City Guide 2011 by Monday Magazine

Monday City Guide 2011

City Guide 2011

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City Guide 2011

50 Things you don’t want to miss in Victoria this year OK, IT’S NIGH IMPOSSIBLE TO PICK ONLY 50 FAVOURITE THINGS TO DO IN OUR FAIR CITY — BUT THESE ARE THE ONES THAT WE, AND A POLL OF OUR READERS, TOLD US WERE NOT TO BE MISSED.

QUIZ NIGHTS AT VICTORIA BARS

Victorians may be known for our good looks, but we’re also clever. Why not show off your smarts at a pub quiz night? Try UVic’s Felicita’s on Tuesdays, Fort Café (742 Fort St) on Fridays or Maude Hunter’s (3810 Shelbourne St) on Sundays. Educational and fun.

TRY VEGAN OR VEGETARIAN

Feed your inner (and outer) herbivore with a choice selection of tasty, healthy veggie and vegan food that is guaranteed to tickle your palate and abide your conscience. Start with an almond burger at ReBar Modern Food (50 Bastion Square) or superfood smoothies and energy elixirs at Cafe Bliss (556 Pandora Ave).

CHEAP DATE NIGHT

See great movies for cheap at Cinecenta, Vic’s own student-run independent theatre. A cool selection of flicks and the best popcorn in town. Or for movies that make you think and challenge your views on mental health, check out Movie Mondays at the Eric Martin Theatre (Jubilee Hospital).

Dallas Road, Crescent Beach, Ogden Point, Cadboro Bay Road, the Sea Wall or the James Bay breakwater. For more of a challenge, take a trip to East Sooke Park, Mt. Tolmie, Mt. Work, Mt. Finlayson or Mt. Doug. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can pave your own way. There are miles of beaches and wilderness for you to explore.

46 47 TAKE A STROLL & ENJOY THE VIEW Victoria offers some world-class walks. For an ocean stroll, try

LIVE JAMS

There are plenty of opportunities to get out your gear and jam with other local performers. Check out Ma Miller’s Pub (2903 Sooke Lake Road), the Victoria Folk Music Society (Norway House,1110 Hillside Ave.) or the Fernwood Inn (1302 Gladstone Ave).

45 BEACON HILL PARK Spend an afternoon at the petting zoo, walking the gardens, feeding the ducks and being made to feel underdressed by the peacocks at Beacon Hill Park. When you’re done, drop by the Beacon Drive-In across Douglas St. and get a tongue workout with one of their soft ice cream cones; the best in the city.

City Guide 2011

Mayor Dean Fortin’s secret list of favourite spots sking a politican for a straight answer on his list of favourite things is a bit like trying to put a hatchling back in its egg after that first taste of freedom. Not impossible, but darn tricky.

Fortunately, we uncovered a few youthful memories to loosen Victoria Mayor Dean Fortin’s tongue. Imagine a six-year-old Fortin sitting in his room in Kamloops, gazing at the night sky and dreaming of a future career in public service. It’s a little sad, we know, but bear with us. Now take your mind to his Grade 8 year, standing at the back of the gymnasium and watching MAYOR DEAN longingly with the other FORTIN boys as the pretty girls dance to “Crocodile Rock”. Flash forward a few years. Our future mayor is 17, cruising the strip in a half-ton of American muscle with Alice Cooper blaring from the speakers. He’s bursting at the seams, dreaming of a new life in a new place. Fortin loves being mayor of Victoria. He went to the University of Victoria for his undergrad, master’s and law degree. He stayed to work as a local lawyer for his whole time at the bar. In office, his priority has been emphasizing affordable housing, transportation and encouraging investment in the high-tech and tourism industry. Fortin has come a long way since those early days of gangly adolescence, but he still knows how to find a good time in a small city.

TOP FIVE SPOTS FOR VISITORS: “If mom and dad come to visit, you have to go to Butchart Gardens, you have to go to the Empress and have tea. You have to go to the RBC museum, and get on a whale watching boat where you can be out there in fifteen minutes and looking at Orca. You should come in the summer when you can visit festivals, like the Dragon Boats and symphony splash.”

CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL: Get someone to invite you up in the bell tower. TOP FIVE SPOTS FOR LOCALS: “If you are a local, we like to go to Abkhazi Gardens. We like to go to Fan Tan Alley in Chinatown; that is pretty sweet. Make sure you bring money for Dim Sum. The Belfry Theatre, you have got to go there. Take a walk through the Chinese cemetery and the Ross Bay cemetery. Then, I can’t beat a day downtown with my kids. Downtown is interesting; it’s edgy and exciting. You don’t even have to plan anything, just come downtown, it’s always happening.”

TOP FIVE SECRET LOCATIONS: “Get someone to invite you up in the bell tower at Christ Church Cathedral. Once a year there is a tour of the clock tower at City Hall, that’s a pretty cool, secretive place. Then take a tour of Chinatown; all the secrets that Chinatown used to have, all the old opium dens, all the mystery and madness there. In the bowels of the museum there are a hundred, it feels like, Emily Carrs sitting there that we have yet to display, we really have to do something with those.” — Max Leighton

City Guide 2011

One Paper, Seven Days BUT WHY IS IT CALLED “MONDAY”? We may be named after the hardest day of the week to get out of bed, but Monday Magazine is your easiest source for what’s going down in Victoria. Published since 1975, Monday remains the city’s authority on what’s happening, who’s doing it and why it’s important — and how you can get in on it, too. Looking for some Friday night action, or something to do on a Sunday afternoon? We’ve got the city’s most comprehensive events listings. Want to know what’s really going on in your city? With 35 years of awardwinning journalism and insightful commentary, Monday tells it like it is, with just a touch of edge. Best of all — we’re free! Just look for our distinctive yellow boxes at cafes, restaurants, pubs, stores and on the street. You’ll find a new issue out every Thursday (Wednesday afternoon in the downtown core), just in time to plan your weekend. So why is it called Monday? Because calling it Tuesday would just be silly ;-) M 818 Broughton Street, Victoria, B.C., V8W 1E4 Phone: 250-382-6188 • FAX: 250-382-6014 E-MAIL: reception@mondaymag.com, sales@mondaymag.com, editorial@mondaymag.com WEBSITE: www.mondaymag.com Annual subscription rate (52 issues): $95 (including G.S.T.) in Canada, $125 elsewhere. Canadian publications mail R# 112895. ISSN 0832-4719. Agreement #0040112958. One copy of each edition of Monday Magazine is available free to you each week, see our website for pick up locations.No person may take more than one copy without prior permission from Monday Publications. All contents copyright, 2011 • SUMMER 2011 GROUP PUBLISHER: Penny Sakamoto EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Grant McKenzie NEWS: Danielle Pope ARTS: Mary Ellen Green CITY GUIDE REPORTER: Max Leighton PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR: Susan Duhamel PRODUCTION: Sean McLaughlin, Lyn Quan SALES DIRECTOR: Oliver Sommer SALES MANAGER: Janet Gairdner SALES REPRESENTATIVES: Ruby Della-Siega NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR: Jim Hamilton CIRCULATION DIRECTOR: Bruce Hogarth DISTRIBUTION: Wendy Denison RECEPTIONIST: Marie Morton PRESIDENT: Mark Warner

MAGAZINE

Victoria’s News & Entertainment Weekly mondaymag.com

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City Guide 2011

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44 TAKE A YOGA CLASS — IN THE NUDE Victoria loves yoga. For the traditional experience, try Moksana (Fan Tan Alley) or Iyengar Yoga Centre (202-919 Fort St). If you like it hot, Bikram (1015 Fort St) holds classes in a heated room of 95°F-105°F with high humidity. And if you’re really adventurous, try RON STEWART OF SKYCLAD YOGA a naked yoga session at Skyclad (Metchosin). Anyway you want it, Victoria has the right class for you.

VICTORIA ART GALLERIES

Victoria is a city of art galleries. Check out the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria (1040 Moss St) with its impressive collection of traditional Asian artwork, works by the Group of Seven and Emily Carr, and yearly exhibitions by world renowned artists. Then branch out to some of the city’s independent galleries like the Coast Collective Gallery (3221 Heatherbell Rd), Alcheringa Gallery (665 Fort St), Open Space (510 Fort St), or the West End Gallery (1203 Broad St). We spoke to Daniel Laskarin, chair of visual arts at UVic to find out some of his favourites. See opposite page for his thoughts.

