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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

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Meet the Maker: Tim Pater, Black Dog Hospitality Group

Kingston restaurateur Tim Pater has seen a lot of changes this past year. The arrival of the pandemic, obviously, forced some unexpected and unwelcome changes on him, but it also gave Pater the opportunity to make some new, positive changes of his own.

Last summer, he decided to go ahead with some long-planned changes to his flagship Kingston restaurant, Le Chien Noir. “This was planned before the pandemic hit; September 20, 2020 would have been the 20th anniversary of Le Chien Noir. The plan was to have a big 20th anniversary party, and then lock the doors, paper the windows, and transform into Black Dog Tavern. The reason? Mostly just 20 years of doing the same thing. I wanted to try something new, and I felt that Le Chien Noir had become pigeonholed as a special occasion-only restaurant. We wanted to do something a little looser, a little more fun. But in the summer, when we re-opened for takeout and delivery, Chien Noir’s menu really didn’t suit takeout. So, I thought, ‘Why not experiment with some of those ideas for the tavern now?’ So we went through the summer serving the tavern menu, first for takeout, and then at the restaurant when the patio was opened. We made the switch to Black Dog Tavern back in June, changed the signage, the menu, as much as we could. It’s the menu and atmosphere that changed the most: the music is a little more rock-and-roll and the food is more elevated comfort food.”

 

Some of the “elevated comfort food” favourites of the old Le Chien Noir menu have carried forward to the Black Dog offerings, like its poutine topped with duck confit, triple cream Brie velouté, and green peppercorn/Cognac demi-glace. It’s joined by new casual options like burgers and sandwiches. The menu was carefully curated to best serve takeout customers. “In terms of COVID and safety,” Pater says, “we wanted to create menus that didn’t need so many people in the kitchen, for all the prep. So, we just made them a little more simple and smaller.” But he expects Chef Rikki Wieczorek, who recently took over the helm in the Black Dog kitchen, will soon add her own spin to the menu with new items.

Chef Rikki recently starred in a Tourism Kingston “Together at Home for the Holidays” video, showing viewers how to put together a charcuterie board featuring local meats and cheeses, and easy-to-make pickled vegetables.

As of February 10, when Kingston moved into “Green-Prevent” status post-lockdown, Black Dog Tavern and Pater’s other restaurants – Atomica, Harper’s Burger Bar, and Dianne’s Fish Shack and Smokehouse – have been open for limited in-person dining, as well as takeout and delivery. All four restaurants continue to offer “Kingstonlicious” packages for both takeout and in-person dining.

Dianne’s “Down East” fish chowder is on the menu this month as part of a three-course Kingstonlicioius dinner (takeout or dine-in).

Pater’s business model for his restaurants is founded on a few immutable pillars. “First, our staff is family. They are who we are: they keep us going day in and day out. Of course, the customers are important! But if our staff are happy and taken care of, then that will translate into happy customers. Second, you can’t have a healthy business without a healthy community. And for me, a healthy community includes a healthy environment. So that means supporting local producers, using local suppliers, and getting involved in local organizations. Loving Spoonful is an important one for us: it provides access to local, fresh food for people who wouldn’t otherwise have that access. And the more we can support each other locally, the more that our money stays in the local economy.”

All four of Pater’s restaurants utilize takeout packaging that is biodegradable, compostable, or recyclable. “There are a number of restaurants in Kingston that have embraced this,” he says. “In our restaurants, we compost all our organic materials. And it just makes sense to eat what’s fresh and in season, and that means supporting local farmers. We’re really lucky in Kingston to have such a strong farming community in the region.”

Atomica’s plant-based Caesar salad. All takeout packaging from Black Dog Hospitality Group restaurants is biodegradable, compostable, or recyclable.

The last 12 months forced huge changes on Pater’s restaurants, from closing down to providing only outdoor patio service and takeout, to another lockdown, and now another cautious re-opening. And with those changes came hard decisions that had to be made.

“When the pandemic first hit and everything was shut down, I had to lay off more than 100 people,” he says. “And that was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. That was tough. But, once the government programs kicked in – and it took a while – and there was support, I felt a lot better. And then, as we opened up, we were able to bring almost our whole staff back. Then with the more recent shutdown in December, I had to lay off a bunch of people again. But we’re really trying to make it work with our staff, in terms of their schedules and how much they can work on EI. It seemed a lot less stressful this time around.”

