Ottawa and the Capital region: entertainment, events, nightclubs, music, festivals, health and fitness

Why does Ottawa receive over a million visitors a year? Yes, that is over one million visitors a year! On any given day there are at least 5000 strangers (estimate) from around the world wandering our streets looking for exciting and wonderful things to do.

The most obvious reason we are one of the top Canadian destinations is that we are the capital of our country. But there are many other reasons, there must be since there are as many tourists here over the course of a year as residents.

The features that most visitors mention when asked why they came to Ottawa is the Parliament Buildings, the longest skating rink in the world (Rideau Canal), the Senators, the Tulip Festival and Winterlude.

Although these are great representatives of the culture and institutions that Ottawa displays they are not the only reasons. In fact, Ottawa has a rich cultural and entertainment life that rivals any city in the world; although even many residents are sometimes hard pressed to mention activities outside the main features mentioned earlier.

It is time to solve this problem (if it really exists and isn't just a figment of my imagination). So for all those reading this article (tourist or resident) here are all the other reasons your fellow members of the human race are in this city enjoying themselves greatly.

Other than the Senators, we have other sports teams playing in the capital. The Gee Gee's and Ravens sports teams playing out of our two Universities (Ottawa and Carlton) are the main amateur draw. But we also have professional football (with the Renegades), professional baseball (with the AAA Lynx) and two junior hockey teams (the 67's and Olympiques). Lacrosse and soccer are also, at times, playing in the city.

Other than Winterlude and the Tulip Festival, we enjoy movie and animation festivals, Blues and Jazz festivals, a yearly Fringe festival as well as many other events that come to the city yearly.

Live music outside the festival scene is also vibrant and exciting. We have the Corel Centre, The Civic Centre and Frank Clair Stadium to host the international acts on tour around the world. We have Zaphod Beeblebrox, Barrymore's, Café Dekuf, and Capital Music Hall for indie rock; Tuscons, The Rainbow, and The Bayou for jazz and blues; Club Saw and the Dominion tavern for punk and rock, The Black Sheep Inn for folk and roots music; and Babylon, The Roxy, and Helsinki for dance and Hip Hop and a mix of previously mentioned music.

Laughter is a great outlet and Ottawa has two comedy clubs to tickle your funny bone. Yuk Yuk's and Absolute Comedy host stand up acts from around the world and here in Canada.

If dancing is more your style, Ottawa has numerous clubs to tire out your legs. The main destination for night-lifers is the Byward Market. Clubs such as Surface, Space, and Helsinki are few in the area. If the market isn't your cup of tea then Elgin St. is the next most popular area. With clubs like the Firestation and Inferno you will be pleased with the atmosphere. Don't forget Club V.I.B.E. on Bessesser and Aqua (on Rideau) which are just outside the Byward Market and are also hotspots.

If a lounge is more to your liking, then the Mercury lounge, Paris Café, MTL & Co., The Collection & Bar 56, are a few around the city that will fulfill your wants. Maybe you wish to sit down and have a beer, order some fish and chips or finger foods and enjoy friends' conversation. Pubs like The Celtic Cross, O'Connors, Grace O'Malleys, D'Arcy McGees, the Barley Mow, The Clocktower, The Honest Lawer, or the Bulldog are great pubs with beer on tap, the food you would expect and even, at some, live Celtic or other music to enjoy after your meal when the evening moves on into night.

Maybe you would like to get away from the music and dance scene and enjoy other cultural events around the city. Ottawa has live theatre on almost every night of the week. The National Arts Centre run English and French theatre each month (along with dance and other spectacles) but they aren't the only theatre company in the city. The Ottawa Little theatre, The Great Canadian Theatre Co., The Tara Players of Ottawa, The Odyssey Theatre, A Company of Fools, Third Wall, Orpheus Musical Theatre, Kanata Theatre, La Nouvelle Scene, and others offer great live performances both indoors and outdoors all around the city. Opera Lyra, Ottawa's opera company, also gives the city's patrons the choice for theatre with a vocal enthusiasm.

Movies are a very popular form of entertainment in the city. Other than the main movie outlets (The Coliseum, Silver City and others) which play all the latest Hollywood blockbusters, Ottawa has the Bytowne Cinema which offers international films, The Mayfair Theatre, a repertory that gives you two films for the price of one, the Canadian Film Institute which hosts many films (as well as festivals) old and new from around the country and the world, and when the summer arrives, you can even watch films outdoors (Centretown Movies Outdoor Film Festival).

Because Ottawa is Canada's capital, we are blessed with a great many museums and art galleries. All have their charm and will interest young and old. The Ottawa Art Gallery and the National Art Gallery are the two main choices for art lovers. Museums such as The Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography, Agricultural Museum, Canadian Museum of Civilization, Canadian Museum of Nature, Canadian War Museum, Cumberland Heritage Village Museum, Currency Museum of the Bank of Canada, The Diefenbunker, National Archives, National Aviation Museum and National Museum of Science and Technology all offer visitors interesting exhibits to learn all about Canada's heritage and history. The IMAX theatre at the Museum of Civilization is also a popular draw.

Finally, what would a city be without great restaurants? Ottawa, because of its diversity, sports food from around the world that is second to none. You will find Japanese, Chinese, African, French, Italian, Irish, Jamaican, American, Middle Eastern, Indian, Vietnamese and Vegetarian cuisine from various restaurants at different price ranges and atmospheres that will please even the most particular tastes.

There are too many great restaurants to name in an article such as this but some of the better ones are: Zak's Diner (American and Canadian), Bid Daddy's (Seafood), Zibbibo (various), Black Cat Café (American), The Horn of Africa (Ethiopian), Kinki (Asian), Blue Cactus (Grill), Luxe (bistro), Social (French and Mediterranean), and Medithéo (Mediterranean).

So whether you wish to dine, dance, laugh, learn, skate or enjoy music, film, theatre, or sport, Ottawa is the city that will fulfill those needs, just ask the 1,000,000 people from around the world who come here each year and are never disappointed.