Hummingbird604.com » Victoria

The Bengal Lounge at The Fairmont Empress (Victoria, BC)

Raul — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:00:49 +0000

Considering how little time academics have to eat, let alone eat AND socialize, I feel blessed that my good friend Janni Aragon (Political Science, University of Victoria) had the time to come meet me at The Bengal Lounge at the Fairmont Empress in Victoria, BC, for lunch. We both teach in respective Political Science departments and carry a fairly busy research, community service and teaching agenda.

But we had the chance to meet for lunch and we decided to splurge and go to The Bengal Lounge at The Fairmont Empress. I had stayed at the Empress before, but never made the effort to eat at the Bengal Lounge. So, I’m glad we did. We both ordered the buffet and I can tell you, I have NEVER had THIS MUCH FOOD in my entire life. Even as I was full I kept going back.

The Bengal Lounge : Drawing inspiration from Queen Victoria’s role as the Empress of India, this colonial style lounge is known throughout Victoria for its authentic curry buffet and signature cocktail menu. While new restaurants and lounges appear in Victoria regularly, The Bengal Lounge is a favourite of residents and visitors alike. Overlooking our stately gardens, the richly appointed Bengal Lounge offers not only a delicious curry lunch and dinner buffet but also an impressive international à la carte menu. Cocktail and martini aficionados will appreciate our vast selection of signature drinks.

Oh, and the desserts. Did I tell you about the desserts?

If you are hungry and it’s my fault for showing you just how delicious the Bengal Lounge’s buffet service is, you’re welcome.

Disclosure: I paid for both Janni and my lunches on my own dime and did not receive any special treatment by the Bengal Lounge. As always I retain full editorial control of anything I write on my site.

Luca’s Cucina and Taphouse (Victoria, BC)

Raul — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 22:00:09 +0000

There are some gems that come into your life just by sheer luck. I was looking for a place to eat at during my visit to Victoria for WordCamp Victoria 2012. Since I stayed at the Accent Inns near No, Urbanspoon wasn’t helpful and neither was Foursquare. So what I decided was to go for a walk and found Luca’s Cucina and stayed for dinner.

Photo credit: Raul Pacheco on Flickr.

I ordered a Chicken Scaloppine (chicken breast, mushrooms, artichokes, capers, prosciutto, lemon butter, at $17.99 for the dinner-size portion, $14.99 for the lunch-size portion this is the regular price point for medium-to-high-end dinner places). You can read their menu here, which is quite varied. And the funny thing is, I was in Victoria to speak at WordCamp Victoria 2012 and the website for Luca’s Cucina and Taphouse is actually built in WordPress.

I would strongly recommend Luca’s Cucina and Taphouse. Personally, I found the staff incredibly friendly, the food was to-die-for (and yes, I know it was oily but heck, I love Italian food despite the artery-clogging that comes along with it!). You should check it out next time you’re in Victoria. Near Mayfair Mall.

Disclosure: I paid for my meal on my own dime

Get away to Victoria with @Hummingbird604 and @MagnoliaHtl (giveaway)

Raul — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:00:40 +0000

Among the crazy things I love doing is getting away, be it within my own city (a “staycation” as they call it) or within relative close distance of my home town, Vancouver. I recently stayed at the Magnolia Hotel, a boutique hotel located in downtown Victoria. In fact, I enjoyed my visit so much that I came back for a quick overnight visit recently, and I brought along my mom.

You may remember that I also enjoy trying to provide opportunities for my readers to taste things that they might not think or plan to enjoy themselves. Thanks to the kindness of many of my partners in the industry I’m able to offer “staycations” and getaways, and this time I’m partnering with the awesome folks of the Magnolia Hotel to offer you an opportunity to win a weekend holiday getaway.

The prize package consists of 2 nights accommodation at the Magnolia Hotel, $100 credit for the Magnolia Hotel spa and free parking (in case you decide to drive into Victoria). This prize pack should give the lucky winner a nice opportunity to enjoy the many things that you can do in the capital city of British Columbia.

To enter my giveaway all you need to do is comment on this post telling me (if you have visited Victoria before), what activities you enjoy doing while there, and in case you have never visited Victoria, what you might want to check out on your getaway. You can also earn an additional entry by posting the following text on your Twitter stream (total of 2 entries):

Told @hummingbird604 my favorite activities in Victoria to enter to win a wknd getaway @MagnoliaHtl http://is.gd/bYIoei Which are yours?

The Parliament buildings. Photo credit: Derek K. Miller on Flickr.

Just steps from Victoria’s picturesque Inner Harbour, The Magnolia Hotel & Spa wins over guests with its unbeatable location and service. The award-winning hotel, voted one of the top hotels in Canada by Condé Nast Traveler readers and recognised as one of the Top 10 Luxury Hotels in Canada by TripAdvisor’s® 2011 Travelers’ Choice® awards, is one block from the harbour and the city’s best restaurants, shops and entertainment – exactly where you want to be during your Victoria stay.

Searching hotels in Victoria for an event venue or spa getaway? Check out our new meeting space and see why businesses are making us their corporate hotel. Plan a spa retreat with the girls and slip into Zenlike bliss at our newly expanded Spa Magnolia. Try Prime Steakhouse for lunch or dinner, a favourite in Victoria since opening in 2009. Our complimentary deluxe continental breakfast gets rave reviews.

Discover the kind of undistracted, unmatched service you can experience only in a boutique hotel with just 64 rooms.

I will draw a random winner on the next Travel Tuesday (August 9th, 2011 at 2pm). I will inform the winner by email and on this post. *The winner must provide their own transportation to Victoria.

You can follow the Magnolia Hotel on Twitter and on Facebook as well as on TripAdvisor.

Zambris (Victoria, BC)

Raul — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 18:00:41 +0000

I love Italian food, that’s definitely not even at question. And I love Victoria, BC. Recently, I had to go back to Victoria as my Mom had to return a dress that she bought that didn’t fit her properly. Being a reasonably good son, I decided to take her back to Victoria, and we went for lunch to Zambris. My good friend Cassandra Anderton had sung the praises of Zambris a few times and I figured it was about time I checked it out.

And which better companion than my own mother, whose taste is quite demanding. Mom and I were starving by the time we hit Zambris because we had travelled quite a long distance (we didn’t fly into Victoria the second time) so we ordered a Zambri “Cesare” Salad ($10), an interesting variation on the trusty Caesar salad.

The addition of bits of boiled egg was a bit weird, as was the distribution of the lettuce leafs (and it almost tasted like watercress, in my opinion). As usual, because I hate cheese, I removed it from my plate but my Mom says it was great. And I wanted more capers/anchovie flavour in my Caesar salad. Weird, no?

We were offered some olives and crusty bread to kill the hunger at the beginning of our lunch, but the bread crust was extremely hard and in a way, I wish we hadn’t been offered the bread because it really wasn’t appealing at all. Olives were nice though. And the service was stellar through and through. The waitress was extremely prompt with water and the bread and olives.

We then ordered our lunch mains. I have always had a thing for gnocchi, whereas my Mom prefers traditional Italian dishes, like tagliatelle. Mom ordered in the end a Tagliatelle Bolognese ($13, egg pasta and meat sauce, at a very reasonable price point although some may consider it a bit pricey for lunch time). I ordered a Gnocchi with Sausage Ragu (potato dumplings with home-made sausage meat and braised kale at $14, again decently priced for the portion size but perhaps a bit pricey for lunch-time price points).

I have no complaints about my Gnocchi. The kale added flavour and I loved the sausage meat combination. I wish my gnocchi had had a bit more garlic, but then again, that’s just because I love Wild Garlic’s dishes. My Mom says that beyond anything she’s eaten in Vancouver, Zambris’ tagliatelle is perhaps the best one she’s tasted. And that says a lot.

Overall, I loved Zambris, and would definitely come back for dinner sometime.

Disclosure: I paid for both of our lunches (Mom’s and mine’s) on my own dime. I wasn’t paid to write this review, nor was I required to do so either. The purpose of this blog entry is just to describe and document my experience at a restaurant I really liked. In any review I write or publish on my site, I retain editorial control at all times. Should you have any questions/concern feel free to contact me via e-mail through my contact form.

