10 years ago two folks who knew nothing about running a B&B cashed in all their chips and threw everything they had into a 1912 heritage mansion in Rockland.  How hard could it be we asked? Well ... little did we know!

So it was with great delight that we learned today that for the 7th time in the last 8 years reviewers of TripAdvisor have selected Abbeymoore Manor as the # 1 B&B Inn in Canada.  We were also very pleased to represent Canada on the Top 25 B&B's in the World list at #24.

Recognition by our guests is humbling, gratifying and invigorating. It reaffirms that our efforts are worth it and that you like what we do! We are also proud to be in such great company with B&B's that show travellers why we really are "A Better Way to Stay" 

Our thanks goes out not only to our guests for taking the time to share their experiences but to our partners in tourism and marketing as well as our amazing suppliers. We are privileged to be in a city as fabulous as Victoria, BC where world class dining, attractions and adventures abound.

On behalf of everyone on our team - Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Cheers to a great 2012 

You decide. But one thing’s certain: Victoria is a fabulous place for a getaway with your special someone. It’s been voted Canada’s most romantic city for a reason, and there are loads of hot spots for you and your loved one to discover. 

Explore Victoria’s divine dining options and you’ll definitely find the perfect meal to set the mood. Cozy up for candlelit Italian food at Il Terrazzo, splash out at Zambri's or indulge in French-inspired cuisine at Bon Rouge or Brasserie L’école. Experience specialty West Coast dishes at Café Brio or Paprika Bistro and startlingly delicious aphrodisiac-filled seafood at Pescatores.

Why stop there? Nothing says “love” like chocolate, so indulge your sweet tooth at Roger’s Chocolates. Or go treat yourself to a nightcap at Stage Wine Bar.  The options are endless! 

You could easily spend your whole day eating delicious meals and staring lovingly into each other’s eyes, but if you feel the need to walk off your last meal before you start the next one, take some time to enjoy our city’s romantic scenery. Hike or drive up Mount Tolmie to watch the sun set over Sooke Hills in the distance. Or go for a long leisurely walk along Willows Beach—the soft sand and epic views of Mount Baker will inspire the best kind of romance! Why not stroll through paths of the Government House gardens while you’re at it? The paths lead to secluded corners, rose bushes, and great views of the Olympic Mountains. Of course, a trip to Victoria wouldn’t be complete without a stroll along the Inner Harbour to see the Parliament buildings alight at night. 

With a little bit of luck, your perfect day will lead to an even better night!

just to keep the grey matter tuned up! So here are some stories about the origins of everyday phrases. Are they Fact or Fiction - well you be the judge!
 
Where did the phrase "Piss Poor" come  from? 
Interesting History. 
They used to use urine to tan  animal skins, so families used to all pee in a pot and then once a day it was taken  and sold to the tannery ... if you had to do this to survive you were "Piss Poor". 
But worse than that were  the really poor folk who couldn't even afford to buy a  pot ... they "didn't have a pot to pee in"  and were the lowest of the low.

The next time you are washing your  hands and complain because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be.
 
Here are some  facts about the 1500s
 
Most people got  married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, 
And they still smelled pretty good  by June.  However, since they were starting to smell, 
Brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor.
Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.
 
Baths consisted of a  big tub filled with hot water.  The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children.  Last of all the babies.  

By then the water was so dirty you  could actually lose someone in it.  Hence the saying, "Don't throw the  baby out with the Bath water!"
 
Houses had  thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath.  It was the only place for animals  to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals  (mice, bugs) lived in the  roof. 

There was nothing to stop things from falling into the  house.  This posed a real problem in the  bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean  bed.  Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into  existence.
 
The floor was dirt. Only  the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, "Dirt poor." The  wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they  spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing.  As the winter wore on, they added  more thresh until, when you opened the door it would all start slipping  outside a piece of wood was placed in the entrance-way. Hence: a thresh hold.
 
(Getting  quite an education, aren't you?)
 
