This DTK Staycation feature is from Ryan, a local food and drink champion and co-owner of Happy Hour Photo Co. In his own words...
The perfect Saturday downtown Kitchener looks a bit different for me than it did 2 years ago. Toddlers are a game changer. Now most of our Downtown Kitchener time is punctuated by food and drink but we take almost everything to-go; now it’s more like Downtown Kitchener is our kitchen.
We start early, cracking a can of Balzacs Coffee cold brew along with some housemade lemonade and muffin for our little guy.
We walk further into the core (because if we don’t stop at Golden Hearth Bakery, I’ll probably have a toddler-level meltdown myself). I can eat my weight in their bread and perfect croissants (the gold standard in this city IMO). We’ll usually pick up some sweets here too!
Next, we stop at the market for local produce - watermelon margaritas on the menu for happy hour (aka toddler nap time) then it’s off to the park with some take-out.
Our guy burns off some sugar on the playground at Victoria Park and running around watching the swans while we crush a bento box and some rolls from Kinkaku Izakaya under a shady tree by the water.
Before heading home, a quick stop at Full Circle Foods for some more groceries including a family favourite - Four All Icecream (we’re making ice cream sandwiches this weekend).
Lucky enough to have childcare, I went back downtown that evening with friends. Grand Surf Lounge just opened a cozy back patio and launched a new summer menu. Both great. Try the Ontario street corn and a pulled chicken banh mi! Usually I would choose from their signature cocktail menu - but something a little less punchy tonight; I opt to end my night guzzling an ice-cold dad beer.
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