I am the Co-ordinator, Communications for Cataraqui Conservation, an avid reader, history buff, and arts appreciator. Right now, my colleagues and I are quite busy entertaining thousands of visitors and area residents for our Maple Madness festivities. Although I live in Napanee, I spend my work days and many evenings out in Kingston, enjoying the culture, sporting events, the people, history, and heritage of the city.
Read on to learn about Jim’s favourite things about Kingston.
There are few communities that can boast the diversity and variety of music venues, festivals, bands, and singer/songwriters, which are essential parts of the creative heartbeat of the Limestone City. Some of my favourite haunts include The Mansion, Overtime, The Toucan, as well as the splendid sonic majesty of the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts.
There is such a wonderful variety of dining experiences in Kingston. A hearty all-day breakfast or brunch on a Sunday is good for the heart and soul, as well as the tummy! Over the years, Morrison’s, The Golden Rooster, and Pan Chancho have been my go-tos for Kingston brekkie fare!
As a former hockey writer/historian, it’s wonderful to explore the history of Canada’s ice-bound game from a Kingston perspective, and also enjoy the current high-level on-ice excitement of the Kingston Frontenacs. It’s inspiring, as well, to follow those, like Taylor Hall and Jayna Hefford who carved their careers from the local neighbourhood rinks onward and upward to the NHL and/or Olympics.
Although not an artist myself, I have a profound appreciation for those who can use visual arts to convey meaning and humanity. Art After Dark is one cool event that allows folks like me a chance to see creators in their element. I also think the Froid’Art project orchestrated by Martello Alley is an amazing way to combine nature and creativity and add some colour and warmth to the coldest season.
Maple Madness at Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area is such a fun, family-oriented event, where even we staff members can not only get some fresh air and exercise but always learn something new about our collective heritage. Oh and I hear there are also some tasty maple treats, including pancakes!
Complete the sentence: Kingston makes me… want to be out doing cool stuff every night of the week!
If Kingston had a theme song, it would be… ‘No dress rehearsal, this is our life…’ – Ahead by a Century
Describe Kingston in three words: Energy. Creativity. Diversity.
“Museums are a conversation,” smiles David McCarey.
“Canada’s cultural institutions are places that people need to explore,” pursues the assistant curator and education programmer at the Military Communications & Electronics Museum. “People often dismiss museums as dusty old places with old ideas – and there are old ideas in museums, it’s true. But there’s also new ideas and new experiences in museums. And new ways of looking at the past.”
March of the Museums, David’s brainchild and an event led by the Kingston Association of Museums, Art Galleries and Historic Sites (KAM), tries to bring to life these new ways of looking at the past, connecting cultural spaces to young inquisitive minds. A week-long series of free and family-friendly events which kickstarts Monday, March 13 and runs to Friday, March 17th 2023, March of the Museums is inspiring visitors from the Limestone City and beyond to flex their curiosity and creativity.
Whether it’s a visit to the Murney Tower Museum, Kingston’s oldest operating museum and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Rideau Canal and Kingston Fortifications, or to the 1000 Islands History Museum in nearby Gananoque, which traces the millennia histories of these lands, or a jaunt to the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston, devoted to shipwrecks, lighthouses, as well as the importance of ecosystems and water quality – the “festival of museums” shines a light on the lives, landscapes and waters of Kingston and beyond.
“Kingston’s museums are very much connected to people’s lives here,” explains David. “And the history of those lives is represented in those places.”
Launched in 2018, March of the Museums has grown in leaps and bounds, seeded by Kingston Association of Museums, Art Galleries and Historic Sites’ Programming and Community Engagement Committee (of which David is a member) work in engaging inquisitive young minds at the Military Communications & Electronics Museum.
“We have an education program here with plenty of hands-on activities with telephones, reproduction uniforms and just interactive stuff like Morse Code and flags, things like that,” recounts David. “And one day I thought: wouldn’t it be good if we could create something amazing for kids over March break?”
March of the Museums became a movement of cultural spaces, encouraging the participation of Kingston’s museums in whatever way they could to engage as many in the community as possible.
“Your community of interest isn’t just the one you think it is,” explains David. “Museums are also about inviting other people to become part of that community of interest and expanding your relevance. For us, it’s students, children and their families – and we love grandparents! – they are important members of our community and we love to engage them.”
“Although it’s not completely bilingual, we’re excited by our great French-language content and activities to tempt Francophone visitors,” continues David. “For instance, our displays – here at the Military Communications & Electronics Museum – engage visitors in the history of the Military Communications and Electronics Branch in both French and English.”
“We’re also very excited about our bilingual partnership with Improbable Escapes, which features Camp X, Canada’s secret spy school, and Spy Master, which puts you on your first espionage mission. These are games that take you through the museum gallery with some mind puzzles throughout some of the areas in the gallery.”
