Page 52 – Visit Kingston

November 23, 2015March 29, 2023

Inside Scoop: Chef Stev George of Olivea

To get the inside story on Kingston’s downtown food scene, I went to one of its pillars, head chef and co-owner of Olivea Stev George, who’s been plating drool-inducing authentic Italian fare like house-made gnocchi and ragu with beef cheeks from the corner of Brock and King since 2008.

Photo courtesy of the Downtown Kingston BIA

But his history with food in this city stretches decades back, back to when he was still a teenager living at home in Kingston with his parents. Like many great chefs, Stev was inspired by his mom’s cooking, but it was an Italian friend of his folks who lit the spark for his passion for food, he says. From there, the fire was stoked by stints at acclaimed restaurants that included Chez Piggy (his first job at 18), Pan Chancho and Vancouver Island’s Sooke Harbour House, along with travel all over Europe and formal training at Stratford Chefs School.
Read on for Stev’s take on K-town’s food scene, his go-to restaurants and bars in the city, and what’s coming up for Olivea over the next couple of months.

For those who’ve never really experienced Kingston’s restaurant scene, what should they know?

That there are a lot of really great, fun restaurants downtown, all within a four block radius — probably about 15 to go to. And they’re all a bit different, they’re owner operated and you can get a different experience at each. None are cookie cutter, because there’s a lot of emphasis on doing something a little different than the other guy. So most people in Kingston have their favourites, but they move around, they don’t always eat at the same restaurant.

What are a couple of your favourites right now?

I’m going to dis somebody by not talking about them, but Tango is our next door neighbour, and they’re doing some really fun things with tapas. It’s a great environment, too, and it’s really well run. They’re putting so much effort into it, and it seems to be paying off. The neighbour on the other side of us, Casa Domenico, I always like eating there. It’s a great Italian restaurant, always has been, so if we’re going out for a really nice meal, that’s often where we choose.

Do you have a favourite dish at Casa?

There are so many, but they have a scallop appetizer that is really amazing.

How about a bar or a spot you like to go for drinks — do you have a go-to?

Red House is one to mention. They’re trying to bring something different here, and you don’t feel like you’re in Kingston when you’re there, honestly. You feel like you’re in a Toronto bar. They always have interesting beers to choose from, it’s unique and they’re doing a great job. It’s a real gathering place, and so popular and packed with people, so it’s vibrant. And all the guys that work there, they’re out and about; they’re involved and part of the whole dining scene and community downtown.

What’s coming up for Olivea over the next couple of months? Any special events?

Well we do a dinner and movie night every now and then, where team up with The Screening Room, show a film there and then build a menu based on the movie. It’s a cool idea and people really enjoy it. So we’re doing one on November 23 [movie starts at 5:30], another in January and one in February. The one coming up is the movie “Chef” with Jon Favreau.

Any details you can share about the menu you’ll be pairing with “Chef”?

Like the food truck does in the movie, we’ll be serving a Cubano sandwich at the theatre when people arrive, and then after the movie they walk down to Olivea where we’ll have a three-course menu. I’m still working out the details, so I haven’t finalized anything, but there’s a scene with spaghetti aglio e olio, and that’s going to be on the menu for sure.
Head to olivea.ca for all of the details, as well as info about other ongoing special events, including Pasta Sundays and Tuesday Night Jazz.

November 16, 2015July 4, 2024

Martello Alley Inspires Downtown

Beside my new favourite roti shop “Sally’s” on Wellington Street, and just the next alley over from Antique Alley, you can now find an artist’s alley.
Local artist David Dossett told landlord Bill Bishop of his vision to transform the old alley and courtyard into a faux French street. Bishop was interested, but when Dossett began painting the asphalt pavement to look like cobblestone, he was so impressed he told David that he could do what he liked with the space.

A Quebecois flag flies next to the Canadian one, recalling its inspiration from rue du Trésor in Quebec City.

Above the cobblestone, the dreary brown walls have been painted to look like brick, and rising above these is the impression of timbered walls. In the middle of the courtyard, a fancy wrought iron fence has been erected, and beside it, a tall clock and a spherical fountain. In one of the corners, Dossett envisions the back corner of a church, and in another, he has already painted the facade of a “Poissonerie.”
Paintings, postcards and prints are displayed in the alleyway, and when these showcases close at night, they are made to look like French windows. “I was inspired by a painting of my father’s, ‘Eglise rue de Seine Paris, by Utrillo,” Dossett explained. “In Quebec city when the artist’s alleyway closes up, it looks like an industrial site. I wanted to give a little more imagination.”

A variety of prints, paintings, and postcards are hung in the alleyway. The cases close at night to look like French windows.

Hung over the banister is a fishing net, and underneath it, a sign that playfully suggests we are in a French city.

It is certainly an imaginative space. Dossett hopes to build a snowman in the courtyard for the winter, a real-life model of his first painting of children playing in the snow. He speaks nostalgically that it is important to be reminded of life’s playfulness and innocence. I think he has done much to show us that already.
Everyone who works in the alley is a participating artist. Chris Perry was artist on duty the day I went to take photos. Chris has been invited to submit her design to Wildlife Habitat Canada in contention for their newest Canadian stamp. Former winners have included Robert Bateman and Michael Dumas.

