Blame Sleep Country

Today’s question: would I want to
travel/live/be seen in Ottawa’s gay village? The competition is tough:
Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver have set the bar high.

Before I answer, a quick glance at queer-owned and -operated businesses and events that
must be located in the Village:

• Shopping: Wilde’s and After Stonewall
  are landmarks. Props to Stroked Ego,
  where I bought a cool tie clip for my bro. Anything a sex shop can do, Venus
  Envy can do better. Plus, gay-friendly sex shops, comic shop and other.

• Bars and clubs: other than Centretown
  Pub at Somerset and Bank, all the clubs are located outside the Village.

• Advertisement

  Restaurants and cafés: The Buzz has
  great food and drink; it’s intimate and the décor gives it a Greenwich
  Village feel. Apart from chain cafés, not much else queer is cooking up.

• Saunas/spas/gyms: there are a few, but
  none in the Village. Is it too much to ask for someone to bring sexy back
  in?

• Hotels: with the closing of the lovely
  Inn on Somerset, there are no queer-owned hotels in town.

• Events: the Pride parade is a must,
  though not much is happening on a regular basis in the Village.

Don’t get me wrong: I’m happy to call the
six blocks on Bank St between Nepean and James the Village. I even call it
home. The murals give it a definite charm, and my answer to the above question
is yes . . . but:

It needs a stronger presence, not just for
queer Ottawans but also for gay travel (and dollars) to reach it. Am I the only
one who thinks the old Blockbuster location should have been a queer hangout
and not – absolutely not – Sleep
Country? Ironic, like the Village is trying to tell us something. Wait, I think
I hear it: wake up, people! Get off your comfortable mattresses and go play, eat
and shop in your Village.

A gay flag, Sleep Country
and me . . .

I say let’s get together, come out
after hours and build a strong and vibrant Village that reflects the unique
qualities of our community. What say you?