Christmas and New Year newsletter 2016
Media Relations As it is the season of giving, we thought it would be a nice idea to share our own thoughts for local last minute Christmas gift ideas and New Year’s inspiration.
Bookshelves at Russell Books
Last Minute Christmas Gifts Karen: I love to shop at the Abkhazi Garden’s gift store. This little shop is one of my favourites place to find local items from pottery to gardening books. The store also stocks the garden’s own Royal Abkhazi Black Tea blend created by Victoria’s Silk Road Tea. I could spend hours browsing for new and second hand books at Russell Books; every shelf is stacked with hundreds of books of every genre you can think of. You can pick up great stocking stuffers here or a new read for yourself to curl up with to escape the holiday stress. For my outdoorsy friends I find Robinson’s Outdoor Store has it all, from quality outerwear to every day merino pieces. Katie: I am a big fan of vintage shopping and enjoy hunting for original pieces for friends (and myself!) at The Patch Vintage Clothing. This store is a treasure trove of true vintage clothing and accessories along with second hand modern fashion; it’s a great place to find a glittering party dress or costume jewellery; you never leave empty handed! I also like finding one-of-a-kind shoes, tights and socks at Heart & Sole Shoes. Being able to find international brands like John Fluevog as well as local designer pieces means everyone on my gift list gets a distinctive gift they’ll not have received from anyone else. For quirky presents I always take a look in Oscar + Libby’s; they have everything from kitsch homeware to colourful cycling helmets.
Holly: Fan Tan Alley has really come to life with a selection of new boutiques where you can find a truly special gift. You can pick up fragrant handmade skincare and soaps at Saltspring Soapworks, or a distinctive locally made purse at Jovee Handcrafted. Be sure to treat yourself at Pure Lovin’ Chocolate – their bags of chocolate covered candied ginger or orange peel are delicious. On Government Street, Silk Road Tea is another of my top stores. I love their London Fog Black Tea to warm up with after a long day’s shopping! Another favourite is Tonic Jewellery + Smoking Lily’s pop up store in The Bay Centre – you can see pieces being made in store as you browse their collection of hand-made jewellery and hand printed clothing.
Mulled Wassail - Credit Sea Cider
Festive Spirits Karen: Victoria has so many great vintners and distillers close by creating exceptional products. I like being able to travel less than 20 minutes to a local winery to pick up the perfect pairing for my Christmas dinner, which can be for anywhere between four and 40 people! De Vine Vineyards in Saanichton produce a wonderful Pinot Noir Rosé which I find is a delicious accompaniment to our festive meal. The berry flavours and peppery notes pair beautifully with turkey, ham, roast and winter veggies. Katie: As a cider lover, I am always excited when Merridale Ciderworks releases their limited edition Yule Fuel mulled cider. It tastes like Christmas in a glass with cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla flavours and is delicious to drink either hot or cold, preferably while sitting watching a Christmas movie. This cider is created in partnership with local radio station, the Zone 91.3 and partial proceeds support the TLC Fund for Kids. Sea Cider Farm and Ciderhouse’s Wassail is another one of my favourites, it’s spiced with orange peel and clove which give it a really festive flavour. They have also just released their newest cider, Sassamanash made with B.C. cranberries and hibiscus flowers. Holly: I love a seasonal cocktail and you can rely on Victoria’s mixologists to craft outstanding holiday options. The staff at Q Bar at the Fairmont Empress know how to impress with their Christmas cocktails, their list includes the glittering Q Gold made with
Goldschlaeger, Maker’s Mark bourbon, chai syrup and egg white, the fragrant Festive Fizz with Kenyan kambaa tea infused vodka, Cointreau, rooibos syrup, pomegranate and prosecco and a Christmas Negroni featuring Victoria Gin and brandied cranberries. Also, you can never go wrong with a good whisky sour – I am a fan of Little Jumbo’s.
Zen Garden at The Gardens at HCP - Credit Gardens at HCP
Winter Walks Karen: I am always looking for new places to take my dog, Reggie, out for a hike each day and I have a couple of favourites which are both beautiful and pet-friendly. The Gardens at the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific are full of stunning flowers and plants which grow year round. In winter, I love to see the colours of the hellebores in the Doris Page Winter Garden and a stroll through the Zen Garden is always so grounding surrounded by ponds and streams with a beautiful ornate bridge. Another local favourite is Horth Hill – the views out over the Saanich Peninsula are absolutely breathtaking and the trails are lined with green ferns and arbutus trees. At Christmas, hikers decorate the trees with ornaments, making the walk feel extra festive! From February, you can see hundreds of wild flowers blooming including camas and white lilies. Katie: The WestShore is home to some of my favourite walks. Esquimalt Lagoon is one of my best loved spots; the long strip of beach is ideal for a wintry walk hopping over the driftwood logs and admiring the Olympic Mountains in the distance. At this time of year the peaks are covered in snow and it’s absolutely spectacular. From there, I like to walk up to Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse to take a look inside the historic lighthouse. I’ll take a flask of hot chocolate and sit on the red Adirondack chairs overlooking the ocean while listening to the waves and keeping an eye out for seals. Holly: Walks beside the ocean with my dog, Abel, are my favourite. In Victoria, Dallas Road is one of the most popular spots. You can walk to the end of the breakwater, the harbour wall reaching out in to ocean, and admire the First Nations artwork painted along either side, or walk along to Clover Point where you’ll often see people flying kites. There are a couple of off leash areas along the way where dogs can run and play. The views of the Olympic Mountains are breathtaking. I like to finish our walk with a stop in Cook Street Village. This little village area is bustling with people hanging out at cafes, checking out
the boutiques and sipping coffee on outdoor patios (you’ll find people sitting outside at any time of year). I’d recommend stopping off a Bubby’s Kitchen for a coffee and one of their huge house baked cookies.
