What's Up Wednesday

Every week, artist Andy Brown packs his art supplies and goes to work in Ottawa's bars and restaurants.

Every week, Dinn and his crew move as many as 50-60 pianos, primarily for the National Arts Centre, Shenkman Centre, Carleton's Dominion Chalmers Centre, all the major music festivals including Bluesfest and Chamberfest, the Royal Conservatory of Music, university music departments, government ceremonials, nightclub gigs and family residences.

Immersed in thousands of Christmas decorations, crèches, snow globes, Santa Clauses, lights, tinsel, religious icons and statuary, Tinseltown is where 42-year-old proprietor gets to play Christmas everyday of the year.

Before the famed music festival was launched in 1994, some might say there wasn't much to do in Ottawa, with many people spending time out of town camping at parks and cottages. 

More than just maps, there's a world of international adventures inside World of Maps.

But the Newport is more than just good food. It comes with a good story. 

What began as a fascination for medieval Japanese culture and the ancient art of forging blades has grown over 15 years into Knifewear, a chain of five stores selling one-of-a-kind high-end hand-forged Japanese cutlery and razors.

Once ubiquitous, a cigar store is now a rare sighting on the retail landscape.

Steven Yong and his friend and partner Vaughn MacDonald made every mistake an entrepreneur can make with their first business. Fortunately, they learned from their mistakes.

The Modern Shop's personality is fun, stylish and one of a kind much like it's owner Michael Shaikin.