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11 Kingston food trucks you have to park yourself at this summer

Searching for one-of-a-kind dishes, served by unique mobile eateries? Read on to discover 11 trucks, carts, and trailers that serve up seriously delicious street eats in Kingston. 

Legend: 🌾 (gluten-free options), 🌱 (vegan options), 🍄 (vegetarian options) 

 

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BBQ Babes 🌾🌱🍄 

Canadian Tire, 1040 Division Street  

This mother-daughter duo transitioned from traveling festival to festival across Ontario to being one of Kingston’s most beloved stationary food trucks. Their food truck was voted Kingston’s Best BBQ of 2020, 2021, and 2022. If you try their burgers, brisket, poutine, or corn dogs, your tastebuds will know why. 

View menu | Open: daily (11 am – 6 pm)  

Soup Chef Food Truck 🌾🌱🍄 

Fairfield Park, 4574 Loyalist Parkway  

If you’re looking for a meal with a great view, look no farther than this lakeside food truck. Located in Fairfield Park (Amherstview), you can enjoy a bowl of minestrone as you gaze out at Lake Ontario. Soup Chef might have your old-time favourites, or something new to try like cheeseburger mac or watermelon gazpacho. They also have frozen soup available to purchase, so you can take the deliciousness home.  

Open: Sun – Mon (11 am – 6 pm), Wed (11 am – 6 pm), Thu – Sat (11 am – 7 pm)  

The Great Canadian Country Cabin Chip Truck 🍄 

Collins Bay Flea Market parking lot, 666 Collins Bay Road  

Is it possible to create a list of food trucks without including a fry truck? While technically not a food truck, this small stand is ready to fulfil your craving for hand-cut chips. You can also order traditional fare such as hotdogs, burgers, and even hand-dipped corn dogs. Powered by a food-loving family, this is a stop you don’t want to miss. 

Open: Tue (4 – 7 pm), Wed – Sat (11 am – 7 pm), Sun (11 am – 6 pm)  

The Churro Guy at the Memorial Centre Farmers' Market
The Churro Guy at the Memorial Centre Farmers’ Market / Credit: Garrett Elliott

The Churro Guy 🍄 

Memorial Centre Farmers’ Market, 303 York Street 

If you needed another reason to take a trip to the Memorial Centre Farmers’ Market, The Churro Guy should be it. Their small but mighty selection includes Cape Breton oatcakes, sweet potato burger buns, and fresh churros. The Churro Guy uses pasteurized, whole goat milk and farm-fresh eggs in their products.  

View menu | Open: Sun (9 am – 2 pm)  

B’s Bike Bites

B’s Bike Bites 🌾🌱🍄 

While not technically a food truck, you’ll want to keep an eye out for this travelling food cart. B’s Bike Bites has a live tracker so that you can follow along with B’s route and listen for the telltale bells that mean some refreshing snacks are on their way to you. Bailey DiGenova (B) rides a cart similar to an old-fashioned Dickie Dee, delivering ice cream and beverages. B, who has Autism and is non-verbal, developed the business with his parents in summer 2020. 

Open: check B’s Facebook for his hours and location  

Muller’s Kitchen Food Truck 🍄 

Gord Edgar Downie Pier at Breakwater Park (Summer) & Bader Lane (Fall)  

Voted Kingston’s best poutine, sandwich, and food truck, this food truck brings you both barbecue staples and unique features. They’ve managed to make hotdogs, burgers, sandwiches, and poutines even yummier with distinct pairings – house Habanero barbecued pulled pork between a fresh blueberry fritter, anyone? You’re sure to find something creative and delicious here, topped with their signature blue salt. 

Open: Wed – Thu (noon – 6 pm), Fri – Sat (noon – 6:30 pm)   

Otter Creek Kitchen Food Truck 🌾🌱🍄 

Various locations 

Keep an eye out at pop-ups, events, and festivals this summer for Otter Creek Kitchen Food Truck. You can grab all your food truck favourites at Otter Creek Kitchen, their brick-and-mortar location at 2792 Princess Street. The food truck and Princess Street location serves their original Otter Creek Wagyu Burger along with vegan and vegetarian options, fries, salads, and even a Buddha Bowl packed with seasonal vegetables.  

View menu | Check their Instagram and Facebook for weekly hours and locations  

 

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Lotzah! 🌾🍄 

675 Development Drive  

This gourmet food truck has an eclectic mix of offerings that is sure to please a variety of foodies. You’ll find all the food truck staples here like freshly cut fries and burgers – plus lighter options like salads. Dive into some chicken tikka poutine or a pulled pork sandwich.  

View menu | Open: Tue – Fri (11 am – 8 pm), Sat (noon – 8 pm), Sun (noon – 5 pm)  

 

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FryWay 🍄 

21 Stuart Street & Mobile Truck  

FryWay boasts a commitment to offering chip truck cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients, procured from southern Ontario and Quebec farmers. You can find FryWay at their fixed location on Stuart Street and at various Kingston spots via their roaming food truck. Delight in their timeless food truck selections such as poutine, burgers, and hot dogs or try something new like taco fries or a jalapeno cheddar sausage.  

View menu  

21 Stuart St open: Mon – Thu (10:30 am – 7 pm), Fri (10:30 am – 9 pm), Sat (11 am – 9 pm), Sun (11 am – 6 pm)  

Mobile Truck open: Mon @ CFB Kingston (10:30 am – 3:30 pm), Tue – Fri @ Union & Division (10:30 am – 3:30 pm)  

Bustini’s Chip Truck 🍄 

682 Fortune Crescent  

Bustini’s Chip Truck presents a selection of gourmet poutines, burgers, pizza, and seafood – you’ll have trouble choosing between all the different variations. Indulge in the signature Bustini burger, topped with chipotle, onion rings, Monterey jack cheese, or the Firecracker poutine, covered in crispy chicken bites, green onions, and creamy dill sauce.  

View menu | Open: daily (11 am – 7 pm)  

 

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Q-Bite 🍄 

28 Bath Road  

Kingston’s newest food truck, Q-Bite, serves up mouthwatering Indian-fusion cuisine that blends traditional Indian flavours with chip truck fare. They’ve got creative sandwiches, such as the butter chicken melt and curry chicken sandwich, as well as street food, including fried vegetarian momos, samosas, and masala fries. All their dishes are halal.  

View menu | Open: Tue – Sun (11 am – 9 pm)  

 

In the mood for more of Kingston’s culinary delights? Discover Kingston’s restaurants, breweries, and eateries.  

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Nourishing Community Connection: Daughters General Store

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the corner of John and Patrick in the Inner Harbour area became a place for residents to pick up last-minute groceries, take their kids for a weekend snack, and enjoy both local and international treats.

