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10 Can’t-Miss Concerts in Kingston This June

Summer finally arrives this month, and live music lovers know what that means: bands big and small are hitting the road again. This June in Kingston take your pick from travelling troubadours like Spencer Burton, up-and-coming pop stars like Scott Helman, the most legendary singer-songwriter of all time (hint: the answer may be blowin’ in the wind), and more.

Miss Emily Sings Kingston
Photo via Lisa MacIntosh.

Friday, June 2, 7:30pm
Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts
As The Tragically Hip’s Rob Baker put it, Emily Fennell has “an angelic voice with just a hint of sultry devilishness. This gal is a rocket ready to take off.” And he’d know, since he and fellow Hip-mate Gord Sinclair have played on two albums with her. Her performances move from rhythm and blues to jazz to rock and back again. At this one, expect a foot-stomping good time featuring songs written by Emily and her favourite Kingston artists, some of whom will join her onstage.
$24
theisabel.ca

Road Apples
Photo via Road Apples Facebook.

Saturday, June 3, 10pm
The Merchant Tap House
The next best thing to seeing The Tragically Hip live is getting down with this iconic tribute band. From Kingston themselves, Road Apples formed in 1992 and quickly became the busiest and most sought after Hip tribute band in the country. This show will bring the fab Kingston’s five’s now iconic rock songs back to where they were first heard: a low-ceilinged, beer-stained bar packed with locals just needing a little a little liquid courage to keep going.
merchanttaphouse.com

Fluffy Little Cowboys
10 Can’t-Miss Concerts in Kingston, Ontario This June
Photo via Fluffy Little Cowboys.

Thursday, June 8, 8pm
Musiikki Café
The name Fluffy Little Cowboys is more than a little tongue in cheek for this alt-Americana female trio from PEI. They aren’t fluffy, they aren’t cowboys and their sound isn’t little. Think country, roots, folk and blues with spoken word and punk rock mixed in. They recently debuted their LP No Angel, and now Shelley, Maureen and Keelin are hitting the road, making a stop at this gem of a tiny whiskey bar on Brock Street.
musiikkicafe.com

YGK Craft Beer Fest
10 Can’t-Miss Concerts in Kingston, Ontario This June
Photo via Kasador.

Saturday, June 10, 12pm – 8pm
Fort Henry
The fresh, local suds may be what draws you to the YGK Craft Beer Fest, but the full day of live music should keep you there. Bands are still being added to the lineup, but so far The Stares, Ambush and five-piece indie rock band Kasador are set to play. Kasador (pictured) released their self-titled debut just last year, but already they’ve appeared on the same bill as Canadian greats like Arkells, July Talk, Lights and Wintersleep. Catch what could be the next big Kingston band on the outdoor stage overlooking Lake Ontario.
$15
forthenry.com

Spencer Burton
10 Can’t-Miss Concerts in Kingston, Ontario This June
Photo via Spencer Burton Facebook.

Saturday, June 10, 5pm – 7:30pm
The Mansion
Southern Ontario singer-songwriter Spencer Burton first made his mark with Attack in Black and City and Colour before going solo in 2014. He brought the goods on his acoustic-driven LP Don’t Let the World See Your Love, and now he’s stepping up his game. His latest, Songs Of, was cut in Nashville and given the full-band treatment. It’s a sweeping follow-up that moves effortlessly between country-gospel weepers, gentle rustic odes and string-filled haunters. The Mansion’s Living Room should be the perfect soundstage for Burton’s deep resonant vocals.
$10
mansion.rocks

Supernatural Buffalo
10 Can’t-Miss Concerts in Kingston, Ontario This June
Photo via Supernatural Buffalo Facebook.

Saturday, June 10, 8pm
Musiikki Café
When I first heard the song “Dime a Dozen” from this psychedelic four-piece, I thought instant summer jam. The layered, groovy dreamscape it creates — like many of Supernatural Buffalo’s tunes — is probably best enjoyed on your back on a dock. Or on a beach, watching the surf roll in. The band itself was formed in the town of Crystal Beach on the shores of Lake Erie and today plays across the country. Their promise: to “take you on a musical trip somewhere between earth and ethereal, grit and grace.”
musiikkicafe.com

The Pick Brothers Band
10 Can’t-Miss Concerts in Kingston, Ontario This June
Photo via The Pick Brothers Band Facebook.

Wednesday, June 14, 8pm
The Mansion
The Pick Brothers are known as one of the hardest-working indie rock bands going, so it’s not surprising they’re finally getting the buzz they deserve. The three bros are from Toronto, but since 2013 they’ve been criss-crossing the country with, as they put it, a “familiar yet strange blend of high energy rocking with introspective creativity.” They’ve opened for The Sam Roberts Band, The Arkells, Houndmouth and others, and are now headlining their own shows with ease.
$10
mansion.rocks

Neon Dreams
10 Can’t-Miss Concerts in Kingston, Ontario This June
Photo via Wiki Creative Commons.

Saturday, June 17, 9pm
The Mansion
This Halifax band has been one of the most successful fully independent Canadian acts in recent memory. Last year, their track “Marching Bands,” made with Kardinal Offishall, hit number 15 on the Canadian top 40 chart, and to date their EP To You has been streamed over 5 million times. You’ll definitely want to get up and move at this show if you’re any fan of electronic pop, especially if you like your EDM mixed with live instrumentation.
mansion.rocks

Scott Helman
10 Can’t-Miss Concerts in Kingston, Ontario This June
Photo via Scott Helman Facebook.

Saturday, June 24, 7pm
The Mansion
Singer-songwriter Scott Helman is only 21, but he’s already an industry vet. When he was 15, he blew away a room full of Warner Music Canada executives. Four years later he had his first platinum-certified single with “Bungalow.” He went on to earn two Juno nominations, tour the U.S. and Europe, and play the 2015 MMVAs and 2016 Junos. His sound is rooted in guitar-driven pop and classic alternative rock.
$15
mansion.rocks

Bob Dylan and His Band Live
10 Can’t-Miss Concerts in Kingston, Ontario This June
Photo via Marcello Linzalone FlickrCC

Tuesday, June 27, 8pm
Rogers K-Rock Centre
What can you say about an artist who has influenced music more than The Beatles? Who has won a Nobel Prize for Literature? Who has remained an original for over 50 years? Who never stops touring? Book loads, it turns out. So just go see him. You’ll hear new hits and classics like “Highway 61 Revisited” and “Tangled Up in Blue” — but probably not how you know them. Dylan plays what he wants how he wants, and that’s always changing. Thankfully that’s also always electrifying to watch.
$55 – $85
rogersk-rockcentre.com

Five weekly concert series also begin this month. Here are the details:

  1. Music in the Park
    Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, 12:30pm – 1:30pm
    Confederation Park
    downtownkingston.ca
  2. Country Music in the Park
    Thursdays, 7pm – 8pm
    Confederation Park
    downtownkingston.ca
  3. Big Band Friday
    Fridays, 7pm – 8pm
    Courtyard in Market Square
    downtownkingston.ca
  4. Sounds on Sydenham
    Saturdays, 1:30 – 2:30pm
    Sydenham Street (between Menchies & Balzacs)
    downtownkingston.ca
  5. St. George’s Cathedral Summer Concerts
    Thursdays
    St. George’s Cathedral
    stgeorgescathedral.ca
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Meet the Maker: John Clark of the Kingston Sail Loft

Even when the sky is cloudy, John Clark dreams in bright blues and whites. A lifelong boat enthusiast and sailmaker for almost 30 years, John has been providing quality handmade sails to Kingston’s boating community since 1988. With summer almost upon us, he’s been working harder than ever to outfit local sailors for the 2017 season.

