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How four Kingston breweries are handling the pandemic

At last count, there were 276 craft breweries in Ontario, and seven of them are in Kingston (another is on the way).  

That’s more than most cities our size in Canada, so when COVID-19 forced breweries to close taprooms and drastically reduce sales to restaurants and bars, it impacted a lot of employees and a lot of bottom lines.   

Like Kingston’s restaurant sector, though, our breweries are a resilient bunch. Many have shifted to online and delivery models, and some are still selling beer to go.  

Here’s how Stone City, Daft Brewing, MacKinnon Brothers, and Riverhead are trying to weather the pandemic storm and keep us quenched. (Note: interviews were edited for length and clarity.)    

Stone City Ales — Ron Shore, Owner  

How are you and your employees doing?

We are doing well, and staying safe. We have four staff fully employed, and may be able to add more depending on the government supports and the number of orders we receive. We miss all of our kitchen and serving staff, though. There is no public access to our brewery, and we decided to not do on-site retail sales (bottle shop) because I don’t think it is necessary or safe. So we are spacing ourselves out, sanitizing the crap out of everything, and all of our staff are committed to social distancing. We also only ever have one driver at a time in the truck. We have a great little team right now.  

How is business?

It’s good! We are very grateful for the love and support coming from the local community. We are doing free local contactless delivery only in Kingston, deciding to focus on our home community, the people who have breathed life into us for close to six years now. Lots of loyalty and support for local economy in this town. I think all breweries should focus on their home communities — that is what craft is all about, in my opinion. Local beer, made by local people, reflecting their local culture. It’s about community. As a small brewery, our margins are super-tight and we don’t have any economies of scale. So it’s about contributing somethings to local culture and helping to build a new, sustainable localized economy. And we all reduce our carbon foot print that way. The pandemic is only the start of adjustments we make due to climate change. 

What have been the biggest challenges switching to 100% online and delivery?

It’s a totally different business model. It’s now all about logistics and efficiency, whereas before it was about hospitality. But we are enjoying this and getting better at it every day. It’s radically different now how we plan, order, move goods around, and staff. It is simpler, and more focused. It seems to be working and we don’t plan on changing it. I don’t really think restaurants will go back to the previous normal for some time, so we are really focusing on bringing quality beer in a safe, trusted manner to people in our community. 

Any new releases coming up?

Yes. Look for the return of Elder Statesman, a British mild with earl grey tea. It used to be available only on draft in our tap room but we tweaked it a bit so we could bottle it and meet the demand for this much–loved beer. We also have a collaboration called All Together coming out. It’s a project started by Other Half Brewing in the U.S., and the idea is for breweries around the world to brew iterations of their base IPA recipe and help raise money for hospitality worker relief. It’s a great project and will be super yummy. Plus another sour, and more IPAs of course. 

Stone City Ales 
275 Princess Street, Kingston 
stonecityales.com 

Daft Brewing — Adam Rondeau, Owner

How are you holding up?

We’re all doing okay, but unfortunately in our industry a lot of our employees are part–time bartenders, so right now aren’t getting any hours of work. Some are continuing to volunteer with us to make hand sanitizer to donate to healthcare workers, etc. But we’re all getting by! 

Why did you decide to make hand sanitizer?

We initially decided to do it because unlike many other breweries, we have a still, so it was actually possible for us to make our own ethanol to use. So we were in the fortunate position of having the ability to do it, but ultimately, we’re doing it because we feel it’s the right thing to do. We’ve also had many generous donations of isopropyl alcohol that has greatly increased the volume and pace at which we were able to supply the extremely high demand for sanitizer.  

How has the community support helped you through this challenging time?

The customer and community support have been amazing. Customers are still coming in to buy beer, which is certainly helping us to navigate through these unknown seas with hopes of coming out of the storm on the other end as unscathed as possible. The community support has also been more than we could have imagined. We posted a picture on our Instagram a while back asking for sugar for the purposes of making our own hand sanitizer to be donated to healthcare groups, and since then probably 20 local businesses have chipped in to help us in one way or another to make that a possibility, which was very humbling. 

Any upcoming beer news to share?

Almost every beer we’ll be releasing over the next month will be new, so we’ll keep them a surprise for now and announce them as they get released. 

Daft Brewing 
768 Princess Street, Kingston 
daftbrewing.com

MacKinnon Brothers Brewing Company — Dan MacKinnon, Owner

How are you weathering this? Have you been able to keep everyone employed?

We’ve been able to keep everyone on board. We had to transition a bit. The farm’s getting busy this spring, so one or two of the guys might help out on the farm getting ready for spring planting. And we’ve been doing direct delivery from Napanee to Kingston, which is going pretty well, but it’s logistically a bit more complicated and more man hours. So our Toronto rep has come down and, with one of the other guys, is doing all of the direct deliveries. So nice to keep them busy as well. And those sales are going surprisingly well.  

What have been the biggest challenges with local delivery?

Logistically, having an online system set up. There are a lot of skilled people at the brewery, but no one is particularly skilled when it comes to computers. There’s a lot of manual entry right now because our system wasn’t set up for direct delivery. Using the mapping system can be difficult, too. We use Google Maps, but on our busiest day I think we did 45 or 50 stops, so there are a lot of pins on the map and trying to find the quickest way has been a challenge. But we’re getting the kinks worked out.  

How is business?

The direct delivery has been a lot busier than we expected. The retail store here has also been pretty steady. We’re doing window service, so you just pull up in your car, give a knock on the window and we open it up and sell you whatever you want. A few people have bought keg fridges and installed them in their house, so we’ve helped with a few over the phone/Facetime installation issues, which has been fun. A lot of the restaurants are doing takeout, and now that they’re able to sell cans as well they’ve been buying cans from us and including that as an option for the takeout, so that’s been good too. And it’s nice to drop those off, chat with the manager, see how everything’s going for them, and keep that camaraderie we’ve built up over the years.   

What are you most looking forward to when things get back to “normal”?

Just getting back to business as normal. We’re opening up a new retail store, so we’re just finishing the renovations on our old timbre–framed barn here at the brewery, so that event space and new retail store is going to open up. So whenever the pandemic restrictions are lifted, we’re looking forward to having people come out and see that and have a beer with us and have a chat. Hopefully it’s soon.  

MacKinnon Brothers Brewing Company 
1915 County Road 22, Bath 
mackinnonbrewing.com 

Riverhead Brewing Company — Aaron Martin, Brewmaster

How are you and staff there doing?

Like many places, we’ve had to reduce staff. We just have our cook on that sells beer and cooks as well, and we have Holly here helping out with deliveries. And as far as the production area, it’s basically just myself on production. And I have a few packaging staff. But we’re producing the same amount of beer almost. Basically, we’re going from kegs to cans, which is much more labour intensive.   

How is business?

It’s going better than expected. I mean you’re operating a business during a pandemic so you don’t really know what’s going to happen. Before all of this, we were gearing up for the busy season and I put out a lot of cash to make sure we were ready to go. So that was scary until the government supports started kicking in. But one of the things that has been good for us is that we do sell beer to go, out of our taproom, and we’re in the LCBO and Beer Store, which has been doing really well. And before the pandemic, we bought a new piece of cooking equipment which allows us to do pizza, so we’ve been doing pizza takeout that you can order online for pick up or you can get it through Uber Eats. So we’re looking at different ways to grow our revenue. And the customer support has been great. A big thank you to them. We really appreciate it during these times, and they are why we do this.  

What else are you doing to try to grow revenues?

We’re really trying to expand and pivot a little bit. One example is our food boxes. So it’s restaurant–quality meats that we get from our distributor. So you can get a protein box, which consists of chicken, steak, peameal bacon, regular bacon. We also have vegetable boxes as well as fruit boxes. And we have all of that available on our website.   

Do you have any new beer releases coming up?

We just released our Cascade IPA and a Belgian Blond. The Belgian Blond [4.7%, 22 IBU] is a beautiful beer to ease you into spring. It’s a light beer packed full of flavour with a slight grainy sweetness accompanied by traditional fruity characteristics created by the hardworking Belgian yeast during fermentation. It’s a perfect anytime beer. 

