PREAMBLE BY CHRIS TIESSEN
Over back-to-back evenings in late June, the TOQUE team wandered into downtown Kitchener – to check out the sights, sounds and excitement of the city core. What we discovered is a city teeming with a unique energy and creative vibe. A deejay spinning break beats in Goudie’s Lane. Inflatable mushroom castles on King. Civilian Printing screenprinting free canvas bags beside the market. After-work gatherings on any number of #dtk patios. Live music at Abe Erb. Cotton candy and balloon animals on Eby. A downtown beer garden – replete with Revel Cider and Shortfinger pop-ups.
In other words– a great time. Take a peek.
IN GOUDIE’S LANE, BREAK BEATS AND OLD SCHOOL HIP HOP (ALONG WITH BREWS AND BURGERS) WERE THE NAME OF THE GAME
(1) AS PART OF NICOLE BENO’S MUCH-ANTICIPATED EBY ST MURAL LAUNCH, CIVILIAN PRINTING WAS CREATING AND GIVING AWAY SCREENPRINTED CANVAS BAGS DEPICTING THE MURAL
(2) NO EVENING IN THE CITY’S COMPLETE WITHOUT A BIT OF ICE CREAM – AND A #DTKLOVE PIN
(3) PUBLIC ART’S ALWAYS GOOD FOR A LAUGH – AND PLAY
(4) REVEL CIDER & SHORTFINGER BREWING BOTH HAD POP-UP SHOPS AT KITCHENER FARMERS’ MARKET. FUN FACT: BECAUSE CIDER’S REGULATED LIKE WINE, REVEL WAS SELLING WHOLE BOTTLES OF THEIR HIGHLY-LAUDED GOOD STUFF
(5) JUST OFF KING ST, AN INFLATABLE MUSHROOM CASTLE (AND STEPHANIE SCOTT MURAL) ENTERTAINED LIL ONES AND THEIR PARENTS TOO
(6,7) AT THE TWH SOCIAL PATIO, A FULL-SCALE PARTY ERUPTED – REPLETE WITH OYSTERS ON THE HALF SHELL
(8,9) AT 305 KING, FOLKS WERE ENJOYING DINNER ON GILT’S PATIO AND TAKING IN TUNES FROM THE WORLD’S MOST WELL-DRESSED DEEJAY
(10) AT ABE ERB IN THE TANNERY, LIVE MUSIC ENTERTAINED OUTSIDE WHILE INSIDE GROWLERS AND CONVERSATION FLOWED FREELY
(11) ON EBY ST, COTTON CANDY, BALLOON ANIMALS, FRESH PRODUCE AND LONGBOARDS ALL SHARED SPACE
(12) OUTSIDE THE MARKET BUILDING, VENDORS SOLD FRESH PRODUCE AND SMELLS OF FRESH- BAKED LOVELINESS WAFTED INTO THE AIR