ARTS

A 2023 guide to Ottawa nightlife for U of O students

Where to find the best drinks, music, and vibes in Ottawa

ARTS EDITOR Victoria Drybrough arts@thefulcrum.ca

Some people think Ottawa is a boring city. Here at the Fulcrum, we disagree.

If you know where to look, Ottawa has a number of great spots for students on a night out. It’s important to consider that bars, clubs, and their reputations change — we published an article similar to this one in 2016, and while most of the places on our list are new, it seems one bar is a repeating favourite among U of O students.

Read on to see some of the Fulcrum’s current writers’ thoughts on Ottawa’s best places for a night out.

The Show

The Show is one of those places that you either love or you hate. You can’t go too often, or you’ll grow to absolutely hate it. Although, it is probably the closest thing that you will get to a true club experience in downtown Ottawa. No matter what anyone says, we think it’s worth experiencing The Show at least once or twice, especially if you’re a new student in Ottawa. It’s located fairly close in the ByWard market, so if the line gets too long, you can always check out the other bars nearby.

Let’s just say everyone and their mother is at The Show — so consider yourself warned if you don’t want to see anyone and just want a fun girls night out. If you want to run into your ratty ex and the girl he told you not to worry about, go to The Show. Luckily, the main bar is pretty big, so it’s never too hard to get a drink, and the dance floor is always a good time… when you’re not being hit on by random, middle-aged men. In conclusion, I’ve never left The Show sober or tearless. I’ll catch you there next weekend.

Lieutenant’s Pump Lieutenant’s Pump is a popular pub located on Elgin Street. I would say that Lieutenant’s Pump is very comparable to Heart & Crown in ByWard; they give off reminds me of a tavern — the ceilings are super low, and there are lots of twists and turns. The good thing about this is that there are plenty of bars to choose from and plenty of seating. If you ever get to go during the summer, the patio is always fun. Although Lieutenant’s Pump is always a good go-to for a night out, the line tends to get pretty long. If you want to skip the line, it might cost you a twenty. And don’t even try flirting your way in with the bouncers — this isn’t The Show. Elgin Street is also home to Happy Fish, which is conveniently right across the street if you’re looking to barhop.

Heart and Crown

end shenanigans, you are guaranteed to have a good night at Heart and Crown. The student-loved Irish Pub often features live music, with genres ranging from country to classic rock. Here, you can finally put to good use all of the classics you grew up singing with your dad. This is also not one of the ByWard Market’s typical pubs — Heart and Crown consists of not one, not two, but five different bars under the same roof. You’ll never have to wait very long for that first drink before hitting the dance floor. If you’re looking for some fun on a Friday night, Heart and Crown truly is the best place to be and will leave you counting

Blue Cactus Bar and Grill

The perfect place for strawberry margaritas and a good night out with friends, ByWard Market’s Blue Cactus Bar and Grill is at the top of everyone’s list. Located in the heart of the Market, the bar features all-day happy hour snacks and an extensive cocktail menu. This spot is famous for its ten-dollar triples, making it one of the best deals a student can find for drinking with a budget. Upbeat music, enthusiastic servers, and prime location make it both a good stop before beginning your night of barhopping or clubbing in the Market, or the perfect place to celebrate the end of a hard semester.

the same vibes, and you’ll probably get lost in both.

The inside of Lieutenant’s Pump is pretty big and

Whether it’s the stage calling your name for Wednesday night karaoke or your typical week- down the days until your next night out. We’ll see you there next weekend!

Pub 101

If you can’t decide between wanting to spend a night out dancing or sitting down chatting with friends, Pub 101 is the place for you. The first two floors have tables, but the top floor is open for dancing. Each floor also has its own bar. Right at the edge of the ByWard Market, Pub 101 fills up on weekends, but won’t have you waiting in line all night. Out of all the places in the Market, this one has what I consider to be the best music. For the most part, it’ll be a night of 2000s hits, so if that’s your style, you’ll definitely enjoy yourself.

Even in just the last few years, the places

Review: Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)

A visual spectacle with a forgettable story

If there’s one word I’d use to describe Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), it’s blue. This movie utilizes the full spectrum of blues, both in character design, setting, and story.

