This year’s Ska Festival is the 13^th annual edition of the event. The Festival brings the best of local, regional, and international ska music and its related genres to the streets, venues, and harbours of Victoria. This year’s festival starts with the kickoff event featuring Toots And the Maytals, Los Rastrillos and Bananafish Dance Orchestra at the Ship Point in the Inner Harbour. Tickets to the event are $32 for early birds, or $35 regular price, so get your tickets early! 

The rest of the festival’s lineup includes Juno award-nominated DJ and composer Adam Shaikh, well-loved locals Tequila Mockingbird, returning group The Pietasters, all-Maori band Katchafire from New Zealand, Vancouver ska kings Los Furios, and more. Most events are ticketed and take place at an outdoor venue or at Club 9One9, but there are free events almost every day along the Inner Harbour throughout the week. Find out more about the festival’s schedule and lineup here!

Tickets for individual shows can be purchased at select locations in Vancouver and Victoria. Head to The Reef, Ditch Records, or Lyle’s Place in Victoria, or to Zulu Records, High Life Records, Redcat Records, or Scratch Records in Vancouver. You can purchase festival passes to Ska Fest can be purchased through ticketweb online here.  

So get your skanking shoes on, and we’ll see you there!

For the record, skanking is the style of dance done to ska, reggae, funk, and other genres.  Here’s a video to get you started!

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If you’ve never been, don’t worry. Rifflandia’s style ranges from electronic, to folk; hip-hop to indie rock, so you can be sure you’ll find something you enjoy. Maybe it’ll be the band you’ve been following for years, or maybe it’ll be an up-and-coming local group. Artists get added to the Rifflandia lineup all the time, so stay tuned by checking their website. 

Rifflandia spreads bands, artists, and DJS throughout the clubs, auditoriums, and large venues of Victoria during the weekend of the festival. Last year, Rifflandia turned up the volume when they added a centralized daytime venue at Royal Athletic Park. This large outdoor venue features a beer garden, a food tent, and lots of warm September sunshine that’s perfect for outdoor dancing. Many of the shows at pubs, clubs, or auditoriums take place in the evening, so you can pursue great music and all night if you want to! Festival passes are available for the daytime venue, nighttime venues, or both, and go on sale May 12. Purchase your ticket online, and keep checking back for more details! 

Tuckered out from dancing all day? Don’t worry—the beds here at Abbeymoore are exceptionally comfy, so you can rest well and get ready for another day of Rifflandia Festival fun.

Rebar Modern Food
50 Bastion Square
250-361-9223

Mention “Rebar” to any local, and they’ll tell you exactly where it is, when they last ate there, and which variety of veggie burger or fresh stir fry on the menu is their favourite. They’ll probably also point out the Rebar cookbook they have in their own kitchen. The restaurant is easily a local legend, with food and atmosphere that you’ll remember for long after. It’s relaxed and colourful, with friendly service and a mom’s-kitchen ambience. But don’t let that fool you—the place gets busy! Make a reservation to make sure you get a seat, especially on weekend nights.

Lotus Pond
617 Johnson Street
250-380-9293

This hidden gem is easily one of the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Don’t be fooled by its hole-in-the-wall appearance, the Lotus Pond serves up fresh, healthy, meat-free Chinese food at a low price. All of its dishes are vegetarian friendly, and many are vegan, too. It certainly isn’t fancy, but the fresh, delicious, affordable MSG-free Chinese food can’t be passed up.

Green Cuisine
560 Johnson St Market Square
250-385-1809

Mmm-mm, Green Cuisine. Their food is wholesome, entirely vegetarian, mostly vegan, and often gluten-free too. But this isn’t your average restaurant: it’s a cafeteria-style buffet with all food sold by weight. That means you can usually get a heaping plate of healthy vegetarian food for around $10. Now how’s that for bang for your buck? 

Café Bliss
556 Pandora Ave
250-590-5733

The food at this café packs a punch. Their entire selection of shakes, juices, soups, chocolates, treats, pizza, cracker plates and more is made from 100% organic raw plant ingredients that they select using local and seasonal availability. Oh, and it’s all organic, all vegetarian, and all wheat and gluten-free. But don’t for a minute think that means they sacrifice taste—Aphrodite Pizza with sundried tomato pesto, or Gado Gado Bowl with coconut brown rice, broccoli, peanut sauce and cilantro, anyone?

