Parks and Recreation Near Bayshore

Lakeview, Bayshore, Winfield and Andrew Haydon are a few of the parks close to many family homes and apartments. The Valleystream Tennis Club and Park is just to the south, below the Trans-Canada Highway.

Britannia Park is only five kilometers east of Bayshore. The site of past music festivals, Britannia is a good place to spend the weekend with the kids. There’s also a beach open for swimming during the summer.

Bayshore, Ottawa Shopping

The Bayshore Shopping Centre, less than five minutes from Marina Bay is right in the middle of the community. There’s a wide range of retailers including Banana Republic, Zellers and the GAP, as well as several great places to eat. You can also stop by for a movie at the Coliseum Ottawa Cinemas, just a short drive away.

Dining Around Bayshore

Bayshore has a great variety of restaurants, many of which are found on Carling Avenue. Check out Tai Ping for delicious Chinese, just a few minutes walk from attractive Carling Avenue condominiums. Grab a pizza or burger at Lorenzo’s Pizzeria or head over to Ralph and Sons Diner for breakfast. Just off Carling on Kempster Avenue, Pookie’s serves amazing Thai food. And if you’re looking for something a little different, check out Ceylonta for authentic Sri Lankan and South Indian food.

Think you’d like to know more about this community? Don’t hesitate, see what Bayshore real estate is available!

OUTDOOR

Winterlude begins the first weekend on February 3 and takes place each weekend until February 20. You’ll want to bring your skates over to the Rideau Canal Skateway, as part of the festival’s tradition. Be sure to visit Confederation Park, where talented artists will display beautiful ice sculptures. It’s recommended to visit at night, when the sculptures are lit up by coloured lights. The kids will enjoy the Sun Life Snowflake Kingdom at Jacques Cartier Park. The Ice Hog family, Winterlude’s mascots, will be there along with obstacle courses, horse drawn sleighs and snow slides.

As part of the Winterlude festival, the 2012 Winterman races start on February 19 at the Canadian War Museum in Lebreton Flats. Medals will be awarded to all those who cross the finish line. Races vary in intensity, from 3K to marathon. Registration for regular entry fee closes on February 6, so be sure to sign up soon.

MUSIC

Canada’s own indie-rock group, the Sam Roberts Band is coming to the National Arts Centre on February 11.  Be sure to get your tickets before it’s too late.

FAMILY FUN

The Funatorium Explorium by the Hunt Club community is holding a Family Extravaganza from February 18 through February 20, just in time for Family Day. Parents are encouraged to play with their kids through multiple fun activities including rock climbing and obstacle course runs. Events focus on both physical exercise, through programs like family yoga and martial arts, as well as educational activities that include learning to create animation, creative writing and more. Tickets are available online.

Know of any upcoming events this February? Feel free to share.

Overbrook Starlight Children’s Foundation

Starlight Children’s Foundation, located in the Overbrook area, is a great way to help seriously ill children and their families. Volunteers can lend their support in many different ways by creating or developing recreational events that benefit families, or helping with fundraising and administration. All volunteers must fill out a form and attend orientation. If you would like to work directly with the children, a background check and training is required. See the online application to learn more about these special programs.

Volunteer to Help Animals in Ottawa

If you’re an animal lover you’ll definitely want to check out Hopeful Hearts Dog Rescue. This organization focuses on foster care, especially for elderly dogs and special needs dogs. Volunteers can help out by working with the dogs, assisting with fundraising events and advertising.  Fill out the online form if you would like to find out more.

Kanata Food Cupboard

If you live out in west Ottawa, you may consider volunteering for The Kanata Food Cupboard. Help with donation pick up and transport, sorting and packing food, and cleaning out the facilities on the last Saturday of each month. Be sure to call ahead of time to find out what help is needed on which days of the week.

Assist the Elderly

The Glebe Centre is a non-profit long-term care home located in Ottawa’s Walking District. Volunteers can assist with meals and fun activities for the residents, among other things. Make sure to fill out the online form if this sounds like something you may be interested in.

If you know of a place in need of volunteers be sure to tell us!

• Food

• Treats

• Fun

Valentine’s Day Dining in The ByWard Market

The restaurants in The ByWard Market are offering all kinds of dinner specials for this exciting day. From an enchilada dinner for two at Mexicali Rosa’s for only $34.99 to an exquisite four course meal at Luxe Bistro for $85 per person, you will be able to find a delicious meal suited to your evening. Try Sweetgrass Aboriginal Bistro’s themed dinner, Mambo’s rabbit and white wine chorizo or The Courtyard’s Jerusalem artichoke soup.

