Every year the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria (AGGV) hosts the Moss Street Paint-In. The whole of Moss Street (from Dallas Road to Fort Street) is closed off to traffic and local artists set up stalls to sell their art. People who live on or just off of Moss St also use this day to have garage sales.
This year, there weren’t as many stalls up as there usually are, but there were a lot of people who showed up.
Moss Street from Dallas Rd looking NorthMoss St near the AGGV looking South
It was a beautiful day for the event and I’m glad I wore a hat and brought my water bottle.
The event usually takes place on a Saturday which also corresponds with the Saturday Fairfield Market. There were the usual food vendors at this event and this year the drinks tent and stage area was on the street instead of the parking lot of the AGGV.
Admission to the art gallery was also free, but it was crowded so I opted not to visit this time.
Dragon-kun came with me, but he felt shy because there were so many people. He stayed in my purse and peeked out at them.
This week’s blog is about another of Victoria’s independent bookstores: Russell Books.
According to its website, it is Canada’s largest independent bookstore. The family run business opened its first bookstore in Montreal in 1961 and opened a branch in Victoria in 1991.
The bookstore sells new and used books and also sells rare and antiquarian titles.
They do buy books from customers, however, the times of when the area for buying books is open is usually when I’m at work. There is also a link on their webpage to book an appointment for selling books to them.
Due to the hoops one has to go through to sell them books I haven’t brought any of my used books to them.
That being said, they do have a large collection and selection of new and used books.
When I first moved to Victoria, the bookstore was located on the other side of the street from where it is now. When they moved to the current location in 2019, they set a world record for the tallest tower of Guinness World Record books. The tower went from the lower level to the main floor level.
Going down the escalator from main level to lower level.
Although I sometimes miss the cramped aisles, creaking wooden floors, and narrow staircase of the old location, the current location is a lot brighter (with natural light filtering in from the skylights) and a lot easier to get around.
If the do not have the book one is looking for, like all independent bookstores in Victoria, the can order it in.
Happy Tanabata! The Japanese festival which originates from the Chinese Qixi Festival. This festival celebrates the one night where star-crossed lovers get to meet in the Milky Way. In Japan, wishes are written on strips of paper and tied to designated bamboo branches.
Last weekend was the Canada Day long weekend. On Monday 1July, Canada Day, my father, Dragon-kun, and I went to Sidney, BC. (27.4km North of Victoria, 6.6km South of Swartz Bay ferry terminal).
Our plan was to park in one of the several 3 hour free parking spaces, go to the aquarium, walk around and have lunch…but what I didn’t take into consideration was that Sidney has a Canada Day parade. No free parking spaces.
Instead we parked in the paid parking area in front of Victoria Distillers. Victoria Distillers makes the Empress Gin (a dark purple coloured gin that is the signature gin for the Empress Hotel). The Distillery was closed or I would have included pictures of it in this blog.
The good thing about this parking spot is that there were several spots available, AND the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea (aka: the Sidney Aquarium) is right next door.
Once the tickets are paid for, one is directed to enter the aquarium area though a set of doors that look like they came from the Nautilus.
Entrance to the aquarium
But once opened it seem more like one would meet Captain Picard in the engine room of the Starship Enterprise, than Captain Nemo.
Nautilus or Starship Enterprise?
If one gets claustrophobic, best to see if the next part can be avoided.
“Submerging”
The doors slide closed, and the audio, visuals advise that the ballast tanks are filling with water and we are submerging. The floor then shakes as we “touch down” on the ocean floor.
The doors open and we are in the display area. The first things we see are jelly fish. There are no signs telling us what kind of jelly fish… we had to ask one of the volunteers. In fact, the lack of signs telling one what one is looking at is a bit of a theme in this aquarium. They do have some signs… but they are rare.
One thing about an aquarium, is that I can’t look at the creatures in the tanks and not think of how delicious they look.
Sea urchins Shrimp Yummy Dragon-kun checking out the fish at the bottom of the tank.
There is a tidal pool where one is invited to touch the sea life after one washes their hands… I had no desire to play with sea creatures.