Daughters General Store is nestled right in the neighborhood at 63 John Street, but a simple look at its Instagram feed and you’ll understand just how vibrant the store is. The owners, Norah and Erik Petersen, are dedicated to selling food products from local, regional, and international vendors. If you’re lucky, you might arrive on a day when they’re selling bouquets from local cut-flower gardens or fresh, organic herbs. The store is an eclectic mix that’s grown to include everyday staples and yummy sweets, while also catering to unique diets such as gluten-free, vegetarian, and plant-based.

Kingston residents will recognize some of the highlights from our local bakeries here, such as fresh scones from Wilton Wheat Kings or donuts from Knifey Spooney. While exploring some of the local offerings, you’ll also come across some regional products like cheese from a Guelph fromagerie or coffee from a shop in Hamilton. The Petersens deem their sunny spot in the Inner Harbour area a neighborhood grocery store. We spoke with Norah about how their travels and the history of small, local grocery stores inspired them to open their business.

“Just the idea of having a business embedded in a neighborhood really excited us. Every neighborhood used to have a grocery store really close. You would walk around the neighbourhood, like in Toronto –or here – and see these storefronts that have been constructed into houses or apartments that used to be corner stores…They were, at one time, stores for you to actually get all your groceries. We really liked that idea. We lived in New York City for a long time and there still are little grocery stores there or bodegas on every corner and they’re really like the centre of neighbourhoods.”

The Petersens have lived in several different places and discovered, when they settled in Kingston, that there were some beloved foods they couldn’t get here. So, what began as what Norah claims a “selfish pursuit of the delicious, vegetarian comfort foods” they craved, turned into a collection of products customers return for again and again.

The store also brings in new products all the time – often highlighted in real time on their Instagram feed – so that every visit is different from the last. Social media may be relatively new to the owners, but the Petersens find it helpful to spend a portion of their evening discussing which items they should feature the next day. They say it’s been essential for not only bringing in new clients but building another source of connection during the pandemic.

In fact, the store opened in October 2020, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cultivating a sense of community has been vital to the business atmosphere. Norah explains that the fun foods they import internationally help cultivate a sense of travel during a time when we’re all staying home:

“We have cookies from Italy because we spent some time there and it just reminds us of those times. We have Marks & Spencer cookies, British cookies, and we just bought them because we thought they were cool, but we found that our customers really, really, connected them with something special…I think especially at this time when we’re not allowed to travel anywhere, having things that remind us of other places is special.”

The Petersens were delighted with the positive response their business received from the community. Norah stated that providing a space people can go to during their work-from-home routines has been an “island of normalcy amid the pandemic,” even if social distancing measures had to be put into place.

Petersen shares her favourite part about supporting the Inner Harbour area: “I think that it’s a place where people can come together and eat and get their daily essentials. One thing that really makes me happy is when somebody comes in at the end of the day before dinner and they really need an ingredient that they forgot when they were at the grocery store, or something to finish up their dinner – and I happen to have it. It always makes me really happy. It’s a place you can rely on to get something but then also it’s a place where the kids can come get a popsicle.”

The Petersens are dedicated to their desire to simply connect people by building relationships with customers and introducing them to other small businesses. While the store may supply Patchwork Gardens greens or Reinink Family Farms eggs, and even products from places we might not be able to travel to, their ultimate desire is to nurture relationships. By being embedded in the neighbourhood, Daughters General Store has made buying food more than enjoyable. They’ve made it a community experience.

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Staying connected: The Glorious Sons

Nominees for Group of the Year at the 2021 JUNO Awards

It’s really fitting that Kingston band The Glorious Sons are nominated for Group of the Year at the 2021 JUNO Awards. Because while their North American tour to promote their last album, “A War on Everything,” was cut short in March 2020, the band has been actively connecting with their fans over the past year, getting them through a year without live concerts by releasing recordings of their last live shows. There’s a double CD featuring recordings from the shortened 2020 tour and a four-disc set from their sold-out Kingston show in September 2019.

When a band comes to Kingston to play, says singer Brett Emmons, “there’s a buzz on the streets before the show. Whether it’s Elton John or The Hip about to play, there’s a certain bustle to the city. For both of our big hometown shows [at the Leon’s Centre in 2018 and Richardson Stadium in 2019] I could feel that buzz, and I’d only ever experienced that from the outside.”

The buzz of that last hometown show, playing in front of 14,000 fans, was captured in the album “Our Little Piece of Work: Live at Richardson Stadium.” Released in November 2020, the live album gives listeners the auditory experience of a live Glorious Sons show, to tide fans over until the band tours again.

The band has stayed connected with fans in other ways over the last year, releasing limited edition posters as well as hockey jerseys. They also created their own app, TGS Union. Through the app, you can buy merch, stream music, and even get the chance to join an XBOX livestream with members of the band (they’re big fans of the game NHL 21).

While COVID shut down their 2020 tour, The Glorious Sons haven’t been idle this past year.

“We’ve got about thirty unreleased songs,” says Brett. “I’m really excited about the new stuff that we’ve written. It’s a bit of a callback to “The Union” [their 2014 debut album] but there’s a little more sophistication and thought to it.”

“We’d also been working with a producer for the last two albums,” Brett continues. “So we decided to just shoot from the hip and plug in and play. I think we’ve got a really energetic, special batch of songs out of that.” In late May, they released two of those new tracks, “Young King” and “Daylight.” Stay tuned for more.

And at the end of this year, The Glorious Sons have some unfinished business to attend to. Their tour to promote “A War on Everything”, cut short in March 2020, picks up again in December. It’s now called “The Unfinished Business” tour.

“The Union” also gave its name to a Kingston restaurant. Brett’s brother Jay Emmons, who plays guitar for The Glorious Sons, is a co-owner of The Union Kitchen + Cocktails on Princess Street.

When asked to name their favourite Kingston hang-out, both Emmons brothers agree on The Iron Duke: they miss watching football with friends there over beer and wings.

The Glorious Sons are one of five bands nominated for Group of the Year at the 2021 JUNOS. The band was nominated for its album “The Union” for Rock Album of the Year in 2015; they won Rock Album of the Year in 2018 for “Young Beauties and Fools” and in 2020, for “A War on Everything.”

The JUNO Awards will be broadcast on Sunday, June 6 at 8pm on all CBC platforms:  CBCmusic.ca/junos.

JUNO’s poster in support of Joe’s M.I.L.L. 

Joe’s M.I.L.L. is a registered charity in Kingston, Ontario founded by musician, Wally High, in memory of his friend and band member, the late Joe Chithalen, who was a talented bass player in several well-known Kingston bands. Joe’s M.I.L.L. operates in tribute to Joe’s love of music, so that anyone who wants to can enjoy playing music as much as he did.

All proceeds from sales of the poster will go to support Joe’s M.I.L.L.

