T&T Opens in Ottawa

It was mass hysteria in the Ottawa Chinese Community.
Why? It was the grand opening of T&T Supermarket. For those that don’t know its a large Asian supermarket chain. Mostly catering for the chinese/asian community that you can’t get in normal supermarkets.
I went with my mom and there were already people waiting in line just to get into this supermarket.
The supermarket is located on Hunt Club/Riverside.

I thought it was going to open at 9:30am but found out on the sign that it was a open ceremony and the actual doors opening was at 10:30am.
It was a cold day and people were kind of getting restless. I find it funny hearing the chinese people say a snarky comment in chinese which I understood IE its too cold out, we have to wait outside, what’s taking so long and etc.

There was a lion dance performance which I think took mostly the 1 hour.

Finally the doors opened and it was basically insanity.
Felt like Boxing Day but mostly for Chinese people.

Thought it was funny that while the Lion Dance was happening and moving to the other side of the building, alot of people were bringing in the shopping cart.
Finally got in by just going under the red line.
No doubt that it was big.
I didn’t get what I wanted to buy considering the vast of people going crazy for they want to get.
The only things missing from the ones in Toronto is the assorted bean curds they have which I went back on Sunday and they finally have it now.

I noticed alot of media was: A Channel, CTV (CJOH) and CBC Ottawa.
Felt like everyone from the chinese community of Ottawa came for this grand opening.
Made me wonder if Somerset was a ghost town while all the chinese people went T&T crazy.
Alot of people are worried now that with T&T Somerset will lose alot of business.
But I can see hipster people who live on Somerset will shop at some of the stores but the Asian community who don’t live on Somerset won’t drive up to Somerset. With parking so hard to find and more people living in suburban areas.
Its a great supermarket.
Just the location where it is place kind of baffles me which is right near a aviation camp.
Wow for T&T

2009 Ottawa Zombie Walk

This year was another great day for the Ottawa Zombie Walk.
Right now my feet is killing me from the walking.
The turnout was good.
The only difference was the Ottawa Police was keeping an eye and try make things go smoothly well on the Zombie Walk.
Because last year there were some complaints and apparently some destruction in the Byward Market.
Seem to go off without a hitch.
It gets people together and just have fun.
The only thing that was missing was last year, someone was actually making a film before the Zombie Walk started.
I guess they didn’t do it this year. It would have made a great start for this.
I happened to take some photos of the people either smoking, taking photos or on their cellphones
Here are the photos:

Club Saw: Cultural Equity Production fund

I am kind of thinking about doing this but I would need to purchase a video camera right?
Here is the details:

Ottawa Zombie walk 2009

Its this time of the month that people will be dressed up as zombies.
I went to my first one last year and it was a interesting thing to see.
I took alot of photos, maybe this year I will do the same.
Date: October 25th
Time: 3pm to 6pm
Where: Beechwood Cemetery
Click here for the Facebook event.
Here are photos from the 2008 Zombie Walk.

Cory Doctorow in Ottawa (Pt 2)

Decided to upload the audio part since uploading the video will take forever.
So here is the one hour of him talking on September 17th.
Hope you enjoy it.
I know its a big file and sorry if you happened to hear the camera clicking and other noisy distraction.
Download it or listen to it.

Cory Doctorow in Ottawa

Cory Doctorow was in Ottawa on September 17th.
There is a short blurb on Apt613.ca
I didn’t know he is a popular blogger in the internet world with boingboing.net
I know he was in the documentary RiP: A Remix Manifesto which I did a review here.
He did a speaking engagment at Cadieux Auditorium of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (aka DFAIT).
Talking about “Diplomacy versus Universal Access to All Human Knowledge”.
It was a interesting discussion.
I totally enjoyed it and it was sometimes funny.
I did get his autograph.
After that I ran over to Saint Brigid’s Church to see Nick Cave.

Fall Election?

I don’t follow much about Canadian politics.
But there has been news about a fall election.

I for one, I don’t want a fall election?
I don’t mind voting but I just don’t want to work on election day.
Done it two times before I find it physically draining and its not worth my time.
You get paid of course but its not worth it for the whole day.

Why can’t they focus on something else than a bloody election.

Guerilla 5th Anniversary

On September 3rd I went to the Arts Court to attend Guerilla Magazine’s 5th anniversary.
It was also the release of issue #21.
The event was showing photographs and artworks from various artist who contributed to the magazine since its start in 2004.
Remi Theriault

Ben Welland

Sarah Schorlemer, her photo is the one on top.

An artwork I was really impressed was one that was a Canada flag and I look up closely and noticed it was shredded $50 bills.
I was like wow that is crazy.
The main art exhibit was Trevor Laalo.
Very colorful works of collage.

There was music on hand too.
Of course there was food and the restaurant on hand were:

• Carmen’s Veranda
• Savanah Cafe
• Les Fougeres
• Culinary Conspiracy
• The Red Apron
• Planet Coffee

I am not sure who was who.
But the food there were amazing.
Various photos of people looking at the images from previous issues of Guerilla magazine.


It was a interesting nice party for this great magazine.

Review: Zen Kitchen

Tonight I went to Zen Kitchen which is a all vegetarian restaurant in Ottawa.
They opened up new locations on Somerset.
I went with a group of friends, well mostly it was a club called “Supper Club” where we go once a month to try out a restaurant and have a great time chatting and eating the food.
The restaurant inside was nice and spacious.
The tables was great too, the owner was telling us that it was custom made.
Also there was a camera crew because the owners of the restaurant were filming for a 13 episode reality TV show based on the success of the restaurant.
Somehow I really didn’t noticed them but I was like whatever.

OK ok for those wanting to know.
I had Thai-style lemongrass curry with seasonal vegetables, edamame and kafir-scented jasmine rice.
It was amazingly good, there was a bit of a cinnamon taste but I loved it.
It wasn’t spicy and I like the milky curry taste.

For dessert I had the peach-ginger cobbler with bourbon caramel sauce.
It was to die for.

I really enjoyed this restaurant.
It is an alternative if you aren’t into eating meat.
I heard people who are vegetarian/vegan really like this place.

The price is mid-range so its not to expensive.
I recommend that should check it out.

Ottawa Fashion Cures

Just posting this so I will not forget this.
Getting people to know about this event too.
I was asked by a friend if I wanted to photograph this event.
Its called Fashion Cures and it will take place in Ottawa on November 4-7.
The proceeds will go to Ovarian Cancer Canada.
Fashion Sanctuary
154 Somerset Street West
Corner of Elgin St., in downtown Ottawa, Ontario

So check out the site for more details.