Delegates Guide - Carleton University

CSA 2009 Delegate’s Guide
CONGRESS OF THE HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES 2009
THIS HANDBOOK IS A JOINT PRODUCTION OF GRADUATE STUDENTS IN HISTORY AND SOCIOLOGY AT CARLETON. IT IS
INTENDED TO HELP GRAD DELEGATES FROM OTHER CITIES MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR TIME IN OTTAWA.
Welcome to Carleton,
Welcome to Ottawa
Whether or not you’ve
been to Ottawa before, the
Congress is a great time to
check out the city and
make the most of your time
here. It’s easy to get
around, and there are
plenty of things to do
within a short walk of the
campus. This guide is intended to help you plan a
night or a day out, find
good, cheap food, support
local businesses and learn
something new about the
Capital city. There is additional information about
accommodations and trans-
portation in the Congress
Registration Guide, available the Congress 2009
website.
CONTENTS
City Layout: Neighbourhoods, transitways and landmarks
2
Getting around: Maps and Bus Routes
3
Where to Eat
4-5
Low-key stuff to do
6
Stuff to do for grads with energy to burn
6
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CSA 2009 DELEGATE’S GUIDE
City Layout: Ottawa Neighbourhoods
Unbeknownst to many visitors, Ottawa is
divided into a number of well-defined
neighbourhoods, each with its own distinctive sights, amenities and atmosphere.
Each neighbourhood is described here,
and its relation to and distance from
Carleton is indicated.
CARLETON AREA
The bad news: the area immediately surrounding Carleton might seem hard and
somewhat unappealing to explore on foot.
The good news: there is plenty to see and
do a short walk away, and indeed there are
things to do right around the campus. The
university is framed by the Canal to the
North and West, and the Rideau River to
the South (see Map 1). Its East side is
bordered by Bronson Ave., a main thoroughfare that leads from the Ottawa River
all the way to the Airport.
OLD OTTAWA SOUTH
Carleton is connected to Old Ottawa
South via Sunnyside Drive, the street that
runs perpendicular to Bronson Ave., out
of the main entrance to the campus. It’s
exactly one kilometer from the main entrance to the shops, restaurants, bars, antique shops and cafes on Bank St, Ottawa
South’s “main drag”. The neighbourhood
runs from the Ottawa River at the South
end, up to the Canal at its North end.
THE GLEBE
Ottawa folks seem to have a love-hate
relationship with the Glebe. They love the
convenience, the bustle, the strong sense
of community and the unique, ethicallyrun local businesses lining this part of
Bank St. They don’t always love the reputedly “yuppie” vibe, the huge baby strollers
barreling down the sidewalks, or the overpriced food and wares in some stores. The
Glebe spans the area around Bank St.
from the Canal at the South end, to Highway 417 (aka. “the Queensway”) at the
North end. It is bordered by Bronson
Ave. to the West and the Canal to the
East.
CENTRETOWN / DOWNTOWN
Like Ottawa South and the Glebe, Centretown’s main thoroughfare is Bank St. This
stretch of Bank St. from the “top” of the
Glebe (Highway 417) to Parliament has a
grittier feel at times than the other Bank
St. neighbourhoods — in a good way.
Leaving Bank St. to the East, you’ll find
office buildings and banks, and touristy
shops clustered around Sparks St. Running
parallel to Bank St. to the East is Elgin St.,
well-known for its lively bars, trendy restaurants and diners. At the North end of Bank
St., you’ll find Parliament Hill, which overlooks the Ottawa River. At the North end
of Elgin, you’ll find the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
CHINATOWN
Somerset St., which runs East-West and
divides Centretown roughly in half, turns
into a short Chinatown around where it
crosses Bronson Ave. There are plenty of
shops, restaurants, cafes and Karaoke joints
lining the street.
LITTLE ITALY / DOW’S LAKE
If you follow Somerset St. through Chinatown to the West, you’ll hit Preston Street.
This area is home to a large proportion of
Ottawa’s Italian community, and its also
where you’ll find the best Italian restaurants,
cafes and food shops in the city. At the
South end of Preston St. is Dow’s Lake, a
favourite spot for kayaking and canoeing in
the summer, skating in the winter, and
strolling along the pathways at any time of
year.