Chris Perry stands with her graphite drawing of a raven, whose curious, intelligent eye draws attention from viewers.

Shoppers are often attracted by the works of Tully (Michael Pearson), whose iconic images of Kingston are sold here at an affordable price. All of the art here is affordable, starting with postcards at $5, prints at $20-25. Original paintings are also sold, at higher prices, while still in an accessible range. I especially enjoyed the works of Todd Tremeer, whose peaceful paintings of nature give a sense of awe and presence. His style is like the group of seven, with large brushstrokes and natural tones fleshed in an impressionistic way. Many eyes are drawn to his depiction of a canoe, with the horizon tilted just slightly to give a sense of movement.

Queens student Elizabeth Gibson Crowder stands next to a painting-in-progress by David Dossett.

New art and artists are being added all the time, though currently the studio showcases art from David Dossett, M.P. Tully, Chris Perry, Todd Tremeer, J. Gazo-McKim, Lori Kallay, Christine Perry, Ncouture-Lord, June Shepherd, Jeff Gill, Eric Kincaid, Peter Fyfe, Karen Leggo, to name a few.

Old limestone walls peek out from behind the hung paintings; the space that was once abandoned finds new life in its function as a gallery.

Martello is a mixing place of well-established and up and coming artists. There is space for artists to paint both inside the studio and outside in the courtyard.

Martello Alley is located at 203 B Wellington, with an artist is on duty from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm daily.
The gallery may also be visited virtually at Martello-alley.myshopify.com.

October 30, 2015March 20, 2023

50 Things to do in Kingston: November Edition (2015)

November is yet another excellent month in Kingston with something for everyone! There are plenty of live musical performances, theatrical productions, hands-on classes, shopping opportunities and a few seasonal favourites. Check out the list below!

Music

1. Check out John McLurg and Chris Morris at Musiikki Café (Every Wednesday)
2. Experience a fantastic programme of new electroacoustic works in surround sound with Tone Deaf Sound Performances (various locations, November 2-13)
3. Experience the transporting sound of the historic 1928 ondes synthesizer in Kingston’s finest concert hall with Gilles Gobeil with Suzanne Binet-Audet at The Isabel (November 3)

5. Don’t miss the fifteen-piece guerrilla force that is the Lemon Bucket Orkestra at The Isabel (November 6)
6. Head to St. George’s Cathedral for the Kingston Chamber Choir’s Memories Sweet & Sad (November 8)
7. Check out Orchestra Kingston’s War and Remembrance Performance at Salvation Army Citadel (November 8)
8. Check out the fantastic Classic Rock cover band Shaky Landings featuring the sounds of Melloncamp, Steve Earl, and much more at the Tir nan Og (November 13)

10. Go see Hey Rosetta! with Yukon Blonde at The Grand Theatre (November 19)
11. Check out Evan ‘Major’ Mitchell and his faithful musical troops in the Kingston Symphony squadron as they salute the science of music (November 22)
12. Spend An Evening with internationally known pianist Frank Mills at The Grand Theatre (November 23)

14. Relive the glory of ‘Breakfast in America’ as Classic Albums Live performs Supertramp’s Breakfast in America at The Grand Theatre (November 26)
15. Don’t miss who Rolling Stone Magazine has proclaimed to be “one of the greatest singers of all time” – Darlene Love at The Grand Theatre (November 27)

Live Performances

18. Check out the classic, An Ideal Husband at the Mulberry School Theatre (November 13 & 14)
19. Go see what The Globe and Mail described ProArteDanza as “the best small-scale contemporary ballet company in Canada” and check out ProArteDanza at The Grand Theatre (November 17)
20. Follow the struggles of two Italian lovers in the face of war, immigration and old age as Edge of the Woods Theatre presents Ralph & Lina at The Grand Theatre (November 18)

22. Go see two actors, twenty characters, and a barrel of laughs at Greater Tuna at The Grand Theatre (November 25 – 28)

Events

24. Grab your friends for a free Public Board Games Night at Kingston Gaming Nexus (Every Tuesday)
25. Check out the Dia de los Muertos Kingston Festival at The Tett Centre (November 1)

27. Check out a Presentation by Jonathan Moore on The HMS Erebus Shipwreck at The Marine Museum (November 4)
28. Attend Remembering for Peace at Sydenham St. United Church (November 8)

30. Pay tribute to Canadian soldiers and attend the Civic Service of Remembrance (November 11)
31. See the Man in Red in person at the Nighttime Santa Claus Parade (November 21)
32. Get those hips moving at Latin Dance Thursdays at the Tir Nan Og (Thursdays)

Hands-On

34. Learn some simple book structures, including accordions, meander books, sewn pamphlets, and Japanese stab bindings at an Introduction to Bookmaking class at The Tett Centre (November 1)
35. Get your craft on at the Holiday Crafting Event at Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area (November 29)

Shopping

37. Get ready for the holidays at the Kingston Symphony’s All Things Christmas Sale (November 7)
38. Get some shopping done at the Kingston Handloom Weavers & Spinners Annual Fall Sale at The Tett Centre (November 20 – 22)
39. Help support The Stephen Lewis Foundation’s Grandmother to Grandmother Campaign and Help Lesotho and check out the Market for Africa at Kingston Frontenac Public Library (November 7)