“Kingston’s really resilient,” he continues, “and while I do worry about small businesses here, our shops and restaurants, I think we’re well-positioned with our post-secondary institutions and government offices here [in supporting small businesses]. We will get to the other side of this pandemic eventually. I just hope that we don’t lose too many local businesses; those are really the fabric of this community. I’d hate for the Kingston landscape to change so much that it’s all national chains. I think that’s the worry of a lot of people. I’m not going to pretend this isn’t a struggle: it is. I try to stay as optimistic as possible, but it feels like this will be a two or three-year recovery.”

With the help of his staff, Tim Pater has worked hard over the years to create restaurants with great food and great ambiance. Over the past year, he really missed the normal sights and sounds of a busy restaurant: the conversations, the noise, and the energy.  Things aren’t quite back to normal yet, but they’re on the right track.

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Kingstonlicious in February

It’s February. It’s cold and snowy and we’re at home. What could be better than some delicious comfort food made for you by a local chef?

The River Mill Restaurant

Kingstonlicious continues throughout February with new restaurants and new menus. All this month, Kingston chefs are showcasing their takes on comfort food. How does a plate of Texas ribs (plus mac and cheese on the side) sound? Smoke ‘N’ Barrel has you covered (and their three-course Kingstonlicious offering includes caesar salad and banana pudding). The Everly joins Kingstonlicious this month, offering a three-course meal featuring kale salad, housemade pasta with meatballs, and tiramisu for dessert. The River Mill is offering four entrée options (beef, chicken, seafood, and vegetable) in its three-course Kingstonlicious meal. With 25 restaurants taking part this month, there are more ways than ever to eat well at home.

Tourism Kingston launched Kingstonlicious in January to support local restaurants by coordinating new prix fixe dining options for takeout or delivery. These offerings take the guesswork out of what’s for dinner while highlighting for Kingstonians the diverse offerings of local restaurants (while eating safely at home). Tourism Kingston has partnered with Natalie Goldenberg-Fife, of Gold & Fife, a specialist in curating exceptional dining experiences, to present the ever-expanding Kingstonlicious options.

As Kingstonlicious enters its second month, Ms. Goldenberg-Fife has also created some special food and drink packages that combine at-home delivery with virtual learning from the experts. Want to learn how to make a perfect Aeropress coffee – and then an espresso martini? Stay tuned for a Kingstonlicious package from Northside Espresso x Kitchen. Would you like to know more about sake, the Japanese rice wine? The team at Miss Bao are planning a special menu to go with a sake tasting. There will be at least four food and beverage learning packages offered throughout February and March. Bookmark www.visitkingston.ca/kingstonlicious to stay in the know.

You’ve got dinner sorted. How about entertainment?

Jazz musician Matt Dusk takes to the (virtual) stage on Feb. 18 as part of the GrandOnStage series presented by the City of Kingston’s Cultural Services Department. Matt, a four-time JUNO nominee, performs songs from his new album JetSetJazz in a musical performance recorded exclusively for the GrandOnStage audience. After the show, take part in a live artist conversation and audience Q&A with Matt. Get your tickets: https://www.kingstongrand.ca/events/matt-dusk

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Home Sweet Home

Valentine’s Day and Family Day 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 experience safely.

Valentine’s Day Packages and Gifts

AquaTerra’s ‘Love in a Box’ gift set

AquaTerra’s Love in a Box

AquaTerra’s ‘Love in a Box’ features an assortment of their favourite items from local businesses that will show your loved ones how much they mean to you. The box includes a $50 gift certificate to AquaTerra, 12 oz of O’Brien’s of Bancroft fine dark coffee, 50 g of loose-leaf green tea and an infuser, a succulent plant from Pam’s Flower Garden, Cocoa Bistro chocolates, and a bottle of PEC Sparkling or Rosé.

Price: $79

Northside x Aeropress Gift Pack

This Valentine’s Day, give the gift of caffeine, and a little something extra, with a package from Northside Espresso + Kitchen. This sweet package includes an AeroPress Go coffee machine (with a special Ameuus coffee filter) and all the ingredients for the perfect espresso…and the perfect espresso martini! You’ll get a package of Bilbao espresso from Monogram Coffee, four ounces of Kinsip Spirits Still’s Whispers Vodka and Chili Espresso bitters (made in Prince Edward County). Plus, you’ll get a video tutorial from Northside’s Cade Pentland-Boyce on how to make both the perfect AeroPress coffee and her special twist on an espresso martini.

