Sometimes referred to as Canada’s museum capital, Kingston is home to an incredible 30+ museums, galleries, and historic sites. Several have fascinating online collections, exhibits, and activities that make spending time at home a little easier and a little more educational.
Digital Agnes
The Bader Gallery. Photo: Forbes Photographer
Presenting an impressive collection of digital publications, interactive content, virtual tours, and videos, Digital Agnes makes parts of the Agnes Etherington Art Centre’s collection accessible at home. Dig into a full academic lecture about European art, learn about Rembrandt through short videos, or explore historical artists through a variety of mediums like poetry, images, and interviews with experts.
Museum of Health Care
The history of health care is at your fingertips through a series of online exhibits available on the Museum of Health Care website. Learn about vaccines and immunization, the healing power of plants, and the history of Medicare in Canada. Plus, the site has a few fun online activities.
Kingston Frontenac Public Library
Recognizing that many families are spending more time than usual at home, the Kingston Frontenac Public Library has made 1000s of e-books available for free via Tumblebooks – no library card required! Collections include children’s books, K-6 math, grade 7-12 subjects, all ages audio books, and even romance novels for those looking for an escape – and the e-books are available instantly.
Military Communications and Electronics Museum
Dedicated to providing insights into the history of Canadian military communications, the Military Communications and Electronics Museum has several online exhibitions that explore the development and application of communications technology.
Kingston City Hall Virtual Tour
Kingston City Hall
Kingston’s City Hall has hosted many different organizations and services over the years including a bank, a saloon, church groups, theatre productions, a courtroom and a women’s medical school. Learn more about City Hall’s fascinating history, beautiful architecture, and the intriguing people, events, and stories associated with this national historic site through an interactive virtual tour.
The Original Hockey Hall of Fame
Kingston has a long association with hockey – the first organized game of hockey happened in Kingston in 1886. The Original Hockey Hall of Fame presents a series of online stories that explore Kingston’s connections with our country’s favourite game. Learn about Kingston’s golden era of hockey, Kirk Muller and his Stanley Cup-winning goal, and Kingston’s most decorated Olympian, Jayna Hefford.
PumpHouse
The City of Kingston has an extensive collection of locally, provincially, and nationally significant Canadian Art, many of which were donated by the former Art Collection Society of Kingston in 1988. A selection of significant works has been brought ‘out of the vault’ and made available online.
Murney Tower Virtual Tour
Built in 1846 as part of the defensive Martello tower fortifications of Kingston, Murney Tower has three floors displaying a collection of military and domestic artifacts of 19th-century Kingston. Experience the tower through this virtual tour, which features 360 degree views and fascinating information about the site in both French and English.
Frontenac County Schools Museum
The Frontenac County Schools Museum provides free downloadable guidelines on crafts, games and outdoor activities that can be done at home – all in nineteenth-century style.
Bellevue House Virtual Tour
This tour will let you move around the Bellevue House in your browser with the click of a button, at any speed you want. Take your time to go through the rooms, and stop to read the points of interest all over the house! Open the virtual tour.
When Blue Rodeowalks onto the Leon’s Centre stage, it might take Jim Cuddy a minute to remember where he is.
“It’s going to be a long time before I get used to calling it Leon’s Centre,” he says with a laugh over the phone from his home in Toronto.
The co-founding frontman of the iconic Canadian band is no stranger to Kingston, though. He went to Queen’s University in the 1970s, eventually earned a degree in English literature, andreceived an honorary doctor of law degree in 2015. His parents went to Queen’s, too, as did his youngest son, and Cuddy also met his wifethere(they had their first date on a Saturday morning at Morrison’s).
“I love going back to Kingston, every time,” saysCuddy, 64.“I think it’s a beautiful place, and it’s nothing but good memories for me.”
Those Queen’s memories begin in 1975, when a 20-year-old Cuddy arrived athis student home on William Street. The previous few years of high school anda year of travelling out west had left him “pretty burnt out,”he says, so he didn’t do a lot of socializing while at Queen’s and never went to the pub, though he did work as a bartender at the Kingston Curling Club when it was on Clergy Street.
But Cuddy loved his professors and his literary studies. And he loved the peace, the quiet, and, above all, the time that a liberal arts degree gave himto explore the other thing hereally wanted to explore — music, particularly folk music.
He was still relatively new to playing guitar and writing songs when he arrived at Queen’s, but many in his small circle of friends played. One of them was Walt Macnee, now the Vice Chairman at Mastercard, who Cuddy says he learned a lot of guitar from.
“He was an absolutely superbly talented musician, and I’d hound him into giving me lessons,” remembers Cuddy. “I’d sit on his porch, just down from Jock Harty Arena, waiting for him.And when he saw me, he’d go, ‘Oh no.’ And I’d say, ‘Just show me one thing, take 10 minutes!’ And he would, I’d learn it, and I’d keep coming back.”
Although Cuddy had played a few gigs in Picton, it took a few years for himto feel competent and confident enough to get onstage in Kingston. That finally happened at an end-of-year show in 1978 at Grant Hall, where he played a couple of covers and an original with Macnee and another friend.
