Page 57 – Visit Kingston

August 18, 2014March 29, 2023

Making a Splash in Kingston

You know those days where it’s so hot that everyone is cranky? You need to cool everyone down, both literally and figuratively? We have a few of those days every summer. Our solution? We hit one of Kingston’s many water parks.

photo-1 — View of the waterslide from the outside.

Operated by the city of Kingston, SCOTT Aquapark is our biggest water park. Featuring a 10m waterslide, 25m pool, toddler pool and lazy river, it is a paradise to all. Well almost. There are some pretty tight rules to be followed. And a staff of young folks not afraid to stand behind those rules. Even to a wet mom in a tankini with a crying child who failed the swim test.

For $9.75 the three of us enter the pool and head over to the swim test area. My six year old (Iain) passes, and my eight year old (Fintan), well he doesn’t. Iain has to stay within arm’s reach of me, regardless of his pass (kids six and under must stay within arm’s reach of a parent). Fintan has to wear a lifejacket. AND stay with me, as he “failed”. When the tears of injustice are over (he can’t redo it; one of the rules in one test per day) he dons a lifejacket and we head over to the lazy river. Another rule: there’s a ratio of 1:1 (parent and kid in lifejacket) thankfully one passed! After some floating down the river, Iain wants to jump off the board. This can be done, as long as I am in the water (arm’s reach?). He jumps over and over again. I snap a picture of this great feat, and am quickly told that cameras are not allowed. Another rule. I get it though, all the rules make sense, makes for a safe place!

photo-2 — The jump before my camera is “confiscated”.

Neither of them can go down the slide, as the minimum height is 4.5 feet, which they’ve both missed by at least 6”. Eventually, we pack up and head out. There’s a great little playground and free splash pad outside of the building, we visit briefly. Despite all of the rules, I get an enthusiastic “YES” when I ask if they enjoyed the park, and they can’t wait to go again. And my eight year old? He wants to practice the swim test before we go again.

The splash pad outside of SCOTT Aquapark.

Also operated by the city, Lake Ontario Park has recently received a big makeover. A wonderful green space where you could spend the day walking along the water, visiting the cobble beach, picnicking under trees, or the pavilion, and watching the kids frolic in the splash pad and play structure all while enjoying a great view of Lake Ontario. The splash pad itself seems to be a work of art, and although has only a few features, the kids have a great time splashing around. The playground alongside the pad gave lots of climbing and spinning opportunities, and the soft rubber ground made for no skinned knees. This park is less hands on than SCOTT Aquapark, leaving us Moms time to visit.

Fintan taking a rest. Waterparking is fatiguing!

The green ball on top is actually a bucket that randomly dumps water on an unsuspecting head.

Iain at the top of the merry-go-round. — Kids can climb atop the merry-go-round to dry off in the sun before getting soaked again.

We’ve been visiting this little gem in City Park since 2009, when the boys were two & four.

Maybe they’ve outgrown it some, but my six year old still found the child within to play while his eight year old brother chased squirrels and climbed the coolest tree in Kingston. The park is walking distance from city hall, making it very accessible. There are a couple of playgrounds, washrooms and plenty of trees for shade. It’s a great park for toddlers!

Iain’s first visit in 2009. — Iain’s first visit to the splash pad in 2009 – it’s still a lot of fun, five years later.

Iain taking aim. — Anyone within reach of the park’s water gun is fair game!

Climbing the coolest tree. — And, after a day of waterparking, you can always dry off and do some good old fashioned tree-climbing.

Are you looking for beaches to go to after the splash park? Check out some of Kingston’s beaches.

August 11, 2014March 27, 2023

1000 Reasons to Choose a Kingston 1000 Islands Cruise

If you are a proud Kingstonian anxious to showcase your city to friends, don’t hesitate to suggest a Kingston 1000 Islands Boat Cruise. A wide variety of lunch, dinner, sightseeing and charter tours is offered between now and October 31, but there is no time like the present!

I recently experienced an idyllic three-hour luncheon cruise on the Island Star, one of the three unique 1000 Islands Cruise ships. The weather was perfect, the meal was delicious and the entertainment was outstanding. The theme was Mardi Gras, so guests got into the spirit by donning sparkly top-hats, glittery shades and colourful beads. When musician Spencer Evans and his trio weren’t belting out a mix of jazz, zydeco, Cajun and R&B that would do New Orleans proud, he was regaling us with interesting facts about the 1000 Islands area.

What a tasty start to a Cajun culinary adventure!

Prepared fresh on the boat, these entrees were memorable.

An amuse-bouche of skewered chorizo and shrimp set the culinary tone for the afternoon. From the four entrée choices on the Island Star lunch menu, I selected the chicken chasseur and was not disappointed. My companion raved about the fresh Atlantic salmon skewers and we both enjoyed the Caprese salad and delectable cake. Amazingly, all of this bounty is prepared fresh (no microwave, no heat lamp on board!) in a galley that would appear to measure less than a hundred square feet. Dinner cruises on the Island Star offer a different, equally appealing menu. Lunches on Kingston 1000 Islands cruises are more casual affairs while the vest and bow ties sported by the serving staff at dinner raise the bar a notch.