Cactus Club Cafe (Douglas St., Victoria)

Raul — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 21:00:17 +0000

I’ve been a fan of the Cactus Club Cafe (as chain as it is) simply because whenever I eat there, I can always find at least one or two dishes that I will enjoy no matter what. One of those dishes that Cactus Club Cafe never screws up is the jambalaya. Whenever I eat at Cactus Club, you’ll probably see me eat this dish simply because I know that whichever Cactus Club Café I eat at, they will do a good job when making the jambalaya (a Louisiana Creole dish that I love).

I’m never disappointed, and my recent visit to the Douglas Street branch of Cactus Club was not the exception. Great jambalaya, great ambiance and the best part of it was the company of my Mom (who was just too tired to go and eat at Zambri’s). Very good service and extremely generous portions made my evening quite pleasant. Also, the fact that we were incredibly hungry as we had been in (meetings all day and eating very little. Overall, a nice experience as I usually have at Cactus Club.

Disclosure: I paid entirely for both of our dinners on my own dime. I wasn’t paid to write this review, nor was I required to do so either. The purpose of this blog entry is just to describe and document my experience at a restaurant I really liked. In any review I write or publish on my site, I retain editorial control at all times. Should you have any questions/concern feel free to contact me via e-mail through my contact form.

Ride The Cyclone (Atomic Vaudeville at The Belfry Theatre in Victoria, BC) – guest review by @JanniAragon

Raul — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 16:29:33 +0000

Atomic Vaudeville’s “Ride the Cyclone” is playing in Victoria at the Belfry Theatre July 5-17. I was lucky enough to take a ride on this roller coaster last night at the official opening night of the Belfry’s 2011 season. “Riding the Cyclone” is correctly named, as it was an amazing ride. The play begins with a funny and morbid opening.

By now most have heard of the play, but in case you haven’t—the play is about a group of teenagers who die at the hands of roller coaster accident. These are not just any teens, they are a chamber choir from Uranium, Saskatchewan, so this is Canadiana at its best. The play allows the teens the chance to explain their lives and aspirations. The play is about mortality and identity.

Clearly this is heavy material, but it is covered in a light-hearted, hilarious and at times profane way that causes the audience to laugh or gasp and then laugh and clap. How else can you respond when the town’s only gay teen explains how problematic Diversity week was? The town’s “adorable Chinese couple” left. Well, they weren’t Chinese, but Korean. He explains, “They moved from Seoul to a town without soul.” There is other witty dialogue throughout this play. I scribbled a few zingers in my program in the darkened theatre, but did my best to sit and enjoy the performance.

The play also makes references to Marx, Glenn Beck, and even a Palinesque allusion all the while entertaining. Each of the six main characters get an opportunity to tell their story and you do not think that the next one can better the previous. Hip Hop Ballet? A superhero on a planet with cat like creatures? You betcha.

The actors seamlessly draw you in so that you enjoy the teens’ quirkiness. You can empathize with the keener (Ocean Rosenberg) or “Bad Egg” Ukrainian Hip Hop badass (Misha Bachinsky). The actors played their parts with aplomb and belted out their songs. It was not hard for the audience to jump up at the play’s end and give a standing ovation for the riveting performance.

It seems cliché to suggest that this is a must see play, but you do really need to see this production. Atomic Vaudeville’s “Ride the Cyclone” will not disappoint.

EDITOR’S NOTE – I understand that Ride The Cyclone is coming to Vancouver. You should check it out. I’ll have tickets to give away to attend the play in a contest, so stay tuned.

This guest theatre review was kindly written exclusively for Hummingbird604.com by Dr. Janni Aragon. Dr. Aragon is the Chair of the Women’s Caucus at the University of Victoria and teaches in the Department of Political Science. Tickets to attend the play were compliments of Belfry Theatre. As always, I retain editorial control on anything that I publish on my site.

Rogers’ Chocolates (Victoria, BC)

Raul — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 22:42:26 +0000

Few things are tastier for me than chocolate (with the possible exception of Ethiopian food). I’m a fan of all things chocolates and this past weekend I had an opportunity (thanks to The Magnolia Hotel) of trying a few samples of Rogers’ Chocolates. I have walked past Rogers’ Chocolates almost every time I’ve visited Victoria, but only until now I have blogged about it. Next time I’m in town I’ll have to get a tour.

My absolute favorites are the Nougat Mini and the Classic Mocha with the Winter Apple Caramel a close third. But overall, I simply, absolutely love their chocolates. AND their history.

Photo credit: Virtual Farm Boy on Flickr

Rogers’ Chocolates is steeped in tradition and a rich history that has earned us our reputation as one of Canada’s premiere chocolate makers. The first Rogers’ chocolates were made in 1885 by Charles “Candy” Rogers in the back of his grocery store in Victoria, B.C. He quickly became a popular man. In 1891, Rogers expanded his chocolate operation to the company’s current heritage storefront on Government Street in Victoria and the rest, as they say, is history. Today, we have 7 retail stores, several hundred wholesale outlets ship to over 50 countries, and a 20,000 square-foot factory .

OUR MISSION STATEMENT: To enrich people’s lives by creating cherished memories – one chocolate at a time!

I’ll have to get some more chocolates next time I visit Victoria and walk past Rogers’ Chocolates.

Disclosure: The box of chocolates I received was a gift of The Magnolia Hotel & Spa but they are in no way connected with Rogers’ Chocolates. I wasn’t paid to write this review, nor was I required to do so either. The purpose of this blog entry is just to share my opinion on the chocolates (SO TASTY). In any review I write or publish on my site, I retain editorial control at all times. Should you have any questions/concern feel free to contact me via e-mail through my contact form.

The Magnolia Hotel & Spa (Victoria, BC)

Raul — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 15:00:18 +0000

I fell in love with The Magnolia Hotel & Spa in Victoria, BC. I really did. From the moment I first communicated with Bill, the General Manager, to the moment walked in, to the nights I stayed there, to being able to walk less than two blocks to the conference site for Social Media Camp Victoria 2011, to the attention to detail, to the extreme generosity and focus on service. I simply love The Magnolia Hotel. And not only because they invited me to stay with them during SMCV’11. But because they are SO focused on good service.

I’ve already mentioned before how much I love boutique hotels. I think that the attention to detail, the fact that they are not chain-like, the emphasis on customer service, are all bonus points of boutique hotels. The Magnolia Hotel & Spa is a boutique hotel located in the heart of downtown Victoria, on Courtney Street, strategically very close to Clive’s Classic Lounge (fantastic cocktails, as I have mentioned before).

Just steps from Victoria’s picturesque Inner Harbour, The Magnolia Hotel & Spa wins over guests with its unbeatable location and service. The award-winning hotel, voted one of the top hotels in Canada by Condé Nast Traveler readers and recognised as one of the Top 10 Luxury Hotels in Canada by TripAdvisor’s® 2011 Travelers’ Choice® awards, is one block from the harbour and the city’s best restaurants, shops and entertainment – exactly where you want to be during your Victoria stay.

Searching hotels in Victoria for an event venue or spa getaway? Check out our new meeting space and see why businesses are making us their corporate hotel. Plan a spa retreat with the girls and slip into Zenlike bliss at our newly expanded Spa Magnolia. Try Prime Steakhouse for lunch or dinner, a favourite in Victoria since opening in 2009. Our complimentary deluxe continental breakfast gets rave reviews.

Discover the kind of undistracted, unmatched service you can experience only in a boutique hotel with just 64 rooms. Aeroplan® members earn miles while staying at the Magnolia Hotel & Spa

When I arrived, a box of chocolates was waiting for me on my desk.

Extremely spacious and perfect to hide away for a few days while attending a conference, I really enjoyed the fact that The Magnolia Hotel has everything I could possibly need: fantastic service, a great restaurant downstairs, complimentary Continental breakfast, newspaper delivered to my door, and great attention to the smallest details.

I’ll definitely come back to stay at The Magnolia Hotel, and I definitely know why I will come back: because the service is extraordinary. And that comes from their philosophy – they treat you like family.

