I don’t know about you, but whenever I head down to the Busker Festival , I always run into someone I know. Does that happen to you? This year we ran into photographer Chris Griffin and his family, who are our neighbours in Stittsville. ...

I’m always fascinated by the mime artists at the Ottawa Busker Festival (see Silver Elvis from 2010). We visited yesterday and saw Toronto-based performer Kate Mior . Here she is at the end of Sparks Street, performing her Angelina character. ...

** UPDATE: ** More time lapse vids & photos emerging this morning, I’ll keep posting them at the bottom of this blog post. *** One of our readers, Terri O., sent along this video (below) showing part of the Carling Avenue / Queensway bridge replacement. ...

One of the popular attractions at the Busker Festival yesterday was Gary Allen, aka The Parrot Guy. Most people who’ve lived or worked in downtown Ottawa will recognize him and his birds. Gary’s “act” was taking photos of people with several of his birds perched on top of them. ...

[  ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Jw_at_Petrie_Island_Oct_17_2010.jpeg) Jim Watson at Petrie Island - photo from his [ Twitter profile ](https://twitter.com/#!/jimwatsonottawa) . [ OttawaStart ](http://ottawastart.com/) wishes a very happy birthday today to our mayor, [ Jim Watson ](https://twitter. ...

The next best thing to watching massive engineering/construction projects in person is watching via webcam. The Ontario Ministry of Transportation has a web site with two live webcam shots of the bridge being replaced . ( Here’s a press release about what’s happening and various traffic disruptions this weekend. ...

[ ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/trafficsign.jpg) _ Westboro _ - A neighbourhood that prides itself on active living and a distinct lifestyle is upset at a snarky automated traffic sign stationed along Byron Avenue in the midst of a road construction zone. The sign used by a local construction company has an artificial intelligence system for monitoring and informing oncoming motorists of current traffic conditions that lie ahead. ...

[ ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/weekly-event-roundup250.gif) This weekend is known by many names: Colonel By Day weekend, the August long weekend, the Civic Holiday. Whatever you call it, it looks like it will be a great one . Here are our contributors' picks for the best events in Ottawa this week. ...

So far this week we’ve blogged about Ottawa videos featuring an Indian Youtube sensation , and some amazing timelapse images . Today we bring you the worldwide premiere of Pirates vs. Ninjas , produced and shot entirely here in Ottawa by IMX Productions. ...

[ ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/banner2010-4.jpg) I contributed a guest post today for Local Tourist Ottawa about a urban adventure we had last summer with our kids: ** " A great night with the kids: The Gower family hits up Busker Fest, Confederation Park and the ByWard Market " ** ...