Between courses, guests initiated several impromptu Conga-line circuits of the dining area. Musician Spencer joined in; at other times, to the delight of the diners close by, he played his clarinet while standing on a chair.

On this particular day, there was a lunch cruise on the Island Queen as well. This ship, a Mississippi paddle-wheeler, offers its own lunch and dinner buffet menu. At several points during the three-hour tour, the passengers on the decks of the Island Queen were visible to us on the Island Star. They were clearly having as good a time as we were.

The third member of the Island fleet is the Island Belle, a replica St. Lawrence Steamer. The three vessels offer varying degrees of accessibility, with the Island Star being the most accessible. Captain Lee of the Island Star told me that the fleet is in the third year of a five-year plan to “green” the operation by introducing electric motors.

Some of the music lent itself to a sedate two-step.

The Mardi Gras cruise was a total delight. Although that ship has sailed, there are many more special themed events scheduled over the next four months, including several wine-tasting cruises, a beer-tasting cruise, a comedy cruise and a dozen music events ranging from gospel to big band to disco to blues to The Beatles and beyond. Can you imagine a more beautiful setting for Thanksgiving lunch or dinner, when the scenery along the St. Lawrence will be spectacular? But don’t wait; today is a beautiful day and any day is a good day for you to be part of a Kingston 1000 Island Cruise.

Revellers ranged in age from 9 to 92 and the energy was high on both ends of the spectrum.

August 8, 2014March 22, 2023

An Evening of Drama, Mystery and Murder in Kingston

Romance, drama, intrigue and of course… murder! What else would you expect from a murder mystery dinner theatre experience? I had the opportunity to attend the advance screening of the Sir. John A. Mega-Park Murder Mystery last week. I had never been to a professional murder mystery before but Mr. Spot Mysteries did not disappoint. All the of the characters brought another level to the mystery; all of them had motive to commit the murder! I won’t spoil the ending for you – you’ll have to go out and see the performance for yourself.

Mara (played by Genevieve Landis) gets intimate with the audience.

As the audience arrived (or “potential investors” as we were dubbed by the actors) the actors mingled with the crowd and seated themselves with the patrons. This was their chance to set the stage – or rather restaurant as we were hosted by Aunt Lucy’s – and give hints about their characters stance on the building of a new theme park set to take over LeMoine Point. The evening was to be a pitch to the media and a chance for potential investors to take a cut of the theme park’s profit. The actor’s were great at ad-libbing conversations with the audience and setting the tone of the night.

I meet Sir John A MacDonald for the first time in minature form. — I meet Sir John A Macdonald for the first time in miniature form.

We were served a prix-fixe meal with our choice of a main and dessert. Dinner started with an excellent caesar salad or seafood chowder. I had the caesar salad – it’s not too often that you find a caesar salad with real bacon, freshly grated parmesan and, to top it off, homemade croutons. For the next course I chose the chicken marsala. The sauce was perfectly balanced with red wine and mushrooms and went well with the mashed potatoes on the side. Dinner was concluded with a dessert of apple crisp or bread pudding.

Aunt Lucy's tasty chicken marsala, caesar salad and apple crisp. — Aunt Lucy’s tasty chicken marsala, caesar salad and apple crisp.

During dessert all the characters mysteriously had to do something outside – when they returned one was missing. We soon found out the director of the theme park had been killed in the parking lot! As dessert progressed we heard more about the events leading up to the murder.

Some clues were so subtle I didn’t realize they were clues until we found out who the killer was!

The under-cover detective leading us on the trail of clues kept the audience roaring with laughter. The detective even incorporated a few audience members into the story of who killed the victim. A subtle – yet hilarious – French-Canadian assistant joined the detective on the hunt for the true killer.

Alex Johnsson (played by Martin Forbert) and the French-Canadian detective (played by Jason Bowens) in the midst of following the trail of clues. — Alex Johnsson (played by Martin Fobert) and the French-Canadian detective (played by Jason Bowen) in the midst of following the trail of clues.

After we had explored all the clues leading up to the murder we were given a chance to cast our ballot and decide, by democracy, who dunnit. Of course the detective didn’t really use our ballots to decide who the killer was but reading our ideas was a good source of entertainment for him. In the end I didn’t guess the true identity of the killer but, after hearing the conclusion, I have to say it can be done!

The under-cover detective (played by Ilke Hincer) trying to solve the crime.

Mara pleads her case in the Mr. Spot murder mystery dinner theatre.

Mr. Spot Murder Mysteries are running the show every Friday and Saturday in August. The cocktail hour starts at 6:30pm at Aunt Lucy’s followed by dinner at 7:15pm. Be sure to bring your thinking cap and be ready to laugh!

August 5, 2014March 31, 2023

The Little Yellow Wagon

Kingston is a wonderful mix of heritage and progressive thinking, and nowhere have I seen that better exemplified than in Le Chien Noir’s Chef Derek Macgregor. Derek is known among locavores as ‘the chef with the little yellow wagon.’

To begin this story, a locavore is a person interested in eating locally produced food—grown within one hundred miles of point of purchase. Locavore thinking is rooted in sustainability and eco-consciousness.