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VICTORIA MARKETS

Victoria’s markets are a great option for affordable, locally-made goods and gardenfresh produce in the city. Take a weekend afternoon to visit the Moss St. Market, Chinatown’s Sunday Market, Bastion Square Market, Superior Market or Market in the Square and experience a whole new side of local shopping. DOWNTOWN BARS

There are loads of options for a night on the town from local pubs like Swan’s (506 Pandora Ave) and Garrick’s Head (1140 Government St) to live music venues like Hermann’s Jazz Club (753 View St) or Vista 18 (740 Burdett Ave). For a same-sex option, check out the always popular Paparazzi Nightclub (642 Johnson St), and for a wilder bar experience, head to Lucky’s (517 Yates St) and Big Bad John’s (919 Douglas St).

City Guide 2011

Daniel Laskarin favourite galleries aniel Laskarin is the Chair of Visual Arts at the University of Victoria. He has been a professor of sculpture at UVic since 2000 and has exhibited his work in galleries across Canada and in the U.S., UK, France, Algeria and Latin America.

Laskarin’s interest is in perception and structures of knowledge, and his work explores our relationship with objects and how we replicate our own experiences in the structures we create. He believes the local art gallery is a valuable part of the community. “Every day we are confronted with commercial art,” he says. “And by commercial art, I am not casting subversions on it, I am just recognizing that DANIEL LASKARIN, CHAIR OF VISUAL ARTS posters, signs, corporate logos, all of those things are art forms and they are largely commercially oriented. I am starting to really find value in the gallery as a space of removal from all the noise of everyday life. You can actually find a different experience, a different set of thoughts and step sideways a little bit.” The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria: “For the city, it is an important institution. It is a struggling institution; they are trying to combine good contemporary programming with kind of more traditional works.” Deluge Contemporary Arts: “It’s a small public gallery on Yates Street, and they are engaged constantly with alternate programming with art that takes chances and they operate on a shoestring.” The Ministry of Casual Living: “It’s a little storefront on Holtaine Ave. It’s generally student run, the work there varies from the tremendous to the abysmal. It’s a window gallery, almost a drive-by. It is certainly an adventuresome place.” Luz Gallery: “A new gallery that focuses on photography. Victoria has never had a gallery quite like this before. They show some very reputable artists and show some very informed photography.” Polychrome Fine Arts: “Polychrome fine arts is a relatively new gallery . . . on Fort Street in the antique row area. People are likely to find work that is out of the mainstream.” Exchanges Gallery: “It’s a co-op gallery run by young artists. You’ll find a body of work there that won’t make it into a regular gallery, but it might be really rich and a really wonderful experience.” Open Space: “Then there is Open Space, of course, which is one of Canada’s longest running artist run centres.” — Max Leighton

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City Guide 2011

RED FISH, BLUE FISH

40 39 38

LOCAL FISH AND CHIPS

With our seaside location and British colonial history, it’s no wonder we’re famous for our fish and chips. Try Barb’s Fish & Chips (Fisherman’s Wharf), Haultain Fish and Chips (1127 Haultain St), or Willow’s Galley (2559 Estevan Ave) for the classic and reinvented British pub style fare. Or, if you are willing to stand in line, head to the inner harbour for tacones at the popular Red Fish, Blue Fish.

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FEEDING THE SEALS

You are never too old to feed the seals. There will come a time when the temptation to get up close to these adorable, wide-eyed sea puppies will simply overcome you. When it does, head to Fisherman’s Wharf (where The Fish Store & More will delight your kids by selling the seals’ favourite fish snacks) or Oak Bay Marina where fish can be bought at the gift shop.

RECORD SHOPPING SEAN SULLIVAN, THE TURNTABLE Victoria has some great venues for the vinyl junkie in your life. Check out Ditch Records (784 Fort St) for their wide selection of new vinyl or The Turntable (Fan Tan Alley) for their formidable collection of original rock, soul and jazz pressings, straight from the dusty crate. Lyle’s Place (770 Yates St) is another local standard with a solid vinyl selection that will help fill out your growing collection. And for home-grown music, make sure to head downstairs to Absolute Underground (1215 Government St, under Trounce Alley).

City Guide 2011

SHAW OCEAN DISCOVERY CENTRE

THE SHAW OCEAN DISCOVERY CENTRE

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THE SHAW OCEAN DISCOVERY CENTRE

The Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre is an aquarium and marine education centre in Sidney. Their exhibitions focus on the fish, plants and animals of the Salish Sea and include a “touch pool” for kids, where you can get up close and personal with all kinds of sea life.