John wasn’t always a Kingstonian, but was plenty aware of our rich sailing community from an early age.

“I’ve been coming to CORK (Canadian Olympic Regatta, Kingston – an annual regatta hosted in town) since I was about seven years old,” he says. “I’ve always loved Kingston, and it’s such a windy spot.”

He got his sailmaking start at Toronto’s North Sails in 1983, learning the ropes in a fast-paced, high-production environment. “When I worked in Toronto, it was the largest production loft in the world at the time,” he says. “It was a good way to learn, but it’s not what I wanted to do in the end.” In 1988, he made the move to K-town in search of a smaller, more hands-on experience, and set up shop as JC Sails, before partnering with Andy Soper to open the Kingston Sail Loft in 1999. “Andy is now semi-retired, and I’m running the shop on my own,” he says.

Some of John’s designs in action. Photo via Kingston Sail Loft.
John hard at work. Photo via Kingston Sail Loft.

An important characteristic of John’s operation is that every sail is handmade with care and passion, by someone who truly understands and loves sailing. While technology has created more convenient means of production, he prefers to stick to tried-and-true methods.

“I am not a computer guy. I learned to make sails using a stick on the floor, and I still make all my sails using a stick on the floor,” he says. “After fifty years of sailing, and thirty years of sailmaking, you become a pretty confident sailmaker.”

John says that the art of sailmaking is what keeps him passionate about his work. “I love building sails. It’s really a creative thing,” he says. “They’re all a little bit different – you get to pick your own materials, and change little things here and there, and you go through stages of making them just like an artist would. Every day here is different.”

He also shares his excitement for being able to help sailors stay on the water. “People come in here with damaged sails, and they’re really appreciative of the fact that I can fix them up, turn them around, and get them back out on the water,” he says. “I love that.” With so few other shops in the area – John is the only sailmaker in Kingston – he is single-handedly helping to keep Kingston’s sailing community afloat.

Sail bags, ready to go. Photo via Kingston Sail Loft.

His decision to build a sailmaking business in K-town was certainly no accident. “I definitely chose this city to set up shop,” says John. “The sailing community is huge, and it stretches out really far – there’s so many people from Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal who take up space here, as well as locals.” With the price of nearby cottages and waterfront properties on the rise, John predicts that the local boating community will only continue to grow. “There’s a lot more people getting into it – you can get a really decent boat for $10,000.”

The growing market, combined with his reputation for quality work, means that John is rarely sitting idle. But his other passion – actually getting out on the water himself – is never far from his mind. “Business is great right now, and I’m having fun! But I’m working 6 days a week, and hope to change that,” he says. He’s currently in the process of training an apprentice, with the hopes of having a bit more free time for himself.

“Hopefully soon I can get to a point where it’s blowing 17 knots from the southwest and I can get out and go kiting.”

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Kingston’s Tastiest Summer Food Events

The sun is beginning to shine down and the snow is finally gone, and we know that warmer, happier days lie just ahead. As you wind down the winter, don’t just dream about a summer full of fun – start planning now to make it happen! Kingston’s lineup of delightful and delicious summer food and drink events are the perfect starting point for mapping out your warm weather plans. These events will provide the perfect, mouthwatering basis for a day in YGK.

The Great Canadian Cheese Festival

Smooth, gooey, crumbly, sharp, mild, funky, or all of the above? Whatever your favourite kind of cheese, you’ll find it at the Great Canadian Cheese Festival. Situated in picturesque Picton, Ontario (just an hour from your hotel doorstep in Kingston!), this fest has everything a fromage fan could ask for. Sample and stock up on delicious Canadian-produced cheeses, meet the cheesemakers who craft your favourite products, take in a pairing or cooking seminar, or check out a live chef competition. And don’t forget to wash down all that cheesy indulgence with a few samples of local beers, wines, and ciders!
June 3-4

Find your favourite fromage at the Great Canadian Cheese Festival.
Photo via Pixabay.com/jill111
YGK Craft Beer Festival

There’s nothing like a frosty brew with friends. But add amazing music, finger-licking food, and a cool outdoor setting, and you’ve got a recipe for the perfect summer evening – which is exactly what you’ll find at the YGK Craft Beer Festival. This year’s event promises a staggering lineup of unique brews (including ciders!), delicious dining options from local food trucks and vendors, and tons of music to suit everyone’s tastes. It’s also the official after-party of Fort Henry’s Cannonball Crush obstacle race, and participants get free entry to the fest. Whether you’re a sweaty athlete looking to score a serious cheat meal, or a brew lover who just wants to chill in the grass and take in the sights, sounds, and tastes, the YGK Craft Beer Festival is a guaranteed good time.
Saturday, June 10 from 12pm – 8pm. This event is 19+.

Prepare your palate for fun, friends, and more beer than you can shake a stick at. Photo via pixabay.com/SchilderSchool
Chef Cooking Demos

Don’t miss downtown’s Chef Cooking Demos, where Kingston’s chefs pair with local producers to inspire delicious creativity in the kitchen. Each demo will feature a local chef talking about locally-sourced, in-season foods, and demonstrating a simple recipe that can be recreated at home. When you’re done being inspired, purchase everything you need to concoct these amazing meals from the farmer’s market – also located right in Springer Market Square!
Saturday, July 8 to Saturday, August 26

Check out live cooking demos you can make at home. Photo via pixabay.com/Pexels
150 Years of Canadian Culinary

To coincide with our country’s sesquicentennial, Sir John’s Public House has cooked up an event that celebrates Canada’s food heritage. Enjoy a dinner of small plates featuring venison, buffalo pemmican, gourmet poutine, and a dish from the first cookbook ever published in Canada. Savour these traditional delights as you listen to stories about the country’s past and watch live cooking demos. Your meal will also be complemented by local libations, and a fascinating lecture on Kingston’s brewing history.
Monday nights – July 10 to August 21

Indulge in heritage delights as you learn about Canada’s rich food history.
Photo via: Flickr.com/Daniel Lee
Taste of Kingston

Sample local delights – and help support Diabetes Canada – at Taste of Kingston. This family-friendly event draws city-dwellers and visitors alike to the scenic Confederation Basin to celebrate some of the city’s best and most creative fare. Over 20 food vendors, live entertainment, demonstrations, and contests will provide the perfect venue for a fun outing for the whole family. Taste of Kingston draws over 5,000 visitors each year, so make sure to plan your summer travels around this must-visit event!
Sunday, July 30 from 9:30am to 3pm

Sample local delights with the whole family at Taste of Kingston. Photo via flickr.com/StateofIsrael
Kingston Food Tours

All summer long, you’ll have the chance to walk the streets of historic downtown Kingston, taste some of the fantastic local fare, and get an insider’s look at what makes this city so unique. Focusing on local restaurants, shops, artisans, and producers, Kingston Food Tours are a perfect way to experience the magic of Kingston.

Stroll the street and savour local fare on a Kingston Food Tour. Photo via flickr.com/Benjamin Thomas
Bayview Farm “Celebrate Local” Series

For an exclusive taste of Kingston’s thriving and collaborative local food community, make sure to visit Bayview Farm for one (or more!) instalments of their Celebrate Local series.

