Kingstonist

The Skeleton Park Community Songbook: Megan Hamilton and the Kingston Community Midwives

Harvey Kirkpatrick — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:30:47 +0000

It’s been nearly one year since we last featured a page from the Skeleton Park Community Songbook. In case you need a refresher, the Skeleton Park Community Songbook is an arts project slash fundraising initiative, which has amassed over a dozen musical collaborations pairing local professional musicians with various community organizations. Today, we’re excited to share a recently released addition to this project, which pairs Megan Hamilton and the Kingston Community Midwives together to sing When You Were Born. Set below the shady trees in Skeleton Park, this lovely song makes me hopeful for a few more late additions to the Songbook in the coming months. Hit play below and be sure to add this to your playlist for the May-long weekend.

For those of you who may have missed past additions to the Skeleton Park Community Songbook that were featured on Kingstonist, please take some time to explore the project via the links below.

Once again, thanks to all the musicians, community groups and folks who helped make the Skeleton Park Community Songbook possible.

Kingstonist’s Challenge #80: Go Gluten-Free!

Alanna Kuhn — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:00:49 +0000

Welcome to Kingstonist’s weekly challenge, dare, resolution or whatever you prefer to call it. Each week we establish a new and ambitious community goal, encouraging our readers, followers, friends and families to step out of their comfort zones and do something great, and hopefully a little out of the ordinary. Consider this your official and personal invitation to join us in completing a small but meaningful achievement. By taking part in this community-wide initiative, we hope to make Kingston a slightly better place to live, work and play. And of course, we also hope that you will feel proud of your contribution and achievement.

This week’s challenge encourages you to:

Go Gluten-Free! The month of May is dedicated to spreading awareness about celiac disease, so this week I challenge you to go gluten-free. For those of you who don’t know, gluten is a protein found in foods containing wheat, barley, rye, kamut, spelt, oats, triticale, and also in many processed foods and personal care products. Celiac disease is a condition where the absorptive surfaces of the small intestine are damaged by gluten leading to symptoms such as weight loss, fatigue, cramps, bloating, chronic diarrhea, and anemia to name a few. In Canada, it is estimated that 330,000 people have celiac disease while only 110,000 of those cases have been diagnosed. For many Canadians, going gluten-free is a big change from the standard North American diet and if you accept this challenge, it should open your eyes to the daily struggles of those who suffer from it. If you have an intolerance going gluten-free may improve your energy, benefit your mood, improve your skin, and promote better digestion. There are many alternatives to gluten filled grains including amaranth, chickpea, brown rice, and tapioca flours but for a complete list of options you can visit this website. If you suspect you might suffer from celiac disease, please consult your Naturopathic Doctor or other medical care provider.

Sign up and commit to completing this week’s challenge by commenting below with an “I’m in“, “challenge accepted“, “en garde” or something along those lines. Further, help us spread the word via Twitter and Facebook by using the hashtag: #ygkchallenge. As you work towards completing this week’s task, please feel free to lend others a helping hand by providing tips on how you achieved success.

Thanks and credit to Elana’s Pantry for supplying the gluten-free photo associated with this week’s ygkchallenge.

The Economics of the Farmers’ Market

Julia Segal — Wed, 15 May 2013 12:41:02 +0000

Kingston’s Public Market is an important fixture in the downtown core. As the oldest public market in Ontario and a bustling attraction to locals and visitors alike, summer in the Square would not be the same without it. On top of the Public Market, we also have the new Memorial Centre Farmers’ Market operating Sundays. It’s not news that Kingstonians support local food and farmers, as they support the local economy, foster community and create connections with the producers of our food. Though it is hard to disagree with these benefits, at the end of the day, farmers are running a business. With the high costs of small-scale food production and low per-item margins, are their businesses and the markets at which they sell economically viable? In trying to answer this question, I looked into other, lesser-talked-about benefits for the producer, the city and the consumer, and what challenges they face across the board.

Selling at a market is very different than selling retail or wholesale, and there are benefits and drawbacks to both. Selling at a farmers’ market affords the farmer higher margins, while selling to retailers and wholesalers requires a higher quantity for a discounted price. The retailer also needs to mark up the product, meaning that farmer makes less. The stability gained from consistent sales to retailers are not hugely beneficial for small scale, organic or handmade products, as it is very difficult for producers to benefit from the economies of scale normally afforded by selling retail.

