June is Greek Heritage Month in Vancouver which includes the always uplifting (and delicious) Greek Day festival on West Broadway in Kitsilano.
Sunday, June 26, 2011 from 11:00am to 9:00pm
The 21st annual Greek Day on Broadway
Free, family-oriented street festival on West Broadway from McDonald to Blenheim
Aside from Greek Day, there are dozens of other Greek Heritage Month events taking place around the city that include:
Sunday, June 12, 2011 at 12:30pm
Photographic Retrospective of Past Greek Days and the Greek Community
Free event at the Hellenic Community Centre, 4500 Arbutus, Main Hall
Thursday, June 16, 2011 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm
“Grecian De-LIGHT” Champaign Reception
Free event, adults only at the Chali-Rosso Art Gallery, 2250 Granville
Friday, June 17, 2011 at 6:00 pm
Intercultural Heritage Exploration – An evening with Inez Jasper (dinner included)
$60 but you can enter to win free tickets on Facebook
Salmon n’ Bannock Bistro, 1128 West Broadway
A full Greek Heritage Month calendar is available online along with more information about Greek Day.
There are many options for fish and chips in Victoria, from brew pubs to float-through windows at Fisherman’s Wharf – and I’ve explored most of them. Red Fish Blue Fish has been at the top of my list since Karen Hamilton told me about it years ago and this past weekend I was finally able to sample their seasonal seaside fare.
Located on a dock off Wharf Street in Victoria, the queue for Red Fish Blue Fish was about three times longer than the full length of its converted freight container.
It was a gloriously sunny day, and I had heard so many good things, that the 20-30 minute wait breezed by. In the meantime, take-out only patrons lucky enough to already score their lunches were sitting out on the dock, grabbing an Island Farms soft-serve cone, or enjoying the serenade of a nearby busker.
As I was in Victoria to speak at Social Media Camp, I didn’t want to have a full order of fish and chips so I decided on the tacone. Red Fish Blue Fish’s tacones are wraps that taper at the end, making a cone shape. My mistake was ordering two tacones (since one was filling enough) but I wanted to get a good sampling of their food. So much for not stuffing myself before my speaking engagement… but it was worth it.
Spicy Pacific Fish Tacone: Simmered in sweet-smoked chili adobo with pea shoots and lemon pickled onions. One for $5, two for $9. It wasn’t too spicy (I was expecting it to pack more of a punch) but it was full of flavour.
Tempura Cod Tacones: Sweet-smoked chili adobo with pea shoots and lemon pickled onions. One for $5, two for $9. This was my favourite of the two. Classic, crisp, flaky, and still juicy.
Other items from their full Ocean Wise menu include (but are not limited to) a local shrimp roll (lobster roll style), curry or Kennebec hand cut chips, BBQ Fanny Bay oyster sandwich, the cod dog, and your choice of salmon, halibut or cod for the classic fish and chips.
I could easily order a $5 tacone for lunch and be satisfied. If you’re in the area, you probably already now the goodness that is Red Fish Blue Fish but if you’re a visitor be sure to check it out the next time you’re in town. Tip: Follow them on Facebook or Twitter for updates as they do close early on poor-weather days.
Disclosure: cpm.ly/0 I was not paid to write this post nor was I given a review sample. I paid for lunch.
While the rain has been leaving most locals feeling a bit glum, we can all rest easy knowing that we have such a fantastic backyard in which to play when the sun sticks around for a nice long haul this summer. Nine weeks into the getaway giveaway series for BC Travel Tuesdays and we’ve been thrilled with the response. We’ve had a few Vancouver Island giveaways already and this is one of the biggest to date.
backyardbc is a new travel website designed specifically for residents of British Columbia. Essentially a “be a tourist in your own backyard” program, participating hotels & resorts offer residents of BC exclusive rates and specials, designed to motivate BCers to travel more within the Province. Each offer has its own unique reservation code, and all bookings are done directly with our hotel and resort partners. Visit backyardbc online, on Twitter, or Facebook and see more of BC!
The winner of BC Travel Tuesday: Week 8 Hotel Grand Pacific Victoria is Tamara (and she has been notified by email). This week’s property is also located in Victoria and is probably the most recognizable hotel in the city, if not all of British Columbia. It’s the prestigious, historic, regal, legendary, Fairmont Empress.
Fairmont Empress
Website, Twitter, backyardbc listing
Location: 721 Government Street, Victoria, BC
About: “Enjoyed by kings, queens and celebrities, cherished memories are created for guests of Afternoon Tea in the hotel’s historic Tea Lobby. A recent multi-million dollar renovation of each Fairmont Gold room and suite epitomize modern luxury accommodations in Victoria. A bounty of dining options with a farm to fork philosophy ensures the best of Vancouver Island is engaged in your dining experiences.”
Prize: Two nights in a Fairmont Gold room and their famous Afternoon Tea for two.
Value: $1500
To enter to win, leave a comment on this post and/or post the following on Twitter:
Gift certificates for hotel and resort stays will be sent directly to each weekly winner so they can arrange their visit personally with the property. Some restrictions apply, based on availability. Must be 19 years of age or older to enter and win.
View all posts in the series by following or subscribing to my BCTravelTuesday tag. Open to residents of BC.
It’s no secret that hockey fever is alive and well in Vancouver… and it’s June. While it’s an unfamiliar feeling, it’s something this city’s been waiting for since Cyclone Taylor won the cup at the Denman Arena back in 1915. While browsing the Vancouver Archives’ blog, Authenticity, I noticed their latest post features hockey history in Vancouver. Fittingly, that will be the theme of today’s “Archives Photos of the Day” for June 8, 2011.
![[Vancouver Ladies' hockey team]](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5142/5782208021_d4ec5588d9_b.jpg)
Date: 1920
Subject: Vancouver Women’s Hockey Team
Archives Item#: CVA 99-58
Date: 1930
Subject: Vancouver Lions Hockey Team
Archives Item#: CVA 99-3829
Date: 1930
Subject: Vancouver Lions Hockey Team Members
Archives Item#: CVA 99-3839
All photos above were taken by Stuart Thomson and are available on Flickr or through the Vancouver Archives online.
Date: 1920s
Subject: Vancouver Hockey Player
VPL Accession Number: 17993, 17996
Photographer: Stuart Thomson
Date: 1948
Subject: Vancouver Canucks, PCHL Championship Team Member
VPL Accession Number: 84097I
Photographer: Ray Munro
Date: 1948
Subject: Old Timers Hockey Game at the Forum
VPL Accession Number: 84067B
Photographer, Studio: Artray
Date: 1948
Subject: Vancouver Canucks Player
VPL Accession Number: 40963
Photographer, Studio: Province Newspaper
Date: 1950s
Subject: Breaking Up a Hockey Fight
VPL Accession Number: 41827A
Date: 1948
Subject: Hockey Finals, Seattle vs Vancouver Canucks
VPL Accession Number: 84075C
Photographer: Stu Hertz
All photos in the section above are from the Vancouver Public Library’s online archive.
Capilano Suspension Bridge, one of the region’s most popular tourist destinations, has just added a new attraction to compliment the treetop adventure and of course, the bridge.
Jutting out from the granite hillside, Cliffwalk is high, narrow, and in some sections made of glass, in order to give visitors an unbelievably unique view of the forest and canyon below.
If you think you have what it takes to head out on the Cliffwalk, I have a prize pack to give away that includes 4 passes to the park and a $50 gift certificate for lunch at the Bridge House (total value is over $180). You can enter to win by doing any or all of the following:
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 on Friday, June 10th, at 12:00pm.
Update The winner is Natalie W (@shuttersclick)!