Derek is just one of many Kingston chefs whose philosophies reflect this thinking. Derek is unique in that he visits the Kingston Public Market, located less than a block from Le Chien Noir, pulling a little yellow wagon behind him. He used to return to the restaurant from the market unable to carry all his purchases, so he decided to get a wagon to make the trips across easier. “We buy from fifteen to twenty local farmers at any given time—Patchwork Gardens (in Battersea), Kitchen Garden (in Wilton), Enright Cattle (in Tweed), to name just a few.”

The team from Patchwork Gardens has you covered for produce!

Curious about his reasoning, I ask Derek, “Why does it matter to you to use Ontario ingredients?”

“For a variety of reasons,” he tells me. “Taste is the big one, but we also know the community that produces it. At the market, we build relationships.”

“The farmers are very approachable!” I say. “I like that we can discuss how my food was grown and how to prepare it.”

“Yes,” Derek agrees. “People are more educated about foods these days, so our buying local produce that’s mostly organic is reassuring to our customers.”

“Kingston’s restaurants haven’t always had this relationship with local farms,” I suggest.

“No,” Derek says. “but today Kingston has a very real, very vibrant farmers’ market where you can get almost anything you want. And those relationships we’ve built have made a big difference.”

“It goes deeper, doesn’t it?” I say. “I’ve heard from such restaurants as Atomica, Harper’s Burger Bar, Dianne’s, Olivea and Chez Piggy, that several of the downtown chefs have meetings each spring with local farmers, discussing which seeds they should plant.”

“It’s true,” Derek admits. “For instance, all our in-house lettuce is from Patchwork Gardens. We buy about seven hundred heads of lettuce a week, between Le Chien Noir and Atomica.”

Derek wants to bring his customers a sense of the field where their food was grown, the barn where the livestock were raised. He wants his customers to have a genuine, reliable, honest sense of the reality of their food. Another way he and Tim Pater, the owner of Le Chien Noir, bring diners and farmers together is by building community over a meal. They work closely with other restaurateurs, with the local farmers and with the BIA.

“This city’s hosted lots of events, like ‘Feast of Fields’, and ‘Local Food, Local Chef’. We do tapas pairing events and harvest dinners.” Le Chien Noir even brought farmers and vintners into the restaurant for events, encouraging them to go table-to-table and speak to the diners about what they were eating.

Tim Pater once told me, “On all our branding, the phrase Eat Local appears first, and then the list of our restaurants. Local ingredients matter that much to us.”

Local ingredients should matter to us, as any locavore will tell you. This spring, the non-profit organization Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance (OCTA) launched the initiative Feast ON. Feast ON is a criteria-based program that recognizes businesses committed to showcasing Ontario’s unique tastes of place, bring eaters and eateries together over local food.

Delicious offerings from local producers.

“The nice thing about being a chef in Kingston,” Derek says, “is that here it takes fifteen to twenty minutes and you’re in the country. There are a dozen farmers half an hour away!” In only a very few cases has he not walked the fields with the farmer to visit the harvest that he’s going to be using in the kitchen. “We have access to great produce!”

“Does this mean your menu is dynamic, that ingredients could change depending on what’s available?” I ask, excited at the prospect. A true locavore hopes for such an open-minded approach.

“I’m kind of a spontaneous cook,” he confesses. “I like to go to the market and create the pairings for the meats as I shop. I visit the stalls three times a week with my little yellow wagon. They have good produce, as you know!”

July 24, 2014March 29, 2023

Play at the Kingston Family YMCA

Kingston’s bustling Family YMCA offers two locations to help you stay fit, and it will soon offer a third. Currently, 100 Wright Crescent sees most of the action. A workout here can fit in nicely with running other errands, since it sits beside the Calvin Park branch of the Kingston Frontenac Public Library and opposite the Kingston Centre. The building has received regular upgrades over the years, the most recent to the main upstairs gym.

The upper gym at St. Lawrence is also used for spinning classes and offers a great view of King Street and Lake Ontario Park from its wall of windows.

The second Y location is three kilometres away, at St. Lawrence College. Open to all members, not just St. Lawrence students, its upper level offers two squash courts and a gym. A state-of-the-art weight room with a variety of endurance machines is on the ground floor.

Once Fit for Life participants begin work on the rowing machines, there are few smiles; smile muscles are pre-empted by determination muscles.

One of our Y members is a youthful ninety-five-year-old. Along with five other hardy souls who have reached the age of ninety, this member enjoys a lifetime membership. I found some of these sprightly souls participating in the Y’s Hearts program in the Fit For Life Centre at Wright Crescent. This is a smaller, quieter gym area available to regular members for a portion of each day, which also houses a number of specialty programs. One participant told me proudly that he was a graduate of the Cardiac Rehab program at Hotel Dieu Hospital.

Free weights or barbells, a light load or a heavy one, it's your choice. — Free weights or barbells, a light load or a heavy one, it’s your choice.

Push-ups can be traditional, from the knees or against the wall.

RIP Participants do chest presses while lying back on benches.