Given that many of the sellers we meet in the Market are smaller, family run companies, competition is fierce against the ‘bigger guys’ in stores. In retail, shelving preference is given to companies with more bargaining power, and this often means companies with a larger number of SKUs or items. Alternatively, the vendors we meet in the Market will often do one or two products really well, which only results in a couple of SKUs and little pull against their competition.

Furthermore, in stores, the retailer is never going to take the loss. Perishable products that don’t move in the grocery store are at the cost of the producer. At least at a market, you have control over the look of your product, the sales pitch and can hold your own against competitors. Matt, the owner of Upon the Earth, who sells handmade organic granola, hummus and baked goods in the Market maintains that the kinds of products he has do better with direct selling. Having the person behind the table to explain the unique selling proposition that the company offers is more effective than trying to communicate that through labels. Often, specialized products have a hard time selling themselves on store shelves without significant investment in marketing and communication.

That’s not to say that retail isn’t a good place for locally produced products – there are many stores – like Tara Natural Foods or Common Market – that give priority to the little guy. But there is certainly something to be said about ‘cutting out the middle man’.

From the perspective of the city, there are also important tangential benefits for the economic area around the Farmers’ Market. Markets tend to pull people into the area – in our case to the downtown core. Although for many, browsing the Market is more of a spectator’s sport, the fact of being in the downtown area makes it more likely that they will spend money – maybe for lunch at a restaurant or just a coffee.

Local restaurants also tend to have an important relationship with nearby public markets.

Relationships between local restaurants and farmers often start in the market, but can expand to higher-volume sales on certain products. This offers the producer more stability in their business since they can guarantee to sell a large portion of certain crops to restaurants.

An inspired restaurant menu can also be the result of proximity to a farmers’ market. Chef Derek MacGregor from Le Chien Noir Bistro finds that a lot of his ideas for menu items and ingredients come from his strolls through the Market across the street. Although he may not pick up everything he needs on the spot, seeing the seasonal products in person is a lot more inspiring than reading items off a vendor list.

From the consumer’s perspective, markets are often synonymous with quality products and healthful options. Of course, a common qualm is that although many people would love to do their shopping at a farmers’ market, it comes at a higher cost. Due to the cost structure of small businesses like these, farmers’ market prices are unlikely to match retail anytime soon. As a result, average expenditure per person in the market is nowhere near what is spent in a grocery store for similar items. So then how do markets and vendors run a business?

Many would argue that farmers’ markets and public markets are not, by nature, an economically viable structure. It often takes time and careful planning for a new market to operate without a deficit. Vendors say that the main criteria needed for the effective operation of a farmers’ market are location foot traffic, good weather, and a wide enough variety of products. None of these things are inherent to a market itself, and are often entirely uncontrollable.

Wholesalers at markets often get flack for trying to seem like farmers despite not having grown their own produce. However, wholesalers arguably serve the purpose of filling out the product offer (often selling fruits and veggies that are not available in our climate) and helping sustainability of the institution as a whole. We can see this in our own Public Market with wholesalers, fish and seafood vendors, and craftpersons.

Of course for many producers, farming and selling this way is a labour of love, and for consumers, the experience and community that goes along with spending time in the public market makes it worthwhile. Nancy of Wolfe Island Bakery, which has been a vendor for 25 years at the Kingston Public Market, says that working at a farmers’ market as opposed to other conventional forms of selling puts producers in a much more pleasant environment. They are surrounded by other small businesses, interact with happy customers, and can watch the growth of their peers over the years.

Perhaps most importantly, market demand keeps growing. Willingness to shop at and enthusiasm for public markets from consumers helps to push the industry forward. If consumers continue to ‘vote’ with their dollars for quality local food and sustainable practices, it is certainly possible that the economic viability of public markets will become more stable across the board.

Ardath House, Wolfe Island, 1930s

Queen's Archives — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:20:17 +0000

Queen’s University Archives, Kingston Picture Collection V23-Reg-Wolfe-20

Charles William Grant, the son of Marie-Charles Joseph Le Moyne (Baroness Longueuil), acquired the title of fifth Baron of Longueuil in 1841. He held numerous properties on Wolfe Island and in Kingston, including Alwington House and Ardath House, or “The Castle,” as Islanders called it, pictured above. Ardath House was a 25-room manor built in 1828 of local limestone and carved oak embellishments. The Longueuil baronial title was the only one to survive in Canada from the former French regime, having later been recognized and confirmed by Queen Victoria on appeal by the grandson of Charles Grant.