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Sarah Harmer: Looking back and stepping up

Nominee, 2021 JUNO Award, Adult Alternative Album of the Year for “Are You Gone”

Sarah Harmer didn’t set out for her new album “Are You Gone” to be the spiritual successor of her debut album “You Were Here,” released 21 years ago. But, she says, they turned out to be “bookends” for each other, as each album has songs that explore lives lost. On “You Were Here,” the title track was an ode to Harmer’s friend and former bandmate, Joe Chithalen, who had died in 1999.

I’m just sad for myself
Cause I know you’re clear
But I would love it if you were here

“You Were Here”

On Harmer’s new album, released in 2020, there’s a solemn tone to some of the songs, but there is also a sense of honouring and celebrating the lives of people no longer with us. “Shoemaker” is a song inspired by a photo Harmer found of her great-grandfather. Curious about who he had been, Harmer delved into genealogical research sites. The song imagines what it was like for John, a shoemaker from Glasgow, to travel to Canada in 1843.

A lonely sky
A shoemaker’s eye
Had never seen a horizon
So wide

“Shoemaker”

The songs on “Are You Gone” alternate between gentle melodies and rousing ones, and all feature razor-sharp lyrics. They’re not all about looking back, either. “New Low” is an energetic, danceable number – with an edge. Harmer describes how the song developed: “For whatever reason, I was walking around on my lawn with a guitar and started playing [the song’s bouncy hook] and the melody was immediately apparent.” Harmer’s vocals on “New Low” create a deliberate contrast to the melody: “I wanted the drive of the song to carry through,” she says, “and the vocals to be a little more subdued.”

As for the lyrics, “I had just come back the day before from a vigil in Kingston at Market Square after the mosque shooting in Quebec City [in 2017]. And I felt the people around me there were more fired up than I had seen. And I felt fired up. The women’s march in Kingston happened around that time, as well. It just felt like people were stepping up more and more.”

Out on the streets three times this week
New threats, new lows
If this gets us to our feet and grows
Who knows?

“New Low”

Sarah Harmer’s album “Are You Gone” is one of five nominees for the 2021 JUNO Award for Alternative Adult Album of the Year. She previously won this award for her 2005 album “All of Our Names.” The JUNO Awards will be broadcast on Sunday, June 6 at 8pm on all CBC platforms:  CBCmusic.ca/junos

Some of Sarah Harmer’s favourite Kingston spots are Peter’s Restaurant on Princess Street for breakfast, and The Pilot House for fish and chips. She loves the ride down into Kingston along the K&P Trail from her home north of the city.

JUNO’s poster in support of Joe’s M.I.L.L. 

Joe’s M.I.L.L. is a registered charity in Kingston, Ontario founded by musician, Wally High, in memory of his friend and band member, the late Joe Chithalen, who was a talented bass player in several well-known Kingston bands. Joe’s M.I.L.L. operates in tribute to Joe’s love of music, so that anyone who wants to can enjoy playing music as much as he did.

All proceeds from sales of the poster will go to support Joe’s M.I.L.L.

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The Tragically Hip receive 2021 JUNO Humanitarian Award

“Making our neighbourhood a better place”

Their first JUNO award – in 1990 – was for “most promising group of the year.” And The Tragically Hip certainly lived up to their promise. They went on to win 14 more JUNOs and were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. At this year’s JUNO ceremony on June 6, they’ll receive the 2021 Humanitarian Award.

The Humanitarian Award recognizes outstanding Canadian artists or industry leaders whose humanitarian contributions have positively enhanced the social fabric of Canada and beyond. Members of The Hip – Rob Baker, Paul Langlois, Gord Sinclair, and Johnny Fay – will receive the award from Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson from Rush (the 2015 Humanitarian award recipients).

The Hip also will perform at the JUNO event, with singer Leslie Feist on vocals. This will be the band’s first televised performance since lead singer Gord Downie died in 2017. The event will be broadcast on Sunday, June 6 at 8pm on all CBC platforms:  CBCmusic.ca/junos.

Rob Baker, the band’s lead guitarist, talked about getting this award, the importance of supporting local causes, and one of his favourite Kingston musical memories.

“It feels strange to receive a humanitarian award,” he says modestly. “We just try and make our neighbourhood a better place.” Charitable work has always been part of the band’s ethos. Most recently, the band has been working with the Unison Benevolent Fund, which provides emergency relief services to people in the Canadian music industry, both musicians and crew members. “Things have been pretty bad in our industry,” says Rob. “We know people who lost tours, who are out of work, and are clinging to their livelihoods. We don’t want to lose an entire industry to COVID!” 

The Tragically Hip have been raising awareness and money for the fund, including through proceeds of their “Courage” masks. Learn more at https://thehip.com.

And while they continue to support national causes, the members of The Hip have always prioritized Kingston projects. “In the early years,” says Rob, “we never shied away from doing benefit shows. Our first big one was for Almost Home. We put on a concert at Fort Henry with The Pursuit of Happiness. Almost Home [which provides support for families with sick kids in Kingston hospitals] had just secured a place but didn’t have the funds to renovate it and make it into what it could be – what their dream was. So, we were able to raise a significant amount of money for them.”

“You just start small,” he continues, “but then you get a taste for it. You can see the impact of your support [for a small charity], and you start to dream a little bigger.”

And sometimes, a cause hits really close to home.

“Joe Chithalen was a friend,” says Rob somberly. “And we had great plans to play together … and that didn’t happen. The unexpected has a way of poking its head up every once in a while.”

Joe Chithalen, a talented Kingston musician, died tragically in 1999 at the age of 32. In his honour, the Joe Chithalen Memorial Musical Instrument Lending Library – Joe’s MILL – was established. The library loans out a variety of musical instruments at no charge to Kingston residents. The Tragically Hip have supported Joe’s MILL since its beginning.

Music builds community

So, why is Joe’s MILL so transformational? Why is having access to music and musical instruments so important, especially for young people? For Rob Baker, “it’s just being able to have the opportunity. Not everyone is going to play an instrument; not everyone is going to have dreams of making albums or touring the world. But [access to music instruments] is just such a good way to investigate yourself and build community with other people. The connection that music makes with people! And not just the way music connects with a person’s heart and mind, but the way it connects them with other people. It really does build community. So, if you can extend some of those opportunities, then, by all means, you need to do it.”

Kingston musical memories

Kingston live music venues are shuttered for the time being. But Rob has fond memories of two special concerts here in Kingston, one as a performer and the other as an audience member.

“At the Leon’s Centre, coming up on five years ago, [The Tragically Hip] played our final show. And I remember being on stage and looking over, and my wife and son were standing side stage. And I kind of gave them a little smile. And two or three years later, I was standing side stage there with my wife, watching my son [Boris Baker, bassist for Kasador] on stage, warming up for The Glorious Sons. And he looked over at us and gave us a smile. And I saw that look in his eye. We both recognized that this flip had happened. And that was a pretty special moment for me.”