Join us for our 20th season offering homegrown and homemade food, produce, handcrafts, music and more.

SOOKE POTHOLES For an amazing outdoor experience, 30 minutes by car from Victoria, the Sooke Potholes are naturally formed fresh water pools carved into the bedrock along the Sooke River. The potholes offer some of the best freshwater swimming in the Victoria area.

Every Saturday from May 7th to October 29th 10 am to 2pm at Moss St. and Fairﬁeld Rd. Half markets Nov 5th and 12th from 10 to noon SOOKE POTHOLES

www.mossstreetmarket.com

City Guide 2011

34 SWIFTSURE YACHT RACE Victoria is home to B.C. and the Pacific Northwest’s premier long distance sailing race. The series of nine races is organized by the Victoria Yacht Club and puts crews up against the notoriously challenging winds of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The event features the popular Rosedale Rock and classics races and has drawn participants from as far away as New Zealand and Russia. It takes place annually on the last weekend in May.

CRAIGDARROCH CASTLE

VICTORIA CASTLES & HOME OF SUPER HEROES

Victoria is lucky enough to have two castles to call its own, offering a window into the city’s aristocratic past. Craigdarroch Castle (1050 Joan Crescent) is the would-be home of coal baron Robert Dunsmuir, who commissioned the project as a future family home, but died before the castle was ever built. Since then, Craigdarroch has been a hospital, a school and a museum, and today it is often used as a theatre venue and location for movies. Hatley Castle, home of Royal Roads University was commissioned by Dunsmuir’s son and is known today for its gardens and as the location for Professor Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters in the X-Men film series.

THE MARITIME MUSEUM OF BC

The Maritime Museum, located downtown in Bastion Square, is a three-floor exhibition of British Columbia’s maritime history from early indigenous fishing boats to the massive warships of the 20th century. The exhibitions include a recreated 19th century courtroom and the museum’s own fleet, including Dorothy, the oldest yacht in the Pacific Northwest, and the Trekka and Tilikum, two boats that sailed from Victoria around the world. It’s worth going just to check out their birdcage elevator, the oldest one operating in North America. The museum is open every day of the year.

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City Guide 2011

Cheesecake Burlesque Revue a few of our favourite things he Cheesecake Burlesque Revue is the sassiest act around. Victoria’s own award-winning burlesque troop got its start in 2007, performing at local birthday parties and quickly moving up to earn titles at Miss Exotic World in Las Vegas, booking performances at the Vancouver International Burlesque Festival. Monday met up with Kitten Kaboodle, Betsy Bottom Dollar and Wild Honey to uncover some of best live entertainment in town.

Ballet Victoria: “Props to Stephen White,” says Kitten Kabootle. “He is bringing dance to Victoria. You have to actually pay to get people on the ferry, so Victoria can be overlooked. With a little effort, we now have this fantastic ballet. I have gone to see a couple of performances and it’s just amazing to see that kind of ability.” The Metro Theatre: “We play there,” says Kabootle. “It’s great, it’s a little theatre in that the company does not have a lot of money and unlike maybe a bigger venue they don’t necessarily expect to get a great return on their investment, but they still put on a great show. You get decent seating, decent lighting, it’s a good little venue for smaller shows and it’s nice to have the opportunity to have a place like that in Victoria.” Betsy Bottom Dollar adds, “They have managed to be a real quality theatre without having to break the bank.” Atomic Vaudeville: “I love Atomic Vaudeville,” says Wild Honey. “They are amazing. They are for anyone who loves local theatre. They do improv, fun song and dance and they are mostly young people. Atomic Vaudeville give people the opportunity to perform because they will have over 20 people in their cast with various sketches for everyone. There is also a great duo that they do called Slut Revolver, they are funny, raunchy, hilarious. They are offensive and awesome. Super Fun!” The Local Burlesque Community: “Victoria is a small town and the burlesque community is just starting to get to the point where there are all sorts of other people that want to perform that aren’t just Cheesecakes,” says Betsy Bottom Dollar. “The two other producers in town would be Rosie Bitts and Keith Sonic. She celebrates people who are brand new, like her brand new boobies!”