Weekly Poll: May Long Weekend

Danielle Lennon — Mon, 13 May 2013 12:50:53 +0000

It’s going to be gorgeous this weekend. OK, I have no idea if that’s true, but for the sake of today’s poll, let’s go with it because, quite frankly, I’ve had enough of winter and I need to start thinking about tomatoes and geraniums.

This coming weekend is always one of my favourites. As a child, Victoria Day was all about the neighbourhood fireworks at the park. When I was in university, it was the first camping weekend of the season – despite the weather. I’ve spent entire May 2-4 weekends bundled up, huddled by the fire, drinking beer with friends, and trying to convince ourselves that summer is here. Now, in my adulthood, I can’t wait to get my hands on my garden.

We all have different ideas about what makes a long weekend great so this week, we want to know:
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Is what you do for Victoria Day weekend an annual event or do you plan different things each year? Perhaps your weekend has evolved over time like mine as your priorities change, or maybe you just like relaxing at home and enjoying the extra day off. Choose up to two answers to this week’s poll and drop off your comments below and let us know what you love to do to celebrate Victoria’s birthday.

Thanks to Azra Dark for today’s pic of fireworks over Kingston.

Guide to Homegrown

Danielle Lennon — Fri, 10 May 2013 15:14:31 +0000

Homegrown Live Music Festival is celebrating its 5th year tomorrow, May 11th, at 10 downtown venues. The festival showcases some of Kingston’s finest musicians all in support of Joe’s MILL and The Partners in Mission Food Bank. Each venue will play host to one specific genre of music. By purchasing a bracelet for a mere $10 (or $5 with a non-perishable food donation), music lovers can move freely from place to place all day long. Bracelets can be purchased at each venue and kids under 12 get in for free. Last year’s festival raised over $11,000 and collected over 400 food donations thanks to the hard work of festival coordinators, sponsors and of course, over 300 volunteer musicians and sound engineers. Here’s a guide to who will be playing this year so you can plan your day.

Alternative (The Toucan, 76 Princess St.)
9:00pm The Foodies
9:45pm I Love Lesb*ans
10:30pm AudioCode
11:30pm Slaves of Spanky
12:30pm T3RR3SSTRiAL
1:15am The Huaraches

Blues (The Ale House, 393 Princess St.)
8:00pm Jeff J Gaulton Trio
9:00pm The Rhythm Haints
10:00pm Shaun Riley Band
11:00pm Wicked Grin
12:00am Mojo Shooter
1:00am Open Jam

Celtic (Kingston Brew Pub, 34 Clarence St.)
2:00pm Tony Rood
2:45pm Caccia
3:30pm Tam Lin
4:15pm Shane and Laura Dunne
5:00pm Tuns of Tunes
6:00pm Celtic Rumblings
7:00pm Kingston Ceili Band
8:15pm Seventh Town
9:30pm Rukus

Country/Bluegrass (Royal Tavern, 344 Princess St.)
1:00pm Pete Deachman
2:00pm Abby Stewart
3:00pm Rotted Roots Ramblers
4:00pm Trash
5:00pm Wayne & Betty Ann
6:00pm John Howes
7:00pm Roy Bradshaw
8:00pm Honky Tonk Blues
9:00pm to 12:00am HomeGrown Hootenanny hosted by The Tom Savage Trio, featuring The ThoroughFreds, The Foley Mountain Playboys, Rueben DeGroot, Randy Larock, and more.

Folk One (The RCHA, 3rd floor, 193 Ontario St.)
2:00pm Sympathy Ghost
2:45pm Tom Hollenstein & Friends
3:30pm Strung Out To Dry
4:15pm Trevor Strong and the Line of Credit
5:00pm Christina Tracy
5:45pm The ThoroughFreds
6:30pm The Broken Arrows
7:15pm Barbara & David
8:00pm Megan Hamilton
8:45pm RT&V
9:30pm Zoe & The Lost Boys
10:15pm The Diaries
11:00pm Kris & Dee
11:45pm Daniel Parkhill Project

Folk Two (The RCHA, 2nd floor, 193 Ontario St.)
7:00pm Mellow Lily
7:45pm Dympna McConnell
8:30pm Brian Taguchi
9:15pm Jon McLurg
10:00pm Giguere & Moon