Insider itinerary

Rob Baker and his wife, Leslie, have been sticking close to home this past year. They’re both avid cooks and enjoy trying out new recipes. But, Rob says, “we realized that restaurants must be taking a beating due to COVID. So, we committed to ordering in once a week. We have our favourites – Chez Piggy, Harper’s, Olivea, Wooden Heads. One of our favourite Indian restaurants, Curry Original, is temporarily shut down, but it’s under new ownership and will be re-opening.  Taste of India is also excellent. I have a friend in Toronto who says he has had to come to Kingston to get the best Indian food!”

Sticking close to home has also enabled Rob to discover some local treasures.

“I found a great little corner store on John Street recently,” he says. “Daughter’s General Store. Wow – that’s a treat! Really enjoyed that place. It’s kind of like a corner store. But everything in there is kind of upscale and interesting. You can buy orchids! Or, if you want a popsicle, you can go in, but they’re not just popsicles, they’re Mexican paletas – they’re homemade, beautifully crafted popsicles that are fantastic! And they have so many interesting things that you’re not going to get at a regular corner store.”

JUNO’s poster in support of Joe’s M.I.L.L. 

Joe’s M.I.L.L. is a registered charity in Kingston, Ontario founded by musician, Wally High, in memory of his friend and band member, the late Joe Chithalen, who was a talented bass player in several well-known Kingston bands. Joe’s M.I.L.L. operates in tribute to Joe’s love of music, so that anyone who wants to can enjoy playing music as much as he did.

All proceeds from sales of the poster will go to support Joe’s M.I.L.L.

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Best in bloom: 7 great places to experience Kingston’s spring flowers

If you’re looking for a mid-day break, a weekend treat, or simply a place to connect with nature, Kingston is bustling with blooms for you to explore. Research shows that experiences in nature can improve physical fitness and the ability to cope with stress. Experiences in nature are linked to good health, both physical and mental. More than 200 parks are open to the public year-round in Kingston, so you can revel in the spring weather by checking out what nature has to offer in your own backyard. All these spaces are open to the public and free of charge, making your next walk even brighter.

Please remember to responsibly enjoy Kingston’s parks: stay with your household and physically distance from others. 

Confederation Basin, Confederation Park & City Hall

216 Ontario St

If you’ve got a craving for tulips this season, or just want to discover some flowery views in historic downtown Kingston, check out the Confederation Basin area located in front of . Here you’ll find a bright, spacious green space offering views of the marina, sparkling Lake Ontario, and Royal Military College. This area includes the lush gardens and fountains of Confederation Park just in front of City Hall and other blooms lining the Waterfront Pathway. Did you know that Shoal Tower, one of the four Martello Towers in Kingston, is also located here? The tower was built in the 1840s to defend Kingston’s harbour. Confederation Basin proves that you can be at the centre of downtown Kingston – and its selection of great coffee and snacks for you to grab and go – while still satisfying your urge to get back to nature.

The Walk at City Park, Hospice Kingston

Bordered by King St E, Barrie St, Bagot St, and West St

Travel west of City Hall and you’ll find the leafy grounds of City Park. You can also enjoy the Walk located in the northeast corner of the park. The Walk was developed by Hospice Kingston to be a family-friendly space for quiet contemplation. Here you can rest on a bench and listen the bubbling fountain or wander the Walk’s pathway, which features several memory stones commemorating loved ones and their accomplishments. With flowers that shift with the seasons, this is a peaceful place for reflection and mindfulness.

Lions Civic Gardens

875 Gardiners Rd

Those in the west end of Kingston may be familiar with the Lions Civic Gardens, which has hosted many free music concerts over the years. (It’s also a popular toboggan run in the winter.) But this park next to Cataraqui Town Centre also offers some lovely walking trails. These gardens offer the opportunity to roam and discover wildflowers; there are also several maintained garden beds here.

Queen’s University campus

99 University Ave

There’s perhaps no better place in Kingston to witness spectacular flowers and trees than on the Queen’s University campus. Beds of daffodils and tulips make a bright contrast to the backdrop of limestone buildings. Later, as the flowering bulbs finish blooming, they’ll be replaced by annual flowers. Did you know that each year the grounds crew constructs a detailed plan about what they’ll be planting in the campus garden beds and planters?

While beautiful flower beds can be found across the entire campus, take some time to view the trees there, many of which are unlikely to be found elsewhere in Kingston, or even in Southeastern Ontario. This is because a unique microclimate is created here by the combination of building placement and proximity to Lake Ontario. The Snodgrass Arboretum, located in front of Theological Hall and Summerhill, was established in 1999 to recognize these rare trees. In fact, the slope in front of Summerhill was the site of Canada’s first botanical garden, established in 1861 by the Botanical Society of Canada. You can also virtually tour the Arboretum.

From the hanging baskets studded along University Avenue or the lush spring garden beds at Agnes Benidickson field, Queen’s campus is a must-see for those looking for blooms.

Joseph Dominik Garden

191 Portsmouth Ave

Joseph Dominik Garden is the first fully accessible public sensory garden in Kingston. The Ongwanada Centre opened the therapeutic garden in 2006. Since then, the garden has won several awards from the Kingston Communities in Bloom program. The garden was designed to elicit a beautiful sensory experience for those with developmental and physical disabilities. Come discover how this space engages all the senses!

Churchill Park Flower Garden

On Brock Street, between Napier and Regent streets, you’ll find Churchill Park, known for its stunning flowerbeds. The space also boasts a sundial monument, erected in 1973 to celebrate Kingston’s 300th anniversary and the 500th anniversary of the birth of Copernicus.

Barriefield Rock Garden

The Bill Robb Barriefield Rock Garden that runs from the bottom of Main Street alongside James Street to the rock-cut along Highway 2 was created in 1990. Bill Robb was a retired Bell Canada lineman and engineering technician who was instrumental in devising the project. He cultivated the garden systematically, using an aerial photograph that he marked off as he proceeded. Having volunteered at the local federal prisons, Bill enlisted inmates to help with the gardening, many of whom went on to work in the landscape industry.

The garden, with its unique natural landscaping, has won Kingston Community in Bloom awards over the years and it continues to be maintained by volunteers, with funding from the Pittsburgh Community Benefit Fund.

Paterson Memorial Garden

111 Norman Rogers Dr

Tended by members of the Kingston Horticultural Society, the Paterson Memorial Garden, (next to the City of Kingston greenhouse in Roden Park), is a perfect place to wander. With new additions every year, this garden is constantly evolving. The garden pays tribute to Willie Paterson (1891–1983), who shared his plants and botanical knowledge with the Kingston community for many years. The Kingston Horticultural Society also offers online informational meetings for members and guests. You can check out its website for information on upcoming Zoom meetings. The Kingston Horticultural Society also maintains the Pollinator Garden at the Memorial Centre at 303 York Street. Dedicated to providing continuous bloom and confronting the challenge of pollinator decline, this garden is worth checking out.