Grant Hall was also where Cuddy would see artists like Bruck Cockburn, Dan Hill, and David Bradstreet, but it was the now defunct folk club The Scarecrow, on Princess Street, where Cuddy would return to week after week to see Stan Rogers, Willie P. Bennett, Steve Goodman, and many others.
BLUE RODEO Press shots. Dundas, ON – July 25, 2016 Dustin Rabin Photography – 2730
“[The Scarecrow] would maybe hold 50 people, but it was a real hotspot,” says Cuddy. “The sounds in the club were so clear, and I had come from a rock background, going to rock concerts, sowhen I turned towards folk music, the clarity of it and the simplicity of it was so powerful to me. And the way that those people played guitar was just amazing. I was just mesmerized when I saw those acts, very inspiring.”
Not long after that 1978 gig at Grant Hall, Cuddy decided to move back to Toronto togive music a shot for a full year.It took a whileto work out, but it eventually did of course. Since forming in 1984, Blue Rodeo has gone on to sell over 4 million albums, win 12 Junos, be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, and be named to the Order of Canada.
That’s a long time to be playing in the same band, and Cuddy admits that there have been times when the repetitivenesshas gotten to him. “But then you shake your head and quickly you’re grateful that you make music for a living and that you make it with these people that are so good at it.”
In Kingston, those people will include Blue Rodeo co-founder Greg Keelor, Colin Cripps on guitar, Mike Boguski on piano, and The Sheepdogs’ Jimmy Bowskill on mandolin, petal steel, and fiddle. The powerful alt-country band Elliott Brood will open.
“The Blue Rodeo show has been so consistently good for the last few years, real joy fests,” says Cuddy. “And with all of those instruments, a lot of it is just presenting the songs and then letting the guys play. So I think there’s a certain amount of internalized joy on stage just from listening to everybody play and sounding so good.”
No doubt Cuddy’s history with Kingston and his affection for the city will make it a special show, too.
“I love playing in Kingston, and I love coming back,” he says. “When I’m back, I always try to take a walk around or a run by the lake. I never get tired of walking that ground.”
If you’re familiar with Kingston, you’ve likely visited one of its most charming attractions downtown, Springer Market Square. It is home to some of the most picture-perfect moments. Whether or not you’re acquainted with this popular landmark, I’d like to introduce you to a unique destination that overlooks the Hallmark moments captured in the square and equally holds the spirit of the Limestone City – Studio22.
Perhaps you’ve seen its shiny gold sign in art deco font on the northside of King Street beaming on a sunny day? Next time take a look inside and you’ll find a curation of Canadian art made up of work by 50% local artists and 50% artists from across Canada. Rest assured, you won’t be walking into a stuffy gallery filled with pieces that are only made to be admired from afar. You will find work created by artists inspired by Kingston’s incredible community and Canada’s stunning landscapes.
Owners Hersh and Ally want to make original art accessible to everyone! Marketing and Communications Director, Nicole Bruce, shares the owners’ motto, “To like, or not to like, that is the only question that someone should ask themselves when purchasing art.”
And that means a few different things to a few different people. “The gallery does this by not only having unique pieces of art at every price point but by also providing options like rent to try and payment plan options for those in need. “We also offer a robust business art rental and purchasing program as well as free in-home art consultations,” explains Bruce. And for those who prefer to collect art from the comfort of their home, “We have an extensive online gallery shop where visitors can view and purchase artwork 24/7 and have it shipped directly to their door,” explains Bruce. She adds, “They [owners Hersh and Ally] are so passionate in their mission to have as many people as possible experience the joy of living with original art.”
Bruce shares their plans for this year, “We are calling our 2020 exhibition season the year of the Vision Idiom.” We have seven exhibition periods (all under a unique ‘vision idiom’), 10 featured solo shows, two group shows and Studio22’s first online exhibit and auction. Each show runs for approximately one month and is kicked off by a two-day preview and pre-sale for our valued subscribers (those that provide us with an email and sign up with us on our website).”
Former Queen’s Gaels hockey player Slater Doggett has capped off a very good year on and off the ice in 2019 with one of the highest honours a Canadian university student-athlete can receive.
Doggett was named one of eight USports student-athletes from the 2018-19 season across the country to receive The Governor General’s Academic All-Canadian Commendation.
He received the award at a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on January 22.
Doggett is the fifth Queen’s athlete to receive the award since 1994.
To qualify for the award, USports student-athletes have to achieve Academic All-Canadian status having maintained an average of 80 percent or better over the academic year while competing for one – or more – of their university’s varsity teams.
“I am very humbled to have received this USports award,” said Doggett in an email exchange from Italy where he is playing for for Sterzing/Vipiteno in the Alps Hockey League. “Being in Ottawa with the other seven athletes was hard to believe that I was considered with them after hearing their stories and how amazing they are in their sports, in the classroom, and how they demonstrate leadership in their respective communities,” he wrote.
“Receiving this award also makes me consider all of the great people that have been a part of my time as a member of USports and how thankful I am to have been surrounded by such quality individuals and groups.”