Jazz (Monte’s, 200 Ontario St.)
4:00pm Blue Swing Quartet
5:00pm Spencer Evans
6:00pm Mauricio Montecinos
7:00pm Glenna Green
8:00pm Inside Out
9:00pm Hannah Barstow w/ Dave Barton and Paul Clifford
10:00pm James Wannamaker & The Downtown Trio
11:00pm Kingston Jazz Composers Collective

Midnight Magic Rodeo (The Artel, 205 Sydenham St.)
5:30pm Juke-Joint
6:15pm Hoppipolla
7:15pm The Torres Project
8:15pm Nate Crockett Band
9:15pm Darkness, Light, Darkness
10:15pm Swamp Ward Orchestra

Next Generation (The Mansion, 506 Princess St.)
3:00pm Metamorphic
3:30pm Max Davidson
4:00pm Drop Down Mama
4:30pm Doug O’Handley
5:30pm The Limestone Quartet

Psychedelic Snack (The Mansion, 506 Princess St.)
8:15pm Jenica Rayne
9:15pm Kit Wykes
9:45pm Simon Handley
10:45pm Shushlang
11:15pm The Paradise Eaters
12:15pm Ianspotting

Rock (Revolutions, 14 Garrett)
4:00pm Tiger Uppercut
5:00pm Buffalo Tree
6:00pm The Kevin Bowers Project
7:00pm Radio Wasteland
8:00pm Tracycally Hip
9:00pm Vorasek
10:00pm Richard Cranium
11:00pm Kasey Ferguson and His Four Letter Words
12:00am Far From Venus
1:00am Bellfonix

World Beat (Kingston Yacht Club, 1 Maitland St.)
7:00pm The Drum Circle
7:30pm Kyoko Ogoda & Paul Clifford
8:30pm Joe Santos
9:15pm The Torres Project
10:00pm The Resolutionaries Marimba Band
11:00pm Mauricio Montecinos & Latin Fusion

Kingstonist’s Challenge #79: Buy into a CSA

Danielle Lennon — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:57:22 +0000

This week’s challenge encourages you to:

Buy into Community Supported Agriculture! Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a great way to eat fresh, locally grown produce and to support Kingston area farmers. Many of us would love to grow our own veggies but either don’t have the time, or perhaps the success to eat from our gardens all summer long. Purchasing a full or partial share in a local CSA will assure you fresh, local produce on a weekly basis. In addition to veggies, many CSAs offer local and organic meat and eggs. CSAs are also a great way to try new things that you might not otherwise purchase or even find at the grocery store. Some CSAs ask you to pick up your shares from a convenient location, while there are others who offer delivery right to your doorstep. The list of local CSAs is too great to share here but you can find a ton of them here.

Thanks and credit to AndyRobertsPhotos for supplying the photo associated with this week’s ygkchallenge.

Hall Monitor: Speed of Money

Tommy Vallier — Wed, 08 May 2013 11:16:45 +0000

Last night, city council, staff and the public gathered in City Hall for Kingston City Council meeting number 13-2013. The city has published the agenda and addeds online.

The meeting seemed to fly by, with us letting out just before 9:30 – but quite a bit got accomplished in those two quick hours. The largest, by far, was the approval of an additional $1.7 million dollars for the renovations at the Tett Centre, bringing its total cost now to $13.2 million. Additionally, council handed out the okay for a pair of new patios downtown, awarded the contract for construction of the Bert Meunier Common Park and approved the start of the RFP process for a new city pound.

Our full tweet stream and an archive of the video is below. Our next meeting will be in chambers on May 21st.

