lunch

Pressed – filling the gaps in Ottawa’s food culture

Written
by
apartment613
on Monday, November 21, 2011
.

Photo by Andrew Payne.

by Andrew Payne

Today, the public will finally get to see what’s been going on behind the mysterious, covered windows at 750 Gladstone. Local art has been hung on walls, made-from-scratch recipes have been tested, and plenty of tables have been placed in a cozy, wooden decor. All of the senses were considered for the opening day of Pressed, a gourmet sandwich bar near Bronson St. that will definitely fill some gaps in Ottawa’s food culture.

“I live in this neighbourhood and it’s the kind of place I’d like to go to,” says owner Jeff Stewart. “I feel like there’s a demand for a cool spot to hang out; a place with a good atmosphere.”

It offers an option for casual diners who still appreciate quality. Most of the time, Ottawans have to choose between cheap, low-end food or pricey gourmet food. The middle ground is relatively uncharted territory.

Prices for the hot, pressed sandwiches range from $6 for the four cheese to $12 for the lobster. Meats, like pulled pork and beef brisket, are soaked in brine and slow-cooked in a smoker during a process that can take two to four days. There are also options for vegans, and those who like their food without gluten or lactose, as well as salads, desserts, fair trade coffee, and local, organic ingredients.

The interior design has an ethical essence too. Some parts are made from wood that was salvaged from the joists of an old house that was being torn down, while seating is partially made up of 105-year-old oak pews that the Peace Tower Church was selling.

It’s an entire vision that Jeff put into motion after he quit his desk job this May. Tired of sitting down, he wanted to pursue a job where the results of his efforts would be more tangible and immediately seen.

“At a desk job, right now people are talking about what’s due in March or April or May. When you’re working in a restaurant you’re thinking of what’s happening 15 minutes from now, and a week from now is a vague, distant notion,” says Jeff.

As for the future of Pressed, there are plans to showcase more visual artists, get a liquor licence and eventually book some light entertainment a couple days a week: acoustic music, jazz, poetry or even rants. But for now, Pressed gives you one less reason to reluctantly eat at fast food chains while ultraviolet lights pelt your eyeballs.

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The Reveal has Started on Byward Eats

Written
by
Francois
on Tuesday, November 1, 2011
.

Post by Sonia and Ashima, from OAK Computing. Apt613 has partnered with OAK to create a new website that is set to come out in a few months. Throughout the year, folks from OAK will be guest blogging on Apt613.

We’ve stopped eating. Ok we’re still eating, but we’ve stopped taste testing for Byward Eats (forgot about the Byward Eats project?  - click here).  We’ve tasted, reviewed, ranked and now we’re revealing our top 10 places to eat for lunch for under $15 in the market.  Each day at  9am we reveal to you another favorite eatery, so do check the website everyday and feel free to leave notes for us -we’d love it!

 What have we learned so far from this experience (other than eating out every day has a direct correlation to heavier breathing when climbing stairs)?

 Some surprises:

  • Good restaurants are not interested in new technology based marketing strategies – they are interested in providing great experiences so that word of mouth works in their favour – their ability to wow with their food is their marketing.
  • Several of our local restaurants have been branded as dessert places when their savoury food is also quite delicious.
  • Photos yes, videos no.  Not all locations are comfortable with someone taking video footage (albeit on their phone) at their establishment.  Surprisingly though, no one had an issue with us taking photos.

Some facts:

  • All restaurants on Murray Street are delicious.  This is why it’s called Gastro Alley.
  • Vlogging is quite time consuming – I assume this is why most foodies blog.
  • Going in to a restaurant and taking lots of pictures does not look natural.  We tried to make ‘touristy comments’ to try make it comfortable, but the weird looks kept coming our way.
  •  Eating out is bad on the wallet – as mint.com is only too happy to keep reminding me.

When you eat out a lot, you start to realize which cravings can’t be fed in the Byward.

Missing in the Byward area:

  • Chinese takeout
  • A real Samosa stop
  • Maneesh (Lebanese pies) bakery

And watch out for coupons on Byward Eats, we have some good discounts for our readers!

 Finally, we’d love to hear from you – do you agree/disagree with our picks, what did we miss, are top 10 best of lists even useful?  Let the party eating begin!

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The Will Work for Food Project Workers Lunch

Written
by
Katie
on Sunday, October 9, 2011
.