In those  old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire.  Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot.  They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat.  They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. 
Sometimes stew had food in it that  had been there for quite a while.  Hence the rhyme:  "Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old".

Sometimes  they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special.  When visitors came over, they would  hang up their bacon to show off.  It was a sign of wealth that a man could, "bring home the bacon." They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and chew  the fat.
 
Those with money had plates made of  pewter.  Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes so for the next 400 years or so tomatoes were considered poisonous.
 
Bread was divided according to status.  Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle and guests got the top, or the  upper crust. 

Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky.  The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days.  Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial.  
They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around  and eat and drink and wait and see  if they would wake up.  Hence the custom of "Holding a wake".
 
Englandis old and small and the  local folks started running out of places to bury people so they would dig up coffins and  would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave.  
When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside. They realized  they had been burying people alive so they would tie a string on the  wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie  it to a bell.

Someone would have to sit out in the  graveyard all night (the graveyard shift.) to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be,
"saved by the bell" or was considered "a dead ringer".
 
And that's the  truth.  Now, whoever said History was  boring?!
So get out there and educate someone!  ~~~  Share these facts with a  friend.  

Thankfully today's burger has risen up the culinary ranks and can now be found in many forms from the simple to the sublime. In 2012 Innkeeper Ian will explore Victoria's exploding burger scene and share with you the best places to enjoy this wonderful treat.

Round One - bin 4 Burger Lounge

Well what a great place to start 2012's BurgerQuest!  This sleek and cool spot opened in November of 2011 and is located a mere 20 min walk from Abbeymoore.  I pass by bin 4 regularly and I took it as a good sign that it is always jumping with smiling burger devotees.

As the name suggests they specialize in burgers and beverages in a relaxed, lounge style atmosphere. Choose from a seat at the bar, tall lounge tables or comfy booths with subdued lighting.  The menu features 15 burgers as well as a great selection of small plates and salads.

Bin 18 the "Dirty Bourbon" burger stood out and our server Emma confirmed it was "popular with the guys". I was drawn to its inclusion of an onion ring, chorizo red onion & red pepper saute & chipotle bourbon bbq sauce but Emma quickly pointed out that January's special was also a worthy contender.

Taking her recommendation I ordered Bin 96 "The Bison Burger". This beauty had a 6oz Peace River bison patty with 5yr aged cheddar, crispy fried onion strings and the house's roasted jalapeno, lime & tomatillo hot sauce.  Completed with butter lettuce, tomato and jalapeno aioli it was delicious with just enough zing.

Being a lamb lover Anne had two choices and opted for the Bin 47 "My Big Fat Greek Burger" with a 6 oz Peace Country lamb patty, olive tapenade, oregano yogurt, feta cheese, butter lettuce, tomato & red onion. Judging by her reluctance to share I know it must have been outstanding!

Burgers run between $10-$15 and come with outstanding fries (with house dips) or mixed green salad.  For a small surcharge you can sub onion rings or a specialty salad.  I opted for the Almond Praline Blue Cheese salad with crisp apple and was not disappointed.  I would be remiss if I didnt comment on the quality of the buns. It's clear that food quality is of the utmost importance and no detail is ignored.

If you are a night owl bin 4's "Late night" special offers you an amazing 50% off your burger after 9pm as long as you purchase a beverage. Take out and group dining are also easily arranged.

So fellow burger lovers we're off to an amazing start with BurgerQuest 2012 thanks to bin 4.  If you have any comments or burger joint suggestions send'em my way. 

Until next month ... Chow :)

Whether you're an expert photographer yourself or just a lover of nature, you'll marvel at the images in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition.  The exhibit, which will be on from now until April 9, 2012, gathers the best photographs from this year's competition and presents them in 17 categories (such as Underwater World, Wild Places, and Photojournalist of the Year). Chosen from a pool of over 41 000 entries by professionals, talented amateurs, and young photographers, the photographs allow viewers to celebrate the majesty of wildlife and the incredible natural diversity in the world we live. 

