Art on the Street
Kingston has a unique and diverse community because of its many government and privately run institutions. We have students from all walks of life, military folk of all kinds, artists galore, new immigrants, business types…the list goes on. We all live in this community together but rarely interact outside of our circles. As an artist, I think it is safe to say that most of my friends and acquaintances in town are also artists in some form. It’s just how it goes. So it is always wonderful when someone in the community creates a reason for all these various groups to get together on common ground. Read more
The New Bar Scene
Kingston has a pretty happenin’ bar scene, with the Hub (Alehouse aka AJ’s, Stages, The Brass, The Griz and Elixir) drawing huge crowds night after night, while other downtown establishments (The Iron Duke , Brew Pub, Tir Na Nog, Merchant , and Joy) chorale the rest of Kingston’s age of majority card holders. Categorically, the former cater to students who enjoy loud dance music and the odd live concert, while the latter are for those who enjoy a pub-like atmosphere, and frequent concerts featuring local musicians. There’s nearly a bar on every street corner between the Hub and the waterfront, which makes it easy to find a place to grab a pint or cut a rug on any given night. With some new establishments making their way onto the scene, Kingston’s night life destinations are better than ever. Read more
Back in Business
Hey there stranger, welcome back! I am sorry you had to go over an entire week without any updates from me, or the Kingstonist team. What can I say to make it better? I’d promise to never leave our fare city again, but then I might not be able to make comparisons and ultimately appreciate it as much. In my recent travels I ventured to Hamilton, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City, all of which have their magnificent charms and modest flaws. As the end of my vacation drew closer, I really got excited about returning to the Limestone City. The camera was doing it’s thing on the drive in, catching all the great Fall colours along the 401, the mega-Kings Crossing shopping development at Division and 401, as well as a beehive of activity along Princess Street. After you’ve checked out the new videos , please drop us a line and tell us what you enjoy the most about Kingston in the Fall.
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!
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