Disclosure: My stay at The Magnolia Hotel & Spa was sponsored very generously by the hotel as they knew I was coming to speak at Social Media Camp Victoria 2011. My expenses to travel to and from Vancouver Island were covered by the sponsorship package of SMCV’2011, but I paid for every other expense I incurred on during my trip. I wasn’t paid to write this review, nor was I required to do so either. The purpose of this blog entry is just to describe my experience at the hotel. In any review I write or publish on my site, I retain editorial control at all times. Should you have any questions/concern feel free to contact me via e-mail through my contact form.

Habit Coffee (Victoria, BC)

Raul — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 15:20:56 +0000

I am trying hard to feature travel-related posts on Tuesdays as it’s Travel Tuesday. So, this time I am featuring a cute cafe that, from what my friend Alexis Hinde tells me, it’s one of the best coffee shops in the Greater Victoria regional district.

The one I visited was Habit Coffee at the Atrium.

Habit was founded on the idea that coffee can be better – not just in terms of a drinkable product, but in terms of every step that coffee takes – from seed to cup. Before building a location, or making a menu, we worked to find partners that share our vision of ethical, responsible, and community-based business practices and a focus on quality in every detail.

We work closely with our roasters, Hines Public Market Coffee, to source the best beans from all over the world. We regularly make trips “to the source”, to visit the communities and regions that produce our beans. We work hard to collect current information, and to share it with those we visit, so that we can foster coffee culture worldwide, promote quality at all levels of production, and collectively figure out ways to make our industry better.

Hines roasts our beans on Granville Island, in Vancouver, using a vintage cast iron 1916 Royal #7 roaster, in a studio that allows for the roasters to carefully monitor every batch without exception. We train our baristas extensively, and we take no shortcuts in preparing our drinks. We believe that coffee isn’t simply about getting a buzz, or enjoying a flavor, we believe it’s about a culture of optimism, exploration, and communication, and we hope you enjoy the fruit of our collective effort. Thank you.

Overall, it was a nice visit as I had an iced Mocha that turned out really well. And it looks like people enjoy working there with their laptops (wifi provided). Good times (and yes I did mention that there’s a Habit Lounge on Main Street).

Traveling by train with VIA Rail Canada

Raul — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 21:00:31 +0000

Taking the train reminds me a lot of my childhoold, of the time I spent in Europe, and of many good things. I couldn’t help but be giddy as the VIA Rail Canada train I was on traversed the all the way from Nanaimo to Courtenay this past December. I live relatively near by the Pacific Central Station (near the Main Street/Science World Skytrain station) and thus, I had some basic idea of some of the routes that VIA Rail services (side note – I’m VERY impressed with how much history is posted on the VIA Rail website – they are also on Twitter – and it should be noted that the Pacific Central Station has wireless service).

More information on VIA Rail Canada:

VIA Rail Canada operates the national passenger rail service on behalf of the Government of Canada. An independent Crown Corporation established in 1977, the company provides Canadians with safe, efficient and environmentally responsible public transportation. VIA consistently ranks as one of the most trusted transportation companies in Canada. In Leger Marketing’s 2007 Top 100 Companies in Canada survey, VIA ranked 2nd among transportation companies and enjoyed the largest increase in reputation score.

VIA operates up to 503 trains weekly on 12,500 kilometres of track, and serves 450 communities across the country, from coast to coast and north to Hudson Bay. VIA carried close to 4.2 million customers in 2007.

VIA’s fleet includes 396 passenger cars and 78 active locomotives. In addition to 159 railway stations, VIA operates four modern maintenance facilities, and employs some 3,000 people. While VIA owns 223 kilometres of track, most of the infrastructure used by the passenger service is owned and managed by the freight railways, including ten different national and short-line operators.

When I took the train from Nanaimo to Courtenay, I was a bit disappointed to see that the Nanaimo train station was being rebuilt. But having previously visited Qualicum Beach and seen the train station, I felt comforted as the train passed by a familiar station.

I will fully confess that I was probably more excited about my train travel than some of the young kids who took the train (it’s well used, and from what I heard in my conversations with passengers, passing by train through the Malahat region is amazing (the Courtenay-Victoria train used to be called Malahat, according to this Wikipedia entry)

For me, taking the train was a no-brainer. It was an inexpensive, safe and lovely ride from Nanaimo to Courtenay and then back to Parksville. Next time I do a similar trip, I’ll begin in Victoria, for sure.

Disclosure: My travel expenses during my recent Vancouver Island writing retreat (which included stops in Victoria, Courtenay/Comox, Nanaimo and Parksville/Qualicum Beach) were paid out of my own pocket. I wasn’t paid to write this review, nor was I required to do so either. The purpose of this blog entry is just to describe my experience using the VIA Rail train service. In any review I write or publish on my site, I retain editorial control at all times. Should you have any questions/concern feel free to contact me via e-mail through my contact form.

The Hotel Grand Pacific (Victoria, BC)

Raul — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 22:45:42 +0000

A few months ago, I was invited by Tourism Victoria to participate in an outreach event where I and a few other fellow travel bloggers in Vancouver had a chance to chat with a few businesses in the Victoria hospitality industry. I participated in a raffle and won a 1 night stay at the Hotel Grand Pacific. I knew of the Grand Pacific because I had walked past it in my many trips to Victoria, so I was really delighted. I saved the gift certificate knowing I might redeem it sometime. Here’s some information from their website:

The Hotel Grand Pacific is modern luxury at its finest. Conveniently located on the Inner Harbour in Victoria, British Columbia, the Grand has everything you look for in a great hotel — exceptional service, wonderful amenities and a premium location. Our award-winning hotel was named the Best Hotel in Canada in 2008 by Condé Nast Traveler Magazine.

So for JT’s birthday, I went all out and took him to Victoria by helicopter (post forthcoming) and then we stayed at the Hotel Grand Pacific. I was perhaps expecting a bit more luxury, but that’s maybe because I got used to the Fairmont Empress and the Parkside Victoria. But this should not detract from a good experience at the Grand Pacific. Much to the contrary, it IS a very nice hotel. And the view is spectacular (I paid $40 for an upgrade to have a suite that had a full view of the downtown harbour in Victoria).

I would definitely recommend The Hotel Grand Pacific for a short stay at a nice hotel and a reasonable price. I think the night was $109 per night when I visited (I forgot the gift certificate so I paid in advance and then got it reimbursed once I submitted the gift certificate). And the location is pretty unbeatable, in the Victoria inner harbour.

Disclosure: My stay at The Hotel Grand Pacific in Victoria was complimentary, but not as a media trip but as a gift certificate I won in a draw at the Tourism Victoria event. I covered every other single expense I incurred during this travel, including (but not limited to) breakfast, lunch, dinner and transportation (except when explicitly indicated). I wasn’t paid to write this review, nor was I required to do so either. The purpose of this blog entry is just to describe and document my experience at the hotel. In any review I write or publish on my site, I retain editorial control at all times. Should you have any questions/concern feel free to contact me via e-mail through my contact form.

My trip with Helijet

Raul — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 16:45:42 +0000

I had already travelled by helicopter but I always knew JT wanted to fly by chopper and for his birthday I wanted to surprise him and give him a great birthday present. So for JT’s birthday, I accepted the kind invitation of Jay Minter, Director of Marketing and Product Innovation at Helijet International (also known as simply Helijet) and flew to Victoria.

When I first looked into taking the Helijet, I will fully admit that I had already flown via Harbour Air and Salt Spring Air. So I had already experienced float planes. But I hadn’t experienced this type of business-oriented air travel by helicopter. Considering the cost of my hourly rate, if someone needed me to undertake a speaking engagement in Victoria, it would be in their best interest to have me fly with Helijet.

Our trip was extraordinarily comfortable, and extremely fast. Without a doubt, it was a 35 minute trip downtown Vancouver to downtown Victoria. It’s not the first time I have considered taking the Helijet and it will definitely not be the last. I am 100% sure that for Social Media Camp Victoria 2011 I will be taking the Helijet, because I will be unable to travel the day before, and I will need to be there early in the morning. And the money I will pay will be worth it, every single penny.