  • For the week of May 2 – 6, they will partner with the Ontario Water Buffalo Company to feature both meats and cheeses sourced from this humanely-run local farm, paired with local craft beers.
  • From June 6 – 10 they will welcome delectable Kingston-raised Wagyu beef from D.J. Cook’s Otter Creek Farm, served alongside a selection of wines from Prince Edward County.
  • July 4 – 8 will feature wood-fired breads and pizzas made from Against the Grain Farms’ organic barley and non-GMO purple corn, as well as Haanover farm-raised pork and rabbit terrine. These mouthwatering dishes will be complemented by tart and tasty Ontario ciders.
  • August 1 – 5 has been dubbed “Cheese-a-palooza”! Bayview’s menu will feature a variety of local cheeses in the company of distinctive reds and whites from Niagara wineries.
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9 Festivals to Hit This June in Kingston

YGK Craft Beer Fest – Kingston Ontario

Kingston’s festivals lineup this month includes real gems, plenty of cold craft beer and five days of solstice celebrating with people like Sarah Harmer and Fred Penner. Here are 9 of them to check out across the city in calendar order.  

#1: Limestone Genre Expo

Saturday, June 3 – Sunday, June 4
St. Lawrence College

Limestone Genre Expo
Photo via Limestone Genre Expo

Calling all literary fans of fantasy, horror, mystery, romance and science fiction — this two-day Canadian genre fiction fest is back. Expect panel discussions and workshops, readings and pitch sessions, and more books to buy than your car’s suspension can probably handle. Over 50 authors will be there for you to meet, and there will be special events, too, like a Q&A with a forensic investigator from Kingston Police. $25 – $60. limestonegenreexpo.ca

#2: Beat Beethoven

Sunday, June 4, 10:30am
Downtown

Beat Beethoven Run at Fort Henry
Photo via Peter Stokes

Definitely one of the more original marathons in the province, Beat Beethoven challenges you to finish an 8 kilometre race or 4 kilometre fun run before the Kingston Symphony finishes playing 50 minutes of Ludwig’s best. Start at Confederation Park in front of City Hall and then head to the route around City Park or the course that goes to Sir John A. Macdonald Blvd. and back. More of a relaxer than a marathoner? Stay at the starting line and hang with the symphony. $30 – $45. kingstonsymphony.ca

#3: Cannonball Crush

Saturday, June 10, 9:30am – 12pm
Fort Henry

Cannonball Crush at Fort Henry
Photo via St. Lawrence Parks Commission

If Fort Henry wasn’t already difficult enough to attack, it definitely will be at this 5 kilometre run with 15 obstacles. Complete the course alone or with a team of at least four, but be prepared for running, climbing, crawling, swimming and more. The reward at the end will be free entry into the YGK Craft Beer Fest and the satisfaction of knowing you were one of the rare ones to conquer Fort Henry. $70 – $75 per person. forthenry.com

#4: YGK Craft Beer Fest

Saturday, June 10, 12pm – 8pm
Fort Henry

YGK Craft Beer Fest – Kingston Ontario
Photo via St. Lawrence Parks Commission

There are few better places to kick off Ontario Craft Beer Week than at this brew fest on Fort Henry Hill. Sip on special collaboration brews, exclusives and mainstays from breweries across the province, including five from the Kingston area. Pair with sweeping views of Lake Ontario, fresh local eats and live music from Kasador, a five-piece indie rock band from the city. $15. Free for kids. $7 for youth. Beer/food tickets extra. forthenry.com

#5: First Capital Day

Thursday, June 15, 9:30am – 2:30pm
City Park

First Capital Day in Kingston Ontario
Photo via Queens University Flickr CC

Kingston was named the first capital of a united Canada on June 15, 1841, and now this annual free fest brings that era back with hands-on historical displays and activities. Mayor Paterson and the Town Crier will kick things off at 9:45am, and then feel free to explore everything from early medicine to broadsword demos, woodworking to military drills, rope making to a puppet journey through the Great Lakes. Pack a picnic or enjoy the local eats you’ll find onsite. Free. cityofkingston.ca

#6: Doors Open Kingston

Saturday, June 17
Citywide

Doors Open Kingston
Photo via Queens University Flickr CC

While many of the 25-plus doors on this festival’s list are open all year, Doors Open is always the best way to find out more about what’s inside. Think special guided tours of the Islamic Centre. Or a new exhibition at the Pump House Steam Museum focusing on bizarre objects from Kingston’s past. Or a walk through the Queen’s Solar Education Centre, which is used to test and create sustainable housing technologies. Free. doorsopenontario.on.ca

#7: DK Shop Fest 2017

Saturday, June 17
Downtown

DK ShopFest in Kingston
Photo via The Great Waterway

You may actually drop at this annual sidewalk sale, but it’ll be worth it because you probably won’t find as many specials and deals downtown on one day all year. Most businesses will have tables out on the sidewalks, and as usual it should be a great way to meet the local merchants who continue to make downtown such a vibrant place to work, live and play. Free. downtownkingston.ca

#8: Gemstorm 2017

Saturday, June 17 – Sunday, June 18
Cararaqui Arena

Gemstorm 2017 in Kingston
Photo via Kingston Lapidary And Mineral Club

Now in its 48th year, this annual gem and mineral show will feature over 45 dealers from Ontario and Quebec. They’ll display and sell everything from unique jewellery and crystal treasures to exotic fossils and gemstone carvings. There will also be a children’s mine and a jewellery workshop, as well as a food truck onsite. $5. Free for kids under 12. mineralclub.ca

#9: Skeleton Park Arts Festival

Wednesday, June 21 – Sunday, June 25
McBurney Park

Skeleton Parks Arts Festival in Kingston, Ontario
Photo via Christopher Canning

This summer solstice celebration is always one of the best fests of the year in Kingston, and that should hold true again in 2017. Sarah Harmer, Fred Penner, Justin Rutledge, Hidden Cameras, Minotaurs, Old Man Luedecke and many others are on the lineup for the all-day outdoor festivities on Saturday and Sunday. During the rest of the week, look forward to free morning yoga, a porch jazz parade, an artisan fair and way more. Everything takes place in and around McBurney Park (aka Skeleton Park). Free. skeletonparkartsfest.ca

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Chef Ian Arthur: Life at The Pig

Chef Ian Arthur: Life at The Pig

If there’s one thing that Chez Piggy’s executive chef Ian Arthur exudes, it’s decency. He’s also humble and deeply reverent about the importance of food. “Food is the universal language,” he says. “It’s fundamental to everything. To our memories, our health, our relationships, our travels, and the future of the planet.”

Chef Ian Arthur: Life at The Pig
Photo via Chez Piggy, Photographer: Ted Sheppard

Ian grew up homeschooled, on the land, on a small, organic market garden farm near Lyndhurst. His mother, Janette Haase (author of From the Seed to Table, 2009) was a server at Chez Piggy and also supplied the restaurant with produce from their farm. As a toddler, Ian would help with the deliveries up the back stairs of Chez Piggy to the kitchen. The very same kitchen where he’s now in charge. Though he’s strayed from home to travel to far flung bits of the world, Chez Piggy has featured prominently in Ian Arthur’s life.

Chef Ian Arthur: Life at The Pig
Photo via Chez Piggy, Photographer: Ted Sheppard
Chef Ian Arthur: Life at The Pig
Photo via Chez Piggy, Photographer: Ted Sheppard
Chef Ian Arthur: Life at The Pig
Photo via Chez Piggy, Photographer: Ted Sheppard

Lindy Mechefske: Where did you find your love of food?
Ian Arthur: In Spain. Some winters when my parents shut our family farm down, we went to Spain. My father was a great cook and I learned young about food – about the incredible importance of quality ingredients and simplicity. In Spain, we’d eat fresh rabbit and duck and local oranges plucked straight from the trees. I still remember those exquisite tastes.