Black Cactus, five course $55      Fat Tuesday’s, three course $55
Steak, three course $55      Cornerstone, three course $35
Courtyard, four course $65      Stella Osteria, four course $75
Luxe Bistro, four course $85      Mangia, three course $50
Mexicali Rosa’s, for two $35      Mambo, Table d’hote $55/$75
Kinki, Table d’hote $55/$75      Must, Table d’hote $56
Empire Grill, Table d’hote $65      Sweetgrass, themed menu TBA

Treats

Skate on the Rideau Canal with a loved one

There is no need to leave The ByWard Market when searching for the perfect Valentine’s gift.
Lush is having a “PS I love you” party on February 12th, Victoire is offering 20% from February 1st to 14th with this coupon, and Argosy books has a half off sale from February 11th to 14th.
Take a staycation at the ByWard Blue Inn, offering 20% off a room on February 13th or 14th. A hot chocolate body wrap from Daya Spa is the perfect way to heat things up before your stay. Also enjoy the beauty and bustle of The ByWard Market by walking through the courtyards and nearby parks. Finally, cool off by taking a skate on the canal – easily accessible beside the Rideau Centre, and a lovely walk from the locks.

Fun

If the dinner options are not the fun night you and your friends are looking for, check out the Honest Lawyer. With a bachelor and bachelorette auction, and proceeds from $19 buckets of Molson going to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, this Heartbreak Hotel Party may be just what you are looking for.
Finally, Empire Theatres in the Rideau Centre will have the new romantic film “The Vow”, and certainly a more platonic film or two to see.

What are your plans for Valentine’s Day? Comment below with more great recommendations!

Winter blues got you down? Are you wanting something to look forward to in the warmer months once spring hits? Mark your calendars for this year’s The Great Glebe Garage Sale of 2012!  The GGGS is an annual community event that happens every year n iMay that attracts thousands of people each year. 

In this post:

• Who are the vendors?
• What is the garage sale like?
• When is it happening?
• Will you go?

Who are the vendors?

The Great Glebe Garage sale is organized and put on by the Glebe Community Association and gets a lot of its help through volunteers in the neighbourhood.  These aren’t the only people helping out, the homeowners from the neighbourhood are the backbone of this event.  Members of the community do their best to help out by putting vendor tables on their front lawns and porches with filled items from their homes that they’re looking to sell to a new owner.

What is the GGGS like?

The Glebe is one of those neighbourhoods with a lot of culture, you’ll instantly pick up on it when you visit there, and the Great Glebe Garage Sale is just one of those events that is an example of how great this area is.  The Great Glebe Garage Sale is put on by the Glebe Community Association and it has strong ties with the Ottawa Food Bank.  At the end of a successful sale day, vendors are encouraged to donate 10 percent of their earnings to the Ottawa Food Bank.  It’s a perfect way to spend a warm spring day with iced teas in hand and browsing through all of the kitschy and eclectic items that vendors are selling. Who knew that scoring a one of a kind cat table lamp could benefit your living room and the Ottawa Food Bank?

When is it happening?

 The Great Glebe Garage Sale is taking place this year on May 26^th 2012 from 9:00am to 3:00pm. The garage sale will be taking place in the heart of the Glebe along Bank St. south of highway 417. You won’t have a problem finding it! Visitors are encouraged to walk, bike or take the bus there.

Will you go?

 Have you ever gone to the Great Glebe Garage Sale? Did you love it? What kinds of crazy items did you see? We’d love to hear your thoughts! Maybe when you go to the GGGS this year, you’ll end up eyeing some of the gorgeous houses that this neighbourhood has!

 Curious about what housing opportunities are in the Glebe? Check out the Glebe Neighbourhood page and contact Chris to get you started on your house hunt!

Ottawa’s Chinatown– particularly Somerset Street– is home to many cultural festivals and events throughout the year. Much like Little Italy’s events, Chinatown runs annual festivals and events with a multicultural flavour, and these celebrations are not to be missed! Here is an overview of the current festivals and other events which have been announced for 2012 so far:

- Lion Dance – January 28, 2012
The Ottawa Chinatown’s New Year celebrations to ring in the Year of the Dragon

- Chinatown REMIXED – Summer 2012
A month-long celebration of artists, art and murals in Chinatown

- Six-Month Lucky Draw
Enter to win a gift certificate from participating Chinatown businesses until July 15, 2012

The unique mix of Asian nationalities and history in Ottawa’s Chinatown make these– and the other events which will be announced later this year– absolute must-sees!

Ottawa Chinatown’s Lion Dance – January 28, 2012

Chinatown REMIXED

2012 Ottawa Chinatown Lucky Draw

Housing Prices in The Glebe

As of June 30, 2011 home prices ranged from $379,900 to $2,200,000. Available condominiums ranged from $169,900 to $999,999.

The Glebe has been recognized around Ottawa for the annual Great Glebe Garage Sale. Glebe residents set up on their front lawns and driveways, attracting shoppers from all around. Sellers are encouraged to donate some of their proceeds to the Ottawa Food Bank.

A very pedestrian and bike friendly area, you won’t have to worry about traveling too far to find fun things to do.

Neighbourhood Events Around The Glebe

The Glebe Neighbourhood Activities Group has plenty of family programs and classes for adults and children throughout the year. Located in The Glebe Community Centre, just a few minutes walk from the beautiful First Avenue condominiums, it offers summer camps, plays, craft fairs and a pottery studio – to name a few.