What's more, this year's only Canadian winner is pretty much a local! Martin Cooper, from Burnaby, BC across the water, shot a stunning image of a coyote wandering down railway tracks. About the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, Cooper says, "this is like the Oscars of wildlife photography." 

Well, we can't miss it, then, can we?  See Martin Cooper’s photo and 107 other stunning shots at the exhibit with your admission to the Royal BC Museum. Don’t forget to check out their famous permanent exhibits about British Columbia history after you’ve finished perusing the photography!

Find out more about admission and exhibits at the Royal BC Museum website

Wildlife Photographer of the Year is owned by
the Natural History Museum and BBC Wildlife Magazine 

Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2011 Photo Credits
Polar Bear - (C) Joe Bunni - France / Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2011
Pelicans - (C) Daniel Beltra - Spain / Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2011
Coyote - (C) Martin Cooper - Canada/ Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2011

Pizzeria Primastrada
Pizzeria Primastrada welcomes the New Year Italian-style: that means with a special multi course meal of crostini with broccoli rabe, torta caprese and in-house cotechino sausage with lentils. Don’t forget to wear your red underwear—toasting prosecco while wearing red undies brings good luck! You’ll find these Italian New Year’s traditions at their Bridge Street location, but their Cook Street restaurant will also be open on New Year’s Eve if you’d rather walk from Abbeymoore and burn some calories first.

Paprika Bistro
Mmm-mm…Paprika Bistro’s westcoast-french cuisine is always divine, but their special New Year’s Eve menu is something else. Roasted pear salad, baked dungesse crab fusilli, or chocolate and grand fir panna cotta, anyone? Check out their menu  and make a reservation!

Veneto Tapa Lounge
Get out your swankiest dress or most stylish suit and head to Veneto Tapa Lounge for their New Year’s special. Seatings are at 6pm and 8pm, and promise to offer some of the best dishes from Chef Tod’s tapa menu. A live DJ will keep the party going until midnight! Seating is limited, so book now at 250-383-2279. 

Café Brio
Recently voted one of Victoria’s top five best-loved restaurants, Café Brio consistently wins the hearts of locals and visitors. Their New Year’s Eve menu  is a great way to sample some of their fantastic local-inspired cuisine. 

If you’ve overindulged on the champagne or prosecco, fear not: it’s nothing that a good sleep-in and an Abbeymoore breakfast by Anne can’t cure!

Roberta’s Hats

Bowlers, gangster fedoras, berets, boaters, flatcaps, Panama hats, top hats, and big fancy lace hats to wear to the races…Roberta’s Hats has it all. The endless varieties of hats are all high quality, reasonably priced, and properly sized. Hats off to that!

Munro’s Books

Munro’s Books’ wide selection of literature and magnificent architecture turns book shopping into an experience you won’t forget. Aside from the extensive collection of literature and high quality customer service, you’ll also enjoy browsing for books in a 1909 neo-classical building that was originally built for the Royal Bank. You might just find it hard to leave!

Rogers’ Chocolates

Step into Rogers’ Chocolates and step back in time! This fine chocolate shop began as a small operation in the back of Charles “Candy” Rogers’ grocery store in 1885, and opened on Government Street in 1891. Today, Rogers’ Chocolates has eight different locations across Victoria, Vancouver, and Whistler, but the original store’s drool-worthy chocolates and enticing old-fashioned atmosphere make it special.

Murchie’s

Murchie’s Tea and Coffee has been offering high quality tea, coffee, spices, and baked goods to British Columbians in Victoria and Vancouver for 105 years. Their Government Street Store has specialty loose leaf, fine coffees, and all their best Murch-andise. It’s also a great place to stop and refuel with a hot cup of their famous Murchie’s tea blend and a freshly baked scone. Afternoon tea served daily.