LM: How did you train to be a chef?
IA: My training probably began at a very young age, growing up with parents who were passionate about food. At university, I did a degree in International Development and worked part-time in a vegetarian co-operative café. When I graduated in 2008, I went to cook in Iceland for a year and learned to clean and cook fish properly. Unfortunately, while I was there, the Icelandic economy crashed and I lost everything. I had to come home and start again. Incredibly for me, I came back home to Chez Piggy. A full circle.

LM: How would you describe your cooking style?
IA: I like simple flavours. Not overly complicated food. I like to leave things alone – let them show off their own glory. I like seasonal foods. At the moment it’s ramps. I also love fish. But my style is very definitely influenced by my early days – the market garden and those winters spent in Spain. Unlike the French, who like fantastic but quite complicated food, the Spanish are the opposite: simplicity is paramount.

LM: Is there a chef you admire or a food book that inspires you?
IA: I think if I had to name a single chef, I’d say Dan Barber (Chef and co-owner of Blue Hill in Manhattan and Blue Hill at Stone Barns, in Tarrytown, NY). He’s at the forefront of a whole new movement that blurs the lines between dining, education, and farming. His book, The Third Plate, is the best food book ever written. I’m also an admirer of Gabrielle Hamilton, chef and owner of Prune Restaurant and author of Blood, Bones, and Butter.

LM: What misconceptions are there about Canadian food?
IA:  I think the greatest misconception is that there is nothing novel happening in Canadian cooking. That’s not true. There are some fantastic changes afoot. Like Fogo Island Inn, perched at the edge of the earth off the remote Northeast Coast of Newfoundland, where diners sit looking out floor to ceiling plate glass windows to the iceberg-littered Atlantic Ocean, from where dinner has just been caught. And then there’s Chef Michael Smith’s team in his Prince Edward Island restaurant, FireWorks, named for the 25-foot-long, brick-lined, open wood burning fireplace where everything is cooked and then served family-style at long tables.

LM: What would you like to see change about Canadian food and cooking?
IA: This is a big question with a complex answer. I’d like to see a Canadian restaurant finally break the Top 100 Restaurants in the World list. Currently we have two honourable mentions but no Canadian restaurant has made the list recently.  It’s not because of a lack of talent. We have the talent and resources to cook better food than people are generally willing to buy. Compared to other countries around the globe, we spend considerably less of our income per capita on groceries and food. And unlike France, for example, where people seek the very best quality food that money can buy, Canadians are more reluctant to spend money on very high quality food. I think that is slowly beginning to change and palates are evolving. Just as an example, we try make 100 percent of everything from scratch at Chez Piggy EXCEPT things like ketchup. People want Heinz not homemade! I’m hopeful though, that things are shifting in new directions and we’re going to see a lot of change ahead in how much we care about quality food and cooking. I think we’re going to see growing support of Canadian food producers and Canadian cuisine.

LM: When makes you happiest at work?
IA:  Sous Chef, Matt Allen, is a great part of my happiness in the kitchen. He’s young and creative and fun to work with. But in general, I’m happy when the team is happy.

LM: What’s your favourite off duty, go-to-meal at home?
IA: Halibut. A good burger. And on a hot summer night – oysters and wine.
LM: If you could cook with anyone at all, who would you choose?
IA: Chef Francis Mallman, of Patagonia, who does all these intense burnt flavours by cooking with fire and clay. Because of all the things I’d learn.

LM: What do you value most in life?
IA:  First up: family. Mother, brother, young cousin Derek. All my family. I like setting goals and working towards things and I’m incredibly pragmatic so I like fixing up houses and of course, making food. Also, playing hockey. But ultimately, I’d like to do practical things on a bigger scale so I’m running for the NDP nomination for Kingston and the Islands because I care deeply about this community and worry about our future.

LM: Who are a few of your favourite local suppliers?
IA:
Enright Cattle Company
Forman Farms
Honey Wagon Farms
Patchwork Gardens
Reinink Family Farms
The Kitchen Garden
The Whalesbone Sustainable

Chez Piggy Restaurant, 68 Princess street, Kingston, is open for lunch (brunch on Sunday) and dinner, seven days a week. For more information please visit  www.chezpiggy.ca or call 613.549.7673

Lindy Mechefske is the award-winning author of Sir John’s Table and A Taste of Wintergreen. You can find her blogging about her adventures in the kitchen at lindymechefske.com

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15 Can’t-Miss Concerts in Kingston This May

When a month’s live music lineup kicks off with Tanya Tagaq and ends with a tribute to Johnny Cash, you know it’s going to be a prime month for concerts. Especially when legends like Sam Roberts and Charley Pride are peppered in between along with stellar up-and-comers like Close Talker and Lost Cousins. Such is the case for the concert lineup in Kingston this May. Here’s the lowdown on 15 to check out.

Tanya Tagaq Accompanies the Silent Film Nanook of the North
Photo via FlickrCC: LeviManchak

May 3, 7:30pm
The Grand Theatre
Seeing Inuk throat singer and Polaris Prize winner Tanya Tagaq live is unlike any concert experience you’ve probably had. Her intense, evocative vocalizations create a powerful emotional soundscape, and on this night she’ll use them to help reclaim the controversial 1922 film Nanook of the North. Tagaq, along with percussionist Jean Martin and violinist Jesse Zubot, perform a live accompaniment to the film’s silent images of life in an early 20th-century Inuit community in Northern Quebec. $19.50 – $39.50. kingstongrand.ca

 A Tribute to Elvis in Concert

May 4, 7:30pm
The Grand Theatre
Since The King’s death in 1977, tens of thousands of impersonators have tried to recreate his music and magic. Few have truly succeeded, but two that have are Toronto’s Pete Paquette and the UK’s Chris Connor. Backed by and eleven-piece band, this world-renowned duo has played to thousands of Elvis fans across the country. Now it’s your turn to put on your blues suede shoes and see what all the fuss is about. $49. kingstongrand.ca

Battle of the Bands

May 5, 7:30pm
Ale House & Canteen
The Juvenis Festival’s band battle is always a highlight of the week-long youth arts celebration. This year six local youth bands will play their hearts out on the Ale House’s stage for the coveted title of best band. The four judges include Paul Langlois (The Tragically Hip), Emily Fennell (Miss Emily recording artist), Michael George (Broken Charts Records) and Zane Whitfield (North of Princess Studios). $10. All ages. juvenisfestival.ca

Mark Herman Performs on Canada’s Largest Theatre Organ
Photo via Mark Herman Facebook

May 5, 7:30pm
Kingston Korean Church
Since 1981, some of the world’s best organists have visited Kingston to see and play Canada’s largest theatre pipe organ. Now it’s Mark Herman’s turn. Hailing from Indianapolis, Indiana, Herman is one of the one of the busiest young theatre organists playing today, performing more than 30 concerts and silent film presentations each year across the world. $8 – $25. ktos.ca

The Mikado, Unstaged

May 6, 7:30pm
Sydenham Street United Church
The Mikado is a comic opera in two acts and one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s most loved operettas. Set in the 1880s in the imaginary Japanese town of Titipu, the satire offers sharp commentary on contemporary English society. This concert version of the opera will be performed by Orchestra Kingston and the Kingston Choral Society. $5 – $25. kingstonchoralsociety.ca

HomeGrown Live Music Festival

May 6
Citywide
Now in its ninth year, this one-day live music fest is all about celebrating the local music scene while supporting local charities and causes. As usual each of the 13 participating venues this year will feature performers in a similar genre. Sir John A’s Pub is all about folk music, for example, while at The Mansion expect psychedelic, at Blu Martini rock and at Musiikki electroacoustic. This year’s proceeds go to the Joe Chithalen Memorial Musical Instrument Lending Library. All-access bracelet: $10. homegrownlive.ca