Ms. Assunta Di Lorenzo presented the Governor General’s Academic All-Canadian Commendation to Slater Doggett. Credit: MCpl / Cplc Mathieu Gaudreault, Rideau Hall, OSGG-BSGG, 2020
Doggett, 25, of Oakville, first came to Kingston at 18-years-old to play for the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League. In two seasons he scored 10 goals and 27 points in 126 games. After two years in the Limestone City he moved onto the Windsor Spitfires for his overage season where he upped his offensive output scoring 25 goals and 51 points in 57 games.
After a six-game stint in the East Coast Hockey League Doggett joined the Queen’s Gaels men’s hockey team in 2015-16 and played four years for the Tricolour while taking applied economics. In 103 career games, he scored 59 goals and saved his best hockey for his last season in 2018-19 scoring 21 goals and 34 points in just 25 games. In the playoffs, he led the Gaels to an Ontario University Athletics championship and a berth in the USports national championship in Lethbridge, Alberta last spring.
Doggett was named an OUA East most valuable player and a USports All-Canadian in his last season at Queen’s.
He also won a bronze medal for Canada at the 2017 FISU Winter Universiade in Kazakhstan, and competing for the 2018 USports All-Stars against Hockey Canada’s World Junior Prospects.
Off the ice Doggett has been involved in the Autism Mentorship Program, which pairs autistic youth and adults in meaningful one-on-one mentoring relationships. As well he’s contributed to Nightlight Kingston, volunteering his time with those who are less fortunate. He has also spent time with the Running and Reading Program, volunteering once a week at the Molly Brant Public School in Kingston.
Ms. Assunta Di Lorenzo, Secretary to the Governor General and Herald Chancellor of Canada, presented the Governor General’s Academic All-Canadian Commendation for the 2018-2019 season to eight recipients during a ceremony at Rideau Hall on January 22, 2020. Credit: MCpl / Cplc Mathieu Gaudreault, Rideau Hall, OSGG-BSGG, 2020
“I enjoyed volunteer work because it was such an important part of being a Gael. On the men’s hockey team we worked with the Navigators organization and they set us up with volunteer opportunities that not only myself but every single player participated in. I found it very rewarding to see how much it made a difference that a group of young men cared to help them.”
Attending classes at Queen’s challenged Doggett in a way he could never imagine but was able to answer those challenges and become a success in the classroom as well.
“My Queen’s experience was full of things I never thought I would do,” he said. “I started university as a very average student and definitely below average relative to my peers at Queen’s. By using the resources available to me I found that I could succeed and be a better student than I ever expected.”
Doggett said he could write a full essay on all the people who helped him while at Queen’s including his parents, girlfriend, classmates, teammates, and coaches on the Gaels.
Doggett said Kingston has been his second home for six of the last seven years.
“I was fortunate to spend two years living in the west end and four years living in the Queen’s student community so I’ve seen a lot of Kingston and love the city. One of the reasons I decided to study at Queen’s was to be back in Kingston. I don’t have any immediate plans to settle in Kingston but I know I’ll be back to visit the beautiful city every year.”
30 years ago, the Tragically Hip released their first full studio album, making Kingston the foundation of Canadian music.
With 13 full albums released over the course of over two decades, The Tragically Hip became more than Kingston’s hometown heroes. Their records formed the bedrock of a new national musical identity, belonging to campfires and hockey arenas, emerging cities and quiet small towns.
For Kingstonians, each record has its own personal connection, reaching some more than others. There’s no definitive list, just as there’s no singular Hip fan. That’s because their music an irrevocable part of our culture—and it started in Kingston.
13. Now for Plan A (2012)
Music fans never forgot the Hip mattered. But this record came with slightly less notice than deserved.
It’s almost a live album in all but name, with a significant portion of the record pulled from live performances on the studio floor in a two-week session. As a result, it’s a far more urgent album than critics realized.
This is the Hip at their most vulnerable but still delivers memorable moments aplenty. Fellow Kingstonian Sarah Harmer lends her haunting vocals to the standout track “The Lookahead.” Downie’s lyrics are damaged and resilient, inspired by his wife’s diagnosis with lung cancer. Listening to Downie’s plaintive howl on “Man Machine Poem,” the record’s heart more than addresses its quieter impact.
It wasn’t a cultural touchstone. It was a reminder of why the Hip mattered.
12. Music @ Work (2000)
Coming off the decade where The Hip solidified themselves as Canadian rock mainstays, the album has the casual confidence of a band that’s inarguably made it.
The title track “My Music At Work,” opens the album with the quintessential Hip song: so abstract it’s universal, and undeniably catchy but still hard-rocking. Despite the Black Sabbath-inflected metal on the following, “Tiger the Lion,” the album never feels weighed down. Even if it experiments, it’s easy-going and self-assured. The trade-off may be less grabbing emotional moments and excess songs, but it never completely diminishes the album.
11. World Container (2006)
For an arena-sized album of U2 proportions, its angst and experimentation can come as a surprise. One listen to World Container’s “In View” is proof.
Trading in the hard-rocking guitar-oriented tracks of their previous albums, for a pop hook, the song is a declaration disguised as an earworm jingle: The Hip could change without losing their identity. Meanwhile, experiments like Spanish guitar inflections on the “Lonely End of the Rink” shouldn’t work. Somehow, they do.