Whether you’re admiring the forsythia or daffodils on your neighbor’s front lawn, or planning to visit some of the green spaces on our list, take advantage of the opportunity to get outside, de-stress, feel happier, and boost your creativity. Stopping to smell the roses is always good for the soul.

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Cinco de Mayo at home: recipes from Dianne’s + Mesa Fresca

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at home and try out these three recipes from Mesa Fresca and Dianne’s Fish Shack & Smokehouse.

Mesa Fresca

Mesa Fresca is a locally owned and operated restaurant located in the west end of Kingston. Owners Alison and Andrew Scahill pride themselves on their unique blend of Mexican fusion, utilizing their love of the vibrant flavours of Latin cuisine to inspire the menu. The abundance of local suppliers, fresh produce and meat available in the Kingston area are not only the backbone of their menu but their local suppliers have become an integral part of Mesa Fresca family as they navigated operating a new restaurant during COVID-19.

They shared their Margarita de la Casa recipe with us below.

Mesa Fresca’s Margarita de la Casa

Margarita de la Casa recipe

Prepare in advance:

Lime Infused Salt:

  • Coarse kosher salt
  • Fresh lime zest (zesting with a microplane works best)

Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice:

  • 3-4 limes per margarita

Simple Syrup:

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup water

(Optional: you can easily make more or less syrup depending on how many margaritas you plan to have; just be sure to use equal parts sugar and water)

  1. Combine equal parts sugar and water in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil then reduce; let simmer for 15 minutes. Cool to room temperature before using.

Ingredients:

  • 1 oz Tequlia el Espolon Blanco
  • ½ oz Cointreau
  • ¾ oz simple syrup
  • 1 ½ oz freshly squeezed lime juice
  • Ice
  • Served best in an 8oz rocks glass

Method:

  1. Rim rocks glass with lime juice & salt the rim generously.
  2. Combine all of the ingredients in a cocktail shaker.
  3. Shake well for 10 seconds and strain into rocks glass.
  4. Enjoy!
Notes:
  • We opt for Espolon’s tequila blanco as its crisp flavours lend well to the vibrancy of our freshly squeezed lime juice. That said, any tequila will suffice, and we encourage others to try the same recipe with richer, aged tequilas such as reposados or anejos.
  • Cointreau is our triple sec orange-flavoured liqueur of choice. It is a premium quality brand, much less sweet than Grand Marnier, thanks to the bitter orange peels infused into the liquor.
Dianne’s Mexican Street Corn

Dianne’s Fish Shack & Smokehouse

Just steps from the waterfront in downtown Kingston, Dianne’s is where a classic East Coast kitchen meets the flavours of Mexico! From fresh sustainable seafood choices, turf and tacos, this irresistible destination has made a name for itself and proud owner Tim Pater proves again that he truly has a flare for the restaurant industry in Kingston with his drive and passion.

For Cinco de Mayo, here are Dianne’s Mexican Street Corn (as seen on Food Network’s You Gotta Eat Here!) and Diablo Caesar recipes.

Mexican Street Corn

Four portions 

Ingredients:

  • 8 pieces freshly husked corn on the cob
  • 8 oz queso fresco, pulsed in a food processor until loosely crumbled
  • 1 tbsp Mexican-style chili powder
  • 2 jalapeno peppers, very thinly sliced crosswise; include some seeds
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise, preferably homemade, mixed throughout with the zest and juice of two limes
  • 2 tbsp roughly chopped cilantro leaves
  • 1 lime cut into 8 wedges
  • Sea salt / freshly ground pepper to taste

Method:

  1. Light BBQ and pre-heat to high with lid closed.
  2. When BBQ is hot, lay corn side by side on the grill and leave to cook until corn starts to “pop” and begins to char.
  3. Starting from one end on the line of corn, rotate each cob a quarter turn and allow charring to continue and corn to “pop” until corn is evenly charred all over. (Charring is good for depth of flavour; don’t be afraid of it.)
  4. When corn is evenly charred and cooked, place on a tray and spoon over a generous amount of lime mayonnaise; using tongs, rotate the corn to smother each cob completely from end to end with the mayonnaise.
  5. Place two cobs side by each on a serving plate and sprinkle liberally with queso; with a generous pinch of chili powder dust corn entirely, season to taste with sea salt and pepper, then garnish with several slices of jalapeno, chopped cilantro, and a lime wedge.
  6. Serve and enjoy!

Diablo Caesar

Prepare in Advance

Tomatillo Mix:

  • 2 litre Kitchens Tomatillo Salsa Mix
  • 1 big can of tomatillo
  • 4 tsp garlic powder
  • 4 tsp onion powder
  • 4 oz lime juice
  • 4 tsp horseradish
  • 4 cups water
  • 4 tsp green cholula

Method:

  1. Rim glass with salt.
  2. Add tequila.
  3. Add ice.
  4. Add Diablo mix.
  5. Garnish with deep fried shrimp.

 

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Your local gift guide to Mother’s Day

We are all craving connection with our loved ones. Despite the distance we are experiencing, let’s honour and cherish our mothers, grandmothers, stepmothers, foster moms, aunts, sisters, and all the other mother figures in our lives. This guide will help you give the gift of local.

Are we missing a Mother’s Day offering? Use our chat function on our website to let us know.

Jump to a section:

 

Gifts

Artisan Made Co

Artisan Made Co showcases handmade products from makers across Canada. This year, they are offering special gift sets that would be the perfect present for your loved one.

Onderbroeks

Onderbroeks is a Kingston-based company that designs and produces small-batch, curated collections of luxury robes and loungewear.

 

Sherry Jeffery jewelry

Treat your loved one to beautiful handmade jewelry by Sherry Jeffery. Sherry specializes in modern, minimal, everyday designs that are sure to bring a smile to their face.

 

Whitney Haynes jewelry

This year, Whitney Haynes is offering a special Mother’s Day line of jewelry featuring gorgeous sterling silver, pearl necklaces and earrings, leather wraps, and more.

 

Found and Lost Art greeting cards

Support local artists by purchasing a one-of-a-kind Mother’s Day greeting card. Christine Jamieson from Found and Lost Art created beautiful spring-themed cards for Mother’s Day featuring blooming flowers, friendly animals, and vibrant colours.

 

Plants from The Jungle and The Plant Shelf

Did you know Kingston is home to a few plant boutiques? If your mom has a green thumb, treat her to a new plant addition from The Jungle or The Plant Shelf. Both shops offer curbside pickup and local delivery.