Riverhead Brewing Company 
631 Fortune Crescent, Unit 10, Kingston 
riverheadbrewing.com 

Check out our full list of food, drink, and retail businesses available during the pandemic.  

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How three Kingston restaurants are weathering COVID-19

It’s no secret that Kingston’s identity is closely tied to its vibrant food scene and the people behind it.

When taken together with the accommodation sector, 8.7% of jobs in this city are in accommodation or food services. That’s the fourth highest percentage of any city in Canada, trailing only St. Catharines-Niagara, Kelowna, and Victoria.      

But it’s not just the numbers of people employed in restaurants, bars, and cafés that makes the food scene what it is here. It’s their passion, says Kingston Food Tours’ Heather Ford. “I was blown away when I approached these industry leaders to be involved in our first tour,” she says. “Their enthusiasm energized me and propelled the business forward.”  

So when COVID-19 arrived and restaurants and related businesses like Kingston Food Tours had to close, it hit this city particularly hard. Suddenly thousands of people in the sector were without work and restaurants with little to no experience with takeout or delivery or online ordering had to learn fast. And they have.      

As Olivea owner Stev George put it recently: “It’s a very difficult time, but we’re resilient people and we think outside the box and we come up with new ideas. So we’re trying.” 

Here’s how he and Olivea are trying, along with Mesa Fresca owner Andrew Scahill and Bella Bistro owner Paul Muller. (Note: interviews were edited for length and clarity.)  

Though this interview features three restaurants, we encourage you to check out our extensive list of Kingston businesses and restaurants offering services during COVID-19.

Stev George, Olivea

Besides a closed dining room, what are the biggest challenges you’re facing right now?

The biggest challenge has just been dealing with how my laid off employees are going to deal with this. Most of my people live paycheque to paycheque, so when they don’t get a paycheque, it means they can’t buy food or they can’t pay their rent or they can’t do anything. So we’re trying to help them navigate the supports that are there — EI, the CERB, the gift cards to No Frills.  

How have you been handling the switch to a takeout and delivery model?

We weren’t doing any delivery before, and the only takeout we did was while we were open and in the middle of service, which sometimes wasn’t that convenient to do. But now that’s all we’re doing. It’s welcome for sure. It’s like opening a whole new business. We have the bones — the stoves and fridges and ingredients — but we’re making completely different food.  

So what are you making?

So we send out deliveries at 2 pm, but it’s nothing hot. The hot food starts at 4 pm and people have to come and pick it up. The cold food [which can also be picked up] is different things from the pantry—frozen soups, lasagnas, shepherd’s pie, butter chicken, which is my own special recipe, etc. We also started doing survival kits because I had all these lovely things like Mennonite eggs and patchwork carrots and all organic and celery root and onions and all these cured meats like fennel salami and northern Italian from Seed to Sausage. For takeout, we’ve got most of our dinner menu.    

What are your thoughts on your future?

I don’t have high hopes that it’s going to come back to normal any time soon. I think it’s going to be more than a year before we can have a full restaurant again, and I think what’s going to happen is they are going to tell us to have 50% seating or two metres between the tables or something like that. And honestly, we won’t be able to sustain the business as it was like that. We’ll have to either raise our prices or change the menu so that it can be done with fewer staff.   

Hot takeout available Tuesday to Saturday, 4 pm to 8 pm 
Pantry meals available for takeout Tuesday to Saturday, noon to 8 pm 
Pantry meals available for same-day delivery Tuesday to Saturday if ordered by 1 pm 
613-547-5483, ext. 1 
oliveaorders@gmail.com 
olivea.ca 
 

Andrew Scahill, Mesa Fresca

I know delivery is new for you. How has it been going?

I don’t know if people are aware of some of the corporate delivery services, who charge everywhere between 28% and 34% off the top just to provide those services. As a new business, it’s tough to absorb those kinds of margins. And food is meant to be eaten as fresh from the kitchen to the table as it possibly can, so there are challenges involved with trying to find the right menu items that are going to travel well and to try to find out how logistically we can make this happen. So I became the new delivery driver, Alison [Scahill] and Mitch [Leger] are in the kitchen, and we keep one or two staff around to answer the phone and to help out with deliveries.   

Has it been tough to source food during the pandemic?     

The supply chain starts to dwindle and there is a little bit of pressure and stress on that. As you see in the grocery stores, it’s tough to keep things in stock. And that’s the new reality right now. Nobody knows how long this is going to last, so it’s tough to bring stuff in that you don’t want to sit on. We’ve had a couple of local suppliers that have been absolute gems to us — people like Pig & Olive, Quattrocchi’s, Deodato’s. Without them, we wouldn’t have been able to continue doing this.  

Tell us about the Kingston Small Business Initiative that you came up with?

So we’re taking certain parts of our revenues and re-investing them into smaller businesses much like ours that can’t operate. So buying gift certificates, products, whatever we can to help support businesses on a daily basis. We just need to be a part of the community and that was very important to us.   

What are you looking forward to most when things get back to “normal”?

One of the biggest things is to have our staff back. They’re like family to us. We miss them dearly, we know how hard it is on them right now, and we’re just hoping that we get through this as quick as possible so that we can get them back here. We have one of the best staffs in town, and we can’t wait to have them back. And of course, our customers, we can’t wait to have our customers back and have these tables full of life, music on, serving up some of our margaritas and food.  

Takeout and delivery available Tuesday to Saturday, 4 pm to 8 pm 
613-389-6372 
mesafresca.ca  

Paul Muller, Bella Bistro

What are the biggest challenges you’re facing right now?

Initially, we did deliveries, but that got to be too much. But our friend Matt Day set us up with a friend who had set up his online store through Shopify. And that’s really helped. Initially, we were trying to do all payment over the phone manually, taking credit cards, and you can imagine the gong show of just how much time it takes to do that. We also still have a bunch of debt from before, bills that had to be paid, and then all of a sudden your income drops at least 75%. Our landlord has begrudgingly deferred this month, but I don’t know what’ll happen next month. So we’re kind of dealing with it day by day.     

Have you been getting lots of support from customers?

The customers have been great. All of our regulars have come back, so it’s been really encouraging on that front. People are really helping us out and shouting us out online through social media and stuff, which is really helpful. My wife is really good at that — she’s managed to market us well on Facebook and Instagram — and that really, really helps.   

What are you offering for takeout right now?

We have a selection of four or five of our standard pizzas, and then we also have frozen pizzas through the market.  And the menu changes week to week. We’re picking through our standards — Thai curry chicken, chicken parm, local pork ribs, and then some different curries, butter chicken. And I used to be the head baker at Pan Chancho, so I’m baking bread — sourdoughs and baguettes. And as far as the online shop goes, we have frozen soups and frozen entrees that people can take home and warm up.    

Has this slowdown made you re-think any of your operations?

We’re definitely going to change our scope a little bit when things get back to normal. I think we had too much going on, so I think we’re going to simplify the menu and try not to be so broad and cater to everybody’s whim. I’m done with that. I think we have to just pare it down and hope that people go with us.  

Bella Market products available for pickup Thursday, 3 pm to 5 pm, and Friday and Saturday, 2 pm to 7 pm 

Hot takeout food available Friday and Saturday, 2 pm to 7 pm 
Order online at bellabistroonline.com 
613-449-0078 
bellabistro.ca 

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What’s Open in Kingston

Here are the attractions, museums, and recreational facilities that are open in Kingston. Check back frequently for updates.

Arts, Culture and History

Kingston Public Market

Explore one of the oldest vendor-run open air market in Ontario. Initially, the market will operate with seasonal, lease-holder vendors only to ensure the spacing and layout of stalls is adequate to maintain physical distancing and support the implementation of new health guidelines developed with guidance from KFL&A Public Health. The market will operate Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 9 am to 4 pm.

 

PumpHouse Museum

This eye-catching museum is a mix of old and new. Stunning old pumps and model train displays fill the high-ceiling space and are truly amazing to look at. The PumpHouse Museum will reopen for small group tours of the “Refuge Canada” exhibition as of Tuesday, July 20.