These limited-edition packages are available now until Valentine’s Day or until they sell out.

Price: $100

Dig in to Kingstonlicious offerings

For February, 24 Kingston restaurants are serving up $45 prix fixe takeout options! Warm your spirits with an exclusive meal at home. The theme this month is cozy and charming comfort foods and they have everything from three-course dinners to lunch for the family. Get out your stretchy pants and check out all the menus today.

Price: $45

The Grocery Basket: Valentine’s Day charcuterie

Get your snack on with charcuterie from the Grocery Basket. Their pre-made board includes three local cheeses and meats, two spreads, and all the accompaniments. You even have the option to keep the board!

Price: $40 (serves 2-4), $110 (serves 6-8)

Pan Chancho: Valentine’s Day takeout brunch

Pan Chancho is offering a special Valentine’s Day brunch, featuring quiche three ways (broccoli, caramelized onion, and cheddar; double smoked bacon and gruyere; or smoked salmon and dill), fresh fruit and triple soft cheese, housemade pain au chocolat, and a 7oz mimosa kit.

Price: $30

Cher-Mere YGK Date Boxes

Stay cozy and have a memorable evening in with items from local businesses. Cher-Mere’s gift box has thoughtful items such as a bath bomb from All Good Things, massage oil from Cher-Mere, ingredients and a recipe for supper from Olivea, your choice of a puzzle or virtual game from Minotaur or Wonderland Games, and a pair of Kingston T-shirts.

Price: $150

Found and Lost Art: love you to the moon and back gift set

If you have a cat lover in your life, Found and Lost Art’s space cats-themed gift box is the purr-fect treat for them. The gift features two 4 x 6 signed art minis ready to be hung on a wall or placed on a shelf and a ‘Love You to the Moon & Back’ Valentine’s card.

Price: $60

Kingston Frontenacs Valentine’s Day special

Kingston Frontenacs teamed up with AquaTerra for a Valentine’s Day special this year. Any merch orders placed of $50 or more online at The Fronts Shop will receive a free gift card to use at AquaTerra. Spend $50-$100 on Kingston Frontenacs gear and you will receive a $25 gift card. If you spend $100 or more, you will receive a $50 gift card.

Price: $50 – $100

Outdoors + Activities

 

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Online Escape Rooms

What’s more romantic than getting locked up in a room (virtually) with your special someone? Test your patience and problem-solving skills with Improbable Escapes or Sherlock’s Escapes. With fun themes and puzzles, this experience is perfect for the duo or family that loves adventures and adrenaline rushes.

Hike the trails at our conservation areas

Enjoy some fresh air and hit the trails. Kingston is home to many trails located in the city and surrounding areas. For a gorgeous waterfront view and a leisurely stroll, walk along the Waterfront Pathway by Portsmouth Harbour and Lake Ontario Park. Kids always love feeding the chickadees and ducks at Lemoine Point. For more difficult trails and cross-country skiing, head to Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area.

Read more: Top Hiking Spots in Kingston

Geocaching

Did you know Kingston is home to over 500 geocaches? If you’ve never been geochaching, it’s basically a real-life treasure hunt for little containers filled with trinkets. Each cache can be loaded on your phone or GPS system and includes difficulty ratings, hints, and a log of people who found the cache previously. The best part: the activity is free!

Credit: Tim Forbes

Downtown Lights

Bundle up and enjoy the winter lights in Downtown Kingston. Princess Street trees and lampposts from Division to Ontario Street have been fashioned with lights. The street is lit up every night, making an evening stroll downtown feel a little more magical. Keep your eye out for neon hearts in shop windows and finish the evening off with hot chocolate takeaway or a skate in Market Square.

 

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Tett Centre: Family Day colouring contest

Get out your art supplies and enjoy an afternoon colouring an original art sheet by Michelle Reid. Share your creation and tag the Tett Centre accounts to be entered in a contest to win a unique Michelle Reid Art mug. The winner will be chosen by Michelle on February 16 at 4pm.

Read more: Stay active at home: winter edition

Spoiled with Sweets

Cocoa Bistro

If you both have a sweet tooth, this section is for you! Valentine’s Day is the ideal excuse to spoil yourself with chocolates and treats. Cocoa Bistro’s creations stand out from the crowd – with flavours like Ginger Ginger, Molten Milk Chocolate Caramel, and Chai Latte, it’s hard not to fall in love!

