June’s Awesome Ottawa award goes to the co-founders and volunteers of Apartment613 to support a free block party and mini-festival that will celebrate the city, as well as the 10th birthday of the Apt613 blog.

“613 Day,” explains Philippe Ha, Apt613’s Community Manager, “is a one-day, open-source festival that happens every year on June 13th – 6/13 – when the people, companies, and organizations of Ottawa host small events to celebrate the diversity and awesomeness of our city. So it’s sort of like Canada Day, but for Ottawa!”

“The 2019 block party,” he continues, “is just one event in a citywide movement that looks to celebrate Ottawa year after year on 6/13. This year just happens to be Apt613’s tenth anniversary, so we couldn’t think of a better way to thank the city than with a free event alongside volunteers, friends, neighbours, some cake, and a few balloons.”

“We've acquired permits to close the street outside Happy Goat Coffee on Laurel and to extend their patio for the evening. We've also invited DJs and visual artists, a food truck, a couple of breweries, and a few other local pop-ups to participate. Join us 5 à 7 for birthday cake, and as day turns into night stick around to meet new people, and for local music, art exhibitions, food vendors, and street-side activities.”

More details about the block party are available at apt613.ca. It runs from 4:00 to 9:00 PM.

Apt613 is a volunteer-run not-for-profit organization whose main activity is apt613.ca, an award-winning blog dedicated to uncovering the best of Ottawa’s arts and culture.