After the Shaw Centre, we went to a pub/marina on the other side of the parking lot for lunch. It was a bit crowded as the parade had ended. I ordered Fish and Chips… a bit too greasy… but fish and chips usually is, so not sure why I thought it would be any different this time round?
Dad and I did go for a bit of a walk along the waterfront after lunch, but not too far.
There are a number of independent bookstores in Victoria and today I’d like to introduce you to my favourite one.
Books and Shenanigans is in Cook Street village. Kerri opened this family run bookstore 3 years ago and I cannot imagine Cook Street without it.
The staff are friendly and knowledgeable. Like all the indie bookstores they will order in books for you if they do not have it.
Books and Shenanigans sells new and used books, as well as puzzles and cheeky cards. They try to promote local authors whenever possible, and also carry local products, like candles and crochet hats.
They also run a number of different book clubs, and reading retreats.
One of the things I like about this bookstore is that they have a points system. One gets points for buying books from them and credit for bringing used books to them.
Tom and Kerri from Books and Shenanigans
I also like going in and discussing the latest book I read with the staff who are nice enough to listen and tell me what they thought of the book and a recommendation for the next good read.
This year’s Cook Street Block Party was on Sunday from 10AM to 4 PM.
There were so many vendors, and there were two stages playing music. There was also a magic circle area (someone doing magic shows).
Top of Cook Street VillageThe start of the vendors More vendors and food trucksThe bottom of Cook Street Village
This year, instead of having one area where people could drink, the whole street was licensed. I was told that you had to have a wristband to show you were of age.
As always there were many dogs and children.
My favourite bookshop had a stall as well, where they had local children’s authors read their books.
Favourite bookstore’s reading tent.
I ended the day with getting a henna tattoo of my favourite insect… but the artist made the antenna more like a butterfly’s…oh well.
Yesterday, I went to the Maritime Museum for one of the workshops they put on.
They provide all the materials needed, and have one of their staff show the group how to make the item.
The last time I took a class with them I learnt to make sea-glass jewelry. Yesterday, I learnt how to make a sea lantern out of a mansion jar.
Ray, the instructor, not only told us how to make the lanterns, but also regained us with maritime stories from the area. For example, along the coast of Vancouver Island and even part of the Strait of Juan de Fuca was once known as the graveyard of the Pacific, because of the dangerous coastline.
In this day and age, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that there are still 28 staffed lighthouses in BC.
The one take away I have about making a mason jar sea- lantern…don’t wear black. I was covered in jute fibres from the rope.
Some of the other sea- lanterns that were made
The Maritime museum has a number of workshops they put on throughout the year.
This week my family went to a newer Japanese restaurant. KAPPO Marta opened in November 2023 and is located at 1600 Bay Street. If you are in Victoria and haven’t heard of it, it may be because of its location: it is in a residential area.
The out side has a nice patio seating area (although the day we went was a cold and windy day in May). Inside, the restaurant is clean with tall ceilings and white walls. On the walls are paintings by a local artist that are for sale.
Restaurant KAPPO Marta from the outside
The food is reasonably priced, especially for the potions one gets. My father ordered the Assorted Katsu set, and my mother and I each ordered the Saba (mackerel) set.
Assorted Katsu SetMackerel Set and Dragon-kun making sure the greens aren’t swimming in Gina sauce
We all got tea (which is not included), but the size of the mug is huge!
Dragon-kun tried in vain to look into the mug
The food was good; however, as my mother pointed out, there were a lot of fried dishes included in the set meal. A lot = 2 dishes…which for a teishoku (set meal), that should be a balanced and complimentary flavoured set of dishes is a lot.
Being kind of short, the tables were a bit too high for me and my mother, but the were clean.
The only other issue was the acoustics. All the surfaces were hard which made the conversation of a young woman, whose voice was high pitched and loud (and we could only assume was on a first date because of the non-stop yattering about herself), audible to everyone in our corner of the restaurant. I am, of course, assuming that it was the whole corner of the restaurant and not just our table because of the stares from the tables around us and the knowing smiles they gave each other.
The food was good and reasonably priced. The restaurant was clean and the service was good. These things outweigh the negatives and because of that, kotsukotsulife is giving KAPPA Marta a 4 out of 5
I hope you had a good weekend last week. If you are in Canada, I hope you are having a great May long weekend.