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, and spreads, they really pack the punch for chocolates! (Try the fudge. You won’t be disappointed.)

 

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Coffee Way Doughnuts

Coffee Way is the spot to visit if you’re looking for a ‘70s retro throwback. The coffee shop is open 24 hours a day and the owner creates doughnuts by hand around the clock. Dig into classic flavours like Boston Crème, honey crullers, sour cream glazed, and blueberry filled. The sweets are also reasonably priced at $8 for a half dozen and $14 for a dozen. Takeaway available only due to COVID-19.

Read more: Introducing Kingstonlicious

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Stay active at home: Winter edition

Want to stay close to home? Here are a few stay-at-home ideas to get your brain and body revitalized.

1. Start a family game night.

SBT Games has a number of board and card games in stock, whether you want to be competitive or cooperative. Check out the SBT Facebook page for regular video recommendations on new items in stock and role-playing games in stock, including Dungeon Mayham (an easy-to-learn D&D-based card game) and Unlock! (a cooperative escape room game).

 

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Improbable Escapes has created five virtual (and family-friendly) escape adventures you can play at home. Work as a team to solve the puzzles while interacting with a live game-master in the physical game space.

2. Get crafty.

Feeling the urge to create something cozy for yourself while you’re cocooning at home? There’s no better time to start a knitting project. Purlin’ J’s Roving Yarn Co. (Kingston’s only mobile yarn truck) is roving a little less these days, but you can still order yarn, accessories, and kits online and get free delivery in Kingston.

Tie One On Creativity Bar offers delivery of its craft kits. Offerings from local artisans include a vinyl sign kit and a candle making kit.

3. Get connected.

Youtube is always an option for online exercise classes, but then you’re missing out on personal instruction and encouragement. If you’re craving more human connection while you get back into your body, Samatva Yoga offers all its classes online, from “slow and stretchy” yin and restorative yoga options to more energetic power yoga. The studio also offers online versions of its special workshops, such as pre-natal yoga and a Healthy Hips workshop. Free options are weekly guided meditation classes and a regular online book club discussion.

Check out the Tett Centre’s online offerings, including its Arte el Martes Project, a monthly Zoom get-together for community members to chat in Spanish and create art. Bring your own art project to the call, whether it is drawing, painting, knitting, or embroidery! All mediums and skill levels are welcome. Enjoy conversations and topics related to art-making and Latino culture, customs, food, and more. These free sessions run on the fourth Tuesday of every month from 7 to 9 pm. on Zoom. No registration required.

4. Get artsy.

The Agnes Etherington Art Centre has created Digital Agnes, an online platform for curatorial collaboration and creative research that highlights virtual exhibitions, digital publications, and interactive online experiences. You’re invited to digitally explore past exhibitions such as “The Powers of Women: Female Fortitude in European Art” from Winter 2018 or tour an interactive map of Rembrandt’s Leiden circa 1630.

5. Connect with your community

You can help the Queen’s University Archives with its crowdsourcing transcription project. Delve into local history while you transcribe digitized handwritten documents, review the transcription work of other volunteers, or help create index terms. Learn more.

Queen’s University Archives

CFRC Radio (Canada’s longest running campus-community radio station) offers a variety of locally produced podcasts, covering politics, sports, film, science, and the Kingston community. Explore them all here.

The Kingston Canadian Film Festival teamed up with Thom Ernst to create a podcast where we invite Canadian filmmakers to talk about their artistic influences past and present. The first episode features Jeff Barnaby, a Mi’kmaq filmmaker, writer, composer, and editor. Thom and Jeff chat about cinema, zombies, and colonialism. The podcast features guests like Festival faves Audrey Cummings and Matt Johnson among others. You can listen on your favourite podcast platform or their website.

6. Experience Kingston at Home

You can embrace the city’s festive spirit with Together at Home: For the Holidays, presented in partnership with the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts and The Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning. Cozy up with a hot drink and connect with Kingston’s makers, chefs, and musicians from the comfort of your own home with a series of festive videos. You can listen to the music of Miss Emily, learn to weave, or follow along with a spiced ginger cookie recipe!

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Meet the Maker: Jackie Marshall, 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.  

