Vintage Lingerie and Boot Sale by Victoire and Aunt Olive's

Brilliant.

Two of my favourite Ottawa shops - Victoire Boutique and Aunt Olive's Vintage - have gotten together to bring you a very special event. This Saturday, October 9, the Some Like It Hot Vintage Lingerie and Chatte Bottee Shoe Sale will be taking place from 4-9 PM at Victoire's Byward Market location on Dalhousie st. The Ladies from La Chatte Bottee in Montreal will be making the trek down the 417 with their delicious vintage shoes while Aunt Olive and Victoire will be bringing the naughty vintage lingerie. Victoire will also be offering a 10% discount on its fall collection. How exciting!  

It's this Saturday, October 9, at 246 Dalhousie St from 4-9 pm. Enjoy!

uFabu

So, if you go to the Ottawa Farmers' Market on Sundays at Landsdowne, you see a gorgeous range of stands. Stands with local fruits and vegetables and meats, some organic. Stands with delicious food to eat then and there. Pretty crafts. And some stands, you walk by them and you smell them before you see them.. the smell of lovely lavender and cinnamon and sweet essential oils.

uFabu is one of those stands.

The gorgeous, indulgent scent is but one reason you should walk in to the uFabu stand, though. There are lots of other reasons, all evident in the beautiful layout of products available.

The quirky, fun, oh-so-stylish (as in, you totally want your friends to see your bath stuff cause it's so stylin) labels identify their selection of products, categorized by UnderWater (bath salts, soaks and soaps), SkinDeep (creams, rubs, even zinc sunscreens) and In The Mirror (face stuff - scrubs, lip balms).  Eco-friendly, organic as much as possible, preservative-free, look gorgeous on your bathroom or vanity shelf, and beautiful, peace-invoking scents all mean that these products are truly ones you should covet. Of course, if that wasn't enough: Canadian. Local to the National Capital region. But if you're not lucky enough to live here, they also conveniently have an online store.

Ottawa Eco-Stewardship Fair: April 24, 2010

It's that time again! This year on Earth Day, the Ottawa Eco-Stewardship Fair will be happening again at the RA Centre on Riverside Drive in Ottawa, celebrating Green Living ideas, products and services. A fantastic day is planned, with excellent exhibitors such as Ecocentrik Apparel, Eco-TAV Creations, ecomama and more, food exhibits including The Red Apron and the Ottawa Farmers' Market Association, and much much more. Much more.  There's also an eco-artist display and the Eco-award ceremonies recognizing individuals, groups, organizations or businesses that have made a significant contribution to protecting the environment and promoting conservation and sustainability.  And, awesome?  Admission and parking are both free (especially bike parking.)  See you there!

Two Monkeys Coffee and Tea House: Coffee with Monkeys!

Not that long ago, I said that there is an underserved market out there. That market is the parent market. The people who have young children but still want to get out and be in a place that has things adults like (ethical products, good food, comfy chairs) as well as being kid friendly (toys, place is pretty indestructible, nobody notices/minds if your kid makes noise). Rob Kay and Jill Sheppard obviously thought the same thing (great minds) and have seized on that market opportunity and opened up Two Monkeys Coffee and Tea House in Barrhaven, just outside Ottawa.

What's in it for grownups? Organic coffee and tea, fresh soups, Cinnamon Pecan sticky buns, homemade food by Grandma, squashy chairs, and other grownups.

What's in it for kids? A cleverly divided big play area with toys, bright colours, and other kids.

The best of both worlds, finally.

Located on Strandherd drive, Two Monkeys is just minutes from downtown Ottawa and virtually anywhere in the west end. See you there soon!

Ottawa Hidden Treasures Giveaway Weekend October 24-25

Do you have tons of stuff in your house that isn't broken or otherwise not usable, but that you're just not using anymore? Old CDs, mismatched end tables, maybe some 4 year old magazines... who knows? Well, if you're in Ottawa, take that stuff, clearly label it as "FREE", and put it out to the curb on Saturday and Sunday for the Hidden Treasures Giveaway Weekend. It could be anything - just as long as it's still usable for someone, it just might find a home. Check out the website for the official "rules" of the giveaway such as how to display your items, and which items might be best left un-given away. Happy hunting!