10. We are the Same (2008)
Capitalizing on the experimentation of World Container, the Hip upped the ante. Where the previous album pushed for stadium-filling sounds, We are the Same is more conversational, more aimed at relaxing and revelling in a band refusing the status quo.
The laidback country influences on “Morning Moon” and the downbeat “Coffee Girl” are great tracks, but they should be listened to alone. That may be why this record is lighter on the live staples; it’s heavier on arrangements and strings than towering rock songs.
9. In Violet Light (2002)
Fittingly named, In Violet Light is the Hip at their most dream-like. Outgoing rock songs still make an appearance with “Are You Ready” and “All Tore Up,” but they’re the exceptions.
The album’s heart is in the weary, thoughtful mood on “It’s A Good Life, If You Don’t Weaken.” A patient, slow-to-unfold track, it’s a cathartic lesson in recovery and redemption after losses. It also represents a darker sound than typically appears as a greatest hit.
Not all of the songs might be huge crowd-pleasers, but the Hip were reaching for something deeper. “Let’s get friendship right / Get life day-to-day / In the forget-yer-skates dream / Full of countervailing woes,” Downie signs on “It’s A Good Life”.
8. Phantom Power (1998)
This record could top this list with “Bobcaygeon” alone. The anthem will likely go down as The Hip’s definitive piece, a moving narrative about a cop falling in love in a small town. However, that would leave out some of the strongest singles the band ever released.
“Poets” and “Fireworks” are irreverent, literate rock songs that easily separate the Hip from the many dour releases of contemporaries. Meanwhile, “Escape is at Hand for the Travelling Man” is unusually restrained and quiet, acting as a tribute to a late friend of the band.
While coming at the end of some of the band’s most classic period, Phantom Power proved the band had the depth to be a lifelong presence.
7. Trouble at the Henhouse (1996)
By the time Trouble at the Henhouse released, fans knew what to expect from a Hip record. And the new release largely delivered. It’s quality rock and roll, from a reliably great band.
In terms of contribution, the real uncontested fan favourite is “Ahead by a Century.” Acoustic, and softer than the majority of the album, the song is already an old friend at first listen. Fans might point to down-tempo offerings like “Apartment Song” and “Flamenco” but, realistically, it’s all wrapping for the lead single.
6. Day for Night (1994)
“Nautical Disaster” is the signpost for what the Hip had become by this record’s release. A retelling of Canada’s ill-fated raid on Dieppe in World War II, it marks the Hip’s complete transition into being a truly national band. For all the critiques of the album’s darker turns, the band strikes a powerful balance between the expansive and the intimate.
“Grace, Too” and “So Hard Done By” are top-tier rockers, and “Scared” is heart-rending and self-conscious, seeing Downie at his most raw and fragile. These mainstays are a strong outline of how the Hip developed after the whirlwind recording schedule of their first albums. Blues rock alone was out, The Hip had their own sound.
5. In Between Evolution (2004)
If there was ever an album that was criminally overlooked, it’s In Between Evolution. While it sold well and features some classic Hip tunes, it’s always shy of critics’ top honours.
Maybe that’s because the album was well-trod territory for the Hip, or potentially the more accessible production. Regardless, it’s the band at top-form, doing what it does best. With huge fist-pumping tunes like “It Can’t Be Nashville Every Night” and “Vaccination Scar,” and the powerhouse storytelling on “Gus: The Polar Bear From Central Park,” it should have been more of a landmark.
If it was only released earlier in the Hip’s career, it might have been.
4. Road Apples (1991)
The sophomore slump is hard to shake. Plenty of second albums suffer from rushed schedules and half-completed songs thrown together before release. For the Hip, the first notes on “Little Bones” dispelled any such notion.
It’s undeniable: it’s a Canadian classic and the greatest gift cover bands could ever ask for. It’s packed with tunes guaranteed to carry a party (“Three Pistols” and “Twist My Arm” particularly) but also introduced the mature introspection that would sometimes carry the band.
Meanwhile. “Fiddlers Green” and “Long Time Running” are quiet, eye-watering numbers. For a record known to please pub crowds, Road Apples gave the Hip the depth needed to become icons.
3. Man Machine Poem (2016)
Man Machine Poem’s release was inseparable from Downie’s diagnosis with brain cancer. Whether intentional or not, the album is a late-career elegy, filled with left turns and musical gambles that fit neatly onto a goodbye record.
The album’s centrepiece, “In a World Possessed By The Human Mind,” belongs on the list of Hip’s greatest songs. It has all the makings of the band at their prime: power-chord choruses and pensive lyrics, the song is about the calm of making peace.
Downie was often a cipher with his lyrics, but the melancholy on the album is always filtered through understanding. It’s a goodbye, but on its own terms.
2. Fully Completely (1992)
Fully Completely is the first sight of the band’s complete package. Canadian iconography and history permeate the record, taking centre-stage for the first time. This was when the band truly grew out of being solely a Kingston fixture.
There’s no definitive best song for a record chock-full of them. The heart-breaking prairie scene of “Wheat Kings” can’t be fully compared to the gritty twin guitars on “At the Hundredth Meridian.” There can’t be a best tribute to a national hero when the two competitors are “Courage (for Hugh MacLennan)” and “Fifty Mission Cap.” It’s simply the Hip at their best.
