Cool Graffiti on Somerset

Check out some great photos today of graffiti on a wall on Somerset Street, from the Watawa life blog. Photographer Robin Kelsey shows us what happened after some old graffiti was painted over with beige...Related: Ottawa Photography Guide

Ask OttawaStart: How much tax do I pay when I fill up my tank?

We received this email from Tim, a visitor to OttawaGasPrices.com:"What is breakdown of the price per litre we pay at the pump? Specifically, how much is Provincial & Federal Tax?"That's a pretty common question these days as prices hover around the $1.20 per litre mark. The best answer we can find comes Fuel Focus, a web site created by Natural Resources Canada. The amount of tax varies from

It's snowing

The winter that never ends: the flurries are falling today, on April 30th.Related: Ottawa Weather Guide

Rant of the Day: 10 Things I Hate About Sparks Street

Here's a fun post from the Elgin Street Irregulars blog: Ten Things I Hate About You -- all about the Sparks Street Mall. Highlights:4. Wanna ride your relatively unobtrusive eco-friendly bicycle down Sparks? Pay a hefty fine.8. Remote regions of Antarctica have more exciting nightlife.9. Sadly, most distinctive Canadian feature is Tim Hortons.10. All street, no sparks.Read more... Related:

The 2008 Ottawa Bluesfest line-up so far

Here are the confirmed performers for the 2008 Ottawa Bluesfest so far:Alice SmithAngelique KidjoBalkan Beat BoxBrian WilsonCorb LundDonna SummerFeistFergieGina SicilliaGreat Big SeaHarperHiLoTronsInfected MushroomJakob DylanJames TaylorJully BlackJW Jones BandLes BreastfeedersMichael BurksNikki YanofskySecret MachinesSharon Riley & Faith ChoraleSoiréeSteely DanThe Black CrowesThe Cooper

Ottawa's $1000 ham

From Ottawa Citizen food columnist Ron Eade's blog, the tale of the $1,000 ham at La Bottega Nicastro:About six kilos of prized Iberico Spanish ham that arrived Friday at La Bottega Nicastro in the ByWard Market has all but sold out in less than 48 hours, despite its eye-popping price of $20 for 100 grams, owner Pat Nicastro tells me today. In fact, that single ham had a retail value of more

Rideau River water pics & video

Check out these great photos and videos from Alec Saunders, of high water levels on the Rideau River. In particular -- check out the videos of the falls at Hog's Back and Watson's Mill in Manotick.Related: Ottawa Nature Guide

Bob LeDrew dissects the mayor's media skills

Interesting reading today on Bob LeDrew's FlakLife blog: "Ottawa's mayor offers a clinic in how NOT to do media"Bob recaps all of the mayor's blunders since being elected in 2006, including his latest mix-up with the media over some comments his son made on a local blog. Says Bob: "With all of that, I have to shake my head in disbelief at the utter hash that Ottawa Mayor Larry O'Brien has made

The New Nepean?

We're hearing rumours today about a splinter group on Ottawa City Council that wants to de-amalgamate Nepean from the City of Ottawa. The group says growing displeasure from Barrhaven residents is fuelling the movement -- they've even drafted plans for a new Nepean City Hall, to be located off Jockvale Road. (Pictured above.) More details coming soon...Related: Ottawa Politics Guide