Usually my favourite program, but occasionally the bane of my existence, the 60-minute barbell program called RIP accounts for four of the 100 adult classes offered each week at the Y. RIP classes take place Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings at Wright Crescent and Wednesday evening at St. Lawrence. Participants use a variety of traditional barbells or resistance bars (weighted bars with a foam casing) and free weights. The music is engaging and suits the movement. New compilations are introduced every few months and older ones (we’ve done twelve!) sometimes make a reappearance. The ten musical tracks entertain and soothe the participants of this high repetition routine with the knowledge that after these 16 (or 32!) squats, lunges, chest presses or bicep curls there will be some relief (such as crunches, planks, dead lifts…)

Members are looking forward to the opening of YMCA West.

The present Progress Fitness, at 745 Progress Avenue will reopen August 10 as YMCA West. Only six kilometres from the other locations, this newest branch will be especially convenient for members living in the west end of the city. Like Wright Crescent, the new Progress Avenue site will offer swimming and a wide range of classes, with child minding available.

The Wright Crescent Y offers two accessible pools, a lap pool and a warmer leisure pool.

All hands are on deck to help with life jackets.

Aquatics is very popular at Wright Crescent. Currently 1,400 children per week participate in swimming lessons.

Beyond the pool, there are many activities for children and youth. Babies as young as six weeks old join their mothers for post-natal yoga classes. There is a movement class for preschoolers aged three to five. From there, the world of sports gradually opens up; programs begun at age five continue to be available up to age 12, starting with Sports Sampler, Basketball and Youth Soccer. A special, girls-only Sports Sampler is offered for six-to-nine-year-old athletes. Squash and badminton are available from age seven and a learn-to-run group starts at age eight. On Thursday and Friday evenings, teens can participate in Fit Play in the gym. There are family workouts, art and quiet games as well. For more information visit their website!

For the holders of those age-ninety-plus lifetime memberships, for the little people splashing around in the pool and for all those in between, the Kingston Family YMCA is a great place to be!

July 23, 2014March 29, 2023

Anwyn Yarn: Where Cares Are Dropped and Parked

Anwyn Studio is an open, bright space in Portsmouth Village, in which small, human moments occur. This afternoon, I’ve come to learn to a new skill using hand-dyed, natural wool.

The welcoming sign outside of Anwyn Studio/

The owner, Meriel Taylor, is calmly making lego-shaped paper invitations for a child’s birthday party with her girlfriend. A young boy is playing nearby; his baby brother fusses on the couch. Because their mother is looking a little overwhelmed, I happily insert myself into the process so the mother can nurse.

Meriel introduces us. “This is Christine. She wants to learn to Drop Spindle!”

Handspinning wool is an ancient textile art, where you twist fibres, fleece or wool into a continuous thread with a spinning wheel or a drop spindle.

The mother becomes more agitated, thinking that she’s taking me from something important, so I assure her that I’m here to relax and can think of nothing more wonderful than making lego invitations. The new skill I want to learn will take but a few moments and I can easily take in the studio as I cut and paste.

The studio walls are adorned with similar yarns, some in batt form for spinning, some spun and plied, and ready for knitting. Drop spindles, knitting supplies and even felting supplies—all the tools necessary for enjoying “slow fashion” skills involving wool are nestled enticingly on shelves. The studio epitomizes homemade, local, and beautiful.

“How did Sunday’s stall at the Memorial Centre Farmers’ Market go?” I ask Meriel. I hope to purchase a kit—consisting of three hand-dyed lots of local, organic wool and a wooden drop spindle—if she has any left.

“I sold many bags of it!” Meriel tells me, brightly. In fact, she only has one kit left. “Will green be alright?” she asks. It’s a delicious combination of earthy shades, and it will be more than alright. It will be perfect.

“For the farmers’ market grand opening [which opened on June 8] I’m offering some impromptu lessons on my spinning wheels, so people can sit for a few minutes. I’ll also offer some already cast-on knitted projects, so kids and grown-ups can learn a new stitches. There’s a closeted-ness to knitting and I want to bring awareness to these arts generally.”

“That sounds like fun!” I say, noting that my new friend and her boy are now tranquilly colouring; the baby is fed and asleep on the couch. The atmosphere at Anwyn Studio can have that effect on you, I suspect.

Handcrafts offer us so much more. According to recent studies, handcrafts are therapeutic—a powerful distractant, helping people manage long-term physical pain. They’re a motivator during depressive episodes.

They’re a conversation starter, allowing shy people to interact politely without requiring eye contact. They build confidence and self-esteem.

Skills like spinning, felting and knitting are calming, they improve concentration, can reduce the risk of dementia and they offer a break from our technology-saturated world. And, they make people happy.

The lego invitations complete, Meriel and I curl up on the couch where she ties a leader of fibre onto my spindle and starts my line. Meriel then demonstrates the park and draft method of spinning. Park and draft is a simplified form of drop spindle where you spin a small length of previously drafted fibre and then ‘park’ the spindle between your knees. The spindle stops spinning, which allows you the freedom to concentrate on drafting more fibre for the next spin. My new spindle is small and portable, and the techniques involved are easy to learn and satisfying to practice. Once I gain confidence with the park and draft method, Meriel encourages me to combine the skills, drafting fibre as the spindle continues to spin.

