Odds, Ends, And Orion In A National Capital

 I have some odds and ends for you today. I start with these two shots taken one night this month at Lansdowne Park, where the crescent moon was rising in the east over the stadium. The next day or so would be the new moon.

I'm starting to develop a habit of buying novelty socks. This is the latest pair.

It's been a season for sunflowers. These are in Chinatown.

I came across this one day and picked it up. The Euro isn't terribly imaginative as money goes. Maybe I'm used to our Canadian bills. And yes, I could trade it in at a bank, but instead it ended up in a mug where I keep a few bits of foreign currency for absolutely no reason.

One evening I went off in search of groceries a few blocks away. There were some brooding skies, and soon after I got home, the storm broke.

And these are from a few nights back. I was back at Lansdowne, where the aftermath of a music festival was still to be found. Here on the east side of the property, I looked up at a familiar constellation- Orion. I wondered if my phone, on night settings, could capture it. And sure enough, it did. I was pleased. The constellation appears in northern skies in the fall and winter, and features some of the brightest stars in the night sky. 

Near where I took the above shot, the Aberdeen Pavilion, with stars visible in the sky.

Over on the west side of the stadium, another go at Orion came out well as it showed above the south stands.

The reason I was out here in the middle of the night? Nearby, where the Rideau Canal cuts through the city. On the far shore is the cupola of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons. Orion is above it. I came here for a reason we'll look at tomorrow for the theme day.

Skaters Both Off And On The Canal

 A few days back in another post I showed you skaters from a local skate club on the ice at City Hall during a previous Winterlude year. In 2018 they were on the ice again, something that is common during Winterlude, as competitive skaters do demonstrations. It's quite something to see.

This view looks east from the Bank Street Bridge over the Rideau Canal.

Further west and on a different day, here we are at Dow's Lake. The vehicles that maintain the skateway tend to operate from here.

And back near the Bank Street Bridge, with mostly cloudy skies.

This was an outright snowy day, just east of the bridge.

While this is to the west of the bridge.

And back at Dow's Lake, where we'll pick up again tomorrow.

Ice And On Ice

 I start today with more of the small ice sculptures that were made on the second weekend of Winterlude in 2016.

A larger one was crafted for photo ops.

Here we have another look at that big one built for the centennial of the National Research Council.

On the Rideau Canal that year, among the arches of the Bank Street Bridge, several photographs and portraits were placed celebrating Canadian women.

The Canal skateway beckoned.

To the west of the Bank Street Bridge, the Canal widened into Dow's Lake under a moody sky.

I headed back towards Bank Street and took these shots.

Cold And Hot

Two more of the snow sculptures in the Byward Market that were set up in 2014 during Winterlude with a nod to the Winter Olympics.

Near them lies Beavertails- the prime location of a Canadian company, owned locally, that makes fried pastry treats in the shape of a beaver tail. They're open all year, but do big business during Winterlude, both here and the various locations along the Canal.

This is one of them, with cinnamon and sugar being my choice. There are other flavours on the menu too.

And another Canadian food icon: poutine. This is at Dunn's, an eatery in the Byward Market. At its basic form, it's fries covered with gravy and cheese curds. Just the thing for a cold day.

The Rideau Canal again, in a different spot. This is below the Bank Street Bridge where it crosses the Canal.

Here's one of the arches of the bridge itself, taken that year.

And just east of the bridge, this view looking to the other side, where a former convent looms above the slope, now playing host to the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Skaters downtown. Here we're below the Mackenzie King Bridge, with the Laurier Avenue Bridge in the background.

The view from above. Confederation Park lies to the right, with the Cartier Square Drill Hall beyond the Laurier Bridge in the background.

And in early evening.