The Outdoors

41. Get some exercise at the Canadian Cross Country Championships at Fort Henry (November 28)

The Arts

42. Check out the Open Mic Reading Series at METAbodyWORKS (November 3)
43. Go see artwork in a variety of mediums by over 30 OKWA members at the OKWA 2015 Art Exhibition (Until November 25)
44. Experience the work of the first five winners of The Kingston Prize at the ‘The First Five’ Exhibition at The Agnes Etherington Art Centre (All month)

Wine & Food

46. Treat yourself and your wallet at $10 Pizza Nights at Megalo’s (Every Wednesday)

Sports

48. Visit the Original Hockey Hall of Fame (Check for hours)

50. Check out the 2015 CIS Women’s Rugby Championships at Queen’s (November 5 – 8)

Do you have an event that you would like covered in December’s list? Send us an email to info@kingstonlobby.com

October 27, 2015March 20, 2023

Inside Scoop: Evan Mitchell, Kingston Symphony Music Director

One of the best ways to get the inside story on a city’s music scene is talk to someone from that scene. That’s why I went to Evan Mitchell, who picked up the baton for the Kingston Symphony as its music director just over a year ago and hasn’t looked back.

Wedding Photojournalism and Unique Portraits. http://www.forbesphotographer.com/

Mitchell, who won the 2009 Jean-Marie Beaudet Award in Orchestra Conducting, joined the Kingston Symphony as a 34-year-old after residencies as assistant conductor of the Vancouver and Kichener-Waterloo symphony orchestras. During those residencies, he conducted over 200 concerts and served as a consultant to the Vancouver Olympic Committee and assistant producer for the recording of the medal ceremony and national anthems.

That range of experience has served him well with the Kingston Symphony, where you’re just as likely to see him leading an orchestra performing Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 as Whitacre’s Godzilla Eats Las Vegas. Keep reading for his favourite Kingston venue and band, what’s coming up from the symphony, and what we need to know about K-town’s music scene.

Wedding Photojournalism and Unique Portraits. http://www.forbesphotographer.com/

What’s your favourite music venue in Kingston?

Kingston has a really amazing music scene, and there are all sorts of great venues, from little independent ones to larger venues, but I think my favourite is where we perform our Master Works Series, the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts. It’s a real jewel of a venue, and it is for the city, too. It works for anything you want to throw at it.

What is it that you like about The Isabel?

First of all, it’s physically beautiful. The lobby has floor-to-ceiling glass, it has this unbelievable view of the waterfront, and inside the hall it has this incredible wood panelling that was aesthetically designed to reference the limestone deposits around Kingston that also serves the purpose of acoustically tuning the hall to make it sound just right. It’s a stunning and intimate hall, and you’re able to hear absolutely everything. It’s a joy to perform a concert in.

Do you have a favourite band or performer from Kingston?

I’ve been listening to the Tragically Hip since I was a wee lad, so I’d have to say they’re my personal favourite. I had the pleasure of meeting Gord Sinclair and chatting with him at an event, and he had some really remarkable insights on music sharing and MP3s and these sorts of things, because of course The Hip were a successful band at the peak of Napster. But they are all really incredible people and great musicians and great rock stars.

Outside of The Isabel and The Hip, what should visitors know about Kingston’s music scene?

That Kingston has a really remarkable music scene, top to bottom, from popular music, to symphonic, chamber, acoustic, even folk. It’s equal to something you’d expect from somewhere march larger, so for people who aren’t familiar with it, if you come here and want to hear great music, you won’t be short of opportunities, be they with us or otherwise. As an outsider, you might not think of Kingston as a music destination, but it is, and that’s something we hold dear.

Head to kingstonsymphony.on.ca for all of the details.

October 19, 2015March 22, 2023

Award-Winning Play Takes You Into the Mind of Martin Luther King Jr. the Night Before His Assassination

Theatre Kingston is proud to present The Mountaintop by Katori Hall to open the 2015-16 season.
Directed by Rebecca Benson, this production stars Stratford Festival star Michael Blake as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and rising star Natasha Mumba.
In The Mountaintop, an exhausted Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr. returns from a prophetic speech during the sanitation workers strike and is visited by a mysterious maid, Camae. Through their intimate and ultimately transformative conversations, we hear the hopes and fears of King both the leader and the man as he is forced to confront destiny, legacy and mortality. With a vivid theatrical imagination and powerful emotion, playwright Katoria Hall beautifully fictionalizes the final hours of Dr. King’s life in this award-winning drama.

Michael Blake in the role of Martin Luther King Jr.

Natasha Mumba in the role of Camme.

“The script is both surprisingly funny and incredibly powerful, “ says Theatre Kingston artistic producer Brett Christopher, “and with this cast, it is sure to be the most talked about play in Kingston this Fall. I cannot wait for audiences to experience it.”

Join Theatre Kingston from October 30 to November 15, as they use the Domino Theatre for one of its trademark power-packed productions. The theatre is located at 52 Church Street in the historic Portsmouth Village. Performances run from Tuesday to Saturday with 8pm shows, with Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:30pm. Tickets and more information can be found by contacting the Grand Theatre Box Office at 613-530-2050 or online through www.kingstongrand.ca. The Mountaintop contains mature language and some mature concepts, it is recommended for ages 12 and older.