Now offering: Brewers, Bakers & Boilermakers: Walking Tour of Ontario Street South. This 60-minute guided walking tour delves into the amazing history of Ontario Street, a space that helped define and form Kingston as a city. During this small group tour of 10 persons maximum, guests will hear exciting stories about intriguing and impressive people, fires, explosions, industry, transportation, archaeology, everyday vices and much more. Participants will travel along the southern half of Ontario Street, walking from the PumpHouse to City Hall along Ontario Street and the waterfront. Tickets are now on sale online or call the PumpHouse at 613-544-7867.

Tickets: $5 (outdoor walking tours), 1-3 guests: $15.00 + HST for the group
4-9 guests: $25.00 + HST for the group (indoor museum tours)

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Fort Henry

1 Fort Henry Drive

National Historic Site + Unesco World Heritage Site Fort Henry was built from 1832 to 1837 to replace an existing fortification from the War of 1812 era. Situated atop Point Henry, the Fort protected the naval dockyard at Point Frederick, the entrance of the Rideau Canal and the town of Kingston, which was the major transshipment point along the supply route between Montreal or Ottawa and all points west.

Fort Henry was restored from 1936 to 1938 as a joint Federal / Provincial make work project costing over $1 million. The Fort was opened as a museum and historic site “in the name of all British soldiers who served there” by Prime Minister Mackenzie King in August 1938. During World War II, Fort Henry became Camp 31, a Prisoner of War camp for enemy merchant seamen, soldiers, sailors and airmen. Reopened in 1948, Fort Henry has seen millions of visitors pass through its gates to watch the internationally acclaimed Fort Henry Guard perform.

At this historic location, you can now experience self-guided tours, scenic views, heart-pounding musical performances and precision military demonstrations by the Fort Henry Guard.

Now Offering: Self-Guided Tours, in addition to rifle firing demonstrations, music demonstrations, and gun firings and artillery demonstrations. Senior Fort Henry Guard will be stationed throughout the Fort to offer interpretation experiences.

Tickets: $15

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The Haunted Walk of Kingston

Departs from 200 Ontario Street

Have an “out-of-house” experience on this premium small-group “Bubble Tour” version of our Original Haunted Walk of Kingston. These tours are a safe and fun way to enjoy some fresh air and hear some great Kingston ghost stories.
Currently offering:

  • Original Haunted Walk: Haunting locals and newcomers alike, this ghost tour takes you for a spooky stroll through Kingston’s old Sydenham Ward. It features haunted hotels, hidden burial grounds, grave robbings, hangings at the old courthouse, and Kingston’s famous haunted courtyard. A tried and true favourite for all ages.
  • Ghost of Fort Henry: As seen on Ghost Hunters! Explore Fort Henry, Kingston’s spooky 19th-century fortress and its many dark twists and turns, as your guide recounts its tragic history, including the hanging of Nils Von Schoultz, the secret of Deadman’s Bay, and many supernatural encounters! Not recommended for young children or easily frightened adults.

Tours are 75 minutes in length.

Tickets: Adults $24.99; youth $19.99

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Kingston Penitentiary Tours

560 King St
National Historic Site

The Kingston Penitentiary has always been notorious in Canada. A maximum-security prison, the “Kingston Pen” has housed some of Canada’s worst criminals over its 178 years. The Kingston Pen was originally constructed in 1833-1834, opening its doors on June 1, 1835. Although largely closed to the public throughout its history, Charles Dickens once visited and so did Ernest Hemmingway. And now you can visit, too. Learn More

The Kingston Pen tours include:

  • Kingston Pen Standard Tour
  • Kingston Pen Extended Tour
  • Kingston Pen Architectural Tour
  • Kingston Pen Film Tour

Offers: Accessible tours, tours for people with hearing loss; French tours

Tickets: $40 – $80

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Love Kingston Marketplace

Love Kingston Marketplace includes several initiatives that provide additional space and programming for businesses to expand operations, and for residents to dine, shop, move, play and engage outdoors while following health and safety guidelines. Bistro at the square is one of our several initiatives.

Bistro at the Square: After a successful first season, Sociavore is returning as part of Love Kingston Marketplace in Springer Market Square as Bistro at the Square. Sociavore is a mobile ordering platform that provides delivery of food/beverages from local restaurants to a bistro table in the Square. Patrons sit at a “Love Kingston” stickered and numbered bistro table, use their mobile device to scan a QR code to order from a variety of participating restaurants, pay and tip. Ordered items are then delivered by the restaurant to the patron based on their numbered table location in Springer Market Square.

Bistro on Ontario: Ontario Street from Clarence Street to Johnson Street will be closed to traffic on select dates during the summer. During these times, patios will be able to expand into the street. For cyclists, Bicycle Valet Kingston will be providing secure bike valet parking at the Empire Life parking lot. Parking for cyclists is free. Learn more.

Read more: Kingston Patio Guide

 

Kingston Walks

Kingston Walks are back! Get ready to explore downtown Kingston on a 1-hour walking tour with local legend, Arthur Milnes. Begin your journey into a world of Canadian Prime Ministers, US Presidents, Indigenous leaders, Governors General, mediums, spirits and the Queen, herself. You’ll also hear about literary legends such as Charles Dickens and Ernest Hemmingway who play supporting roles in Kingston’s story. 

Tours depart Wed/Thurs/Fri/Sat at 4pm.

Tickets: 1h tour – $22

Learn More

 

Kingston 1000 Islands Cruises

Food, fun, and entertainment ships! Discover history and heritage along Kingston’s spectacular waterfront on a 1-hour Discovery Cruise or a 1.5h Sunset Cruise. Or, experience the 1000 Islands on a three-hour Heart of the Islands Cruise. Kingston 1000 Islands Cruises is committed to fine food services, interactive entertainment, and first-rate service aboard all of their vessels. Dining Cruises will resume on July 26th, 2021.

Learn More

Kingston Trolley Tours

Explore Canada’s first Capital, on a guided, 1-hour Trolley Tour through downtown covering all of Kingston’s historic old town and downtown shopping district. If you’re into ghosts, hear stories from Kingston’s mysterious and paranormal past, some dating back 200 years, on the Ghost and Mystery Trolley Tour.

Learn more

Museum of Healthcare: Guided Outdoor Walking Tour

Walk in the footsteps of some of Kingston’s earliest residents and arrivals as they engage in a quest for health care in the Limestone City. The story of the establishment of one of Canada’s oldest public hospitals, Kingston General Hospital, is one full of success and sacrifice, triumph and tragedy. Join us for a fascinating look into the lives of those that lived, arrived and died here, as we unlock the secrets of Kingston’s medical history. Book here.

Details: Offering tours Wednesday-Saturday at 10:00am, 11:30am, 2:30pm and 3:00pm.

Frontenac County Schools Museum

Featuring a replica one-room school and a display gallery, the Frontenac County Schools Museum collects, preserves and displays artifacts and archival material from the elementary (grades 1– 8) one-room schools of Frontenac County from their earliest establishment to the consolidation of school districts in 1970.

Details: Starting July 20, open Tuesday-Saturday from 10am-4pm. Pre-booking is strongly encouraged. Walk-ins are welcome but you may have to wait outside. Outside activities may be available while you wait or you can purchase a discovery kit for $5 for kids.

County Sips Wine Tours

Stay in Kingston and discover the wineries of Prince Edward County on a wine adventure with County Sips, hosted by Sommelier, Ian Nicholls. Your day will start with a scenic drive to PEC along the shores of Lake Ontario and a ride on the Glenora Ferry. Your wine tour will include wine tastings at four selected wineries and a lunch at the Waupoos Market. Ian will tell you about the terroir of PEC, winemaking and tasting while showcasing the beauty of The County.

The tours run on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, starting Friday July 9th. There are different itineraries offered each day. Each tour departs at 9:15am and returns to Kingston by 5:45pm. Check out hotel packages here.

Outdoor Recreation

Breakwater Park, Gord Downie Pier

Beaches

The following beaches are open within the City of Kingston:

  • Grass Creek Park, 2991 d 2 East
  • Lake Ontario Park, 920 King. St. West
  • Richardson Beach, 1 King St. East
  • Breakwater Park and Gord Downie Pier, King St. West

September 2 update:

The City of Kingston will, again, close Gord Edgar Downie Pier and the beach area at Breakwater Park to reduce the risk of large gatherings that have the potential to spread COVID-19. This emergency order means people will not be permitted to use the Gord Edgar Downie Pier and the beach area at Breakwater Park for the next 18 days. Anyone using this area, even alone, is now subject to fines.