Blue Celery Baby Sling - hands free baby heaven

What do babies like most? To be cuddled and safe right next to Mama. But if Mama needs to do anything, anything at all like, say, eat lunch or perhaps brush her teeth, she needs a way to keep baby close while freeing up her hands. This is where babywearing comes in handy - the practice of carrying a baby in a pouch or sling close to the body. It takes the burden off Mama's arms while still keeping baby near - practical for Mama and emotionally secure for both!

As babywearing has gained popularity in Canada, plenty of sling options have presented themselves out there, but the favourite around these parts is a gorgeous organic cotton sling from Blue Celery.

The sling comes in a fun, reusable lunchbag, with the sling itself consisting of two stretchy loops and a long sash, giving you a wide range of options for carrying baby - curled up low in a pouch for newborns, crisscrossed and sitting up for slightly older babies, riding on the hip for looking around for the curious types. The sling is easy to use and can be pitched in the washing machine when it gets puked on has lunch dropped on it leaky diapers dirty, which is a definite blessing around here. This is the number one baby lifesaving item in this house - don't leave home without it!

The sling ranges in price depending on location but is generally priced just over $100. You can find it online (and in store in Ottawa) at Milkface, Red Chair Kids and plenty of other locations.

Ottawa Feast of Fields 2008

On Sunday, September 14, 2008 the Ottawa Feast of Fields will be held from 12-4 p.m. Organized by the Canadian Organic Growers - Ottawa Chapter, Feast of Fields provides a unique opportunity to sample local, organic food, the best of our fall harvest, prepared by Chefs from over 25 top restaurants in Ottawa, Gatineau and region.

The event brings together farmers who embrace local and organic production methods with chefs who support a healthy and environmentally-friendly lifestyle. Every year, the event grows in creativity! In 2007, approximately 900 hundred people from the community enjoyed an exquisite culinary feast under the trees of Vincent Massey Park.

Food is served from 12-2 pm, with Field Marshal Adrian Harewood, host of CBC Radio's All in a Day. There's an Afro-Cuban Rhumba Dance Party with Mango Upstart and Food and Wine pairings from Savvy Grapes.

Want more information, or are you interested in volunteering? Get more information on their website.

ecomama Great Summer Book Swap

From the awesome ecomama.ca comes an a fantastic event: a Summer Book Swap!

DATE: August 20, 2008

TIME:
8 - 10pm

LOCATION:
Precious One's Kids Consignment store, 2675 Old Innes Rd., Gloucester (just east of the Bearbrook intersection).

WHAT:
It's time to clear out your bookshelves, bring your previously-read books and exchange them for "new" treasures! A very green (and free!) way to read. Also, take advantage of after hours shopping and get 15% off your purchases on both ecomama.ca items and kids consignment items (stock up on back to school clothes and shoes!)

COST:
This event is free!
Bring your sister, your girlfriend, a co-worker and come spend an evening among friends. Your next great read is waiting for you, and who knows, maybe a few more treasures!

Refreshments will be served.

RSVP to info at ecomama dot ca or 613 698 9272.

Herbfest: Celebrating a healthy lifestyle

Eastern Ontario (and even Western Quebec!) ecochicks: The Annual Midsummer Herbfest will be taking place on Sunday, July 27th in Almonte, Ontario.

More than 100 neat vendors will be there including local producers, organic producers, and folks who have been featured on ecochick before such as Urban Forest. There are also features such as a chef cook off, local food vendors offering a wide selection of culinary favourites from around the world, herbal Tea Tasting, mini-markets showcasing gardening wisdom, culinary tips, craft and decorative inspiration, total body wellness and herbal healthcare, a herb plant sale and gift shop, herb garden walks, and a beer garden to deposit your husband in while you partake in it all. :)

It's being held at 3840 Old Almonte Road, about half an hour outside of downtown Ottawa. Passes are $4 in advance, $5 at the gate. For more information visit their website. See you there!

Ottawa: Get a free tree!