These days, of course, with COVID-19, business isn’t life as usual. While Jackie is still in the store, making products, taking calls, and filling online orders, she misses talking to customers in person. “People have always loved coming into the store and seeing me make the products,” she says. Customers (and Jackie’s own family members) have also had a hand in developing some of the new scents and products that 1000 Islands Soap offers.   

Take, for instance, a lotion that Jackie made for her mother-in-law back in 2012. That sore muscle rub is now a best seller, shipping to customers across Canada and internationally. Blended with aloe vera gel and eight different essential oils, the sore muscle rub works on arthritis pain, headache, and sore muscles. Some of Jackie’s customers use it preventatively before their jog or their golf game, to warm and relax their muscles. 

Jackie now makes a variety of specialty products, including a hot flash spray, a tick spray, and cold and flu products (including body butter, body spray, and shower steamer). And while many of these products utilize specially blended essential oils, there are unscented products, too. These include an unscented lotion bar specially made to soothe eczema.

A new product in 2020 was hand sanitizer, which Jackie initially made to help out local restaurants when there was a sanitizer shortage. “There was none on the shelves, so I had to do something quickly!” she says. She added aloe and vitamin E to her hand sanitizer, so it doesn’t dry out skin like harsher sanitizers (and it smells nice, too, thanks to a little lavender essential oil.) Due to customer demand, Jackie then offered the sanitizer for sale to the public. 

Another product created for a client, but now available for purchase, is the “Secret” line of bath and body products. Jackie created a special blend of patchouli, vanilla, mint, and grapefruit for Kingston’s Secret Garden Inn. The blend is an earthy and uplifting scent recreating the experience of being in the inn’s namesake garden.  The product line became so popular with the Secret Garden’s visitors that they – and others – can now bring the “Secret” experience home with them.  

As well as supplying products for local business, Jackie also purchases from them whenever she can. Her olive oil comes from Kingston Olive Oil Company.  Baking soda, citric acid, and herbs come from Tara Foods. And the coffee grounds for her exfoliating coffee scrubs come from Coffee & Company.  

“The local community is very supportive of each other,” says Jackie. “Right now, we’re all in the same boat and we don’t know what’s going to happen with COVID. But I’m still here.”  She’s also thinking of ideas to help people get through the pandemic together. One of her newest offerings is a bath bomb kit, which makes an excellent at-home craft project with the kids (or just a nice pampering exercise for yourself.)  

You can order online from 1000 Islands Soap Company at https://1000islandssoapco.com 

And follow the store on Facebook as well: Jackie often posts special offers (like the bath bomb kits) on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1000islandssoapco.  1000 Islands Soap Company offers curbside pick-up and free delivery within Kingston, as well as Canadian and international shipping. 

Tips from Jackie Marshall 

Feeling stressed? Different essential oils can help you relax or give you a boost.  Jackie recommends products with lavender to help you relax, and rose geranium for calming anxiety. Anything citrus-scented – orange, lemongrass, grapefruit – is uplifting, and peppermint is energizing. 

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Introducing Kingstonlicious 2022

Treat your tastebuds to a unique culinary experience with Kingstonlicious. With over a dozen participating restaurants from downtown to the west end, these special $45 prix fixe dine-in and/or takeout menus highlight heartwarming and cozy dishes. Meat-lovers, plant-based foodies, and culinary adventurists alike will enjoy the variety of dishes crafted to warm your tummy in the most delicious way possible.

The Kingstonlicious program launched in late January to reveal a vibrant mix of menus from Kingston’s finest eateries. Foodies can enjoy a night out (or a night in) with meals ranging from British to Mexican to German-themed flavours.

Course 2 at Smoke ‘N’ Barrel is a brisket plate comprising an eight ounce slow- smoked Texas-style brisket served with southern slaw and house-made BBQ baked beans.

AquaTerra offers sweet potato and lentil soup for their first course and chermoula tempeh or Moroccan lamb stew for the second. The experience gets even sweeter with vegan lassi cheesecake for dessert, made with salted pistachio sponge toffee, mango purée, and lemongrass-infused syrup.

Explore the flavours of Trinidad at Sally’s Roti Shop. Their takeout option is perfect for those looking to cozy up and dig in. Enjoy two roti shells, one meat, and one curry potato, plus rice and beans. This place is a local favourite for good reason!