HINTONBURG
From Little Italy, travelling West on Gladstone Ave., Carling Ave., Somerset St. or
Wellington Rd. will lead you to the Hintonburg neighbourhood. Touted as Ottawa’s
up-and-coming places to live, the area is
home to quirky shops, great, affordable
restaurants and new urban housing developments.
WESTBORO
Continuing West from Hintonburg, you’ll
reach Westboro. While you might wonder if
you haven’t looped right back into the
Glebe (based on the number of duplicate
businesses), you’ll find that Westboro is
unique and definitely worth a visit. Large
chain stores mingle with local businesses,
making the neighbourhood appealing no
matter what you’re in the mood for. The
main street through Westboro and Hintonburg is Richmond Rd., which turns into
Scott St. and then Wellington Rd. as you
travel East toward Parliament.
BYWARD MARKET
As it runs past Parliament Hill and
crosses Elgin St., Wellington St. turns
into Rideau St. The area to the North of
Rideau St. (bordered to the West by
Sussex. Dr. and to the East by King
Edward St.) is the city’s historic, famous
Byward Market. Not only a tourist haven, it’s home to many Carleton students, a key nighttime destination for
Ottawa residents of all ages, and a great
place to find local produce and meat,
take a break at a locally-run café and
scoff at overpriced merchandise. While
the area is widely known to be an expensive tourist trap, it’s actually easy to find
cheap food, affordable, unique and/or
locally-made clothing, jewelry and art,
peruse street vendors, support street
performers and enjoy quality entertainment. Just walking around on a Saturday
is a worthwhile afternoon pursuit.
UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA /
SANDY HILL
The area immediately Southeast of the
Byward Market is home to “U of O”
and many of its students. Laurier Ave. is
the main thoroughfare, and you’ll find a
handful of cafes, stores and bars nestled
among the campus buildings and apartments.
OLD OTTAWA EAST
On the East side of the canal, and South
of the Byward Market and Sandy Hill,
the neighbourhood of Old Ottawa East
centres around Main St. The business
area is small, but growing, and includes a
few cafes, a serve-yourself vegetarian
restaurant and a small organic food
store. It is also home to St. Paul’s College.
There are other neighbourhoods in
Ottawa, but these are the ones you’re
can easily visit on foot or by bus.
MAY 2009
Page 3
Walking Times from Carleton
Destination
Time
Ottawa South
7-10 min.
The Glebe
12-20 min.
Centretown
25-30 min.
Parliament
35-35 min.
Byward Market
45-60 min.
MAP 1—CARLETON AREA
MAP 2—BANK STREET
Key Bus Routes
#7 St. Laurent—
Laurent—Carleton: takes Sunnyside
to Bank St. and up to Rideau. Stops at Billings Bridge Mall (a main terminal).
#1 Downtown—
Downtown—South Keys: Travels the
length of Bank St., all the way up to Rideau
(catch it on Bank St.).
Schedules and more route info available at www.octranspo.com
MAP 3—BYWARD MARKET / SANDY HILL
To University
of Ottawa
A Grad Student’s Gotta Eat!
Luckily, there are plenty of places to do it in Ottawa without breaking the bank.
ON CAMPUS
Do yourself (and the world) a favour and skip the big-name chains. Try Carleton’s Garden Spot
(2nd floor University Centre, Rm. 426H) for fresh, pay-what-you-can, vegan dishes prepared by
student volunteers — you must bring your own container. If you’re in the mood for more traditional fare at still-affordable prices, head to Mike’s Place (2nd floor University Centre), Carleton’s grad-student-owned and operated bar and restaurant. Mike’s is open from noon ‘til midnight, Monday to Friday. The Garden Spot serves breakfast from 8am-12pm and lunch from
12:30pm-2:30pm.
OFF CAMPUS
Vegan and Vegetarian
The Wild Oat — this popular café serves up vegan, vegetarian and whole foods to hungry Ottawans from morning to night. Order a meal at the counter and enjoy it at a table, or grab something to go from the bakery section next door. Among the delectable yet ethical menu options:
Japanese-style breakfast, Pizza Gone Raw, an assortment of grilled sandwiches and baked
goods, and surprisingly good cappuccino. Perfect for folks with dietary restrictions including
gluten allergies and lactose intolerance. 817 Bank St. (Glebe). Open M-S 7:30am-8pm; Sun 9am6pm. All items <$10.
