Flapjack's Pancake Shack

While according to City by-laws this may not be a food truck, it looks deceptively more like a an old milk truck, than a shack to me.  The Flapjack logo is a burly lumberjack and the coat of arms is a fine piece of Ottawa Valley heraldry, which includes a crossed pan flipper and axe.

The "shack" is visible from Bank Street in a an informal courtyard behind Mrs. Tiggy Winkles, close to Fourth Avenue.  Thematic patio furniture is made of from large logs fashioned as chairs and tables - very lumberjacky.

Joe Mamma

It's the man himself, Joe or Jose as he is known, waiting for things to heat up so that he can move some stock.  And by that, I mean warmer weather.  Hard to sell bikes with snow on the ground. Joe Mamma is the bmx shop here in Ottawa and a major online vendor as well.  It's the sort of place where customers become friends and stop in to chat, or ask advice about parts.

A Quiet Night In the Shop

The truism in the ski business is that you don't sell skis until it snows.  That doesn't necessarily mean you sell skis while it snows.  Like tonight.  With 20 cm. of snow this afternoon and a slow drive home there wasn't much action in Kunstadt Sports.  Adam was catching up on some research on the computer and answered about three phone calls while I did this sketch.

Show up. Adam would love some company, and if you don't need skis, maybe you are ready for a new bike.

Bank and Third

It was cold and grey yesterday afternoon so I headed to a coffee shop for my sketch break.  There is a lot going on here between the clutter of publication boxes, Tim Descloud's sculptures and the shop's sign and exuberant graphics.

Sneak Preview - World Eclusive!

I've been working on the reconstruction of Bank Street in Ottawa for about 6 years.  When we completed the overall concept for we thought that the Glebe neighbourhood would be the first phase and the public art competition was held in 2008.  As it worked out the Glebe reconstruction was last and only happened last summer.  It will be completed this spring when the trees, site furniture and art are installed.

Tim Desclouds was awarded the art commission and has produced about 23 individual pieces.  The city got more than their money's worth, even if measured by the pound.  The theme is neighbourhoods as represented by chairs of all sorts.  Like all of Tim's work, the sculptures are whimsical and have a  fun, carnival, busker quality about them as most of them will be on 10 foot poles.  I think they will provoke thought and and discussion as well as become treasured landmarks.

Tim was gracious in adding many of the design team on the credit plaque.  The key collaborator was Mike Mulligan, welder extraordinaire.  I can't say I worked with Tim, as we mostly just discussed things and agreed - always a pleasure.

The installation will be in early May, but you saw it here first!

Deconstruction

This week my old friends from Doran Construction have been taking a building apart (demolition is so last century) to clear a site for a new condominium building.  They have been fastidiously separating metal from concrete which takes some time, so luckily for me, I have been able to return a few times to see the progress...or is it un-progress?  I've been fascinated by this building anatomy lesson , as it makes a lot more sense to me than disecting frogs did in grade 9.  My collegue Scott sees it as a terrible waste as, "the greenest building is an existing building", but I'm afraid I think it is more interesting in it's deconstruction than it has been in its life as a revenue producing structure.