The long-awaited sequel to the box-office-breaking first Avatar (2012), Avatar: The Way of Water is a true testament to what CGI can do. But it might not be all it’s cracked up to be.

The 2022 sequel follows Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), and their five children, two of whom they adopted, including the child of the late Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang).

They’re still rebelling against the Resources Development Administration (RDA) on Pandora, until a clone of the Colonel is sent on a mission to quash these rebellions by capturing two of their children. Forced to run away, Jake and Neytiri seek refuge for the remaining kids at the Metkayina reef. They are granted asylum, but it’s not long before the fight finds them, forcing them back into the fray one more time.

To say the visuals are amazing is an understatement. Unlike the first Avatar, the CGI movement isn’t nauseating to watch, meaning there’s more enjoyment in watching the Na’vi and the newly introduced Metkayina. The colours are vibrant, but not overpowering, still making it an aesthetically pleasant watch. The film feels fluid and less clunky, leading to a more comfortable experience.

The plot is unfortunately where the movie falls flat. Filled with overt themes of anti-whaling and anti-forestry, The

Catch me in the club: UOttawa Ski and Snow FIRST FULL SEASON SINCE PANDEMIC

If you are looking for a fun activity this winter season, then the University of Ottawa’s Skiing and Snowboarding club might just be for you.

Founded in 2011, the UOttawa Ski and Snow Club’s mission is to bring students together in enjoying the thrill of the sport.

“We are really just here to have a good time and meet new people, ski and hang out,” said club executive, Matt Cottam.

This winter season, UOttawa Ski and Snow kicked off their first full season since the COVID-19 pandemic. In their full return, there has been nearly a threefold increase in student interest, and the club is running more buses than ever before.

If you’ve been hunting for a fun activity this winter season, then look no further. The club tackles the slopes of Mont Tremblant every Sunday until mid-April. With busses filled with both U of O and Carleton University students, the winter club strives to build a sense of community amongst uni- versity students, and sets aside the sports rivalry between the schools when hitting the slopes. From the hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., the club allows students to take a break from their school work, meet new people, and explore our very own winter wonderland.

The annual Snowbutter weekend is the winter sports club’s biggest event. Taking place in late January, with a twonight stay in a Mont Tremblant Village, it is definitely to be and to be seen in Ottawa have changed — bars rise and fall, and clubs can be full one weekend but empty the next. If your favourite spot isn’t on this list, consider yourself

Way of Water does not understand nuance. Director James Cameron lacks trust in his audience to understand his shallow messages, resulting in an (almost) eye-roll-inducing amount of pro-environmental themes. While the message is well-meaning and definitely deserves to be highlighted, across three hours, it becomes a bit much. The second act of the film also slows to an unbearable halt, making the viewer blue, which is thankfully saved by a bombastic third act full of action. The underlying messaging of the struggles of ahead of the curve. Maybe next year, we’ll have a whole new list of hot spots. people displaced by conflict adds nuance to Jake Sully’s heavily criticized character, moving him a bit further away from the white saviour narrative that was so prevalent in the original.

If you were a fan of the original Avatar and are looking for a good weekend movie, The Way of Water is a decent way to spend an afternoon or evening. But try and see it while it’s still in theatres to fully experience this visual treat.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars a weekend you won’t want to miss. With growing interest, the club is eagerly awaiting the multi-day trip.

Promoting a welcoming atmosphere geared towards enjoying skiing, snowboarding, and all that the winter weather has to offer, the club is open to all members of all levels of experience, whether you’re a seasoned skier or are just starting out.

“We are very committed to keeping an open, friendly atmosphere, no matter your ski level,” said Cottam.

For those who are interested in tackling the Tremblant hills, the club encourages all new and returning members to follow their Instagram (@uofoskiandsnow) and to sign up through the link in their bio. The details on pricing, including membership fees and lift tickets, can also be found through the same link.

For the 2022-23 year, Cottam states that the UOttawa Ski and Snow club is “looking forward to a full ski and snowboard season for the first time in a long time.”