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Current Events

Party Like It’s the End of Summer, Victoria! (Because…Sniff…It Kind of Is)

By anitabean, on August 31st, 2010

If you’re in Victoria for the coming Labour Day long weekend, there is a cornucopia of food, fun, music, culture, craft, and country-style entertainment to enjoy. Here are my scrimp or splurge picks from a terrific lineup of festivals and events, kicking off with Greekfest on Wednesday, the first day of September. (Can you believe it? September already!)

GREEKFEST

  • Wednesday through Monday, Sept. 1-6, 2010
  • Greek Community Centre, 4648 Elk Lake Drive, Saanich
  • www.greekfest.ca

Scrimp: From 11 am to 9 pm, free activities include: Greek dancing lessons; live music by the Gypsy Rovers, White Eagle Band, and others; and dance performances by a dozen troupes, including the Dionysos Greek Dancers, Madeira Group Portuguese Dancers, Pearl of the South Polynesian Dance Group, Alma de Espana Dancers, and more. Check the schedule here.

Splurge: Come for the dancing, stay for the cuisine. Indulge in Greek fare from spit-roasted lamb ($16.95) and traditional Greek salad ($5) to pita-wrapped, tzatziki-dolloped pork souvlaki ($6), or filo-pastry-layered, spinach-and-cheese spanakopita ($6). Save room for an eyelid-raising Greek coffee ($2.50) and honey-sweet, walnut-studded baklava ($3.75).

VICTORIA CLASSIC BOAT FESTIVAL

Scrimp: Come down to Victoria’s Inner Harbour to view a collection of the loveliest old boats you’re ever likely to see, moored in one of the world’s prettiest harbours. Admission is free to all events, including a classic rowing regatta, steam boat race, and a regal sailpast at 10:30 am on Sunday. Click here for the full schedule of events.

Splurge: Can you picture yourself skippering one of these classic boats? Have a peek at the West Coast listings on Lady Ben, “The World’s Finest Classic Wooden Boat Listing Site Since 1998.” I found a 1903 Danish fishing ketch for sale in Comox, BC, for $240,000.

VANCOUVER ISLAND BLUES BASH

  • Saturday through Monday, Sept. 4-6, 2010
  • Ship Point on Victoria’s Inner Harbour
  • 250-388-4423; www.jazzvictoria.ca

Scrimp: From noon to 5:15 pm daily there is FREE admission to blues and R&B performances at Ship Point on Victoria’s Inner Harbour: 12 different bands and solo artists (The Midnights, Auntie Kate & The Uncles of Funk, the Soul Shakers, and more)! See the schedule of free performances here.

Splurge: Headliners at this year’s Blues Bash are guitarist Coco Montoya and harmonica player James Cotton. Their shows are $28 each, or save with a $45 combo ticket to see both blues legends (available from the Victoria Jazzfest office only).

SAANICH FAIR

  • Saturday through Monday, Sept. 4-6, 2010
  • Fairgrounds at 1528 Stelly’s Cross Road in Central Saanich
  • www.saanichfair.ca

Scrimp: Saturday/Sunday admission is $10 for adults, $7 seniors/youth. But you can scrimp on the holiday Monday, when entrance fees are reduced by $1. Once in the gates, I head for the animal barns. The exotic farm fowl never fail to make me laugh: the crazy chickens with the random head-feathers that weave and bob in the breeze, and the white mop-headed ones that make me think of Andy Warhol. I also love cheering on the draft horses, petting the exquisitely soft-coated llamas and alpacas, and watching a row of tiny piglets nursing at their momma sow’s belly. All free of charge.

Highlight. New this year: The Great Canadian Duct Tape Contest. All entries submitted into the five categories—Hat, Clothing, Prom Dress/Men’s Suit, Centrepiece, Household Item—must be fashioned from 90% duct tape. Top prize winner nabs $100.

Splurge: Gather your friends for a game of Midway Roulette: Get a ride-all-day wristband ($35, $30 on Monday), eat every kind of fair food in sight (from corn dogs to corn cobs to cotton candy), then challenge your buddies to screaming vertical free falls on the SuperShot—shown here—until you all woof your cookies. The winner is the one who goes home with a clean shirt.