Melos Presents “Da Roma a Venezia”: Baroque Music of Italy

May 7, 3pm
St. George’s Cathedral
This afternoon of choral, solo and instrumental works from the 17th and 18th centuries should be a fantastic tribute to Italy’s Baroque musical traditions. Expect to hear Allegri’s Miserere mei, Handel’s Dixit Dominus and the works of Marcello, Scarlatti and Vivaldi. Kingston’s renowned Melos Choir and Period Instrumental Ensemble will be your guide. St. George’s Cathedral, with its incredible acoustics and architecture, will be your setting. $5 – $25. melos-earlymusic.org

Hollerado

May 10, 9pm
Ale House & Canteen
Formed in 2007, Ottawa indie rockers Hollerado have gone on to tour the world, get nominated for three Junos and release three albums, including their latest, Born Yesterday, which came out in April. Expect a high-energy, power-pop show that, with the Ale House’s intimate but rollicking vibe, will make you feel like you’re rocking out onstage with the four-piece band. $20. thealehousekingston.ca

SaDunya Kingston Arts Festival Experience #001

May 10, 9pm
The Mansion
Think of this show as a teaser for the SaDunya Festival, a world music and arts fest set to take place in Kingston in 2018. One performance will feature Sengalese guitarist UMARO and Kingston percussionist Dough van der Horden. Another, a Latinos concert with the Son Latino Band and artists from Kingston and Latin America. The third, a drums and painting collaboration with Yessica Rivera Belsham and Ndate Sylla. $15 – $20. sadunyaartsfestival.com

Close Talker with Lost Cousins
Photo via Lost Cousins

May 10, 9pm
The Grad Club
The Grad Club’s stage area almost feels like a living room, so psychedelic soul rockers Lost Cousins should feel right at home. The four-piece band played their first shows in the living room of their Kingston student house before going on to reach the top 10 in the CBC’s Searchlight competition. Close Talker is an indie rock trio from Saskatoon with two releases under their belt and numerous tours throughout North America and Europe. Since becoming a trio in 2015, the band has honed their craft, creating a more vast and iconic sound that is turning heads and drawing crowds. $13. queensgradclub.wordpress.com

Sam Roberts Band

May 12, 8pm
Springer Market Square
This free outdoor concert should be the perfect closing to The Breakout Project, a three-day social innovation festival at Fort Henry. Like the cross-disciplinary nature of the fest, Sam Roberts Band has universal appeal for almost any rock fan. Since bursting onto the Canadian music scene in 2002, the Montreal-based band has won six Junos and five Much Music Video Awards. Translation: get to this show early — it’s going to be a big one. Free. thebreakoutproject.com

Charley Pride

May 15, 7pm
The Grand Theatre
Country music legend Charley Pride has been performing his own special brand of country music for over 50 years. He has 36 number one hits to his name, and his most memorable tunes include “Kiss an Angel Good Morning,” “Just Between You and Me” and “Is Anybody Goin to San Antone.” Pride has always loved touring Canada, saying this country has some of the greatest, most loyal fans in the world. Over 700 of them will likely be waiting for him at the beautifully restored Grand Theatre. $93.17 – $129.17. kingstongrand.ca

Songs from Les Misérables and Miss Saigon
Les Miserables in Kingston
Photo via FlickrCC: StevenPisano

May 26, 7:30pm
The Grand Theatre
Whether you’ve seen Les Misérables and Miss Saigon or not, you won’t want to miss this tribute to two of the most popular Broadway musicals ever. It’s rare that this calibre of world-class musical performers grace the same stage, and it’s even rarer that that stage is in such an intimate, acoustically-sound space as The Grand Theatre. $54.50. kingstongrand.ca

Kingston Community Strings Celebrate Canada’s 150th Birthday at The Isabel

May 26, 7:30pm
Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts
This community-based string group meets weekly for the pleasure of making music together. In celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday, this concert will feature an all-Canadian program, including works by three Kingston composers: Cliff Crawley, John Palmer and Danielle Lennon. The performance of the Crawley piece, A Group of Seven, will include projections of paintings by the seven Canadian artists. $15. theisabel.ca

The Man in Black

May 27, 7:30pm
The Grand Theatre
Though Johnny Cash died almost 14 years ago, you’d be forgiven for thinking he was still alive after seeing this show. Shawn Barker is considered the pre-eminent Johnny Cash tribute artist today, and he’s a dead ringer to a young Cash. Expect to hear tunes from the Man in Black’s full library, including his early hits, those made famous with June Carter Cash and those he was making right up to his death in September 2003. $45. kingstongrand.ca

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Your Kingston May Festivals Guide

The Breakout Project

Kingston doesn’t really have a festivals season, per se, but the number and diversity of fests in the city definitely picks up every spring. This May, for instance, there’s National Youth Week, the HomeGrown Live Music Festival, a cask beer festival and an arts expo, to name just four. Here are the details on 10 happening throughout the month.   

The Juvenis Festival
Photo via The Juvenis Festival

April 29 – May 7
Citywide
This is the second year for this youth arts fest, and if the first year was any indication you’re in for a treat. The three main areas of focus are arts education, professional development and youth-curated and created arts presentations. Think musicals at The Baby Grand, a temporary art gallery in a downtown storefront, live music at Musiikki Café, films at The Screening Room, a battle of the bands at Ale House and way more. Varying prices. juvenisfestival.ca

National Youth Week
Kingston National Youth Week
Photo via FlickrCC: VisAustralia

May 1 – 7
The Juvenis Festival is just part of the festivities happening across Kingston for National Youth Week. The City has also organized a number of free events — many at Artillery Park —  including arts workshops, movie nights, open gym afternoons, leisure swims and even a kickboxing for beginners session. The United Way is getting in on the action too with its “Success by 6 Week” and free family-friendly activities like movies, swims, celebrity story time, moms and tots yoga, and more. Free. unitedwaykfla.ca

Kingston Potters’ Guild Spring Show and Sale
Kingston Potters’ Guild Spring Show and Sale
Photo via FlickrCC: ShenghungLin

May 4 – 7
The Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning
The Kingston Potters’ Guild turns 50 this year, making it one of the oldest pottery guilds in Ontario. Check out what the current members have been creating recently at this annual show, where you can also purchase ceramics and support a thriving local industry at the same time. Times: Thursday 5pm – 9pm, Friday 10am – 9pm, Saturday 10am – 5pm, Sunday 10am – 3pm. Free. kingstonpottersguild.com

HomeGrown Live Music Festival
HomeGrown Live Music Festival
Photo via TurpinsTrail

May 6
Citywide
For eight years now this one-day live music fest has been celebrating Kingston’s incredible music scene and supporting local charities and causes at the same time. Each of the 13 participating venues will feature performers in a similar genre. Sir John A’s Pub is all about folk music, for example, while at The Mansion expect psychedelic, Blu Martini rock and Musiikki electroacoustic. This year’s proceeds go to the Joe Chithalen Memorial Musical Instrument Lending Library. All-access bracelet: $10. homegrownlive.ca

Red House Downtown Cask Fest
Red House Downtown Cask Fest
Photo via FlickrCC: JenniferYin