 

Begin Again Group

Begin Again Group is a social enterprise that creates unique, stylish bags out of recycled rubber. It is also a small community of women, most of whom are new Canadians, who have learned design, construction, marketing, and business skills, all while building their new lives in Kingston.

 

Happy Thoughts: Butternut Creek Flowers

Happy Thoughts has partnered with Butternut Creek Flowers to offer a special bouquet of flowers. This year they are offering 50% off cards from their Mother’s Day collection with every pre-order. Pre-order is only open until Wednesday, May 5th, for delivery on Saturday, May 8th.


Spa at Home

Twelve Five Candle Co & Beauty Atelier

Pamper them with a relaxing soak at home. Twelve Five Candle Co & Beauty Atelier’s special Mother’s Day gift box includes a Dark Rose or Cashmere scented wood wick candle, matching perfume oil, and a coconut + bourbon vanilla mineral milk bath soak or chocolate + Bulgarian rose bath bomb.

 

Cher-Mere Day Spa

Now more than ever we need self-care. What better gift can you give than that of relaxation? Cher-Mere’s Mother of All Spa Box includes a wide range of products that pamper from head to toe. They are also offering their popular YGK boxes; a partnership among local Kingston businesses with a sampling of local products.

 

1000 Islands Soap Company

Years ago, Jackie Marshall started making soap in her kitchen as a hobby. Now her business, 1000 Islands Soap Company, offers dozens of types and scents of soap, bath, and shower products, and more. It’s all natural, and it’s all made by hand in her store at 339 King Street East.


Food & Drink

General Brock’s Commissary

Located on picturesque Brock Street, General Brock’s Commissary stocks their shelves exclusively with locally produced products from Upper and Lower Canada. Along with delicious cheeses, charcuterie meats, gift baskets, and artisan gifts, they really pack the punch for chocolates!

Cha Cha Tea 

If your mom is a tea lover, we have the perfect local place for gifts. Cha Cha Tea carries a wide selection – about 80 different kinds – of black, green, and white teas, as well as herbal infusions, all available online for purchase. The shop is run by Kaoru Miller, a certified tea sommelier.

 

Bread and Butter Bakery

This year, Bread and Butter Bakery is offering a curated line of Mother’s Day treats. Treat your loved one to everything from a breakfast-in-bed pastry box, tea party savoury box of treats, chocolate-covered strawberries, and more.

 

AquaTerra Mother’s Day to Go

Say thank you to mom this Mother’s Day with AquaTerra’s to-go options crafted with love. Enjoy a variety of offerings including a Seafood Platter, Afternoon Tea at home, and a Tasting Menu to go. Each package includes the option of cocktail kits, wines, ciders, or spritzers as add-ons.

 

Hard Way Cider Co

Treat your mom to a new local gem! Hard Way Cider recently moved to Kingston (they’re at 748 Development Drive) and they specialize in one-of-a-kind, artisan, barrel-aged, bone-dry cider. They offer free shipping in Ontario on orders of $60+ and free local delivery within 25km of their Kingston location.

 

Wharf & Feather Mother’s Day takeout

Wharf and Feather has a special Mother’s Day takeout of assorted Pan Chancho breads with whipped butter, house-smoked salmon crostini with herb-and-onion cream cheese, broccoli cheddar quiche with caramelized onions, a heritage green salad, roasted vegetable strudel, lemon-and-herb marinated roast chicken, roasted fingerling potatoes, Patchwork Garden roasted honey carrots, and more.

Knifey Spooney Mother’s Day brunch

Knifey Spooney has a great gift for all the plant-based moms out there. Dig into a vegan high tea brunch box with a fresh bagel kit with all the fixings (carrot smoked salmon, creamed brie, red onion, and capers), a mini asparagus quiche with shiitake bacon, and truffled mac and cheese. For dessert, indulge in a lemon tart with aquafaba meringue and a decorated sugar cookie.

 

Pan Chancho

Help the kids make something special with a Mother’s Day sugar cookie decorating kit. The kit comes with three classic sugar cookies spelling ‘MOM,’ icing, sprinkles, and a decorating stick. After cookies, enjoy a Mother’s Day brunch including your choice of quiche, a fresh fruit salad, six croissants, five macarons, and a mimosa kit for four.

 

Kingston Olive Oil Company

Kingston Olive Oil is the perfect gift for any foodie moms! This local company’s most popular gift packs include balsamic samplers, olive oil flight samplers, and special cookbook and oil samplers. They also offer free Kingston delivery and free shipping on $75 minimum orders.

 

Olivea

This year, Olivea is offering Mother’s Day gift baskets that include a $25 Olivea or Riva gift card and flowers for $80 plus tax (or choose one without flowers for $50 plus tax). Each gift basket includes Prosecco and chocolate. Call 613-547-5483 or email oliveaorders@gmail.com to order!

 

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Tango Nuevo

Delight mom with Tango Nuevo’s Mother’s Day brunch box! Their package includes chef’s choice 6 feature charcuterie, a fresh fruit plate, choice of quiche, avocado tartare with wonton crisps, bacon-wrapped dates with pistachios and balsamic reduction and, lemon meringue tart. Preorder at their website for $95+ HST.

 

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Black Dog Home

Black Dog Home is taking preorders now at www.blackdoghome.ca while quantities last. All orders must be placed by 5pm on Thursday, May 6th. Heating and serving instructions included. No substitutions, please. Free delivery or pickup is available.

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Background extras needed for upcoming TV series productions in Kingston

Paramount series “The Mayor of Kingstown” and Amazon’s “Reacher” will film in Kingston spring/summer 2021

April 6, 2021

(Kingston, Ontario, Canada) – Background extras are needed for two upcoming TV productions: Paramount’s “The Mayor of Kingstown” and Amazon’s “Reacher.” Both productions will be partially filmed in Kingston during spring and summer 2021. Due to COVID-19, the casting calls will be conducted via email.

Film and television production has been permitted to continue in the province. Productions are regulated by the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development, which amended its health and safety protocols to include special requirements regarding access to sets, testing up to three times per week, physical distancing, and PPE requirements.

