The City of Victoria is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year as the town site of Fort Victoria was incorporated on August 2nd in 1862. Events have been planned throughout the year along with a community festival and ceremony on August 2nd at Centennial Square. There will be music, performances, birthday cake, and much more.
On August 5th, the city will host the 23rd annual Symphony Splash — the biggest event of the summer right within the scenic inner harbour complete with fireworks. The symphony is accompanied by iconic Victoria attractions like the cathedral bells, the carillon outside of the Royal BC Museum, and even the Coho Ferry horn.
It will be a great time to be in Victoria but it’s an interesting and captivating city any time of year. The Magnolia Hotel & Spa is offering up a special Victoria 150 Package to those who would like to visit the capital.
When you book two-nights accommodation in one of their rooms you’ll receive a $75 per day credit to enjoy Victoria and a personal concierge will help you create a customized vacation. The personal concierge — who is available during your stay and leading up to your trip — can help craft an itinerary that includes Harbour Air Scenic Flights, whale watching tours, spa treatments, and more.
A few years ago Keira-Anne and I stayed at the Magnolia and instantly fell in love with the luxurious boutique property. It is centrally-located right near the inner harbour, it’s warm and welcoming, and has a very personal and friendly feel.
“Travelers are greeted with prompt service, smiles and the tinkering of a baby grand piano. While the winter weather outside was frightful, complimentary sugar cookies and hot apple cider in the lobby proved to be most delightful… …Our room, complete with hers and hers queen-sized beds, featured a glittering view of the Parliament Buildings and a sliver of Victoria Harbour. Though the hotel is less than a decade old, the decor of both the common area and each of the rooms is exquisitely styled in a manner that’s both refined and undoubtedly comfortable.” – Keira-Anne.
The Magnolia has been 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.
If you would like to check it out, they have offered up a fantastic getaway package for one lucky Miss604 reader and their guest that includes:
- Two night stay at Magnolia Hotel & Spa in a deluxe corner king room.
- Deluxe continental breakfast on each morning.
- Valet parking.
- 30 minute scenic flight with Harbour Air for two people.
Here’s how you can enter to win this getaway:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
Follow the Magnolia Hotel & Spa on Twitter and Facebook for more information about special packages, Victoria visits, and more throughout the year. Harbour Air services both downtown Victoria and Vancouver, and they’re also on Twitter and Facebook.
I will draw one winner next Thursday, July 19, 2012 at 12:00pm. Prize must be redeemed/used by September 16, 2012. Subject to availability, the hotel is already sold out for August long weekend. Does not include transportation to Victoria.
Update The winner is Mark Donnery!
The 24th Illuminares Lantern Festival is a unique, creative, family-friendly evening presented by the Public Dreams Society and it returns to Trout Lake this month.
Head to Trout Lake (John Hendry Park at Victoria Drive & East 15th) on Saturday, July 21st to pick up a lantern or attend a workshop where you can make your own. Admission is a $5 donation to the society and the event will run from 6:00pm to 10:00pm. Food vendors will be on site but you can also bring your own picnic.
There will be interactive performances, artists, entertainment, and hopefully thousands in attendance to light up the night by lantern. The traditional procession will go around the lake at 9:45pm, simply follow a band and you’ll be lead to the finale point — which involves a 30-person fire show presented by Radiant Heat at 10:15pm.
Walking, cycling, or taking transit is highly recommended and parking will not be available. The park is accessible on bus routes and is between Commercial Drive/Broadway and Nanaimo SkyTrain stations.
Leading up to Illuminares, you can attend a lantern-making workshop at Trout Lake Community Centre starting today, and every day until the main event on July 21st. Stop by from 5:00pm to 8:00pm on weekdays and from 12:00pm to 4:00pm on Saturday and Sunday. You’ll learn to create various styles of lantern from simple jars to intricate bamboo and paper. The cost is $5 to build small lantern, $10 for medium, and $15 for large.
Over the years I have profiled bloggers from the Northwest Territories to the Fraser Valley, anyone that interests me and that I hope will interest you as well. A few years ago I started asking a standard set of questions and I’ve sent these out to a few local bloggers for this week’s series. Click, share, explore, and enjoy.
Sabinah Rafiq
Blog: South Surrey Buzz
Twitter: @southsurreybuzz
How long has your blog been around?
