There’s Always Next Year
With just over two weeks remaining in the regular season, the Kingston Frontenacs will be dusting off their golf clubs sooner than later. These days, the only thing worse than their 3rd from last position in the standings, is game attendance. I don’t think anyone was surprised by the fact that the Fronts sold out the opening game in the K-Rock Centre, which reportedly brought in 5,700 attendees. However, the club’s follow-up performance last Sunday was anything but stellar, as the crowd totaled a dismal 2,283 fans. This is far below the 3,500 attendance threshold that has been established as the minimum figure needed to turn a profit at the Krock. So what will it take for the residents of the birthplace of hockey to line up around the corner and support the local OHL franchise?
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Culture Show 2008
Culture Show 2008 is coming! The annual student-run initiative to promote cultural awareness across Queen’s University and the city of Kingston is being held on March 7 in Duncan McArthur Auditorium. It’s the only time all year that students and residents of Kingston can see belly dancing, kung-fu fighting, and a cultural fashion show all in one night. The best part? Half of the proceeds from the show go to a charity in the Kingston community.
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Yo Quiero Mexicali Rosa’s
It is known around Kingston as the black hole, the corner of doom, an address that few businesses dare touch, while those who’ve rolled the dice have paid the ultimate price. I am referring to the corner of Johnson and Ontario were countless independent restaurants and bars have come to die. 172 Ontario is a prime downtown location that’s a block away from City Hall, a stone’s throw away from the waterfront and in the company of Wooden Heads, White Mountain and Frankie Pesto’s, so it does not make sense that so many attempts have failed. City records do not indicate that the earth beneath this address was once home to a cursed cemetery, hence there is no supernatural explanation.
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Kingston Canadian Film Festival
The 8th annual Kingston Canadian Film Festival opens tomorrow with a series of workshops and hobnobbery for fortunate festival attendees. The curtains officially rise on the 29th at numerous cinemas around the city for local movie fans and critics, who will be on the lookout for the next big indie hit. Kingstonist will be representing, so be sure to come back for a few reviews and maybe a celebrity spotting or two. The opening night’s stellar lineup includes: All Hat, starring Rachael Leigh Cook and Oscar-winner Keith Carradine, and The Tracey Fragments, starring the white-hot Canadian sensation, Ellen Page.
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Urban Outfitters. Love it or hate it?
Nearly a decade ago, RBC’s downtown fortress was situated just up from the corner of Princess and Montreal. When it relocated in the late 1990’s, no business moved in to take it’s place, leaving a huge void on the same block that houses umpteen downtown businesses, a cinema and the Grand Theatre. Fast forward to the end of January ‘08, where US “all things cool” retailer, Urban Outfitters, announces that they’ve leased the space, and will open their doors this Spring. How much do we really know about this peddler of foreign merchandise, and what could its presence do to the downtown?
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An Inaugural Affair: K-Rock Centre / Hip Concert review
On Saturday, February 23, the K-Rock Centre hosted one of the biggest names in Canadian music: Kingston’s own Tragically Hip. Tickets went on sale for members of thehip.com fanclub on December 12th, 2007 and to the general public on December 14th. It was a mad scramble at 10AM on the 14th, but I managed to secure 4 tickets for what would prove to be an unforgettable show.
As a big Hip fan, I’ve had my fair share of “Hip” experiences. My crowning moment was being an extra in The Hip’s “Bobcaygeon” video. On film, I may have just been another hand in the crowd for the ‘riot’ scene, but I had the proud distinction of handing Paul Langlois back his microphone stand every time it fell off the stage: he’d say “Thanks, man”.
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Video: Pre-Hip Concert Setup
Today we wandered into the new K-Rock Centre and took some video of the stage crew setting up for tonight’s Tragically Hip Concert. To be honest the video quality isn’t great, but we’ve created a Kingstonist YouTube channel for future features. For those of you going to the concert tonight, please don’t park in my driveway. Last night I had to tow someone, who I suspect was attending the Frontenac’s Game. Too bad they lost. In any case, the “Krock” is officially open and she doesn’t look half bad even though there’s still work to be done. We’re less than a week away from our official launch, so be sure to check back for more updates leading up to the big day.
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