Martello Alley

06/03/2026

🚲 Bicycles are kind of a thing at Martello Alley! 🚲

If you’ve visited us before, you’ve probably noticed the two bright, colourful bicycles that greet visitors at the entrance to the alley. Cheerful, eye-catching, and full of personality, they’ve become something of a symbol of our little store.

Bicycles are also a wonderful way to get from Point A to Point B while being environmentally friendly, staying active, and enjoying the beautiful summer weather.

To celebrate Bicycle Week, we’re giving away a FREE Martello Alley jute tote bag (a $10 value) with every purchase!

Getting your free tote is easy. Just say:
🚲 “Bicycle Week!”
🚲 “I love bicycles!”
🚲 Or simply, “I’d like my free tote bag!”

It’s that easy.

Happy Bicycle Week! Enjoy the sunshine, get out for a ride, and if your travels bring you downtown Kingston, be sure to cycle over and visit us at Martello Alley—Ontario’s only art alley and one of Kingston’s most colourful destinations!

See you in the alley! 🚲🎨

06/03/2026

A little while ago, I was both surprised and delighted to discover the wonderful YouTube feature, “Hidden Gem – Martello Alley,” by Canuck Girl Travels. The video beautifully captured the spirit of Martello Alley and showed why so many people consider it one of Kingston’s most unique destinations.

Now, Canuck Girl Travels has done it again with a stunning collection of photographs shared on Facebook. These images perfectly capture the colour, creativity, charm, and atmosphere that make Martello Alley such a special place. Seeing our gallery, alleyway, courtyard, and artists’ work through the eyes of a visitor is always a pleasure.

For those who have never visited, Martello Alley is much more than an art gallery. Tucked away in a historic downtown Kingston alleyway, it is a vibrant artist collective featuring the work of dozens of local artists and artisans. Every corner is filled with original paintings, photography, pottery, jewelry, glasswork, textiles, woodwork, and unique handcrafted gifts. It is a place where art spills out into the alleyway and courtyard, where visitors can meet artists, hear the stories behind the work, and experience Kingston’s creative spirit firsthand.

A heartfelt thank you to Canuck Girl Travels for not only creating such a beautiful video but also for sharing these wonderful photographs. Small businesses and artist collectives like ours face many challenges these days, and every kind word, photo, review, video, share, and recommendation helps more than people realize. The support means the world to us and to the artists whose work fills our gallery.

Thank you for shining a spotlight on one of Kingston’s most colourful hidden gems and for helping others discover the magic of Martello Alley.

06/02/2026

I was both surprised and delighted to discover this wonderful YouTube feature, “Hidden Gem – Martello Alley,” by Canuck Girl Travels.

A heartfelt thank you for visiting and for taking the time to share your experience with others. It is always rewarding to see Martello Alley through the eyes of a first-time visitor.

For those who have never been here, Martello Alley is far more than an art gallery. Tucked away in a historic downtown Kingston alleyway, it is a vibrant artist collective featuring the work of dozens of local artists and artisans. Every corner is filled with colour, creativity, and unexpected discoveries—from original paintings and photography to pottery, jewelry, glasswork, textiles, woodwork, and unique handcrafted gifts.

What makes Martello Alley truly special is its atmosphere. Visitors often describe it as a hidden world waiting to be discovered—a place where art spills out into the alleyway and courtyard, where visitors can meet artists, hear the stories behind the work, and experience Kingston’s creative spirit in a warm and welcoming setting. It is one of those rare places where no two visits are ever quite the same.

Unfortunately, we cannot share the YouTube video directly on TikTok or Instagram, but you can watch it through the link in our bio.

Thank you again to Canuck Girl Travels for shining a spotlight on one of Kingston’s most unique and colourful destinations!

05/31/2026

Yesterday was Denise’s last day. The Delightfully Different Tea Room has now closed its doors for good.

At Martello Alley, we have truly enjoyed having Denise as our neighbour. From the very beginning, we were more than happy to share our courtyard with her for summer food service, and it grew into a wonderful partnership that lasted for years.

For many visitors, their first glimpse of the tea room was those bright blue and yellow tables and chairs, surrounded by flowers, greenery, and the sound of the fountain. With people gathered outside enjoying tea and conversation, it felt like a little European café tucked away in downtown Kingston. The courtyard became a destination in itself.

Today, I took down Denise’s iconic tea room sign from our courtyard, along with her familiar tea chime, and I handed them over to her. It was a bittersweet moment and a reminder that an era has come to an end.

The courtyard was such an inspiring place that countless visitors stopped to take photographs. It even found its way into the artwork of several artists, including our own Everdello, Brenda Bielecki and others who captured its charm in their paintings and creations.

We will miss Denise, her tea room, and the many loyal customers who became regular visitors to the courtyard over the years. But while one chapter closes, another begins. Denise is already looking toward new adventures, including the possibility of creating her own recipe book—a project that many of us would love to see.