The Will Work for Food Project is a community art collaboration that explores small scale urban agriculture. Initiated to acknowledge the complexities surrounding food production, access to food, and its cultural significance, the project specifically focuses on the issues concerning the community surrounding the Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG). This project continues into the fall with a series of community work bees open to the public, where artist Jennifer Cook will be on site. Anyone and everybody is welcome to participate in this project!

http://www.ottawaartgallery.ca/news/2011/willwork/index-en.php

http://willworkforfood-oag.tumblr.com/

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Bid the garden farewell with a final feast. The fun starts at noon and continues until the pot is empty.
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This is an al fresco event in SAW Courtyard. If the weather is blustery look for us inside at ArtsCourt – the front desk can tell you where to find us.
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Don’t forget to RSVP so we can save you a bowl!

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=276339702390324

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Ask the Interweb! Best place for lunch in Little Italy

Written
by
Katie
on Tuesday, September 13, 2011
.

Photo courtesy of LexnGer on Flickr.

The interweb is a series of magical strings invented by Al Gore in the 1990s. Through our ‘Dear Interweb’ column, Apt613 will use its awesome powers to poll its readers on questions of import. If you have a query to make to the interwebs, screw Google – ask Apt613 readers by emailing apartment613 [at] gmail [dot] com or tweeting @apartment613.

A question came into the Apartment613 email inbox last night:

Hello there…I am fond of your blog and am wondering if you can help me out by suggesting a place to eat lunch in Little Italy for their upcoming La Vendiemma, Sept 24th. Somewhere with a variety of Italian sandwiches, salads, not too pricey preferably with an outdoor patio if you know of one…Something old school with lots of charm? Know any joints like this? I am hosting an event at the Italian Festival and am not finding much info on the Preston St. BIA or online..not everyone has great websites, photos, etc.

This question actually touches upon a matter of deep personal shame for me, since I’ve been planning a Best Italian Sandwich post for about 18 months now. Procrastination and her handmaids – televisions and shiny objects – kept getting in my way. Now, through the power of the interweb, I finally have a chance to put some of that research to good use.

Click to continue reading “Ask the Interweb! Best place for lunch in Little Italy”

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National Capital Vegetarian Association (NCVA) to host vegan BBQ event

Written
by
Katie
on Saturday, August 6, 2011
.

Event will showcase options for enjoyable meat-free summertime eating
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Who: National Capital Vegetarian Association
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What: Summer BBQ & Potluck
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Where: Vincent Massey Park (Riverside/Heron)
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When: Aug. 14, 11:30 – 3:00
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Why: To provide a family-friendly atmosphere that also promotes the deliciousness of vegan cuisine!
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Vegan barbecue. To many, it may seem like a contradiction. Barbecues are a fixture of summertime, but also the venue where the differences between dietary choices of meat eaters and vegetarians/vegans come into sharpest focus.
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But it doesn’t have to be that way, says Josh Flower, president of the National Capital Vegetarian Association (NCVA).
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“My family and I enjoy barbecuing all summer long. There’s nothings like firing up the grill and enjoying food with family and friends outside,” he says. “The only difference is that meat is not on our menu. There are plenty of meat alternatives out there for those who wish to be a part of the fun, but want to avoid the health pitfalls or the harm that comes to animals from meat consumption.”
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To prove it, the NCVA will be hosting its first vegan Summer BBQ & Potluck on Sunday Aug. 14, from 11:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at Vincent Massey Park (section D- near Riverside Drive and Heron Road). This family friendly event will demonstrate that it’s fully possible to enjoy BBQ season the vegan way.
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The first 100 attendees will receive a complimentary veggie dog/burger (condiments will also be provided). Each adult should bring a vegan dish (no meat, dairy, eggs, honey, etc. with ingredient list) that serves between 10-12, as well as a plate, cutlery, and beverage. Also, please bring a serving utensil for your dish. Admission is $1 for NCVA members, and $3 for non-members. Kids under 12 eat free!
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The potluck concept means that everyone will have dozens of delicious plant-based dishes to choose from- a great way to get new ideas for plant-based cooking at home.
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Please note: While everyone is welcome, whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, or non-vegetarian, please ensure that the dish you bring is free of animal products- that includes any animal flesh, eggs, dairy/cheese, honey, etc.
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Everyone is invited, Josh Flower says. “Vegetarian, vegan, or just curious, NCVA events are open to everyone who likes good food and conversation. We’re happy to welcome all kinds of people. Bring your friends and family, a blanket, a frisbee, or anything else you need to enjoy a day at the park! “
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About the NCVA:
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The National Capital Vegetarian Association (NCVA) is a not-for-profit membership-based organization created to educate the public about the health benefits of plant-based diets for the improvement of public health. The NCVA strives to represent people in the National Capital Region who are vegetarian, vegan, or supportive of the many benefits of consuming plants. For more information, visit www.ncva.ca