Feeling Flush?
CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED
PLACES TO GO IF YOU’VE
GOT DOUGH TO SPARE
The Black Cat Bistro—fine
dining, Preston St., Little Italy.
Whalesbone—oyster bar,
Bank St., Centretown.
The Wellington Gastropub—
swanky pub fare, Wellington
St., Westboro.
Sweetgrass Aboriginal Bistro—Murray St., Byward Market.
Oz Cafe—Mediterraneaninspired bistro fare, Elgin St.,
Downtown.
Benny’s Bistro—breakfast,
brunch and Lunch, Murray St.,
Byward Market.
Haveli—Indian, Dalhousie St.,
Byward Market.
Von’s Bistro—Mediterranean,
Bank St., Glebe.
Benitz Bistro—classic French
cuisine, Somerset St., Centretown.
The Table — this casual, pay-by-weight buffet-style eatery wins raves for its savoury fritters (a
different kind each week), vegan desserts, hearty stir-fries and sesame roasted potatoes. Free
bread and an assortment of creative condiments makes this a sure bet. 1230 Wellington St.
(Hintonburg). Open M-F 11am-9pm, Weekends 11:30am-9pm. Average meal <$15.
www.thetablerestaurant.com. Check out The Green Door @ 198 Main St. if you’re in that neck of
the woods — it’s quite similar to (and some say better than) the Table.
Middle-Eastern
Jericho — delicious, made-to-order Lebanese food, served on most nights by the owner himself.
Try the falafel plate, and put what some have called the best hummus in Ottawa to the test. 840
Bank St. (Glebe). Call (613) 235-1289 for hours. Most items <$10.
Civic Shawarma — arguably the best shawarma (slow-roasted, seasoned chicken or beef in a
pita with veggies and sauce) in town. Try their pita pies for a special treat. 915 Bank St.
(Glebe). Open M-F 11am-9pm, Weekends 11am-11pm. Most items <$10.
Burgers and Pub Fare
The Works — peanut butter, Jack cheese and strip bacon on a burger? You bet. How about pesto, grilled eggplant, sliced tomato & havarti cheese? This Ottawa favourite boasts one of the
quirkiest burger menus in the world, with more than 50 inventive combinations to choose from (or
400, if you factor in the choice of 8 different patty types — from straight-up beef, to elk, to
pacific tuna). The sweet potato fries are a hit, especially served with one of the Works’ special
dipping sauces; milkshake lovers will delight in the range of creamy drinks to choose from —
we’re talking chocolate peanut-butter, orange coconut and oreo mocha, to name a few. Go
early to get a seat — this place is always packed. Two central locations: 326 Richmond Rd.
(Westboro) and 580 Bank St. (Glebe). Open 11am-10pm daily. All burgers $10-12, most other
items <$10. www.worksburger.com
Chez Lucien — This teeny spot dishes out some of the best burgers in town in a decidedly nonburger-joint atmosphere. Try the house burger with cream cheese, mushrooms and bacon; the
Crepes Lucien have a considerable fan-base, as does the spaghetti. 137 Murray St (Byward
Market). Call (613) 241-3533 for hours. All items $5-$15.
The Standard Luxury Tavern — The name says it all, really. Mini-burgers (aka ‘sliders’), sushi, and
huge baskets of sweet-potato fries are some of the top menu items at this swanky yet budgetfriendly hub. 360 Elgin St (Centretown). Call 613-232-6274 or visit www.thestandardtavern.com
for hours. Pizza and burgers all <$14.