“On June 15th, I’m celebrating International Knit in Public Day,” Meriel tells us. “I’m going to invite people to bring a knitting, spinning or felting project to the farmers’ market. It’s a celebration of the fibre arts, a reintroduction of a heritage craft into the public sphere.”

Within ten minutes, I’ve learned a marvellous, new skill based on an ancient craft. The mom and her boys are preparing to leave, so I rise to join their exit. My drop spindle kit fits nicely into my bag, the textured wool and the meadow of greens peeking over my shoulder are likely to draw attention in the village on my walk home.

Anwyn Studio offers a variety of classes based on “hand-dyed fibre from nature.”

July 22, 2014April 3, 2023

Kingston For History & Heritage Buffs

As Kingston gears up to celebrate Sir John A. Macdonald’s 200th birthday in January 2015, get the jump with the In Sir John A’s Footsteps: Kingston Walking Tour in which professional actors and musicians lead a walking tour of the first prime minister’s favourite haunts. Get oriented with the Old Historical Walking Tour that highlights the downtown core or tour Queen’s University campus with its stately heritage buildings juxtaposed against modern additions. The annual Doors Open Kingston (June) is a fine time to discover hidden history, while no trip to the city is complete without a trip to Fort Henry National Historic Site. For those with a more cut-throat interest in the past, the award-winning Penitentiary Museum gives an insider’s look at what it was like behind the bars of this notorious prison. Compliment your visit with these classic boutiques and gift shops!

1000 Islands Soap Company

This shop feels like a cross between a high-end bakery and an old-fashioned apothecary. Cakes of soap scented with eucalyptus, tea tree, citrus, and other natural ingredients are laid out in glass display cases like pieces of fudge. Shelves proffer body scrubs, aluminum-free deodorant, bath salts, lotions, and other potions. Most of the products are handmade here or in the company’s shop in nearby Gananoque. Adding to the old-timey vibe are the antiques displayed artfully around the store. 339 King Street East 613.546.1700 1000islands soapco.com

Antique Alley

Tucked away just off Wellington Street (between Princess and Queen) Kingston’s Antique Alley is a treasure trove of eclectic finds, well-curated and aimed at every price point. The 4,000-square-foot space boasts a warren of rooms, roughly divided by era and theme and packed with furniture, vintage clothing, antique toys, cool collectibles, and lighting. Set aside at least an hour to look through all the nooks and crannies. 207-B Wellingston Street 613.545.1120

Bagot Leather Goods

This is the sort of place where the supremely well-informed staff can rattle off the weight and other specs of the dozens of suitcases stacked around the store without consulting a computer or brochure. In other words, you’re in good hands. Among the lines carried at Bagot Leather Goods: Briggs & Riley, Lug, Travelon, and Samsonite. As well as luggage, you’ll find a range of purses, wallets, laptop bags, backpacks, briefcases, and travel accessories. 34 Princess Street 613.544.4612 bagotleathergoods.com

Becker Shoes

Well-made, comfortable shoes are the stock-in-trade at Becker Shoes, a small southern Ontario chain that has now expanded to eastern Ontario with this expansive Kingston store. Rambling across two storefronts (walk through a small connecting lobby to see both sides) are sandals, shoes, and boots for the whole family by Bogs, Birkenstock, Blundstone, Dr. Martens, Geox, Keens, Mephisto, Sperry, Converse, Mjus, Ugg, and more. While some shoes are decidedly super-sensible, there are lots of options to tempt the fashion-forward as well. 175-179 Wellington Street 613.546.7754 beckershoes.com

Cunningham and Poupore

Talk about tradition: there has been a menswear store on this site since 1885. The current company started elsewhere in town in 1976 and moved to this atmospheric shop in 1989. Pendant lamps and wooden shelves give it a timeless air, but the merchandise is up-to-the-minute Canadian and European fashion. 75 Brock Street 613.544.1400 cunninghamandpoupore.com

Kingston Frameworks

As well as providing the usual range of framing services, Kingston Frameworks tempts browsers with displays by a wide range of Kingston and regional artists, most of whom create work with a sense of local history. Do browse their great collection of Kingston archival photographs. The store recently began carrying a small selection of local ceramics and jewellery. 198 Princess Street 613.546.1868 kingstonframeworks.ca

P’lovers

Part of a small Nova Scotia-based chain — five stores in total — P’lovers is that rare thing: an enviro-friendly store where shopping feels like a treat rather than an earnest duty. Choose from flax sheets, organic cotton baby toys, silky bamboo clothing, eco-conscious handbags and mugs, and books on green living, among other goodies. The bath and body section seems to get bigger every time we visit. 123 Princess Street 613.544.1230

The Roundstone

So you’re not 25 anymore, but you have no intention of dressing like your grandma. Head to The Roundstone, which specializes in classic European-inspired styles. The emphasis at this Kingston boutique is on high-quality, flattering, non-matronly fashions, including the likes of Lundstr.m, Olsen Europe, and Peter Hahn. 50 Princess Streets 613.536.5313 roundstonekingston.com

Wayfarer Books Bought & Sold

A mecca for enlightened browsers, Wayfarer draws regulars from as far away as Toronto and Montreal. The long, narrow shop, with its creaky floorboards and rows of dusty bookshelves, is a book lover’s delight — the kind of place a reader could settle in for the day. Owner Walter Cipin, who refers to himself as “a survivor in the book trade,” presides over a vast collection that includes everything from popular paperbacks to textbooks to giant stacks of old National Geographic magazines. There are also prints and vinyl records. 85 Princess Street 613.542.8615
This article has been reproduced from the 2014 Kingston Shop & Dine Guide.