Old Morris Tobacconist LTD

If you’ve got someone on your gift list who’s fond of fine cigars, fancy pipes, and good shaving kits, head to Old Morris Tobacconist. Their high-end products and fancy interior (complete with mahogany, marble, and onyx!) make this shop one of the last examples of Victorian-era high society left in Victoria. 

Butchart Gardens Magic of Christmas
Butchart Gardens is a must-see for Victoria visitors at any time of year, but the garden grows especially magical during Christmas. Tens of thousands of lights adorn the trees and hedges of the gardens, and light up wreathes, hollies, mistletoe, and Twelve Days of Christmas displays. You’ll also find caroling and Christmas performances at the Piazza, and public outdoor skating at the rink every hour. The Christmas lights display lasts from December 1 to January 6. Visit Butchart Gardens’ website  to find out more!

Centennial Square Lights and Skating
Every year, the City of Victoria works hard to string Christmas lights through the giant Sequoia tree in Centennial Square, and the effect is magical. This year, you can enjoy the lights display while gliding around on Centennial Square’s new outdoor skating rink! The rink will open to the public on December 3 and remain open until January 2. The cost to skate is only $2, and skate rentals will be available on site. Don’t forget your toonies! For more information about this and other fun holiday events in Centennial Square, click here.  

Oak Bay Village
When the people of Oak Bay get ready for Christmas, they don’t hold back. Oak Bay Village will be elaborately decorated with Christmas lights and decorations for the entire month of December. It’s the perfect place to spend an evening or afternoon exploring unique boutiques before heading to a cozy bistro or English pub for dinner.

If you are in town  on Sunday, November 27 don't miss the "Oak Bay Light Up". From 3 PM, Oak Bay Village comes alive with light, food and music as Light Up celebrations kick off the 11th annual Oak Bay Christmas Festival. This years  entertainment features fiddler, trumpeter Daniel Lapp, folk musician Oliver Swain and Celtic guitarist Quinn Bachand who will be joined by the 30 member youth BC Fiddle Orchestra and the 60 member Joy of Life Choir to present an Old Time Appalachian Christmas. The lights come on a 5PM but the celebrations continue through the evening. 

The Inner Harbour, Downtown, and the Parliament Buildings
You’ve probably seen postcards and photographs of B.C.’s parliament buildings lit up at night. Although you can see the lit-up parliament buildings all year round, the Inner Harbour and the parliament buildings gets extra trimmings and trappings at Christmastime. Stroll down Government Street to enjoy the decor and stop along the harbour to snap a photograph to send home. Don’t forget to stop at the Empress Hotel to check out the Festival of Trees, an annual B.C. Children’s Foundation fundraiser that transforms the Empress Hotel into a Christmas wonderland full of elaborately decorated Christmas trees.

Work your way around the inner harbour and visit the Hotel Grand Pacific's Teddy Bear Tea Party where you can view an amazing Teddy Bear collection in an assortment of inventive themes.  Next stop is the Inn at Laurel Point where  you will feast your eyes and nose on the creative inspirations constructed from gingerbread. More than houses, they are sculptures and unique works of art created by local chefs. A spirit-rousing experience, the gingerbread houses will leave a lasting impression, and your mouth watering! Vote for your favourite and make a donation to Habitat for Humanity.  

The Alberta Ballet performs The Nutcracker at the Royal Theatre on December 2, 3 and 4. Edmund Stripe’s choreography and the Victoria Symphony brought audiences to standing ovations in past performances, so treat yourself with a ticket and you won’t be disappointed. Tickets start at $25, with discounts available for students, seniors, and children. Find out more about Alberta Ballet tickets here .

If you can’t make it on those dates, the Canadian Pacific Ballet also returns to Victoria for the third year in a row with their enchanting version of The Nutcracker. Performances of this annual favourite take place on December 27, 28, 29 and 30 at the McPherson Playhouse. Both matinees and evening showings are available on these dates. For more ticket information, click here.

