It’s not exactly a crowded landscape. Visual art is certainly represented here in Peterborough, but you sometimes have to look for it, outside of the obvious locations.
We have publicly funded spaces like the Art Gallery of Peterborough. We have an artist-run centre which is Artspace. We have private galleries like Christensen Fine Art and Gallery In The Attic, among others (which includes the various cafés which feature local art), which are more commercial in nature. All in all, it’s a smallish scene — but rich with talent and passion.
New to the local scene is a lovely space in The Avenues of Peterborough.
Carpe Diem Cafe offers a wide selection of sandwiches, soups, salads, desserts, and hot and cold beverages, as well as wine and beer
Born out of a 10 year dream, lots of love and a desire to become the gathering place for the community of East City, Carpe Diem Cafe opened its doors on June 2, 2012.
Owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Marina Bedard and Richard Baccari, Carpe Diem Cafe specializes in all-day breakfasts, healthy hardy lunches and light dinners. The cafe also offers a full range of fair trade, dark French roast specialty coffee, gourmet teas, and refreshing Kawartha Dairy milkshakes.
The Rocket Revue is Peterborough's 'swinginest and rockinest' rhythm and blues band
The smoky vocals of Brent Bailey and Al Black serenade me this morning; the bluesy sound of Greg Weichel’s trumpet fills the air. Sultry sax, smooth percussion, and classic Motown — it doesn’t get any better than this.
I’m listening to The Rocket Revue, Peterborough’s “swinginest and rockinest” rhythm and blues band.
Founder and organizer Jay Lough Hayes during the first Santas for Peterborough Seniors campaign in 2012 (photo: kawarthaNOW)
Christmas isn’t just for kids!
Just ask the approximately 350 seniors in Peterborough who will be waking up this Christmas morning to loads of gifts, thanks to Jay Lough Hayes and Joy Daniels from Peterborough Realty Inc., and their team of elves.
King George Public School in Peterborough (photo by Pat Trudeau)
Well, the inevitable is about to come upon us. This Friday, Kawartha Pine Ridge (KPR) teachers will take part in a one-day strike action to show solidarity against Bill 115 and, as a result, elementary schools throughout the KPR District School Board will be closed. This comes after teachers across the province began rolling one-day strike actions last week.
Jess Melnik and Maryam Monsef, founders of the Red Pashmina Campaign
I recently spent an inspiring hour with two remarkable women. High school friends reunited by a need to be part of something bigger than themselves, forever connected by a cause greater than either of them ever imagined.
Maryam Monsef and Jess Melnik joined forces to raise money for women in Afghanistan by selling red pashminas.
Owner Judy Byrne believes jewelry is one of the easiest and fun ways to enhance your sense of style
Hi Ho SilverContact Hi Ho SilverLocation Map
Judy Byrne remembers when she opened her jewelry store more than 20 years ago.
Stretching her arms out on either side of her body, Byrne describes the store that was then called Silver Moon.
“It was in Peterborough Square and it was unique because it was so tiny. It was about six feet wide by 14 feet long. We sold primarily sterling silver because that’s what everyone was wearing. Thank goodness we didn’t have a huge inventory. We didn’t have much room!”
When the store moved to George Street in downtown Peterborough and the name changed to Hi Ho Silver, Byrne’s vision — to create a memorable shopping experience for her customers — remained the same.
“The best part of what I do is getting to know and work with the people that come in to Hi Ho Silver,” says Byrne, who recently moved again to further expand operations. She is now closer to other fashion retailers in what is described as Peterborough’s Fashion District. They also wanted to “further invest in downtown – which is very important to us”.
Because we know our customers, we can intuit their needs and that allows us to continually evolve by bringing in new and exciting lines we know they’re going to love.
Featuring a variety of Canadian and international labels, custom design, vintage and estate style products, Hi Ho Silver tailors their inventory to fit the style and taste of a clientele that spans from young to old.
“Jewellery is very personal,” Byrne explains, choosing a pair of hammered-silver loop earrings for me when I tell her I don’t like to wear a lot of bling. “You’re wearing a blend of vintage with fresh, new Canadian design. These hoops will be perfect for your style and you can wear them day or night,” she says, fitting them on to my ears. “That’s why it’s so important to understand who your customers are, and what jewellery and accessories will complement their fashion sense.”
Manager Glenda Passmore loves helping customers venture out a bit when it comes to choosing jewellery
Buying lines they know clientele will enjoy, Byrne and her store manager Glenda Passmore admit to the odd indulgence when they see jewellery that excites and inspires them.
“We can’t help it, we buy what we love,” says Passmore. “When I see the UPS truck pull up and I know it’s a shipment of new Myka or Kameleon coming in, I can’t wait to open up the box,” she laughs.
“Both the Myka and Kameleon lines are so beautifully designed. Myka is interchangeable or what we describe as ‘convertible’ (mix and match), because you can switch it up and change it depending on what you’re wearing, or even how you’re feeling. Kameleon is designed to allow an endless number of combinations for the ultimate in personalization.”
Pyrrha is a line that embodies the time, care and commitment that goes into creating a shopping experience that’s as personalized as it is memorable at Hi Ho Silver.
Pyrrha is fast-becoming one of the hottest lines Hi Ho carries
“These pieces are exquisite,” says Passmore. “Pyrrha is handcrafted and cast from 19th century wax seals,” she says showing me some of her favourite talismans. “The mottos on the pendants and bracelets are as inspiring as they are beautiful. The line is very popular and we’re really excited because we’ve got new pieces coming in soon.”
While the focus has been primarily on jewellery, Byrne says when she sees beautiful, well-made hand bags, scarves and hats she feels will complement certain pieces, she incorporates them into the product they carry at Hi Ho Silver.
“It always comes back to helping someone enhance or even create their own personal sense of style.”
Hi Ho Silver once was a tiny store in Peterborough Square before it moved to George Street in the heart of the fashion district
Hi Ho Silver
392 George Street North
Peterborough, Ontario
K9H 3R3
Telephone: 705-742-8903
Hours
Monday to Saturday: 10 am – 6 pm
Sunday: 11 am – 4 pm
An empty Peterborough Square, from the corner of Charlotte and Water Streets (photo: Google Street View)
On Thursday night, I braved the cold and headed out to downtown Peterborough. The goal of my little excursion was to take some night-time photographs of the Festival of Lights. I started at Peterborough Square and continued to Millennium Park, where I wrapped up and headed home.
As I stood in the courtyard area at Peterborough Square, something became painfully obvious: Peterborough Square sucks.
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