7:16 PM: All set p at City Hall for our live coverage of tonight’s council meeting. We’ll be starting in about 15 minutes! #ygkc ^TV
7:29 PM: Full house down here again tonight. Standing room only. Looks like the overflow will be used again. #ygkc ^TV
7:34 PM: Looks like we’re running a little late. Should be up and running shortly. #ygkc ^TV
7:35 PM: DING DING! Meeting is underway. 7:35pm. #ygkc ^TV
7:36 PM: We open with a recap of the closed session of council; rising without a report. #ygkc ^TV
7:37 PM: The closed session rise passes 12-0; we are without @DorothyAHector at the horseshoe tonight. #ygkc ^TV
7:38 PM: @MayorOfKingston comments that there has been feedback surrounding the vote display. They’re meeting with @TVCKingston to resolve. #ygkc…
7:39 PM: Addeds carry, and we get pecuniary interest declarations from Coun. Schell, Coun. Downes and Coun. Hutchison. #ygkc ^TV
7:41 PM: One delegation on the agenda, sounds like Coun. Glover plans to add a second. First is Phillip Brown about Tett Centre. #ygkc
7:42 PM: Brown says the Tett Centre budget, when first presented, took everything into account back then. #ygkc ^TV
7:43 PM: Council is being asked tonight to approve $1.7 million to the Tett Centre project. #ygkc ^TV
7:45 PM: Brown is asking council to verify all facts they hear when the debate comes up. Seeks deferral of tonight’s motion. #ygkc ^TV
7:46 PM: Brown is suggesting that there can be cost cuts, and an outside, unbiased opinion can find more savings. #ygkc ^TV
7:47 PM: Coun. Hutchison asks about Brown’s ideas. Brown says that if he ran something at a 15% overrun, there’d be a change in management. #ygkc ^TV
7:47 PM: Brown adds that this (chambers) is the only room where you can go over budget and not be accountable. #ygkc ^TV
7:49 PM: Brown says he has respect for the work of staff; but adds that it would be an unbiased report that would validate it. #ygkc ^TV
7:52 PM: Coun. Glover asks about Brown’s history. Brown outlines his history with larger, complicated projects in #ygk. #ygkc ^TV
7:53 PM: Brown is suggesting that a team can come back with suggestions in an afternoon without bias. #ygkc ^TV
7:55 PM: @JimNeill3 says one of the city’s priorities was to create space for the arts community – which this project would do. #ygkc ^TV
7:56 PM: @JimNeill3 asks about criticism about the cost being reflected on the Arts community. Brown agrees that’s a risk. #ygkc ^TV
7:57 PM: … adds that it’s the artists that make the building, not the building that makes the artists. #ygkc ^TV
7:58 PM: Coun. Glover is asking to add a delegation of Patty Petkovich, Co-Chair for the Tett Centre and Pres. of Kingston Potter’s Guild. #ygkc ^TV
7:58 PM: The delegation carries 11-1 (Scott opposed). Petkovich says she’s here to support the motion, not offer technical advice. #ygkc ^TV
8:00 PM: Petkovich outlining a number of groups in the city: Potters, gem workers, Joe’s MILL and events like gemstorm and Writer’s Fest. #ygkc ^TV
8:01 PM: We sail through Briefings, petitions, congrats/condolence/sympathy and deferred as they’re all empty. Into report 67. #ygkc ^TV
8:02 PM: Part c, f and j are separated; the vote on the balance, including the patio for @tommyskingston, pass. #ygkc ^TV
8:04 PM: @JimNeill3 asking about funding and costs for the Shannon Park Skate Park ahead of the item passing. #ygkc ^TV
8:05 PM: That explains this. RT @dorothyahector: @kingstonist sorry the flu bug at play, managed the closed session. #ygkc
8:06 PM: @JimNeill3 asking about the a parking space for 195 Ontario St. Staff says 195 is using an existing patio. #ygkc ^TV
8:08 PM: Coun. Glover asking about screening in the patio. The previous owner used a screening and flower planters. #ygkc ^TV
8:08 PM: Approval of patio for 195 Ontario St carries. #ygkc ^TV
8:09 PM: Last item on 67, Bert Meunier Park carries too. Separated only due to a conflict. #ygkc ^TV
8:10 PM: We move into 68; first item, 2013 tax rates carry. We move to debate on the Tett Centre item. #ygkc ^TV