VICTORIA FRINGE FESTIVAL

As the theatre festival moves into its final days, audiences stampede to the best-reviewed shows of the week. Check The Craig online forum regularly for fresh reviews from Victoria Fringe-goers.

Related Post: Best Bargains of the 2010 Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival. Scrimp on tickets, food, shopping, and more!

Related Post: 2010 Victoria Fringe Program Delights and Offends: Yay for Alternative Theatre! My initial short-list of enticing shows to see.

FIRST PEOPLES FESTIVAL

Scrimp: Events scheduled from 10 am to 4 pm include cultural presentations, children’s activities, and a First Nations market for 30 carvers, weavers, Cowichan knitters, and dispensers of traditional aboriginal medicine. A few highlights: Jonathan Todd, 16, a Cree country-folk musician from Vancouver with a new CD; songs and dances by the Khowutzun Tzinquaw Dancers of Cowichan; screenings of episodes of “Down2Earth,” a new documentary TV series by Victoria’s Arrow Productions about the ways aboriginal communities are addressing environmental issues; opening and closing performances by the Unity Drummers and Singers.

Splurge: Acquire an original piece of art from renowned Kwaguilth artist Richard Hunt. The Order of British Columbia recipient will showcase his work at the festival. He carved the incredible “Salmon Mask” piece shown here.


Leave a comment   Current Events, Entertainment, Events, Food & Drink, Free!, Music, Theatre
Editor's Choice

Incredible $30/Hour Massages at Victoria’s West Coast College of Massage Therapy

By anitabean, on August 31st, 2010

Scrimp or Splurge features a guest post today from Victoria writer and spa enthusiast Donna Milner.

*     *     *     *     *

Back when I was a stressed-out, full-time working woman, I became a devotee of Victoria’s West Coast College of Massage Therapy (WCCMT). When my workload threatened to overwhelm me, I’d steal a moment to call the school and book the first available 5:30 pm time slot.

If you’re familiar with standard pricing for an hour with a Registered Massage Therapist—typically $60 to $80 per hour—you’ll know that the college’s $30 price (plus HST) for a 70-minute treatment is a steal. The students need human bodies to knead and manipulate in order to translate their hundreds of hours of classroom training into the experience they require for RMT certification. I am more than happy to be their massage guinea pig.

When I started coming to WCCMT, therapeutic massages were the only massages available. Inside the private treatment room, the earnest young massage student would begin with a consultation about my body’s trouble spots. On my first visits, when I wearily responded, “I’m just looking for some stress relief,” I saw a flash of disappointment across the student’s face. After that, I started making up more satisfying stories: left shoulder pain, tension headaches, lower lumbar pinching. Why deny them the opportunity to learn?

For a therapeutic massage, the student normally slips from the room after your consult to confirm an appropriate treatment with the supervising RMT. Then he or she gets down to business. The process usually includes a brief full-body massage, but the emphasis over the next 45 minutes is to provide relief in the trouble areas you’ve identified. Before you leave, the student will provide helpful stretches and exercises to support your treatment.

All good. But a few months ago, I noticed some new “spa” options on the WCCMT website. I was ecstatic to discover they had introduced a 70-minute relaxation massage ($30), 60-minute Swedish or Thai massages (each $25), and an 85-minute warm-stone massage ($45). Also new on the menu in the student clinic are facials ($25), body wraps in mud, seaweed, or citrus cream ($35), and sugar-scrub or salt-glow exfoliation treatments ($25).

I couldn’t dial fast enough! The intense, location-specific therapeutic massages I’d been receiving were great but didn’t give me that zoned-out Nirvana bliss I look for at my favourite spa. A relaxation massage was what I needed.

Once in the private massage room, my therapist took a few minutes to inquire about any sensitive or painful areas; I had no need to exaggerate. She then set the mood with soft music and scented aromatherapy oils, and my total relaxation experience began. Using heated massage oil, she delivered a full-body massage that left me limp as a noodle.

Since June, I’ve visited five times and had four different students perform their magic on me. Each massage was perfect, leaving me in a prolonged blissful state. They never skimp on the full 60-minute treatment, either. I truly do love this place!