1. Up to Here (1989)
By all rights, no band has any right to release Up to Here as their first fully-fledged record. It’s too confident. The songwriting is too tight. The tracklisting verges on being more of a greatest hits compilation than a first stab at production.
There’s no need to relitigate why “38 years old,” “New Orleans Is Sinking” and “Blow at High Dough” are great. The proof is they dominate national radio 30 years after their release. More, however, could be said for the swaggering country of “Boots or Hearts” and the rebellious storytelling in “I’ll Believe in You (Or I’ll be Leaving You).”
This is the record that launched a generation of musicians, and its roots are in Kingston.
Get the inside scoop on Kingston’s live music scene and check out the latest music festivals and events on our music site.
Built in 1817 and reimagined for the 21st century, All Suites Whitney Manor combines timeless elegance with modern amenities and luxury. We spoke with owners Diana and Peter Smit as well as general manager Robert Elliott, whose team has been transforming the inn since 2017.
From repairing limestone walls to discovering horsehair in mortar, read on to discover the changes happening to this historic inn.
LC: Can you share a little backstory about the inn?
RE: Built in 1817 and originally known as Greystone Manor, the home was founded by Captain James Mackenzie, who was part of the Scottish Navy and came to Canada during the war of 1812.
After the war was over, Mackenzie was gifted a portion of the land that Whitney Manor now sits on, and wanted to build a home for his family, who were located in London, England. In fact, the stonemasons who created the house were men under his command during the war! The Manor was the only building around within hundreds of acres. When his wife arrived from overseas, she wasn’t a fan of her new rural surroundings (it was a big change from city life), and she consequently moved back to London. Sadly, Mackenzie passed away shortly after.
LC: Can you tell us about the biggest changes happening to the inn?
DS: My husband Peter and I took over ownership in 2017 and started our renovations with the garden and landscaping. We wanted to give visitors a peaceful retreat. All suites have access to an outdoor terrace – giving guests the luxury of not sharing an outdoor space.
Our first big project was the interior. In January 2019, we exposed and repaired a new limestone wall that leads up to the Penthouse, a suite at the top of the building with a beautiful view of the St. Lawrence River.
As a self-catered accommodation, each suite acts as its own luxury apartment. Guests have a chance to relax and enjoy their stay in a setting that offers so much more than your typical hotel room.
Last month, we completed an entire rebuild of the arched window on the front side of the Chapel suite. We pulled down the entire wall, cleaned all the stones, and rebuilt it. We even found some of the original wood scaffolding that was part of the build in 1817!
LC: Did you uncover anything interesting during this process?
DS: When we repaired the interior wall leading up to the Penthouse Suite, the masons found mortar mixed with horse hair! It’s a real sign of the times of when the Manor was built and what the builders had access to. The mason shared that he’d only seen this once before in his entire career.
LC: What can visitors expect when they return to the inn?
RE: Our guests can expect the same level of care and commitment we’ve always had with the property. We have a unique mixture of modern amenities you can find at hotels combined with historic architecture. Built in 1817, this designated heritage building is one of the oldest limestone structures in the Kingston area.
Visitors can take advantage of our open spaces, new gardens, and landscaping. They get the chance to have a quiet getaway—without having to leave civilization. The Manor is located only a five-minute drive from the heart of downtown Kingston and nestled in a quiet, suburban neighbourhood alongside the St. Lawrence River.
We’ve also improved our bedding with new sleigh beds and mattresses and Nespresso machines in each suite.
Another unique aspect is our decor pieces. The owners have travelled around the world and brought back pieces from Uganda, Holland, and Egypt. It’s a great mix of local Canadian pieces and some from around the world.
LC: Can you discuss why visitors should consider staying at a historic inn?
DS: It’s such a unique experience – we’re over 200 years old. Each suite still maintains much of its original architecture and there is so much history behind it.
The Chapel Suite was once an actual chapel. Some of the historical records document baptisms and marriages. Our front entrance is over 8 feet high. The story is told when Captain James Mackenzie opened the house and brought his wife from the UK, he rode up the grand staircase on a horse up to the ballroom (now the Sopwell Suite) on the second floor!
LC: Is there anything else you’d like to share with your guests?
RE: We like to think of All Suites Whitney Manor as a luxury home away from home. In all of our one and two-bedroom suites, you’ll find a fully-equipped kitchen, a spacious living and dining area, a private balcony or patio, in-suite laundry, and so much more. We want guests to feel like this is their space. We really take pride in offering them a chance to relax and unwind in what we feel is the most comfortable and spacious surroundings in the 1000 Islands.
We’re holding a cluster of great Kingston events in our hands like a bouquet of fresh spring blooms and we can’t wait to share them with you! From the Corks & Forks International Wine Festival to Electric Circuits, the return of Trolley Tours, 1000 Islands Cruises, and Fort Henry opening, we’re celebrating spring 2020 in style. Take a deep breath of nice warm air, get out there, and have some fun.