Check out our weekly poll – mondaymag.com/polls

Wild Honey adds, “Just as this is something that is exploding all over the world, we have the opportunity to see all kinds of burlesque. For example Bloody Betty performed here and did a very different kind of burlesque — Gorelesque. If you’ve seen any pictures of her, she’s got like syringes in her hair and scars and stuff and like a fake bloody eyeball. It’s a very different style of burlesque than ours. We’re light, entertaining, we keep our panties on, but it’s great to see a whole bunch of stuff out there.” — Max Leighton

great movies. cheap prices. damn fine popcorn.

student union building, uvic www.cinecenta.com

City Guide 2011

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THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC IMAX THEATRE

IMAX is the biggest and best film experience you can have in the city. Victoriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s IMAX theatre showcases great documentary films and is beginning to book some big budget Hollywood features as well. At about the same ticket price as most other theatres, why not go big?

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BOWL OF TRADITIONAL VIETNAMESE PHO

GET VIETNAMESE DOWNTOWN

If you have never had a bowl of Pho, a traditional Vietnamese clear broth beef soup, you need to stop what you are doing and head downtown right now. We recommend Le Petit Saigon (1010 Langley St), Pho Vy (772 Fort Street), Pho Hoa (765 Fort Street), and Saigon Harbour (1012 Blanshard Street) for their delicious noodle soups and CafĂŠ Teatro (990 Blanshard Street) for their BĂĄnh mĂŹ, a French inspired Vietnamese sandwich, similar to a submarine.

LOCAL THRIFT SHOPPING

The ultimate buy local experience. Thrift shopping may not be unique to Victoria but we do have some great secret spots for deals and cheap finds. Check out My Sisterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Closet (1516 Fairfield Rd), The Patch (719 Yates St) or Hunter Gatherer (Fan Tan Alley). Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good for the environment, easy on your wallet and you never know what treasures youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll take home with you.

City Guide 2011

Heidi Fink all good things — to eat eidi Fink is a local chef, food writer and cooking instructor. She’s self-taught and Red Seal certified and has worked everywhere from remote mining camps in Nunavut to rural India. A former chef at Rebar, Fink has taught locally at Cook Culture, the French Mint, London Chef and through the continuing studies program at Royal Roads University. She has also worked on the board of LifeCycles, a non-profit organization bringing awareness to food, health and urban sustainability.

Monday persuaded Fink to name just a few of her favourite restaurants. Hernandez: “It’s so fresh. They make their own tacos, they make their own beans, and they are real particular about where they source their meat. Love goes into that food. And it’s not an overly complicated menu or anything. I love their philosophy, which is, we have this; this is what we do, take it or leave it, because we do this well.” Devour: “I tend to go out for lunch more than anything. I love Devour, which is this total hole in the wall across from the Library. First of all, they focus on freshness and on local stuff, which is awesome. But also the menu is different every day. She goes in the morning and does whatever she is inspired by. So there is nothing that is ever tired, or boring or same old. I have never had anything bad there, it’s always been awesome.” The Pink Bicycle: “I love burgers. I think that would be my last meal if for some reason I were being executed. They make the best burger I have ever had.” Camille’s: “For awesome fine dining, Camille’s West Coast Green. The food is superb, it’s a real, fresh take on West Coast food. The thing I like most about it is that the service is impeccable and there are these low ceilings so it has a feeling kind of like a little warren. It has this intimacy and a service that feels like your waiter is devoted to you the whole night. It’s a really great place.” Choux Choux Charcuterie: “That Charcuterie place! They get meats from all over the Island. They get tons of local, organic and sustainable meats and their chef makes their own salami, their own paté and their own ham. They make all kinds of great sandwiches, soups and cheeses, too. It is such a good lunch space.” — Max Leighton

City Guide 2011

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29 28

BUG ZOO

Kids love bugs, but it’s also really cool for adults. The Victoria Bug Zoo (631 Courtney St) features Canada’s largest ant farm as well as giant walking sticks, praying mantis, tarantulas and even glow in the dark scorpions. Your inner child will beam with joy.

WHALE WATCHING The Victoria area is home to nearly 90 migratory Orca whales in three pods who spend about half the year in our waters. There are plenty of local tour operators to choose from in the Victoria area, such as Orca Spirit, Prince of Whales, Eagle Wing Tours and SpringTide.

PEOPLE WATCHING & TEA

One of the best things about living in a tourist town is watching the people. Grab a cup of tea at Murchie’s (1110 Government St — we’re fans of the Prince Charles blend), sit outside in the sun and watch tourists take pictures of your hometown. It’s good for the ego and really entertaining. We also recommend Bastion Square and the Inner Harbour.