“We also have a lot of hands-on crafts for children that are pretty intuitive and translate across languages,” adds David. “For example, we show kids how to spell out their name in Morse code with a simple pipe cleaner and beads!”
“It’s difficult to say which one of the exhibits at the Military Communications & Electronics Museum I love most,” laughs David. “For example, we have an Enigma machine, an encoding and decoding machine that the Germans used in the Second World War.
“There is also a signal flapper, an incredible piece of technology connected to the First World War. It’s like a Venetian blind with cloth panels in this little frame you stick on the end of your rifle. You pull a string and it actually flaps a message in Morse Code. Frontline soldiers would use that to send messages back to the rear echelons.”
“I just can’t imagine with the artillery falling down around you, the bullets whizzing by – and holding up this signal flapper,” continues David. “There’s only one other that I’ve seen, and that’s at the Imperial War Museum in Great Britain, in the UK. And every time I walk by the exhibit, I kind of just sort of shake my head and think, my goodness, how far we’ve come technologically!”
“I also think a great deal about the sculptures we house at the Military Communications & Electronics Museum,” continues David. “Canada Bereft is probably the most famous one, an allegory of Canada suffering the loss of its soldiers in the First World War. We have three of the half scale models designed by Walter Seymour Alward, the architect behind the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France. People come from all over the world to see that sculpture.”
But, believes David, museums aren’t just about objects – but rather, how those objects evoke stories that bring people together.
“In fact, one of my favourite stories of the Military Communications & Electronics Museum isn’t even on display here,” recounts David. “When we commemorated the centenary of Vimy Ridge in 2017, my friend Derek came to pay tribute to his grandfather – a signaller decorated for his heroism in the First World War.”
“When Derek joined us, he brought his grandfather’s medals, as well as these dried flowers his grandfather had collected at Vimy Ridge. He held on to those dried flowers for years and years and years, then passed them on to his grandson, who holds his grandfather’s memory very dear.”
“Objects are fleeting. But they connect us to stories and people from the past. You can almost hear the voices of those who came before us through the objects curated in our museums.”
David is dreaming big for the March of the Museums.
“I would love to see the March of the Museums become a national phenomenon – ultimately, I want visitors, families – everyone! – to engage and explore,” he says. “The neatest thing about March of the Museums is that it’s expanding.
There are museums in Belleville participating. There’s one also in Smith Falls and even in Almonte, Perth and Gananoque.”
“I love the big places – the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) in Toronto and the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa,” concludes David. “But also, the humble museums in some of the little communities across Canada who have amazing, incredible, big stories to tell.”
The Centre culturel Frontenac has always sought to forge links among francophone and francophile communities by promoting arts and culture in Kingston.
It was 1980 in the Limestone City, Kingston, Ontario.
An era when Franco-Ontarians were defining themselves through their artists, their institutions, and the exercise of their Franco-minority linguistic rights.
A moment in time when nothing was impossible. Including here in Kingston.
Here, a community dreamed, solidaires, invested wholeheartedly in the creation of the vivre-ensemble of an entire community. Born of this shining era of Franco-Ontarian will, the Centre culturel Frontenac has always sought to forge links among francophone and francophile communities by promoting arts and culture in Kingston and the Thousand Islands.
En français.
“It was the desire of the community – who were living in a deeply minority linguistic setting – to have a common place where they could meet, develop projects and help each other out,” explains Marie-Noëlle Cyr, Executive Director of the Centre culturel Frontenac.
Forty-five years young, the Centre culturel Frontenac is firmly rooted in the fabric of Kingstonian society, its gaze trained on the future, the fruit of a vibrant and visible francophonie in Kingston, its scene rich with performing arts, culture and human complicity.
Times have been tough for dreamers and artists (pandemic oblige!) – but, according to Marie-Noël, the Kingston art scene is bursting with renewal: “All of a sudden, we’re back in the community! People are tired of their little cocoons.”
“Tonight, at the OCTAVE Theatre, for example, it is Pandora Topp singing Édith Piaf,” she breathes. “We’re going to welcome spectators with a Parisian café – round tables, the aromas of rich coffee, waiters dressed in café attire – it’s going to be amazing!”
The 2023 artistic season delivers on the promise of Kingston’s dreamers with a dazzling season: Concerts! Theatre! Cinema! Festivals!
En Français!
Last month, the Centre culturel Frontenac partnered with the Reel Out Queer Film Festival (January 26 – February 5), presenting a selection of short films in French with English subtitles, further, announcing a partnership with the Kingston Canadian Film Festival (March 2-5) to present a selection of short films in French (with English subtitles).
In February, the Centre culturel Frontenac welcomes the famous Vaches! The Musical (February 11), which evokes the resilience of Franco-Ontarians in the face of adversity during the 1998 ice storm. They will also join forces with the Live Wire Music Series to present a bilingual double-set performance with Franco-Ontarian and Abenaki singer Mimi O’Bonsawin and Nova Scotian Ian Sherwood (February 24).