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CSA 2009 DELEGATE’S GUIDE
Pub Italia — Aside from having one of the most extensive beer menus in the city, this place has a number of things going for it:
interesting décor (church pews, an outdoor “abbey”), fantastic individual pizzas (try the Funghi or the Verdura), mussels cooked
in beer, every pasta dish imaginable, coffee drinks, and mouth-watering desserts. Go. You won’t regret it. 434 1/2 Preston St
(Little Italy). Open 11am-1am most days. Most items <$12. www.pubitalia.ca
Asian
Vietnamese Kitchen — this little gem stuffs patrons full of Vietnamese specialties like Pho, rice paper rolls and grilled pork with
noodles. The service is friendly and fast, and the food never disappoints. Try the Wushe Chicken or the Lemongrass Beef, and
make sure to get plenty of spicy peanut sauce with your order. 478 Bank St. (Centretown). Open M-S 11am-9pm; Sun 4pm-9pm.
Most items $10-12. www.vietnamesekitchen.com
Hino — This restaurant’s “home-style” Japanese food is guaranteed to impress. The fried calamari is near-perfect, and anything cooked in the teriyaki sauce comes highly recommended. 1013 Wellington Street W (Hintonburg). Call (613) 722-1129 for
hours. All items $4-$14.
Sandwiches
La Bottega Nicastro — Huge. Cheap. Sandwiches. Choose your fresh-baked bread, add about a pound of deli meat, your
choice of cheese and Italian toppings, and you’ve got the best darn sandwich going for only $4.29. The sandwich counter is at
the rear of this Italian grocery behind the Rideau Centre. Warning: one sandwich feeds a very hungry person for dinner. 64
George Street (Byward Market). Open M-W and Sat 9am-6pm, Th/F 9am-8pm, Sun 11am5pm. www.labottega.ca
Pizza wars: Contenders in the
Gooney’s Sandwich Works — Stop by this local favourite for a toasted sub made before
unofficial Ottawa race for Best
your eyes—they’ve got everything from a saucy meatball sandwich, to old-fashioned
Pizza:
PB&J, to thinly sliced deli meats. Fleshing out the menu are milkshakes and huge, customized salads for veggie-lovers. 360 and 251 Laurier Ave (Centretown). Open for lunch on
COLLONADE (Metcalfe & Gilmour)
weekdays. All <$10.
Deep dish, loads of cheese, eat-in or
DiRienzo’s Grocery — Sandwich aficionados try to go quietly to this tiny, family-run deli
take-out.
counter, but they just can’t seem to keep it a secret. The establishment’s ‘Football-sized’
sandwiches are assembled with your choice of bread, meat (incl. chicken cacciatore,
PAVARAZZI (Somerset & Lyon or
meatloaf, prosciutto and more), cheese and toppings, and can be paired with a warm
Laurier & Nelson) Try the herb crust
pasta dish if you’re so inclined. Warning: the line-up is always long, but it moves quickly.
and spicy sauce—gourmet toppings.
111 Beech St (Little Italy). Open 8am or 9am—7pm daily. Sandwiches $4. Cash ONLY!
GABRIEL PIZZA (Bank & Somerset)
Coffee and Cafes
Just plain good pizza.
Bridgehead — Ottawa’s fair-trade coffee joint has multiple locations in almost every
neighbourhood, and it’s a hit with students in search of affordable grub and free wireMOE’S WORLD FAMOUS
less internet. Go there for your caffeine fix and enjoy a fair-trade brownie, Moroccan
NEWPORT RESTAURANT
chicken sandwich or one of their hearty salads. See www.bridgehead.ca for hours and
(Richmond & Churchill) Some have
locations.
called this Ottawa’s cheesiest pizza.
Also, Elvis has been known to hang
Francesco’s — This new addition to the Glebe is one of the few coffee roasters in the
out here.
city. They have a wide selection of beans (most of them fair trade) and yummy sweets
and snacks made in-house. They do tea almost as well as they do coffee. 857 Bank St
(Glebe). Open daily 8am-7:30pm.
I Deal Coffee — Retro mugs, quirky décor and a behemoth of a coffee roasting machine
make this low-key spot worth the trek down Dalhousie St (besides, there are great shops along the way). 176 Dalhousie St
(Byward Market).
Planet Coffee — The coffee is great, the location, bright and sunny, the service friendly, and the scones… oh, the scones. There
is a reason they never make it off of the pan they’re baked on. Get ‘em while you can. 24A York St. (in Clarendon Lanes, Byward Market).
