Mackenzie Turck
This week in Faces of Kingston, it’s a pleasure to talk to Mackenzie Turck of River Mint Finery, one of the kindest, most fun and fashionable of Kingston’s residents. We caught up just after the holiday season to reflect on the state of the city during this time of year and other topics of note.
Morgan Y. Evans: What is your favorite part about Kingston during the holiday season? Least favorite part? Are people fake and is Christmas bull? Tell me the answers, please. Is God real?
Mackenzie Turck: Dirty snow and sparkling lights. I mean, switch that. Who is real and what really is Christmas? God is a woman. So yes.
Let’s probably maybe start over. What is your earliest memory of Kingston?
Earliest memory is walking into Schneider’s Jewelers with my mother and just looking at all the pretty things behind the glass.
Fancy baubles! What have been some of your favorite aspects of jobs in the area that you liked and can you tell our readers in your own words about what you currently do and what makes it exciting?
All employers I’ve had in the past have been genuine people and I’ve truly enjoyed working in Kingston.
I currently manage River Mint Finery, a new women’s clothing store in Uptown. It was founded by amazing owners who look for quality items that can stay in your wardrobe for years to come. Fashion is exciting to me — to be able to adorn yourself, express yourself.
Yes, there is so much you can do with it. I mean, I usually dress like a slob in a Pantera sweatshirt and paint jeans anyway, but I respect the game. What do you think makes Kingston a special place to live in this specific time period?
Things are constantly changing, and it’s important to involve yourself in change to help and put your knowledge into it. Kingston has a rich history that needs to continue on.
What is something our city could maybe discuss or stand to work on improving?
Keep local events and inclusion of local people and businesses. Many were disappointed New Year’s was canceled this past year.
You are a part-time social butterfly, so can you mention some of the fun places, events, experiences or shows you saw this last year or favorite personal places to frequent to see people or have a tasty snack or drink? What should people do?
The Crown for burlesque shows, Duo for brunch, Anchor for burgers, Pakt for chicken, BSP for shows, Stockade for delicious drinks! Try things, go to local events, see art shows, see bands play, see friends doing their thang and support them!
What are you looking forward to about 2020 and a new decade? I remember Y2K was so hopeful on New Year’s Eve on TV and then 9/11 happened and it was like this psychic wound for years. Now we are freshly on a similar path. But regardless, what makes you hopeful?
Looking forward to new things — change and growth, and the continuous learning as a nation. More self love. More inclusion. More Baby Yoda.
I would love to see this column branch out of Uptown locals, and focus on finding more interesting people to document. We have so many vibrant, eloquent members of our community, and the best iterations of the column have been about people who do serious work trying to make Kingston a better place. There is very little substance here, just vague musings. Nothing against this young lady, as it’s the job of the interviewer to make their subjects seem dynamic & engaging. I do think it’s important to point out that River Mint is A PART of the “change” this young lady references. Mackenzie, the word you’re looking for is GENTRIFICATION, which you are probably afraid to say, in case someone connects the dots… To spell it out: hipsters are moving back to their hometowns, and bringing with them the toxic, materialistic culture of whatever major city they got their private college degrees in. They will no doubt be purchasing overpriced fashion at places like River Mint, or the myriad of other exclusionary upscale boutiques that seem to be slowly poisoning Uptown with their desperation to chase upper middle class dollars. Seems ironic to mention the importance of local inclusion when you’re repping a place that people working 3 part-time jobs in Kingston are unable to afford.
TY Lorem! I have been thinking how this column never represents the folk who have been working here and making Kingston the great place it is for so long. Never about one of our civil servants or diner cooks or folks just trying to make the world a better place. Always about the cool hipster or entrepreneur raising the financial bar so that those who have been maintaining just can’t anymore. “Live simply so others may simply live”