July 16, 2014March 20, 2023

The New Age of Sail at Kingston’s Marine Museum

On the weekend of July 26 – 27, the grounds and waterfront surrounding Kingston’s Marine Museum of the Great Lakes will be bustling with the New Age of Sail Outdoor Exhibition, an admission-free exhibition open to the public where experienced sailors and neophytes of all ages and interests will be captivated, enlightened and encouraged to experience the many different aspects of the sport!
The event will be an outdoor extension of the indoor New Age of Sail exhibit that recalls the story of Canada’s sailing boom and the exciting developments in design, construction and marketing that popularized the sport of sailing in Canada.
The weekend promises to be an interesting one, complete with boats of all sizes that evolved during the New Age of Sail on display both on land and afloat, intriguing history, and activities for the entire family along Kingston’s gorgeous waterfront. Visitors can enjoy a drink at the The Sailor’s Pub (beer, wine and food garden) aboard the museum ship Alexander Henry, a 3,000-ton Coast Guard retired icebreaker, while exploring the evolution of the sailboat.

Examples of antique and modern boats will be on display both in the water and at the museum. Visitors can even take a sailing tour of Kingston harbour, or tour the indoor New Age of Sail special exhibit with sailing historian, Robert Mazza. Another key attraction will be the dry land sailing simulator that will let you experience what it’s like to control a ship without having to venture out on the water!
Other exciting events include workshops and presentations for all ages on wood and fibreglass boat repair, the evolution of sail making & rigging, navigation technology, knots & splices, radio controlled sailboat demonstrations, and the how-to’s of buying a boat from professional brokers.
There will also be a marine art gallery, a used marine books/equipment flea market, America’s Cup 2013 action videos, radio controlled model sailboats, shopping on Dougan’s Wharf and more!

Event Details

Date: July 26 & 27
Location: Marine Museum of the Great Lakes, 55 Ontario St., Kingston ON K7L 2Y2
Time: 10:00am-5:30pm Saturday and 10:00am-3:00pm Sunday
Cost: FREE
Phone: (613) 542 2261
Email: specialevents@marmuseum.ca
Website: www.marmuseum.ca

Are you interested in learning more about the history of Kingston? Check out more museums in Kingston.

July 14, 2014April 3, 2023

Going back to Fort Henry after 20 years

I remember coming to Fort Henry as a child – back then walking over the draw bridge and entering the Fort was like entering a story book.

I was old enough to know it wasn’t real of course, but the soldiers of the Fort Henry Guard marching on the square really brought the characters to life. In the 1800’s Fort Henry, along with Kingston’s Martello towers, served to protect Kingston and the St. Lawrence River shipping route from invading forces. Since the 1800’s the Fort has been restored to it’s original glory and now operates as a living museum. The Fort was designated as a National Historic Site of Canada in 1923. I got the opportunity see the Fort through the eyes of a kid again when I went with my friend Jacklyn and her family.

6 year-old Will figuring out the ins and outs of the reverse facing cannons at Fort Henry.

A 1800s-era cannon defends against the imaginary invading forces at Fort Henry – Kingston’s living military museum.

Will, 6 years old, and Tom, 8 years old, join their parents to step back in time to experience 1800s-era military life in Kingston’s living military museum – Fort Henry.

When we arrived at the Fort we were beckoned by one of the Fort Henry Guard. He explained to our group that he was a soldier in Fort Henry and would like to take us on a tour. As we stood between the Fort’s two walls he explained that we were standing in the Fort’s dry moat. Being in Canada a dry moat was preferred because in winter the attacking army would simply be able to walk across the frozen water! Since this area was surrounded by loop holes (small windows that the soldiers could fire rifles through) and cannons, this would be the most dangerous place to be – if we were invading troops!

8 year-old Tom and dad, Chris, contemplate how tough military life was in the 1800s.

We continued on and our tour guide taught us about his daily life in the Fort. At Fort Henry, the soldiers would actually purchase their rank since it was assumed wealthy men were also educated. The low ranking soldiers made pennies a day so they had almost no chance of moving up the ranks. Tom, Jacklyn’s 8 year old – being just as inquisitive as I was as a child – asked why they simply didn’t save their pennies to move up the ranks. As it turns out the soldiers were required to purchase their own furniture, food and beer so it was impossible to save any money.

6 year-old Will and mom, Jacklyn, explore the family quarters and school house in Fort Henry.

We scoped out the privies and the restored rooms of the officers. Our guide pointed out a number of ingenious collapsible furniture pieces the officers owned since they were required to move fairly often. We also saw the restored lounge where the officers could entertain their wives visiting from the city. I suppose if the officers were rich enough to purchase their rank they could also buy a house for their wife and children in Kingston.