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GreekFest 2011

Written
by
Katie
on Sunday, July 31, 2011
.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10
Band: Poseidon
Celebrity MC: Comedian Angelo Tsarouchas
4:30 Festival Opens
5:00 Church Service
5:30 Live Music Starts
6:00 Ottawa premiere of comedian Angelo Tsarouchas’ film “Fred and Vinny” followed by Q & A with Angelo
6:30 Junior Dance Performance
7:00 Greek Language Lessons – Athena Indoor Stage
7:30 Senior Dance Performance
9:00 The “Zorba” Show
10:30 Close
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 11
Band: Poseidon
Celebrity MC: Comedian Angelo Tsarouchas
4:30 Festival Opens
5:00 Church Service
5:30 Live Music Starts
6:00 Church Tour in French
6:00 Ottawa premiere of comedian Angelo Tsarouchas’ film “Fred and Vinny” followed by Q & A with Angelo
6:30 Junior Dance Performance
7:00 Cooking Demonstration with the Three Sisters
(in the Church Basement)
7:00 Church Tour in English
7:30 Senior Dance Performance
9:00 The “Zorba” Show
11:00 Close
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FRIDAY, AUGUST 12
Band: Poseidon
Celebrity MC: Comedian Angelo Tsarouchas
4:30 Festival Opens
5:00 Church Service
5:30 Live Music Starts
6:00 Church Tour in French
6:30 Junior Dance Performance
6:30 Wine Tasting seminar with Scott Drennen
(in the Church Basement)
7:00 Church Tour in English
7:30 Cooking Demonstration with the Three Sisters
(in the Church Basement)
8:00 Odyssey Dance Troupe
8:45 The “Zorba” Show
11:00 Close
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SATURDAY, AUGUST 13
Bands: George Gritziotis, afternoon Poseidon, Evening
Celebrity MC: Comedian Angelo Tsarouchas
Theme: “Family Day” noon – 4pm
12:00 Festival Opens with Live Music
12:00 – 1:00 Meet the Ottawa Fire Fighters, Ottawa Police Service Tactical Team, Motorcycle Squad, General Patrol
1:00 Junior Dance Performance
1:30 Children’s GreekFest Baking Workshop – Athena Indoor Stage
2:30 Hellenic Folklore of South Western ON (London) Dance Performance
3:00 Children’s Church Tour
4:00 Greek Mythology Seminar for kids -Athena Indoor Stage
4:30 La Troupe Folklorique Grecque Syrtaki Dance Performance
6:00 Hellenic Folklore of South Western ON (London) Dance Performance
6:15 Wine Tasting seminar with Scott Drennen – Church Basement
7:00 Church Tour in English
7 :00 La Troupe Folklorique Grecque Syrtaki Dance Performance
7:00 Cooking Demonstration with the Three Sisters – Church Basement
8:00 Rogers Live Show includes live music, traditional dancers, and The “Zorba” Show
11:00 Close

- BACK TO TOP-

SUNDAY, AUGUST 14
Band: George Gritziotis, afternoon REVMA (Montreal)

9:45 Church Service
12:00 Festival Opens with Live Music
1:00 Junior Dance Performance
1:30 Children’s GreekFest Baking Workshop – Athena Indoor Stage
2:00 Hellenic Folklore of South Western ON (London) Dance Performance
4:45 Church Service Begins
5:30 Outdoor Processional
6:00 Church Tour in French
6:00 Senior Dance Performance
6:30 Cooking Demonstration with the Three Sisters- Church Basement
7:00 Church Tour in English
7:30 Greek Language Lessons – Athena Indoor Stage
7:45 Folkloric Threads Costume Presentation – Church Basement
8:45 The “Zorba” Show
11:00 Close

- BACK TO TOP-

MONDAY, AUGUST 15
Special: OPEN FOR LUNCH
Band: REVMA (Montreal)
Special: Religious Day commemorating the “Dormition of the Virgin Mary” in honour of which our church is dedicated.