I took video from our take off in the flight from Vancouver to Victoria (bear in mind this was taken with a Canon SD 1300 so it’s not absolutely stellar and it doesn’t justice to how smooth travelling on Helijet is).

It’s hard to believe that Helijet is such a young company (founded in 1986). My good friend Erica Hargreave and I drove past the Richmond terminal for Helijet this past weekend. The terminal looks pretty impressive, I’ll admit. And again, the customer service at Helijet is beyond amazing. The customer service representatives I dealt with were absolutely stellar. I will definitely be back, Helijet!

Disclosure: My trip to Victoria and back was sponsored very generously by Helijet International Inc. I wasn’t paid to write this review, nor was I required to do so either. The purpose of this blog entry is just to describe and document my experience with Helijet’s service, and as indicated above, I would any day pay for the service. In any review I write or publish on my site, I retain editorial control at all times. Should you have any questions/concern feel free to contact me via e-mail through my contact form.

Parkside Victoria Resort & Spa (Victoria, BC) #yyj

Raul — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 16:00:39 +0000

Writing a book about water governance in Mexico while hosted by a LEED-designated hotel seems like a no-brainer, right? That’s why I am always amazed at Luba Plotnikoff’s wizardry: she completely understood what I was looking for when finding accommodations on Vancouver Island for my writing retreat.

The Parkside Victoria Resort & Spa in the capital city (Victoria, British Columbia) was simply spectacular, and the staff treated me like royalty. And not only me, EVERY guest. I talked to folks while I stayed there and they loved it.

Parkside is a sustainable resort hotel targeting LEED® Platinum Certification. It features a 25-metre ozonated indoor pool, hot tub, spa, private movie theatre, fitness centre and rooftop gardens with sweeping views of the city and the Pacific Ocean.

The resort consists of 126 fully furnished designer suites in two independent seven- and eight-storey towers joined by a three-storey glass garden atrium. Parkside’s Discovery Centre features a complimentary iPad Bar.

Photo credit: Suzanne Teresa & Alec Watson. Used with permission from the Parkside Victoria.

Yes, this is what the kitchen looks like. My own iPhone photos don’t do justice (still, should you want to see them, they’re on Flickr) so I used theirs to illustrate my post.

Photo credit: Suzanne Teresa & Alec Watson. Used with permission from the Parkside Victoria.

And I slept in a bed like this

Photo credit: Suzanne Teresa & Alec Watson. Used with permission from the Parkside Victoria.

And the dining room and lounge are spectacular.

Photo credit: Suzanne Teresa & Alec Watson. Used with permission from the Parkside Victoria.

Overall, I would definitely recommend (very strongly) the Parkside Victoria. I just found out about a really inexpensive deal they have (for $99 per night), and for a writing project, it’s a very good option if you just want to get away (like I did) and focus on a project for a few days. And it has a number of sustainability features, so trust me, I really enjoy that element.

Disclosure: My stay at the Parkside Victoria Resort & Spa in Victoria was sponsored very generously by the hotel as part of my recent Vancouver Island writing retreat (which included stops in Victoria, Courtenay/Comox, Nanaimo and Parksville/Qualicum Beach). I covered every other single expense I incurred during this travel, including (but not limited to) breakfast, lunch, dinner and transportation (except when explicitly indicated). I wasn’t paid to write this review, nor was I required to do so either. The purpose of this blog entry is just to describe and document my experience at the resort. In any review I write or publish on my site, I retain editorial control at all times. Should you have any questions/concern feel free to contact me via e-mail through my contact form.

rebar modern food (Victoria, BC)

Raul — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 16:41:34 +0000

JT and I arrived last weekend to Victoria exhausted and sleep-deprived as we had been both working overtime, so we dropped our bags at the Grand Pacific Hotel and headed on to Government Street for brunch. My good friend Lisa Thomas-Tench suggested rebar modern food and I always trust her suggestions so we went there to have a bite to eat. rebar is located in Bastion Square.

Since 1989, rebar has been serving up the freshest, funkiest and healthiest food on the West Coast. Located in Victoria’s historic Bastion Square, rebar is open 7 days a week for breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch

JT ordered pancakes and I ordered a version of huevos rancheros (as you can tell from my Lady Marmalade review, that’s usually my go-to dish when having breakfast. Being Mexican might be the reason). While the flavors were good, the service was pretty dismal (with the waitress – the owner came by and he was super sweet).

Overall, the brunch there was good, and it’s particularly fantastic for those of us who favor organic, locally-sourced ingredients (and it’s ideal for vegans and vegetarians). I would have no problem recommending rebar, although I do like to eat meat once in a while, but this is a funky place. And very busy! We had brunch at 11 and it got completely full by 11.45am.

Lady Marmalade (Victoria, BC)

Raul — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 06:10:40 +0000

There’s one thing that Twitter is good for: asking for recommendations for brunch places in a city that you probably don’t visit extremely often. Despite the fact that I’ve been to Victoria more times this year than when I was dating a Saanich resident, I still don’t know where the hot spots for brunch are. So, while I reviewed John’s Place recently, I hadn’t reviewed other places.

Many people recommended Lady Marmalade.. So JT took me there for brunch. I ordered a variation of huevos rancheros that left me a bit puzzled. While not bad, I wasn’t terribly impressed with the food. It was definitely good, but I’m not totally crazy about it, for some reason.

The prices were reasonable without being super cheap. Overall, I think I want to try more places in Victoria before making a decision on which one is my favorite.

Disclosure: JT paid for my and his brunch out of his own pocket.

Craigdarroch Castle (Victoria, BC)

Raul — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 21:39:42 +0000

There are few things that I love more than castles. I suppose that in a former life, I wanted to be a prince or something. Or maybe I was. But right now, I’m definitely not a millionaire. Albeit, if I had the money, I probably would build a castle, much like Craigdarroch Castle. I love visiting old houses and castles, and I wanted to take the opportunity to visit Craigdarroch Castle while I was there last weekend.

Robert Dunsmuir was born in 1825 near Kilmarnock, Ayrshire into a family of coal masters, who rented mines from the land-owning aristocracy. In 1869, Dunsmuir found a rich seam of coal near Nanaimo. It was the richest coal seam to be discovered on Vancouver Island. Craigdarroch Castle is an example of a “bonanza castle”, massive houses built for men who became wealthy because of the industrial transformation of North America. Three of Dunsmuir’s American business associates were railroad entrepreneurs who had built their own bonanza castles: Collis P. Huntington, Leland Stanford, and Charles Crocker.

[From the Craigdarroch Castle website]

I had an absolutely delightful time at Craigdarroch Castle. Dunsmuir’s luxurious estate really made me ponder how easy it is for some people to spend their money in lavish parties and egregious castles. And well, we are lucky that the castle has been preserved so nicely as it is now a great historical museum.

Disclosure: My visit to the Craigdarroch Castle was sponsored very generously by Tourism Victoria as part of my recent media trip to Victoria. I wasn’t paid to write this post, nor was I required to do so either. The purpose of this blog entry is just to describe my experience visiting a beautiful local attraction in Victoria. In any review I write or publish on my site, I retain editorial control at all times. Should you have any questions/concern feel free to contact me via e-mail through my contact form.

The @FairmontEmpress Gold Rooms #yyj

Raul — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 16:00:12 +0000

I have to admit that I am a bit of a fan of The Fairmont Empress Hotel. And I’m even more of a fan of the Fairmont Empress Gold Rooms. You’ll see, in my recent media trip to Victoria, I was expecting to stay at the Fairmont Empress but in a normal room. But when I got to the front desk, I was greeted with a cheerful smile and a “oh, I see that you’ve been upgraded to a Gold Room”.

Featuring luxurious, rich furnishings and fabrics, marble bathrooms with oversized walk-in shower or bath tub and shower combo, flat screen televisions and personalized appointments you have come to expect on Fairmont Gold.

You can imagine my surprise. Because, seriously, I was NOT expecting this. A very kind and generous gesture on the part of The Fairmont Empress (who didn’t need to do this, because to be quite honest, I would have raved about them anyways – I already have raved about them!). But I’m glad they did.

