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What is March Menu Madness?

What is March Menu Madness?

Celebrate IWD, measles outbreak, and March break

Shane Brady
March 07, 2025

Presented By

Gooood morning everybody! Welcome to the 315 of you who just joined us. This is BOQtoday. The newsletter that gives you the same feeling as when you turn on the radio and Pink Pony Club is playing (IYKYK).

Today Around The Bay:

International womens day events
First ever March Menu Madness
Weekend plans & March break

and much more…

The Answer

Earlier this week, we asked: When prices go up, where do you cut back? Most of you said dining out — and hey, we get it — but that’s tough news for our amazing local restaurants.

So, we’re partnering with a dozen local eateries to give away a $50 git card.

Every. Single. Newsletter in March.

Hungry for the details? Scroll down to today’s Foodie Friday and dig in.

Your Skin Deserves a Little Love — Here’s Where to Go

Presented by the Beauty Collective

If your skin’s been feeling a little meh, this Belleville beauty studio knows exactly how to bring back that glow.

The Beauty Collective is all about helping women feel confident and radiant with facials, injectables (think Botox and fillers), and even massage therapy—because self-care should feel as good as it looks.

Book your appointment today and follow @beautycollectivebyinjct for the latest promos and beauty inspo.

Weather

Friday
High 3°C 🌡️ Low -5°C | ⛅ | 10% | N 20 km/h

Saturday
High 6°C 🌡️ Low -2°C | ☀️ | 0% | W 10 km/h

Sunday
High 8°C 🌡️ Low 0°C | ☀️ | 0% | SW 15 km/h

🎵 “This ones for the girls”

These are just a few of the many amazing women from around the Bay of Quinte

International Women’s Day is tomorrow (March 8). From entrepreneurs and artists to educators and changemakers, women across the Bay are driving innovation, building businesses, and making the region stronger every day. Whether you’re shopping at a women-owned boutique, following a female creator, or supporting local women-led initiatives, there are endless ways to show your support.

Want to join in? There are some great IWD-focused events happening across the region this week, and you’ll find them all in our event calendar.

News Notes

Photo: City of Belleville

Community garden registration now open
Ready to flex your green thumb? Registration is now open for the 2025 Community Garden Program, with 159 raised beds across seven Belleville spots and one in Frankford. It’s free, first-come, first-served — and a perfect way to grow your own veggies while making some garden pals. InQuinte

Canadian goods get temporary tariff exemption
Canadian and Mexican goods just got a one-month break from the 25% tariffs introduced this week, thanks to a temporary exemption. The exemption runs until April 2, giving a short window of relief. Brighton Today

Nine confirmed measles cases in Hastings County
The Central Hastings Family Health Team has confirmed nine cases of measles in Hastings County and is encouraging patients to double-check their vaccination records. Residents born before 1970 likely had measles as children, but everyone else should ensure they’ve had their two doses. Quinte News

Kruger celebrates 10 years in Trenton
Trenton’s tissue king, Kruger Products, just hit the 10-year mark and launched Kruger PRO, a rebrand bringing Cashmere® and Scotties® to public spaces. With 220 employees at the local mill, they’re all about making “away from home” feel a little more like home. InQuinte

PEC songwriter’s parody anthem goes global
Just hours before his song premiered on Rock 107, Prince Edward County’s Gord Moran unexpectedly passed away — but his legacy is living on. His parody of “I Will Survive,” rewritten to take aim at U.S. tariffs and celebrate Canadian pride, has now been streamed nearly 500,000 times on YouTube. YouTube

Pedego PEC is rolling over to Base 31
Pedego PEC is swapping Bloomfield for Base 31, officially joining the creative hub this spring. The new showroom opens by mid-April, so cyclists can roll into the season in style. Pedego PEC

Tariffs shake up business at Belleville’s Sprague Foods
Belleville’s own Sprague Foods — makers of canned soups and beans — is riding a sales wave thanks to a patriotic shopping surge, but U.S. tariffs are messing with their cross-border business. Proof that even beans can get political. CBC

Belleville’s February building report is in
Belleville handed out 26 permits worth $6.8 million last month, keeping pace with 2024 — but building fees and development charges took a nosedive, pulling in just $98,000 (down from almost $300,000 last year). Quinte News

Quinte West construction picks up in February
With 33 permits worth $3.7 million issued in February, Quinte West is building up — literally. That’s a jump from 28 permits and $2 million last year, with the latest round including five single-family homes and one apartment. Quinte News

Stop Ignoring Your Hearing

Foodie Friday - March Menu Madness

🍽️ Welcome to March Menu Madness. In each newsletter for the rest of March, we're spotlighting a local eatery and giving away a $50 gift card to one lucky subscriber. How do you enter? Once you click or tap the restaurants menu link below, you’ll automatically be entered into the draw. We’ll email the winner with the details!

Taco bout a hot start

Brought to you by Chilango’s

Photo: chilangos.ca

Chilangos is a beloved Mexican restaurant in downtown Belleville, owned by the dynamic sibling duo, Marlem Power and Abraham Ramos. Hailing from Mexico City, they bring authentic flavours to the Bay of Quinte, delighting patrons with dishes like their award-winning Enchiladas Verdes. Since opening in March 2016, Chilangos has become a local favourite, offering a genuine taste of Mexico in the heart of our community.

Check out the menu here. (psstt - this is how you enter)

Brighten Your Smile in Just One Hour

Gimme a (March) break

Photo: Boiler Room Instagram

Overwhelmed making March break plans? Here’s 5+ resources for you to help plan, just tap your city/town:

Our guide (BOQtoday)

Bay of Quinte (Bay of Quinte Marketing Board)

Brighton (City of Brighton)

Belleville (Discover Belleville)

Trenton (City of QW)

PEC (PEC parents)

Napanee (Napanee Beaver)

Weekend Plans

BACK IN FIVE @WALTSSUGARSHACK | Saturday, March 8 | 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. | Walts Sugar Shack, Consecon | Free (small charge for lunch)
Live music, pancakes, and fresh maple syrup — Walts Sugar Shack is serving up the sweetest Saturday. Bring the whole family for live tunes, warm tents, and all the maple goodness you can handle.

Rockin’ Laser Yoga | Friday, March 7 | 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. | Absolute Wellness Quinte, Belleville | $20 + HST
Yoga, but make it a party. Flow under the glow of laser lights with upbeat tunes and all the good vibes you need to kick off your weekend.

Written in History: Extraordinary Women, Extraordinary Letters | Friday, March 7-Sunday, March 9 | Times vary | Theatre in The Wings, Belleville | Pricing varies
Celebrate International Women’s Day with this powerful staged reading of real letters by remarkable women who made history with their words.

Stoco Lake Sled Dog Derby | Saturday, March 8-Sunday, March 9 | 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. | Stoco Lake, Tweed | Free
Sled dogs are racing back to Tweed for a weekend of high-speed action on the ice. From sled and skijor races to meet-the-musher moments, it’s a winter adventure worth bundling up for.

Élevage Winter Wine Festival | Saturday, March 8-Sunday, March 9 | 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. | Prince Edward County | Pricing varies
Wine lovers, this one’s for you. Explore County wineries for seasonal sips, special pairings, and all the cozy vibes you need to toast to winter.

_{Note: Events may be cancelled or have changed times. Be sure to see our event calendar and reach out to the venue before going.}

🔗 To see more info on these events and many more, hit the button below

Hosting an event? Submit it to our calendar here.

Looking to feature an event? Go here.

Signing Off

That’s a wrap - send this to someone who needs to try Chilango’s.

^{*indicates sponsored advertising content}

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