Latest news with #OttawaItalianFestival
CTV News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- CTV News
Ottawa Italian Festival takes over Little Italy
Ottawa Watch The ever-popular Ottawa Italian Festival is taking over Little Italy, as festival goers take in a vintage car show Sunday afternoon. CTV's Natalie Van Rooy reports.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Italian Festival takes over Preston Street
The Ottawa Italian Festival took over Preston Street all weekend as thousands enjoyed food, drinks, music and entertainment. 'I know we do it every year, but it seems to be a lot bigger this year,' said Romano Rocco Farella, a staff member at Italian Joe's Kitchen. 'I think it's really good for the city.' The streets of Ottawa's Little Italy were filled with traditional dances and music. Vendors lined up offering freshly baked goods, pizza, lemonade and works of art. 'We've had Italian food of course,' said Nina Belinson, who was visiting the event with her sons and a friend. 'It was amazing, as well as all the amazing cars. We're on our way to try some gelato.' Ottawa Italian Festival Traditional dancers at the Ottawa Italian Festival on June 8, 2025. (Natalie van Rooy/CTV News Ottawa) Ottawa Italian Festival Preston Street was closed for Ottawa Italian Festival all weekend. June 8, 2025. (Natalie van Rooy/CTV News Ottawa) Several Ferrari's were also on display for car enthusiasts. There was also Italian fencing, face painting, and balloon making for families. 'We're just looking at cars and balloons and eating whatever,' said Kanesa Santhiraligam, who was at the event with his kids. 'We are also drinking lemonade and gelatos.' There was also relief on Sunday that the wildfire smoke had slightly cleared since Friday. 'We're so relieved that the air quality is so much better now and now we can enjoy,' said Belinson. Pizza making on the street was also a favourite for those passing through the event. For businesses along the busy stretch of Little Italy, crowds were on the patios all weekend long. 'It's been packed all day,' said Farella. 'I always have people coming in and out, we've been slammed.'
CTV News
3 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Ottawa families out enjoying warm weekend despite smoke advisories
Smoke didn't stop families from enjoying a day in the nation's capital with tons of outdoor activities for the family to take part in this weekend. People filled the streets for the Ottawa Italian Festival to watch a car parade and enjoy the warm weather. 'We wanted to come out and see the Ferrari's and take advantage of the nice weather,' said Lindsey Gibeau, attending the Italian Festival with her family. 'The boys love cars. We're super excited to be down here.' Joelle Gagne and Vic Gauvreau also taking in the sounds and music of the festival. 'The heat is here. The day is beautiful. The sun is shining. It's a great day to come on down,' said Joelle Gagne. Gagne says she usually is sensitive when it comes to the air quality, but felt comfortable. The annual Firefighters Day also returned and many children had their opportunity to sit in a big red firetruck. The event shared important safety messages on what to do if a fire occurs at home and obstacles for the whole family to enjoy. 'The air quality is always something that we monitor. For today, we monitored it very closely,' said Marc Lalonde, Sector Chief with the Ottawa Fire Services. 'We have a stash of N95 masks for anybody that's affected by the poor air quality.' Some people checked the air quality health index before heading out for the day. 'We watched the air quality this morning. My wife prepared us and said it's a five or six - we can go. We prepared the kids so we put the mask on and here we are. It's a beautiful day,' said Cristian Tunsu. Others say they wanted to support their local firefighters for keeping them safe, so getting outside didn't bother them. A special air quality statement remains in effect as as fires continue to ravage the Prairies. High levels of air pollution due to smoke are expected to continue into Sunday morning.
Ottawa Citizen
23-05-2025
- Business
- Ottawa Citizen
'Great run' ends: Roberto Pizza closing to make way for young restaurateurs
Article content Roberto Pizza is set to have its last dining service Saturday evening, a few weeks shy of its 10th anniversary. Article content Article content The pizzeria was named after Ottawa restaurateur Roberto Valente, 46, who died in February 2015 after battling brain cancer. A portrait of him covers one of the pizzeria's walls. Article content Richard Valente, Roberto's brother and business partner of Fratelli restaurants and the pizzeria, said the decision to close had been in the making for a year, but it was still a difficult choice. Article content Article content For two decades, the Valente brothers opened several locations of Fratelli restaurants in Kanata and Westboro. Some of Roberto Pizza's menu, pizzas named after the Valente brothers and their children, will be available at Fratelli. Article content Their father, Pasquale Valente, 86, managed the pizzeria as a way to remember his son after his passing. Article content 'That was his place to go and honour Rob every day,' Richard said. Article content Pasquale was unable to speak with the Ottawa Citizen due to health concerns. Article content Taking its place on Preston Street will be another pizza joint: Schoolhouse Pizza. Richard said it was the 'right fit' to allow for a new generation of restaurateurs to settle in Little Italy. Richard and Pasquale wanted the new owners to move in time for the Ottawa Italian Festival, set to take place from June 6 to June 8. Article content Article content 'It's time to pass the baton onto the younger generation,' Richard said. 'We wanted Schoolhouse Pizza to have a few weeks to get ready, and it would just be a great introduction for them.' Article content Justin Laferriere, Schoolhouse's chef and partner, said they would be starting renovations in a couple of days. The idea of Schoolhouse Pizza began after Laferriere, an executive chef at Fairouz Cafe, expressed a desire to switch to casual dining. Article content 'It was becoming hard to find the pizza that I wanted to eat in the city,' Laferriere said. 'So I just decided to do it myself.'