Relaxing at WOODS on Pender - Credit WOODS on Pender
New Year's Resolutions Karen: Victoria is surrounded by lush, temperate rainforest and towering ancient trees. In the New Year, I look to reconnect with nature and I am keen to try a tailored hiking and meditation experience with The Natural Connection. Being immersed in the sights, sounds and smells of the forest after the stresses of the holidays will really help me to be more mindful and appreciate what is happening in the moment. I often get a bad case of the January blues and I have found that one of the best cures for this is time at the spa. My favourite treatment in the winter is a facial. I like to visit the Brentwood Bay Spa – they offer a number of different facial options including an organic anti-oxidant facial which is specifically developed to protect skin exposed to the winter elements. Katie: In the New Year, I want to spend more time exploring the Gulf Islands. As a lover of all things vintage and retro, the WOODS on Pender Airstream caravans would be my ideal getaway. There are various different sizes of caravan each with different features but every one is like a luxury apartment equipped with a kitchen, wifi and Apple TV; most also have a personal outdoor hot tub! I also intend to do more kayaking in the next year and the Gulf Islands are the perfect place with lots of amazing wildlife viewing opportunities and beautiful sandy beaches to pull up on. I think Ocean River Adventure’s three-day Saturna Island Exploration would be a great way to discover the island, learn about the area and have fun with new paddle friends. Holly: I want to start the New Year feeling refreshed and ready to face my goals. Fairmont Empress’ Luxury Wellness Retreat would be my ideal way to begin 2017 on the right path. The hotel has teamed up with Catherine Roscoe Barr, founder of The Life Delicious, to help get you on track physically and mentally. The retreat is designed for busy professionals looking for strategies to help with everything from stress management
and nutrition to guided workouts and mindful practices. You’ll have two luxurious nights in the hotel with guided workouts and nutritious meals and will have a 30-minute private coaching session after the retreat to help you stick to your goals.
Bookshelves at Russell Books
Last Minute Christmas Gifts Karen: I love to shop at the Abkhazi Garden’s gift store. This little shop is one of my favourites place to find local items from pottery to gardening books. The store also stocks the garden’s own Royal Abkhazi Black Tea blend created by Victoria’s Silk Road Tea. I could spend hours browsing for new and second hand books at Russell Books; every shelf is stacked with hundreds of books of every genre you can think of. You can pick up great stocking stuffers here or a new read for yourself to curl up with to escape the holiday stress. For my outdoorsy friends I find Robinson’s Outdoor Store has it all, from quality outerwear to every day merino pieces. Katie: I am a big fan of vintage shopping and enjoy hunting for original pieces for friends (and myself!) at The Patch Vintage Clothing. This store is a treasure trove of true vintage clothing and accessories along with second hand modern fashion; it’s a great place to find a glittering party dress or costume jewellery; you never leave empty handed! I also like finding one-of-a-kind shoes, tights and socks at Heart & Sole Shoes. Being able to find international brands like John Fluevog as well as local designer pieces means everyone on my gift list gets a distinctive gift they’ll not have received from anyone else. For quirky presents I always take a look in Oscar + Libby’s; they have everything from kitsch homeware to colourful cycling helmets.
Holly: Fan Tan Alley has really come to life with a selection of new boutiques where you can find a truly special gift. You can pick up fragrant handmade skincare and soaps at Saltspring Soapworks, or a distinctive locally made purse at Jovee Handcrafted. Be sure to treat yourself at Pure Lovin’ Chocolate – their bags of chocolate covered candied ginger or orange peel are delicious. On Government Street, Silk Road Tea is another of my top stores. I love their London Fog Black Tea to warm up with after a long day’s shopping! Another favourite is Tonic Jewellery + Smoking Lily’s pop up store in The Bay Centre – you can see pieces being made in store as you browse their collection of hand-made jewellery and hand printed clothing.