Do you have an event you’d like featured on our monthly list? Add it to our events calendar for consideration! 1. Electric Circuits Festival – April 3-4, 2020
2. Blue Rodeo – April 4, 2020
3. YGK Spring Artisan Market – April 5, 2020
4. 1000 Islands Cruises Begin – April 10, 2020
5. Meet the Maker: Wine and Dinner Series – April 10, 2020
6. Kingston Walks Tours – Starts April 10 (Fridays-Sundays)
7. Peppa Pig Live – April 17, 2020
8. Corks & Forks: Kingston’s International Wine Festival – April 24-26, 2020
9. Kingston Food Tours – Various Days
10. Spring Metal Rocks Show – April 30 – May 1-3, 2020
11. Homegrown Live Music Festival – May 2, 2020
12. 5th Annual Spring Girls Night Out – May 8, 2020
13. Kingston Science Rendezvous – May 9, 2020
14. Mother’s Day Lunch & Dinner Cruise – May 10, 2020
15. Fort Henry Opens – May 16, 2020
16. Kingston Scottish Festival – May 23, 2020
17. Kingston Trolley Tours – Begins April 10, 2020
18. Limestone Genre Expo – June 5-6, 2020
19. Beat Beethoven Run – June 7, 2020
20. Out on the Queen – June 12, 2020
21. FoldA Festival of Live Digital Art – June 12-15, 2020
22. YGK Craft Beer Fest – June 13, 2020
23. Kingston Pride Parade and Community Fair – June 13, 2020
24. Cannonball Crush – June 13, 2020
25. Skeleton Park Arts Festival – June 17-21, 2020
If you think of Kingston in the winter, the first thing that comes to mind probably isn’t “Mexican Fiesta.” But for my heart (and stomach) it’s taco time year-round, come rain, snow, or more likely, Lake Ontario wind-chill. The good thing is that Kingston is a foodie hot-spot with plenty of options to fulfill your tortilla-tasting needs. The only hard question, where to start?
Celebrate Taco Tuesday with this list of Kingston’s finest taco purveyors – we’ll include tried and true favourites (like Dianne’s legendary fish tacos), vegan/vegetarian options (Mesa Fresca), and some unexpected spots that may even become your new go-to.
This west-end Mexican fusion restaurant is one of the indisputable must-visits for tacos in the city. With a menu boasting extensive vegan options and a kitchen filled with local produce and made-in-house dishes, it’s no wonder their taco Tuesdays have become the talk of the town.
Some recent Tuesday specials? House-made flour tortillas (gluten-free) with chipotle marinated striploin and lime crema or their cumin and chilli roasted chickpea taco with pickled jalapeños. If you can’t make it on a Tuesday, don’t fear. Tacosthat are part of their regular menu include a Baja buffalo chicken breast, seared cod, grilled chimichurri shrimp, and even a jack fruit taco option with vegan smoked gouda. If you’re up for the challenge, get the taco platter – eight house tacos with three sides.
And if you needed another reason to order that extra taco, 10 cents from every taco sold goes towards the not for profit agency, KIVA. More tacos = more money to charity. A win-win.
Some would say Dianne’s is the top purveyor of tacos in the town and based on the amount of “must-try” lists their fresh corn tortillas are on, it’s a claim that’s hard to argue. The undisputed staff favourite is the Baja Fish Taco: crispy beer-battered sustainable haddock fillet (made with local Mackinnon Brothers Brewery beer) placed on fresh corn tortillas with napa, pico de gailo, salsa roja, avocado crema, pickled red onions and cilantro. And yes, all the ingredients are made in-house, making each crunchy warm bite unique. Their margaritas, made with lime juice, 1800 Tequila, and Patron Cintronageare a highly recommended accompaniment.
Venture a couple of blocks off Princess Street down Bagot and you’ll find yourself at the humble Rustic Spud, headed by local-celeb, the innovative young chef Joel Lattimore. Since 2016 he’s been using local produce to craft his creative yet accessible menu (think carnival-style ponados, sweet potato gnocchi, piattosorella, flatbreads, and more). A favourite? The fish tacos: honey-ginger glazed tilapia comes with pico de gallo, aioli, pickled red cabbage and cilantro. Pair it with a local lager on tap for the ideal Taco Tuesday (…or Wednesday, maybe Saturday also…okay really any day).
Tango is known for many things – artisanal tapas, championing local ingredients, having an intimate atmosphere that landed them a spot the top 100 most romantic restaurants Canada in 2017. Well, time to add two more things to that list. First, their take on a classic fish taco: a spice-rubbed red snapper fish tacos with chipotle crema. Second, the lamb taco, with slow-roasted pulled lamb with garlic tahini yogurt, beet relish, and feta. Pair with a generous glass of sangria for an elevated taco experience.
Chances are you’ve probably walked by this hole-in-the-wall Mexican-Indian restaurant on Division Street before without even realizing you’re missing out on the foodies of Kingston best-kept secret. We can fill you in. They are known for high-quality, low-cost burritos, fajitas, and curry dishes – but you can also find shrimp, beef, and chicken tacos.
Honourable mentions go to -
Red House (Downtown) 369 King Street East, Kingston.Tuesday lunch special: beef cheek tacos with cider-braised pork, mango jalapeño salsa, avocado, and feta.
