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West Side Action

News & views on what's happening on the West Side of downtown Ottawa.

  • urban design
  • streetscaping
  • intensification
  • pedestrians
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Category: The Friday Traveller

The Friday Traveller3 Comments

Hauling drugs for charity

February 13, 2018February 12, 2018 Westsideaction

Canada is blessed with high labour costs. Our citizens have a high standard of living. To save on labour costs, many drugs and medical supplies are “bundled” into pre-paks. Stocked drug supplies get refreshed, and new products replace old. When … Continue reading Hauling drugs for charity

Florida, sidewalks, streetscaping, surface water, The Friday Traveller3 Comments

The Friday Traveller: Miami Beach observations

December 29, 2017December 31, 2017 Westsideaction

Today’s episode of The Friday Traveller should be called the Christmas Traveller. Christmas in Miami Beach. Warm weather: daytime 80 degrees and sunny. Evenings just cool enough that old fuddy duddies like me wanted a jacket, but many younger things … Continue reading The Friday Traveller: Miami Beach observations

Ottawa, The Friday Traveller5 Comments

Friday Traveller, Urban Wall Art

April 7, 2017April 5, 2017 Westsideaction

Ottawa does have a outdoor wall mural art process. Some pieces are decidedly engaging or attractive. Here, for your Friday viewing pleasure,  are some wall murals from other cities, with after and before pictures, courtesy of  Bored Panda, via WIMP,  via Price … Continue reading Friday Traveller, Urban Wall Art

Ottawa, The Friday Traveller1 Comment

The Friday Traveller: Trudeaux, Cuba, and Me

December 9, 2016December 8, 2016 Westsideaction

So there was a brouhaha for a few days about the mostly unlamented death of Fidel Castro. Trudeau 1 and Trudeau 2 were involved. So I’ll insert myself, for your amusement. Back in 1971 I was still a high school … Continue reading The Friday Traveller: Trudeaux, Cuba, and Me

The Friday Traveller3 Comments

The Friday Traveller goes to a gas station

November 10, 2016November 9, 2016 Westsideaction

I went to a city where I could only find ONE gas station. And it was very out of the way. The city streets were silent, only the sounds of footsteps, the swish of clothes, the occasional piano or singing … Continue reading The Friday Traveller goes to a gas station

The Friday Traveller2 Comments

Bringing Italy Home

October 10, 2016October 9, 2016 Westsideaction

I noticed this sign on Catherine St in downtown Ottawa. LaBottega Nicastro is of course part of a local Italian grocery chain. The sign reminded me so much of the (more-)famous Italian food experience called Eataly. Here’s one of their … Continue reading Bringing Italy Home

The Friday Traveller

At the Villa Balbianello

October 9, 2016October 6, 2016 Westsideaction

aka Naboo. Continue reading At the Villa Balbianello

The Friday Traveller

Slow Thanksgiving

October 8, 2016October 7, 2016 Westsideaction

Around this time last year I was staying on an organic Agri-turismo in Piano di Sorrento, Italy. The Slow Food market is what we would call an organic farmers’ market. The agri tourismo itself was small, and located high up … Continue reading Slow Thanksgiving

The Friday Traveller2 Comments

The Friday Traveller: La Dolce Morte

April 15, 2016April 15, 2016 Westsideaction

The other day I commented to a neighbour that I hadn’t seen an across-the-street neighbour for a long time. “Oh, she died last year … or was it the year before?” Shocking news, surprising, and yet not surprising. After all, … Continue reading The Friday Traveller: La Dolce Morte

Boston, The Friday Traveller2 Comments

Friday Traveller: Charlestown, MA

April 1, 2016April 1, 2016 Westsideaction

Charlestown is now part of Boston, lying north of the downtown. It was laid out in 1629 by the Puritans, a sort of Taliban of the day. Most row houses are on the slopes of Bunker and other Hills. Architecturally, … Continue reading Friday Traveller: Charlestown, MA

Florida, The Friday Traveller

Friday Traveller: Child of the Sun FSC Campus

March 25, 2016April 1, 2016 Westsideaction

  People interested in urban planning and architecture stuff do predictable things when on vacation or travelling. If you are on the west coast of Florida, by all means make a stop at Florida Southern College, home of 14 or so … Continue reading Friday Traveller: Child of the Sun FSC Campus

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