City Guide 2011

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CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL

Christ Church Cathedral (930 Burdett Ave.) is home to the Diocese of British Columbia of the Anglican Church of Canada. It is known for its ornate stained glass, beautiful vaulted ceiling, pipe organ and church bells, which chime for Sunday services, festivals, funerals and by arrangement for weddings. Follow Mayor Dean Fortin’s advice on Page 4 and try to get a guided tour of the bell towers.

THE CHEESECAKE BURLESQUE REVUE

The Cheesecake Burlesque Revue are Victoria’s own award-winning burlesque troop. They merge naughty, old-time burlesque with a gentler, girl next-door flavour and they are one of the best shows in town. The Cheesecakes have also been the recipients of five Monday Magazine M-Awards.

We Know Yoga…

...you will, too! SPRING CLASSES RUN TO JUNE 27TH SUMMER CLASSES: JULY 4 - AUGUST 28 Registration, Passes and Single Drop-in Options Available! 6 Hour Drop-in OM Pass: $55 Unlimited Drop-in: $209 Single Class Drop-in: 1 hour $11 1/2 hour $17 The Iyengar Yoga Centre of Victoria is a registered charity dedicated to physical, mental, and spiritual growth by the study and discipline of yoga since 1976.

TAKE A STROLL THROUGH OUR VILLAGES

202 - 919 Fort St (Above the Blue Fox Cafe) 250.386.9642 • www.iyengaryogacentre.ca

For a truly “hyper-local” experience, take a walk and stop into some of the shops in Estevan, Cook Street, James Bay and Quadra villages. Also, try Fernwood, a would-be village with its own fair trade cafes, theatre and great local pubs. FERNWOOD

BROWSE A BOOKSTORE

This city has has everything for the avid reader from sleepy neighbourhood booksellers like Cadboro Bay Books (3840 Cadboro Bay Rd) to speciality stores such as Chronicles of Crime (1057 Fort St), the literature of Camas Books (2590 Quadra St) lit and longstanding independents like Munro’s (1108 Government St), Russell Books (734 Fort St) and Bolen (1644 Hillside Ave). If you llike fast-paced thrillers, we can recommend Monday editor Grant McKenzie’s debut, M SWITCH — hailed as ‘Harlan Coben on speed’ S by Irish noir writer Ken Bruen — published by Penguin. We also spoke with Giller Prize nominated author John Gould (Page 16) to find nom out some of his favourite haunts.

106 SUPERIOR STREET / 250-380-9515 / www.thesuperior.ca EVENINGS 5:30 – LATE / BRUNCH SATURDAY & SUNDAY 10-3 CLOSED MONDAYS

City Guide 2011

John Gould the best places to find a great read ohn Gould is a Giller nominated short story writer, novelist and professor at the University of Victoria. His work includes two collections of short stories, The Kingdom of Heaven: 88 Palmof-the-hand stories and Kilter: 55 Fictions, and the novel Seven Good Reasons not to be Good.

He believes a good story balances rich use of language and the personal voice of the author; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s engaging and seduces the reader with a sense of mystery and the â&#x20AC;&#x153;feeling that something substantial is at stake.â&#x20AC;? His own writing owes much to philosophy and science and he admires writers that embrace the â&#x20AC;&#x153;sheer bravado of language.â&#x20AC;? Gould says Victoria is a great place to be a book lover. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a small town with a balance of â&#x20AC;&#x153;privacy in public,â&#x20AC;? and enough locally owned, independent bookshops to give Chapters Indigo a run for its money. Monday sat down with him to talk about some of his favourite local bookshops. Munroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Munroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Books feels like the centre of the city. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s this beautiful, old bank building in the centre of town, near the waterfront, easy to walk to. The incredible knowledge and engagement of the staff, and the care and acumen of their book buyers is excellent. And the space is wonderful. I think in the shift toward electronic reading, the shift in the reading experience from a magazine or book to, like, an e-reader, whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s missed is the shopping element. Electronics and the Internet are very powerful ways to do that, but I think

