confessions

SEX! Now that we got your attention…

Written

on Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Photo courtesy of Jessica Ruano on Flickr.

Friday will be a special day for Apt613… the incomparable Nadine Thornhill is joining our team of writers and will contribute a monthly sex/relationship advice column - Dirty Laundry. All those questions you had about that third nipple or how to properly introduce your pie throwing fetish to your partner, Nadine’s there to answer them!

A professional sexual health educator with an alarming lack of tact, Nadine is used to speaking openly about the wonders of masturbation - even within earshot of your conservative relatives. When she’s not making you blush, she’ll be playing one of her many other roles, including mother, lover, actor, award-winning playwright, wannabe triathlete, poet and lifelong klutz. For the full smorgasboard of Nadine’s musings check out her blog, Adorkable Thespian.

Dirty Laundry will run the last Friday of each month starting this week. To ask your questions, or to say hello to Nadine, contact her at dirtylaundry613@gmail.com.

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“Just admit it. You’re from Kanata.” Reflections on Ottawa from a hometown girl

Written

apartment613

on Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Photo courtesy of S.L.M at flickr

Post by Veronica Michelle - blogger at The View from Veronica’s Closet, well-known Ottawa writer and occasional Apt613 columnist. This is the first post in a short series on Ottawa, why she left and why there’s no place like home.

Ottawa never felt like home to me until I left.

I was born in Halifax. My family relocated to Ottawa well before I was old enough to have any memories of my home town, but I grew up knowing where I was from. I’ve never considered myself an Ottawa native, despite having a number of friends who would mock me when I claimed to be Nova Scotian, saying “Just admit it. You’re from Kanata.”

When I knew I needed to get out of Ottawa, there was no question of where to go. I, like many others who feel the need to leave Ottawa behind, left for the bright lights and cheap booze of our sister city: Montreal.

The allure of Montreal offered me something new, something bigger; a land of opportunity outside of a city that I already felt I had conquered and was bored with.

It took almost a year for me to set all of my affairs in order to leave. Being an active member in many of Ottawa’s intertwining communities meant that I had to set up arrangements to continue working in the Ottawa scene from Montreal. Some of the seats I held were easy to vacate, others required thoughtful replacement and some remained reserved, with me on call from Montreal. (There’s a reason I’m the mayor of Station Centrale D’Autobus de Montreal on Foursquare.)

I was going back almost every 2 weeks for one reason or another: To support a friend in their art show or concert, to help organize an event, to perform, or just to see the people I love. I was giving ammunition to the voices telling me to come back. It was becoming clear to others that Ottawa is where I belong, long before my stubborn self could accept it.

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Sexapalooza this weekend at Lansdowne

Written

Katie

on Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Courtesy of margolove on flickr

Want to take your nookie up a level? Curious about the latest in titillating technologies? Need a wholesale supplier of Astroglide? You’re in luck! Sexapalooza, a three day consumer trade show dedicated to all things blue and bawdy, is coming to Lansdowne from Friday, January 15 to Sunday, January 17. For $20 at the door ($15 online) you can spend the day perusing goods like… well, use your imagination.

However, shopping is not the only thing on offer. Featuring on the main stage will be Ottawa’s own Rockalily Burlesque, Kitty Boutique’s Bondage Bed demo and Wear’s and Wear-Latex Fashion Show, at least two pole dancing shows and more. The sensual sideshows include a sex museum, the “Alley of Fantasy” with games and contests, as well as the Dungeon with “all sorts of naughty and nice activities.”

For you eternal students, a number of seminars will also be running, such as Birds and Bees G-Spot Orgasms, You want to Put What Where? in both French and English and Everything You Want to Know About Glass (I thought it was something to put my milk in, but apparently I have much to learn…). More artistic types can also attend the sessions on erotic photography and writing.

Read on for the licentious logistics!

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Zaphod’s: A Christmas Story

Written

Katie

on Friday, December 18, 2009

Courtesy of stoicviking on flickr

We generally frown upon posting press releases onto the site, but in the spirit of the season we’re making an exception. Zaphod’s, an Ottawa institution for indie bands and crazy dance parties (not to mention that infamous 11:00pm deadline for performers), is open for business on Christmas Day. Owner Eugene’s explanation for this reads a bit like A Christmas Carol as written by Charles Bukowski, so we’re reproducing it here instead of excerpts from the Gift of the Magi.

We always open on Christmas Day. Here’s why…

When I lived in Toronto many years ago (in the ’70’s) and was
attending York University, I didn’t have anywhere to spend Christmas Day, so I aimlessly walked down Yonge Street. At first I felt alone, because it seemed like everyone else had somewhere to go, some family to be with. But as I walked and walked I realized that there were many other people who were like me. I found myself saying ‘Merry Christmas’ over and over and having such interesting conversations with people who, like me, also had no Christmas plans and I began to ENJOY that walk and the way it made me FEEL.