A few helpful details. The massage college at the corner of Bay and Government is in the square stone building partially camouflaged by ivy. There are about six free parking spots designated for the college: take note of your stall number, as you’ll need to register your vehicle with the receptionist.

Cash, Interac, and credit cards are accepted. Appointment hours fluctuate based on the size of the current class of students. With large classes, spa appointments may be available on Saturdays and even occasional Sundays, but the usual bookings are made Monday to Friday between 8:30 am and 7 pm.

The WCCMT is closed each year for the month of August. Happily, I’m booked for the first week in September!

  • West Coast College of Massage Therapy (250-381-9800; www.collegeofmassage.com/victoria), 101-637 Bay Street, Victoria, BC. On the website’s Victoria page, click “Student Clinic” on the left to see the price lists for massage and spa services.
Leave a comment   Editor's Choice, Wellness
Attractions

Scrimp on Low-Budget Fringe Theatre or Splurge on High-Flying Cirque du Soleil

By anitabean, on August 29th, 2010

SCRIMP ON LOW-BUDGET FRINGE THEATRE OR SPLURGE ON HIGH-FLYING CIRQUE DU SOLEIL

Two big events are vying for your attention as we slide from August into September: the Fringe Festival (now to Sept. 5 in Victoria; Sept. 9-19 in Vancouver) and Cirque du Soleil (until Sept. 5 in Vancouver; Sept. 8-12 in Victoria).

The two events may seem as dissimilar as a canary and an Amazon parrot, but beneath the colourful plumage of each beats the heart of … well, a bird in my bad metaphor. But in the case of the Fringe Fest and Cirque du Soleil, it’s showmanship—the heart of the performer. Both events are all about entertaining an audience, using surprise, suspense, drama, theatricality, comedy, and clowning to engage the viewers.

Of course, most Fringe theatre shows have one or two performers and the most basic costumes and props. Compare that to the troupes of acrobatic Cirque performers with their elaborate costumes, sets, and props, and you see why a Fringe show costs $9-13 while a ticket to Kooza or Alegria may be 10 times that.

Not if you see Kooza in its final week in Vancouver, though. Cirque du Soleil is selling Level 1-3 tickets at 30% off. This knocks adult admission down to the $42-$67 range. Use this link to get discounted Vancouver Kooza tickets. The final performance of Kooza in Vancouver is Thursday, Sept. 5, 2010.

If you’re in the Interior, you can also get 30% off tickets to see Kooza in Kamloops now until Sept. 5, 2010. Use this link to get discounted Kamloops Kooza tickets.

So far, no sign of discounts for the short run of Cirque du Soleil’s Alegria in Victoria, Sept. 8-12, 2010.

If you are planning to attend the Vancouver International Fringe Festival, you could WIN tickets to one of the last Cirque performances in the city. According to the home page of the Vancouver Fringe Fest, “When you purchase tickets to the Fringe’s Opening Night before midnight on August 31, you’ll be entered to win tickets to Kooza by Cirque du Soleil!”

See? Just like I said: two birds of a feather.

Related Post: 2010 Victoria Fringe Program Delights and Offends—Yay for Alternative Theatre!

Related Post: Best Bargains of the 2010 Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival

Related Post: Victoria Fringe Festival: How to Choose the Best Shows

Leave a comment   Attractions, Current Events, Entertainment, Events, Theatre
Clothing

Buy Secondhand at Value Village and Feel Good About $aving, Recycling, and Helping Others in Need

By anitabean, on August 29th, 2010

SCRIMP: THRIFT STORE PRICES ON A DEPARTMENT STORE’S WORTH OF SECONDHAND CLOTHING, FURNITURE, HOUSEWARES, ETC.

I have a friend who shops regularly at Value Village, the sprawling, for-profit thrift store at 1810 Store Street in downtown Victoria. Gary is not a college student furnishing a first apartment or a funky alternative-dressing theatre type; not a thrifty shopper looking to clothe fast-growing children or to stock up on costume materials for next Halloween.

