christmas

[ ](http://ottawastart.com/christmas2012) Click here for a special holiday e-card from OttawaStart.com

[  ](http://www.flickr.com/photos/martinberthelot/8270075480/) December Frost. Photo by [ Martin Berthelot ](http://www.flickr.com/photos/martinberthelot/8270075480/in/pool-ottawastart/) , shared in the [ OttawaStart Flickr Group ](http://www.flickr.com/groups/ottawastart/pool/with/8270075480/) . Here are our contributors' picks for the best local events in Ottawa this week. ...

I drove by this house on McElroy Drive in Kanata the other night: [ ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/IMG_3223.jpg) …and next door: [ ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/IMG_3224.jpg) …and just around the corner on Rickey Place: [ ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/IMG_3229.jpg) ** See also: ** Ottawa Christmas Lights Guide If you liked this post, you should ** subscribe to etcetera , ** our free email newsletter. ...

Clifford Lyness, the executive chef at the Brookstreet Hotel in Kanata, spent the last couple of weeks constructing this gingerbread masterpiece. It stands nearly five feet tall and includes balconies, windows, pool and landscaping. It’s on display now in the main lobby at the Brookstreet. ...

[  ](http://www.flickr.com/photos/ottawastart/8230810613/) Nutcracker Army. Photo by [ Glen Gower ](http://www.flickr.com/photos/ottawastart/8230810613/in/photostream) . We’ve added a few new Christmas-themed guides to OttawaStart over the last few weeks: * [ Christmas Craft Fairs in Ottawa ](http://ottawastart. ...

Not only is this weekend the last one to check out the 300,000 Christmas lights on government buildings downtown , it’s also the last weekend to see this display at Mark Bell’s house on Markland Cres. (near Mayford) in Barrhaven : ...

[  ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/IMG_2348.jpg) ** Farrhaven Family Fun Pack: ** Enjoy re-creating suburban life with this exciting WASP family& Golden Retriever! Beige minivan not included. [ **  ** ](http://3. ...

[ ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/weekly-event-roundup250.gif) _ Here are our contributors' picks for the best events in Ottawa for the week of December 22-28. Share your picks for great Ottawa events in the comments below. _ _ _ ** Ruvini Godakandae ** from ** Ottawa Festivals ** : ...

Katherine from HeartFelt recently published this great list of local gift ideas (republished here with her kind permission): * [ Cha Yi - Maison de thé ](http://www.chayi.ca/english.html) (downtown Gatineau) - $20 gift certificate for an "Animated comparative tasting: Exploration of about ten varieties of tea along a theme of your own choice, tasting and appreciating tea from a visual, olfactory and gustative perspective. ...

[ ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/weekly-event-roundup250.gif) _ Here are our contributors' picks for the best events in Ottawa for the week of December 15-21. Share your picks for great Ottawa events in the comments below. _ ** Laura Nicol , aka @311Laura : ** ...