Indulge your sweet tooth at Mesa Fresca with their apple chimichanga filled with tequila and Honeycrisp apple, fried in a flour tortilla, and topped with toasted oat and cinnamon crumble and salted whipped cream.

Dig into some crispy coconut shrimp, a creamy bean dip, or fresh Peruvian salad with Mesa Fresca’s appetizer options. This Mexican-fusion dinner also includes five options for the main course, along with apple chimichanga or lime pie for dessert. A bright hibiscus margarita as an add-on makes this experience a true treat.

Looking for a unique brunch option? Juniper Café’s exclusive menu is available seven days a week for dine-in and takeout. Select two breakfast sandwiches made with a fresh buttermilk biscuit (there’s a meat and a veggie option). Choose salad or coffee/tea and enjoy two white chocolate ganache and raspberry-topped brownies.

Take some time to connect with a friend or partner at the Secret Garden Inn. Afternoon tea or a two-course dinner is available from Wednesday to Sunday. Afternoon tea includes one savoury box (including delicious bites such as a chicken and cranberry salad sandwich) and one sweet box (ranging from scones to tarts and, of course, clotted cream). Two tins of loose-leaf tea plus sparkling wine are included. You can call to order takeout 24 hours in advance.

Plant-based and veggie diners are embraced at Kingstonlicious. There are several vegetarian options at AquaTerra and the Secret Garden Inn. Miss Bao offers a four-course menu that’s entirely plant-based, featuring mushroom bao and a warm spice-poached pear for dessert.

Jazz up date night with takeout from The Everly Wine Shop. You can browse and order online for pick up from Wednesday to Saturday. You’ll be wowed with wine and fresh charcuterie including olives, cheese, house-made terrine and truffle chips.

One of three options for your main at Wharf and Feather is the braised short rib (Ontario AAA). The dish includes beef short rib, crushed cheddar mash, wine-braised cabbage, braising jus reduction, and winter veggies. Every dinner option is made with local ingredients. Dine-in or takeout options are available Tuesday to Saturday evenings.

Many of the Kingstonlicious restaurants offer add-on options to take your experience to the next level. You can add desserts, cocktails, wine, or even local craft beer.

If you’re still hungry for more, Toast to Tapas offers unique appetizers using locally sourced ingredients for a special fixed price of $11.95 or $16.95 with a locally sourced beverage. Several restaurants are participating – with dine-in only – evenings from 5 to 7 pm for the month of February.

With food cooked from the heart, each Kingston eatery has carefully crafted their Kingstonlicious menus around what it means to be truly cozy.

You can discover this year’s exclusive Kingstonlicious experiences here: visitkingston.ca/kingstonlicious

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Insider Itinerary: Matt Salton, Reelout Queer Film Festival

I’ve been blessed to be making a living following my passions for film and social justice advocacy in my hometown of Kingston, Ontario as the executive director of the Reelout Arts Project. Representation, Respect, Inclusivity, and Education are pillars of my practice as an artist and as an advocate. Over the past 22 years, Reelout has given audiences a chance to see under-represented communities in the spotlight; it has also raised challenging dialogue amongst the LGBTQ+ communities and the larger community.  People are always surprised to learn that Kingston has sustained a large-scale queer film festival all these years. Here are my top five reasons why Kingston’s Reelout Queer Film Festival continues to dazzle.

The 22nd annual Reelout Queer Film Festival kicks off with our Reelout/Three Things Consulting Opening Selection films…

Posted by Reelout Queer Film + Video Festival on Monday, January 11, 2021

1. Local Business

Reelout’s sponsors are all locally owned businesses, many of which have supported the festival since its inception back in 1999. Even our current presenting sponsors are locally owned: Three Things Consulting and the Queen’s Positive Space program (through the Queen’s Human Rights Office). Our loyal family of sponsors and advertisers includes Novel Idea, The Optical Factory, HARS, Luce Hair Studio, Tir Nan Og, Shiva’s Delights, Sarah MacInnis Real Estate Team, Annie Clifford Barrister & Solicitor, and The Grand Theatre, just to name a few.

 

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2. Collaboration and Inclusivity

Reelout collaborates with Kingston City Hall, Tourism Kingston, Kingston Film Office, Downtown Kingston BIA, Queen’s University, and other arts and service organizations in many ways. The most important connection for all parties is to promote inclusivity. We all share the desire to reach out and acknowledge our region’s diverse populations; Reelout’s mission is to serve audiences focusing on films focused on age, race, class, gender, sexual orientation, and health. We all recognize that together we can achieve social progress by learning from our history and building a future that is inclusive and conscientious of its privilege. Kingston’s cultural communities and institutions work stronger in tandem and it shows.