Golf Courses

Several golf courses within the Kingston area are open. Some have modified areas and amenities that remain closed. We recommend checking directly with the facility.

Amherstview Golf Course
amherstviewgolfclub.com
(613) 389-5222

Colonade Golf
colonnadegolf.ca
613-542-6411

Loyalist Golf and Country Club
loyalistcc.com
613-352-5152

Smugglers Glen Golf Course
glenhouseresort.com/golf
613-659-4536

Hiking and Trails

 

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The following conservation areas are open in Kingston area for passive day use. Some amenities such as benches, beaches, pavilions, picnic areas, picnic tables, shelters, washrooms/privies are closed, as is the Outdoor Centre at Little Cataraqui Creek. The areas are open 7:30 am to dusk daily. Full details on their website.

  • Gould Lake, 1540 Gould Lake Rd, Sydenham
  • Lemoine Point, 1440 Coverdale Dr
  • Little Cataraqui Creek, 1641 Perth Rd, Glenburnie
  • Lyn Valley, 90 Lyn Valley Rd, Lyn
  • Parrots Bay, 4976 Bath Rd

Frontenac Provincial Park, located north of Kingston is a great spot for fishing, wildlife viewing, interior campaign, paddling, hiking and swimming. The park is open for day use and some camping. Amenities such as showers, laundry, group camping, picnic shelter rentals and swimming pools will remain closed for the season. Learn more on their website.

Blog Article: Top Kingston Hiking Spots

 

Ahoy Rentals

21 Ontario St

Located on the shores of Lake Ontario about a 10-minute walk from downtown Kingston, enjoy the water with Ahoyh Rentals.

Now Offering: Bike, kayak, canoe, and stand up paddle board rentals

Learn more

Crawford Wharf

Did you know Crawford Wharf is going through a huge makeover this summer? Enjoy new seating areas overlooking the water, Instagrammable decals, and the return of the Island Star Dockside Patio. From Crawford Wharf, you can also catch a 1000 Islands sightseeing cruise aboard the Island Belle or Island Queen.

Games and Entertainment

Seven Dwarves: Mining Mission (Live Video Digital Game)

Improbable Escapes

303 Bagot St
500 Gardiners Rd (Wonderland)

Improbable Escapes opened its doors to the City of Kingston on July 1st, 2015. Emma Rochon and Melissa Eapen set out with a specific goal: to create a business that would bring a smile to the face of anyone who entered! After working in the industry for one year, Emma and Melissa quickly decided to pack up everything and move to Kingston. Kingston was the perfect place for an escape room business because of its size, the thriving downtown core, and the large student demographic. With the introduction of their second location in 2019 (Improbable Escapes: Wonderland), the original Improbable Escapes downtown location was rebranded to Improbable Escapes HQ.

Improbable Escapes has since grown internationally, with games all over the world at various escape room facilities. During recent COVID-19 related shut-downs, international players were able to play games at the flagship Improbable Escapes locations, resulting in international press coverage and awards.

Opens: Virtual available and outdoor now open

Offers: Virtual escape rooms; in-person escapes rooms; board games lounge; outdoor programs

Tickets: $84.75 for virtual group game; in-person TBA

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Sherlock Escapes

Sherlock Escapes offers a range of at-home escape games including virtual simulated, hybrid virtual, and digital live-action games for two players to large groups. Book online.

 

 

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Enjoy Canada Day at Home: Bevvies, Bites and More

Canada Day is when we come together with gratitude and pride in our nation, and while this year we celebrate in a different way, we can still support what makes Canada and Kingston great—our makers! Indulge in local craft beer, wine, food and accessories this year and show off your Canadian pride. Happy Canada Day!

AquaTerra

AquaTerra has launched their new Summer Prix Fixe menu, includes three courses for $35 with your choice of appetizers and entrees, includes home-made bread and butter. A perfect way to celebrate outside and support local! Available for pick-up Thursday-Sunday, 3PM-6PM.

Olivea

Olivea is letting you bring the patio home with you, their Take Home Mojito kit comes with fresh mint, lime juice, simple syrup, club soda and Bacardi gold. For $28 you can make 4 mojitos, just add ice. Available for curbside pickup or delivery Tuesday-Saturday from 4PM-8PM.

Bubba’s Poutine

No Canada Day celebration is complete without poutine, and no one in Kingston makes it better than Bubba’s. Available for pickup or delivery 11:30AM-1:30AM.

Black Dog Tavern

Black Dog Tavern has DIY Caesar Kits available for pick-up or delivery with a food purchase. Make the Canadian classic with ease as kits include all of the fixings and instructions to make 12, 2 ounce cocktails.

Mesa Fresca

Mesa Fresca’s Margarita Packs are back in time to beat the heat, includes Hornitos Reposado, lime juice, simple syrup, orange juice, salt, decorative bottle and gift bag for $35. Available for delivery & takeout from 4PM-8PM.

Spearhead Brewing Company

To celebrate Canada Day Spearhead Brewery has launched Beer Without Boundaries, making their craft beers available nationwide via Craft Tapp Inc. For local customers all your favourite local beers are available to order online for daily delivery between 4PM-9PM.

Iron Duke on Wellington

The Iron Duke on Wellington is a spot we all go to connect with the history of Kingston and Canada, and while we can’t celebrate in person this year we can still support them by ordering from their takeout window or for delivery, open daily from 4PM-8PM.

Cards Bakery

Cards Bakery is now taking walk-in customers but is still available for curbside pickup. Get all your favourite Canadian sweets to share at home! Open from Tuesday-Saturday, 10AM-4PM.

WHIT Kingston

WHIT is helping us demonstrate our pride in both our city and country with their apparel, accessories, and home décor that highlight the local lakes, rivers, and wilderness in our backyard.  They are open with reduced hours Monday-Sunday, 11AM-5PM, stop in at their downtown location or order online!

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Your Kingston Gift Guide to Father’s Day

Father’s Day is almost here, and now more than ever fathers, uncles, brothers, grandfathers, foster dads, stepdads, and all father figures deserve to be celebrated. They give us love, guidance, and corny jokes! In keeping with efforts to support local businesses, we have curated a list of offerings with something for everyone. Happy Father’s Day!

Are we missing a Father’s Day special or package? Let us know using our webchat feature so we can add it to the list.

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Cover photo credits: Ahoy Rentals (left), WHIT Kingston (right)

Food and Drink

AquaTerra: BBQ series

Treat Dad, elevate your backyard BBQ game, and make the neighbours a little jealous with a locally sourced, grill-ready BBQ kit plus some local craft beers. The kit has the option for cocktail kits, wine, and beer add-ons.

Black Dog Home: Father’s Day dinner

Black Dog Home is offering a Father’s Day dinner for two or four available for pickup or free delivery between June 19-20. Dig into a starter artichoke and parmesan dip with house-made crostini, a main of striploin steak, whole baked potatoes and Caesar salad for sides, and chocolate brownie with salted caramel sauce for dessert! Cooking and heating instructions will be provided. Preorders will be accepted until June 16 at 5 pm.

Kingston Breweries

Did you know Kingston is home to nine different breweries? Stop by one of their bottle shops to pick up handcrafted beer for Dad. Some breweries have their brews available at the LCBO or offer same-day delivery right to your door.

Learn more: a guide to Kingston’s breweries

Mio Gelato

Treat dad to his favourite flavour! Mio Gelato offers delivery to your door on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. We recommend their at-home sundae kit that includes three pints of gelato (vanilla, chocolate, and fruit flavours), 125 ml of sauce, six waffle cones, an assorted jar of toppings, and their signature gummies.

Pan Chancho

Pan Chancho’s Father’s Day BBQ pack includes two whole racks of BBQ ribs, creamy potato salad, calico cabbage salad, six cheddar biscuits, and a 5” Mississippi mud pie. The pack serves four and comes with reheating instructions. Available June 18, 19, and 20.