For our overseas and out-of-country visitors, seeing a Royals game is a great way to see Canada’s favourite game first-hand. WHL games have all the professional-grade players of an NHL game, without the expensive tickets or commercial breaks. Watch a live hockey game and you’ll quickly realize why Canadians are passionate about this fast-paced sport.

If you’re already a hockey fan, these games are perfect way to enjoy hockey at its stripped-down, no-frills finest. Unlike NHL games, there’s no overpriced tickets or overpaid players. Instead, it’s a community event for fans and players with raw passion for the game. It’s also a great place to spot Canada’s best up-and-coming hockey players at WHL games. Who knows, you might end up seeing the next Jarome Iginla or Sidney Crosby on the ice!

The Victoria Royals frequently play against WHL teams from Calgary, Vancouver, Kamloops, Kelowna, Seattle, Portland, and Prince George, so you might even get the chance to cheer for your team from back home. There’s nothing wrong with a bit of friendly competition, although we Royals fans won’t complain if you forget your hometown loyalty for a night and cheer for Victoria instead. When in Rome, right?

Tickets usually cost between $12 and $25, and are available for purchase online or at the Save on Foods Memorial Centre box office. You can check out the Royals’ schedule here to see which games take place during your stay.

Sigh. Now doesn’t that just sound like the stuff Saturday mornings should be made of?

The Moss Street Market is an authentic community market that brings seasonal organic produce from nearby farms in Saanich and on Salt Spring Island to Fairfield. Although the market emphasizes fresh food and produce, you’ll also find art, jewelry, live music, handmade soaps, crafts, woodworks, and more. Looking for souvenirs or Christmas gifts? Every purchase helps support these local farmers and artisans!

When you visit the market, come prepared and bring cash. Most vendors don’t have credit or debit machines and the closest ATM is a ten-minute walk away in Cook Street Village. The market runs every Saturday through May to October from 10am to 2pm, rain or shine. Half-day markets take place every Saturday in April, on November 5 and 12, and there are special holiday markets on December 10 and 11, 2011

More information about the Moss Street Market can be found here!

Finished with the market? Don’t stop there! Why not wander over to Cook Street Village for more shopping or walk down to the beach near Dallas road?  You could easily spend a whole day exploring our stunning neighbourhood. Moss Street is just the beginning!

“The Best of BedandBreakfast.com Award winners really exemplify the special experience, hospitality and service that travelers expect from staying in a bed and breakfast,” says Martin Slagter, vice president of HomeAway, Inc, which owns BedandBreakfast.com. “Take one look at our guest reviews and you’ll see that travelers discover every day that B&Bs offer personalized and unique experiences, from gourmet breakfast and other amenities like free Internet and refreshments, to concierge-like attention to detail that makes weekend getaways so memorable.”

While a visit is delightful anytime I was pleased to hear about the new opportunity to enjoy a more intimate, inventive foodie experience on Wednesdays.

Starting Wednesday October 5^th (and every Wednesday thereafter), you can now reserve a seat to enjoy the Chef’s tasting menu at the bar: 

5 course meal, $75 per person,
($35 wine pairing option available)*

For more Info & reservations email yann@zambris.ca

I can't wait to indulge .....

Salut! 

* Does not include tax or gratuities

Dress as your favorite "Here's Lucy" character of just come for the fun November 4th at the Empress Hotel in beautiful Victoria BC Canada.   Dance to a latin orchestra and browse special Lucy memoribilia while 24 "Lovely Lucys" mingle with the crowd.  Proceeds benefit the CCPA. Tickets available at 250-595-9970.

The Canadian College of Performing Arts offers quality training in a broad spectrum of skills which will prepare the students for careers in the performance arts locally, nationally or internationally. The College provides a stimulating, positive and constructive environment where students are encouraged to develop high standards of work ethics and conduct which will serve them in any field of endeavour in the future.