Mulled Wassail - Credit Sea Cider
Festive Spirits Karen: Victoria has so many great vintners and distillers close by creating exceptional products. I like being able to travel less than 20 minutes to a local winery to pick up the perfect pairing for my Christmas dinner, which can be for anywhere between four and 40 people! De Vine Vineyards in Saanichton produce a wonderful Pinot Noir Rosé which I find is a delicious accompaniment to our festive meal. The berry flavours and peppery notes pair beautifully with turkey, ham, roast and winter veggies. Katie: As a cider lover, I am always excited when Merridale Ciderworks releases their limited edition Yule Fuel mulled cider. It tastes like Christmas in a glass with cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla flavours and is delicious to drink either hot or cold, preferably while sitting watching a Christmas movie. This cider is created in partnership with local radio station, the Zone 91.3 and partial proceeds support the TLC Fund for Kids. Sea Cider Farm and Ciderhouse’s Wassail is another one of my favourites, it’s spiced with orange peel and clove which give it a really festive flavour. They have also just released their newest cider, Sassamanash made with B.C. cranberries and hibiscus flowers. Holly: I love a seasonal cocktail and you can rely on Victoria’s mixologists to craft outstanding holiday options. The staff at Q Bar at the Fairmont Empress know how to impress with their Christmas cocktails, their list includes the glittering Q Gold made with
Goldschlaeger, Maker’s Mark bourbon, chai syrup and egg white, the fragrant Festive Fizz with Kenyan kambaa tea infused vodka, Cointreau, rooibos syrup, pomegranate and prosecco and a Christmas Negroni featuring Victoria Gin and brandied cranberries. Also, you can never go wrong with a good whisky sour – I am a fan of Little Jumbo’s.
Zen Garden at The Gardens at HCP - Credit Gardens at HCP
Winter Walks Karen: I am always looking for new places to take my dog, Reggie, out for a hike each day and I have a couple of favourites which are both beautiful and pet-friendly. The Gardens at the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific are full of stunning flowers and plants which grow year round. In winter, I love to see the colours of the hellebores in the Doris Page Winter Garden and a stroll through the Zen Garden is always so grounding surrounded by ponds and streams with a beautiful ornate bridge. Another local favourite is Horth Hill – the views out over the Saanich Peninsula are absolutely breathtaking and the trails are lined with green ferns and arbutus trees. At Christmas, hikers decorate the trees with ornaments, making the walk feel extra festive! From February, you can see hundreds of wild flowers blooming including camas and white lilies. Katie: The WestShore is home to some of my favourite walks. Esquimalt Lagoon is one of my best loved spots; the long strip of beach is ideal for a wintry walk hopping over the driftwood logs and admiring the Olympic Mountains in the distance. At this time of year the peaks are covered in snow and it’s absolutely spectacular. From there, I like to walk up to Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse to take a look inside the historic lighthouse. I’ll take a flask of hot chocolate and sit on the red Adirondack chairs overlooking the ocean while listening to the waves and keeping an eye out for seals. Holly: Walks beside the ocean with my dog, Abel, are my favourite. In Victoria, Dallas Road is one of the most popular spots. You can walk to the end of the breakwater, the harbour wall reaching out in to ocean, and admire the First Nations artwork painted along either side, or walk along to Clover Point where you’ll often see people flying kites. There are a couple of off leash areas along the way where dogs can run and play. The views of the Olympic Mountains are breathtaking. I like to finish our walk with a stop in Cook Street Village. This little village area is bustling with people hanging out at cafes, checking out
the boutiques and sipping coffee on outdoor patios (you’ll find people sitting outside at any time of year). I’d recommend stopping off a Bubby’s Kitchen for a coffee and one of their huge house baked cookies.
Relaxing at WOODS on Pender - Credit WOODS on Pender
New Year's Resolutions Karen: Victoria is surrounded by lush, temperate rainforest and towering ancient trees. In the New Year, I look to reconnect with nature and I am keen to try a tailored hiking and meditation experience with The Natural Connection. Being immersed in the sights, sounds and smells of the forest after the stresses of the holidays will really help me to be more mindful and appreciate what is happening in the moment. I often get a bad case of the January blues and I have found that one of the best cures for this is time at the spa. My favourite treatment in the winter is a facial. I like to visit the Brentwood Bay Spa – they offer a number of different facial options including an organic anti-oxidant facial which is specifically developed to protect skin exposed to the winter elements. Katie: In the New Year, I want to spend more time exploring the Gulf Islands. As a lover of all things vintage and retro, the WOODS on Pender Airstream caravans would be my ideal getaway. There are various different sizes of caravan each with different features but every one is like a luxury apartment equipped with a kitchen, wifi and Apple TV; most also have a personal outdoor hot tub! I also intend to do more kayaking in the next year and the Gulf Islands are the perfect place with lots of amazing wildlife viewing opportunities and beautiful sandy beaches to pull up on. I think Ocean River Adventure’s three-day Saturna Island Exploration would be a great way to discover the island, learn about the area and have fun with new paddle friends. Holly: I want to start the New Year feeling refreshed and ready to face my goals. Fairmont Empress’ Luxury Wellness Retreat would be my ideal way to begin 2017 on the right path. The hotel has teamed up with Catherine Roscoe Barr, founder of The Life Delicious, to help get you on track physically and mentally. The retreat is designed for busy professionals looking for strategies to help with everything from stress management
and nutrition to guided workouts and mindful practices. You’ll have two luxurious nights in the hotel with guided workouts and nutritious meals and will have a 30-minute private coaching session after the retreat to help you stick to your goals.