At the dawn of the Kingstonian spring, it will be the turn of Mario Tessier (March 4), the comedian and storyteller to keep his audience in stitches. This will be followed by performances by the group Les Bouches Bées (April 14), a quartet with «an almost Cajun approach to support their well-crafted French lyrics,” and Damoiseaux (March 24), a pop-jazz group with “a scent of cinema and poetry.”
In April, the Centre culture Frontenac will present the play Intrusions (April 28), produced by the Théâtre de la Vieille 17 (Ottawa, Ontario) and the Théâtre populaire d’Acadie (New Brunswick), which confronts its spectator with a senior woman’s humour, rage and determination in the face of the health system.
In May, Lua Shayenne will present La calebasse aux cauris (May 27), a timeless African tale dedicated to little ones. The play offers the story of little Yassama who, with the help of an old Baobab and a mysterious calabash, will try to save her community from drought.
With roots in Acadie, Ontario, Quebec, Africa and elsewhere, these artists represent the plurality of francophone Canada. Here in Kingston, we find the francophonie in all its universality and collective good spirits.
“Kingston is a destination of choice for French-speaking tourists,” says Marie-Noël. Wherever a tourist goes, there will be someone who will certainly speak French, or who will regret not having practiced enough French.”
She cites the example of the 5 à 7 Franco, hosted by the Centre culturel Frontenac every second Thursday of the month, where guests are immersed in the complicity and fraternity Kingstonians feel for the French language.
“People here have long understood that it was good to be bilingual, or even trilingual! Quadrilingual! Everyone takes French seriously – we understand the importance of maintaining the French language,” she explains.
“Francophone tourists,” she adds, “whether from Quebec or beyond Canadian borders, rarely emerge unscathed from an exchange with Franco-Ontarians.
Immersed in the Franco-Minority cultural and linguistic realities of Ontario, they develop a new solidarity that extends beyond borders, words and accents. All of a sudden, they get to know us and understand our daily linguistic realities here in Ontario, where we have to defend our linguistic gains,” she says.
Marie-Noël envisions a particularly spectacular summer season. In partnership with the Skeleton Park Arts Festival, the Centre culturel Frontenac will host Ariko (June 24, 2023), a family band from Lafontaine, Ontario, that “radiates the velvety harmonies and fiery violins of the Lefaive sisters.”
In August, the Centre culturel Frontenac will partner with the Kick and Push Festival, named for the famous bumpy train ride in the early 20th century between Kingston-Pembroke, to offer Corpus Dance Projects’ La bulle (August 2023), the story of a lunar Pierrot, presented in open air at sunset.
Its gaze firmly trained on the future, the Centre culture Frontenac is nurturing the next generation of Franco-Ontarian artists, offering summer arts camps for budding young artists.
“To live a culture well, it must be presented and lived in an authentic way,” concludes Marie-Noël. “The summer camp allows young francophones to meet real artists, to realize that they can make a living from their art, to explore and experiment and, we hope, to develop an appreciation of the world of the arts in French.”
What is KCFF? KCFF is the Kingston Canadian Film Festival – the largest all-Canadian film festival, which has showcased Canadian films since 2001.
This year KCFF is back fully in-person and will feature close to 100 productions, including documentaries, comedies, dramas, thrillers, shorts, and select episodes. Through March 2 – 5, enjoy screenings, Q&As, parties, workshops, networking events, live music, stand-up comedy, and exhibitions at The Screening Room, Kingston Grand, The Isabel Bader Centre, The Broom Factory, Tango Nuevo, and The Toucan.
We asked KCFF’s Executive Director, Marc Garniss, to share his top picks at this year’s fest. Read on for an insider’s take on the best of the fest. Full details are available on the KCFF website: https://kingcanfilmfest.com/
This initiative, presented by KCFF and Tourism Kingston, showcases 11 music videos created by emerging artists from both the film and music scene in Kingston. Filmed over the last several months, they premiere March 4, 7:30 at the Grand Theatre. The showcase will include all the music videos, a Q&A with the filmmakers, and you can vote for your favourite.
Visit The Screening Room March 3 (7 pm) or March 4 (1 pm) to see I Like Movies by Toronto’s Chandler Levack. This 99-minute film is a comedy about Lawrence, a 17-year-old who is navigating relationships in all areas of life while working at a video rental store in the early aughts. It’s one of the year’s most acclaimed first feature films.
The festival officially kicks off March 2, 7 pm at the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts with the opening night film, Riceboy Sleeps, directed by Anthony Shim (it plays again March 3, 4 pm). Riceboy Sleeps is a poignant drama about Korean immigrant life in the ‘90s and the changes and challenges of a mother-son relationship. The film includes English and Korean (with English subtitles).
Shelter, by Prince Edward County-based filmmaker and cinematographer Tess Girard, is a gorgeous film that explores Girard’s return to Horning’s Mills, Ontario, the people and the place, and connections to the landscape and each other. It plays March 4 (4 pm) at the Baby Grand Theatre or March 5 (1 pm) at The Screening Room.