This week I’m doing another restaurant review. This time for a restaurant we went to Sen Zushi. The well established restaurant ( the only date I can find is from when they opened their FB page in 2011) is my mother’s favourite.
The decor of the restaurant is like that of an old farmhouse ( without the tatami mats). There are dark wooden beams and traditional Japanese items on the walls.
When one walks in, one is introduced to the specials board, which they encourage to take a photo of to browse at one’s leisure once seated.
Specials
The restaurant opened at 5pm and my mother, Ryu-kun, and I were among the first to be seated. The restaurant filled up quickly after that.
The staff were knowledgeable and attentive. I had decided to change my salad choice after I ordered and the waiter did not make me feel like it was an inconvenience, and attended to it right away.
We ordered the Ebi Tempura, Ika Salad, and Grilled Saba (mackerel) Set. A bonus: unlike many other Japanese restaurants the green tea is free.
Ika Salad, and Ebi TempurraGrilled Saba Set
All the food was delicious and there were no surprises, which is nice when ordering traditional Japanese dishes.
Compared to Yua, the prices are reasonable. $20- $40 per person
Because of the excellent service, the delicious food, and the ambiance, KotsuKotsuLife is giving this restaurant a 5 out of 5.
The restaurant is located at 940 Fort Street, Victoria, BC
I hope you had a good weekend last week. If you are in Canada, I hope you are having a great May long weekend.
This week I’m doing another restaurant review. This time for a restaurant we went to Sen Zushi. The well established restaurant ( the only date I can find is from when they opened their FB page in 2011) is my mother’s favourite.
The decor of the restaurant is like that of an old farmhouse ( without the tatami mats). There are dark wooden beams and traditional Japanese items on the walls.
When one walks in, one is introduced to the specials board, which they encourage to take a photo of to browse at one’s leisure once seated.
Specials
The restaurant opened at 5pm and my mother, Ryu-kun, and I were among the first to be seated. The restaurant filled up quickly after that.
The staff were knowledgeable and attentive. I had decided to change my salad choice after I ordered and the waiter did not make me feel like it was an inconvenience, and attended to it right away.
We ordered the Ebi Tempura, Ika Salad, and Grilled Saba (mackerel) Set. A bonus: unlike many other Japanese restaurants the green tea is free.
Ika Salad, and Ebi TempurraGrilled Saba Set
All the food was delicious and there were no surprises, which is nice when ordering traditional Japanese dishes.
Compared to Yua, the prices are reasonable. $20- $40 per person
Because of the excellent service, the delicious food, and the ambiance, KotsuKotsuLife is giving this restaurant a 5 out of 5.
The restaurant is located at 940 Fort Street, Victoria, BC
This weekend was the Fairfield Artists Studio Tour and the Time Colonist Book Sale.
The weather was cloudy with partial rain. Which was not ideal for either event.
On Saturday, S. and I went to the Times Colonist Book Sale. This event is held every year where proceeds from the sale go toward literacy charities. S.’s spouse gave us a ride to, and, more importantly, from the book sale. (Thank you A.)
The book sale takes place inside the curling club, which was great considering the rain… but there was a wait outside the club. We were lucky in that we only had to wait 45 minutes and it was only cloudy.
I’m not sure how long we spent inside … so many books… not enough arm strength!
The volunteers also hand out reusable shopping bags and replenished the stock of books on the table.
One of the volunteers told me that they were worried because they didn’t have as many people donating books this year, and they thought not as many people would show up this year. But they need not have worried.
The other event that happened this weekend was the Fairfield Artists Studio Tour.
This annual event has artists opening their studio for people to see their work. This year, I know one of the artists and so I went to see his work.
Artist Miles Lowry in front of his art
Miles Lowry and his partner David are the artist in residence at Dance Victoria and I met them on a number of occasions in the lobby of the theatre before the show. They are both very talented.
The Fairfield Artists Studio Tour had 30 artists opening their studio to the public every year. On a nice day (which today was not) it is great to walk to the different studios.
KotsuKotsuLife 