6 year-old Will salivates over the freshly-baked bread in Fort Henry’s original bakery.

We continued on to the married quarters since – as it turns out – there were families living in the Fort as well. The Fort even boasts a school hall to teach the children until they’re old enough to either become a soldier. The Fort also has its own kitchen complete with multiple bread ovens. While we were there the resident baker was just finishing a batch of bread using only equipment available in the 1800’s.

Enjoying the hot-out-of-the-oven bread from Fort Henry’s bakery for our snack break.

Our hour-long tour flew by and before we knew it, it was time for a snack break. We went straight for the bread baked in Fort Henry’s own historic bakery. The bread was still warm from the stone oven. We rounded out our visit by exploring the secret passageways of the reverse firing chambers. The kids loved running through the halls and imagining they were soldiers at the Fort. Soon it was time to hang up our red coats and put our imaginary lives as 1800’s soldiers aside and return to the real world. It was fun to escape it for a while though!

Will and Tom pretending to be members of the Fort Henry Guard as they explore the secret passages of the Fort.

Fort Henry is open from 9:30am to 5pm every day during the summer. Tickets are available for $17 for adults, $14 for kids and free for toddlers. The Fort also hosts Sunset Ceremonies on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 8pm featuring a full military re-enactment with the option of a dining package. The Fort also features a patio restaurant overlooking Lake Ontario – the Battery Bistro which is within the Fort but open to the public from 11:30am to 9 pm.

Will and Tom peering out the windows of the reverse battery at Fort Henry.

Are you interested in exploring local museums? Check out more museums in Kingston.

July 9, 2014April 5, 2023

Escape the City: Prince Edward County Wine Tours

Head out from Kingston on a guided day-trip to the County, where the charms of the countryside pair perfectly with the allure of a burgeoning wine scene.

Prince Edward County Primer

Just a short day trip from Kingston, pastoral Prince Edward County is known for its temperate climate, family-run farms, the charming towns of Picton and Bloomfield, stunning beaches and — most recently — its wine-making. Turns out the limestone-rich soil provides the perfect terroir for producing award-winning wines. There are now more than 30 wineries in the County, many of which are open year-round for tours and tastings. The most popular wine varietals here include pinot noir, chardonnay, cabernet franc, riesling, and gamay noir.

Enjoy a glass of the County's finest among the vineyards! — Enjoy a glass of the County’s finest among the vineyards!

An excursion to The County is plenty of reason to toast!

You can't find a view like this in the city! — You can’t find a view like this in the city!

The wine boom has coincided with a restaurant renaissance, with many world-class chefs moving into the region to open restaurants that take advantage of the bounty of the County — so much fresh produce to work with and wines to pair! Artisanal food producers are thriving, as are local inns, B&Bs, and independent boutiques. Nature lovers also converge on Prince Edward County, drawn by the beaches and dunes at Sandbanks Provincial Park, world-class birding, and scenic trails.

Sandbanks Vacations’ Guided Tours

Travellers based in Kingston will be thrilled to learn that Sandbanks Vacations offers a convenient guided wine and cider tour out of the Kingston. The daily tour picks up guests each morning from local hotels and residences.

A comfortable air-conditioned minivan or shuttle bus follows the scenic Loyalist Parkway along the shores of Lake Ontario to Adolphustown. There, guests visit a local winery and taste estate-grown wines and ciders before boarding a ferry and heading across the Adolphus Reach to the Waupoos sector of Prince Edward County. The tour then makes stops at a cider company and two more wineries, allowing guests to enjoy the scenic surroundings (along with tastings, of course). If the weather’s fine, there’s a gourmet picnic lunch, while on blustery days lunch is served indoors.

Book ahead

Enjoy a day of wine with County Sips; fun and educational wine tours hosted by Ian Nicholls, Sommelier. 613-329-6563, countysips.com. You can also book a Sip and Stay hotel package with participating accommodations. View offers here.

July 7, 2014June 26, 2024

All Aboard! Kingston Trolley Tours’ Nine Unique Stops

Whether you’re in Kingston for a day or a week, it won’t be easy getting to every restaurant, museum and historic site that makes this city famous. My advice: take a Kingston Trolley tour where, you can hop on and off a vintage red trolley bus at nine of the spots you won’t want to miss.

Plus, the ride itself includes a narrated overview of the Limestone City’s three-hundred-plus years of history. Read on for a rundown of the nine stops on a Kingston Trolley tour and how each plays a crucial part in telling Kingston’s story.

Stop 1: City Hall

Your tour starts near City Hall, the seat of Kingston’s municipal government since 1844, when the city was still the capital of the United Province of Canada. Take a free guided tour every day of the week to get the inside story on why the council chamber was once used as a medical college, how a fire destroyed almost half the building and way more.

Stop 2: Royal Military College of Canada

RMC’s Mackenzie Building, one of the college’s most iconic buildings. (photo by Kingston Trolley Tours)

For the next stop, you’ll head over the causeway to the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC), a degree-granting university established in 1874 that trains students on all subjects related to the military profession. Check out the RMC Museum from 10 am – 5 pm daily for info on the college’s history, former cadets and the beautiful site (free).