October 15, 2015April 5, 2023

Former Elite Sniper to Appear in Kingston During Remembrance Week

Kingston WritersFest presents 20-year Canadian Armed Forces veteran and former elite sniper team leader Jody Mitic reading from his memoir Unflinching on Monday, November 9. Jody’s memoir is a powerful chronicle of the honour and sacrifice of an ordinary Canadian fighting for his country, and his reading and talk take place as part of Remembrance week celebrations, as Canadians honour those who have given their lives for our freedom.
Unflinching is an authentic portrait of military life. General Rick Hillier, former Chief of Defence Staff for the Canadian Armed Forces, praised the book: “I’ve read it all – start to finish – in one enthralled session. Unflinching is raw, personal, unforgiving, unrelenting and draws one into Jody’s life, with a vividness and a colour that’s visceral.”
Jody will talk about his personal experience in the Canadian military, through sniper training, firefights in Afghanistan, culminating on the fateful night when he stepped on a landmine and lost both of his legs below the knees.
“But his story doesn’t end there,” says Barbara Bell, artistic director of the Festival. “Jody is the perfect example of a survivor and a ‘thriver.’” Since his injury, Jody has become a model of perseverance and determination – within a year he had competed in half-marathons using his new prosthetic legs, and placed second in the Amazing Race Canada’s first season with his younger brother, Cory.
Jody is also a respected advocate for wounded veterans, people with disabilities, and amputees. He founded the Never Quit Foundation and currently sits on the Board of Directors of Won with One, an organization devoted to helping physically challenged athletes realize their dreams. He also serves on Ottawa City Council as Sports Commissioner.

Now in its seventh year, Kingston WritersFest has confirmed itself as a prime Kingston cultural event and one of the top Canadian literary festivals. Our audiences visit from as far away as British Columbia, Quebec, and the Atlantic provinces, as well as from northern New York state and the eastern seaboard, and our authors come from around the world and down the block.
Jody Mitic appears on Monday, November 9, 7:30 – 8:30 pm, at historic Currie Hall on the campus of RMC. Free parking available onsite. Tickets are $17 in advance (incl. HST and handling) – $19 at the door – and are available online at kingstonwritersfest.ca and at Novel Idea Books on Princess Street.

September 29, 2015March 21, 2023

50 Things to do in Kingston: October Edition

NOTE** This list is from 2015 – for current lists, please visit this link.

October is a great time to Visit Kingston, with a ton of events to get you in the mood for Halloween, live performances by some Canadian greats, plenty of hands-on workshops, outdoor adventures and much, much more. Without further ado, and in no particular order are 50 things to do in Kingston in October!

Halloween Haunts

2. Make the most of the Halloween season with Ghosts of the Fort at Midnight, a Kingston Haunted Walk (October 9 – 31)

4. Watch some scary movies at Scare in the Square (October 30)
5. Get spooky with the Symphonic Spooktacular at The Grand Theatre (October 31)

Theatre & Live Performances

6. Go see Bus Stop at The Domino Theatre (weekends throughout October)

8. Go see ‘Bug’ by Tracy Letts at Theological Hall (October 14-17, 21-24)
9. Check out 4.48 Psychosis at Theological Hall (October 22 – 24)

11. Check out The Domino Theatre’s The Mountaintop (October 29 & 30)

Wine & Food

13. Grab your friends for Pool & Pint Mondays at The Grizzly Grill (Mondays)
14. Enjoy some fantastic music with Tuesday Night Jazz at The Olivea (Tuesdays)
15. Get ahead of the Christmas game and stock up on stocking stuffers from Kingston Olive Oil Co. (Business hours)

Get Outside

16. Enjoy the final month of the Kingston Public Market & Antique Market (Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Saturdays)

18. Join the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority and Friends of Lemoine Point for their Annual Fall Tree Planting Session at Lemoine Point (October 3)
19. Enjoy the changing foliage at the CRCA Fall Colours Weekend (October 11 & 12)
20. Save yourself some arduous cooking with a Thanksgiving Lunch/Dinner Cruise (October 10, 11, & 12)

Sports

22. Cheer on the Queen’s Gaels at one of their football games (October 3, 17 & 24)
23. Take in a Kingston Frontenac’s Hockey Game (October 7, 9, 16, & 30)

Make Something

24. Take an energetic, creative, and collaborative class with Life Drawing For All At The Tett (Thursday nights, every week)

26. Get your weave on (no, the other kind) with Introductory Weaving at The Tett (October 16 – 18)
27. Spend a day exploring fun, funky and functional novelty yarns with Introduction to Novelty Yarn at The Tett (October 21)
28. Ignore everything you ever learned from Sleeping Beauty with an Introduction to Spinning on a Wheel at The Tett (October 24 & 31)

Get Musical

30. Attend the Kingston Ontario Music Conference (October 3)
31. Don’t miss the Royal Conservatory Orchestra at The Isabel (October 3)
32. Experience One Night With Elvis, feat. Matt Cage at The Grand Theatre (October 3)
33. Check out Four by Four, and exciting tribute to the Beach Boys, the Beatles, the Bee Gees and Motown at the Grand Theatre (October 5)
34. Go see two Canadian folk stars Danny Michael & Jeremy Fisher at the Grand Theatre (October 16)

36. Get musical with the Queen’s Music Showcase at The Isabel (October 23)

38. Check out 9-time Grammy Award Winner José Feliciano at The Grand Theatre (October 24)
39. Spend a Sunday afternoon taking in the classics with Mendelssohn and Beethoven at The Isabel (October 25)

41. Experience the music of Burge, Mahler and Schumann with Two Piano Quartets and a Quintet at The Isabel (October 30)

Misc.