Canadian comedian Kevin McDonald comes to The Broom Factory for a stand-up comedy showcase – twice! After his first KCFF show on March 3 sold out, a second show was added March 4 (3:30 pm). You may recognize him from shows like That 70s Show, Arrested Development, and of course Canadian classic, Kids in the Hall.
Don’t miss the Mix and Mingle reception on March 4 (noon – 1:30) at Tango Nuevo. This is a great way to enjoy in-person social networking with filmmakers, special guests, sponsors, and staff. Casa-Dea Winery, Spearhead Brewing Company, Stock & Row Cider, and Tango Nuevo will be providing food and drinks for the event. Admission is reserved for festival passholders – a great reason to upgrade your fest experience!
Gather your valentine, galentine, friends, or family and celebrate love in the Limestone City. We’ve rounded up Valentine’s Day packages, special menus, and other offers to help you share the love.
Gather your love and head to the Wharf and Feather for their Valentine’s Day dinner menu. This menu includes an appetizer (roasted tomato soup or squid tempura salad), entrée (chicken supreme, rib eye steak, or stuffed cabbage), and dessert (strawberry mousse or chocolate cake truffles). See their website for full dinner menu details. Reservations recommended.
Dine with your darling at Days on Front and enjoy their special Valentine’s Day menu. This mouth-watering dinner menu includes beef wellington, seafood pasta, and crepe cake. You can reserve a table at tbdine.com.
120 Princess St. (Screening Room), 39 Brock St. (Olivea)
A classic date-night combo! Enjoy a screening of Amélie (an adorable French romantic comedy), followed by a three-course meal at Olivea restaurant offering items inspired by the film. See more information on their website. Book by calling 613-547-5483.
If you don’t feel like planning this Valentine’s day? Take a County Sips wine tour with your friends. Visit four wineries in Prince Edward County and enjoy wine tastings along the way. Let your tour guide do the work so you can sit back and relax with your pals. Learn more on their website.
Nothing says warm and cozy like a custom brewed coffee. Grab something to warm your bones at the Kingston Coffee House (our suggestion: raspberry white hot chocolate), Balzac’s (cinnamon latte), or Pan Chancho (house coffee and Valentine’s Day baked goods). See the full coffee shop roundup on our website.
Get out of the house and get to know Kingston’s food scene this Valentine’s Day. Bring your bestie on the Classic Kingston Food Tour or the Tapas tour where you can enjoy local Kingston cuisine and learn about the magic and makers behind Kingston’s culinary scene. Learn more about the food tours available on their website.
Tie One On Creative bar has two Valentine’s Day events that would be perfect for crafty friends. Try their Valentine Cookie Decorating Workshop on Feb 10 (7 – 8:30 pm) or see My Kinky Valentine Burlesque show on Feb 11 (7 – 11:45 pm). See more event information on their website.
Celebrate Kingston’s Queens at Love’s a Drag at Something in the Water Brewing Co. on Feb 9 (7:30 pm). While the show is on, enjoy a cold brew (Big Quinte, West Coast IPA, Garrison Creek Pilsner) and a snack (pizza, pretzels, dips). Find more event details online.
Have a good laugh at Spearhead Brewing Co. during their Love and Laughs comedy night on Feb 11 or see the annual drag show (Stop Dragging My Heart Around) on Feb 22 (7 – 10 pm) hosted by Rowena Whey. See all event details on their website.
Beat the cold by indulging in some soothing self-care. From spas to saunas, dining to outdoor adventure, coffee to crafts, our picks will always provide a pick-me-up.
Cher-Mère offers products for a variety of skin, hair, and body types (dry, oily, and healthy). They also provide facials, manicures/pedicures, massages, lashes, waxing, and henna. Find seasonal, holiday, and weekly/monthly specials on their website.
Open: Mon – Wed (10 am – 6 pm), Thurs – Fri (10 am – 7 pm), Sat (9:30 am – 5 pm), Sun (noon – 5 pm)
Whether you want your makeup done, hair styled, or rejuvenized skin, Dolce Bella has you covered. They offer spa services, packages, hair salon services, and treatments. After your relaxing spa experience, head down the hall to The River Mill Restaurant for a bite to eat (2 Cataraqui St.)
Open: Mon (10 am – 4 pm), Tues (9 am – 6 pm), Wed (9 am – 7 pm), Thurs (9 am – 8 pm), Fri (9 am – 7 pm), Sat 9 am – 5 pm)
Enjoy hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing at Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area. Connect with nature, yourself, and others while you venture through forests, fields, and marsh lands. The Outdoor Centre offers snowshoe and skiing rental services daily (9 am – 4 pm). While you’re there, take a moment to feed some chickadees. Learn about upcoming special events on their website.