May 7, 2pm – 5:30pm
Red House Downtown
Cask-conditioned beer, or “real ale” as it’s sometimes called, is unfiltered and unpasteurized beer that’s served from a cask. Because no additional nitrogen or carbon dioxide is added, it has a fresh, soft texture. Taste a few of the best made locally as well as a few bottle- and barrel-aged craft beers at this afternoon of beery good times. Featured brewers will include MacKinnon Brothers, Stone City Ales, Napanee Beer Company, Nickel Brook and more. $25 ticket includes five beer tickets and bar snacks. redhousedowntown.ca

The Breakout Project
The Breakout Project
Photo via The Breakout Project

May 10 – 12
Fort Henry
Part conference, part hackathon, this three-day festival will be Canada’s biggest social innovation event. Working around the clock, 10 teams will compete to raise the human and financial capital needed to kickstart social good projects designed to improve our communities, society and planet. Thousands of people are expected, including renowned speakers, experts, investors and maybe you. Sam Roberts Band will close things out with a free concert in Springer Market Square. $49 – $349. thebreakoutproject.com

Science Rendezvous
Science Rendezvous
Photo via FlickrCC: Queen’sUniversity

May 13, 10am – 3pm
Rogers K-Rock Centre
Though it’s known as a hockey arena, the Rogers K-Rock Centre will be transformed into a pop-up science centre for one day only. Enter the inflatable dome to experience the stars and constellations. Control a WWI Sopwith Ship Camel biplane with your body. Make a kaleidoscope. Meet scientists. Participate in an experiment or special presentation. Whatever your family’s interest in science, technology, engineering and math, there will be something to get each of you inspired by the wonders of the universe. Free. rogersk-rockcentre.com

Tett Arts Expo 2017
Tett Arts Expo 2017
Photo via The Tett Centre

May 13, 10am – 4 pm
The Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning
This will be one of your best chances all year to truly get a taste of what this gorgeous waterfront arts hub is all about. Home to arts organizations, studios, rental spaces, community areas and a licensed café, The Tett will open all of its doors all day to get you inspired. Meet the artists. Experience hands-on arts workshops and demos. Find beautiful, locally made creations. Browse the art gallery. Just scratch that creative itch. Free or by donation. Some workshops require registration. tettcentre.org

Victoria Day Celebrations
Victoria Day Celebrations
Photo via FlickrCC: BlixtA

May 22, 1pm – 9:30pm
Lake Ontario Park
Celebrate the unofficial start of summer with a full day of family-friendly fun on the waterfront capped off with fireworks. The Fire Guy will be there eating, juggling and breathing fire. The Thousand Islands Playhouse will perform “Daisy Amazed.” A zip line and obstacle course will be set up, as will inflatable bouncers and a canine obstacle course. From 6pm to 8pm look forward to live entertainment from Taylor Angus, the Jordy Jackson Band and Absolute Journey Tribute. Stay fuelled with eats from local food trucks onsite throughout the day. cityofkingston.ca

Art After Dark Spring 2017

Art After Dark Spring 2017
May 26, 7pm – 10pm
Downtown
Downtown Kingston is home to dozens of art galleries, and at this bi-annual nighttime festival you’ll get into 18 of them for free. Some will have special events and light refreshments, but at each you’ll have the chance to enter to win a $500 art shopping spree. Chart your gallery course using this handy map. Free. downtownkingston.ca

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Up Close and Personal with Chef Clark Day: Bayview Farm Restaurant

Chef Clark Day wants Canadians to watch fewer chef shows on television and get into their own kitchens. “It’s just cooking,” he says, “It’s not like changing the transmission on a BMW.”

Day, who was recently made a Fellow of the Ontario Hostelry Institute, needs little introduction around Kingston. The long-time restaurateur is something of a local legend and is perhaps the closest Kingston comes to having a celebrity chef. He is renowned for creating seriously good food and for being refreshingly unpretentious: a winning combination.

The man himself, Chef Clark Day.

Day opened his first restaurant, the River Mill in 1985, before going on to open Clark’s by the Bay, Clark’s on King, and Aquaterra by Clark in the Radisson/Delta hotel.

In 2015, Day opened Bayview Farm restaurant on the old family homestead – the same place where he once ran the bigger, more formal Clark’s by the Bay. The old stone house built in 1831, and picturesque property looking out across at Collins Bay, was once the home of Day’s grandparents, Harriet and Harold Clark. It’s also the house where Clark and Laurie Day live and where they raised their three children.

Table at Bayview Farm.
An exceptional culinary experience is waiting for you.

Lindy Mechefske: Where did you find your love of food?
Clark Day: I found my passion for food young. I grew up in Europe, where my father, an RCMP officer, was stationed at Canadian Embassies in Germany and Switzerland. We spent time as a family traveling through the area and often into France. I was a fussy eater but I discovered truly great food and those early years influenced my thinking about food. About how important good food is.

LM: How did you train to be a chef?
CD: I started in the restaurant industry in the early 80s learning everything I could. I tell young chefs to be a nomad for a decade and absorb all they can about food and cooking. You learn an awful lot by watching and even more by doing. When Laurie and I first opened a restaurant, we were each working in excess of sixty hours a week and raising our young family. That’s life in the restaurant industry. You need to be passionate about food to sustain that kind of workload and lifestyle.

LM: How would you describe your cooking style?
CD: I like honest, rustic, real, straightforward food made with the highest quality ingredients possible. It’s true, the adage, you can’t make a silk purse from a sow’s ear. I have a deep and abiding respect for farmers and growers and food producers.

LM: What misconceptions are there about Canadian food?
CD: I hear people complaining about fusion food but the truth is, Canada is a melting pot – a fusion society. Fusion makes sense. As for myself, I like the simplicity of European food and the complexity of Asian. I think it’s time we embraced cooking that incorporates all aspects of Canadian culture.

LM: What would you like to see change about Canadian food and cooking?
CD: I’d like Canadians to embrace local farmers, local food producers, growers, and Ontario wineries and breweries. Food doesn’t come from a store in plastic wrap.

LM: When are you happiest at work?
CD: When I have a newbie in the kitchen that I’ve opened up the door for. Or when we feel like we’ve made someone’s night important.

LM: What’s your favourite off duty, go-to-meal at home?
CD: A simple cheese fondue with great things to dip in it like broccoli, ham, pears, apples, and of course bread. Or a really great hamburger. Hamburgers are underrated. We like special occasions too. There are 23 family members who come for Christmas. We all pitch in and make tapas. It’s perfect and everyone is happy: adults, children, vegetarians, those with food restrictions. It’s a slow, leisurely day with lots of great food, gifts, music and very little pressure.

LM: If you could cook for anyone at all, who would you choose?
CD: Mother Theresa and anyone she wanted me to cook for.

LM: What do you value most in life?
CD: Living life right, family, food, music, decency, ethics, morals, and wine tasting. I’m not a big drinker but I love wine tasting.

LM: Who are some of your favourite local suppliers?
CD: These are just a few of my regular suppliers:
Burt’s Greenhouse
Crosswinds Goat Farm
Cave Springs
Enright Cattle Company
Featherstone Estate Winery
Fielding Estate Winery
Freedom Farm
Glengarry Cheese
Hagerman’s Farms
Karlo Estates
Milk House
Ontario Water Buffalo Company
Patchwork Gardens
Rosehall Run
Sun Harvest
Wendy’s Mobile Market
Wilton Cheese
Bayview Farm Restaurant, 4085 Bath Road, Kingston, is open for dinner from Tuesday to Sunday. Reservations are recommended. For more information including the full menu, please visit their website.
Lindy Mechefske is the award-winning author of Sir John’s Table and A Taste of Wintergreen. You can find her blogging about her adventures in the kitchen at lindymechefske.com

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25 Things to do in Kingston in May 2017

For the most recent 25 things to do list in May, please visit this link. 