As I reflect on all of this, I am reminded of the words spoken in 1980 by Quebec Premier René Lévesque:

“Si j’ai bien compris, vous êtes en train de me dire : à la prochaine fois.”

“If I have understood correctly, you are telling me: until next time.”

Thank you, Denise, for the memories, the friendship, and the joy you brought to our courtyard. It’s not really goodbye. It’s simply… à la prochaine fois.
:

05/31/2026

Yesterday was Denise’s last day. The Delightfully Different Tea Room has now closed its doors for good.

At Martello Alley, we have truly enjoyed having Denise as our neighbour. From the very beginning, we were more than happy to share our courtyard with her for summer food service, and it grew into a wonderful partnership that lasted for years.

For many visitors, their first glimpse of the tea room was those bright blue and yellow tables and chairs, surrounded by flowers, greenery, and the sound of the fountain. With people gathered outside enjoying tea and conversation, it felt like a little European café tucked away in downtown Kingston. The courtyard became a destination in itself.

Today, I took down Denise’s iconic tea room sign from our courtyard, along with her familiar tea chime, and I handed them over to her. It was a bittersweet moment and a reminder that an era has come to an end.

The courtyard was such an inspiring place that countless visitors stopped to take photographs. It even found its way into the artwork of several artists, including our own Everdello, Brenda Bielecki and others who captured its charm in their paintings and creations.

We will miss Denise, her tea room, and the many loyal customers who became regular visitors to the courtyard over the years. But while one chapter closes, another begins. Denise is already looking toward new adventures, including the possibility of creating her own recipe book—a project that many of us would love to see.

As I reflect on all of this, I am reminded of the words spoken in 1980 by Quebec Premier René Lévesque:

“Si j’ai bien compris, vous êtes en train de me dire : à la prochaine fois.”

“If I have understood correctly, you are telling me: until next time.”

Thank you, Denise, for the memories, the friendship, and the joy you brought to our courtyard. It’s not really goodbye. It’s simply… à la prochaine fois.
::

05/29/2026

SOLD! “Vol au vent” — my latest 12” x 12” painting has found a new home.

This nostalgic piece captures a simpler time: three children beside a beach, one flying a kite high into the sky, another letting it go, while a third runs joyfully after it across the grass.

It brings back memories of the days when my father would take me outside to fly kites — long before screens became the centre of everyday life. Back then, childhood was filled with skinned knees, sunburns, salty air, and endless hours outdoors. Sometimes the simplest moments become the memories we treasure most.

05/29/2026

Feeling nostalgic? Do you remember the magic of Expo 67 in Montréal? If you were lucky enough to experience it, you know it was unforgettable. The whole world seemed to gather in Canada to celebrate innovation, culture, and optimism for the future. While most of the Expo structures were temporary, a few iconic buildings were left behind as part of its legacy. My favourite was Habitat 67 — an amazing living complex with an unusual, unique, and stunning design concept overlooking the St. Lawrence River and Montréal. It’s almost indescribable. The award-winning project was created for Expo 67 by a young Montréal architect named Moshe Safdie, and it quickly became one of the most recognizable symbols of the exposition. This extraordinary structure was the inspiration for this painting. If I ever became rich, I think I’d buy one of those units and spend weekends in Montréal living there! I was only six years old when my parents took us to Expo 67. We were there for just one day. Hotels were completely booked, so my parents rented a room in a family’s home in Montréal. Apparently, I was a little too energetic to handle because I spent most of the day in the daycare centre! Hard to imagine, right? Ha ha!

But I still remember the excitement. I remember the enormous parking lots and the clever system they created so people could find their cars again. Each section was named after animals — zebra, lion, elephant — and you had to remember where you parked. There was even a little train that circled the parking area and carried visitors to the main entrance.

05/28/2026

05/27/2026

Many of you now know that Denise is retiring, and sadly, her delightfully different tea room will be closing at the end of May.

We’ve known Denise for the past 10 years, ever since she first approached us about the vacant shop space and asked if she might also use our beautiful courtyard. Of course, we said yes — and what followed has been a wonderful collaboration and friendship ever since.

Over the years, the summers became truly magical, with so many people enjoying tea, conversation, and laughter while sitting outside in our cozy European-style courtyard. It became a special place filled with warmth, charm, and unforgettable memories.

This week, the Queen’s Journal published a beautiful article about the tea room. It is such a thoughtful and well-written reflection on what the tea room was and what it meant to so many people in our community.

We are truly sorry to see the tea room close, but we are so grateful for all the wonderful memories Denise created over the years. Martello Alley and Martello on Brock will still be here, and we look forward to welcoming all of you who visited the tea room and wandered into our stores as part of the experience.

As they say, it’s never really goodbye — it’s simply “see you next time.”

Best wishes to Denise in her retirement. We know we’ll be seeing her again often, and we wish her nothing but happiness in this next chapter.

Please do stop by before the end of May to visit the tea room one last time and share your best wishes with Denise as she begins her next new adventure.