I think that I shall never see/A poem lovely as a tree. - Joyce Kilmer. Having a beautiful, spreading tree on your property is one of the best ways to enjoy nature. There are plenty of practical benefits too - shading your house in the summer and helping keep it cool; capturing and sequestering carbon, and releasing oxygen; providing privacy; getting you out there to exercise when it's time to rake the leaves. The City of Ottawa wants to help spread the word - and the trees - around the area by giving you a free tree to plant on your property. From the website:

The Trees, Reforestation and Environmental Enhancement (TREE) Program is a four year initiative that aims to enhance the City of Ottawa’s urban and rural forests through the planting of 100,000 trees between 2007 and 2010. The TREE Program empowers Ottawa residents, businesses, community groups and schools to participate in planting trees to enhance and maintain the city’s forest cover and combat climate change.

Trees at a tree farm can run into the hundreds if not thousands of dollars, so this is an excellent deal for you and for your environment. Go pick out your tree today!

Green Living Ottawa

Green Living Ottawa is a blog that does exactly what it says: Talks about environmental issues in and around the Ottawa area. It's a fantastic resource that provides plenty of tips on how to be more eco-friendly locally, including barbecuing with local, pasture-fed beef, convenient computer recycling in Ottawa, or even providing simple commentary on what's really "green" about some "green" bags.

Based on this site, ecochick is going to compile a list of city-based eco-sites across Canada to give people insight into what's happening in their local area. Do you have a favourite? Send it to talk at ecochick dot ca.

Ottawa Farmers' Market

The Ottawa Farmers' Market is open for business again! Running on Sundays from 8-3 pm, and Thursdays from 2-7 pm after June 26, the Ottawa Farmers Market highlights local producers of fruit, vegetables, meat, arts and crafts. With weekly events, a wide range of vendors selling seasonal products, you will enjoy the experience as much as you will enjoy the products you buy there.

The Ottawa Farmers' Market takes place at Landsdowne Park except during the Ottawa Ex, where it moves to a park around the corner. See you there!

Sustainable Ottawa

One great thing about the eco-craze is the fact that plenty of people aren't waiting for "someone else" to do something - lots of people are banding together and getting "something" done all by themselves.

One such group is Sustainable Ottawa Community Energy Co-Operative. Set up in 2007, the amazing Sarah, Pam and Rock have created a space for Ottawans to not only find out how to live more eco-friendly, but to also give us a benefit when we spend our dollars on sustainable services (ie. members-only discounts!) The website strives to provide a great range of information, such as tips on how to maintain a healthy lawn and garden or put in solar water heating. In addition, the co-op uses the power of numbers to make it easier for everyone to access ecofriendly goods and services. For example, there are several businesses within Ottawa that are members of the co-op and who give discounts to other members including The Table organic vegetarian restaurant, La Tierra Co-op, ecomama and more.

Membership costs $40 for five years, ie. free, and will get you advantages at many ecofriendly shops, and they're adding more all the time. Depending on what you use it for could pay for itself within weeks. Check it out, Ottawa!

Hush

Do you ever wonder how that friend who has the negligible income always manages to have the most fabulous clothes? It's not credit, my friends, it's smart secondhand shopping. I'm not talking about sifting through the bins at goodwill; I'm talking about a funky consignment shop like Ottawa's Hush. Hush isn't just used clothes. It's all name brand, at a fraction of the original cost. The bright, open space, filled with two year old (or less!) gently used fashions is a pleasure to browse through. Tops, dresses, jeans, jackets, even accessories, whatever your heart desires, in every size. The owners' discerning taste means that every piece on the rack is desirable and in great condition.

Hush also offers a "special item search". If there's something you have your eye out for, let them know and they'll notify you if they get it in.

What if your closet is bulging with stuff you never wear? Don't fret; bring your clean, pressed, name brand duds to Hush and they'll consign it for you. If it sells, you get 40% of the final selling price. Which you can then turn right around into buying new bargain stuff from Hush.. what a splendid cycle!

Hush is located in trendy Westboro in Ottawa.

Do you have a cool secondhand shop in your Canadian city? Let ecochick know!