9:45 Church Service
12:00 Festival Opens
12:30 Official Ceremonies
1:30 Hellenic School of Dance Performance
1:30 Church Tour in English
5:30 Live Music
6:00 Church Tour in French
6:30 Senior Dance Performance
6:30 Cooking Demo with The Three Sisters – Church Basement
7:00 Church Tour in English
7:30 Greek Language Lessons – Athena Indoor Stage
8:00 Odyssey Dance Performance
8:00 Video Presentation – “A picturesque tour of Greece” – Athena Indoor Stage
8:45 The “Zorba” Show
10:30 Close

- BACK TO TOP-

TUESDAY, AUGUST 16
Band: REVMA (Montreal)
Theme: “Multicultural Night”

4:30 Festival Opens
5:30 Live Music starts
6:00 Church Tour in French
6:00 Cooking Demonstration with the Three Sisters – Church Basement
6:30 Greek Language Lessons – Athena Indoor Stage
7:00 Church Tour in English
7:00 Multicultural Dance Show Featuring: Thai Dance Troupe of Ottawa, Jalilah Raq’s Ensemble, Serbian Folk Dance Ensemble “Kolo”, Venezuelan Folklore Dance Group “Cherun Meru” & the Odyssey Dance Troupe.
8:15 Video Presentation – “A picturesque tour of Greece” -Athena Indoor Stage
9:00 The “Zorba” Show
10:30 Close

- BACK TO TOP-

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17
Band: REVMA (Montreal)
Theme: “A Night in Athens”

4:30 Festival Opens
5:15 Live Music
6:00 Church Tour in English
6:30 Junior Dance Performance
6:30 Video Presentation (Images of Greece) – Athena Indoor Stage
7:30 Greek Language Lessons – Athena Indoor Stage
8:00 Odyssey Dance Performance
8:45 The “Zorba” Show
10:30 Close

- BACK TO TOP-

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18
Band: Yiannis Kapoulas
Theme: Heroes Fighting Hunger – Benefitting The Ottawa Food Bank & Multicultural Night 2

4:30 Festival opens
5:30 Live Music
6:00 Church Tour in French
6:30 Olive Oil Tasting & Seminar – Athena Indoor Stage
7:00 Church Tour in English
7:00 Multicultural Dance Show Featuring: You Ya Jian Wu Chinese Dance Group, Sue Fay Healy School of Irish Dance, Rodina Bulgarian Dance & The Hellenic School of Dance Senior Group
8:45 The “Zorba” Show
11:00 Close

- BACK TO TOP-

FRIDAY, AUGUST 19
Special: OPEN FOR LUNCH
Band: Yiannis Kapoulas

12:00 – 2:00pm Open for lunch!
1:00 Church Tour in English
2:00 – 4:30 Festival closed
4:30 Festival re-opens
5:30 Live Music
6:00 Church Tour in French
6:30 Junior Dance Performance
7:00 Church Tour in English
7:15 Greek Language Lessons – Athena Stage
8:00 Romiosyni (Halifax) Dance Performance
8:00 Video Presentation – “A picturesque tour of Greece” – Athena Indoor Stage
8:45 The “Zorba” Show
11:00 Close

- BACK TO TOP-

SATURDAY, AUGUST 20
Bands: George Gritziotis 12:30-6:00pm
Yiannis Kapoulas 6:30-11:00pm
Theme: “Family Day” noon-4pm

12:00 Festival Opens
12:00 – 1:00 Meet the Ottawa Fire Fighters, Ottawa Police Tactical Team, Motorcycle Squad, General Patrol
12:30 Live Music
1:00 Greek Orthodox Baptism in the Church
1:30 Children’s GreekFest Baking Workshop – Athena Indoor Stage
2:30 Paradosi HDC (TO) Dance Performance
3:00 Juggling Show (Outdoor Stage)
4:30 Romiosyni (Halifax) Dance Performance
6:00 Church Tour in English
6:00 Paradosi HDC (TO) Dance Performance
6:30 Olive Oil Tasting & Seminar – Athena Indoor Stage
7:00 Romiosyni (Halifax) Dance Performance
7:30 Greek Language Lessons – Athena Indoor Stage
8:00 Paradosi HDC (TO) Dance Performance
8:30 Video Presentation – “A picturesque tour of Greece” – Athena Indoor Stage
9:00 The “Zorba” Show
11:00 Close

- BACK TO TOP-

SUNDAY, AUGUST 21
Bands: George Gritziotis 12:30-6:00pm
Yiannis Kapoulas 6:30-10:00pm

9:45 Church Service
12:00 Festival Opens with Live Music
1:30 Cretan Assoc. Of Montreal Dance Performance
2:00 Children’s GreekFest Baking Workshop – Athena Indoor Stage
2:30 Orpheus & Terpsihori Dance performance
3 :00 Greek Mythology Seminar
4 :00 Cretan Assoc. Of Montreal Dance Performance
5.30 Orpheus & Terpsihori Dance performance
6:00 Church Tour in English
6:30 Romiosyni (Halifax) Dance performance
7:30 The Odyssey Dance Troupe (Ottawa) & Romiosyni (Halifax)
8:00 Raffle Draw
8:30 Closing Ceremonies
8:45 The “Zorba” Show
10:00 GREEKFEST Close – see you next year!!