42. Test you problem solving abilities with an Improbable Escape (nightly throughout October)
43. Check out the insanely cool Under New Management’s Video Store Project at Union Gallery (Until November 7)

45. Talk Canadian Art with Frances K. Smith (October 4)
46. Check out a screening of Nagatsura at The Isabel (October 7)
47. Take an intimate look at the individuals and stories behind the one time home of Sir John A. Macdonald at Hidden From View at Bellevue House (October 9 – 12)

49. Check out the Queen’s University Homecoming Weekend programming (October 23-25)

Do you have an event for November that you want included in our next list of 50 Things to do in Kingston? Send us an email to info@kingstonlobby.com!

September 29, 2015January 18, 2023

Fort Fright Returns With More Terrifying Scares

Fort Fright is bringing back the dead this fall, armed with brand new attractions, an army of scare actors and new technology guaranteed to have visitors shaking in their boots.
Established in 2007, Fort Fright was designed to leverage Canada’s second most celebrated holiday, Halloween, while simultaneously bridging the gap for fall tourism events. While initially projected to attract around 4,000 visitors in its first year, Fort Fright exceeded expectations by over 150% and attracted over 10,000 brave souls.
In the years following, Fort Fright quickly became the media darling of provincial and national news outlets and was named one of the Top 10 Haunted Houses in North America by Sunmedia, one of Canada’s Creepiest Halloween Places by the Huffington Post and the Best New Event out of 100 by Festivals and Events Ontario. As the accolades poured in, it reaffirmed what Fort Fright team already knew: visitors love to be scared.

Never ones to rest on their laurels, the team at Fort Fright refines and improves the attraction each year, ensuring that repeat guests never have the same hellish experience twice.

“Each year, we watch to see which elements have the biggest impact on our guests, and we build on those experiences from there. From the route, to onsite elements, Fort Fright is constantly evolving so our guests can return year after year and experience something new and exciting each time.” – Susan Le Clair, Manager, Customer Service & Corporate Communications

New this year is the addition of Hooded: Tunnel of Terror, a sensory experience inspired by the 1940 poem “A Butcher’s Tale of the Fort Henry Tunnel,” by famous Canadian poet and former Fort Henry guard, Watson Kirkconnell. The poem tells a story set at Fort Henry during internment operations during WWI from the perspective of the German prisoner experience of that time. Two German prisoners attempt to flee Fort Henry through a hidden tunnel, but once their torches are extinguished they realize escape isn’t as easy they had thought. The dark tunnel, infested with snakes, vermin, insects and spiders generates terrifying obstacles for them men, leaving only one to survive… and no one escapes.
Visitors to Fort Fright this year can relive this terrifying experience by sporting a Fort Fright hood and be lead through a series of inimitable scares – shrouded in complete darkness. Other new experiences include but aren’t limited to the addition of more scare actors, an additional coffin ride to meet demand, some intense wall projections of zombies and some terrifying clowns.
For parents, Fort Fright may not be suitable for children under 12. That said, you know your children best and should use your best judgement. Fort Fright does offer a zombie-proof amulet that can be worn by anyone and will ward off direct scares.
Fort Fright runs from October 1 – 18 (Thursdays through Sundays from 7:00 – 10:00pm), and October 22 – November 1 (nightly). General admission is $16 (plus HST), with some additional fees of $5 applying to each the Hooded experience, coffin rides and the amulet.
Make the trip to Kingston this year, and discover an experience unlike anything in the province.

September 15, 2015March 27, 2023

Let’s all go to the Fair!

Clutching the baggies full of change their Great Aunt gave them, the boys wander through the midway taking it all in. Which game looks like they could actually win the stuffed banana? Throwing darts at balloons, knocking the bottle off the shelf, or the fishing pond?
Then there’s cotton candy. And the rides, no fair is complete without the rides! My boys make their choices (they each won a stuffed banana and some other unidentifiable stuffed critter, and decided that no, they could not possibly share one bag of cotton candy) All four of us took a ride on the ferris wheel before heading over to the petting farm, the demolition derby and to check out the displays of pies, jams, quilts and carrots.

September 17 – 20th marks the 185th annual Kingston Fall Fair. For some of us, yes, it is all about the rides, games and cotton candy. But for others, it is much more. 12 year old Tristan Dier is a member of the Frontenac 4-H club, and has been working with a yearling heifer, “Blowing Smoke” since early spring. His duties include feeding and grooming her, while at the same time training her for show.
He is gearing up for his third show at the Kingston Fall Fair. “My job is to get her ready, walk her around the ring and then stand for the judges. They mark us on showmanship and conformation.” Showmanship falls to him, he gets marked on his confidence, knowledge and presentation. Conformation is up to the cow; is she healthy & strong? That shows that Tristan has done a good job of caring for her. “It’s a bit scary being judged, but the cow will feed off my emotion, so I have to hide it,” Tristan tells me. Last year he came home with a third place win in the Supreme Division. Seeing as this year, the Fair is paying tribute to cattle, Tristan has an important role.

