Delights
A condo full of Croatian culture
Croatia’s Ambassador Veselko Grubisic, his wife, Marta, and their three children live on Sussex Drive, or the capital’s Mile of History, as it is known. Their heritage condominium is a stone’s throw away from the National Gallery, across the street from the U.S. embassy and strategically located on the edge of the vibrant ByWard Market. […]
The mystery and appeal of Pinot Noir
Wine endears itself to drama, romance and even a sense of mystery. And Pinot Noir is the perfect stage on which to play out those narratives. Its aromas, flavours and personality evoke plenty of drama and romance, and much of its seductive appeal is so mysterious that it is maddeningly hard to quantify and explain. […]
Emily Murphy’s famous triumph
“I feel equal,” wrote Emily Murphy in 1927, “to high and splendid braveries.” By that point in her life, the 59-year-old native of Cookstown, Ont.’s had earned the right to big ambitions: Her achievements included turns as a successful writer (under the name “Janey Canuck”), social activist, self-taught legal expert and, as of 1916, the […]
Need a Dublin lawyer?
Ireland’s food history and culture can be traced back to prehistoric times. That it’s an island at the very western edge of Europe meant the influence of other countries did not play much of a role in Irish cuisine until recently. As such, traditional dishes still figure prominently in a cuisine that has evolved […]
Some diplomatic intrigues
An error in Steven Spielberg’s film, Lincoln stirred up a little controversy last year. The movie, as most everyone now knows, depicts Abraham Lincoln’s manoeuvring to get the 13th amendment to the Constitution, the one abolishing slavery, passed by the House of Representatives. Tension builds to the scene where there is a roll-call vote. Two […]
Costa Rica: a natural wonder
They say the best things come in small packages and Costa Rica is a real-life example of small-package delights. The Central American country sits between two oceans and helps bridge North and South America, a geographical position that has ensured natural riches and cultural diversity. Costa Rica houses close to 5 percent of the world’s […]
The land once known as Formosa
Today’s Taiwan was once called Formosa, a name that means “beautiful island” in Portuguese and Latin. You’ll soon see it deserves its former name should you come to visit this country, with its colourful past and continuing status as a region that acts as an independent, democratic state, though it’s only formally acknowledged as such […]
A home full of Chilean charm
Looking from the street at the Rockcliffe home of Chile’s ambassador, it’s hard to reconcile what you see with the flamboyant atmosphere that greets you inside. The rather severe two-storey redwood and yellow brick exterior hides a warm joie-de-vivre inside. Built by Ottawa land developer Harold Shenkman and his wife, Belle, a well-known arts philanthropist, […]
The score on wine scores
As with any purchase, many factors can impact the decisions of a wine buyer. For some, it’s the attractiveness of a label, the variety of choice or even their own cultural bias. Complicating matters for many is the perception that, to purchase a delicious wine, one needs a stupefying amount of knowledge. What is seen […]
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