All Fairmont Gold Rooms are non-smoking and offer business amenities, private direct-dial telephone with complimentary business cards and personalized wake-up calls. Nightly turn-down service, overnight shoe-shine and morning newspaper delivery are services provided to all Fairmont Gold guests.

I had a really hard time leaving my Gold Room, to be quite honest. My photo set doesn’t really do justice (oh how I wish I had a DSLR!), but it gives you an idea of the kind of room I got.

An extremely classy gesture on the part of the Fairmont Empress, and much appreciated. I had a fantastic stay, as usual.

Disclosure: My stay at the Fairmont Empress Hotel was sponsored very generously by the hotel as part of my recent media trip to Victoria. My expenses to travel to and from Vancouver Island were covered by BC Ferries. I wasn’t paid to write this review, nor was I required to do so either. The purpose of this blog entry is just to describe my experience at the hotel. In any review I write or publish on my site, I retain editorial control at all times. Should you have any questions/concern feel free to contact me via e-mail through my contact form.

The Beagle Pub (Victoria, BC)

Raul — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 18:00:09 +0000

I went to The Beagle Pub with my friend Chris and his girlfriend for a pint before we went for dinner to Prima Strada Pizzeria, and we had a great time. We ordered a Strongbow ($7.75) and 2 pints of Race Rocks ($5.25 each), which was not very expensive. My friend Chris tells me that they’ve been there for food and they’ve had a good time.

To me, The Beagle Pub looked very much like The Regal Beagle in Vancouver, a bar/pub with bar/pub fare and atmosphere. Not bad, to be quite honest. I might come back next time I’m in Victoria!

John’s Place (Victoria, BC) #yyj

Raul — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 17:00:41 +0000

It’s clear to me that Victoria knows where to get breakfast: John’s Place. It’s really rare that I get to eat brunch while I visit Victoria, because usually either (a) I am too busy running around like a headless chicken or (b) I don’t get to stay long enough to enjoy breakfast or brunch. Luckily, recently I got the chance to enjoy brunch with my friends Katharine and Paul Holmes. They suggested John’s Place.

They were right.

I would strongly recommend John’s Place to anyone who is seeking authentic brunch in Victoria. The only problem I saw is that it’s too popular! The menu is great and I loved their food (even if I really didn’t order much, as I already had had brunch at the Empress).

Bastion Square (Victoria, BC) #yyj

Raul — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 16:00:05 +0000

Exploring Victoria (British Columbia) by foot is one of the most leisurely activities you can have, and I did that just recently. I walked around Government Street and explored Bastion Square, where the Maritime Museum of British Columbia is located.

Researching the history of Bastion Square turned out to be quite a fun activity. While right now it seems to be a substantial centre of economic activity (and a place to hang out and have great food, from what I could see in my recent trips), it wasn’t always the case, as mentioned in the BastionSquare.ca page:

Slowly, but surely, through the 1890s until about 1912 Bastion Square developed as the legal and professional centre of Victoria and British Columbia. However, a depression in 1912, followed by World War I and Prohibition (1917-1920) began to weaken the economic base of Bastion Square and Old Town in general. The rapid growth of Vancouver as the principal port on the west coast drew many businessmen to the mainland. Gradually Victoria started to become a backwater and Bastion Square started to take on a shabby appearance.

Without revenue from saloons, hotels such as the Burnes House were not viable. The Board of Trade Building lost its tycoons to Vancouver. These buildings became storage facilities for moving companies. The Hibben-Bone Block became a hotel, the notorious Churchill Hotel which had a beer parlour in the basement considered one of the roughest in town. Then in 1961 a new courthouse opened on Blanshard Street and the one in Bastion Square was abandoned. In many people’s minds, Bastion Square was ready for the wrecking ball and redevelopment.

I have had lunch here (at The Local Kitchen, but that’s part of another blog post), and had a fantastic time. Bastion Square is definitely a gem of architecture and showcases awesome restaurants and pubs. I never get tired of hanging out here.

Veneto Dining and Tapas Lounge (Rialto Hotel, Victoria BC)

Raul — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 22:05:11 +0000

There are two bartenders on whose hands I always hang my drinking life: Shawn Soole (of Clive’s Classic Lounge fame) and Simon Ogden (head bartender at Veneto Dining and Tapas Lounge). Every time I visit either of these two fine gentlemen’s establishments, I say “do your magic – I don’t want to know what’s in my drink, just make me happy”. And they do. Without so much as a blink, both Simon and Shawn deliver fantastic cocktails in my hands. I surprised Simon (whom I consider a very good friend) this past weekend as I dropped by Veneto Dining and Tapas Lounge completely and entirely unannounced.

I had been trying to visit Veneto, but for the past few months, my life has been crazy and hectic. So when I got invited to visit Victoria “at my own leisure and pace”, I took the opportunity to show up at Veneto and surprise Simon and get to enjoy first-hand what my friends in Victoria have been telling me all the time: that Veneto is one happening place. And hell, is it ever!

I dropped by Veneto twice. The first time I had a couple of cocktails, although I would lie if I said I remember. But they were amazing. The second time I only had one cocktail, but it was amazing. And I feel like I need to ask Simon what I had. All I can tell you is that ANYTHING that man concocts, is special and totally worth it. Cocktails are priced within the reasonable $10 price tag, and Simon is excellent in what he makes.

Veneto’s atmosphere is incredibly elegant and classy, and having visited independently twice, I can tell you that there are good reasons why Veneto is so popular: Clive’s and Veneto are the two places where I would most certainly run to and have a fantastic cocktail at the end of a stressful evening. Highly recommended, if you are in Victoria (British Columbia).

Disclosure: While I visited Victoria invited on a media trip, and Simon generously provided me with a complimentary drink on my first visit, on my second visit I paid for my drinks on my own dime. I just wanted to share my experience having cocktails at a place that was heavily recommended online and on my media kit. I wasn’t paid to write this post, nor was I required to do so either. In anything I write or publish on my site, I retain editorial control at all times. Should you have any questions/concern feel free to contact me via e-mail through my contact form.

The floating homes at Fisherman’s Wharf in James Bay (Victoria, BC) #yyj

Raul — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 18:38:10 +0000

I have a bit of an obsession for floating homes, as you can tell from my previous post on the floating homes in Granville Island (Vancouver, BC). So when I found out that there were floating homes at Fisherman’s Wharf in James Bay (in Victoria, BC), I realized I had arrived to my dream house (or set of houses, as you will).

I went on a rather leisurely walk over to James Bay (I stayed at the Fairmont Empress during my recent visit to Victoria) and strolled around the floating homes that I found at Fisherman’s Wharf in James Bay. Since it was close to Hallowe’en, many houses were decorated with Hallowe’en motives.

From the Floating Homes in Victoria page:

In 1922, float planes used to carry the mail between Victoria, Vancouver, and Seattle moored here. Also in the ‘20s, the immigration centre served as a detention centre for illegal immigrants and wayward foreign sailors. Many Japanese mail order brides were processed in the facility from 1908 until 1928.

By the 1940s, floathomes were here, supported by rafts of huge, cedar logs. They were built in response to a need for affordable housing. World War II saw a growing industry in shipbuilding, especially of steel freighters. Before the shipbuilding operation closed in 1967, a number of BC ferries and even a deep-sea oil drilling rig were built on these shores.

The prices on those homes are actually quite affordable if you consider they are a mere 10 minutes away from the downtown core in Victoria. If I had the money, I totally would buy one!

Brasserie L’Ecole (Victoria, BC)

Raul — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 16:00:46 +0000

I arrived at Brasserie L’Ecole around 8pm on Thursday evening to see for myself whether the place lived up to its hype. I had seen on my media kit that Brasserie L’Ecole had been suggested as a great venue for dinner. And I am, as you know, a sucker for all things French. I spent A LOT of time in Paris, so I am used to (and love) French cuisine. Yes, even though it includes cheese, for the most part.

From their website:

Brasserie is defined as “an unpretentious restaurant that serves drinks, esp. beer, and simple or hearty food”. This definition parallels the restaurant design and menu. The name “l’école” (French for The Schoolhouse) is a nod to the history of the building, which once was a Chinese Schoolhouse

Brasserie “l’école” opened in late 2001 and has been nominated for awards provincially and nationally.