So with all these great vegeterian food options in lil' old Victoria the only thing you won't have is time to Veg Out!

That’s what Victoria’s JazzFest is all about—celebrating the best of modern jazz in a beautiful city at the beginning of summer. You can enjoy JazzFest many ways: by seeing a free show, attending a workshop, or by purchasing tickets to a show at a club, restaurant or auditorium. 

This year’s headliners include the Wayne Shorter Quartet, Dianne Reeves, Janelle Monáe, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, George Benson and more.

Wayne Shorter is easily one of jazz’s greatest composers, and his small quartet that’s performing on June 27 has been referred to as “the best small group in jazz.” Last year’s performance by Trombone Shorty & Orlean’s Avenue was such a hit that JazzFest is bringing the group back. This funky innovative performance that fuses jazz with modern funk and rock beats will have you dancing in your seat. And don’t miss the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, which preserves toe-tapping traditional New Orleans jazz.  

But half the fun of a music festival is discovering new artists, to be sure to check out some of the smaller shows playing at restaurants and bars around Victoria, or the free shows that will take place at Centennial Square. New artists and additions to the lineup are released all the time, so visit Victoria JazzFest website to learn more details. 

Tickets to some of the bigger shows are on sale early, so grab your tickets now! See where you can buy tickets here. Fabulous accommodation in Victoria is available at Abbeymoore Manor.

Although the Tour de Victoria is timed, it feels more like a mass participation bike ride than a race. Cyclists can choose to bike 50, 100 or 140 kilometres from three entry points in Langford, Sidney, or Victoria. Those who start in Victoria will complete the entire 140 kilometres and ride from Victoria to Metchosin to Langford, through the Highlands to Sidney, and back down to Victoria. Cyclists starting in Langford will bike 100km, and those starting in Sidney will bike 50 km. Because of the different options for entry points, the Tour de Victoria is appropriate for riders of varying levels. No matter which length you choose, cyclists will enjoy riding along some of Ryder’s favourite cycling paths, which are arguably some of the best bike terrain in North America. To see the map for the full event, click here. 

The ride starts and finishes at the BC Legislature buildings in downtown Victoria. If you aren’t cycling, come to watch! Gather at the BC Legislature buildings to cheer on the cyclists as they arrive. 

To register for the race, visit the tour’s registration page. Registration for the 140-km route is $159, and includes a three-month pass to any GoodLife Fitness location. 100-km cyclists will pay $149 and 50-km cyclists will pay $99, and will receive a 30-day GoodLife Fitness pass. 

So grab your bike, get to the gym, and get ready! We’ll be cheering you on at the finish line.

Here's a Video from 2011!

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The range of different performances hosted by this festival is huge—there will be brass, fiddle, guitar, musical theatre, speech and dramatic arts, piano, vocal, dance, composition and choral performances, to name a few! The performers themselves range just as widely. Everyone from the very young to the very old can perform. As the festival does on, the best artists will perform special Honours Concerts for their category. 

A ticket to any adjudicated performance is $5, or $3 for seniors. Purchase of a Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival Programme ($20) will gain you access to all adjudicated sessions during the six-week festival, and tickets to Honours Concerts may be purchased at the door. 

Visit the events calendar to see who’s performing when, or visit the Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival homepage for more details!

With big stars such as Kenny G, Josh Groban, the Canadian Tenors, and American Idol winner Ruben Studdard, the Miracle Concert promises to be an event to remember. And who knows—David Foster is known for his surprises, so there may be more artists released to the lineup as the concert date grows closer! Check the website for updates. 

Tickets for the Miracle Concert are $84, $140, or $280, and can be purchased by calling the Save on Foods Memorial Centre Box Office at 250-220-7777 or by visiting from selectyourtickets.com. All proceeds from the weekend go towards helping families with children who need organ transplants and education for organ donor registration. 

