Happy Turkey Day
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Sorry things have been slow around here the last few days. I have been taking some time off, and will continue to be on hiatus for the next week or so, while I’m away on my Honeymoon. In the meantime, some of the other contributors have assured me that they will be picking up the slack. In any case, here’s to a safe holiday with friends and family. Cheers!
Pharmapremecy
Many Kingston residents know, and perhaps love Herbies, purveyor of discount food and drugs. It has enjoyed prime real estate in a plaza that has seen better days on the corner of Princess Street and Centennial Drive. Once a neighbor to Winners, and a myriad of other failed businesses, Herbies survived where others could not. This past Spring I noticed a new retirement centre being constructed on the doorstep of the Cataraqui Town Centre, and I knew right away that Herbies would benefit. But on a recent trip out to mall, I was shocked to see a huge structure being built in the Herbies plaza parking lot, which displayed a Shoppers Drugmart - Coming Soon sign. Read more
Fort Fright
On a stormy day in 1846, twenty three men were working on Cathcart Tower, which is part of the Kingston Fortifications Network and located directly across from Fort Henry on Cedar Island. They noticed that a storm was coming in quickly and decided that they would row ashore in a boat made for twelve people. Seventeen of the men drowned on that day. Ever since, employees at the Fort, and locals have noticed strange occurrences along the waterfront, ranging from ghostly noises, to mysterious glowing lights, and shadowy figures floating along the water. Such stories are legendary around the Fort, and they now form the basis for the new Fort Fright experience. Read more
Who’s Who in the Zoo
Are you big on fulfilling your civic duty? Do you exercise your right to vote? Before I scare you away, rest assured that today’s post isn’t meant to influence your decision in any way shape or form. Just in case you haven’t picked a winning horse, or if you’re torn between two nominees, I thought Kingstonist could help the selection process along. Today’s post isn’t geared towards giving you the low down on the respective party platforms, or report on results from telephone polls, but rather, the focus will provide background information on each of our local candidates. In no particular order, here’s what you need to know about Kingston’s Liberal, Conservative, Green and NDP hopefuls. Read more
You’ll Have a Gael, Old Time
Let’s take a moment to reflect on some of the positive aspects of Queen’s Homecoming. The men and women in law enforcement, as well as University and community volunteers did a fine job ensuring that the illegal Aberdeen street party was as safe as humanly possible. There were no burning cars, a significantly reduced amount of broken beer bottles on the ground, and 105 arrests for public intoxication, and open alcohol in a public place. Aberdeen swelled with well over 6,000 people, while side streets, the Hub, and downtown were as busy as they’ve ever been. Ultimately, Queen’s Homecoming translates into a pretty sizable cash injection for the local business community, but then there’s the involuntary loss assumed by the rest of the us. Read more
Your Kid’s Not That Cute
I am soooo tired of hearing about homecoming at Queen’s. I’m not even in Kingston right now and yet it’s still a topic of conversation everywhere I go. The Globe and Mail had a story on Queen’s Homecoming just two days ago (complete with a map showing out-of-towners where exactly to go to find the party). It is time to lay the smack down. Seriously. I’ve had it. Read more
Sunday Market
Check out the photos from my adventure to the Public Market yesterday on the Kingstonist’s Flickr. It was a great way to spend the last day of Summer and officially welcome the Fall. Usually the market runs until Thanksgiving, but if the weather permits, you’ll be able to enjoy fresh produce and all things vintage in Market Square until October 31st. Don’t miss out!
There’s a Hole
How long has it been, one year or two? I honestly can’t remember, but it’s been a long time since I last saw construction equipment around the massive hole on the corner of Bagot and Queen. At last check this project was a $10 million, apartment building that was being developed by the local property holdings group known as Kincore . Kincore seems to know what they’re doing, as they’re behind some really amazing restoration projects including: the The British Whig building, Brock Street Common (Chien Noir, Atomica), and Gourdier Lofts. But when it comes to that massive hole, I can’t help but wonder what’s taking so long? Read more
Taxi Strike
During the summer months I am without an automobile, and thus my ability to go to the Mall, RioCan and beyond is somewhat hindered. Having to rely on buses is usually not an option when I’m trying to keep a schedule and do things as efficiently as possible, so I try to carpool with friends. Snagging a ride with them and getting my errands done in the process works for the most part, but there are often times when I can’t hitch a friendly ride, or take the bus, such as early morning departures to the train station, or last minute emergencies on the other side of the city. In cases such as this, I rely on just in time transportation, also known as the taxi. However, trouble is brewing that may see local cab services indeterminately shelved in the near future. Read more
Citizens on Patrol
After a long, hard day on Wednesday, I turned on CKWS to catch the evening news. Usually I pass out and leave the television on, only to wake up hours later to some infomercial or rerun of Roseanne. But Wednesday was different, as my attention was fixed on the anchorwoman who spoke of a new group of concerned citizens that are taking aim at rowdy Queen’s students with the aid of the Internet. By posting pictures of drunken street parties, purple jacket slamming and neighborhood destruction, the Save Our Neighborhood Action Group (SONAG) is hoping to raise awareness about the problem of living near the Student Ghetto Village. Will this finally bring about change at Queen’s? Read more
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