Fran’s Fish and Chip. 83 Aberfoyle Road.Summer special, Taco Tuesdays. When the sun comes out, head over to enjoy two pieces of battered crisp fish on corn tortillas with cilantro lime sauce, served with fresh jalapeno mango salsa.
Have another hidden-gem we didn’t cover? Let us know! More importantly, remember that Taco Tuesday doesn’t have to be limited to one day. Every time is taco time on our watch.
This fun, interactive event runs from 9 am to 3 pm daily at the Military Communications and Electronics Museum (95 Craftsman Blvd). The event is open to individuals of all ages and the best part is – it’s free!
Every day, a museum will be hosting activities and programming related to their site at the Military Communications and Electronics Museum. Expect everything from crafts and dress-up to building workshops and singalongs. A full schedule of events is available here.
Read on to learn about a few featured events this year.
Paddling Puppeteers
March 16th from 11am– 1pm
Since 1999, the Paddling Puppeteers have been performing their musical puppet shows across Ontario and Eastern Canada. They will host several different puppet shows with themes all related to Canada, its natural history, and the simple steps to take to preserve nature. Have kids that love singing and music? You’re in luck – these shows include musicals and interactive elements.
Gary Rasberry is a children’s musician and educator – you can oftentimes find him performing at Kingston venues like Musiikki Café, The Elm Café, BluMartini as well as family-friendly events at The Tett Centre, MacLachlan Woodworking Museum, and schools. His recent album What’s the Big Idea?!? was nominated for a JUNO music award in 2013. Drop by the Military Communications and Electronics Museum on March 16th from 1 pm – 3:30 pm to enjoy fun singalongs!
Wonderland Kingston will host family-friendly board games on March 17from 9am – 3pm! Their main location at 500 Gardiners Road boasts more than 450 different board games to explore. Kids will love trying something new and a staff member will be onsite to explain game instructions if needed.
Aboriginal Leadership Opportunity Year (ALOY) will be hosting a drum circle starting at 12:45 pm on March 19. This free-form drumming is open to the public and is entirely improvised in the moment. Perfect for kids with a knack for music.
Hosted by Improbable Escapes, Camp X is an escape room game where you get to explore the Military Communications and Electronics Museum and search for clues. It’s set in a secret school with the purpose of training elite covert agents during World War II. Using tools in your trench coat to decode messages, search through the museum and uncover mysteries of the past to discover a secret code word.
Born and raised in Newmarket, Ontario, I moved to Kingston in 2000 to attend Queen’s University as a graduate student. I quickly fell in love with this city. I was first attracted to the city’s beautiful waterfront and downtown. After 20 years, Kingston is home for me, my wife Shyla, and our two boys Judah and Micah. I’m currently enjoying a second term as Mayor and continue to work as an Assistant Professor of Economics at RMC. I love being Mayor of this great city! Each and every day is different. I am constantly meeting new and inspiring Kingstonians and continue to learn new things about the city all the time!
Here are my top 10 favourite things about Kingston.
#1. Breakwater Park
This is easily one of the best parks in Kingston. I love seeing it bustling during the spring and summer months. My favourite features are the Gord Edgar Downie Pier and the sandy area. It’s great that Kingstonians can enjoy the water, and have a full Kingston beach day experience, without having to leave the city!
Believed to have the most restaurants per capita in all of Canada, Kingston is a culinary hotspot. There are so many amazing restaurants and unique dining experiences. I really enjoy having such a wide variety of restaurants to explore.
There’s no denying that #YGK has an affinity for Coffee Way donuts. They’re made fresh daily and have the light and fluffy consistency of a cloud. I’m all about the Boston Cream!
The Grand Theatre welcomes artists from around the world and each year I look forward to the incredibly diverse programming meant to appeal to Kingstonians of all interests. Here in Kingston there’s a unique character and atmosphere that residents and tourists have come to love and enjoy, and the theatre plays a big role in supporting that vitality!
I don’t get to skate at Springer Market Square enough but I love that day and night, there are people enjoying the rink. It helps keep the downtown lively during the cold and blustery winter months.
One of the great things about teaching at RMC is the views of downtown. Catch it at the right time, often during a sunrise or sunset, and you’ll see our downtown core cast with a beautiful, sunny glow.
I really love our downtown. We have great restaurants, lots of activities, a beautiful waterfront, and such an assortment of charming shops and businesses. I’ve been to downtowns that have become ghost towns, so I’m pleased to see our own downtown thriving, and it’s a goal of mine to continue to support the downtown so that it thrives year-round and long into the future.
We host so many great festivals and events throughout the year such as the Limestone City Blues Fest, the Buskers Rendezvous, Feb Fest, the YGK Craft Beer Festival, the Sheep Dog Trials and a host of other community celebrations. These festivals and events offer something for everyone. No need to travel to Ottawa, Toronto or Montreal looking for something to do; we have lots to explore and enjoy here, year-round.
After coming to Kingston to attend a graduate program at Queen’s, one of the first things I came to love about Kingston was the idyllic waterfront. To this day, when I’m stressed or need to clear my head, or just want to get out and enjoy the sunshine, you can often find me walking the waterfront trail taking in some of Kingston’s best views.