At the Frontenac Club, you will find the Stoke and Chill Sauna experience by Stoked Sauna Co. where you can relax using their outdoor saunas, fire pit area, and ice baths. After you’re done, enjoy the Après-Sauna Menu’s food and drink offering (split pea soup, in-house candied salmon, Frontenac fondue, fermented lemonade, mulled wine, and decadent hot chocolate). Explore packages to combine your Stoke and Chill experience with an overnight stay.
Do you like a good cup of tea? Try The Secret Garden Inn’s Afternoon Tea experience with house-made sweet and savoury treats. Learn more about this experience on their website. Combine your dining experience with an overnight stay with Secret Garden Inn packages.
Glow Skincare Company offers a spa retreat (sauna, eucalyptus steam room, cold plunge, jacuzzi, and a bar) and care services (naturopathic medicine, massage, and facials). Follow them on Instagram for updates on promotions and offerings.
The Refinery has two spas available, REM (guided meditation, private yoga practice, reiki, and spa treatments) and the Spa and Social House (steam room, facials, massages, manicures, pedicures, and hairstyling). Combine multiple items to create a package and get the most out of your time at The Refinery Spa (see package options on their website)
Get creative with friends at a Tie One On Creativity Bar event. Upcoming events include an adult tie die party (Feb. 8), paint night (Feb. 9), and saw it on Pinterest (Feb. 16). Learn more about these events on their website. While you’re there enjoy a beverage from a local brewery (see all local brews available).
Pick out a book that intrigues you at a downtown bookstore (Berry and Peterson Booksellers, Novel Idea), and head to Coffee and Company to indulge in their relaxing environment. While you’re there try one of their treats (scones, muffins, bagels, croissants) and a hot cup of joe.
Open: Sun – Thurs (7 am – 6 pm), Fri – Sat (7 am – 7 pm)
There are many businesses that offer yoga classes in Kingston (Studio 330, Salti Yoga, Morro Yoga, Health Yoga, Samatva Yoga). You can join a class or bring an instructor to you. During these yoga experiences, you will focus on your breathing technique, improving functionality, connecting your mind, and practicing self-awareness.
Open: various hours (see website links above for details)
Enjoy a day of rock climbing at the Boiler Room. During your orientation, you will learn about the different types of climbing you can do at their facility (auto-belays, top rope with off-harness belaying, and lead climbing). Booking is required for lessons (the Boiler Room will be closed to walk-ins Feb 19 and 20).
Open: Mon – Fri (10 am – 11 pm), Sat – Sun (9 am – 9 pm)
How do you take your coffee? You’ll never run out of new flavours to explore with Kingston’s variety of coffee shops. Whether you prefer to sip on a unique seasonal drink or a tried-and-true favourite, Kingston has several cafés waiting to welcome you.
The owners of Sens Café opened their first café in France in 2014 and they’ve brought the French flavour, quality, and atmosphere to Kingston. Enjoy Quietly Coffee and its selection of salads, savoury snacks, and French pastries crafted daily by its in-house chef.
Must-try: An Ethiopian pour-over coffee with a chocolate chip cookie
Crave is Kingston’s largest independently owned and operated coffee house and scratch bakery. You’ll be amazed at the mouthwatering selection of sweet and savoury snacks they have to offer. You can bask in the Princess Street sunshine on their patio in the summer or snuggle up by their cozy fireplace in the winter.
Must-try: Any of their seasonal lattes and their cinnamon buns made each morning
Balzac’s Coffee Roasters is inspired by Parisian culture and this location is the Canadian brand’s 12th café in Ontario. Balzac’s is dedicated to connecting the design of each of their cafés to their specific location. This historic Kingston venue has a unique personality that’s been enticing coffee drinkers for years.
Must-try: Seasonal winter blend coffee (marble roast with sweet plum and dark chocolate notes) and a butter tart.
Established in 1995, Coffee and Company is a well-loved corner of downtown Kingston. They serve fair-trade specialty coffee and tea, along with several other handcrafted drinks, salads, classic sandwiches, and baked goods.
NORTHSIDE is inspired by the Australian coffee scene where coffee is more than a rushed affair: it’s a daily ritual. Not only can you grab some great coffee, but they also serve breakfast, sweet treats, and alcohol. They offer online takeaway and boast one of the cutest patios around!
Known as “Kingston’s home for latte art,” this café provides a friendly, welcoming atmosphere for a variety of coffee lovers – and beyond! Enjoy a variety of drinks and baked goods made in-house or by a local baker. You’re sure to find vegan options here too. Near Springer Market Square, this café has an iconic view of Kingston.
Must-try: Iced hazelnut latte and a house-made chocolate chip cookie
Open: Mon–Fri (8 am–7 pm), Sat (8 am–6 pm), Sun (9 am–5 pm)
Embedded at the back of the Tett Centre and facing the water, Juniper Café is an idyllic spot where you can indulge in some yummy treats. Their menu changes seasonally and they use local ingredients. You’ll love any sandwich made with their fresh focaccia.