8:11 PM: Didn’t look like anyone wanted to speak, so the Mayor called question and the system went to “vote mode”… #ygkc ^TV
8:12 PM: … couldn’t flip back, so @MayorOfKingston: Don’t push the buttons. You can push each-other’s buttons though. #mayorjokes #ygkc ^TV
8:14 PM: Coun. Glover asks about the possibility of a 2-3 week delay to review budget. Staff says they are always looking for cost savings. #ygkc ^TV
8:18 PM: Learn more about the forthcoming new Bert Meunier Park (and the man for whom it was named) at http://t.co/hD5d97JKtM #ygkc ^TV
8:20 PM: Coun. Glover asks about spreading the costs out; CAO responds that this spending could impact other projects. #ygkc ^TV
8:21 PM: @JimNeill3 asks if city did due diligence on the site ahead of start. Staff says that outisde firms and reviews were involved. #ygkc ^TV
8:22 PM: … adds that yes, all regular due diligence was followed and all recommendations were followed. #ygkc ^TV
8:24 PM: @JimNeill3: If there’s a cost overrun on this project, blame council or blame staff. Don’t blame the arts community. #ygkc ^TV
8:25 PM: Coun. Hutchison asks if the project is doable without doing these; staff says no, this work needs completing. #ygkc ^TV
8:27 PM: Coun. Hutchison asks if staff knows how much of the costs are just to bring it to current code. Staff says it’s vast majority. #ygkc ^TV
8:27 PM: The city, she adds, is only responsible for the ‘shell’ of the buiding. Occopants are doing the finishing on their own spaces. #ygkc ^TV
8:28 PM: Coun. Hutchison asking about the proposed tower, specifically. @MayorOfKingston says it’s irrelevant, they passed a budget. #ygkc ^TV
8:29 PM: @MayorOfKingston says that removing elements would be a reconsideration; tonight is a budget item. #ygkc ^TV
8:30 PM: Coun. Osanic asks about if Artillery Pk is coming back, too, citing opportunity costs. @MayorOfKingston says that’s out of order. #ygkc ^TV
8:31 PM: @MayorOfKingston asks our treasurer about the 700k from the Environmental Reserve fund. Currently has appx 3M. #ygkc ^TV
8:32 PM: Treasurer says capital reserve is appx 13-15 mil. Contributes 22 mil/yr, spends about 12. #ygkc ^TV
8:33 PM: @BrianReitzel says this is an opportunity to change perception on public projects. Wants to challenge staff to stay on budget. #ygkc ^TV
8:34 PM: @BrianReitzel says people are tired of watching public projects come in over budget. Will be voting this down for that reason. #ygkc ^TV
8:35 PM: Coun. Schell asks about scheduling. Project is already behind schedule. #ygkc ^TV
8:37 PM: Coun. Schell asking about the tenants because of the delays. Only one tenant affected to staff’s knowledge. #ygkc ^TV
8:39 PM: Coun. Schell will be voting in favour of the project – reluctantly – because the space is important to the community. #ygkc ^TV
8:40 PM: @MayorOfKingston asks staff to clarify the vote; if this is defeated, a report would come back with options. #ygkc ^TV
8:41 PM: Coun. George asking about projects that could be reconsidered for this; staff says that would be an option. #ygkc ^TV
8:45 PM: Coun. George says there has to be accountability for this. Felt this project was done well and was fully costed. #ygkc ^TV
8:46 PM: Coun. George not supporting this; says it’s not fair to see another project ask for more money, wants accountability. #ygkc ^TV
8:47 PM: Coun. Downes says accountability includes the companies the city has already entered into contracts with. #ygkc ^TV
8:48 PM: Coun. Downes says that taking stands needs to happen earlier. At some point, someone said the ground was okay to begin. #ygkc ^TV
8:51 PM: Vote on Tett Centre item passes 8-4; Coun. George, Coun. Osanic, @BrianReitzel and Coun. Scott against. #ygkc ^TV
8:52 PM: We see a handful of the gallery step out after the Tett Centre vote carries. We’re into discussion about the RFP for the new pound. #ygkc…
8:53 PM: Coun. Osanic asks staff about location gathering for strays, staff confirms that”s already planned. #ygkc ^TV