There are plenty of things to keep you busy in Kingston this May – including the hotly anticipated Breakout Project, The Juvenis Festival, Homegrown Live, a free outdoor concert with Sam Roberts, Science Rendezvous and much, much more!
Event: The Juvenis Festival Date: April 29 - May 7, 2017
Event: The Grand Theatre Presents Tanya Tagaq Date: May 3, 2017
Event: King’s Town Players - Of Mice and Men Date: May 3 - May 13, 2017
Event: A Tribute to Elvis in Concert Date: May 4, 2017
Event: Mark Herman Performs on Canada’s Largest Theatre Organ Date: May 5, 2017
Event: Homegrown Live Music Festival Date: May 6, 2017
Event: Kingston Grandmother Connection Spring Market Date: May 6, 2017
Event: Boots’n Bonnet Car Club Presents Autojumble Date: May 7, 2017
Event: Da Roma a Venezia – Baroque music of Italy Date: May 7, 2017
Event: The Breakout Project Date: May 10 - May 12, 2017
Event: Sam Roberts Band – Free Concert Date: May 12, 2017
Event: Science Rendezvous Kingston Date: May 13, 2017
Event: Kingston Derby Girls Date: May 13, 2017
Event: Street Ballerinas Performance Art Project Date: May 13, 2017
Event: Rockland Entertainment Inc. Presents: An Evening With Charley Pride Date: May 15, 2017
Event: The Good Food Box Cooking Workshop Date: May 18, 2017
Event: Napoleon Voyage Date: May 18, 2017
Event: New Exhibit at the Marine Museum of The Great Lakes Date: May 20, 2017
Event: Opening Day of the Murney Tower Museum Date: May 20, 2017
Event: Riverdance 20 Years: The Anniversary Tour Date: May 21, 2017
Event: Les Miserables and Miss Saigon Broadway Concert Series at the Grand Date: May 26, 2017
Event: Art After Dark Spring 2017 Date: May 26, 2017
Event: The Man In Black Date: May 27, 2017
Event: Mandarin MS Walk Date: May 28, 2017
Event: Le Rendez-Vous “Danses” Date: May 31, 2017
Would you like your event covered in our monthly list? Add it to our events calendar for consideration! Look for the ‘Add Event’ button on our Events Calendar!

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Your Summer 2017 Kingston Festivals Guide

The sunniest season is almost here, and to help you get ready, here are 12 summer festivals happening in Kingston to put on your can’t-miss list. This is just a taste of what’s to come, though. For a full plate of Kingston summer fests, keep your eye out for my monthly lists.

June

Sarah Harmer plays the Skeleton Park Arts Festival on Saturday, June 24th
Sarah Harmer plays the Skeleton Park Arts Festival on Saturday, June 24th. (Photo: spaceamoeba/Flickr Creative Commons)
YGK Craft Beer Fest: June 10, 12 pm – 8 pm

Fort Henry
This third annual craft beer fest is upping its game this year with more breweries, bigger samples, a full day of live music, and cider and wine options. Fresh local eats from the likes of Dianne’s, Harper’s Burger Bar and others will be there too, as will those unbeatable downtown views, of course.
$15 + HST. Free for kids 5 and under and Cannonball Crush participants
forthenry.com

Doors Open Kingston: June 17

Many of the 25 doors on this festival’s list are open all year, but Doors Open is always a good way to find out more about what’s inside. Think guided tours of the Islamic Centre, a new exhibition at the Pump House Steam Museum focusing on bizarre objects from Kingston’s past, and a display of rare items at the W.D. Jordan Rare Books and Special Collections Library.
Free
doorsopenontario.on.ca

Skeleton Park Arts Festival: June 21 – 25

McBurney Park
Celebrate summer solstice with Sarah Harmer, Fred Penner, free morning yoga, a jazz parade and way more at this five-day multidisciplinary fest. Every year it welcomes artists from the city and around the world and takes place in and around Kingston’s historic McBurney Park (aka Skeleton Park). The wide-ranging lineup has something for every age.
Free
skeletonparkartsfest.ca

July

Jugglers, acrobats and flame swallowers will take over downtown Kingston between July 6th and 9th for the annual Buskers Rendezvous.
Jugglers, acrobats and flame swallowers will take over downtown Kingston between July 6th and 9th for the annual Buskers Rendezvous. (Photo: The Great Waterway)
Canada Day: July 1

The country turns 150 this year, so you can be sure Canada’s first capital will host one of the nation’s biggest parties. The Limestone Mile marathon, People Parade and, of course, fireworks on the waterfront will make their return, but new events should make their mark too, including the exhibition “Road Trip: Across Canada with Alan C. Collier” at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre.
Mostly free
City of Kingston

Kingston Buskers Rendezvous: July 6 – 9

Downtown
What began as a side note to Kingston’s July sidewalk sale has turned into one of the region’s most popular festivals of the year. The reasons for that rise include the calibre of street performers from around the world who perform and the beauty and accessibility of downtown Kingston itself. The result is a fest that’s attracted the young, old and everyone in between for 28 years.
Donation per performance
downtownkingston.ca

Taste of Kingston: July 30, 9:30 am – 3 pm

Confederation Park
A whopping 5,000-plus people are expected at the 19th annual Taste of Kingston this year. And no wonder. Some of this city’s best restos will be in the park serving up tasty bite-size eats in support of Diabetes Canada. Have your say on the day’s best bites at the public voting competition.
Tickets: $1/each (servings will cost $1 – $5)
diabetes.ca

August

The city’s all-day street party, aka the Princess Street Promenade, returns August 5th
The city’s all-day street party, aka the Princess Street Promenade, returns August 5th. (Photo: Robin Dawes/Flickr Creative Commons)
After a 2016 hiatus, the Wolfe Island Music Festival returns to rock August 11th and 12th.
After a 2016 hiatus, the Wolfe Island Music Festival returns to rock August 11th and 12th. (Photo: Matt Forsythe)
Princess Street Promenade: August 5, 10 am – 4 pm

Princess Street
To “promenade” means to take a leisurely stroll, and the best place to do so this August long weekend may well be Princess Street. Closed to traffic between Ontario and Division Streets all day, Princess will come alive with businesses, community groups and restaurants hosting special pop-up food events, sidewalk sales, games, a climbing wall and way more.
Free
downtownkingston.ca

Wolfe Island Music Festival: August 11 – 12

Wolfe Island
After a 2016 hiatus, the Wolfe Island Music Festival returns this year. And thank goodness. Where else in the country can you take a 20-minute ferry to an intimate island festival featuring some of the biggest names in Canadian indie music? The lineups for the indoor shows and outdoor Saturday event haven’t been released yet, but past artists have included Shad, Constantines and the Sam Roberts Band, so expect good ones.
Prices not yet available
wolfeislandmusicfestival.com

Limestone City Blues Fest: August 24 – 27

Downtown
This yearly big kahuna of a festival features one hundred hours of live blues music on outdoor stages and in downtown bars, restaurants and clubs — all for just a $15 bracelet. The 2017 lineup hasn’t been set yet, but with past appearances by legends like Edgar Winter and Joe Louis Walker, rest assured it’ll once again offer the greatest value of any Kingston festival this year.
$15
downtownkingston.ca

September
The second annual Limestone City Tattoo and Arts Festival will host 40 tattoo artists from Canada, the U.S. and beyond.
The second annual Limestone City Tattoo and Arts Festival will host 40 tattoo artists from Canada, the U.S. and beyond. (Photo: Limestone City Tattoo and Arts Festival)
Garrison Family Fun Fest: September 9 – 10