Step into a family-run café nestled in the Inner Harbour neighborhood. The owners are dedicated to serving simple – but delicious – seasonal food and beverages. They also have a cozy patio so you can enjoy your coffee al fresco in the warmer months. Stop by for some direct trade coffee and you might just stumble upon a community event too, like a musical coffee house or poetry open mic night.
This west-end gem was named after the owner’s daughter, Nora. They offer multiple food and drink options, including coffee by the cup, baked goods, sandwiches, and bags of coffee to-go. You can also find bagels from Nosh, a downtown Kingston bakery. While you’re lounging with your coffee and treats take a look around and enjoy the beautiful art pieces by Vanessa Jane Martin.
Must-try: Croissant French toast (stuffed with cream, topped with maple syrup, strawberries, cinnamon whipped cream, and pecans)
This coffee bar makes hot and cold drinks to go, including lattes, espressos, sparkling Americanos, and iced mochas. They also offer sweet and savoury goods including scones, cookies, biscuits, and sandwiches. They partner with different local makers, such as The Coffee Plant and Jean + Dean, to bring in additional items for their menu.
Must-try: Cappuccino and biscotti (almonds, cranberry, apricot, and kiwi)
Kingston’s own queer film festival returns Jan. 26.
Kingston’s own Reelout Queer Film Festival returns Jan. 26–Feb. 5 for its 24th year. Since 1999, Reelout has been showcasing queer media arts and encouraging discussions about diversity. This year’s line-up offers a lineup of 76 films, from shorts and feature-length narratives to documentaries. The 2023 festival will screen films from 15 different countries. with a spotlight on both trans cinema and on films from the Islamic Republic of Iran. All cinema events will take place at The Screening Room, 120 Princess St.
The festival kicks off on Jan. 26 with an opening shindig from 6 to 8 pm at The Broom Factory (305 Rideau St.). Enjoy live music from The Gertrudes, plus drag and burlesque performances. Food and drink options will be provided by Pan Chancho and Spearhead Brewing Company. This is an all-ages event but is not intended for children.
The festival opens Jan. 27 at 9 pm with Rosie. This Canadian comedy-drama tells the story (in both English and French) of Rosie, an orphaned, Indigenous girl who is forced to live with her reluctant, street-smart Aunty Fred. Rosie is a tale of identity, family, love, and misfits. This evening also features a live musical performance by Krista Muir, several of whose songs are on the Rosie soundtrack. Learn more about the event and watch the trailer from Rosie on Reelout’s site.
Grab some popcorn and enjoy the variety of short films presented during Reelout. The Gender Bender shorts program highlights gender diversity. The Spotlight on Iran shorts program celebrates work by Iranian artists. The Mystique Et Lubrique French shorts showcase queer French-language films.
See the full list of shorts programs on the Reelout website.
Featured closing film
Golden Delicious, directed by Jason Karman, is a Canadian film about a high school senior who begins to struggle with his own desires when an openly gay teen with a love for basketball moves in across the street. Golden Delicious airs on Feb. 4 (7 – 9:30 pm). Jason Karman will be in attendance for a post-screening Q&A.
Learn more about Golden Delicious on the Reelout website.
Individual tickets (for screenings and the opening night shindig) cost $15 plus tax; tickets are $12 plus tax for students and seniors. Buy a transtastic pass for $50 plus fees to see all five major trans/NB/gender fluid programs at the festival. You can also get an all-access pass for $100 plus service fees to gain entry to all screenings. Buy tickets online. Stay updated on the festival through the Reelout Instagram account.
One of Kingston’s newest restaurants, Heist offers casual dining as well as a large space for groups and events. Heist has also created Kingston’s first wine club, CASE 168 Wine Club. Join their waitlist to learn more about CASE 168 and be updated on its opening.
Open: Tues – Thurs (5 – 10 pm), Fri – Sat (5 – 11 pm), Sun (5 – 9 pm)
Relax and enjoy a glass of wine paired with a small plate or dinner at The Everly. If you’re planning a special meal at home, go next door to The Everly’s Wine and Provisions shop. There you can find selections that are available at The Everly, as well as a few special wines available nowhere else in Kingston. You can also pick up local cheeses, house-made terrines, and marinated olives to go with your selection.
Curate Social has a number of offerings for wine lovers. Book a wine tasting party hosted by sommelier Ian Nicholls, shop the County Sips wine collection, or enjoy a charcuterie spread paired with a glass of wine.
Open: Tues – Wed (11 am – 6 pm), Thurs (11 am – 7 pm), Fri – Sat (11 am – 9 pm)
Choose from a selection of rosé, sparkling rosé, white, and red wines. On Saturdays and Sundays, Whiskey + Rosé will mix up a mimosa to go with your brunch between 9 am and 3 pm.