“L’école” features fourteen-foot high ceilings and a long space making it a comfortable size with seating for thirty – plus a slate topped bar with eight dining seats. The décor has borrowed from classic French bistro/brasserie style with red walls, rich chocolate brown wainscoting and ceiling, dark stained hardwood floors and white linen tablecloths. Chalkboards above the bar highlight the extensive selection of French wines as well as dinner features and the day’s choices of oysters. “It is a cozy space, striking a balance between a place to relax with friends in an unstuffy environment and to also enjoy great food and impeccable, but not formal service” says Sommelier/Owner Marc Morrison.

The menu reflects Chef/Owner Sean Brennan’s approach to using seasonal, locally available products cooked in a classic French country style. Menu items include Brennan’s well-loved duck confit, beet & goat cheese terrine and braised beef short ribs.

Upon arrival, I was promptly seated at the bar, as I was arriving alone. I ordered a Monkey Gland (gin, orange juice, absinthe & pomegranate syrup, $7) which was sweet, fresh, tastes of citrus and rather alcohol-charged (i.e. strong). As far as the ambiance and customers, I noticed that folks from all ages patronize L’ecole. I saw people who ranged in age anywhere from 23 to 67. Definitely this place is for fine dining.

For dinner, I ordered Creamed Chanterelles on toast, bacon, herbs ($12). At first I thought I would feel still hungry when I saw the size of the dish. But after I tried the first bite I realized I was in for a treat. The combined flavors of creamy tomato an the Chanterelle mushrooms, cooked to perfection, were simply to-die-for. While the dish contains bacon, the creamy herbs sauce doesn’t let the bacon overpower the dish.

I was a bit concerned about drinking the Monkey Gland paired with the Chanterelles but my concerns were assuaged as I didn’t find that the drink overpowered my dinner plate. The service at L’Ecole was, as so many people touted it, absolutely outstanding. The bartender made sure I was entertained, and gave me great tips on where to eat and drink in Victoria.

I ordered a Soupe a l’Ognion Gratinee, bacon, Gruyere crouton (aka a French onion soup — very traditionally French), for $8. My French onion soup was a bit of a sacrilege request on my part. I hate cheese so I asked for my soup so have the cheese removed. I felt very guilty but the fact of the matter is – it’s in the small requests that you really see the level of service. The soup was absolutely delicious even I’d ask for it without cheese. Extremely hot when served, I did love having it so warm when I knew I was going to go walk around Victoria in the cold.

Even though the place was packed on a Thursday night (no less), the servic was outstanding and very prompt. I wad in and out in a hour! Overall my dinner at Brasserie L’Ecole was simply superb. I will definitely come back again for a good meal.

Disclosure: While I was in Victoria on a media trip, I had dinner on my own dime at Brasserie L’Ecole. I just wanted to share my experience having dinner at a place that was heavily recommended online and on my media kit. I wasn’t paid to write this post, nor was I required to do so either. In anything I write or publish on my site, I retain editorial control at all times. Should you have any questions/concern feel free to contact me via e-mail through my contact form.

Pizzeria Prima Strada (Victoria, BC)

Raul — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 16:00:10 +0000

I had heard great things about Pizzeria Prima Strada from the online community (you can find Prima Strada on Twitter), as well as on my media kit. I figured I had to try it at least once during my Victoria trip.

When my friend Chris Parsons and I were making decisions on where to dine I mentioned Prima Strada and he agreed it would be good to try it out. Located almost kitty corner from my beloved Rosie’s Diner on Cook and Oxford, Prima Strada looked like a very happening place. So happening that the 10-15 minutes wait that they promised Chris when he called on advance quickly transformed into 45 minutes to an hour.

There is no place on this planet where I will wait for 1 hour to eat at. Well, that’s not true. Perhaps the only restaurant where I would wait that long for a table would be Maxim’s in Paris, France. And I did feel like telling Chris and his girlfriend that there would br NO way I would wait for so long to get into Prima Strada (we were 3 people so it’s not like we had a huge group). But I didn’t, and so we waited.

We decided to put our names down in the wait list and cross the street to get a drink at The Beagle. Prima Strada promised to call us when our table became available. We had a beer for about an hour and then walked back. We still waited a few minutes still but our table was ready quickly and our server was extremely prompt.

We ordered an appetizer of meat balls (absolutely delicious with the meat cooked to perfection and the sauce seasoned just right). We then ordered a Carne pizza (with lots and lots of meat) and a Rucola Pizza (packed chock full of the most exquisite prosciutto and arugula).

Both pizzas are thin crust and they were so filling and tasty we couldn’t finish them both between the 3 of us. Our combined bill came to about $60 which is not unreasonable at all for a night out in the town with friends.

Would I come back to Prima Strada? Yes, of course. Is the hype warranted? Totally. Was the food good? Not only good, absolutely fantastic. Did I enjoy waiting for an hour to eat? Absolutely not, and if the next time I come back the wait is predicted to be 45 mins to an hour, there is not a chance in hell I will be waiting that long.

Prima Strada is one of those restaurants you need to try at least once in your lifetime. Prima Strada’s pizza could, very well, be the best pizza I have ever had in my life.

Disclosure: While I visited Victoria invited on a media trip, we all had dinner at Prima Strada on our own dime. I just wanted to share my experience having dinner at a place that was heavily recommended online and on my media kit. I wasn’t paid to write this post, nor was I required to do so either. In anything I write or publish on my site, I retain editorial control at all times. Should you have any questions/concern feel free to contact me via e-mail through my contact form.

The First Peoples House at University of Victoria

Raul — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 15:45:48 +0000

This past weekend I gave a talk at the Department of Political Science of the University of Victoria, invited very kindly by Dr. Janni Aragon (Senior Instructor). It was great for me to give a seminar on my comparative wastewater policy project as it helps me frame my thinking for the book I am writing (yes, I am doing NaNoWriMo as NaBoWriMo). I already have the research, the data, and the thinking. All I need to do is write it. Anyways, I digress…

Between the end of my seminar and lunch at The University Club, Janni was kind enough to show me the First Peoples House. We have an equivalent at UBC, which I absolutely adore. So I was thrilled to see the University of Victoria’s First Peoples House.

In adopting “A Vision for the Future: Building on Strength, ” its strategic plan, the University of Victoria pledged to build “on our commitment to our unique relationship with Canada’s First Peoples.” One of the ways the university stated it would achieve this objective was through the construction of a First Peoples House.

First Peoples House creates an academic and cultural centre for Indigenous students, and a welcoming space on campus for the broader community. Designed by Alfred Waugh Architect of Vancouver in the Coast Salish style, the House includes academic, administrative and ceremonial spaces.

The 1,161 square-metre (12,500 square-foot) building houses the Office of Indigenous Affairs, Aboriginal student counselling services, classroom space, a student lounge and elders’ lounge, faculty offices as well as a ceremonial hall and kitchen.

I was quite impressed with the facility. It was so incredibly peaceful, and the programming looks quite incredible. Moreover, the First Peoples House has an Elder in Residence that students/faculty/staff can talk to if they need to do so. The architecture is absolutely impressive and there is so much wood in the construction the smell is absolutely beautiful.

I strongly recommend you to visit this facility next time you are at University of Victoria. If you are interested, you can check the rest of my photo set on Flickr.

I’m in Victoria #yyj

Raul — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 15:41:05 +0000

Yeah, as you may have noticed from my Twitter stream, I am in Victoria, British Columbia. And, on that note, let me tell you that there is only another 3 word that I enjoy hearing just as much as “I love you”. And those words are…

“At your leisure”

I’ve been invited to explore Victoria at leisure, and the way I am approaching the series of blog posts I’ll be publishing, is – this is how I explore Victoria. I am someone who enjoys walking around and I have no problem exploring cities by foot. So I loved when my media package said on every page … “explore at your leisure“. And I have done that. Without pushing myself to hit every single spot, I have had a chance to cover a lot of what the lovely capital city has to offer.

I’ve been unable to upload my photos to Flickr, but I’ll have written stuff about my trip once me and Flickr stop fighting. For now, stay tuned, because I have LOTS of blog posts forthcoming.