Other Noteworthy Spots: SooRa Korean Table BBQ & Bar, 610 Somerset St W (Chinatown), 613-321-3911; Miga (Korean &
Japanese), 399 Bank St (Centretown), 613-230-0084; Blue Nile (Ethiopian), 577 Gladstone Ave (Centretown), 613-3210774; Imperial Food & Beverages, 329 Bank St (Centretown), 613-237-3636; Vina Del Mar (Chilean), 1079 Wellington St W
(Hintonburg), (613) 724-3000
Page 6
downtime. Low-key seeing and doing.
Take a tour of Parliament of Canada,
centre and east blocks. All tours are free!
http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/visit
ors/planning-e.asp
trails and fresh air! Other attractions include artisanal bakeries and handicrafts,
boutiques, galleries, restaurants, and the
Black Sheep Inn for live music.
(www.warmuseum.ca) – Thursday after
4pm is free! The Museum of Nature
(www.nature.ca) – Saturday morning is
free!
Visit Rama Lotus Yoga – 50% off for
students!
Details
at
www.ottawayoga.com/
Visit The Mud Oven, and create one of a
kind piece of pottery for yourself or as a
gift. Rates start at $18. See
www.mudoven.com
Take in a movie or documentary at the
historical
Mayfair Theatre
(www.mayfairtheatre.ca) or the Bytown
Cinema (www.bytown.ca) for $9.
Visit the National Gallery of Canada
(www.gallery.ca) – Thursday after 5pm is
free! The War Museum of Canada
Take in a theatre production at the Great
Canadian Theatre Company
(www.gctc.ca). The regular student rate is
$30, however if you purchase your ticket at
the box office within 1 hour of show time,
tickets are only $10!
Treat yourself to a laugh for $10 on
Thursday nights at Yuk Yuks Comedy
Club. Or check out Absolute Comedy
on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for $5!!
www.yukyuks.com and
Details at
www.absolutecomedy.ca
Take The Haunted Walk of Ottawa
Tour – $12 student rate. Details at
www.hauntedwalk.com/ottawatours.php
Take a short drive to the town of Wakefield and experience the beautiful scenery, historical covered bridges, walking
energize. exhilarating days and exciting nights.
DAY
NIGHT
Walk, run, rollerblade or bike along
the miles of canal pathway. Hop on near
Carleton University, and rent gear at
Dow’s lake or near Parliament to speed
things up.
Canoe, kayak or paddle-boat at Dow’s
Lake. Rates average under $20 an hour
for all the gear you need.
Try
indoor
rock
climbing
(www.coyoterockgym.ca) for $12/day
plus equipment rentals.
Get bouncy on a trampoline
(www.springaction.ca) for $15/class.
Take advantage of the $6 daily dropin rate at the Carleton Athletics Facility. The fitness centre, squash courts, ice,
pool and tennis courts are open to delegates
at
this
reduced
rate.
(www.carleton.ca/athletics)
If you’re looking for live music, The
Rainbow, Zaphod Beeblebrox and Barrymore’s Music Hall are some of Ottawa’s most beloved and legendary music
venues, hosting local and visiting musical
artists for over twenty years. Ticket prices
vary, but are most often under $20.
www.therainbow.ca
www.zaphodbeeblebrox.com/
www.barrymores.on.ca
If you want to find out who’s playing
where and when, check out the Ottawa
Show Listings at:
http://www.stillepost.ca/boards/index.ph
p?board=24.0
If you’re into making music (or a reasonable facsimile thereof) check out
Somerset St. West and take your pick of a
number of excellent karaoke joints. Favourites include Shanghai and The Fullhouse.
Don’t forget: The CSA,
Carleton Sociology and
the Congress have events
planned too!
Wednesday May 27th:
5pm-7pm—Carleton’s Sociology Department invites you to a wine & cheese in the
Loeb Atrium (2nd floor, Loeb Building,
above the cafeteria).
7:30pm—Grad Student Delegates can continue on from the wine & cheese to a pub
night at The Georgetown, a few blocks
from campus on Bank St. Snacks will be
provided, and the full dinner and drinks
menu will be available.
Thursday, May 28th:
???—Congress-wide grad student event.???