This year’s schedule of events include a performance by Mary Lambert, a family singer/songwriter/performer, on Thursday at 11am and 1pm, a youth obstacle course the same day at 5pm, demolition derbies Thursday and Sunday evenings and musical performances Friday and Saturday evening. A vendors market, a variety of displays, rides, carnival games and food vendors are open during the whole fair.
As for Tristan and Blowing Smoke, things are looking good for them, as Blowing Smoke is pregnant, quite possibly with twins! Hopefully, after his showing, Tristan has a chance to let loose in the fairgrounds, and enjoy a bag of hard earned cotton candy.

September 10, 2015March 21, 2023

2015 Kingston WritersFest Wish List

This will be my third year as a volunteer for the Kingston WritersFest and I look forward to another fall writing “pick me up.” Imagine being surrounded by book-lovers and authors; getting great advice on editing, publishing, and developing narrative; and getting excited all over again about creating new worlds of stories.
Here is my Writing Workshop Wishlist:

#1: Armand Garnet Ruffo

Every year I find a writing workshop that seems specially attuned to what I am currently working on. This is the case with event # 25 Writing Creative Biography: Using Myth, Legend, and Tall Tale . Armand Garnet Ruffo takes creative liberties in writing Norval Morrisseau: Man Changing Into Thunderbird—a poetic biography about a troubled but talented Ojibway artist. Ruffo will offer insight on straying from the strict realism of biography or memoir to incorporating myth, legend, or tall tale into the “story” of a life.

Ruffo is currently an associate professor of English at Queen’s University, he teaches Aboriginal literature and creative writing.

#2: Daniel Wells

I especially enjoy workshops hosted by editors because they tell you—without mincing words—how it really is in the “writing world.” Bring ideas and be prepared to learn something new about what gets published and what doesn’t from Canadian editor and publisher Daniel Wells with event #51 New Writers’ Roundtable.

Wells is founder of the famed independent Canadian press, Biblioasis, which has developed a reputation as Canada’s premier short story press. He also collaborates with writer and editor Alex Good to solicit and edit, Canadian Notes and Queries. Photo: Kim Moir

#3: Priscila Uppal

As I was flipping through the poetry section at E.J. Pratt library as an undergrad at U of T, Priscila Uppal’s book Ontological Necessities jumped out at me because of its blend of deep philosophical thought with simple interactive speech.
I was very happy to see that Uppal is offering two writers workshops here in Kingston, and I especially look forward to event #27 Writing Poetry for Grownups. This is a practical, hands-on workshop that requires bringing along your work in progress (old or new). I expect some great advice and inspiration from this talented and dynamic poet.

Photo Credit: Daniel Ehrenworth — Priscila Uppal is a professor at York University’s Department of English and the author of two novels, The Divine Economy of Salvation and To Whom It May Concern; ten collections of poetry; and a memoir, Projection: Encounters with My Runaway Mother, which was shortlisted for the Hilary Weston Prize and the Governor General’s Award. Photo Credit: Daniel Ehrenworth

#4: Joan Thomas

For the novelists out there (or Nanowrimo’s?), Joan Thomas’s event on pacing your novel will provide ample motivation to return to that old manuscript tucked behind your desk. Thomas, who was first acclaimed as a book reviewer for the Globe and Mail, has received extensive praise for her first novel, Reading by Lightning.
While she will be focusing primarily on pace at this workshop, Thomas is known for her depth of character development and for her seamless integration of history with fiction. There is much to learn here for the seasoned writer and first time novelist, and much to be revived in that story you left unfinished. Join her in event #44: Pacing Your Novel: Keep Readers Turning the Page.

Photo Credit: Bruce Thomas Barr — Joan Thomas is also author of Curiosity, which was named a Quill & Quire Book of the Year and was nominated for the ScotiaBank Giller Prize; and author of The Opening Sky, which won the McNally Robinson Prize for Book of the Year, became a finalist for the Governor General’s Award for Fiction, and won “Best Book of 2014” on CBC Books, Vancouver Sun,Winnipeg Free Press, and Metronews lists. Photo Credit: Bruce Thomas Barr

Big Name Events

Writing workshops aside, the big names coming this year are:

Jamie Kennedy

Jamie Kennedy is an acclaimed Canadian cook and author of JK: The Jamie Kennedy Cookbook. He currently lives in Toronto, where he spends time cooking, writing, and helping charities such as Empty Bowls and Feast of Fields. — Photo: Jo Dickens

Jamie Kennedy is an acclaimed Canadian cook and author of JK: The Jamie Kennedy Cookbook. He currently lives in Toronto, where he spends time cooking, writing, and helping charities such as Empty Bowls and Feast of Fields.