Gifts and games


Note: retail stores will be allowed to reopen with limited capacity June 14 or earlier. Check directly with businesses for their hours of operation.  

Cher Mere men’s grooming kit

Cher Mere specializes in all natural, herbal and eco-friendly products. Pamper dad with their men’s grooming kit that includes shaving assist, aftershave, men’s face wash, skin fit gel, and beard oil (optional).

Chris James

Chris James is adding new styles to their inventory every day, perfect for dads who have been rocking sweatpants while at home and are looking for a chance to dress to impress.

Improbable Escapes board game rentals

Did you know Improbable Escapes offers free same-day local delivery in Kingston on all board games? For three days, you can rent one game for $10.50 or two games for $15.75. If you don’t know exactly what to rent, the staff at Improbable Escapes are happy to give recommendations.

Music and vinyl records

If your dad is a music lover, we have the perfect gift for him. Kingston is home to independent record shops like Brian’s Record Option, Something Else Records, and Zap Records. Some of these stores offer online shopping with Canada-wide shipping, curbside pickup, or requesting your music at the door.

SBT Comics and Games

SBT Comics and Games has everything from action figures, board games, model kits, trading card games, comics, and more. You can shop online or in person from 10 am-7 pm (Monday – Friday) and 11 am-6 pm (Saturday and Sunday).

Trailhead Kingston

Do you have a dad who loves the outdoors? We’d recommend checking out Trailhead Kingston. They offer everything from tents, outdoor furniture, equipment, and outdoor apparel.

 

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WHIT Kingston

WHIT Kingston started a Father’s Day collection online that has everything from funky socks and shirts to handmade pillows and wood resin maps featuring the surrounding lakes around Kingston. They offer curbside pickup and free delivery in Kingston when you spend $40 or more. Get inspired and start shopping today.

Music Made in Kingston poster in support of Joe’s M.I.L.L.

Celebrate the sounds of Kingston with a limited edition music 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.

Kingston Experiences

 

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Ahoy Rentals

Spend some quality time on the water with Ahoy Rentals. They offer rentals for canoeing, kayaking, and stand up paddle boarding. If spending time on the water isn’t your favourite, they also offer bike rentals.

Hiking and cycling trails

What better way to spend time than to go on an adventure. Make the most of the beautiful weather by spending it outdoors exploring amazing hiking trails and conservation areas in and around Kingston. Kingston is also home to many great cycling routes for you to enjoy.

Read more: Top hiking spots in and around Kingston

Golf staycation

Treat Dad to a golf staycation. We’ve partnered with Holiday Inn Kingston Waterfront and Holiday Inn Express West to offer two golf staycations that include rounds at Black Bear Ridge Golf Club, Loyalist Golf and Country Club, and Smugglers Glen Golf Club. One package even includes a free tasting at Spearhead Brewing Company!

Dinner on a patio

Ah, patio season – the most wonderful time of the year. Sunshine, umbrellas, and cocktails! This year it looks a bit different as some restaurants may ask you to call to reserve your table in advance, arrive on time, limit your stay (i.e., two-hour maximum), physically distance when possible, and more. Make sure you check with each restaurant you’re interested in visiting beforehand.

Improbable Escapes outdoor games & virtual games

Improbable Escapes has created four virtual escape adventures you can play at home and three outdoor adventures around Kingston. Work as a team to solve the puzzles while interacting with a live game-master in the physical game space for their virtual games. Outdoor adventures are physically distanced with your own household.

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Kingston Glass Studio Donates Hearts for Healthcare

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, frontline healthcare workers have been courageously taking care of our community and doing so while facing a shortage of personal protective equipment.  

Kingston Glass Studio owners, Alexi and Mariel wanted to help fill this need as well as acknowledge the healthcare frontline workers’ incredible efforts. They heard about the program headed by Queen’s University medical students, where they use 3D printers to create PPE and distributing them to local medical facilities, and wanted to contribute. 

They launched Hearts for Healthcare on April 14. “We felt the need to give back and thank those in our community who continue to work hard to protect us, keep us safe, and provide the essentials so that we can stay home during the pandemic,” says Mariel.  

Hearts for Healthcare not only provides masks to frontline healthcare workers, it also gifts them with a uniquely designed glass heart. “With the single act of ordering a Heart for Healthcare: 100% of the donation goes towards purchasing supplies to create the various PPE needed for our healthcare workers, made by the dedicated team at 3D PPE Kingston via Queen’s University. And the heart itself is given to a frontline worker as acknowledgment, encouragement, and gratitude for all that they are doing,” explains Mariel. One heart is equal to 12 masks or 25 face shields. “To date, we have had over 240 Hearts for Healthcare ordered and over 140 have already been created and distributed to local frontline workers through various channels,” says Mariel.   

Hearts can be gifted in a variety of ways. The team at Kingston Glass Studio disinfects each individual heart and can distribute them safely, donors can pick them up during curbside pickup hours: Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 11 am to 3 pm, or they can be shipped outside of the Kingston area for $15 flat fee.  

Do you know of a place in need of more PPE or a thank you? They are open to community feedback. “We are open to community suggestions for locations that would consider receiving and distribute the hearts to their colleagues,” says Mariel.  

To learn more about their efforts, check out their website and social media pages: Website:  kingstonglassgallery.com, Instagram:  @kingstonglassgallery, Facebook:  @kingstonglassgallery  

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Four ways to get creative online in Kingston

With most creative spaces shuttered in the city, galleries, theatres, arts groups, and even individual artists themselves are still finding ways to connect with their audiences online.   

The Tett Centre, for instance, is offering its popular open studios via Zoom, while the Agnes Etherington Art Centre has launched a range of digital programs, like Agnes Learns, which uses artworks from its collection to inspire kids to get creative. Likewise, new west end business Tie One On Creativity Bar has a variety of craft kits to buy, and Improbable Escapes has digital escape rooms that you can solve from your couch. 

Here, in their own words, are the organizers of these four online creative spaces to tell us what they’re offering and how they’re dealing with the shift to digital. (Note: some interviews were edited for length and clarity.) 

Tie One On Creativity Bar – Natasha Reid, Owner  

Give us a breakdown of your online offerings right now, Natasha.

We have food and drink options for takeout and delivery and also our craft kits, which we’re offering more and more of. Some of the kits are from different artists in Kingston. One kit that’s really popular right now is the spring-wreath-making kit. It comes with flowers and instructions and everything that you need to make a spring wreath for your home. We also have candle-making kits, and then we have some macramé kits too from Hitch Collective, as well as essential oil diffuser bracelets. So just little projects that people can do at home.  

What have been the biggest challenges of switching to an online model?

I’m very tech challenged, so it’s been quite the experience trying to set this all up. The other challenge I faced initially was that there was no way to package the food we had available for takeout because most of it was in bulk. So, I’ve had to reach out to my food reps to ask how we can get things packaged differently, and we’ve sort of overcome this challenge by ordering things more as retail portions than as wholesale portion. So, for instance, we recently added red pepper jellies from Top Shelf Preserves in single serve portions to our charcuterie takeout option.   

I know you support a lot of local products and artists. Why is that important to you?

It’s double-sided. One, I like to keep it local because that way I know that I’m helping out families and people in Kingston. Even when it came to making my signs for the bar, I reached out to some sign companies and then I remembered that my friend makes signs, and I would rather give him the money because I know exactly where it’s going. Two, it’s part of supporting and building the local community.   

We’re all trying to help each other out right now, especially with all of us having to change our business model. That’s excellent to see, and it has been a great side effect through this whole thing.  

What are you most looking forward to when things get back to “normal?”

I’m looking forward to opening my doors again. We were only open for three weeks before we had to close, so we were just making a name for ourselves. And because the business that I have is sort of different — you can come in and do crafts and enjoy some food and a good drink — I’m really excited to be able to show more people what we’re all about. I’m optimistic that we won’t have to close our doors forever, but I also don’t know that for sure.  

Tie One On Creativity Bar 
1329 Gardiners Road, Suite 109 
613-384-3959 
tieoneoncreativity.com 

Agnes Etherington Art Centre – Shannon Brown, Program Coordinator

What is Agnes Learns all about, Shannon?

