Things To Do In Ottawa (Instead Of Studying)
Tired of studying for exams? Need to get out of your Ottawa Apartment?
Put down those books and give yourself a break. Check out our list of events going on in Ottawa for the months of November & December. What are you waiting for? Bring your friends and family to celebrate Canada’s anniversary, get into the holiday spirit, and explore everything Ottawa has to offer!
105th Grey Cup Festival: November 21st-26th, 2017
Are you a football fan? If so, enjoy a full week of celebrations at Lansdowne. This festival will prepare every Canadian for the excitement of the Canadian Football League Championship on November 26th. This free festival features fan parties as well as a concert series with Canadian musicians such as Jess Moskaluke, Trooper, and April Wine.
Scotiabank NHL100 Classic Outdoor Hockey Game: December 16th, 2017
Watch the Ottawa Senators play the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL Classic outdoor hockey game at TD Place in Lansdowne. This event will celebrate major milestones of 2017 including Canada’s 150th anniversary, the 125th anniversary of the Stanley Cup, the 100th anniversary of NHL, and the 25th anniversary of the modern Ottawa Senators NHL team. You don’t want to miss this!
Canada 150 Family Skating Rink on Parliament Hill: December 7th-31st, 2017
Enjoy free skating all winter long! For the first time ever, a family skating rink will be installed in front of Parliament Hill. Make sure to be on the rink on December 10th to celebrate Canada’s 150 Skating Day! This project is supported by Canadian Heritage, the Ottawa International Hockey Festival, and the Ottawa Senators.
Christmas Lights Across Canada: December 7th, 2017- January 7th, 2018
Get in the holiday mood by basking in the glow of hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights courtesy of the Christmas Lights Across Canada program. Don’t forget to stay for the Winter Lightscapes multimedia show that will be projected on Parliament’s Centre Block. The program will be launched on December 7th, 2017 with live musical performances and pyrotechnics.
There you have it, four fun-filled excuses to put the books down and enjoy some fresh air and Canadian culture.
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The Best Last-Minute Halloween Costumes Under $30
Halloween is one of our favourite holidays - with free candy, costumes and parties, you can’t go wrong! With midterm season and reading week upon us, it can also be a bit of a struggle. If you’ve spent more than your fair share on Homecoming and late-night coffee runs, leaving your wallet empty – don’t worry! Ottawa Apartment has some amazing last-minute Halloween costume ideas for $30 or less.
The Flower Filter
Yes, we all (secretly) love this SnapChat filter, but did you know it could be a costume too? Run to the dollar store to grab yourself some faux flowers and a headband. Attach the flowers to the headband using a hot glue gun. Put your new crown on your head and watch yourself suddenly transform into one of the most used filters!
Skeleton
If you’re a budding makeup artist (or feel like experimenting with a Youtube video), this costume is for you. Pick out a glamorous black outfit, grab some white and black face paint, and start painting! You can also cut a black shirt to be skelton-esque following this tutorial.
The Infamous Cat
This is a legendary costume because it’s so easy! Get dressed up in your nicest black outfit, grab some cat ears and a tail, use a touch of eyeliner for some whiskers and voilà – you are the world’s best cat. This costume is applicable to any animal – just switch up the ears!
The Cowboy/Cowgirl
If you’re from Canada, you probably have a plaid in your closet, and if you don’t, one of your friends should! So, find a cowboy hat and some boots (check your local thrift store or costume store) and combine it with your favourite pair of jeans – and you’ve got it! The perfect, last minute cowboy/cowgirl costume.
Raining Men
Hallelujah, it’s an easy, funny costume you can make in minutes! Get your rain gear together (rubber boots and all), including an umbrella with printed out images of your favourite male characters attached by a string. This will be sure to get a few laughs – and hey, if it starts raining, you’re in the clear!
This Halloween, partake in the festivities while sticking to your budget - no need to break the bank for one night a year. Have fun this Halloween in these thrifty, easy DIY costumes!
Ottawa Apartment has connections with over 7,000 apartment locations across the city. With our search tool, all you’ve got to do is tell us what you’re looking for—we’ll take care of the rest. And, it’s 100% free! Click here to find your dream apartment today.
How to Plan Thanksgiving Dinner With Your Roommates
Thanksgiving is a great opportunity to bring your friends together – not to mention a day off work or school. If you can’t make it home for your family’s Thanksgiving dinner this year, and just realized you’ve never made a meal that doesn’t require a microwave, don’t freak out! We’ve got you covered: decorations, meals, and even some leftover suggestions.
Get in the spirit with decorations!
Any experienced host knows how important decorations are for a holiday-themed party, dinner or event! It gets everyone in the spirit and makes a memorable night (and creates some great Instagram opportunities).
If décor isn’t your forte, here are a few ideas to consider:
- Message Board: Have your roommates write what they are most thankful for on a paper leaf and pin it up!
- Banner: Get creative with a “Happy Thanksgiving” banner with construction paper and string.
- Hand-made turkey: Kick it old school by tracing your hand on some brown paper to make some handy turkeys (pun intended).
- Don’t forget the pumpkins: If you’re pressed for time, you can always run to the dollar store and grab some faux pumpkins and leaves to sprinkle around.
Figure out what you’re going to eat!
- Step 1: Plan your meal in advance: don’t wait until the last second to try and plan a huge meal. Do some research, and figure out what you’re going to eat (and how you’re going to cook it) well in advance so there are no surprises.
- Step 2: Decide who’s buying what: to avoid having 3 turkeys and no mashed potatoes, make sure you and your guests decide who’s buying what. This is also a great way to cut expenses so one person doesn't foot the entire bill.
- Step 3: Get cooking: time to bust out the cookbooks (or the YouTube tutorials)! Don’t forget, turkeys can take hours to defrost, so make sure you plan accordingly – no one wants to eat dinner at 11 pm.
Remember, even if things don’t go perfectly with your meal, it’s OK! Thanksgiving is about bringing people together. Don’t worry about the small things – focus on your friends! And don’t forget, Thanksgiving always provides leftovers for weeks to come, so make some yummy turkey sandwiches or turkey noodle soup.
Ottawa Apartment has connections with over 7,000 apartment locations across the city. With our search tool, all you’ve got to do is tell us what you’re looking for—we’ll take care of the rest. And, it’s 100% free! Click here to find your dream apartment today.