CFB Kingston
Garrison Kingston will mark Canada’s 150th with what should be its best annual fun fest. Legendary Canadian rockers Trooper, Honeymoon Suite and Sass Jordan will play on Saturday night, while the Canadian Forces Snowbirds will put on two special shows over the weekend. Also expect family-friendly activities, military exhibits, good food and a beer garden.
Prices not yet available
pspkingston.com

Limestone City Tattoo and Arts Festival: September 16 – 17

Four Points by Sheraton
This tattoo arts fest was a huge hit last year, so organizers aren’t changing much. About 40 carefully selected artists from Canada, the US and elsewhere will be there to tattoo, and vendors will be onsite selling artwork and tattoo culture-related products. Organized events, entertainment and after-show parties will round out the weekend.
Prices not yet available
limestonetattoofestival.com

Kingston Writersfest: September 27 – October 1

Multiple locations
Every year, it seems, this literary festival featuring readings, events and masterclasses gets better and better. In 2015, Patrick DeWitt, Jane Urquhart and Lawrence Hill showed. Last year, 75 writers that included David Mitchell, Lisa Moore and Emma Donaghue were there. The 2017 lineup hasn’t been released yet, but expect more literary heavyweights.
Prices not yet available
kingstonwritersfest.ca

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Find What Moves You at Electric Circuits Electronic Music Festival

On April 7 and 8, two of Kingston’s premiere creative spaces will transform into a hypnotic swirl of sounds, sights, and experiences, thanks to the Electric Circuits electronic music festival. This brand new fest will combine the many genres of electronic music with enchanting visuals and performances, creating a vibe like nothing we’ve seen before in YGK. We spoke with Kristiana Clemens, head of programming for the fest, to find out what kind of digital delights you can look forward to at Electric Circuits.

Electric Circuits promises a wild weekend of eye-opening experiences. Photo via Electric Circuits

“It’s the first event of its kind in our city,” she says. “Electric Circuits will bring together amazing cutting edge music, incredible new visual art, and dance.” And this isn’t just a one-night gig – the festival runs for two magical nights, with each evening’s party taking over a different artistic space. If you’re coming from outside the city, you’ll definitely want to book a weekend stay at a hotel downtown to make sure you can soak up every moment of this one-of-a-kind weekend.

Get ready to dance to beautiful beats from artists like Hans Ohm. Photo via Electric Circuits

The Electric Circuits experience will kick off on Friday night at the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts. The night will begin at 9pm as a mellow, ambient chill-out space, ramping up the energy as the night progresses, and ending on a hyped-up, energetic dance party that goes until 1am. Saturday night’s electronic extravaganza will be at the Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning. This party will include three separate music-filled rooms, each filled with their own unique atmosphere and musical style. The second night’s festivities will run all night – from 10pm to 6am – allowing revelers to dance, explore, and just absorb the atmosphere to their hearts’ content.
At each of the weekend’s parties, visual artists will use video projections and experimental film to transform the space into something uniquely entrancing. The Tett’s all-night party will also feature movement-based performances, including an aerial and dance acts, as well as performance art.

Erin Ball will move to the music with an astounding aerial performance. Photo via Electric Circuits

The musical styles will feature a huge variety, ranging from relaxing, downbeat ambient tunes to the more pulse-thumping rhythms of techno, house, and drum & bass. But the artists at the fest will all have one thing in common: “we’re showcasing only artists who are based on Canada,” says Clemens. “That was a conscious choice of ours: to celebrate the emerging art scene that we have here, to allow artists to connect with one another, and to reach new audiences as well.”
For those new to electronic music, Electric Circuits is the perfect way to dip a toe into this fresh and ever-evolving musical style. “For people that are interested in new music and electronic sound, but maybe aren’t looking for a nightclub experience, this event might provide a new opportunity,” says Clemens. “We encourage attendees to just show up and explore the spaces that are being created, and to find what moves you.” The fest has also been designed to be as inclusive as possible to all audiences, with all-ages admittance and wheelchair-accessible venues.

Expect a welcoming vibe and a magical atmosphere.
Photo via Electric Circuits

Clemens expects the vibe of the whole weekend to be exciting, fun, and kind of magical. “I think that when you combine really moving and powerful sound with visual images and also add some amazing visual artists and performers into the mix, you get a really potent and transformative experience,” she says. “That’s really what we’re hoping to create for audiences: a mind-expanding couple of evenings of new music, and new art, that can really inspire people.”
Electric Circuits runs from April 7 to 8 at The Isabel and The Tett. Lineups and set times for musical acts will be released closer to the festival date. For more information, go to www.electriccircuits.org.

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Celebrating Canada’s 150th in Kingston

For Kingston as our nation’s First Capital, the Sesquicentennial promises to be a pretty amazing year, chock full of events; some we have grown to love, and a few new ones to keep us entertained! Along with lighting up our City Hall, planting 150 maple trees, finishing our beloved K&P Trail, and an extra special July 1 celebration – be sure to mark you calendars with all that YGK will offer in the upcoming year!

For the History Buff


Step back in time at Fort Henry! Saturday May 20 marks their opening day for the season, a season full of Sunset Ceremonies, exploring the history of the Fort, visiting with staff in period costume and getting lost in the secret tunnels.
Have you ordered your FREE Parks Canada Discovery Pass? Use it to gain entry into the Bellevue House, once home to Canada’s First Prime Minister, Kingston’s own Sir John A. MacDonald.
Be sure to visit one of Kingston’s many museums for special Pop-Up exhibits throughout the year. Think you have something worthy of being in a museum? Check out one of the “Bring you Thing” events.

For the Music Lover

Kingston is home to many music festivals, I expect all will kick it up a notch for this sesqui year. Here are just a couple to mark on your calendar! April 7 and 8 will see the first ever Electric Circuits, an electronic music festival, the return (after a 1 year hiatus) of the Wolfe Island Music Festival August 11 & 12, Chill on the Hill at Fort Henry  on July 15 and Bluesfest returns August 24-27.

For the Foodie



YGK loves food-and we have plenty of great places to eat, and some great talent feeding us. We also love festivals, add them together, throw in a few pints, and you’ve got yourself a Craft Beer & Food festival. TWICE! June 10th will see the YGK Craft Beer Fest-Canada 150 Edition! We’re promised more beer, more food, more entertainment, and a special nod to Canada 150. From September 8–10, the Ribfest & Craft Beer Show returns for the 5th year at the Memorial Centre.

For the Family


Head down to City Park on June 15 for the annual First Capital Day where you can step back in time and experience life in the 1800’s.! Downtown Kingston will host the Buskers Rendezvous  July 6-9, an event that will delight everyone of every age with the music and amazing stunts performed by street artists from around the world. The Kingston Sheepdog trials will return to Grass Creek Park from August 7-13. The Skeleton Park Art Fest  has grown from their June festival to include many family friendly events throughout the year. Be sure to attend the community run festival that kicks off the summer, a day of music, theatre and crafts for kids!

For the Art Lover

On September 10th, be sure to join in the celebrations of the different cultures we have in Kingston at the 8th annual Mulicultural Art Fest. At City Park from July 1-3, we will see the return of ArtFest, showcasing 150 artists and artisians from across Ontario & Quebec. For the young aspiring artists, April 30-June 7th will see the return of Juvenis Festival;  a performance arts festival geared towards youth aged 13-30, who can partake in workshops and performances.
Kingston is looking forward to a full year ahead, hope you can join in on one, or many of the events listed above or others not yet listed! Happy 150th to all!