explore
The flavours of Greece,
Korea, Thailand, Vietnam,
China, and Italy all create a
fusion that offers unique
and lively experiences
St. W., theshang.wordpress.com
speciAlty shop
You’ll easily find Purple Urchin
soaps all over Ottawa in various
hotel, bar, and restaurant bath-
rooms. If you want to bring the
natural lather home with you (or
find out about their shampoos,
candles, and balms), check out
their store where they make all
their products. If their Turkish
fig scent isn’t strong enough to
help you find their basement
shop, the bright purple door
should help. 884 Somerset St. W.,
purpleurchinsoap.com
local insider
Scott May, co-owner
of coffee shop/music
venue Bar Robo, knows
some good spots. Need
baklava cheesecake,
“the most dangerous
combination in the
world”? Hit up Nutty
Greek Bake Shop (490
Rochester St.). Interest-
ing cocktails and superb
hospitality? The Moon-
room (442 Preston St.).
Fresh tempura delights
from the best omakase
chef in town? Sushi 88
(690 Somerset St. W.)
38 where
holiday 2017
Chinatown Gate
speciAlty shop
Named after the skillful logrolling
contests that used to take place
on the Ottawa River, Birling
Skateboard Shop is all about
looking good on a speeding hunk
of wood. The new shop carries
apparel and lifestyle brands like
Thrasher, Vans, Dime and Raised
by Wolves. 562 Somerset St. W.,
birlingtheottawa.com
comedy shAck
The laughs never stop at
Absolute Comedy, which hosts
live comedy seven nights a week.
There are open mic nights, out-
of-town headliners, and a cheap
food menu to keep you coming
back, as long as you take bites
between laughs. 412 Preston St.,
absolutecomedy.ca/ottawa
China Doll at
Shanghai Restaurant
shanghai
little italy/
Chinatown
AsiAn Fusion
In the beginning there was the
Shanghai Restaurant — its Sat-
urday night karaoke came a little
later. The Shang was established
in 1971, the first of many busi-
nesses and restaurants to crop
up in what is now Chinatown.
If that doesn’t impress you,
resident karaoke drag star China
Doll’s entertainment certainly
will. Plus, their egg rolls are
pretty killer too. 651 Somerset