort in the meditative work of beading.
Find unique floral creations at Manotick's Rebel Petal
BY Sarah Brown; photography by Justin Van Leeuwen POSTED April 30, 2021 2:41 pm Manotick’s Rebel Petal underwent an ambitious expansion during the pandemic. The joyful space, launched late spring 2021, is a welcoming sanctuary for owner Michelle Vandenbosch and her staff. Capturing the Beauty Rebel Petal owner Michelle VandenBosch jokes that a major expansion of her flower shop was perfectly timed.
Leclair Decor designs home for L.A. makeup maven James Charles
BY Sarah Brown; photos by Chad Mellon Studio POSTED April 12, 2021 1:54 pm The video tour of James Charles’s L.A. mansion, which is currently sitting at 12.5 million views, starts with Charles opening the door with his signature “Hi sisters!”greeting. The beauty influencer proceeds to show off a designer home that is sprawling yet flawless, sophisticated yet comfortable. James Charles hanging out in his L.A. home. Photo by Chad Mellon Studio The designers behind Charles’s dream home?
Developing a Rapid Test Kit for Coronavirus Antibodies
In a major study of the so-called “Big 4” auditing firms, Liz Cowle, accounting doctoral candidate the Sam M. Walton College of Business, determined that the firms increase audit attention and improve audit quality when their work is covered by the media.
Behind the striking design of Carleton U's Nichol Building
BY Sarah Brown POSTED March 31, 2021 11:10 pm Curvaceous and modern, the Nichol Building — the new home for Carleton University’s Sprott School of Business — is defined by its graceful profile and soaring views down campus avenue to the Rideau river. But while it will be the finished structure that receives the accolades, the spirit of the building was first captured a few years ago in the simplest of sketches.
Fireplaces We Love: Two great spaces (and how to get the look)
Decorative and practical, cozy and inviting, a fireplace brings together a room and the people in it. Here, three stylish local fireplaces (and the rooms around them) offer inspiration. We talked to the people behind the design, and sought out similar furniture and accessories from local shops, to help you achieve a snug and sophisticated space.
Mezbaan, Bacanalle, Hey Kitchen, Mojo's Chinese
Great food inspired by other cultures can help ease the loss of a cross-border vacation. Here, menu highlights from four new casual eateries. Open your takeout container, close your eyes, and breathe deeply. Afghanistan, which lies between India and Iran, boasts a cuisine all its own but influenced by both its neighbours. From India come chilies, cardamom, saffron, cinnamon, and cumin, while Iran supplies the freshness of coriander and mint.
Phone Cases
Update your look with a new phone case. Choose the Snap case for lightweight protection from scrapes and scratches, or the chunkier Tough case, which includes a silicone insert for added durability. Available in Matte or Gloss finish.
Wine destination Buyers + Cellars offers tastings, shopping on Somerset
Let’s call it a wine destination. Buyers + Cellars, with its catchy tagline “discover uncorked potential,” bills itself as a boutique wine company that offers a little bit of everything: curation, sales, tasting, and education. In other words, a one-stop shopping spot for the curious wine lover.
Road trip! Head to Arnprior to check out Mighty Fine Bakehouse - and an old-growth forest
BY Sarah Brown POSTED September 2, 2020 9:55 pm City Bites is always game for a fall road trip — especially when it involves a trip to a bakery helmed by two super-talented chefs cooking up French pastries, cinnamon rolls, and hefty loaves. Mighty Fine Bakehousehas been open sinceFebruary. The endeavour is led by Megan O’Connor and Graham Kome-Pond, who met eight years ago in England when they both worked for celebrity restaurateur Gary Rhodes.
A cottage on a cliff inspired by the Stealth Bomber
BY Sarah Brown; photography by Justin Van Leeuwen POSTED August 17, 2020 2:31 pm Simon Frigon has been honing his cottage-building skills for two decades, constructing his first cottage on Lac St-Pierre when he was in his early 20s. Since then, he has built and sold four more cottages on this very lake, each one more complex than the last. This lake house, dubbed Cliffhanger Stealth, is his fifth cottage, the culmination of all he has learned to date.
