Red House vs. The Elm: Kingston’s patio champs revealed

Gooood morning, Kingston! Happy Friday! Mother’s Day is almost here, patios are popping, and local events are blooming like tulips on Brock Street. From wood-fired pizza to waterfront views, it’s shaping up to be one of those weekends that makes you fall for this city all over again.

Shoutout to the moms, grandmas, stepmoms, and mom figures out there: you make the world go 'round. 💓 

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Top Clicks of the Week

1. Canadian Tire on Bath road closed - and there’s a new update!

2. Otter Creek local biz recommendation.

3. Eggtastic’s Grand Opening - tomorrow!

4. The Elm Cafe’s beautiful patio is now open.

News Notes

Six inducted into Kingston Sports Hall of Fame
Olympian Simon Whitfield and racecar legend Pat O’Brien lead this year’s class of six new inductees into the Kingston and District Sports Hall of Fame. Friday’s ceremony also honoured standout builders in hockey, curling, and soccer. (Kingston Daily)

Two from Queen’s named McCall MacBain Scholars
Queen’s student Justin Sandrasagra and recent grad Nafanta Fadiga are among 20 Canadians chosen from nearly 700 applicants to receive the prestigious McCall MacBain Scholarship. The fully funded award covers master’s studies at McGill plus leadership training. (Queen’s Gazette)

Catholic school board honours standout staff and students
ALCDSB recognized volunteers, teachers, and students during Catholic Education Week, including Kingston’s Jamie Gaudet as Teacher of the Year and Regi’s Ozgur Mehmetzeki Celebi for student volunteerism. (Kingston Daily)

Council approves roundabout in east end
Kingston council voted 10–3 to build a roundabout at Hwy 15 and Summer Valley Terrace. (Kingstonist)

City buys Sydenham Road site for future shelter
The City of Kingston has purchased 484-488 Sydenham Road to develop a 30-bed emergency shelter, with the potential to expand to 45 beds in the future. (Kingstonist)

KHSC launches cutting-edge cancer therapy program
Kingston Health Sciences Centre is now offering CAR T-cell therapy, an advanced treatment that reprograms a patient’s immune cells to attack cancer. KHSC is the fourth site in Ontario to offer it, meaning patients in southeastern Ontario can now access life-saving care closer to home. (KHSC)

Note: News notes with three asterisks (***) means that there is a pay wall to read the article.

Local Biz

Spearhead Brewing Co. is getting rave reviews from two YGKtoday readers. Louise and Bob love the fresh, shady patio vibes and wood-fired pizza, while another fan shouted out the “great staff, great beer, and lots of local musicians.”

With a newly renovated space, full food menu, and covered patio perfect for sunny day sets, Spearhead’s west-end location is clearly a local favourite for more than just the hops.

Treat Mum (or yourself) this Mother’s Day—live music is on from 2–5 p.m. on Sunday, May 11.

Got a favourite spot you think deserves a shoutout in our ‘Local Biz’ section? Send us your rec — we love a good tip-off.

Events

*Cancelled - The Mom Market Kingston originally scheduled for this weekend has been cancelled. New summer date coming soon.

Things to do this weekend

Science Rendezvous Kingston | Saturday, May 10 | 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. | Slush Puppie Place & The Tragically Hip Way | Free | Robots, experiments, and live science shows take over downtown—plus new this year: free parking and trolley rides from Fort Henry all day.

The Spring Vendor Show | Saturday, May 10 | 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. | Tett Centre & Isabel Bader Centre | Free | Shop 90+ local vendors across two stunning waterfront venues at Kingston Artist Events’ biggest one-day market of the year.

Announced

Art After Dark | Friday, May 23 | Evening hours | Downtown Kingston | Free
One-night-only gallery crawl with music, live painting, tasty samples, and a $500 art draw to top it off.

RE:FUEL Creation Session | Saturday, May 24 | 2:00–4:00 p.m. | Modern Fuel Artist-Run Centre | Free | Get inspired and get creating at this free collage and mail art workshop celebrating community and creativity.

Coffee Party on Sydenham | Sunday, May 25 | 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. | Sydenham & Princess St. | $10 | Unlimited coffee, pastries, music, games, and vibes as downtown kicks off summer with a two-hour caffeine-fuelled street party.

Wolfe Island Music Festival 2025

Friday, August 8 & Saturday, August 9 | Various times | Wolfe Island | Ticketed | Born Ruffians, Land of Talk, Holy F*ck, and more hit the island this August—tickets go on sale today, Friday, May 9!

Hosting an event? Submit it to our calendar here.

_{Note: Events may be cancelled or have changed times. Be sure to see our event calendar and reach out to the venue before going.}

Hot Links

South East Health Unit offers a free online prenatal course for expecting parents across Eastern Ontario.

Mocktail May is on. Sip zero-proof drinks around downtown and enter to win prizes like a $500 gift card and overnight stay.

Dress for Success Kingston is hosting a charity golf tournament on May 23 to support local women—register, sponsor, or donate.

Fort Henry opens for the season on May 17 with reenactments, tours, and special events on the horizon.

Norm’s launches a PGA Pool—$10 to enter, prizes for top scores, and 25% off food and drinks May 15–18.

Queen’s University receives a one million dollar legacy gift to create a new bursary supporting women in medical school.

Weather

Friday
High 12°C 🌡️ Low 7°C | 🌦️ 

Saturday
High 17°C 🌡️ Low 6°C | 🌤️ 

Sunday - Mother’s Day! 💐 
High 14°C 🌡️ Low 6°C | 🌤️ 

 🌡️ See today’s weather | 🚗 Live traffic  | ⛽ Local gas prices

Signing Off

That’s all for today! And hey, don’t forget to treat a mom-figure in your life this weekend (or at least let her sit in the sun uninterrupted for 20 minutes). We’ll see you bright and early Monday with more local buzz, events, and under-the-radar gems.

Until then, may your coffee be hot and your patio table not wobbly.

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