The Mayor of Kingstown *SUBMISSIONS CLOSED

Seeking:

  • Seeking men and women of all ethnicities, 18+ years of age, to play prison inmates
  • Looking for “rough and tough” appearances

Rate of pay:

  • $14.25/ hour (Actra members will be paid the daily contracted fee as per IPA)

Additional details:

  • Work dates are offered on a weekly basis, so availability is key
  • You must be available for COVID-19 tests (provided by production, you will be paid 2 hours work for those)
  • Shoots are Monday to Friday – you may be needed some or all of those days
  • A general work day on set can range from 8 hours to 14+ hours
  • If you say yes to a day of work, assume you cannot schedule anything else that day
  • Start times and wrap times vary from day to day. You will always receive your “Call Time” (start time) the evening/night prior to your work day via email
  • Tattoos are fine but you must provide a letter or email of clearance from your tattoo artist (tattoos may need to be covered if this is not possible)
  • Only those that fit the desired requirements will be contacted
  • If selected, you will be contacted by the end of April

How to apply:

  • Please email a current selfie (picture) that best represents you and include your name, telephone number, and email address.
  • In the email, please include your measurements: height, weight, waist, shoe size
  • Apply directly to: mokbgcasting@gmail.com

Reacher

Seeking:

  • Male performers only. Looking for men over the age of 18. BIPOC, (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour) and Caucasian performers
  • Residents of Canada and/or men with work visas are eligible

Rate of pay:

  • $14.25/hour
  • Full days include a one-hour non-paid boxed lunch

Additional details:

  • Filming: Monday, May 3
  • Scenes will be shot throughout the day within the prison’s interior cells and outside in the exterior prison yards. Required for some scenes: shirtless/tank tops
  • Shooting hours: vary in length from 8 to 14+ hours. Start times vary. You need to be available all day and evening for your shooting production days
  • COVID testing is mandatory by production team. This will happen in Kingston (date, time, and site to be determined)
  • Strict COVID-19 protocols will be in place: wear double masks at all times unless actual on-set filming is occurring; two-metre separation between all people unless on-set; sanitation stations will be set up and must use when moving from place to place
  • Tattoos: visible tattoos are fine. A picture must be submitted to the email below with a letter of email clearance from the tattoo artist. (Tattoos may need to be covered if this is not provided)
  • COVID-safe snacks (packaged) will be provided. Bring your own snacks and water bottles
  • You will be notified by the casting office personnel for further information

How to apply:

  • Your full name, age, address, telephone number, and email address
  • Head and full body photo shots (required)
  • Tattoo clearance letter or an email attached from the artist
  • Height, waist, chest measurements and shoe size
  • Apply directly to: reacherbgcasting@gmail.com

Additional information about the productions is not available at this time and comment/interviews about these casting calls or the productions will not be granted.

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Film production during COVID-19

Film and television production has been permitted to continue in the province. Productions are regulated by the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development, which amended its health and safety protocols to include special requirements regarding access to sets, testing up to three times per week, physical distancing, and PPE requirements.

A recent update to the industry regulations clarified that only film and television production activities undertaken by professional production companies are permitted. Guidelines also reflect the most recent public health advice and best practices. Details can be found at www.ONreadytoroll.ca.

Production on City of Kingston property is only allowed on a case-by-case basis with presentation of a COVID-19 safety plan and under these strict provincial guidelines.

About the Kingston Film Office

The Kingston Film Office launched in 2018 to attract and support media production within the greater Kingston area. In addition to overseeing film permitting for all City of Kingston properties, the Kingston Film Office connects industry to local talent and resources including locations, cast crew, catering, transportation, accommodations and more.

About Tourism Kingston

Tourism Kingston’s mission is to promote Kingston, Ontario as a uniquely historic and hip destination to explore year-round. Tourism Kingston’s vision is to excel in creating, promoting, and growing opportunities for Kingston, Ontario to be a premier destination for individuals, groups, and businesses; to leverage tourism as a key driver of a healthy economy of Kingston; and to champion Kingston as a destination for local, regional, national, and international tourism.

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Your at-home guide to Easter in Kingston

*This article was last updated in April 2021*

Easter may look a little different this year, but Kingston businesses are offering creative ways to enjoy quality time with those you love. We’ve put together a list of packages and activities to enjoy safely.

If we are missing a business offering Easter specials, please let us know using our website chat function.

Cover photo credit: AquaTerra and Tie One On Creativity Bar

Food and beverage

AquaTerra

This Easter, AquaTerra will be offering both a brunch and dinner to go. For brunch, dig into a mesclun salad, quiche Lorraine, lamb sausage roll, pork belly hash, and lemon curd tart plus Earl Grey shortbread for dessert. The dinner option includes fresh focaccia, spring salad with cured salmon, turchetta, potato galette, Patchwork Garden carrots, green beans and a lemon tart for dessert. All you have to do is reheat and enjoy!

Price: $60, brunch for two or $100, brunch for four | $85, dinner for two or $160, dinner for four to six

Black Dog Home

Savour a full Black Dog Home Easter dinner available for pickup or delivery within City limits. This dinner for two or four has all your Easter fixings including a starter of pea soup, a main of maple-glazed ham, and sides of cheesy rosemary scalloped potatoes, honey and mustard-glazed carrots, prosciutto-wrapped asparagus bundles, spring pea salad with radish and goat cheese, and finally, a spiced carrot cake square for dessert!

Price: $70 for two people | $130 for four people

Jessup Food and Heritage

If you’re looking for a traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings, Jessup Food and Heritage will be offering an Easter takeout dinner. For $18.95 per person, you’ll get roast turkey, gravy, savoury dressing, turnip casserole, creamy mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and apple crisp for dessert. There is also the option to add a bottle of wine from Three Dog Winery.

Price: $18.95 per person

Pan Chancho

This year, Pan Chancho has put together a special pick-and-choose Easter menu. Start the evening off with a cheese platter that includes grapes, rosemary almonds, olives, and croûte. Enjoy your choice of lamb loin, seafood risotto, roasted ham, vegan tofu stirfry, or poached salmon as the main course. Finally, savour your dessert of a strawberry mousse bombe and chocolate truffles. There’s also the option to add additional treats to your order.

Price: $45 – $55 per person with the option for add-ons

Knifey Spooney

This year, Knifey Spooney will be offering a fully vegan Easter dinner! For their main, they’ve chosen an asparagus and local shiitake mushroom “bacon” quiche. A flakey, “buttery” crust, and a savory, flavourful tofu-based quiche. On the side, a creamy scalloped potato and roasted brussel sprouts with tangy pomegranate molasses and sesame seeds. Finish off the meal with lemon meringue pie or vegan mini cream eggs for dessert!

Price: $36 for one | $128 for a family of four

The Grocery Basket

Treat your loved ones (or yourself!) to a delicious dinner prepared with fresh, local ingredients. This Easter dinner includes honey glazed ham, creamy scalloped potatoes, bacon brussel sprouts, maple glazed carrots and homemade biscuit. All you have to do is reheat and enjoy!

Price: dinner for one – $22.95 | dinner for two – $39.95 | dinner for four – $69.95

Pizza in a Box

Pizza in a box is a home delivery service with all the fresh ingredients to make pizza at home. Build your own pizzas with local food products hand-picked by their team. They pack everything into a box and deliver it to your door to enjoy that evening or save it for the weekend.