 

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3. Volunteerism

For the 2021 festival, Reelout received seven times our usual number of submissions, with roughly 1020 titles submitted between May and September. The festival is programmed by a committee of 12 local volunteers who represent a microcosm of our diverse audiences. It was their daunting task to review all the submissions and then make their official selections. Our board of directors includes artists, business owners, administrators, health care workers, and students and we have roughly 40 volunteers (who we’ll miss in 2021) many of whom return year after year to help put smiles on faces.

 

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4. The Films

In 2021, we ended up with 68 films from 18 different countries. It is important that our festival represent the vast diversity of the LGBTQ+ communities but also that the films themselves include a wide variety of styles and genres. One of my favorite highlights for this year would be the shorts program, She’s Realing Out: Documentary Shorts by Women. It features some intimate, experimental storytelling but also more traditional-style documentary shorts, including Sarah Wylie’s The Garden Collective, about formerly incarcerated women of the Prison for Women Memorial Collective as they work to build a memorial garden on the grounds of the former prison in Kingston, Ontario.

 

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5. Good Vibrations

It’s no accident that the festival reels out in the dead of winter. Yes, the weather at the end of January/early February can be frightful; we’ve felt it was important to create a space that promotes good vibrations during the darkest period in many of our lives annually.  Film has a transformative power to help us escape from our troubles or even just the cold, grey environment around us. We take pride in our welcoming, inclusive environment and we know that many friendships and relationships have been sparked at our festival. We know that kindling that type of community will be difficult this year, but we are busy at work creating virtual chat spaces that will go online after several of our programs so that people can connect and chat about the movies they’ve just watched. Now more than ever, Reelout wants to give our audiences a reason to smile and to add some warmth to their hearts.

To view all films playing at Reelout 2021, please visit their website.

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Insider Itinerary: Anna Ruck of StruckBlog

It’s that time of year again. The holidays are over and things can start to feel dreary. When you compound that with living through a pandemic, lockdown life, and everything we have endured in 2020, it’s understandable if you feel bleak about the coming weeks of January.

January can be a tough month. Although the new year brings with it a fresh start, here in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, we’ll be heading into the new year in quarantine.

Credit: Rob Whelan Photography

Like many, you may be asking yourself the following questions:

What activities can we do and how do I keep my kids entertained this winter?

How can we keep our spirits up during dreary winter days in lockdown?

If you’re looking for safe activities to do in town this winter, things in Downtown Kingston are looking bright! Witnessing my toddler gawk in awe at all the lights and festivities that our downtown core has to offer reminded me to appreciate the beauty.

Credit: Rob Whelan Photography

Why Visit Downtown Kingston?

Exploring Downtown Kingston and taking in the sights is a great family activity at any time, but this year the city has gone all out decorating with the most stellar light installation to date. We headed downtown to check it out as a family of three (and a half) and it was a great way to spend an evening. If you’re looking for something to do with the whole family in the middle of a pandemic winter, exploring Downtown Kingston is a safe, outdoor activity you can do any day of the week. A little sparkle and local love are sure to lift your spirits even in the darkest days of January.

Credit: Rob Whelan Photography

What to do while in Downtown Kingston?

Food & Dining: Although many businesses have been forced to shut their doors during the Ontario-wide lockdown (until Jan. 23rd, 2021 at present time), our local restaurants will still be offering take-out/delivery. You can see a full updated list of your options for dining here.

Which Kingston restaurants are offering delivery and take-out? Find the full list here.

If you’d rather pick up a few ingredients to whip up a meal at home, consider supporting local and stocking up at our downtown food and grocery stores. You can refer to a list here if you’re not sure where to find the ingredients you’ll need (just be sure to call ahead/do your research so you’re aware of hours and restrictions).

For some recipe inspiration, you could make these ginger-spiced cookies, a charcuterie board, dips, or cocktails and mocktails by following tutorials from Kingston’s finest culinary professionals.

Credit: Rob Whelan Photography

Skating: take a skate with our historic City Hall as your backdrop. Be aware, that safety precautions are in effect (you can review them here). In the evenings the ice surface is beautifully lit, as is the surrounding area. Bring the kids along and let them work up a sweat. They’ll surely sleep well that night!

