Sunshine, stand-up, and surprise endings

Gooood morning, Kingston, and happy Monday! The tulips are out, the sun’s finally shining, and Canadian Tire just pulled a full glow-up across the street. With pop-up comedy, patio parties, and a disappearing used car lot, this week’s serving plot twists with a side of tacos.

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Weekend Wrap-Up

Used car lot vanishes without warning

Paulette Auto Sales is suddenly out of business, leaving behind an empty lot, a locked showroom, and a landlord notice blaming a lease breach. (Kingston Daily)

Canadian Tire opens shiny new digs
The new Kingston Centre location is now open, with a former longtime employee snagging first-customer bragging rights (and an oriole feeder). (Kingston Daily)

Nominate a local teacher for a sweet surprise from The Rocking Horse
Know a Kingston educator who goes above and beyond? Submit your nomination by Saturday, May 31 for a chance to win a gift — and help recognize local teachers with surprise prize bundles in June. (The Rocking Horse)

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

Events

This week

Early Access Screening: Friendship

TODAY! Monday, May 12 | 8:30 p.m. | The Screening Room | Ticketed | Catch Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd in what critics are calling the year’s funniest film—plus a bonus Q&A with the cast and creators.

Comedy Night @ Spearhead: Happy Birthday Al | Tuesday, May 13 | Doors 6:00 p.m., Show 7:00–9:00 p.m. | Spearhead Brewing Co. | Free (PWYC) | Al Babcock headlines his own birthday roast with a lineup of comedic frenemies—plus it’s Taco Tuesday: 3 for $10.

Thursdays at La Vida | Thursday, May 15 | 7:00 p.m. | La Vida Bistro Bar & Social | Free entry | Hosted by Ryan James Irvine, this weekly mashup of karaoke, open mic, and unfiltered fun is strictly 19+ and definitely not boring.

AquaTerra Patio Party | Thursday, May 15 | Reservations between 5:00 and 10:00 p.m. | AquaTerra, 1 Johnson St. | $100.30 all in | Kick off patio season with DJ Shemce, craft cocktails, family-style bites, and Fine Balance Brewery pours on the waterfront.

One Man, Three Legends | Sunday, May 18 | 2:00 p.m. | The Spire, 82 Sydenham St. | $49.54 all in | Roy LeBlanc channels Elvis, Roy Orbison, and Johnny Cash in this high-energy tribute with a special nod to Jerry Lee Lewis.

Announced

The Gimmes at The Mansion | Thursday, May 22 | 8:00–11:30 p.m. | The Mansion, 506 Princess St. | $11.98 | A night of covers, crowd requests, and sing-alongs with The Gimmes, plus sets by The Kildeers and Sitcoms.

Resolve’s Walk for Wellness | Saturday, May 24 | Registration 9:30 a.m., Walk 10:30 a.m. | Lake Ontario Park | Walk, connect, and support local mental health services at this community fundraiser hosted by Resolve Counselling.

Cocktail Club #3: The 'Mother Sauces' of Bartending | Sunday, May 25 | 3:30 p.m. | Frontenac Club | $75 | Level up your home bar game with this hands-on workshop covering cocktail foundations, flavour-building, and sustainable sips—plus bites by Chef Cayley Balint.

Getting Started on Instagram as an Artist | Friday, May 30 | 6:00–7:30 p.m. | Tett Centre, Room 214 | Reserve by donation | Artist Sumera Khan shares beginner-friendly tips and real-life lessons for building your creative presence on Instagram.

Wine & Cheese Tasting for Beginners | Friday, June 6 | 6:00–8:00 p.m. | 2787 Princess St. | $84.75 all in | Flight and Homecraft team up for a relaxed, no-snobbery intro to wine and cheese pairing—perfect for curious sippers.

Wolfe Island Classic 5K & 10K | Sunday, July 6 | 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | Wolfe Island | $10–$45 | Scenic island races for all ages, with ferry access from downtown and proceeds supporting the Wolfe Island Community Medical Clinic.

Back to the Farm: MacKinnon Brothers Beer & Music Festival

Sunday, August 17 | Gates 11:30 a.m., Show 12:00 p.m. | MacKinnon Brothers Brewery | $50 (includes mug) | The 10th annual field party is back with beer, food trucks, live music, and free shuttles from Kingston and beyond.

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 🔥 

North Roast: Monsoon Malabar beans are aged in rain and full of spice. Low acidity, high intrigue.

Partners in Mission Food Bank: Local gardeners are invited to grow a row and donate fresh produce to 4 Harvey St.

Back 9 Kingston: Kids and seniors golf free every weekend before noon. Just book online and select “Pay Later.”

Mile and a Quarter Ice Cream: Whole coffee beans are coming soon. Stay tuned!

Red House West: Now hiring a line cook. Apply online, by email, or drop by in person.

The Yoga Loft is looking to fill some classes—teachers can reach out with training details to apply.

Breaking Brad’s Smash Room is closing June 1. Use your gift cards and book while you still can.

Weather

Monday
High 18°C 🌡️ Low 9°C | ☀️ !!!!

Tuesday
High 21°C !!!!! 🌡️ Low 14°C | ⛅️ 

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

Signing Off

That’s a wrap for today — but in true Kingston fashion, there’s always more around the corner. Whether you’re patio-hopping, taco-tasting, or just trying to figure out where that car lot went, we’ll be back Wednesday to keep the good stuff coming.