Open: Mon – Thurs (noon – 9 pm), Fri (11 am – 11 pm), Sat (9 am – 11 pm), Sun (9 am – 3 pm)
County Sips offers multiple wine experiences. Enjoy a winter wine tour through Prince Edward County with sommelier Ian Nicholls or host a wine-tasting experience at your home or business. See their website for details.
Enjoy a glass of vino bianco or vino rosso with your dinner at this downtown restaurant offering traditional and contemporary Italian cuisine. See their website for their full wine list.
Open: Sun – Thurs (11:30 am – 9 pm), Fri – Sat (11:30 am – 10 pm)
You don’t have to cross oceans to feel like you’re on a trip. This downtown restaurant is tucked into an alleyway creating a European feel. Enjoy fine wine and a delicious meal inspired by flavours from around the world.
Relax and enjoy a glass of wine with the upscale, eclectic pub grub offerings at at Black Dog Tavern. On “Wine Wednesdays,” Black Dog offers $10 off all bottles of wine, as well as $25 pitchers of Sangria. You can also purchase a bottle of house wine to go. Choose from a 2020 Sauvignon Blanc / Grenache Blanc or a 2019 ‘Black Dog’ Pinot Gris. Follow their Instagram to be updated on wine deals and specials.
Open: Mon – Wed (4 – 9 pm), Thurs (11:30 am – 10 pm), Fri (11:30 am – 11:00 pm), Sat (11 am – 11 pm), Sun (11 am – 9 pm)
Take a trip to the west end for a glass of wine at Days on Front. Pair a Tenuta Santome Prosecco with the duck spring rolls or the Rockway Vineyards small lot Syrah with Steak frites. Explore the full menu for all suggested pairings.
Pizza and wine…is there a better pairing? Wooden Heads offers wood-fired pizza and wines on its menu. Ask your server for the best wine pairing with your meal.
Treat yourself to high tea or book the five-course fondue at The Secret Garden Inn and choose from their new wine list from small producers in France and Italy. Turn your dining experience into a package with high tea or five-course fondue and an overnight stay. See our website for package details.
Open: High tea various days (noon – 4 pm), dinner various days (5:30 – 7:30 pm)
Take a night off and stay at the Frontenac Club, where you can enjoy in-room dining or go to The Bank for a glass of wine or choose a bottle from their vault selection to pair with dinner. You can also make your stay a package with the Stoked and Chill Sauna experience and indulge in The Bank’s Après-spa menu.
Open: Thurs – Sat (3:30 – 9:30 pm), (in-room dining is available during The Bank’s hours)
Kingston restaurants showcase local ingredients with culinary flare
Starting January 16, Kingstonlicious returns for its third year, with several Kingston chefs putting their individual spin on healthy start menus for the new year. Twenty Kingston restaurants and breweries are offering special prix fixe menus for January, ranging from healthy fish dishes to a five-course plant-powered dinner. There are also a variety of price points, with offerings from $25 to $65. Several menus showcase products from Ontario farms, including Patchwork Gardens, Primal Growth Farms, Forman Farms, The Fungi Connection, Lenberg Farms, Beking’s Poultry Farm, and Back Forty Artisan Cheese.
In February, Kingstonlicious participants will announce new menus, all inspired by the theme “love and family.” Look for romantic dinners for two and family-style menus from local restaurants. And in March, Kingstonlicious will celebrate Indigenous culture and cuisine.
In addition, special culinary events will take place January through March, which will showcase the talents of Kingston and guest chefs.
2023 is in full swing and what better way to fuse feel-good vibes into the new year than a 75-minute guided sauna experience followed by an indulgent seafood fondue feast, paired with a selection of natural wines chosen specifically to suit your palate.
Feb 22 // $175 per person Multiple seatings, starting at 6 pm
Chef Brent McAllister welcomes Maïtre Fromager Afrim Pristine, from Toronto’s Cheese Boutique, to create a multicourse menu showcasing cheeses from around the globe, with wine pairings for each course. Guests may also purchase featured cheeses and products. Mio Gelato will create a special dessert for this evening.
March 4 // $85 per person Seatings at 10 am, noon, and 2 pm
Northside’s Chef Art Hill welcomes Chef Nick Liu of Toronto’s DaiLo and Sally Ramsaran of Kingston’s Sally’s Roti Shop to create a unique multicultural brunch. Enjoy a dim sum platter followed by a Trinidadian breakfast plate, Sada roti and chokra, and a special dessert that brings the two culinary worlds together.
March 18 // $65 per person, Complimentary registration for the Indigenous community 11 am – 3:30 pm with culinary and artistic activations throughout Juniper Cafe (Tett Centre) & Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts
Inspired by Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action 83 – for Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists to undertake collaborative projects and produce works that contribute to reconciliation – this celebration brings together Indigenous and non-Indigenous chefs and beverage purveyors for a day of exploration. Rooted in education, collegiality, and respect for the seasons, these culinary collaborators will build a powerful experience that explores Indigenous foodways, linking the food and drink consumed with its history, heritage, culture, and geography.