8:55 PM: Coun. Osanic asking about the connection between this and the Resp. Pet Own. Program working group. #ygkc ^TV
8:57 PM: Coun. Osanic asking for three amendments. First one is about increasing portable crate crate sizes. Staff is okay with this. #ygkc ^TV
8:58 PM: Larger cat crates pass 12-0… and Coun. Glover calls a point of order on Osanic’s time remaining. #ygkc ^TV
9:00 PM: Coun. Glover is calling on 14.10. Glover says that asking Qs shouldn’t take the 5 minutes. @MayorOfKingston rules it’s in order. #ygkc ^TV
9:01 PM: Coun. Osanic wants to add weight to submissions within 500m of a transit route. Staff notes this would exclude the rural area. #ygkc ^TV
9:01 PM: @MayorOfKingston clarifies: it wouldn’t exclude the rural area, it just give more weight to the urban locations. #ygkc ^TV
9:02 PM: Transit amendment carries 8-4; @councillorberg, Coun. George, Coun. Paterson and Coun. Scott opposed. #ygkc ^TV
9:03 PM: Coun. Osanic now proposed changing contract from 5 years to 2 with a 2-year renewal. #ygkc ^TV
9:04 PM: Legal says that a 2yr contrct guarantee would reduce the field of providers. Lots of investment for a minimal contract. #ygkc ^TV
9:04 PM: That loses on a tie: @councillorberg, Coun. Downes, Coun. George, @MayorOfKingston, Coun. Paterson, Coun. Scott opposed. #ygkc ^TV
9:05 PM: RFP for pound services, as amended, carries unanimously. #ygkc ^TV
9:06 PM: Report 69 from the planning committee passes in it’s entirety, 12-0. #ygkc ^TV
9:07 PM: Report 70 from Heritage also passes in it’s entirety, 12-0. #ygkc ^TV
9:08 PM: Report 71 from ARCP passes in it’s entirety, too, 12-0. #ygkc ^TV
9:09 PM: Report 72 from EITP clear as a whole, 12–0, too. Moving right along here. #ygkc ^TV
9:10 PM: We sail through a few more headings and into Misc. Business with a few committee re-assignments and resignations. All carry. #ygkc ^TV
9:12 PM: We stop at new motion number 1, about a Homestead building on highway 15. Coun. Scott wants to clarify where it is. #ygkc ^TV
9:13 PM: Coun. Scott wants to defer this until after council has made a decision on the re-zoning. @MayorOfKingston clarifies process. #ygkc ^TV
9:14 PM: Comm. Beach suggests now is the right time; Coun. Scott and Coun. George disagree. A bump-up now assumes a pass later. #ygkc ^TV
9:15 PM: Coun. Scott and Coun. George keep the motion to defer on the table. #ygkc ^TV
9:17 PM: Deferral loses 8-4, Coun. Downes, Coun. George, Coun. Paterson and Coun. Scott approve it. #ygkc ^TV
9:18 PM: @MayorOfKingston proposes adding a “pending the approval” of an application, which is accepted as friendly. #ygkc ^TV
9:19 PM: You might want to consider just ignoring what I just said – @MayorOfKingston, to laughter. Amendment is removed. #ygkc ^TV
9:20 PM: That item carries, Coun. George and Coun. Scott opposed. #ygkc ^TV
9:20 PM: An additional emergency alternate designate to the mayor, Coun. George, for May 29 – Jun 4 carries 12-0. #ygkc ^TV
9:21 PM: There’s a delay as we look for someone to sit on the Operating Grants Review Committee. #ygkc ^TV
9:22 PM: Coun. Glover takes that spot with a 12-0 vote. We get a notice from @JimNeill3 next. #ygkc ^TV
9:23 PM: @JimNeill3 is advising of a motion coming forward regarding changes to EMS service in the city. #ygkc ^TV
9:24 PM: Minutes for a large number of meetings (some complicated) are confirmed. #ygkc ^TV
9:25 PM: Coun. Downes chimes in in other business to let @MayorOfKingston know he will be absent for the Jun 4 meeting. #ygkc ^TV
9:26 PM: Coun. Downes also speaks about the ‘eyesore’ of a number of used clothing drop boxes. Asks for some advice about them. #ygkc ^TV
9:27 PM: .@MayorOfKingston says that’ll be left with staff. Nobody else chimes in on other business, and we move to by-laws. #ygkc ^TV
9:28 PM: By-laws all clear, and we’re out. Adjournment at 9:29|pm. #ygkc ^TV
9:30 PM: Thanks for following along tonight. Our tweets and the video will be up tomorrow! #ygkc ^TV