Bank Street is esteemed for its great shopping and restaurants – and it’s right in the middle of The Glebe! Head over to Civic Shawarma & Pies for fantastic Middle Eastern food, a short walk from The Ecocite. Grab a smoothie at Booster Juice or check out the healthy Wild Oat Bakery Cafe on the corner of Bank and Fourth. And if you’re looking for something a little more substantial, The Works will satisfy your craving for a burger and shake.

Home of Ottawa’s Canadian Football League, Frank Clair Stadium is found in Lansdowne Park, just a five minute drive from Jefferson Hall. The Park hosts sporting events, concerts, farmers market and shows throughout the year.

Find out more about great real estate opportunities in The Glebe.

According to recent market data, both home prices and home sales activity are on the rise.

But it’s still an unfortunate fact that there aren’t as many home buyers navigating the market as there were a few years ago.

Thus, it’s more important than ever to make sure your home for sale leaves a lasting impression.

Continue reading to learn more about some small adjustments you can make to your home that could mean the difference between a quick home sale or not.

Selling Your Ottawa Property

If you’re like most home sellers, you want to sell your Ottawa home in as little time as possible and for top dollar.

Here are a few suggestions for how you can increase your chances of having that wish become a reality:

Help Home Buyers Envision Themselves Living There.  A home that is too personalized to your family’s tastes can make it difficult for buyers to see themselves living there.  So if you have any brightly painted rooms, consider re-painting them a neutral color.  And limit the number of knick-knacks and family portraits on display throughout the home.

Downplay the holiday decorations.  Again, this can distract home buyers from considering your home as their future home.  While a few selectively placed holiday decorations can create a warm and inviting atmosphere, too many could kill a deal.

Be as flexible as possible when it comes to home showings.  As most people know, market activity slows down during the wintertime when people are busy with holiday plans and the children are in school.  So you want to make sure you’re as accommodating as possible for the buyers who are taking the time to see homes.

Use Plenty of Light to Showcase Your Home.  During the winter months, there’s less natural sunlight available to effectively showcase your home.  Thus, make use of both interior and exterior lighting to emphasize to buyers why your home is so special.  And don’t forget the closet and bathroom lights!  You should also consider opening up every curtain in the house to make the most use of the natural light available.

Save the seasonal candles for a special occasion.  The funny thing about home aromas is that what may smell amazing to one person can be completely offensive to another.  So store all of your candles and home aromas during showings.  Otherwise, you’ll risk leaving a negative first impression on a home buyer because of a home aroma.

This is just a brief list of some of the things that Ottawa home sellers can do to maximize their success on the local housing market. For more tips on how to effectively market your home, contact me, Chris Coveny, today.

As your Ottawa real estate expert, I’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have as well as provide you with several home selling resources.

Until next time,

Chris

According to housing market data recently released by The Canadian Real Estate Association, both sales activity and sales prices increased during the month of October.

Continue reading to learn more about this developing Ottawa real estate trend.

Ottawa Properties for Sale

Here are the highlights from the Canadian Real Estate Association’s most recent market report:

• During the month of October, sales activity rose to the highest level since January.
• When compared to a 10-year average, sales activity nationally in October was on par.
• Year-to-date sales are also on par with the 10-year average.
• The number of new listings remained unchanged when compared to the last three months.
• Year-over-year, the national average price for Canadian homes increased by 5.5 per cent.
• Between September and October, home sales increased by 1.2 per cent.
• And between August and September, home sales increased by 2.5 per cent.
•  So far in 2011, 397,561 homes have sold on the national real estate market, up 1.8 percent when compared to the same period in 2010.
• Nationally, there was six months of home inventory at the end of October, which is similar to the inventory in September.
• Nationally, the average price for homes sold in October was $362,899, up 5.5 per cent when compared to October 2010.

Your Ottawa Real Estate Experts

As you can see, it was a fairly good month for home sellers on the national real estate market.

Although it’s been largely a buyer’s market over the last several months, home sales prices and activity are starting to climb once again.

For specific information on Ottawa real estate market activity – and for expert advice on how to use that data to your advantage as a home seller – contact me, Chris Coveny.

As your Ottawa REALTOR, I’ll make navigating the Ottawa real estate market easier for you by offering such home selling tools as:

• My home’s value
• Selling tips
• Selling guides

Until next time,

Chris

Turn down your water heater. Most people keep it on a level that’s scalding. You probably won’t even realize it if you turn it down several degrees.

Close the flue in your fireplace. An open flue can let in a lot of cold air. If you’re not planning on using your fireplace, seal it up to avoid letting in a draft.

Cover your windows. Hang up curtains, blankets or plastic over windows at nighttime. Keep them uncovered to let light in during the day. You may even want to seal up doors to rooms that are rarely used.

Start baking. Keep the oven door open to heat up the kitchen. You’ll not only have a delicious home-cooked meal but a warm, cozy part of the house.

Check your heating filters. A clean heating filter works efficiently and keeps costs down.

Check windows and doorways for drafts. It’s common for older homes to let in a lot of air. Newer homes often have better insulation and energy-efficient windows. Check your windows and doorways to see if cold air is getting in and use caulk to seal it up.

How do you keep energy costs down? Let us know if you have any creative ideas!