You’ll find all those people shopping at Value Village, and many more with their own distinct reasons. I tend to visit when I’ve gained a few pounds that I plan to lose, to pick up some comfortable jeans (for $10 or less) that I won’t regret recycling when I take the weight off again. Others come looking for secondhand bed-and-bath items, books, small appliances, cookware, or furniture.

Gary has two missions when he wanders the broad aisles of Value Village:

One, to search for fun, outrageously decorated ties for his collection. (He’s found some spectacular Looney Tunes cartoon ties at Value Village.)

Two, to purchase infant- or small toddler-sized clothing suitable for his puppets. Gary is an amateur ventriloquist, and each time he acquires a sidekick he needs pint-sized clothing to outfit the new character. You’d be amazed by all the cool little costumes he has rummaged up at Value Village.

Gary hasn’t been buying as much at Value Village since he moved up-Island from Victoria. But I have good news for him. There is a Value Village in Nanaimo, too, Gary! In fact, these mega-thrift stores are all over the place. I’d always thought of Value Village as unique to Victoria; in fact, there 107 stores in 10 Canadian provinces, 112 stores in 23 U.S. states, and 7 Value Villages in Australia! Check for a store near you with the retail locator tool on the Value Village website.

Besides the bargain prices, another positive thing about shopping at Value Village is that your purchases indirectly benefit charitable organizations. Value Village works with more than 100 non-profit partner groups, paying them for every bag and box of goods they collect and deliver to the retail outlet. So you can feel good about saving, about recycling, and about helping others in need.

A Select List of Victoria’s Better Thrift Stores

  • Bibles for Missions Thrift Shop (250-361-9398), 2520 Government Street, Victoria, BC. Non-profit, charitable organization.
  • The Patch (250-384-7070), 719 Yates Street, Victoria, BC. A for-profit retail thrift store, like Value Village; clothing only.
  • Salvation Army (250-384-3755), 525 Johnson, Victoria, BC. Non-profit, charitable organization.
  • St. Vincent De Paul, 833 Yates, Victoria, BC. Non-profit, charitable organization.
  • Value Village (250-380-9422; www.valuevillage.com), 1810 Store, Victoria, BC. For-profit retail thrift store.
  • WIN Society stores (www.womeninneed.ca), 785 Pandora; 1803 Cook; 174 Wilson (Westside Village mall complex), Victoria, BC. Non-profit, charitable organization.

Related Post: Sourcing Affordable Table Linens in Victoria, BC

Leave a comment   Clothing, Home, Secondhand, Shopping, Thrift Stores
Current Events

Victoria Fringe Festival: How to Choose the *Best* Shows

By anitabean, on August 28th, 2010

SCRIMP: SAVE YOUR MONEY TO SEE ONLY THE BEST SHOWS BY READING PROFESSIONAL AND AUDIENCE REVIEWS.

With Victoria Fringe Festival performers running 60 different shows in 17 venues, you may feel overwhelmed this week. Which shows should I try to see? How do I know the good from the bad?

Fortunately, Victoria has four excellent sources of insider information to help guide you. Five, if you count the entertaining Fringe program itself, which contains some very good information as well.

1. Times Colonist newpaper reviews: See an alphabetical index of all reviews here. This fabulous resource lists all shows alphabetically for easy searching. Arts writers Adrian Chamberlain and Thandi Fletcher review shows nightly and the web page is updated with fresh links to those new reviews. All shows are given a star rating to help you comparison shop.

2. Monday Magazine reviews: See A-F reviews here. See G-M here. See O-Z here. You have to work a little harder to find the specific show review you’re seeking, but Monday has more staff and freelance reviewers on the job than the T-C, so they should be able to cover the festival more completely. All shows are star-rated for easy comparison.

3. The Craig audience reviews: See reviews arranged alphabetically here. The Craig website harnesses the power of the people to deliver a wide range of opinions on Fringe shows. What the “real folks” like as opposed to the paid critical reviewers can be very interesting indeed. The neat thing here is you can get multiple reviews of the same show and make up your own mind about which you agree with.