AGNES Learns is a new digital resource for children and families that uses artworks from the Agnes collection to inspire fun ways to explore, understand, and get creative. The program takes the form of short educational videos that stimulate the imagination. Accompanying each video is a lesson plan which features unique and creative activities to try at home. The videos and lesson plans are playful, but also grounded by Ontario Curriculum links. We will be adding to this program weekly through mid-June. The videos and lesson plans are targeted for children in grades 1–8. 

How do you decide on the theme for each week?

We wanted this program to highlight the breadth of the Agnes collection. Agnes holds over 17,000 works of art, with major concentrations of contemporary and Indigenous art, and Canadian, European, and African historical art. The program features works from each of these areas including types of art that children may be less familiar with such as quilt making or installation pieces. Each week we focus on a specific aspect of art or art making, but connecting the whole program is a focus on the senses and imagination. Imagination is integral to creativity and we encourage children to let their imaginations run wild and explore ways of experiencing art beyond seeing.  

Why did you want to offer this?

We’re passionate about sharing the transformative power of art, and it’s especially important to share this with young people. Typically, we welcome students to the museum through our school programs for grades 1–8, but, of course, these can’t go ahead for the time being. However, we have a rich catalogue of educational tours at our disposal — we’ve developed AGNES Learns allowing us to share them with a wider audience. We also want to increase accessibility to engaging arts education for those who have limited opportunities to visit the gallery, whether that’s a result of COVID-19 or any other reason. We hope AGNES Learns will be a resource for teachers and families who are looking for original arts education.   

What other digital activities at Agnes can people check out from home?

For those interested in connecting to community and sharing creativity in a safe and welcoming online environment, we now offer a Virtual Art Hive @Agnes every Thursday from 4-5:30. This activity is for anyone 18+ who is looking to explore art and wellness during this time of physical distancing. They can sign up for upcoming weeks until May 28 on the website. We also offer our Digital Agnes platform where visitors can find new digital projects, curatorial research, talks, and tours including a number of videos from contemporary artist Carmen Papalia, including his “See for Yourself” non-visual tour. Our collection of over 17,000 artworks are online to enjoy and explore as are a number of Agnes publications including a free PDF download of Leiden circa 1630: Rembrandt Emerges which illuminates the early career of Rembrandt and his peers. Sign up for our Agnes newsletter and join us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for upcoming announcements and digital activities. 

Agnes Etherington Art Centre 
36 University Avenue 
613-533-2190 
agnes.queensu.ca 

Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning – Danielle Folkerts, Marketing and Programming Coordinator 

How do your online open studios work, Danielle?

Typically, on the second Tuesday of every month we get together at the Tett Centre for an open studio session. Since April, we have been hosting these free sessions via Zoom every Tuesday from 6:30 pm to 8 pm. Our goal with the program is to stay connected, encourage at-home art-making, prioritize self-care, and to promote personal and community wellness. We invite participants to grab a creative project and participate online. Participants work in a variety of mediums, including graphic design, painting, video, photography, 3D modelling, knitting, drawing, embroidery, punch needle, ceramics, colouring books, and more. In each session, we facilitate a warm and welcoming environment. We start with a check-in, and then we take turns discussing and sharing our current projects, techniques, workspaces, demonstrations, ideas, and questions. The program is interactive, and participants can engage in discussion, or sit back, create, and just listen. 

What’s been the response to the virtual studios?

The response has been incredible! We have regulars who attend each session, and every session we welcome new faces too. The best part about going digital is that anyone can access our programming. We currently have people out–of–province attending our open studio sessions online. Each session is unique, and everyone is eager to learn and share creative resources.

Why did you want to keep doing the studios virtually rather than put them on pause?

We don’t know when our doors will reopen, so it was important to adapt as a charitable arts organization. We have been running Tett Tuesday Open Studio for nearly three years, and we wanted to stay connected to our community, especially during a time of crisis. Art-making is an incredible tool for managing stress, and our community needs art more than ever. The Tett Centre staff are staying present and supportive for our community artists, students, instructors, tenants, rental clients, and partners. 

For those who would like to join in, any tips for making the most of a session?      

Yes! All are welcome to attend. The program is free, and geared for ages 18+. We encourage participants to set up an art–making space in advance and tune in at 6:30 pm. You will also need to sign up for a free Zoom account. You can find the Zoom event details on our website or Facebook group. You can drop by for 30 minutes, or stay for the duration of the call. It is a fun and casual atmosphere, and the group has a great energy. Everyone is encouraging and supportive, and it has been a great place to get feedback, ask questions, or get inspired.   

Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning 
370 King Street West 
343-266-0009 
tettcentre.org 

Improbable Escapes – Faith Begbie, Game Master  

Can you give us a breakdown of your at-home experiences right now, Faith?

Our at-home services for customers include trivia, merchandise delivery, and a virtual escape room design. We run trivia throughout the week with a variety of themes and prizes to be won. Customers can sign up on our website and choose which trivia night they’d like best! This is a really fun way to be social, playfully competitive, and test your knowledge! Our virtual escape rooms currently include the Seven Dwarfs: Mining Mission and Neverland: Heist on the High Seas. Through Zoom, customers guide their game host through the escape rooms. Our game hosts are your hands! Tell them where to go, what to hack with the clues surrounding you, and how to progress further into your adventure.   

What’s been the response to these experiences?

There has been an incredible response to both of these at home game styles. Our experiences have gone international, catching the attention and hearts of players across the globe! It’s been a really exciting and heartwarming experience to see people from around the world enjoying our experiences.   

What’s been most challenging about switching from an in-person to an online model?

The most challenging aspects of switching from in-person to online would be finding a sufficient source to host these experiences, and how to make sure our escape rooms are still magical and enjoyable for teams when playing online.  

Any news to share about upcoming offerings?

We have a third escape room coming to the online universe! Cure for the Common Zombie will be released for customers to play online with friends and family. We’re also hosting 90s’ trivia! All of our trivia themes can be found at wonderlandkingston.com/collections/events. 

Improbable Escapes 
303 Bagot Street, Suite 16B 
343-333-3463 
improbableescapes.com 

Read More:

How Four Breweries are Handling the Pandemic

How Three Kingston Restaurants are Weathering COVID-19

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Kingston Culinary Guide: May Long Weekend

When the warm weather hits, Kingstonians – and Canadians – take advantage of every moment we can to spend time outside. The May long weekend traditionally kicks off days of swimming, hitting the hiking trails, nights around a camp fire, and time spent with family and friends. While not all of that is possible at the moment, Kingston’s local businesses have curated special offerings that will liven up any celebration – indoors or out. From barbecue to beer, they have everything you need to welcome the countdown to summer.

Are we missing a long weekend culinary offering? Let us know by using our webchat feature.

Smoke ‘N Barrel: BBQ + Brews: May 22 at 4 pm

May long weekends call for ringing in the coming of summer with celebratory cold drinks, smoky BBQ treats, and live music. And that’s just what you get with the next installment of the Kingstonlicious virtual event series.

For this one-time-only virtual experience, MacKinnon Brothers Brewing Co will join forces with Prince Edward County’s Stock & Row Cider (Bloomfield) and 555 Brewing Co (Picton) to create an exclusive six-pack curated to pair with a Texas-style BBQ extravaganza platter designed by Neil Highet of Smoke ‘N Barrel. Dig in while listening to live performance by Kingston musician Alex Mundy.

Black Dog Tavern – Family Fried Chicken Dinner

Black Dog Tavern will be offering a fried chicken dinner for the family that includes a large Caesar salad, family size fries and slaw, large mac and cheese, house ranch and bourbon jalapeno hot sauce. Add on a bottle of house wine or six-pack of tall cans for only $20 when you order!

The Everly – Cheese and Charcuterie box for two

The Everly’s cheese and charcuterie box for two is back and makes the perfect to-go picnic box. Featuring two artisan cured meats and two local cheeses, focaccia bread, seed crisps (gluten free), marinated olives, pickled ramps, and house mustard.