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Back to the Future Triple Bill and Bar-B-Q

Written
by
Katie
on Saturday, July 30, 2011
.

Roads?! Where this triple-bill is going, we don’t need roads! Learn to think fourth-dimensionally as we present the entire Back to the Future trilogy — along with a special BBQ hosted by Quinn’s Pub. Feast your eyes on the greatest sci-fi trilogy this side of a galaxy far, far away, and fill you belly with Flux Capaci-burgers, 1.21 Giga-dogs and Mr. Fusion fries. The way we see it, if you’re going to do a Back to the Future triple bill, why not do with some style?

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Restaurant Watch: Red Apron adds a bit of gourmet to your Gladstone lunch

Written
by
saxby
on Thursday, June 30, 2011
.

Image courtesy Ryan Saxby Hill

Busy foodies (and those sick of President’s Choice General Tao’s chicken) likely know about the Red Apron‘s take-home foods. The Ottawa establishment offers local, organic and gourmet food that can be picked up either fresh or frozen – a big help when you don’t have the time or inclination to cook. They’ve also got a delivery service that allows you to literally “subscribe” to meals from the store and have them brought to your doorstep. And they recently moved to a beautifully-expanded spot on Gladstone Avenue – one with more baked goods, some pantry items and much larger freezers.

All this means that the folks at Red Apron have given the Gladstone/Bronson hub a place for a decent sandwich – and not just any sandwich. These are thick, grilled sandwiches made on Art-Is-In bread. The $5.95 $6.95 salmon sandwich I had recently came with a generous serving of fish, a few spears of asparagus and a delicious caper dressing. It was a decent meal by itself. The selection rotates, and I’ve heard good reviews of the chicken club option as well.

I’ll be also targeting the Monday fig option and the grilled cheese on Thursdays. Red Apron also has a soup of the day that you can get by the bowl and a selection of scones, muffins, cinnamon rolls and such. With the True Loaf Bakery also on the block, Gladstone is starting to feel like a bit of an alternative foodie hub; it’s good we now have a sandwich to match.

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Dear Interweb: How to choose the best ribs at ribfest?

Written
by
Katie
on Wednesday, June 22, 2011
.

Photo courtesy of Catherine Bulinski on flickr

The interweb is a series of magical strings invented by Al Gore in the 1990s. Through our ‘Dear Interweb’ column, Apt613 will use its awesome powers to poll its readers on questions of import. If you have a query to make to the interwebs, screw Google – ask Apt613 readers by emailing apartment613 [at] gmail [dot] com or tweeting @apartment613.

A question came in from @amelie_danger on twitter:

I need #ribfest advice, twits! How does one choose!?

Assuming she meant ‘twits’ in the social media positive sense, we’re happy to help. The annual Chicken and Rib Cook-Off starts today and runs until June 26 on Sparks St. The variety of options on hand can be overwhelming, and assuming you are watching either your wallet or your waistline, you may only get one or two shots at getting it right.

A generally good piece of advice for navigating barbeque festivals and competitions is to not be lazy: don’t just pick a place because it has the shortest line. You may have to work for your supper at ribfests.

Unfortunately, the interweb is unusually quiet about who exactly will be showing up at this year’s cook-off, which makes finding specific recommendations somewhat difficult.  The following suggestions were cobbled together through reports from various blogs and websites, but unless otherwise noted there is no guarantee that these vendors will actually be present.

As always, help out a fellow foodie and add your suggestions in the comments!

Click to continue reading “Dear Interweb: How to choose the best ribs at ribfest?”

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International Women’s Day 100th Anniversary Luncheon

Written
by
Francois
on Monday, January 31, 2011
.

Join us on March 8 2011 to Celebrate Women, Health & Equality. The CFWH has partnered with the International Women’s Health program at the SOGC and The White Ribbon Alliance to host a luncheon in Ottawa to honour women around the world.

International Women’s Day 100th Anniversary Luncheon
Celebrating Women, Health & Equality

Tuesday, March 8, 2011
National Arts Centre, Ottawa, Ontario
Panorama Room
11:30 am to 1:00 pm

If you would like to attend this event or simply make a monetary contribution, download the registration form, and submit back to the CFWH office by February 15 2011.

Click here fore more details.

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