Jane's Walks this weekend!

In case you haven't heard, Jane's Walk Ottawa happens this weekend. I haven't given any since the Rescue Bronson Jane's Walk I gave two years ago. It was fun, but a lot of work. So instead I'll try to go out on a couple of other people's walks. Here are some I'm looking at that are within Somerset Ward, with the description on the Jane's Walk Ottawa website linked to the headings:

Apt613 Blog Walk of Somerset
Saturday, May 4, 2013, 2pm-3:30pm
Meet at Dundonald Park, Somerset and Bay

Staying on the Bronson theme of my 2011 walk, Apartment 613 is holding a walk in Chinatown, whose businesses are suffering from the closure of the Bronson/Somerset intersection. This one has a neat format, where they'll interview some of the business owners in the same way they do interviews for their blog entries, only it'll be live and you'll be there!

Local Confectionaries
Saturday, May 4, 2013, 4pm-5pm
Meet at Somerset and Preston

A great segue from the Apt613 walk, local cartoonist/illustrator Colin White is giving a tour of the corner stores which feature often in his drawings. I don't think I've met him in person, but I like his depictions of familiar hyperlocal landmarks.

Jane's Eye View of Little Italy Development
Saturday, May 4, 2013, noon-1pm
Start/end Pub Italia^B, Preston Street

Little Italy resident and Preston Street BIA Executive Director Lori Mellor will be giving an overview of some of the proposed developments at the south end of Little Italy, all taller than the tallest building in Ottawa! It's not all about the tall buildings, though, there is a small-scale residential community in there too which is fundamental to the charm of Little Italy.

Bike Tour: How Ottawa's bike infrastructure is changing
Sunday, May 5, 2013, 2pm-3:30pm
War Museum Booth/Vimy^B to Corktown Footbridge (by bike)

This is one of a number of bike tours being offered this weekend by Alex deVries of Citizens for Safe Cycling. This one starts at the Canadian War Museum, where CfSC valet-parks thousands of bikes each year during RBC Royal Bank Bluesfest (under my supervision) and takes us over to the other end of Somerset Ward, to the Corktown Footbridge, which also has significance to me.

Finding the bones of Wellington Street: a last chance to walk the old route
Saturday, May 4, 2013, 2pm-4pm
Bank & Wellington (Bank of Canada plaza) to City Centre/Bayview

Covering similar ground but in the other direction, Hintonburg jack-of-many-trades Dennis Van Staalduinen gives a walking tour of Wellington Street, which has played a fascinating part in the history of Ottawa. A two-hour tour can only include a fraction of Wellington's history, but he'll give it a go, including the story of why there are two Wellington Streets.

Engineer's Stories About Ottawa's Built Heritage
Saturday, May 4, 2013, 10am-noon
NAC Canal-side entrance^B to Alexandra Bridge^B

Hagit Hadaya, who has been involved in the Centretown Heritage Committee, and Meg Hamilton, executive director of the Council of Heritage Organizations of Ottawa, are two of the four professional heritage buffs giving this walk on Ottawa's oldest heritage landmarks. These folks know their stuff, and if you're into Ottawa heritage, you wouldn't want to miss it, even if it does take you out of Centretown!

Ottawa's Building and Monument Stones
Sunday, May 5, 2013, 1pm-3pm
Centennial Flame (Parliament Hill) to Ottawa City Hall^B

I can't say I've met Quentin Gall, but his bio on the Jane's Walk site sure makes this walk about building materials look rather interesting. Stone has played a big part in the development of Ottawa's civic character—especially the nationally-significant and civic buildings such as the Langevin Block, pictured above—and Quentin has apparently written the book on the subject! This walk also conveniently leads us to the last event...

Jane's Walk Wrap-Up Party
Sunday, May 5, 2013, 4pm-8pm
Lieutenant's Pump

All participants of the Jane's Walks are invited to come to the after-party at the Pump to trade notes and share stories. I always enjoy hearing about the walks I didn't make it to that year.

Maybe I'll even see you there!

Times/locations of walks are subject to change. Please check the Jane's Walk website before heading out.
^BBixi station at or near the start/end point of this walk.