AquaTerra – Grill-ready BBQ kits

Victoria Day long weekend marks the unofficial start of grilling season! Elevate your backyard bound long weekend and make the neighbours a little jealous with a locally sourced, grill-ready BBQ kit + some local craft beers.

Lone Star Texas Grill – Margartia Kits

We’re all missing drinks on the beautiful patios of Kingston, but now you can bring the patio home with you for the long weekend. Lone Star is offering take-home Mar-Go-Ritas, with a litre of classic margarita mix and a 200 ml bottle of Hornitos Reposado tequila, house-smoked salt for rimming, and fresh sliced orange and lime wedges. They also have non-alcoholic options available. Both options serve six margaritas.

Skeleton Park Brewery – Savoury pies & craft beer mixed packs

Skeleton Park Brewery has partnered with Hanna’s Meat Pies of Sydenham to bring you a delicious new craft beer and meal deal! While quantities last, get two, five-inch, locally made savoury pies with their Heritage Series mixed six-pack of 473 ml cans for $29.99, or four pies with a mixed 12 pack for $57.99. Delivery is available to customers in the greater Kingston area only.

Spearhead Brewing Company

Spearhead Brewing Company is helping you skip the lines at the LCBO and Beer Store during the long weekend. With Customer Mixer packs of six, 12, and 24 cans, you can choose your favourites, mix and match, and try something new! Kingston orders are filled within 30 hours, delivered daily between 4-9 pm with all orders placed after 3 pm will be included in the next day’s delivery batch. Contactless delivery is available with proof of ID required!

Mio Gelato – Kingstonlicious cocktail kit

Enjoy Mio Gelato at home as part of our Kingstonlicious program! Their sorbetto cocktail kit includes a 750ml bottle of Pelee Island Lola Blush VQA (12%), two 1oz bottles of Aperol (11%), one pint of passionfruit sorbetto, and one bag of gummies.

The Grizzly Grill – family meals for four

Enjoy barbeque at home with meals from The Grizzly Grill including BBQ ribs, bacon-wrapped beef tenderloin and vegetable kabobs, chicken, pepper, and onion kabobs, and delicious sides.

 

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Tango Nuevo

Include Tango Nuevo in your long weekend plans. Their long weekend special is duck confit flatbread (confit duck leg, brie, basil cashew pesto, arugula pear parmesan, and house-made flatbread) and bacon -wrapped dates (crushed pistachios and balsamic reduction). They are open Thursday to Sunday from 3-9pm for takeout and delivery.

Union Kitchen + Cocktails – BBQ packages

Fire up the grill and fill the cooler! As part of our Kingstonlicious program, Union Kitchen + Cocktails has BBQ packages ready to order for two or four people. Enjoy your choice of chicken, kebabs, salmon, or burgers; each package is ready to BBQ and comes with potatos, veggies, and a mixed green salad. Order by calling 613-547-5152.

Looking for more culinary packages? Check out our Kingstonlicious program and explore $45 prix fixe menus, from three-course dinners to lunch for the family. May’s menus feature fresh spring ingredients that are sure to make your mouth water.

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7 Things You Need to Know About Kingston Penitentiary

As historian J. A. Edmison wrote in his book The History of Kingston Penitentiary, “If [KP’s] walls could talk, we would indeed have stories of drama, of tragedy, of cruelty, of every vicissitude of human emotion.” Still, though Canada’s oldest and most notorious maximum-security prison closed in 2013, some of those stories have survived. And now that tours of KP have resumed (July 23 – October 31), you can get behind the prison’s foreboding walls to see and feel where they happened. Here are seven of those tales to help get you ready.  

Picket Fence Security

Although one of the defining characteristics of KP is its massive stone wall, when the prison officially opened on June 1, 1835, it had only a 12-foot high picket fence made of wood surrounding the compound. Perhaps officials weren’t too worried about escapes yet, as only six inmates arrived on that first day. The population would quickly increase, however, since the jail had 154 cells in five tiers in its single limestone cellblock. By 1845, the picket fence was replaced by stone walls, towers, and the north gatehouse.    

Ty Conn

There were at least 26 escape attempts since KP opened, but the 1999 breakout of bank robber Ty Conn was one of the facility’s most infamous. Conn had arrived at KP the year before from the Millhaven Institution after advising security staff that inmates there were planning an escape. On May 6, 1999, Conn successfully pulled off his own escape using a ladder and homemade grappling hook to scale KP’s wall. He also used cayenne pepper to prevent dogs from following his scent. Two weeks later, surrounded by police in a Toronto apartment building, Conn shot himself while speaking on the phone to a CBC producer.   

1954 Riot

The four-day riot in 1971 usually gets the most attention for its length and brutality, but the one on August 16, 1954, was the worst in KP’s history up to that point. That morning, as inmates were getting ready for a baseball game, a few of them attacked prison guards and used cigarette lighters to set buildings on fire. The flames could be seen from downtown’s market square. At least one guard was held hostage, but he managed to escape by dressing like a prisoner. Nine hundred inmates would become involved in the two-hour riot, which caused $2 million in damages and was eventually quelled by the RCMP.   

What’s for Dinner?

In the early days of Kingston Penitentiary, a “coarse diet” was considered part of the punishment. A typical daily menu in the 1880s, for example, included: for breakfast, a pint of coffee, a half pound of bread, a half pound of potatoes, and a quarter pound of beef or pork. For lunch, it was the same as breakfast except the coffee was replaced with soup. For dinner, ten ounces of bread and a pint of coffee. Kitchen staff would try to get creative, however, which is why they kept a bow and arrow handy to bring down pigeons that landed in the yard. By the early twentieth century, pigeons were still ending up in KP’s stew pots.   

Tourist Attraction

While KP has become one of Kingston’s top tourist attractions in recent years, this isn’t the first time in its history that sightseers have been allowed in. In the 1830s and 1840s, the new penitentiary charged admission to the “better classes” to gawk at the prisoners. Charles Dickens (pictured) was one of those early tourists, and in his travelogue American Notes he wrote that KP was “well and wisely governed, and excellently regulated, in every respect.” He was deceived. An 1849 report detailed flagrant abuse of prisoners, and the warden was accused of “mismanagement or negligence reducing the penitentiary to a state of utmost disorder.” The Kingston Pen tours were cancelled in the early 1900s.   

Female Prisoners

It wasn’t just men imprisoned at KP. From 1835 until 1934, women were incarcerated there too, and in sometimes brutal conditions. In 1843, inspectors noted that nine women were confined to a walled off section of the dining hall where quarters were cold, cramped, and crawling with bugs. The bug problem became so bad in 1846 that the women refused to work. They also had to fend off advances from the warden’s son, could be flogged, and lived in terror of the “box”, which was a coffin-like container in which they were forced to stand for hours at a time. A women’s ward was built in 1853, and while floggings diminished, women could still be chained, submerged in ice water, or humiliated by shaving their heads.    

Not Just for Criminals

Before closing in 2013, KP was known for housing some of Canada’s most infamous criminals, including Paul Bernardo, Russell Williams, and Clifford Olson. But some of this country’s better-known wrongfully convicted were also held there. Steven Truscott (pictured) was one of them. In 1959, a 14-year-old Truscott was sentenced to hang for the rape and murder of classmate Lynne Harper. His sentence was later changed to life in prison, but in 2007 he was acquitted of the charges. In 1992, Guy-Paul Morin was sentenced to life in prison at KP for the rape and murder of his nine-year-old next-door neighbour, Christine Jessop. He spent 18 months there before being paroled and eventually acquitted in 1995 on DNA evidence.      

Head to kingstonpentour.com for tickets and more information about the tours.  

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Kingston’s accommodation industry donates supplies to the Kingston Self-Isolation Centre

The Kingston Self-Isolation Centre (KSIC) recently opened its doors to referrals from the COVID-19 Assessment Centre. The centre allows individuals experiencing homelessness to self-isolate and maintain a safe physical distance from others – including those who may have COVID-19 or who have symptoms and are awaiting testing. The KSIC is managed by Addiction and Mental Health Services – Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington.

Getting the centre up and running has been a community effort with hotels, bed and breakfasts, and other accommodation providers in Kingston heeding the call for supplies. From bed linens to towels, soaps and lotions, Kingston’s accommodation providers donated many items that will ensure the centre is comfortable and welcoming for its residents.