4. Twitter mini reviews: If you are a Twitter user, go to the Twitter search page and enter the hash tag #yyjfringe  That will bring up any and all recent posts related to the Victoria Fringe Festival, including late-breaking Fringe news, links to reviews, and much more. To see the results of a fun contest that invites Twitter users to post three-word reviews of Victoria Fringe shows, search the hash tag #yyjfringe together with the hash tag #ThreeWordReview

5. The Fringe program: Download a copy of the program here. In the individual show write-ups, performers often include snippets of media reviews from other cities where they have performed previously. These can provide a quick “thermometer reading” on how hot the show was at prior Fringe fests.

Related Post: 2010 Victoria Fringe Program Delights and Offends—Yay for Alternative Theatre!

Related Post: Best Bargains of the 2010 Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival

One comment   Current Events, Entertainment, Theatre
Food & Drink

Book at Spinnakers Guesthouses & Get a FREE Dinner for Two at Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub

By anitabean, on August 28th, 2010

Here is a super deal if you or friends of yours need accommodation in Victoria, BC, between August 26 and 31, 2010. Maybe you’d like to take in some shows at Victoria’s ongoing Fringe Theatre Festival?

Book a night at Spinnakers Guesthouses between now and the end of August and you’ll receive a FREE, three-course dinner for two at Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub (excluding alcohol, tip, and taxes). Just have a peek at Spinnakers’ menu to see what a fantastic value this is!

Honey and I often dine at this upscale heritage pub on the waterfront. (He gets google-eyed over the Smoked Tuna Loin Salad, I’m weak for their B.C. Halibut with Kennebec Fries, and we both go gaga over the handmade artisan chocolates.)

The lodgings also come highly recommended. Spinnakers’ location on the northwest side of the Inner Harbour is both scenic and ideal for walking into downtown Victoria.

IMPORTANT: To get this special deal, call 250-386-2739 and request “the Spinnakers Facebook offer.”

Related Post: Best Bargains of the 2010 Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival

Related Post: 2010 Victoria Fringe Program Delights and Offends: Yay for Alternative Theatre!

Leave a comment   Food & Drink, Hotels & Resorts
Clothing

Saturday Street Festival in LoJo, Downtown Victoria’s Independent Fashion District

By anitabean, on August 27th, 2010
JohnsonStFest_logo

I like this new “street festival” concept that’s springing up in Victoria. As . . . → Click to read full blog

Leave a comment   Clothing, Events, Shopping
Events

Five-Course Meal & Okanagan Wine Pairings This Friday at Brentwood Bay Resort

By anitabean, on August 26th, 2010
BrentwoodSeagrille-small

SPLURGE: FIVE-COURSE MEAL & OKANAGAN WINE PAIRINGS, $99

I’m a big fan of the . . . → Click to read full blog

One comment   Events, Food & Drink, Hotels & Resorts
Editor's Choice

Groupon, Grooster, and Other Vancouver Discount Sites Battle to Save You Money: A Complete List of Websites

By anitabean, on August 25th, 2010
editorschoice-small

Though my daily posts for Scrimp or Splurge focus mainly on Victoria, Vancouver . . . → Click to read full blog

Leave a comment   Editor's Choice, Entertainment, Food & Drink, Websites, Wellness
Current Events

Best Bargains of the 2010 Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival

By anitabean, on August 24th, 2010

SCRIMP ON FRINGE ADMISSION PRICES AND LOCAL DINING SO YOU CAN SPLURGE ON . . . → Click to read full blog

5 comments   Current Events, Entertainment, Food & Drink, Secondhand, Shopping, Theatre

Meet SOS Blog Editor Anita Willis

Think of me as your in-the-know friend in Victoria, the one with great tips on deals, bargains, and rare finds in Victoria, British Columbia . . . and beyond!

As former Editor-in-Chief of British Columbia Magazine, I worked with an expansive network of writers, photographers, and industry insiders to uncover the very best of B.C. for subscribers. Now, I'm sharing my secrets with Scrimp or Splurge readers, a savvy, sophisticated crowd who want to have it all—for less!

To learn a little more about me, click the Funny Facts About Anita link on the navigation bar near the top of this page.

SOS Recommended Guide

Victoria Scenes: click for Photo Gallery

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Editor's Choice