Price: $12.75 – $58

 

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Bread and Butter Bakery – meal boxes + dinner

This year, Bread and Butter is offering your choice of baked french toast or quiche brunch boxes with all the fixings (fresh fruit platters, buttermilk biscuits, fresh raspberry jam). If brunch isn’t your style, there’s also a four-course Easter dinner for two.

Price: $37 brunch | $65 dinner | option for add-ons

The Grizzly Grill – family meals for four

The Grizzly Grill has your holiday dinners covered with fully cooked meals ready to serve. Enjoy a main course of chicken parmesan, salmon, prime rib, or BBQ back ribs. Each three-course meal comes with all the sides, fixings, and dessert. All you have to do is pick it up from the restaurant and dig in at home. 

Price: $95 – $125

At-home activities

Cher Mere – Pedicure in a Box

Indulge in a spa day at home with goodies from Cher Mere. Their pedicure in a box has everything you need for perfect nails. The kit comes with a file, Cher-Mere cuticle cream, a buffer, foot file, Cher-Mere cuticle oil, pediscrub, body butter, toe dividers, base and topcoat, and nail polish.

Price: $65

Sun Harvest – Moss Art Workshop

If you’re a plant lover, this workshop is for you! Freshen up your space with a Sun Harvest Greenhouse living moss art workshop. Learn and follow along at your own pace with a pre-recorded video. You’ll create an original piece incorporating different types, textures, and colours of moss.

Price: $50

Tie One On Creativity Bar – at home crafts

Get your creativity flowing with a selection of at-home craft kits from Tie One On Creativity Bar. Their kits range from creating candles and string art to learning macramé and finishing charcuterie boards.

Price: $10 – $55

Read More: Stay active at home: winter edition

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Studio LC: connecting Kingston students to the film industry

At one Kingston high school, students are learning to tell their stories through the medium of film. They’re also learning storyboarding, editing, camera work, lighting, sound design, and a host of other practical skills. This is Studio LC, a long-running program – and a working production studio – at LCVI.

Studio LC has been one of the Focus Programs in the Limestone District School Board for more than 20 years. Focus Programs concentrate study in a particular area, enabling students to learn skills and explore career paths while they are still in high school. This year, Studio LC becomes part of the Ministry of Education’s Specialist High Skills Major program, providing its students with real-world experience while earning them course credits.

 

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Kevin Bowers has been a teacher with Studio LC for eight years. “Studio LC is a functional film studio,” he says, “where the kids learn to write and light and act and direct and edit films. And in doing so, they’re hitting various course expectations. They’re getting a couple of art credits and a business credit. And they’re doing so while building films from the ground up, telling their stories, exploring their interests.”

Studio LC is limited to 28 students a semester, to give all the participants the opportunity for a solid hands-on learning experience, and to try their hand at different aspects of film production.

“Some students gravitate towards editing and some like being in front of the camera. Some like being behind the camera,” says Bowers, “but they get the opportunity to try all those things. It’s an essential part of the learning to help them find the thing that they’re passionate about. And then the others in Studio see their skills, and they’ll come together to produce a film with all the different talent in the studio. They can start to see how their passions become a necessary cog in the machine of production.”

 

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Many Studio LC alumni have gone on to post-secondary studies in film, at Ryerson, Humber, and elsewhere. (A highlight in past years was a class trip to TIFF in Toronto, where current Studio LC students could connect with alumni either studying or working in the industry.) A number of Studio LC alumni have also had their films screened at Kingston’s two film festivals, Reelout and KCFF. One of the feature films at KCFF this year, HOW TO FIX RADIOS, was entirely created by Studio LC alumni. (It airs March 5 online: https://kingcanfilmfest.com/2021/how-to-fix-radios/

Another group of alumni, Bodhi Irwin, Charlie Baptista, and Noah Murphy, are working together in Toronto. They released their first feature film, FINE CHINA, last year, and are working on their second. They’re planning on returning to Kingston to film their next project. Bowers hopes to set up co-op placements for that production for some of his current students.

 

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Not all Studio LC grads go into film production. But they do all take valuable skills with them in their next venture, whether it’s post-secondary education or the workforce. Bowers says, “They’re very insightful about how this studio experience is changing their lens on the world and finding out what is important to them. They want to land in a place where they are passionate about something, and where the people around them are passionate, too, so they can grow as part of a team.”

“A film studio,” he continues, “is a beautiful sort of microcosm for that world. Everyone’s got something to contribute, and everyone needs each other, in order to maximise everybody’s efficiency. It’s a community.”

Tap into Studio LC’s talent

Starting this fall, Studio LC will be looking for local co-op placements for its students. Get help at your production company from talented and motivated students while helping them get valuable on-the-job experience. A full co-op credit is 110 hours, but any number of hours will be useful for the students. Contact Kevin Bowers: bowersk@limestone.on.ca.

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Kingston Canadian Film Festival goes virtual in 2021

It’s almost here! The 21st edition of the Kingston Canadian Film Festival is online Feb. 26 to March 7. Tickets and passes are now on sale. Whether you’re a film buff or a filmmaker (or a musician or a comic book artist), you’ll want to check out this year’s offerings. Here are our top five reasons you shouldn’t miss KCFF 2021.

Still from MY SALINGER YEAR

1. The big names.

This year’s festival includes films featuring Gabriel Byrne (DEATH OF A LADIES’ MAN), Sonia Smits (DRIFTING SNOW), Sigourney Weaver (MY SALINGER YEAR), and Scott Thompson (MOUTH CONGRESS). There will also be a special screening of the 40th anniversary restoration of the Dennis Hopper indie classic OUT OF THE BLUE.

2. #YGK represent!

While KCFF screens the best films from across the country, there’s something special about seeing films by local artists. Check out “Local Shorts” (March 1 and 2) highlighting the diversity of Kingston filmmaking talent, and HOW TO FIX RADIOS, a local spotlight feature film, on March 5.

3. The connections.

“How did you pull off that shot?” “Where did you get your idea?” Connect with filmmakers directly and get your questions answered at livestreamed Q&As after each film.

4. The convenience.

This year’s festival runs over ten days, so you can take your time and savour each film. Buy single tickets or a movie pass (for 6, 9, or 12 films). And if you aren’t able to watch a film during its premiere, once you have your ticket, you can watch it (and the Q&A) anytime during the festival.

5. The workshops.

i) Breaking in: starting a career in film and media.

This is the place to start if you have questions about the industry. This event is presented with support from Tourism Kingston. Register at https://kingcanfilmfest.com/2021/breaking-in/

ii) Music in the movies: film scoring panel.

If you’re a musician interested in getting into film scoring, this is the event for you.

iii) Comic book workshop.

Learn dynamic figure drawing and storytelling using the classic comic book styles.

Get your tickets at www.kingcanfilmfest.com