Summer in the City – What to do this Summer in the Byward Market

At any time of year, Byward market is the city’s most exciting neighbourhood, with its fascinating blend of hip and historical. In summertime, the iconic district takes it all outside, making it the ideal place to see and be seen. Only blocks from your new home at ArtHaus Condominiums are some of the most unique events and chic-est locales to take in. We’ve compiled our favorite ideas on what to do in summer in the Byward Market.

The Author’s Market

The ByWard regularly welcomes regional authors from all horizons to promote their books to the public. Located in the heart of the ByWard Market at the corner of ByWard and George streets, the Authors’ Market is a covered outdoor space where authors talk about and sell their work. Local residents get this most unique opportunity to hear first-hand what inspired some of our city’s most renowned writers’ literary works. French, English, Spanish–an array of works in various languages are featured. Meet local authors, ask questions, and even receive an autograph. Not only do you get to discover our region’s cultural scene, but share in the pride of supporting Canada’s local literary talents.

Gourmet Cupcakes & Wine Pairing

Butterscotch Bourbon. Ginger Lemon. Chocolate Dulce de Leche. As if the array of irresistible decadent flavoured cupcakes are not indulgent enough. Ottawa’s Cupcake lounge has added wine pairings to the experience. The trendy Cupcake Lounge is the city’s leading bakery specializing in all-natural, gourmet cupcakes baked fresh daily. The popular sweet shop uses only the finest ingredients; no artificial flavours, lard, preservatives, or transfats, and iced by hand with a spatula; not piped. The quality Swiss pressure-brewed coffee is no longer the only accompaniment to your sumptuous treat. The Lounge’s ByWard Market operation has added refreshing alcoholic beverages and a ‘sidewalk’ patio to the mix. Lounge in the sun as the Market turns parking spots into new patios stringing along the street. Leave it up to the cupcake connoisseurs to serve you the perfect wine pairings with each different cupcake flavour. An organic malbec or a popular cab accents that chocolate, coconut, or nut-based cupcake–for the ultimate in sheer luxuriating.

Farmer’s Market

Byward is home to one of Canada’s oldest and largest public markets, created by the visionary builder of the Rideau Canal, Colonel By in 1826. The square still exudes the old time charm of a gone by era. As one of the first services offered by the municipality, this connection between rural and urban life remains into the 21st century. The bustling gathering space is an experience in and of itself, as the vendors are an integral part of the ByWard Market. Strike up a deal, get merchant’s advice on how to prepare those fresh fiddleheads (with garlic, lemon and olive oil), and what dishes to add garlic scapes to. Most uniquely, you’ll find ByWard Market vendors outside no matter what our country’s weather offers. The Savour Ottawa logo conveniently identifies food grown or raised in or near Ottawa. Stands offers a variety of products beyond produce– by different Savour Ottawa verified producers under one roof such as dairy, meat, eggs, and fresh squeeze juices. Take in demos from the many chefs in action at the Demo Corner and don’t forget to sample the array of nature’s delectable bounties–like fresh honeys and fruit preserves.

Public Art Walking Tour

Byward is known for being the city’s Art district–and not just because of its galleries. The Market’s rich heritage is sprawled across the neighbourhood. Take a walking tour and get a glimpse of the wonderful range of public art on display. Each piece tells a story of sorts by our capital’s many talented local artists. A cast iron angel is located in the Beaux-Arts Court. It once stood over the door of a cemetery chapel in Canada’s Capital Region. The angel’s trumpet was intended to call the dead to the Last Judgment. Over at The Murray Street parking garage is the home to 14 bronze alley cats created by local sculptor Jean-Yves Vigneau in 1993. One cat squints down at you from its perch, another arches its back, and three kittens play in the attic window, while mama cat roams the rooftop. Perhaps one of the most fascinating is the Dancing Bear: the first public art by an Inuit artist from Nunavut to be placed in Ottawa. The artist, Pauta Saila, grew up on Baffin Island, and began carving in the 1950s to supplement his livelihood as a hunter. Saila is widely known for his powerful, somewhat abstract, dancing bears. He  has claimed that they are not dancing, but only playing, in the same way as when he has watched them on the ice-field while hunting.

Picturesque patios, historical treasures, culinary delights, and the city’s hottest art scene. There’s always something happening in the market–and in summertime, the vibrancy of the Byward is at its height.