Years later, when Zaphod’s was on Rideau Street, I was living in an apartment on Daly Street, furnished with just a sofa, coffee table and a bed. A pretty sad existence, but one that my customers did not realize. Once again with nothing to do on Christmas Day I decided, since it was my club, I could open up Zaphod’s and just have some quiet drinks and listen to some tunes by myself. LOUD.

But a strange thing happened. There was a knock on the front door. A regular customer dropped by. I let him in. Then another came. And another. And it wasn’t just people who were alone that came. Friends who had already eaten Christmas dinner came to offer best wishes. Friends brought out-of-town friends, and relatives. And people started calling more friends. I didn’t feel so alone anymore. And soon, we had a party happening.

So that’s why I keep Zaphod’s open on Christmas Day.

Come if you have nowhere to go. But mostly come because now you HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO!

Merry Christmas,

Eugene

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Because I am a girl

Written

Francois

on Friday, October 2, 2009

Photo courtesy of Anette Os.

In my time working in Uganda and Ethiopia I noticed that when women and girls do well, generally the whole family does well. It might be a given for us for our sons and daughters to go to school, have an opportunity to learn, be safe and enjoy being kids for a while. But it’s certainly not the case everywhere. Plan Canada, an NGO that does social justice work for children across the world is working on a great campaign, Because I am a girl, to claim a brighter, safer future for girls. For them and many others, investing in girls is key to eradicating the cycle of poverty.

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Exposing the ANXIETY behind Salon Evening at Cube

Written

saxby

on Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Courtesy of Jenny P. from the Apartment613 Flickr Pool

This coming Sunday October 4th, the team at Apartment613 will be on hand at the Cube Gallery in the west end for the first Salon Evening at Cube. We’re happy to be the official media sponsor and will be on hand recording a podcast of the show and live-blogging our reactions and responses throughout the evening. There is limited space at the gallery, so reserve your spot by calling 613-728-1750.

The theme of the event is Anxiety - so we’ve asked some of the group of local Ottawans behind the salon what makes them anxious. If things are getting a bit heavy in your life… we recommend spending Sunday night in a Gallery with some great Ottawa performers.

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Origins of the Apt613 Logo

Written

Francois

on Saturday, August 22, 2009

You may wonder how we went about creating the original Apt613 logo. Well, there are two versions of it, and this one is actually the original. That one was relatively simple to create - American Typewriter font, stylized with simple colours and voilà. The other one, the one that is on our banner, got a bit more attention. I wanted to make it more original while keeping some of the characteristics of the original.

My inspiration came from the founder of Graffiti Research Lab, Evan Roth, and his Jay-Z video for Brooklyn Go Hard. This isn’t very Ottawa-centric besides the fact the Graffiti Research Lab are just starting an Ottawa branch, but the video is pretty awesome. Check it out below:

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How to catch those pesky fruit flies

Written

Francois

on Thursday, August 6, 2009

Photo courtesy of cmbellman on Flickr.

Did my parents keep the kitchen so clean at home that we never got fruit flies? Was it geography, habitat, or am I just more messy than my folks? I really can’t tell but our apartment, in the last few weeks, has been fruit flies galore. I’ve tried a number of options to catch the little buggers and I’ll share them with you. Next up, an evolution of the fruit fly trap.

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Interview with Caledonia

Written

Francois

on Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Caledonia play at Zaphod Beeblebrox Friday, July 24th.

Caledonia has made lots of ears perk up since the release of their new album We Are America. I recently caught up with Caledonia bassist Zac Crouse. Staying serious with Zac is a hard thing to do, but we managed to do it long enough to discuss the creation of their new album, the business of music and politics in Canada. The band will be playing at Zaphod’s on July 24 - a steal at only $6 (advance tix). Make sure to check them out!

Apt.613: Lost Balloons came out in 2004, the Waiting to Burn EP in 2006 – why did it take so long to release We are America?

Zac Crouse: We started working on the new album around Christmas 2006 and wanted to put it out in the Fall of 2008, but things didn’t exactly work out as planned, mainly because we ran out of money three times. We fundraised to get the money to complete it – It’s completely independent.

Apt.613: What did you do to fundraise?

ZC: We had an auction where local friends donated music, time and services. With the help of Rose Cousins, we did a pre-sale of the album that worked really well. Rose is really independent too, although she’s managed to be much more monetarily successful than us! We applied for a lot of grants, both at the federal and provincial levels, but did not get any of them. It was particularly disappointing to get rejected twice - not only nationally but provincially. Because we’re doing it all on our own, it hurts. My visa bill is pretty high.

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Bluesfest 2010: Who would you like to see?

Written

Francois

on Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Photo courtesy of erick.sodhi on Flickr.

Over the years, there have been some memorable and some less memorable performances at Bluefest. Generally speaking however, it’s been great and this year was no exception; a diversity of acts for young and old, from close by and afar. Now that we’ve had a couple of days to digest Bluesfest, we’re asking you, Apartment613 readers, to tell us who you’d like to see come to Ottawa in 2010.

To get the ball rolling, here are some of Apartment613 contributor’s picks for next year:

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