Credit: Stephen Rees on Flickr

Bard and Banker (Victoria, BC)

Raul — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 15:30:44 +0000

After Social Media Camp Victoria 2010, a number of us (attendees, volunteers and in my case, speakers) went to a Scottish pub in the heart of downtown Victoria (Bard and Banker Scottish Pub) to have some food and hang out. While it’s a decently-sized pub, the service wasn’t all that impressive at the beginning, to be quite honest.

But by the end of the night, I really had enjoyed my visit there, mostly because I sat in the area that was originally reserved for us, and just hung out with Jordan Keats, Jodie Gastel and Chris Parsons. Despite my “hummingbird” behavior, I’m not really all that social when I am in crowds. I get “over-people’d”.

As soon as I arrived, I asked one of the waitresses which area we were supposed to sit in. After a few minutes of back-and-forth, we were led to the back room and the patio (both very pretty and spacious locations). I ordered a beer ($5.00) and a really strange dish (Indian curry chicken stew topped with parsnip whipped potatoes, for $15.00).

At first, I was worried I was going to still be hungry after dinner, but the curry chicken was surprisingly VERY good, and very filling. My overall bill came to about $23 (we got a 15% discount because of SMC).

The waitresses were really nice and I can’t complain at all about the service after we were seated because they were really friendly and prompt. Our food was of good quality and the beer was also good. Overall, I probably will come back to Bard and Banker on a night when they’re not too crowded. The food wasn’t horribly expensive and was very tasty. And the company and conversations were the best part.

The Road to Port Hardy Charity Bike Ride

Raul — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 19:26:09 +0000

I have always felt very warmly welcome by the social media community in Victoria, British Columbia. For some reason, I have connected extremely well with them. I met Frans Jonker, a Victoria resident, in one of my trips. Frans will embark on “The Road to Port Hardy” Charity Bike Ride – a 4 day, 525km, completely unsupported, solo bike ride from Victoria to Port Hardy, in support of The BC Cancer Foundation. I myself have Blogathoned for BC Cancer, so I am keenly supportive of anything that has to do with cancer awareness and treatment. Frans will traverse his trusty 15 year old steel Marin Mountain Bike over 525kms of Vancouver Island’s mountainous Island Highway.

With over 15,000 feet of elevation gain, this ride will be completely unsupported, and Frans will be completely on his own, should anything go wrong with his machine! Hopefully, nothing will go wrong.

The bike ride that Frans will undertake will have the following schedule:

Monday Aug 16th 8am Mile Zero, Victoria BC – departure for Qualicum Beach
Tuesday Aug 17th Qualicum Beach to Campbell River
Wednesday Aug 18th Campbell River to Woss
Thursday Aug 19th Woss to Port Hardy

You can donate to support Frans’ fundraising efforts by clicking on this link.

The Chinatown in Victoria (British Columbia) #yyj

Raul — Thu, 27 May 2010 15:00:20 +0000

I have visited Victoria (British Columbia) dozens of times, first when I was dating The-Ex-That-Shall-Not-Be-Named and then afterwards visiting friends, and most recently, when I spoke at WordCamp Victoria 2010 a few weekends ago. Whenever I visit Victoria, is such a short trip that I rarely have the time to walk around. This time, though, I at least made some effort to go and see a little bit. One of the things that caught my attention was the Chinatown.

From what I understood, the Chinatown in downtown Victoria is the oldest in Canada and second only worldwide to San Francisco (Wikipedia entry). While I have read that gold (the metal contained in minerals) was what brought the first Chinese people to Victoria in 1858, it seems a bit strange that there is not a very visible Chinese population in Victoria. From what I could see, the population was actually rather primarily Caucasian.

It was nice to see Chinatown, though. My photos don’t do it justice as they are iPhone-photos, but I did capture some of the fun elements of the neighbourhood.

Things I learned in my most recent trip to Victoria

Raul — Tue, 18 May 2010 04:40:49 +0000

Credit: Tyler Ingram

- I am an over-packer. I brought with me two huge bags for a 3 day weekend. Seriously, I suck at packing even though I have travelled extensively for more than 2 decades.

- I need to pack a specific “travel toiletries bag” and JUST use that one. Every time I re-pack it with every trip I do, I forget something. This time, not only did I forget a razor blade to shave but I also forgot my toothbrush, toothpaste AND the case for my contacts. Lovely, eh?

- Next time I come to Victoria to give a talk (or elsewhere), I am giving myself an extra day to recuperate. WordCamp Victoria was an intense unconference, so I really needed some down time to get back into the swing of things.

- I feel incredibly at home in Victoria, despite the fact that my ex is from there (well, a bit North, but still). I think it has everything to do with the social media community in Victoria, I really enjoyed hanging out with everyone AT WordCamp Victoria and afterwards at Clive’s.

- I really hate being the last speaker in a full-day conference. By then, many people have already left. Also, next time I speak at any of the upcoming WordCamps I’m going to give a talk that is more technical. Still, I think everyone who came to my talk liked it.

- When in Victoria, be as relaxed as Vancouver Islanders. I am used to a different pace in Vancouver, and I really enjoy the more relaxed, laidback approach in Victoria. Obviously, nothing to do with Toronto which is incredibly fast-paced.

- I am eternally grateful to Paul and Katharine Holmes from IdeaZone.ca for always being incredibly generous with their time and their money. Paul and Katharine are both good friends of mine, and despite the fact that I was pretty much non-functional over breakfast, I really enjoyed seeing them.

- Distances in Victoria seem to Victorians incredibly long when I think of them super close. From The Empress to say, Quadra, is about 20-25 blocks and I could have walked it.

- You can’t enjoy Victoria in a weekend. It deserves a longer stay.

- The Fairmont Empress is as luxurious as they have always told me. My stay was generously sponsored by The Fairmont and I am eternally grateful (blog post to come).

Humboldt House (Victoria, BC)

Raul — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:14:56 +0000

When my friend Paul Holmes (IdeaZone.ca) invited me to speak at WordCamp Victoria, I knew that the only way I could get *some* rest would be to stay over instead of taking my usual approach.

Normally, I would buzz in and buzz out on the same day, like a hummingbird). Paul managed to work his magic and arranged for me to stay at the famous bed-and-breakfast known as Humboldt House. Considering that I travel a lot for academic conferences and I stay at hotels quite frequently, it’s rare that I say that I would prefer to stay at a B&B rather than a comfy hotel room. In the case of Humboldt House, this is completely true. Next time I’m in Victoria, I hope it will be a romantic getaway (or a writing weekend) and I will make sure to stay at this gorgeous place.

I didn’t know what to expect as I hadn’t even checked the Humboldt House’s website. All I knew was what Paul, Katharine and Greg Aspa had told me. My stay began at 11pm at night (I was freaking out because I was hanging out at Clive’s with Chris, Janis, Janice, Lorraine, Scott – and I hadn’t even checked in!). David was wonderful as he left my key outside in an envelope, and detailed welcoming instructions.

Soon as I walked into the Humboldt House (which is gorgeous from the outside and on the inside too!) I found the library, to my right. The sherry and cookies were to-die-for. And of course, chocolate truffles (the signature of Humboldt House). I walked into my room (The Gazebo Room, the largest and most luxurious one in the whole house) and discovered that not only is it beautiful and comfy, it had a jacuzzi.I was exhausted from having spoken at WordCamp, so I took a bath and landed on the bed.

The next morning, I took some time to tweet from my bed (despite how comfy it was, I couldn’t manage to stay asleep). I got my breakfast exactly at the time I was told it would (you register the night before) and it was glorious. I wish I had ordered the crepes (which looked amazing), but I knew that I was going to have three breakfasts (I was taken for brunch to Mo:lé by my friends Katharine and Paul Holmes) so I went for a relatively light brunch. I almost didn’t want to leave, to be quite honest. The fireplace, the little touches (bathrobe in the closet, the little details that made me feel extra welcome) were just amazing.