Nino Ricci

Among many acclaims, Ricci’s novel Lives of the Saints has been published in seventeen countries and nominated for the Giller Prize. His fictional retelling of the life of Jesus won the Trillium Award and was a Times Literary Supplement Book of the Year — Photo: Virginia de Vasconcelos

Among many acclaims, Nino Ricci’s novel Lives of the Saints has been published in seventeen countries and nominated for the Giller Prize. His fictional retelling of the life of Jesus won the Trillium Award and was a Times Literary Supplement Book of the Year.

Diane Ackerman

Diane Ackerman is an American Poet, essayist and naturalist who this year received the P.E.N. Henry David Thoreau Award for Nature Writing for The Human Age. In 2012, she was a finalist for both a Pulitzer Prize and a National Book Critics Circle Award for One Hundred Names for Love, a non-fiction account of her writer husband’s struggle with stroke and his ensuing aphasia.

Roch Carrier

Renowned storyteller, Roch Carrier, is recent author of Montcalm & Wolfe: Two Men Who Forever Changed The Course Of Canadian History. The Québécois admits that the two men are rather similar and would have gotten along “after the battle.” Roch is a novelist, playwright and children’s author; former director of the Canada Council for the Arts and the National Librarian of Canada; a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada; an Officer of the Order of Canada; and has won the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour. Photo: Sarah Scott — Photo: Sarah Scott

Renowned storyteller, Roch Carrier, is recent author of Montcalm & Wolfe: Two Men Who Forever Changed The Course Of Canadian History. The Québécois admits that the two men are rather similar and would have gotten along “after the battle.” Roch is a novelist, playwright and children’s author; former director of the Canada Council for the Arts and the National Librarian of Canada; a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada; an Officer of the Order of Canada; and has won the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour.

Other Events

I also suggest purchasing tickets to the International Marquee and to the Robertson Davies Lecture (with a promising-looking talk this year by Tomson Highway on aboriginal literature).
Even if you are unable to enter a “big” event, I can assure you that all the events have something to offer. Sometimes the smaller events allow you to get more time to chat with the author, or even to speak about your own work and get personal advice.
Last year, I attended a French event and have not yet forgotten the incredible story of horror, welcome, and survival by Vietnamese-Canadian Kim Thuy. I also ruminate from time to time over the workshop hosted by Martha Baillie, where she contrasted parts of her novel to tangible artifacts like a whale skeleton made out of plastic chairs. It is out of these encounters that I entered 2014 with imagination and energy for a whole new writing year.

Purchasing Tickets

If you would like to make your own wishlist of favourites, check out the Kingston Writers Fest website at www.kingstonwritersfest.ca. Tickets can be bought at the door, though I recommend buying tickets for big name shows as early as possible. All tickets have been on sale since June 25.

The 2014 International Marquee with Wally Lamb recounting some humorous book signing memories.

The packed June 25th event that marked the start of 2015 ticket sales. — The packed June 25th event that marked the start of 2015 ticket sales. Photo: George Forsyth

August 31, 2015March 20, 2023

50 Things to do in Kingston: September Edition 2015

There’s still some summer left to enjoy in beautiful Kingston, and September promises to be an excellent month for a weekend getaway! Below is our monthly list of 50 things to do in Limestone City and includes some fantastic theatre productions, a ton of great festivals and events, some hands-on experiences for the makers in the crowd and much more.

Theatre

2. Go see Calendar Girls featuring an all-star Kingston cast at The Grand Theatre (September 9 – 19)
3. Join award-winning author and playwright Drew Hayden Taylor for an outside-the-box master class, Writing Playful Playscripts (September 23)
4. Experience an inspiring start to the season at the Kingston Grand with Tchaikovsky & Rachmaninoff (September 27)

Music & Entertainment

5. Head to Confederation Park and experience Music in the Park (September 1)
6. Make your way to Fort Henry for Preshow on the Bistro featuring River City Junction (September 2)

8. Experience a Latin Jazz Trio at Sounds at St. Andrews (September 5)
9. Show off your otherwise useless knowledge base at Trivia Night at The Brooklyn (Sunday nights)

11. Enjoy the music of Jerry Lee, Fats Domino and Ray Charles on the Jerry Lee, Fats and Ray Rock Lunch Cruise (September 24)
12. Go see four-time JUNO Award winner Jane Bunnett at The Isabel (September 29)

Festivals & Events

14. Enjoy some live music, performances, artist demonstrations and more at the Kingston Multicultural Arts Festival (September 6)
15. Support Queen’s Shinerama’s Shine Day, Sidewalk Sale and Tour of the Town to benefit Cystic Fibrosis research (Various Dates)
16. Celebrate workers and their families in the community with a Labour Day Parade & Free Picnic (September 7)
17. Get creative at the 3rd Annual Paint the Town! Plein Air Art Creation Weekend (September 11 – 13)
18. Enjoy the midway, agricultural displays and shows, entertainment, children’s activities, crafts and lots more at the 185th Annual Kingston Fall Fair (September 17 – 20)

20. Join award-winning journalist and author Patricia Pearson as she addresses the universal curiosity about what happens after death and the question of whether there is another kind of life after we cease to breathe at When We Die: A Journalist Investigates (September 23)

