Divine Dwell

As promised, here is one of my favourite Kingston shops - Dwell Interior Design Boutique! I just stumbled upon it when I was asked to interview the owner, Jen Storey, for Interiors Magazine, and am I ever glad I did! I must say, I had the wrong impression that this shop was just for serious interior design needs (ie. wallpaper). Boy, was I wrong!

Tucked into Wellington Street, owner Jen Storey keeps the shop packed with amazing array of home and gift items -  at a pleasing range of prices. Think greeting cards, vases, throws, and pillows, as well as amazing hand-made work by local artists!

If you're looking for a hostess gift or a birthday gift in a hurry, pop into Dwell to see what's in store (perfect if you're meeting friends next door at the Duke!). The bonus: Jen is an interior designer, so everything in the shop is hand-selected and designer approved.

With a few selections from Dwell, your home will look like it was professionally done in no time at all!

When One Door Closes....

I love our city. I love shopping at the market, I love dining al fresco at Chez Piggy in the summertime, and I love running into people I know every time I leave my apartment (even on those 8am still half asleep dog walks). But, I have been so sad lately - every time I walk downtown, it looks like another business has shut its doors. The big one was S&R last summer...the Body Shop disappeared...the list goes on.  This makes me sad because (a) I  like shopping in downtown Kingston, and (b) The business part of me is saddened to see lovely little boutiques not making it. 

It's easy to see why businesses are closing - constant construction, lack of parking, high rent, and more and more box stores (again, guilty!) opening up just outside of downtown. That being said, I love a good Princess Street shop as much as the next girl. So, I urge you to go and have a little splurge downtown. Pick up a frame at Willow. Try on a dress at Agent 99. Pop into the Gap - oh please, Gap, don't leave us!

Of course, being a glass half-full kind of girl, I'm staying positive. The Brock Street shops are bustling like never before. Jen Storey, of Dwell, told me that her shop has been extra busy with all the redirected traffic from the Princess Street construction. And I even heard that that the construction workers are keeping places like Bubbas bumping. So it's not all bad. Ben & Jerry's may be gone from Kingston forever, but Sima Sushi has opened up in its place, and I've been doing my part to support them. And with spring just around the corner, maybe we'll see some fabulous new shops open up!

And so, in the name of promoting our local businesses, I will be showcasing a few of my favs over the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned! I'll probably have to go on  a few little shopping expeditions - research, of course.

After all, a girl's gotta do her part for the economy!

Streetiquette

As an avid dog walker of two certain bichon frises, (I have even been stopped in the street and asked if I am a professional dog walker), I have a few gripes about street etiquette - or, as I've recently begun calling it, Streetiquette. Here's what's been bugging me lately! 

If you're walking down the sidewalk in a party of three or four, and someone is walking toward you, break into single file so the person walking toward you can pass. Honestly. Don't make the person walking toward you step off the sidewalk or onto a lawn to go around you. I am pretty sure I learned this when I was about 5 years old. 

If you're driving, and you want to turn left on a green light or right on a red, but someone is crossing the street, let them safely arrive at their destination - the other side of the street. Don't just turn anyway! Especially if that person is walking two cute dogs. 

If you're walking, and someone has two cute little white dogs, and you want to pet them, ask first before sticking your hand in the poor puppy's face. 

I passed a woman on the street the other day who was smiling and saying "Hello," to everyone she passed. I watched a man riding a bike in Toronto last week who was snarling "Whatever," to everyone he whizzed past. It reminded me of the Leonard Cohen song : I saw a beggar leaning on a wooden crutch, he said to me "You must not ask for so much....I saw a women leaning in her door, she said to me, "Hey, why not ask for more?" Who would you rather be?

Who are you as walk from school, to work, or home? Be kind to strangers; give others the right of way; offer to hold a door. A few good deeds and pleasantries throughout the day can go a long way.  

And that's my advice on "Streetiquette."

Kingston Brides Have It Good!

Working on The Kingston Whig-Standards annual special feature, "Brides," was so much fun, that I almost wish I was planning a Kingston wedding! It sure would be a breeze!

Since Kingston is such a small city, the choices come a little easier (for example, choosing a cake designer from a pool of about 5 would be a slightly easier decision than choosing a cake designer from a pool of thousands). And Kingston has SO many fantastic vendors, as I found out when I was covering the 98.3 FLY FM Fashion Show and interviewing several different wedding pros for articles. I spoke to photographers, make-up artists, and wedding gown boutiques and came to one conclusion: Kingston brides have got it pretty good!

Of course, I couldn't possibly write about weddings and meet all those fabulous vendors without scooping up a few for my own (Toronto) wedding! So, on my wedding day, I'll be wearing a gown from Bridal Creations and make-up by Kingston's own Lacey Blacklock, who did my make-up at the Bayridge Shoppers while I interviewed her. Now that's what I call a great interview! And of course, I've ordered my invitations from Send in the Clowns and I will be picking out my jewelry from Fiance Jewelers.

So, while this bride-to-be is saying "I do" in Toronto, I'll still be happily supporting some great Kingston merchants.

I've included one of my articles below (as always, click to make it big), but this special section also features several other articles I've penned, including an interview with Unveiled Photography, Aunt Lucy's, Wilton Creek Fabrics, and Herbal One Weight Loss.

Pick up a copy of this special section on newstands, or check out an online version here!
http://www.thewhig.com/media/sections/Brides2010.pdf