Thanks to reneilet for today’s original photo.

Kingston Corkage

Meg Lyons — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:30:19 +0000

I’ll admit it – I am never one to turn away a glass of vino – red or white, sweet or dry, chilled or room temperature. With Spring seemingly passing by as summer weather rapidly invades the Kingston core, I see myself endlessly looking forward to gatherings with friends and family at the beautiful restaurants and patios in our limestone city, eating delicious food, and of course – dipping into the wine.

For wine lovers, wine drinkers, and my fellow social butterflies alike, a handful of Kingston restaurants have the option of bringing your own bottle of wine with an accompanying corkage fee. The fee is a charge by the restaurant for the opening and serving of your wine of choice and often the use of glasses.

After my travels in Australia, the idea of BYOW made me a little skeptical. Corkage fees are very popular down under and I assumed restaurant goers were being quite fussy if they were going bring their own bottle of wine to dinner instead of trying a bottle from the wine list created by the establishment. I soon realized it’s quite a normal and accepted practice – and in many cases, very reasonable! Some people are very particular about their wine, not to mention, on some occasions, there is just one special wine that must be opened a specific event. It all made sense when I witnessed a couple enjoying their anniversary and the young gentlemen brought along his partner’s favourite bottle of wine.

Now – after becoming an active participant in the bring your own wine movement across the world, I’m delighted our smaller Canadian city not only offers corkage fees but also welcomes the freedom to bring your choice of your much loved vino.

Before you dive into the list of our beautiful restaurants, there is some proper BYOW etiquette you should consider: This might be self explanatory, but never bring a bottle of wine that is already on the wine list. Always check the wine list first. Many restaurants have their wine lists available online. Also – BYOW is a privilege. I wouldn’t suggest bringing the cheapest bottle of wine to a restaurant only to save a couple bucks – you should keep up with the caliber of the restaurant and take pleasure in your dining experience and wine choice.

Atomica: Only steps away from Market Square, Atomica is a hip place to be this summer. For only a $10.00 per 750ml bottle of commercially produced wine, enjoy your favourite bottle of wine alongside the celebrated mouthwatering gourmet pizza and fresh local ingredients the pizza and wine bar has to offer. Relax in the candlelit dining area inside or enjoy the front patio with friends as city hall’s clock tower winds down the night! Atomica will even re-seal any unfinished bottle for you to take home.

Bella Bistro (no wine menu online): Step outside of the Kingston nucleus and head west out to locally owned Bella Bistro to enjoy a ray of great food at affordable prices. Pair the yummy creations with your own wine of choice for a corkage fee of $15.00 per 750ml bottle.

Days on Front: The popular uptown restaurant is focused on bringing you the best dining experience with local seasonal ingredients for their Canadian contemporary fare. For $16.00 dollars a bottle, enjoy sipping your own wine of choice for that special occasion!

Olivea: Nestle in for a little taste of Italy right downtown while overlooking market square! The wine list already carries a wide selection from every region of Italy, but if you have a special favourite not on the list, Olivea carries a corkage fee of 15 dollars per 750ml bottle any night of the week. For 1 litre bottles, the corkage fee is one and a half times the original corkage fee, adding up to $22.50.

The Keg: Head up beautiful King Street for a lavish meal at The Keg Steakhouse and Bar and bring along your beloved wine you’d like to celebrate with. Most pricey of the corkage fees in Kingston, The Keg offers a corkage fee of $25.00.

Thanks to Andreas Gessl for the photo accompanying today’s thirsty post!

Weekly Poll: Best Golf Course

Danielle Lennon — Mon, 06 May 2013 17:06:59 +0000

I don’t know a whole lot about golf. I’ve never played, and although I have many friends and family who do, it’s just never appealed to me. So I thought I’d take on this week’s poll about golf courses because I want everyone to be able to find a way to relate and vote. Although I don’t golf, I have spent a surprising amount of time at various golf clubs for weddings, banquets and other types of events. In my research, I was amazed to find out how many courses there are in the Kingston area. The list below focuses on Kingston and Wolfe Island, but there are a ton of courses all around us in Verona, Bath, Odessa, Napanee, Joyceville…I could go on.

So what it is that makes a golf course your favourite? Is it the layout of the course itself? Or maybe your choice is based on green fees or the company who like to golf at the same club. When it comes to planning an event, I would consider the quality of food and the atmosphere of the hall to be the most important elements. A nice view doesn’t hurt either. Golfer or not, taking these things into consideration, we ask you:

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

If you are a golfer, we’d love to know where you choose to golf. Are the courses in town on par with your golfing needs or is it worth it you to travel the extra distance to get what you want from a day on the green? Drop off your comments below.

Thanks to State Library of Queensland, Australia who, are amazingly, the only people uploading golfing pics to the Flickr Commons.