Porches We Love: A screened-in porch, a grand poolhouse, and more awesome exterior spaces
BY Sarah Brown POSTED August 12, 2020 4:49 pm Call it a balcony, porch, terrace, or deck — a little patch of somewhat-private, semi-outdoor space to call your own makes summer even better. During these pandemic days, when gatherings are a no-go, restaurant dining comes with strict rules, and dining tables are double as offices, that extra space becomes all the more treasured.
A cottage built for BBQs in Lac Saint-Sixte
Ah, the joy of discovery! Jean Corriveau still vividly recalls his first visit to Lac Saint-Sixte, a 450-acre cottage community just an hour from Ottawa. Within 30 minutes of arriving, he found himself standing on the perfect lot, facing west and perched high above a shimmering lake. “I was so excited, I had to hold myself back. I raced home and told Claudia [Gomez], ‘I’ve found it!’ ” Photo by Christian Lalonde A view from the balcony into the summer kitchen and main floor.
Taiwanese bubble tea shop debuts on Sussex
BY Sarah Brown POSTED July 23, 2020 3:29 pm Time to spill the tea on the newest bubble tea joint in the capital. The Alley, a Taiwanese chain, is targeting discerning tea drinkers with a high-end location on Sussex. The Alley’s bubble teas highlight handcrafted tapioca pearls, roasted tea bases (no powders here), and house-made organic sugar cane syrup.
Hallelujah! The Burger’s Priest comes to Ottawa
It may have started off life as an indie burger spot in 2010, but 10 years later, Toronto fast-food favourite The Burger’s Priest is in major expansion mode with close to two-dozen restaurants in the Big Smoke and southwestern Ontario. Now, the burger joint with the biblical name and menu is bravely launching its first two Ottawa locations in 2020.
Inside Andrew Szeto's minimalist, DIY, YouTube-famous A-frame
BY Sarah Brown POSTED July 9, 2020 8:45 pm Photographer, skateboarder, woodworker, adventurer — and, most recently, YouTube sensation. At over 1.5 million views, Andrew Szeto’s time-lapse how-to-build-a-cabin tutorial plugs into the zeitgeist — one that speaks directly to a new generation of eco-aware, budget-conscious makers who admire that “just do it” mentality. When Andrew gets a great idea, he’s not afraid to run with it. And have fun with it.
Welcome summer with decor that has that "cottage vibe"
BY Sarah Brown POSTED June 16, 2020 8:04 am Caffeine Fix There’s nothing like a morning cup of coffee on the dock. Relive that summer ritual with a set of cottagey enamel espresso cups, available in a rainbow of colours. $5. 244 Elgin St., potandpantry.ca Dry Run Make those inevitable after-dinner cleanups a little more palatable with pretty tea towels.
Alternatives to Couples Therapy that May Save Your Relationship
Do you feel like seeing a therapist for your relationship isn’t your best suit? Is your relationship facing challenges, but you don’t feel like meeting a counselor? Yes, it’s best that you acknowledge the fact that every relationship isn’t perfect, and each person has his/her personality. So, these differences may at times bring problems in a relationship, but here are some alternatives you could browse through and try out to help you strengthen your relationship.
Rewriting History - The renovation of a former embassy in Rockcliffe
It takes both vision and optimism to discover a rundown mansion and declare without hesitation that it’s The One. Hussain Rahal has both in spades. Driving through Rockcliffe Park on a spring day in 2016, he spotted construction fencing surrounding a stately house that, though once grand, now looked distinctly dilapidated and most definitely abandoned. Hussain drove slowly past, then stopped the car and turned around.
UrbanTurf Listings: New This Week
UrbanTurf Listings: New This Week by UrbanTurf Staff UrbanTurf Listings is a premium property listings service that showcases some of the most appealing for-sale homes from across the DC metropolitan area. Every week we will display the newest additions from the previous seven days. Below are this week's newest properties for sale. Click the photo for each property to learn more about it. Agents, to learn more about UrbanTurf Listings, see the introduction and FAQ.