Stop 3: Fort Henry

Built from 1832 to 1837 atop Point Henry, Fort Henry’s purpose was to protect the naval dockyard at Point Frederick, the entrance of the Rideau Canal and Kingston, once a major transshipment point. Once inside the wooden gates, you’ll step back into the 19^th century with a little help from guided tours, musical performances and military demonstrations.

Stop 4: Springer Market Square

Hop off for a stroll through the public market three days a week.

It’s back downtown for stop number four at Springer Market Square, the oldest market in Ontario. Pick up some fresh produce, prepared foods, plants and handmade crafts on Tuesdays, Thursday and Saturdays. And don’t miss out on other special programming throughout the year, including concerts, festivals, public skating and outdoor movies. cityofkingston.ca

Stop 5: Marine Museum of the Great Lakes, Pump House Steam Museum

You will get to experience two museums in Kingston at this stop. The Marine Museum of the Great Lakes highlights the history and growth of shipbuilding, the life of the sailor and Kingston’s maritime history. At the Pump House Steam Museum, learn how steam power played a key role in Canada’s industrial development and Kingston’s history from the museum’s most incredible artifact—the museum itself.

Stop 6: Bellevue House

Built in the 1840s with decorative balconies and a three-storey tower, Bellevue House was unlike the typical Georgian architecture of Kingston homes at the time. (photo by Takashi Toyooka)

Canada’s first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, rented this house in the 1840s. He wrote that he was drawn to “…the complete quiet and seclusion of the house, which is completely surrounded by trees and has a fresh breeze every blowing on it from Lake Ontario…” Now restored to the 1840s period and staffed by costumed interpreters, the house and gardens are kept much as they were when Macdonald lived here.

Stop 7: Canada’s Penitentiary Museum

Penitentiaries have always played a big role in Kingston’s development. Find out more about that history at this award-winning museum located within the former residence of Kingston Penitentiary’s warden. During the summer, the museum is staffed be retired correctional officers, who provide first-hand accounts of life in the prison system.

Stop 8: Queen’s University

Grant Hall. With its tall limestone clock-tower, this assembly and concert hall, completed in 1905, is Queen’s best-known landmark. (photo by Kingston Trolley Tours)

Queen’s is one of Canada’s oldest degree-granting institutions, and has influenced higher education since 1841, when it was established by the Royal Charter of Queen Victoria. With a beautiful waterfront campus made of limestone buildings and modern facilities, it’s a great spot to wander for a few minutes or a few hours.

Stop 9: Entertainment & Retail District

The final stop sets you back in the heart of Kingston to eat, shop, see a show or just take in the energy that makes downtown such a thriving community. You’ll also have the chance to visit St. Mary’s Cathedral, which houses the chair of the first Roman Catholic bishop in English Canada, and St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, which opened in 1822 and was instrumental in establishing Queen’s University.

July 4, 2014April 3, 2023

Kingston’s Pubs & Live Music

If you’re looking to spend some time relaxing with a pint and some great live music, you should check out these popular Kingston hot spots! You’re guaranteed to have a great time and meet some new friends.

Merchant Tap House

6A Princess Street

Right on the waterfront, Merchant Tap House is housed in an expansive heritage building — a perfect venue for the live bands that perform here on Thursdays through Saturdays. Check the website to see who’s playing. The pub is also popular for its 150-person capacity summer patio overlooking the lake. Traditional pub menu.

The Pilot House

265 King Street East

A cozy pub on the corner of King and Johnson, The Pilot House has been open for just over three decades. In other words, there are a lot of regulars who regard this pub as their second home. Locally famous for its fish and chips, this congenial neighbourhood spot is not a music venue but it is a go-to spot for sports fans looking to watch live European football and rugby matches.

Red House

369 King Street East

An upscale pub with a heritage vibe, the Red House is a relatively new addition to the Kingston scene. Here, the menu highlights upmarket pub fare with a focus on local ingredients and suppliers. Warm and inviting, with booths, a long bar, and tables down the centre, Red House is more about conversation than bands or televisions. Carefully chosen beers on tap. An intimate patio is open in the summer.

The Public House

343 King Street East

Wednesday evenings are country and western themed and the pub brings in musicians for regular sets — check the events schedule on the website. The menu is pub fare with Scottish leanings, while there’s a good selection of malt whiskies and beers on tap. A popular Sunday brunch is served from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Click here to learn more about The Public House!

Tír Nan Òg

200 Ontario Street

Housed in a gorgeous heritage building in the historic downtown, Tír Nan Òg (the name is Gaelic for “land of youth”) has a party atmosphere, with live music and regular theme nights. Craft Addict Thursdays are especially popular, boasting live music and local craft beer. The look here is traditional and the menu tilts towards traditional Irish pub grub.

The Toucan

76 Princess Street

A mainstay on the scene for close to 30 years, The Toucan has a regular schedule of bands, including Rueben deGroot, who plays old-time rock and roll every Monday. Local and up-and-coming bands round out the entertainment lineup — check the pub website to see who’s playing. Football (the Euro kind) fans stop in for a beer and to watch matches live. The menu is traditional pub fare, with a good selection of beers on tap.