For years, Ottawa was well known for rolling up the streets at 5 o’clock. Not anymore! This city is hopping with interesting events and cool new venues around town. Whether it is a ‘cinq à sept’ or a cocktail reception or an elaborate fundraising dinner, the venues around towncan be just as interesting as the people you meet.
Cool spots to host a party
When I started Savvy Company over 13 years ago, I intentionally built the business without our own venue, taking the approach of seeking out unique places in Ottawa to host our wine, craft beer and food events. Finding these hidden gems where we can host private & corporate events or large scale Taste and Buys is becoming less of a challenge in our city.
This week alone – and it is only Wednesday – I have discovered four places that I’ve never set foot inside the door. I eagerly returned to our office and exclaimed to my team “Wait till you see the amazing place I’ve discovered. I can’t wait to host do an event there!”
A working brewery, a private revolving room showcasing the entire city, a TV studio, cool art galleries, a loft packed from floor to ceiling with boxes of board games, Ottawa’s oldest wooden building, the best venue to see the sunset over the Ottawa River, a fire hall transformed into a gourmet kitchen, a new museum at a working farm, the most striking roof top patio in the city and a bank vault that is 7 stories underground. Have you been to an event at any of these places?
Mark my words, Ottawa definitely has more than hotel ballrooms and restaurant backrooms when you are looking for venue with cachet that will impress your guests. Call me if you need tips!
What’s new with Orange Art Gallery
One of the newest places on my list is Orange Art Gallery. It’s located amongst the community of hip new businesses in the City Centre and when I walked into the gallery I knew instantly that I wanted to host a Savvy Event there….and soon!
Orange Art Gallery quickly outgrew their original space near the Parkdale Market. A year ago, owners Ingrid Hollander and her husband Matthew Jeffery hung out their shingle at a 100 year old building that was once the bank for CN Rail. “When we found this place we knew it was going to be perfect for our gallery”, remembers Ingrid. “The building is full of history which adds to the cool character of the space – perfect for art and special events.”
A perfect place for a pop-up wine shop!
While old on the outside, the rooms inside are now full of stunning contemporary artwork. “When Debbie shortlisted venues to host our portfolio wine tasting in Ottawa, the Orange Art Gallery fit perfectly”, stated Marcel Morgenstern, director of sales at Pondview Estates Winery located in Niagara-on-the-Lake. “They showcase the talent of local artists and our wine event was all about showcasing the winemaking talent at our winery.This venue was a natural choice.”
Tasting with family wineries
Pondview Estates Winery and Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery, also located in Niagara, made a special trip to Ottawa to host an evening where 250+ consumers were invited to sample their wines and order their new favorites.
Few of the wineries’ products are available at the LCBO, so this event organized by Savvy Company provided ticket-holders with the opportunity to meet the winery owners and winemakers, try their hard-to-find-wines and order their favorite wines to be delivered to their home or office.
What’s a Taste & Buy?
“It is the new way to buy Ontario wine. It is like trying on clothes, you feel the material, try on various sizes, then buy what you like and what fits you best.
At our events you can sample any of the wines – sparkling, whites, roses, reds and dessert wines, even barrel samples of wines that are not released yet,talk with our winemaker and then order the wines you really liked. It is definitely a more personal and enjoyable way to shop than buying wines at the LCBO by reviews or reading shelf talkers,” Morgenstern (in photos at right) explains.
Most importantly, guests at this Savvy Taste & Buy Event enjoyed being at the Orange Gallery too. “I’ve never been here before and coincidentally, my office is nearby. It’s a cool space, there is free parking, it’s near Little Italy and Chinatown so we went to dinner after having enjoyed all the great wines”, raved Don Cook, investment advisor at RBC Wealth Management. “I’m definitely keeping this place in mind to host an event for my investment clients.”
More about Orange Art Gallery
www.orangeartgallery.ca
290 City Centre Avenue, Ottawa (steps away from Artisan Bakery)
Savvy Events
We always have fun events scheduled so Savvy Events for what’s happening with Savvy Company. If you’d like help organizing your next event at a cool venue in Ottawa, email cheers@savvycompany.ca