Call me biased since I do spend a fair chunk of time here, but City Hall really is an epic building. From time to time, I find myself thinking of all the people who travelled these halls over the last 175+ years. Kingston, in general, is so rich in history. There are so many interesting stories behind City Hall and behind lots of historic architecture in our downtown!
Winter may be cold, but Dianne’s, Chien Noir, and Atomica are keeping your bellies warm all season long with Snowdelicious! Throughout the winter until the end of March on Mondays – Wednesdays, all three restaurants will be offering special lunch items for $14 ($20 with a glass of wine), and three-course dinner menus at $35 ($41 with a glass of wine)!
Read on to see menu highlights from these 3 tasty Kingston eateries.
If you’re dreaming of summer days, stop by Dianne’s Fish Shack & Smokehouse for a taste of Canada’s east coast and a hint of Baja Mexico. For lunch, chow down on a delicious Fish Sammie: beer-battered haddock, ‘mama’s’ pickled green tomatoes and house tartar on a fluffy white or multigrain bun and; Fish Chowder with a side of mixed green salad (Trust us, you’ll love it).
For a delectable 3-course dinner at Dianne’s start off with tasty Fish Cakes (smoked haddock, potato, chives, old bay remoulade) as an appetizer. A fan-favourite main course is Dianne’s Seafood Poutine – fries, coconut green curry, shrimp, haddock, calamari, mussels, and queso fresco. Finish the night off with Mint Chocolate Mousse – the perfect sweet treat.
Located steps from historic Market Square, Chien Noir features French bistro classics and modern farm-to-table dishes. For the $14 lunch feature, try out Le Club – provencale marinated grilled chicken breast, brie cheese, heritage greens, tomato, and roasted garlic aioli on a toasted multigrain. Truly the ideal sandwich on a gloomy winter day.
Date nights at Chien Noir are always a treat; a $35 3-course dinner makes it even better! Start off the evening with a mouth-watering French Onion Soup with sourdough crouton and gruyere. For the main course, you can’t go wrong with the Roasted Chicken Supreme featuring roasted baby potatoes, seasonal vegetables, shallot confit, apple-brandy cream and black currants; the perfect winter-warm up! Our favourite dessert on the menu is their Vanilla Crème Brulee – so delish.
You can never go wrong with pizza, and Atomica sure knows how to pack the punch. The amazing smell of fresh herbs and garlic waft through the space making mouths water. For lunch, try out their Italian Job Pizza (la bomba tomato, mozzarella, house Italian sausage, fennel, Vidalia onion, and roasted red pepper). Their Snowdelicious lunch menu also features delicious pastas, salads, and wraps!
For Atomica’s 3-course dinner menu, our favourite appetizer is their Arancini. Chow down on crispy risotto balls filled with mozzarella, parmesan, fontina, pomodoro and basil. A mouth-watering main course includes their Fettucine (white wine crema, braised chicken, pancetta, cremini mushrooms, arugula, and parmesan). Finally, for dessert, their Nutella Tiramisu is sure to steal your heart (promise you won’t be disappointed)!
The Kingston Canadian Film Festival is preparing to celebrate its 20th anniversary March 11-15 and they’ve planned a festival that can’t be missed. It’s most important to note that the KCFF is the largest all-Canadian film festival in the world. “KCFF is a rare opportunity to see many of the amazing Canadian films that are drastically underseen (especially on the big screen) but are among the best in the world according to critics and international audiences,” says Festival Director Marc Garniss.
KCFF has something for everyone, not just incredible movies but a variety of events live music and guest speakers for festival-goers to enjoy as well. “Most of our films are accompanied by a post-show Q&A with the director, cast and/or crew. This is one of the highlights of the festival – you can ask your questions and get to know the filmmaking team after each screening. Generally, our special guests are very accessible and love meeting and chatting with our audience, both formally during the Q&A period, and informally afterwards in the theatre lobby or at a festival party,” says Garniss. Adding, “The festival brings together so many interesting people into small venues during four action-packed days – it’s a great way to meet both locals and visitors, connecting over some films and stories and their creators.”
If you’re wondering who to expect this year, the festival has announced they will be welcoming Sean Cullen, Kevin McDonald (Kids in the Hall), Don Shebib, and Andrea Bang (Kim’s Convenience) among many speakers. If you’re into live music, there is something for you too! Bedouin Soundclash will perform downtown at Ale House on March 12 as part of the festival. Wing Night: The Band will be lighting up The Toucan with classic hip hop and R&B on Friday March 13. You can also catch the Minotaurs March 14 at The Toucan.
Are you a fan of workshops? KCFF hasn’t missed a beat with a variety of workshops depending on your interests and age. Aspiring creators can go to Breaking In: Starting a Career in Film and Media for free on Friday March 13 at Tir Nan Nog from 2:30 pm -4:30 pm. Kids can check out Comic Art Storytelling at Davies Lounge in the Grand Theatre on Saturday March 14, 9:30 am-11:30 am (for ages 8-12) or the Animation workshop at the same location from 1:00 pm-3:00 pm (for ages 10-13).
With 41 films and more than 80 different events throughout its five-day run, KCFF has something for everyone. Passes and tickets are on sale now. Many screenings sell out. Our recommendation: get your tickets now to avoid disappointment.
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