Credit: Rob Whelan Photography

Take a Stroll: the city has gone above and beyond this year with the light installations in and around Springer Market Square, City Hall, and the Visitor Information Centre. The best part is, they’ll be up well past the holiday season, all the way through to March! Use the opportunity to have a family photo shoot (just as we did with Rob Whelan who did an amazing job) while basking in the glow of the lights. You’ll find the lights easily in the immediate area of the square, with many optimal spots for a photo op. Dozens of local businesses are also displaying glowing neon hearts in their storefront windows. Why not have the kids count how many they can spot as you meander down the street to keep them entertained? And if you haven’t already played tourist in your own city and stood in place of the “I” in Kingston, now is the time!

For the full list of things to do, visit Anna’s website here.

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Meet the Maker: Cha Cha Tea

Cha Cha Tea | 506 Days Road | Website

The word for “tea” in Japanese is “cha.” And “tea” in Chinese is also “cha.” And when Kaoru Miller’s first daughter was just a toddler, she called her mom “Cha Cha.” So it was obvious to Kaoru exactly what she should name her tea store when she opened the Kingston business in 2006: Cha Cha Tea.

Kaoru loves tea – so much so that she became a certified tea sommelier. She has studied the various types of camellia senensis, the plant from which all teas – white, green, and black – come, and the regions where it is grown. She is knowledgeable in food pairings and tea blending. (She created the house blend of tea for Days on Front restaurant.)

Cha Cha Tea carries a wide selection – about 80 different kinds – of black, green, and white teas, as well as herbal infusions.

Kaoru Miller carries more than 80 kinds of tea at Cha Cha Tea | Credit: Garrett Elliott

Black tea comes in many varieties. There are those that come from a single estate: these include Assam, Ceylon, Darjeeling, and Kenyan. Like wine grapes that come from a single vineyard, single estate tea leaves are picked from a single tea garden.

There are also blended black teas, like the popular Breakfast types (English Breakfast, Irish Breakfast, and Canadian Breakfast). And there are flavoured varieties, like Earl Grey, a black tea with bergamot oil for a citrus twist. Cha Cha Tea has a number of variations on the Earl Grey classic, like its Buckingham Palace Garden Tea Party blend, which includes jasmine and green tea leaves for a more delicate flavour.

And then there’s the green tea. “Ninety-five per cent of the green tea grown in Japan stays in Japan,” says Kaoru. “It was really hard for me to find good-quality, fresh green tea outside of Japan.” But she persevered, finally connecting with the owner of a small Japanese tea garden. Now she buys directly from the grower and is able to offer fresh green tea, from this year’s crop, to her discerning customers.

White tea is also very delicate in flavour: it is white because its leaves hadn’t yet opened when they were picked. “When sunshine hits tea leaves, they start to produce tannin,” Kaoru explains. Tannin creates the colour in black tea and also its bitterness.

Kaoru holds a mug made by local potter Ikuko Hall. Cha Cha Tea carries a number of pieces by local artisans, as well as tea accessories | Credit: Garrett Elliott

Kaoru likes to start her day with a cup of black tea. In the afternoon, she switches to Oolong tea. (Oolong leaves are partially oxidized, somewhere between white and black leaves.) “And with Oolong tea, you can re-use the same leaves many times,” she says. And at night, a soothing peppermint tisane is a favourite.

She also sells children’s teas, for kids who want to join their parents in an at-home tea party. But the children’s “teas” are made with dried herbs and fruits, not the actual leaf of camellia senensis, so they don’t have any caffeine.

So, what’s your preference? A cup of fruity Rooibos tea or a calming infusion of lemongrass with turmeric? If you’re overwhelmed about the selection at Cha Cha Tea, or just want to try something new, Kaoru can point you to a tea that matches your mood or the occasion. Each package of tea comes with specific steeping instructions according to its type, so you can brew each cup to perfection. You can visit Cha Cha Tea at 506 Days Road (at Gardiners Road) or shop online at www.chachatea.com (free shipping in Canada is offered for orders of $58 or more.)

Sidebar: How long can you keep tea?

Tea doesn’t go bad, but it does lose its flavour over time. Kaoru recommends that green and white teas be consumed within three months, and black teas within six months, of purchasing.