WWW.CCPACANADA.COM

If you’ve never witnessed a salmon run before, put it on your list of things to see while you’re in our area. Salmon, after all, were essential to making British Columbia what it is today. First Nations communities all over Vancouver Island and the lower mainland built their culture and community around the salmon run, and early settlers quickly saw value in salmon as an industry. History aside, seeing thousands of mature salmon fight downstream currents to arrive in the same stream they were born in to lay their own eggs is quite the sight. Learn more about the Pacific salmon life cycle by clicking here.  

While you’re at Goldstream, you can wander along the riverside watching the fish and reading information on interpretive signs about Goldstream’s salmon run. If you’re feeling adventurous afterward, go for a hike up Mt Findlayson, a favourite hiking spot for visitors and locals alike. Once you reach the top, you’ll find epic views of Victoria and the mainland in the distance. 

If you’re not up for a big uphill hike, don’t fret: there are lots of trails throughout this scenic park for you to enjoy. Plan a route with this map  or simply start hiking and see where you end up! Even if you’re not around to see the salmon run, you’ll still spot colourful fungi, mossy 600-year-old Douglas Firs, twisted arbutuses, and perhaps a watchful hawk or eagle along the way.

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A spectral ship with black masts and blood red sails, a phantom crew, a cursed seafarer on an endless voyage – here is the most haunting of all legends of the sea. In punishment for blasphemy, a captain is doomed to wander the oceans till the end of time. Rest, refuge, even the peace of death are barred to him unless he finds a woman who will love him until death. Every seven years he makes landfall in his desperate, weary search . . . and finally finds Senta, a girl who longs to save him.

Dutchman is gloriously romantic, evoking the wild splendour of the Norwegian fiords, giving a voice to the sea, and bringing to life characters as sharply drawn as the lusty, testosterone-fuelled sailors, the obsessively dreaming Senta, her acquisitive father, and the brooding, flawed, nameless hero.

With music as tempestuous and elemental as the sea, Dutchman is the work that marked Wagner as a monumental force in opera.

Get your tickets now for what is sure to be a sellout run!

Founded in 1980, Pacific Opera Victoria (POV) has earned a reputation as one of Canada's leading opera companies. We are noted for our commitment to diverse repertoire, our original productions, our dedication to Canadian artists, and our leadership within the arts sector regionally and the opera sector nationally.

On a per capita basis, POV's audience is Canada's strongest opera audience by a factor of two. Thanks to this extraordinary audience support, POV is the fastest growing opera company in Canada. In the 2009-2010 season, we expanded from three productions each season to four, thus giving us more scope to present on our stage the most compelling and rewarding works from opera's 400-year history

Now as fellow innkeepers we know the importance of a great bed with amazing linens and of course we're professionally curious by nature. We have always had 600+ thread egyptian cotton sheets on Abbeymoore's beds, hand ironed to a silky smoothness beyond compare - or so we thought.  But suddenly we discover that the sheets on Julie's beds are as good (OK  better) than what we've been using so we do what any curious innkeeper would do and we peel back the sheets and discover they are COMPHY brand.

"Wow" I say "Comphy - I can't believe it!"  You see I knew of this product but being a cotton snob I'd poo-poo'd them because they are microfibre and that simply couldn't be as good - could it? 

Well here we are, a year later, and COMPHY sheets are on all our beds and our guests couldn't be happier. Truth be told neither can we because they wash easier, dry faster and require no ironing!

Additionally our guests are able to purchase them from us at a really great price so they can enjoy them at home.

If you are interested in a set just let us know and we'll get them to you ASAP. They come in 5 colours and are guaranteed for 300 washes.

If you live in the USA we ship them from WA state via FEDEX ground and they sell for: 
Queen Set US$143
King (or Cal King) set US$149

If you live in Canada we'll ship them from Abbeymoore. They cost a lil more as the Canadian Gov't charges us 18% duty so they are:
Queen Set CAD$169
King (or Cal King) set CAD$179

If you have any questions just give me a call at 888-801-1811.

Anyway I'm off to bed and Yep - I've got Comphy sheets there too!