I started my blog in December 2011
What is your role/involvement (developer, owner, blogger etc.)
Blogger, Tweeter
What does your site do/what is it about
I help to promote the lifestyle in South Surrey. This involves tweeting and blogging about local events, developments, deals, sales. My site also includes the only online community calendar for the area.
What can people see, read, and do when visiting your blog?
When visiting my blog, people will learn about what’s happening in South Surrey and White Rock. This includes special events, recreation, new housing developments, local sales and deals, reviews on local eateries, City of Surrey programs and events and more.
Why do you blog?
I blog because it’s a way for me to connect with my community and because its fun!
What is the ultimate goal for your site, how would you like to see it grow?
The goal for my blog is to be one of the best sources of information for those living in or visiting South Surrey. Another goal is to help project a positive image of the community. I’d really like to see the calendar be extensively used by the community. I would like to let businesses and organizations know that the posting of their events on my blog and calendar is completely free.
Follow Sabinah: South Surrey Buzz and on Twitter.
Read all entries in my Blogger Profile series and feel free to suggest a blogger for possible feature in the comments of this post.
It’s not everyday that an apartment building in Vancouver celebrates 100 years of life so the Mount Pleasant Business Improvement Association is making sure to mark the occasion of the Lee Building’s Centennial. On Sunday, July 15th, 2012 they’ll host an event at Heritage Hall on Main where past residents, merchants, and anyone who’s passed the landmark building on Main and Broadway can celebrate its history.
1939 – 2500 Block Main Street. VPL Accession Number: 25005. Dominion Photo Co.
The Mount Pleasant BIA has an informative blog post on their site that includes insights from Tracy Lee, granddaughter of Mr. Herbert Lee.
Mr. Lee, a pioneer, city builder and sound businessman with an active interest in city affairs, bought a store and grocer business in 1903 and named it H.O. Lee Grocery (at 2425 Main Street, currently F as in Frank Clothing). In 1908 Mr. Lee was president of the Westminster Lacrosse Club and in 1920 he helped organize a second lacrosse club. He was also a leading member of the executive of the Liberal Association.
Let me tell you: if you think Main and Broadway is a bustling place nowadays, it was THE place to be in the early 1900s. In the midst of a prolonged real-estate boom, 9th Ave became Broadway and Westminster Ave became Main Street. A pensive and proactive observer, Mr. Lee saw all this action happening around him and became part of the boost by building the Lee Building, a seven-storey office and apartment block at 175 Broadway (where a church was relocated elsewhere to make way for the handsome new building). As the tallest building south of False Creek, the Lee Building dominated the newly renamed corner. Continue Reading »
Everyone is welcome to stop by the event at Heritage Hall (3102 Main Street) from 11:00am to 3:00pm this Sunday, July 15th. Tracy Forsyth will be a guest speaker along with historians and heritage architects.
The 10th Annual Purolator Tackle Hunger Food Drive is coming to BC Place on Friday, July 20th as the BC Lions take on the Edmonton Eskimos. This massive food drive (in and outside of the stadium) will be accepting your donations for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society and the Surrey Food Bank Society.
Since 2003, BC football fans have helped raise 206,165 pounds of food through the Purolator Tackle Hunger program. Last year the food drive raised 28,500 pounds of food and supplies, an increase of 14%.
“The Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society distributes food to more than 25,000 people every week, through 15 food depots and over 100 community agencies. The Surrey Food Bank Society helps feed 15,000 people every month – 42 per cent of which are children.”
You can help by coming by BC Place on Friday, July 20th starting at 5:00pm to make a donation in person. The Grey Cup will be at Terry Fox Plaza and donations of non-perishable food items can be made at every BC Place gate. You can also text TACKLE to 30333 to make a one-time $5 donation.
This is a part of Purolator’s commitment to helping food banks across Canada throughout the year. Whenever a Quarterback is sacked during the regular season they will also donate his weight in food to a local food bank, in the city in which that game is being played. Follow Purolator Tackle Hunger on Twitter and Facebook for more information.
To promote the 10th Annual Purolator Tackle Hunger Food Drive, I have two BC Lions tickets to give away to the game. Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm next Wednesday, July 18, 2012. Update The winner is Stephanie!