Humboldt House is promoted primarily as a destination for romantic getaways, wedding nights, etc. But to be quite honest, I would totally come here for a weekend of writing. David and Mila totally spoiled me, from the complimentary wireless internet, to breakfast in bed (comes through a cute two-way nook), to the jacuzzi, to stereo with iPod docking, to fireplace. I mean, seriously. I definitely will come back, and I would strongly recommend this wonderful bed-and-breakfast to anyone who wants to spoil and pamper him/herself. Thanks David and Mila for making my stay so fantastic!

Disclosure: My overnight stay was very generously sponsored by Humboldt House for WordCamp Victoria. As it has been indicated before on my site, I’m not paid to write this entry. In any review I write or publish on my site, I retain editorial control at all times. Should you have any questions/concerns please feel free to contact me via e-mail through my contact form.

Clive’s at the Chateau Victoria

Raul — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:52:59 +0000

After a very successful WordCamp Victoria (where I spoke about Integrated Social Media WordPress Site Building) we went for drinks to The Office, which disappointed me for its semi-watery drinks (though the bartender got it right after my second drink)

A few kind folks offered to continue the celebrations. Frankly, I was doubting that I would be able to continue simply because I had been working since 6:00am and the day had been hectic. But my body and mind were still energized from all the positive vibes we were surrounded by, so Scott Leslie, Janis LaCouveé, Chris Parsons, Lorraine Murphy, Janice Mansfield and myself went to get a night cap at Clive’s at the Chateau Victoria.

As soon as we walked in, we were warmly greeted by the waitress. While she had to take care of the full clientele at the bar, along with excellent bartender Shawn Soole (who tweets as LiquidRev), neither me nor my companions felt neglected. The service was excellent, the drinks were strong and very well made, and not really expensive (normal 2 oz drinks were around $ 8). I hadn’t had dinner so I ordered a burger ($ 11) which was really tasty.

In my opinion, Clive’s is an elegant, classy, cozy and sophisticated lounge. Two similar places that came to my mind when I was at Clive’s were The Refinery and Voya.

I would have stayed longer had I not been feeling guilty about arriving into Humboldt House so late. I think I speak for everyone in saying that we were delighted and impressed with the service AND the drinks.

I’ll definitely come back to Clive’s on my next visit to Victoria.

Cabin 12 (Victoria, British Columbia)

Raul — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:39:50 +0000

Chris Parsons and I had been corresponding on Twitter for a while now. He is currently doing his PhD in Political Science at the University of Victoria under Colin Bennett (whose work on policy convergence and policy emulation I have both admired and used in my own research). Chris missed my talk for the Social Media Club Victoria, but we agreed to meet up for breakfast when he came back into town.

We did that recently, and Greg and Pat Aspa joined us for breakfast at a place that just has been opened for about a month and a half, Cabin 12. The decor of this cafe/restaurant is rather eclectic (as you will be able to witness from Greg’s excellent photos) but we weren’t disappointed by the food. (NOTE – the photo to the right is NOT from our brunch at Cabin 12, it’s just a photo of one of my preferred brunch items, scrambled eggs).

I ordered a traditional scrambled eggs, sausage, hashbrowns and multigrain toast (it’s hard to screw up this kind of brunch food, quite frankly). The food was actually quite good, filling and tasty. They even added some grapes and a slice of orange for garnish. Overall, I would come back here for brunch if I was in downtown Victoria (this restaurant/cafe is located on Pandora Street, relatively near the water).

The partner of the owner was telling us that they host fundraisers and independent music events (even jamming sessions) so I’ll have to come back to Victoria and have a chance to enjoy it to its fullest. Greg and Pat were telling me that they noticed the modem and wireless router so I’m going to assume that Cabin 12 offers free wireless.

Overall, while the food was good, the ambiance was nice, it was spending time with Greg, Pat and Chris what made it all worth it. I look forward to coming back to Victoria and maybe doing an evening music session here at Cabin 12.

My recent Social Media Club Victoria talk: “Towards an Action-Focused Agenda for Social Change Using Social Media” (#smcvictoria) @smcvictoria

Raul — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 19:41:59 +0000

I mentioned on my blog a few weeks back that Catherine Novak had kindly invited me to speak to the audience at the Social Media Club Victoria’s monthly gathering. I was more than delighted. It was such a great experience. Very good for my soul, provided me a chance to feel renewed and recharged. Thanks to Greg and Pat Aspa who were my kind hosts overnight, and to everyone I met there. I really should come back soon. In the mean time, for those interested in knowing what I spoke about, here is my (Creative Commons licensed – Non-Commercial, Non-Derivative, Share-Alike) slide deck. I don’t have the time to publish a crib of my talk, may do that sometime soon, but not now. Enjoy! Comments always welcome, of course.

Towards an Action-Focused Agenda for Social Change Using Social Media

View more OpenOffice presentations from raulpachecov.

Sidney by the Sea (British Columbia)

Raul — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 06:38:00 +0000

I had bad memories from Victoria, Vancouver Island in general and Sidney (also known as Sidney by the Sea) thanks to my ex (who hails from North Saanich). However, I had the chance to spend a few days on the island with my close friend J, so I decided to re-create my memories and build new (and happier) ones.

So we started off our visit with Sidney. We arrived late during the day so we had to basically do a walk around and then eat lunch. The place where we had lunch (Cafe Med) is very cute and the service was really nice. Brunch wasn’t really expensive at all. I personally love everything about Sidney. Even though it appears as though it’s almost a retirement community (lots of seniors), the shoreline has changed and there are new buildings right across from the Cannery.

I was reading that Sidney used to be a farming community, but I can’t really see how. Renowned for whale-watching and its mineral museum, Sidney is the quintessential small town in Canada. You can walk it in less than an hour. I could work there given that within the first two minutes of walking around, I found an environmental services firm. I also found a nice mix of residential and commercial land uses. And being there just brought good memories to me, as well as allowed me to re-create new beautiful ones.

We walked around the Fisherman’s Wharf, and had a nice stroll on the Sidney dock. We didn’t get to have dinner at Bistro Suisse, which would’ve been really nice, but I guess that’ll have to wait until next time we visit. The advantage is that it’s very near to the Victoria Airport.

And for all of us, urban planners/environmental folks, this is so cool! It’s a complete socio-economic and demographic analysis of Sidney. I will save the PDF file for my future reference should I decide to move there.

Restaurant review – Rosie’s Diner (Victoria BC)

Raul — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 20:44:00 +0000

Since Sodas Diner has transformed itself into The Dunbar, J and I have lost our 50s diner where we have always headed to get burgers and fries. The food at The Dunbar is still good, but the decor is not 50′s anymore. Thus, I wasn’t that surprised that J looked for a 50s diner while we visited Victoria.

And he found one… Rosie’s Diner. Located in the beautiful Cook Street Village, Rosie’s Diner is simply outstanding. The food is very Canadian, I would say. I had a turkey dinner (turkey meat with mashed potatoes, gravy and cranberry sauce) and J had a Montecristo sandwich. Really inexpensive, and their home-made strawberry cheesecake was to-die-for.

I doubt that we’ll be coming to Victoria *just* for the experience of having dinner at a 50′s style diner, but I would definitely bring friends or loved ones to Rosie’s Diner just because it’s a great experience. You can see a photo here.

Beautiful Victoria, British Columbia

Raul — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 17:27:00 +0000

So I have spent the last three days in Victoria, one of the prettiest cities I’ve been to. The weather has been rather cold (zero degrees right now) but it’s been sunny. At night, the scenic view of the inner harbour is amazing. The Parliament buildings are well lit at night (with energy-saving light bulbs) and the skies have been so clear it’s been a great experience. Plus hanging out with a close friend is always nice.

I had a chance to walk around the city, particularly near Market Square and the Village. Actually the Village looks like it’s been frozen in time. We had dinner at a cute little 50s diner called Rosie’s Diner (on Cook), and then had a coffee at the Moka Cafe near by. If I could, I’d probably move to this area of town. It does have everything you could possibly need.

I also noticed that the prices for dinner, breakfast and lunch are much cheaper than in Vancouver. This leads me to believe that I would probably be much happier here as it would be cheaper to dine out (which I do quite often). However, I probably would exhaust the places for dinner/brunch quite soon considering how often I go out!

All in all, I love Victoria.