So, how best to get your hands on some crisp arugula, plump squash or fresh-baked apple pies? Well, you have options. Take a quick drive up to Saanich from Victoria during your stay and make a day-trip out of Saanich’s famous harvestable goods. On any Saturday throughout October, you’ll find an open-air market at the Peninsula Country Market at the Saanich Fairground. Aside from freshly picked produce, you’ll also find live music, crafts, baked goods, spices, coffee and more! 

Next stop is the North Saanich Farm Market, which also runs every Saturday from 9:30-12:30 in the North Saanich United Church’s gardens. According to the friendly folks who run the event, this summer has brought a good haul of beets, greens, winter squash, mushrooms, corn, and free-range eggs to the market. Yum.

And then, of course, there are apples. Fresh, crisp, local apples. Although apples grow in abundance all over Victoria and Saanich, you’ll find that Saltspring Island has a distinctly festive attitude towards their annual apple crop. The Saltspring Island Apple Festival draws visitors from all over the surrounding area to the island each year to taste over 100 varieties of apples grown on Saltspring. Organic farms across the island open their doors to the public and offer the best of their cheese, produce, or baked goods. This year’s event takes place on October 2, 2011 from 9am to 5pm, so if you’re in the area, plan a day-trip and hop on the ferry from Swartz Bay.

Your tastebuds will thank you, and so will your family when you come home with the Thanksgiving shopping already done!

People started lining up hours before the screening, and 20 minutes before showtime, the tickets were sold out and a few unfortunate souls were turned away.

Donny shut up, Walter reminded us his friends died face down in the Mud, the rug really tied the room together and Nobody $##@'d with the Jesus as Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi and John Turturro had us rolling in the Aisles over almost 2 hours of great fun. 

Enjoy this "Official Trailer"  as well as this definately not official (but hysterical) video of some of cinema's most memorable dialogue. 

If this sounds like fun to you be sure you get to the Vic Theatre early for the next Quote-Along screening - PULP FICTION!! Just imagine a room full of people doing their best Sammy Jackson impersonation and try to keep a straight face. Once again, we'll have prizes for costumes, and a themed beverage available in the lobby.

Mark your Calendars!

Quote-Along Pulp Fiction
(18A: violence; coarse language)
Saturday, October 15th -  8pm (doors@ 7:00)
Vic Theatre 808 Douglas.
Ticket package at the door.
$10+HST  (cash only, 19+ event)
Pulp Fiction Facebook event page:

Quote-Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
(18A: violence; coarse language)
Saturday, November 12th -  8pm (doors@ 7:00)
Vic Theatre 808 Douglas.
Ticket package at the door.
$10+HST  (cash only, 19+ event)

Quote-Monty Python and the Holy Grail 
(18A: violence; coarse language)
Saturday, December 10th -  8pm (doors@ 7:00)
Vic Theatre 808 Douglas.
Ticket package at the door.
$10+HST  (cash only, 19+ event)

Aside from being one of the tallest wooden rail trestles in the world, the Kinsol Trestle’s stunning lush rainforest surroundings and rich history make it worth a visit. The Trestle was originally completed in 1918 as part of the Canadian National Railway’s (CNR) project to connect Victoria to Port Alberni by railway. For decades, trains and trucks hauled passengers, freight service, and logs across the trestle. For decades, the trestle survived floods fires, and heavy weight, but in 1979, the CNR abandoned the trestle and left it unused until restoration work began in 2010. If you’re a railway or history buff, you can learn more about the Kinsol Trestle here.

Today, the Kinsol Trestle is part of the Cowichan Valley Trail, Vancouver Island’s section of the Trans-Canada trail system. This part of the trail connects Shawnigan Lake to the town of Lake Cowichan by following the old CNR line.  You can spend the whole day hiking the Cowichan Valley trail, or you can pull off the highway and drive to the trailhead closest to the Kinsol Trestle. The path is perfect place for a leisurely hike or bike ride, and it’s only a stone’s throw away from Victoria!

For a map and directions to the trestle, click here.

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