“The city very much appreciates the contributions made by the community in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our residents. We recognize the tourism industry is hurting as a result of COVID-19 so their generosity is wonderful,” says Cheryl Hitchen, Social Policy & Strategic Community Development Manager with the City of Kingston.

Best Western Fireside Inn and Courtyard by Marriott donated soap and shampoo, as did the Rosemount Inn, which also provided bottles of lotion. Frontenac Club and Delta Hotels by Marriott Kingston Waterfront contributed linens to outfit the Centre’s beds, and Delta also provided towels. Hilltop Motel, Quality Inn and Suites, and Holiday Inn Express and Suites Kingston Central all offered to donate supplies, as well.

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Experience Kingston’s Museums at Home

Sometimes referred to as Canada’s museum capital, Kingston is home to an incredible 30+ museums, galleries, and historic sites. Several have fascinating online collections, exhibits, and activities that make spending time at home a little easier and a little more educational.

Digital Agnes

The Bader Gallery at Kingston's Agnes Etherington Art Gallery
The Bader Gallery. Photo: Forbes Photographer

Presenting an impressive collection of digital publications, interactive content, virtual tours, and videos, Digital Agnes makes parts of the Agnes Etherington Art Centre’s collection accessible at home. Dig into a full academic lecture about European art, learn about Rembrandt through short videos, or explore historical artists through a variety of mediums like poetry, images, and interviews with experts.

Museum of Health Care

The history of health care is at your fingertips through a series of online exhibits available on the Museum of Health Care website. Learn about vaccines and immunization, the healing power of plants, and the history of Medicare in Canada. Plus, the site has a few fun online activities.

Kingston Frontenac Public Library

Recognizing that many families are spending more time than usual at home, the Kingston Frontenac Public Library has made 1000s of e-books available for free via Tumblebooks – no library card required! Collections include children’s books, K-6 math, grade 7-12 subjects, all ages audio books, and even romance novels for those looking for an escape – and the e-books are available instantly.

Military Communications and Electronics Museum

Dedicated to providing insights into the history of Canadian military communications, the Military Communications and Electronics Museum has several online exhibitions that explore the development and application of communications technology.

Kingston City Hall Virtual Tour

Kingston City Hall

Kingston’s City Hall has hosted many different organizations and services over the years including a bank, a saloon, church groups, theatre productions, a courtroom and a women’s medical school. Learn more about City Hall’s fascinating history, beautiful architecture, and the intriguing people, events, and stories associated with this national historic site through an interactive virtual tour.

The Original Hockey Hall of Fame

Kingston has a long association with hockey – the first organized game of hockey happened in Kingston in 1886. The Original Hockey Hall of Fame presents a series of online stories that explore Kingston’s connections with our country’s favourite game. Learn about Kingston’s golden era of hockey, Kirk Muller and his Stanley Cup-winning goal, and Kingston’s most decorated Olympian, Jayna Hefford.

PumpHouse

PumpHouse

The City of Kingston has an extensive collection of locally, provincially, and nationally significant Canadian Art, many of which were donated by the former Art Collection Society of Kingston in 1988. A selection of significant works has been brought ‘out of the vault’ and made available online.

Murney Tower Virtual Tour

Built in 1846 as part of the defensive Martello tower fortifications of Kingston, Murney Tower has three floors displaying a collection of military and domestic artifacts of 19th-century Kingston. Experience the tower through this virtual tour, which features 360 degree views and fascinating information about the site in both French and English.

Frontenac County Schools Museum

The Frontenac County Schools Museum provides free downloadable guidelines on crafts, games and outdoor activities that can be done at home – all in nineteenth-century style.

Bellevue House Virtual Tour

This tour will let you move around the Bellevue House in your browser with the click of a button, at any speed you want. Take your time to go through the rooms, and stop to read the points of interest all over the house! Open the virtual tour.

Are you interested in the history of Kingston? Check out more museums in Kingston!

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“Nothing but good memories”: Jim Cuddy and Blue Rodeo on Kingston

When Blue Rodeo walks onto the Leon’s Centre stage, it might take Jim Cuddy a minute to remember where he is.   

“It’s going to be a long time before I get used to calling it Leon’s Centre,” he says with a laugh over the phone from his home in Toronto.  

The co-founding frontman of the iconic Canadian band is no stranger to Kingston, though. He went to Queen’s University in the 1970s, eventually earned a degree in English literature, and received an honorary doctor of law degree in 2015. His parents went to Queen’s, too, as did his youngest son, and Cuddy also met his wife there (they had their first date on a Saturday morning at Morrison’s).      

“I love going back to Kingston, every time,” says Cuddy, 64. “I think it’s a beautiful place, and it’s nothing but good memories for me.”  

Those Queen’s memories begin in 1975, when a 20-year-old Cuddy arrived at his student home on William Street. The previous few years of high school and a year of travelling out west had left him “pretty burnt out,” he says, so he didn’t do a lot of socializing while at Queen’s and never went to the pub, though he did work as a bartender at the Kingston Curling Club when it was on Clergy Street.   

But Cuddy loved his professors and his literary studies. And he loved the peace, the quiet, and, above all, the time that a liberal arts degree gave him to explore the other thing he really wanted to explore — music, particularly folk music.    

He was still relatively new to playing guitar and writing songs when he arrived at Queen’s, but many in his small circle of friends played. One of them was Walt Macnee, now the Vice Chairman at Mastercard, who Cuddy says he learned a lot of guitar from.  

“He was an absolutely superbly talented musician, and I’d hound him into giving me lessons,” remembers Cuddy. “I’d sit on his porch, just down from Jock Harty Arena, waiting for him. And when he saw me, he’d go, ‘Oh no.’ And I’d say, ‘Just show me one thing, take 10 minutes!’ And he would, I’d learn it, and I’d keep coming back.” 

Although Cuddy had played a few gigs in Picton, it took a few years for him to feel competent and confident enough to get onstage in Kingston. That finally happened at an end-of-year show in 1978 at Grant Hall, where he played a couple of covers and an original with Macnee and another friend.  

Grant Hall was also where Cuddy would see artists like Bruck Cockburn, Dan Hill, and David Bradstreet, but it was the now defunct folk club The Scarecrow, on Princess Street, where Cuddy would return to week after week to see Stan Rogers, Willie P. Bennett, Steve Goodman, and many others.   

BLUE RODEO
Press shots. Dundas, ON – July 25, 2016
Dustin Rabin Photography – 2730

“[The Scarecrow] would maybe hold 50 people, but it was a real hotspot,” says Cuddy. “The sounds in the club were so clear, and I had come from a rock background, going to rock concerts, so when I turned towards folk music, the clarity of it and the simplicity of it was so powerful to me. And the way that those people played guitar was just amazing. I was just mesmerized when I saw those acts, very inspiring.” 

Not long after that 1978 gig at Grant Hall, Cuddy decided to move back to Toronto to give music a shot for a full year. It took a while to work out, but it eventually did of course. Since forming in 1984, Blue Rodeo has gone on to sell over 4 million albums, win 12 Junos, be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, and be named to the Order of Canada. 

That’s a long time to be playing in the same band, and Cuddy admits that there have been times when the repetitiveness has gotten to him. “But then you shake your head and quickly you’re grateful that you make music for a living and that you make it with these people that are so good at it.”   

In Kingston, those people will include Blue Rodeo co-founder Greg Keelor, Colin Cripps on guitar, Mike Boguski on piano, and The Sheepdogs’ Jimmy Bowskill on mandolin, petal steel, and fiddle. The powerful alt-country band Elliott Brood will open.  

 “The Blue Rodeo show has been so consistently good for the last few years, real joy fests,” says Cuddy. “And with all of those instruments, a lot of it is just presenting the songs and then letting the guys play. So I think there’s a certain amount of internalized joy on stage just from listening to everybody play and sounding so good.” 

No doubt Cuddy’s history with Kingston and his affection for the city will make it a special show, too.  

“I love playing in Kingston, and I love coming back,” he says. “When I’m back, I always try to take a walk around or a run by the lake. I never get tired of walking that ground.”