Will McGuirk, Author at Downtowns of Durham

Getting Crafty and Creative as Entrepreneurs in the Downtowns of Durham

Posted on June 12, 2023 (February 28, 2024)

Over the past few years, businesses have had to be open to change, and open to trying new things in order to find new avenues for success. COVID-19 measures—and the May 2022 tornado that hit Uxbridge—have all played a role. Leveraging new opportunities especially for businesses in the hospitality space—required a spirited approach to entrepreneurship. […]

Good Times are Baked In Durham’s Downtowns

Posted on November 16, 2022 (September 25, 2023)

Durham residents know that we’re home to incredible specialty baked goods—plump apple fritters from White Feather Farms in Raglan, Hank’s in Port Perry or the Village Bake Shop in Whitby. Doughnut dreams can be fulfilled by the cinnamony apple cider doughnuts at Tyrone Mills, or Crave Donuts’ delicacies in Whitby. These destinations are all worthy […]

Theatre and Orchestra Performances in Durham Region

Posted on November 7, 2022 (February 13, 2023)

The Ontario Philharmonic (OP), which calls the Regent Theatre in Downtown Oshawa home, has a wealth of offerings coming up, and, as shown by the many who during the pandemic turned to music for comfort, it’s not a stretch to say these offerings are good for your health too. Executive Director Laura Vaillancourt says, the […]

Downtown Oshawa hosts a celebration of music from across Durham Region

Posted on October 5, 2022 (October 5, 2022)

The Oshawa Music Awards (OMAs), which now celebrate music from across Durham Region, were handed out at the historic Biltmore Theatre in downtown Oshawa on September 29 at an in-person gala. It was the first in-person awards show for the OMAs, which celebrated five years of honouring the musicians, and members of the music industry, […]

Start your engines at Oshawa’s Kars on King

Posted on August 3, 2022 (August 18, 2022)

The movable feast for the eyes will feature more than 1500 classic cars, custom cars, hot rods and trucks—all works of art—lined up across the four corners in Downtown Oshawa on Friday, August 26, 2022. All vehicles pre-1991 are welcome, although modern muscle cars are also accepted. More than a century since Colonel Sam McLaughlin […]

Springtide Music Festival: A community in celebration

Posted on July 11, 2022 (January 16, 2024)

At the core of Springtide, a music festival which runs July 21 to 23 in the Township of Uxbridge, is a community; an arts and music community which, with this annual festival, celebrates first and foremost its local voices using intimate, locally owned venues throughout the downtown. Restaurants, pubs, parks, sidewalks, the Music Hall, and […]

New Restaurant Brings the Tastes of Nepal to Downtown Oshawa

Posted on March 23, 2022 (November 7, 2022)

Street MoMo in Downtown Oshawa is the latest addition to the local culinary scene available in the core of Motor City. This Indian-Asian cuisine restaurant was opened by Ratna (Raj) Khatri at the beginning of 2022 and named after the most popular food in Nepal. “I named this new restaurant Street MoMo because I wanted […]

Vibes and Great Finds in Oshawa’s SoJo Neighbourhood

Posted on September 2, 2021 (November 7, 2022)

Just south of the four corners in Downtown Oshawa is a funky little neighbourhood called ‘SoJo’. It features a community garden, fantastic vinyl record and book stores, vintage furniture and a wool shop. It is also becoming a gathering place for the region’s newest African and Caribbean retail and restaurants. The SoJo neighbourhood is located […]

Thrifting in Durham & How Slow Fashion is Fast-Tracking Sustainability

Posted on July 28, 2021 (January 16, 2024)

In business terms, thrifting would be called “sustainability,” but in some circles, “sustainability” is just a buzzword. Thrifting in Durham Region is a biz reality for many entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs who understand that being thrifty isn’t a trend, it’s a style, and it is even catching on with folk who already can buy pretty well anything […]

Visual Arts Centre of Clarington Helps Us Know Our Place, Ourselves

Posted on February 12, 2021 (February 3, 2021)

With a presence in both the Clarington Town Hall in Downtown Bowmanville and at the old Mill by Soper Creek, the folks at the Visual Arts Centre of Clarington have their hands full planning for 2021. While as of yet no exhibitions will open in the town’s political gathering centre, Hiba Abdallah‘s “100 years then […]

Robert McLaughlin Gallery: Pivoting Through Collectivity & Connectivity

Posted on February 8, 2021 (February 3, 2021)

The Robert McLaughlin Gallery has been looking forward and outward for some years. The inside and outside of the gallery have blurred somewhat with the installations of public art sculptures throughout downtown Oshawa. The celebratory “Group Portrait 1957” by Douglas Coupland—pinned like a medal of honour to the facade of the building—the swaggering “Upstart II” […]

Creativity is Not on Lockdown for Pop Act, Dizzy

Posted on February 4, 2021 (January 29, 2021)

It was in the cafes and small clubs in downtown Oshawa just five years ago that dream-pop act, Dizzy, began to dream of a life making music; of being in music. It did take some time, but the band toured relentlessly, created and released the critically acclaimed album, ‘Baby Teeth,’ and in 2019 won a […]

Author: Will McGuirk

Posts by Will McGuirk