Because this special weekend celebrates the David Foster Foundation’s 25^th anniversary, it’s unlikely that such an event will be replicated in the next ten years. It’s First-class entertainment for a good cause, and a perfect excuse for a memorable weekend getaway! Grab your tickets and book rooms with Abbeymoore today!

You can access the trail from many different points, but if you’re staying at Abbeymoore, take your bike downtown and cross the Johnson Street Bridge for the closest entrance to the trail. From there, you can either head East towards Sooke, West towards Colwood, or North to join up with the Lochside Trail and head to Sidney. 

There’s so much to see and do along the way that you could easily bike different parts of the trail on different days.  Spend one day biking the trail towards Sooke to enjoy the views of Sooke Basin, perhaps stopping along the way at Sooke Potholes or Matheson Lake for a swim. Another afternoon could take you to Esquimalt to see the Selkirk Trestle. Or, plan a day trip and bike north towards Sidney on the Lochside Trail. Don’t forget to stop in Sidney and re-fuel at one of their famous fish and chips restaurants! If you choose, you can continue on your bike from Sidney all the way to Shwartz Bay, where you and your bike can board the ferry without worry of lineups or the extra vehicle costs. 

Check out the sites along the Galloping Goose here and be sure to have a look at a more detailed biking map here  before you go.

Each year the talented staff at Butchart Gardens transform the Blue Poppy Restaurant into a stunning indoor garden space. Using inspiration from gardens of years past and the freshest blooms and plants, they have created an indoor garden that practically sparkles with life. A visit to the gardens is an all-sensory affair, with bright colours, soft scents, and trickling water features that combine to produce an utterly serene space. 

While you’re there, don’t miss the Historical Display in the Butchart family’s “Benvenuto” residence. The Butchart Gardens, after all, is over 100 years old, and rich with history. Wander through this Victorian-era residence and discover how the gardens developed and how the Butchart family lived. Afternoon tea served daily at the Dining Room Restaurant. 

Tickets for admission to Butchart Gardens are available at the gates, online and at Abbeymoore.

This year’s festival features two main ticketed entertainment events, plus many more free events for the whole family to enjoy. On Friday March 9, renowned French magician Alain Choquette will stun crowds at the Royal McPherson Theatre with his dazzling magic act. Tickets are available online or at the Royal McPherson Theatre box office. Dream Circus, or transporteurs de rêves, will take place on Saturday, March 10, also at the Royal McPherson Theatre. The show is a completely new circus formula designed and performed by Cirque de Soleil hero Ben Labarouette that will leave you amazed! Tickets for this event can also be purchased at the Royal McPherson Theatre box office.

Head to Centennial Square between noon and 4pm on Saturday March 10 and Sunday March 11, and you’ll find music, food, vendors, entertainers, and more at the festival’s Family Days at Centennial Square. Booths and vendors in the square will offer French food and fun to francophones and francophiles alike. For both days on the weekend, French music will play from the Radio-Canada Stage at Centennial Square. This year’s lineup includes world beats from Jou Tou, latin jazz blends from Sarah & ses homes, South Pacific music from No Issues, and celtic bluegrass from Fiddlin’ Frenzy.

Other events include the Sugar Shack Brunch on Sunday, which offers traditional Quebecois maple products. Tickets are $15 for non-members, and can be purchased by calling 250-388-7350. To see the complete program for the festival, click here!

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I went to find out.  Ulla is located in Victoria’s historic Chinatown, near the corner of Fisgard and Store Street, in an intimate, gallery-esque space. Its atmosphere is funky, modern, classy, and non-intimidating, and their menu focuses on local ingredients, ethically raised proteins, and fresh produce. To the not-quite foodie, the menu can be confusing (what exactly is squab breast, cipollinis, brioche, or kaniwa?) but the servers are warm, professional, and expertly informed to patiently answer your questions. We ordered an appetizer that can only be described as it’s written on the menu: beets, goat cheese cream, apple jelly, almond crisp, citrus puree, raspberry vinaigrette. We weren’t sure whether to expect a salad or a platter, but what we got was a beautifully presented plate bursting with colour and flavour. One taste of that apple jelly and citrus puree, and I had no choice put to proclaim this dish to be an adventure for the palette. 