the physicality of a local shop like Munroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s is something we will really miss if it were gone.â&#x20AC;? Bolen Books: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The other major independent bookstore is Bolen Books. Again, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in the centre of town, the Hillside Mall, and then in the centre of that is an independent bookstore. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been there for over thirty years . . . Mel Bolen kept it alive, and now her daughter runs it. So, again, a looming history of bookselling and an amazing level of expertise by their staff and managers.â&#x20AC;? Ivyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ivyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s is in Oak Bay and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right near where I live. I am very lucky to have a neighbourhood bookseller. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a small shop, but the staff is incredibly knowledgeable. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kind of like getting to have a local bakery; a local shop where you are recognized, where you can drop in and people recognize you,

they know you. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a really nice little space. â&#x20AC;&#x153; Russell Books: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Russell Books has an absolutely huge collection of books. So for instance, I do a fair bit of philosophy reading and there is a decent chance that if you are looking for a Kierkegaard book they might have one or two titles and not the one you are looking for, so you have to order, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fine. But you go into Russellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find translations you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seen, new editions, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an incredible collection there.â&#x20AC;? Cadboro Bay Books: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cadboro Bay Books is a small, local bookstore. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s full of knowledgeable, interested people who are interested in what you are reading, what you thought of it, what you think of what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re reading.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Max Leighton

! "# Check us out online â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

mondaymag.com

City Guide 2011

Ooh La La cupcakes

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Visit us at one of our 3 locations

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Victoria – 1391 A Hillside Ave Sidney - #6-2042 Mills Rd (moving to 9774 Third St in June) Landford -713A Goldstream Ave Victoria – coming to 619 Broughton St (fall of 2011)

SKYCLAD Yoga

Nude Yoga for Men & Women

Celebrate our bodies, our humanity, our nudity, while building conscious community. Join us for classes, massage and spa services at our intimate rural retreat in Metchosin.

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250.813.2939 Shed attachments, distractions, inhibitions

22 21

HOCKEY AT SAVE ON FOODS MEMORIAL CENTRE

It’s an exciting time for local hockey. The Salmon Kings have represented Victoria in the ECHL since 2004 and have built up a loyal following in the city. We were sad to learn this is their last season, but we’re sure our incoming WHL team will bring a new level of action.

SHOPPING ON LOWER JOHNSON ST. LoJo is the premier location for funky and specialty clothes shopping. Get the latest west coast trends at Shift (547 Johnson St), Hemingway Boutique (104B-560 Johnson St) and Rebel, Rebel (585 Johnson St).

20 19 18

COCKTAILS AT THE EMPRESS

Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, you should walk into this one. The Bengal Lounge, with its pomp and colonial ambiance, is like old Casablanca. Put on your finest attire and head over for a G&T.

THE GETTIN’ HIGHER CHOIR

Gettin’ Higher is a 300-voice choir that believes everyone has a right to sing with as much heart and enthusiasm as they can muster. Directed by Denis Donnelly and Shivon Robinsong, the choir is made up of ordinary Victorians. If you are in Victoria and love to sing, drop by the Church of Truth (111 Superior St) on most Tuesdays and Thursdays.

WATCHING SALMON RUN AT GOLDSTREAM PROVINCIAL PARK

Goldstream Provincial Park is a tiny oasis in Langford, known for its bald eagles, massive red cedar, wildflowers and, of course, its fall salmon run. Salmon will do nearly anything to return to their yearly spawning ground and watching the Goldstream River run bright pink with writhing, thrashing salmon is one of the most amazing natural experiences you can have in the capital area.

City Guide 2011

SHOPPING IN CHINATOWN

Victoria’s Chinatown is the oldest in Canada. Built by early Chinese migrants to the city in the late 1850’s, Chinatown has long been an area of interest and intrigue for outsiders drawn to its exotic shops, restaurants and the hidden lanes that once housed hole-in-the-wall bars and opium dens. Today, Chinatown’s alleys are filled with coffee shops, restaurants, studios and art spaces, but the feeling of mystery has never quite left.

GO ON A BREW PUB TOUR

Victoria is a great place for the local beer enthusiast. Downtown has many local brewpubs surrounding the inner harbour, most within walking distance of one another. Check out Spinnakers (308 Catherine St), Swans (506 Pandora Ave), Phillips Brewing Company (2010 Government St) and Canoe (450 Swift St).

15 14 BUTCHART GARDENS

Take a road trip in your own city. Cruise up the Pat Bay Highway (Highway 17) to Butchart Gardens. On the way home, take the back road on West Saanich and pull over at one of the local farms for fresh produce, eggs and honey.

