Destination Victoria
Stage Small Plates Wine Bar
A conversation with George and Linda Szasz of Stage
George and Linda, you consistently provide the most amazing food. What's your secret, what do you love most about cooking for your guests?
George gets credit for this one! Growing up in the restaurant business at Szasz’s in Vancouver, cooking is innate within George. Without that love, you just don’t get the results. We have always maintained that when you are serving food with this much attention and quality of ingredients put into it, you are elevated to nurturers, not just owners of a business that sells food. When guests recognize that, therein lies the reward. If they feel restored from the experience, you have done your job.
Bernstein and Gold
Victoria’s Retail Crown Jewel
Through the ages, the notion of luxury has conjured up the idea of something exclusive, rare, an original that reaches far beyond common. In Victoria BC there is such a store with attainable luxury items for all to take pleasure in and experience.
Rebel Rebel
For the young and the young at heart.
It seems every time I walk by this store on Low Jo (lower Johnson St) my inner DJ starts spinning David Bowie’s “Rebel Rebel you’ve torn your dress, Rebel Rebel your face is a mess”. Yes, you guessed it, the boutiques name is Rebel Rebel and it truly serves its name well. With a killer collection of creative clothing, this youthful driven style team presents a fresh view towards your personal sense of style. The rebel that lives in all of us will come out to play, identifying you as a trend setter amongst your pals.
Art Gallery of Victoria - Ivory
Ivory: Chinese and Japanese Carved Masterpieces
Still Life
Directly in the heart of downtown Victoria lives a beautiful boutique well known to all locals as Still Life Boutique. Still, it is not, active, it has always been. Not only did my older sister work there in high school, but I bought my first grown up, going out to party dress off their rack. That was 24years ago Gasp! Oh how the times have changed but Still Life continues to be present in delivering the forward looks in fashion to the hip cool people active within the downtown core and to the LoJo (Lower Johnson) shopper.
Lee Valley Tools
I originally discovered Lee Valley, the coolest tool store ever, over 25 years ago from one of my father's best friends who dabbled with weekend woodworking projects. Since that time Lee Valley has expanded on the term "tool porn". Being an avid gardener, I was doubly pleased to discover that they "rock" gardening gadgets as well! Now, with a store in Victoria, I'm willing to bet the gardening gadgets will outsell their traditional woodworking catalogue.
While visiting Cuba...
On a recent trip to Cuba I was intent on seeing everything, and it was imperative that I visit Havana, Castro's Cuba, before all the 'stuck in the 50's' character disappeared.
Top of the list was the Partagas cigar factory, since your humble writer loves the Cuban leaf. The atmosphere was as thick as fog inside. Rich, cedar boxes of cigars abounded in the dimly lit main showroom while the sounds of the cappucino machine in the bar at the back of the shop hissed and spluttered. Every time the showcase opened for a purchase, the smooth aroma filled the room.
Rocky Mountain Motorcycle Holidays - A Pacific Rim Adventure
Have your ever daydreamed about the perfect motorcycle vacation? One that includes spectacular scenery, luxurious accommodations with terrific views, mile after mile of twisty blacktop through pristine forests, your choice of sport touring bike, gourmet meals where you can order anything from the menu, daily bike washes, and a chase vehicle with your bags delivered to your room each night? Throw in visor cleaning at each rest stop and very attentive tour guides and there is not much more to include in your daydream.
Zebra Design
Sunday's Snowflakes - Essential Items
For as long as I have been shopping, Sunday's Snowflakes has been known as the go to store for excellent quality clothes designed for women to enjoy in their everyday lives. Wendy Graham’s vision has been serving up superior selection and service in the downtown location for 29 years, dressing locals and vacationers in their favorite or soon to be favorite outfit. Her team like her clients has been with her forever; now that speaks volumes! Wendy is also a community minded business woman, whose reputation and contribution for Santa’s Anonymous is commemorating 17 years of fundraising thru sell out fashion shows featuring world famous designer Simon Chang.
The Magnolia Hotel - Boutique-licious
These days just about anything can be "boutique." There are boutique nightclubs, boutique spas, boutique glasses frames—hell, there are even fake-boutique brands! The “boutique” label typically describes hotels that are intimate, luxurious or quirky and that differentiate themselves from larger chain hotels by providing personalized services. Well, the Magnolia Hotel and Spa has managed to keep a true boutique style, even through some major changes.
Bruce Wilson Canada - Interiors, Environments, Buildings, Furniture
Do you love the home you live in? It is easy to love the home in which you were raised. But when it’s time for you to buy a house (or a second one), how do you make it fit your personality, goals, and agenda? How do you find the perfect house for you? Bruce Wilson may have the answer.
Belfry Theatre
The Belfry Theatre has been producing plays since 1976 and has gone on to become one of Canada's most respected companies. The theatres is dedicated to producing contemporary plays with an emphasis on Canadian works and they strive to promote artistic, cultural and educational events in the Victoria region.
Outlooks for Men
Spring 2010
“Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.”
-Mark Twain
Ambient lighting, hip subtle music and a prompt hello greeted me at the door. OK, they had me at hello. In an instant there was a wash of ease from the warm reception and acknowledgement of my arrival. It is amazing how little it takes to say hello and how far it can go. The walls come down and together the client and store relationship begins.
Dale Olsen, owner of Outlooks for Men in Victoria B.C., has been a primary source for men’s fashion and style culture for 21 years. This relaxed, casual environment is service driven, pushing fashion not sales. No commission vipers here! Customers are asked direct quick questions that in turn inform the sales rep of your likes and dislikes and get you motivated to try styles on. Dale’s well-informed designer savvy staff will solve all your dressing dilemmas armed with an onsite master tailor as reinforcement.
Outlooks for Men
Spring 2010
“Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.”
-Mark Twain
Ambient lighting, hip subtle music and a prompt hello greeted me at the door. OK, they had me at hello. In an instant there was a wash of ease from the warm reception and acknowledgement of my arrival. It is amazing how little it takes to say hello and how far it can go. The walls come down and together the client and store relationship begins.
Dale Olsen, owner of Outlooks for Men in Victoria B.C., has been a primary source for men’s fashion and style culture for 21 years. This relaxed, casual environment is service driven, pushing fashion not sales. No commission vipers here! Customers are asked direct quick questions that in turn inform the sales rep of your likes and dislikes and get you motivated to try styles on. Dale’s well-informed designer savvy staff will solve all your dressing dilemmas armed with an onsite master tailor as reinforcement.
The Spa Magnolia
Located just steps from Victoria's Inner Harbour, the newly re-designed Spa Magnolia provides the ultimate contemporary environment to create an experience that lingers on skin, and deep into the heart. Grounded in Ayurvedic healing traditions rituals decrease stress through aroma and the power of touch. Allow experienced, long term Spa Therapists to deliver treatments using professional products providing results you can see.
The Spa Magnolia
Located just steps from Victoria's Inner Harbour, the newly re-designed Spa Magnolia provides the ultimate contemporary environment to create an experience that lingers on skin, and deep into the heart. Grounded in Ayurvedic healing traditions rituals decrease stress through aroma and the power of touch. Allow experienced, long term Spa Therapists to deliver treatments using professional products providing results you can see.
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria - Emily Carr: On the edge of nowhere
Emily Carr: On the edge of nowhere
Opening 30 June, 2010 -
Although Emily Carr described herself as an “isolated little old woman on the edge of nowhere” her work has an appeal that is universal in its expressive messages rather than strictly limited to regional depictions of British Columbia.