Collaborating chefs:
Chef Zach Keeshig, Naagan
Chef Leah Marshall Hannon, Stella’s Eatery
Chef Lee Arden Lewis, formerly Jackson’s Falls Country Inn and Indigenous Restaurant
Chef Joseph Shawana, Professor & Indigenous Culinary Advisor, Centennial College, and former Owner/Operator, Kūkŭm Kitchen (now closed)
March 21 // $175 per person Multiple seatings, starting at 6 pm Chef Joel Watanabe of Vancouver’s Kissa Tanto (recently awarded one Michelin star) joins The Everly’s Jamie Hodge and Miss Bao’s Bellen Tong for an evening highlighting hand-crafted pasta. Guest sommeliers from Toronto’s Grape Witches, a female-owned organic, biodynamic, and natural wine-focused agency, will pair local, B.C., and international wines with the menu.
Montreal joie de vivre stopovers at soon-to-open Hey Darlin’ Diner. Host chefs Amanda Finkle (Whiskey & Rosé) and Rory Seifried join Chef Hakim Rahal from Montreal’s adventurous hotspot, Provisions Bar à Vin. Expect a brunch with classics like Provisions’ hugely popular house-made brisket, a breakfast version of croque-monsieur, and of course Montreal bagels – with a few other surprises like pain perdu with apple compôte and chicken liver pâté. Niagara’s boutique Rosewood Estates Winery & Meadery’s winemaker Ryan Corrigan will pour and speak to Rosewood’s most brunch-friendly wines.
We recently launched Kingston’s first outdoor winter spa. Our vision was to bring Nordic traditional sauna and cold exposure to our community. Nordic countries have been using heat and cold exposure to optimize physical and mental wellness for thousands of years. We wanted to create this in an outdoor community setting in order to bring people together. The last few years I have been exploring my own personal wellness journey. I’ve found that adding elements of sauna and cold exposure has greatly improved my long-term outcomes while creating much better sleep and decreased stress. We all need a mission. Mine is to shine a spotlight on routines and activities that optimize our length and quality of life.
Kingston is known for its vibrant culinary scene: holiday dinners are taken seriously here. From classic turkey dinners to snackable boxes with local goodies, discover what offerings Kingston restaurants have for you to enjoy for the holidays.
Enjoy Christmas day at AquaTerra. The Christmas Day prix fixe menu offers your choice of three appetizers, four entrées (prime rib, turkey breast, pan-seared salmon, and asparagus risotto), and three desserts. Reserve your table as soon as possible to ensure your spot. Book your Christmas day meal from noon – 9 pm.
Bring in the new year with AquaTerra’s six-course tasting menu. This special menu includes amouse-bouches, soup, salad, your choice of entrée (Atlantic halibut, grilled aubergine, beef tenderloin, or Muscovy duck), cheese, and dessert. The New Year’s Eve tasting menu is available Dec 31 (5 – 9 pm). Reservations are recommended.
Order a holiday feast for 6 to 8 people. This menu offers a Maplescapes turkey, buttermilk mashed Yukon gold potatoes, autumn salad with fig and balsamic vinaigrette, dessert, and more. This dinner is available for pick up Dec. 23 or Dec 24, (10 am – 2 pm).
Purchase a $100 gift card to AquaTerra. To spread the holiday joy, they will include a complimentary $25 gift voucher with every $100 gift card purchased.
Treat yourself to a one-of-a-kind wine & gift package or use it for a Christmas gift. Each package is personalized and includes wine and specialty items.
Go to the Wharf and Feather for Christmas Day brunch. It will include a breakfast station, cold and hot stations, and desserts and treats including tater tot poutine, buttermilk chicken, cob salad, honey mustard-glazed ham, and more. Available Dec. 25 (9 am – 2:30 pm)
Wharf & Feather’s New Year’s Eve menu includes your choice of warm grilled Cajun spiced tuna or smoked burrata cheese salad and beef tenderloin or pan-fried monkfish tail. Reservations are required.
Get your holiday meal to-go. Enjoy roasted butternut squash, turkey breast, stuffing, and more. Available for pickup Dec. 24 – 25 (9 am – 3 pm). Reserve as soon as possible.
Shop locally in downtown Kingston and complete your holiday shopping passport. Spend $10 or more at five stores to fill your passport and enter the holiday passport draw. You can win $500 in downtown dollars or the grand prize of $3,000 in downtown dollars.
This holiday menu offers broccoli and cheddar quiche, vegetarian turkey, curried chicken pie, and more. It’s available Dec. 22 – 23 (8 am – 4 pm) and Dec. 24 (8 am – 3 pm). All orders must be prepaid and placed 72 hours in advance of the order date.
Dine in at Days on Front for New Year’s Eve. Their menu offers three appetizers, four entrées (chicken, Arctic char, beef tenderloin, lentil Bolognese), and your choice of desserts. Reservations are required.
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