For the main, I ordered the shortrib steak with roesti, bacon, cipollinis, wild mushrooms, chard, and black garlic jus. Instead of asking me how I liked my steak done, the server informed me that the steak was slow-cooked for 48 hours, and arrived medium rare (perfect!). The result was a steak unlike any steak I’ve had before. If you want to know what steak is like when “it’s like cutting through butter!” isn’t a figure of speech, try this dish. The gourmet local mushrooms, chard, and roesti only made it taste better. 

We finished off the meal with sous vide apple spheres, genoise cake, green apple sorbet, and vanilla mousse. After about 15 minutes of discussing the startlingly intense flavour of the green apple sorbet and the vanilla mousse, we sadly scraped the plate clean and called it a night. It was one of those meals you just don’t want to finish!

Well, Ulla, you’ve lived up to your name!

The festival features five main components: bigger shows, mini-plays, theatre workshops, new play readings, and of course, a big party to celebrate the event. This year’s big shows are critically acclaimed and well worth seeing. During the first week of the festival, Goodness and Kitt and Jane will take to the stage. Goodness is a stunning piece from Toronto’s Volcano that seeks to understand the madness of genocide. It has played across the world, in Rwanda, Edinburgh and New York, and has captivated audiences everywhere. Kitt and Jane, which comes from Victoria’s SNAFU Dance Theatre, is an entertaining interactive survival guide to a post-apocalyptic world by two fourteen-year-olds. 

The second week features When I Was a Kid by Shane Koyczan, the spoken word virtuoso that performed “We Are More” at the opening of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, and Fish Eyes by Anita Majumdar. In When I Was a Kid, Koyczan encourages the audience to regain our childish sense of wonder. Anita Majumdar’s Fish Eyes explores issues of identity, imperialism, and cultural appropriation with a touch of comedy. 

While you’re there, don’t miss the Belfry’s new play, Home is a Beautiful Word, a free play that shows on March 19 and 20. The play, an ongoing project of Belfry Theatre’s during the last eighteen months, is verbatim theatre from transcribed interviews with Victoria’s homeless community. 

In between these big shows are free mini-plays, which run each night at 7:20 and 7:40. Seating is first come, first serve, so it’s very important to arrive well in advance in order to get a seat! Find out more about mini plays on the festival’s website. 

This year’s festival also includes workshops for theatre creation, lighting design, and Bollywood dancing, which are $20 each, or $10 for those who have bought tickets to Goodness, Kit and Jane, When I Was a Kid, and Fish Eyes. Call the box office at 250-385-6818 ahead of time to register! 

SPARK passes are $74 and provide access to all of the big shows and workshops. You can also buy tickets to the individual big shows for $20 apiece. Purchase your tickets online here. 

After watching a play or attending a workshop, treat yourself to some of of Fernwood’s culinary gems: authentic Caribbean food at Stir It Up, Asian fusian cuisine at Kulu Restaurant, drinks and nibbles at the Fernwood Inn, or wine and small plates at Stage Wine Bar. 

Happy play-watching!

What better way to celebrate being in one of the most bikeable cities in the world than by going for a pedal yourself? Throughout the year, the Greater Victoria Cyclist Coalition (GVCC) hosts themed rides for the public, and they’d love to have you along! There’s the annual “Spooks and Spokes” ride on Halloween weekend that takes you to spooky spots and haunted hovels, and the Christmas Lights ride in December that features the best colourful lights displays in Saanich. 

GVCC also welcomes the public to recreational group rides throughout the year. For example, the group recently took a 30-km trip from Esquimalt to Saanich, then through the pretty neighbourhoods of Uplands, Oak Bay, and Fairfield. These scenic trips are the perfect way to get outside the downtown core and see the beautiful suburbs of our city. To find out about upcoming rides you can join, click here. If there are no GVCC rides happening during your stay, you can also have a look at their recent rides and get great ideas for routes (http://gvcc.bc.ca/rides/cycling-routes).

Wondering where to rent a bike for a day? That’s easy...

Cycle Treks in the inner harbour rents bikes and has great tours.
Cycle BC on Wharf Street rents bikes, scooters, and motorcycles.

Happy pedaling!

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.