Random Desires - our curated collection of local design discoveries
A close of a card by Priya Guriyani (left); a GOHBA-winning entry by Nathan Kyle of Astro Design Centre (right) Naked Ambition Smart and feminine, Priya Gurnani’s line drawings tell a story, taking the viewer on a creative journey. A scientist by day, the artist behind Pri’s Paints & Prints began copying henna designs after a trip to India when she was 10 and has been doodling ever since.
Stofa's Imrun Texeira and Dominique Dufour of Gray Jay cook on-screen in Top Chef Canada
The #eatlocal movement is gathering steam as Ottawa foodies step up their takeout game to keep their favourite restaurants busy. Now local foodies can #watchlocal, as well, with the delicious distraction that is Top Chef Canada. The new season of Top Chef Canada will air Monday, April 13 at 10pm ET. Local viewers can cheer for Stofa sous chef Imrun Texeira and Gray Jay chef-owner Dominique Dufour (if you miss it live, you can catch it the next day on the Food Network site).
Life can still be sweet - DIY projects for busy kids
BY Sarah Brown POSTED April 6, 2020 3:30 pm Need a break from coming up with crafty projects as we head into a second month of stay-at-home with no break on the immediate horizon? Creative bakeries and food shops have your back with all kinds of fun DIY kits that are both tasty and, in some cases, educational, too. Here are a few options to shake things up with a surprise delivery every week or two (note: have earplugs handy for when the sugar high kicks in).
Art, design, and panoramic views: Inside a luxurious Centretown penthouse
This article originally appeared in our 2020 Interiors edition. Prepare to be dazzled. Though the skyline views from the penthouse at Cathedral Hill are undeniably magnificent, it’s the carefully curated collection of furnishings and artwork that draws the eye inward to a space that is equal parts comfortable family home and art gallery.
Heartbreakers brings New York-style pizza to Parkdale
Ottawa’s pizza renaissance is in full swing, with pie lovers going gaga over the opening of Farinella in Little Italy last summer, lining up well before noon for Italian-style pizzas. Now it’s Heartbreakers’ turn to hit the ground running, with restaurant veterans Juliana Graf and Andrew Chatham teaming up with Andrew’s sister, Lizzie Chatham, to elevate the New York-style slice.
Inside Farm Boy’s new Centretown store
BY Sarah Brown POSTED March 4, 2020 5:47 pm The long wait is finally over. On Thursday, March 5 Farm Boy opens the doors on a new urban food market in Centretown. It’s a grocery game-changer for downtowners, who will soon get to know the 29,000-square-foot supermarket jam-packed with local produce and hundreds of Farm Boy private-label products. The glass mural welcoming shoppers to Farm Boy references its site at the heart of the capital.
Cylie brings its artisan chocolate to Old Ottawa South
Cylie Artisans Chocolats has returned! Chocolatiers Cyrus Nebout and Leslie Yang ran their unique chocolate shop on the north Dalhousie strip from 2013 until 2018, creating exquisite handcrafted, hand-painted chocolates and selling their own line of teas, all beautifully packaged. Now the dynamic duo is back, this time with a larger boutique on Bank Street in Old Ottawa South (Cylie is across the street from the Mayfair Theatre).
Z3 Specialty Coffee serves unique Japanese drinks in pretty Kanata space
BY Sarah Brown POSTED February 7, 2020 12:42 pm Have you just dropped the kids at the Kanata Wave Pool for swimming lessons and desperately need a coffee? Or perhaps you’ve left them at Landmark Cinemas for a movie and have decided to wait it out rather than head home and back out to pick them up? If so, City Bites has the perfect hangout and coffee shop recommendation: Z3 Specialty Coffee. Don’t miss the mini gift shop near the cashier.
Chef Arup Jana opens Brassica in Westboro
In March 2019, a fire ripped through Allium restaurant, destroying the popular Holland Avenue eatery run by Chef Arup Jana for more than a decade. In the aftermath of the devastating blaze, the well-known chef thanked the community for its outpouring of support and committed to rebuild. Jana has stood by that commitment, enduring close to a year of paperwork and delays with the hope that Allium will rise anew, perhaps as early as summertime 2020.
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