Curious? There’s always something happening at the Royal BC Museum Visit us on Facebook

Live@Lunch

Discover Programs

Snapshot Tours

FREE 12 – 1 pm monthly

FREE with admission Fri – Sun (Sept – June) Daily (July – August)

FREE with admission Daily

Bring your lunch — participate & learn. Topics related to RBCM research, travel, collections and exhibitions.

Get more out of your visit to RBCM with one of our many behind-thescenes programs.

For more information: www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca 250-356-7226

Share in the stories of BC’s people, events and history. Topics include: On Stormy Seas, Old Town and Gold Fever.

EVES OF DESTRUCTION ROLLER DERBY

Roller Derby is action packed, high energy and super badass. It’s gaining popularity every year and our Eves of Destruction are throwing it down on the flat track. Watch as Calamity Carnage, Yvetta Vendetta, Nadia Comin’ Atcha and the rest roll, check, toss and smash their way to victory. Archie Browning Sports Centre (1151 Esquimalt Rd).

City Guide 2011

13 11 9 PHILLIPS COMEDY NIGHT

Check out some uproarious live comedy in Victoria. Phillips Comedy Night features live improv, stand-up, sketch, and video and music comedy on the second Sunday of each month at the Victoria Event Centre (1415 Broad St). Guaranteed to have you in stitches.

COMIC AND GAME SHOPS

Victoria has some excellent comic and graphic novel shops for everyone from the casual reader to the raging comic geek. If you like action figures and statues, check out Curious Comics (631 Johnson St). Legends Comics (633 Johnson Street) is home to the almost-famous Perogy Cat, while fantasy gamers can’t go wrong at Yellowjacket (649 Johnson St).

Victorians know where to get a great cup of coffee. There are dozens of independent shops offering quality, fairly traded, organic and shade grown options. Check out some neat spots such as Niagara Grocery (579 Niagara St), Caffe Fantastico (810 Humboldt St), Mirage Coffee (1122 Blanshard St), Moka House (Cook ook St Village).

12 10 8 FUNTASTIC FESTIVALS

Stop by in the spring, summer or early fall for one of Victoria’s festivals. Check out the International Buskers Festival (July 1524), FolkWest (Aug. 19-21), Antimatter Film Festival (Oct. 14–22), the Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival (Aug. 12-14), Fringe Festival (Aug. 25Sept. 4), Jazz Fest (June 24 - July 3) and many more.

LIVE THEATRE

Victoria is a city with a penchant for the dramatic, and as such we have plenty of options for the lover of live theatre. Pay a visit to the 772 seat McPherson Playhouse (#3 Centennial Square), the historic 1434 seat Royal Theatre (805 Broughton Street), the Belfry (a former 18th century church; 1291 Gladstone Ave), Langham Court (a former 18th century carriage house; 805 Langham Crt), and Metro Theatre (1411 Quadra St).

RIA L VICRTNO ATIONA

BUSKERS

INTE

re While you’re here, why not ot immortalize your stay? You can get a little tle ink done at shops like Ascension on (1215 Government St, under Trounce Alley), Urge (1026 Cook St), Government St. Tattoo (1710 Government St), Tattoo Zoo (1215 Wharf St), or the nationally acclaimed Fleshworks (2028 Douglas St).

• A FREE-TO-ATTEND family oriented festival

July 15-24

5 STAGES VICTORIA DOWNTOWN

GET A TATTOO OO

• Featuring street performance from around the world!

FESTIVAL

2011

TAKE A COFFEE BREAK

• Program guides available June 15 - The Bay Centre

SALE NOW! T-SHIRTS ON BAY CENTRE L E V E L D R 3

Inner Harbour. n o le b ila va a ill n r locations st 0 for informatio 5 3 Non-food vendo -5 1 6 -6 0 5 or contact 2 See our website

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monday mag.com

City Guide 2011

SUMMER WORKSHOPS for the photographic arts Lúz Gallery 1844 Oak Bay Ave. Victoria BC Canada P. 250 590 7557 info@luzgallery.com www.luzgallery.com

galler y | workshops | print studio | books

view online

present

Recuerdos

20 th Anniversary Flamenco Gala In memory of guitarist Harry Owen featuring Veronica Maguire & Gareth Owen with guest artists

Jo Ann Dalisay Antonio de Jerez & direct from SPAIN

María Bermúdez Jesus Alvarez