22. Check out Kingston’s art galleries after usual business hours with Art After Dark (September 25)
23. Participate in free children’s workshops, stone carving demonstrations, displays, entertainment from Ireland, Harvest Fest, tours and more at Irish Canadian Dry Stone Festival (September 25 -27)

Shopping

26. Pick up some local fare at the Kingston Public Market (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays)

28. Join the Odessa Agricultural Society as they hold their first ever Harvest Farmers Market at the Odessa fairgrounds (September 19 – October 9)
29. Discover old world foods and unique finds at Cooke’s Fine Foods & Coffee (Monday – Saturday, open seasonally on Sundays)

Wine & Food

30. Check out Luther Wright & the Wrongs at Pan Chancho’s Backyard BBQ & Band Series (September 3)

32. Indulge in some tapas while practicing Argentine Tango at Tango Nuevo (September 26)

History

34. Experience one of Fort Henry’s world-famous Sunset Ceremonies (September 2)
35. Take a walk in Sir John A’s Footsteps with a historical walking tour courtesy of Salon Theatre Production (September 3)

37. Take a tour of beautiful and historic Kingston City Hall (Check for hours)
38. Explore the fascinating history of Canada’s Federal penitentiary system at Canada’s Penitentiary Museum (Check for hours)

Sports & Outdoors

40. Spend some time at the region’s favourite garden party featuring culinary delights, wine tastings, martinis and more at Fare for Friends (September 13)
41. Scale Canada’s highest indoor climb at The Boiler Room (check for times)

Hands On

42. Make mugs, not war at a Tuesday Throwing Pottery Class (September 15 – 29)
43. Learn how to silversmith from the masters at Alchemy House Jewellery (September 22 onwards)

45. Learn the skills needed to wield a paintbrush, pens or pencils with a Beginners Art Class at the Kingston School of Art (September 13, 20 & 27)

Museums & Art Galleries

47. Experience Hands on Nature, a travelling exhibit from the Royal Ontario Museum that is all about biodiversity (September 1 – 5)
48. Check out turn that brown upside down, an installation of new and recent sculpture and 2D work by Toronto-based artist Katie Bethune-Leamen at Modern Fuel Gallery (September 1 – October 3)
49. Explore Under New Management’s Video Store exhibition at Union Gallery (September 15 – November 7)
50. Discover a wide ranging collection of marine artifacts and exhibits, a significant fine art collection and much more at the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes (Check for hours)

Do you have an event that you would like covered in October’s list of 50 things to do in Kingston? Send us an email to info@kingstonlobby.com!

August 12, 2015March 30, 2023

New Kid on the Block: Waterfront Gifts & Apparel

It’s clear from the moment you walk into Waterfront Gifts & Apparel that it isn’t your typical gift shop.
Sure, there are the expected tourist staples: brightly coloured ‘Kingston’ magnets, mugs emblazoned with trolleys and cruise ships, and subtle nods to the city’s penchant for limestone via Kingston-branded coasters. But that’s essentially where the tourist gift shop cliché ends and something refreshing and unexpected takes over.
Waterfront Gifts & Apparel itself is rather beautiful, actually; open, airy and meticulously merchandized with an expansive wall of windows and skylights bathing the store in natural light. And while undeniably gorgeous in its appointments and products, it still maintains a relaxed atmosphere that encourages customers to snoop around.

There are a ton of awesome products just waiting to be found.

Every surface in the store features something unique and locally-minded, with almost every product sourced from a Canadian merchant or artisan. At Waterfront Gifts & Apparel, you’ll find items from the likes of Cate & Levi, Shiva’s Delight, Ark Imports and Whitewater Premium Candle Co. to name a very select few. The shelves are a virtual ‘who’s who’ of established Canadian brands, while still leaving room for lesser-known businesses to be discovered.
In terms of apparel, Waterfront Gifts offers an extensive collection for customers to choose from. Here, you’ll find it all: Kingston-branded graphic t-shirts you will actually want to wear, colourful knit hoodies, hilarious boxer shorts, premium bags, and perhaps most impressively: awesome onesies you simply won’t be talked out of buying. Everything is distinctly Canadian, but without blatantly hitting you over the head with thousands of maple leafs or ‘eh’s’ in giant block lettering.

Elegant and affordable jewellery make for the perfect gift.

Lots of beautifully-crafted bags to choose from.

Waterfront Gifts & Apparel carries the full line of Shiva's Delight bath and body products. — Waterfront Gifts & Apparel carries the full line of Shiva’s Delight bath and body products.

We'd wear this. — We’d wear this.

Great collection of Cate & Levi puppets.

The awesome scents of Whitewater — The awesome scents of Whitewater Premium Candle Co.

But perhaps what truly elevates Waterfront Gifts & Apparel above your typical tourist trap gift shop is their vast collection of gifts you actually want to buy, whether for yourself or someone else. This isn’t just a store for tourists – locals should also definitely find plenty of reasons to come back. From beautifully silkscreened pillows and ornate jewellery, to an impressive assortment of entertaining items (think cocktail mixes and Canadian poutine gravy) and drink ware (Group of 7 coffee mugs? Yes, please), you’ll be hard pressed to leave the store empty-handed.
So whether you’re new to town, or a seasoned regular – check out the offerings at Waterfront Gifts & Apparel (248 Ontario Street). You’ll be pleased that you did.