DTK - downtownkitchener.ca

DTK
­insider’s guide
“Why we should stop
complaining we don’t
live in a big city and
start loving the one we have”
Complete with recommendations
from your fellow Downtownees
DTKMAGAZINE
DTKinsidersguide
We may not have the Guggenheim, but we do have the Parkenheim
Liz Little’s Song Without Words allowed this hidden oasis to double as a contemporary art venue (look for the lime green parking garage).
WE DON’T have a waterfront SO...
er long
we party street-side all Summ
King Street is our Bourbon Street, home to some of the best street
parties. This year, watch for the Night Art Market (June 10), King
Streatery (June 11), Summer Lights (June 18), Canada Day (July 1),
Cruising on King (July 8), Rock n Rumble (July 22-23), and Kitchener
Blues Festival (Aug 4-8).
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juice bar town
ne
o
a
t
s
ju
t
o
n
We’re
Goodvibes Juice Co. has the biggest juicer we’ve ever seen, pumping
out nutritional greats like the Limelight, Sunkiss and Heartbeet.
Pure Juice Bar + Kitchen serves up an ever evolving array of juice
cleansers, like the Invincible, Full Focus and the Flawless.
O SHARE
CAUSE WE LOVE T
OUR CHINATOWN features
15 different cultures
in just 6 blocks
Hard to deny that DTK isn’t the best place to find truly authentic
international food. And most of ours aren’t Americanized.
They’re the real deal.
Here are some faves:
Sharing is way more fun. Try Gilt’s always changing share plates,
order by the Pupusa at Pupuseria Latinos, or order from the Classic
Sichuan Series at Easy Earthern.
Hand picked by Melissa Bowman, Victoria Park Neighbourhood
Association: the Vegetarian Platter (pictured) from East African Cafe
Rainbow Carribean Café
Handpicked by Andre Chin,
Keller Williams: Curried Goat
OUR BEER STORE HAS A ROOFTOP PATIO
Shinla Garden
Korean Restaurant
Handpicked by Eric Rumble,
Night\Shift: BiBimBap
It’s true. Unproven rumor: if McCabes runs out of beer, there’s a
secret dumbwaiter to transport cases straight from the Beer Store’s
cold storage.
The Guanaquita
(Salvadorian)
Handpicked by Erin Atchison,
FedDev: The Guanaquita Platter
3
We may not have a chic bagel bar (yet), but...
these guys are bringing
breakfast back
stic stage
acou
we have the best
in Canada
Other innovative breakie spots – try Pure Juice Bar +
Kitchen, Kava Bean Commons, Yeti Café, the vendors
at the Kitchener Market, the Grand Trunk Saloon,
Firkin at the Tannery and the Downtown Crepe Cafe.
Seriously. No joke. Centre in the Square was designed to be an
acoustically-perfect concert hall, and is internationally revered by
musicians who’ve graced the stage. There’s a feather for the cap.
Gilt try the Lobster &
Dill Eggs Benny…with
bacon…mmmmm.
Handpicked by Cory
Bluhm, City of Kitchener
hole foods, but...
w
a
e
av
h
’t
on
d
e
W
B@THEMUSEUM
try the B.enedict,
and some weekends,
the Banana Bread
French Toast.
Darlise Café: they have a
full assortment of pancakes,
eggs bennie, crepes and
breakfast sandwiches.
Handpicked by
Breanna Crossman,
Downtown Kitchener BIA
4
You can still get all the ingredients you need for a kickin’ dinner party.
Produce - Legacy Greens and Kitchener Market
Meat - Kitchener Market and New City Supermarket
Organics - Full Circle Foods
Bread - Golden Hearth Bakery
Dry Goods - Shoppers Drugmart
Specialty Items - America Latina and New City Supermarket
Fresh flowers - Living Fresh & Kitchener Market
SPRING2016
DTKinsidersguide
Izakaya rocks
best…playground…ever
!!!”
You know if you have to get there by 5pm or risk waiting in a really
long line, the place is legit. Seriously some of the best sushi, and
definitely the best interior design, in KW.
Handpicked by Kevin Muir, GSP Group
King STREET IS setTing the
Tallest slide in town. BTW pack a towel.... you will not be able to keep
your kid from the splash pad.
Handpicked by the throngs of parents and children
that picnic there all summer long.
bar
Design concept for Sainte Catherine Ouest in Montreal
The innovative design of King Street opened the flood gates for other cities to build truly people-focused streets. Guelph and Niagara Falls were
the first to follow suit. Buffalo is redesigning their Main Street based on the King Street model. Watch for Toronto (Yonge Street & John Street),
London (Dundas Street) and Montreal (Sainte-Catherine Ouest) as they build their own innovative adaptations. I think we started something…
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DTKinsidersguide
DTKMAGAZINE
d by
we’re surrounde
gs to do
in
h
t
s
s
a
d
a
b
y
t
some pret
Great Wolf Lodge ain’t
h a bowling alley
it
w
l
e
ot
h
ly
on
e
h
t
Bet you didn’t know there was a 2 lane bowling alley in the basement of the Crowne Plaza Hotel did’ya? They also boast a pretty
sweet arcade and indoor mini-golf course! Perfect for a rainy day
adventure or a private booking for your next birthday party, open to
the public - inquire at the front desk. The Dude abides.
Hand Picked by Hilary Abel, City of Kitchener:
You can still get lunch under $5
There are some great options for a unique date night in DTK.
The Boathouse for live music almost any night of the week,
Grand River Rocks for testing your fear of heights and of course…
BATL axe throwing.
Hand picked and photographed by Chris Plunkett, Communitech.
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The shawarma poutine (yes, shawarma and poutine in the same dish)
is a local fav, as is the Bahn Mi from Deli Bahn Mi Givral and the pita
specials from Taste of Philly Cheesesteak. Other great lunch deals
– Big Fat Pita, Union Burger and Supreme 2 for 1 Pizza & Wings (just
ask anyone from Cameron Heights).
Handpicked by Ryan Close, Bartesian: Shawarma Poutine,
Ace Shawarma
E NEXT FOOD BLOCK
H
T
IS
T
S
E
W
G
IN
K
WEST
Sometimes you jus
t
neeD
some comfort food
Here’s our top picks for when you really need to eat your feelings.
Following in the footsteps of the Duke Food Block, restaurants are
stacking up on ‘The Block That Rocks,’ Good Vibes is the latest
addition (pictured above). Watch for another new spot opening
this year beside Dallas.
You can actually meet people
without using Tinder
SLICES
All day breakfast
Pho DNK
Pho or stir-fried noodles
Kava Bean Commons
Pulled pork poutine
We’ve got lots of meet ups happening all the time. And they’re always
looking for new members. Some of our favs: Nerd Nite, UX Waterloo,
any of the P2P’s offered by Communitech. Or check out Lone Wolf
Wednesdays at Adventurer’s Guild (pictured).
McCabe’s
Tuesday’s half price burger
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DTK
­insider’s guide