Author Archives: Ed Sum

05.23.15
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Saanich with a Side of Baconalooza

VIP

Baconalooza’s inaugural event at Velox Rugby field in Gordon Head will certainly get lovers of swine food arriving in troves. The lunch-time crowd was light, but when the event started at 1pm than noon, perhaps one opportunity was missed in hopes that the dinner time crowd will be busier. This later time is probably when the bacon eating contest will take place, but for one hungry bloke (who skipped breakfast for this show), namely me, I wish I had room to partake in more.

Poor James. He phoned me early in the day to say he’s been struck down with a cold, and I just had enough room to eat for the both of us, but I was taken down by one overloaded bacon cheese burger by the Esquimalt Lions Club (I asked them to keep on piling the bacon on top). However, I did have room for dessert. I could make quibbles in where the beef is sourced and cooked, but hey, I got more than my money’s worth in bacon. I shouldn’t complain.

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05.23.15
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Following the Smoke Signals to a New Show in Town

TravelingSmokeThe Traveling Smoke Show
950 Yates St.
Victoria, BC
(250)710-6010

The Traveling Smoke Show is looking to settle down. Before they operated out of Sooke for a few years, but now they’re in the heart of downtown Victoria and that’s where they want to stay. They’re located across the street from Harris Green Village (replacing Landmark Auto Sales) to ply their own take in designer sandwiches and brand of tastes. One look at their menu, and I was hooked at the thought of what does oyster mayo taste like? When it’s all blended up, the succulent taste is something that I can lap up as easily as the ocean waves washing in. It tastes great by itself and I can sea other uses for it, like in a cucumber only sandwich.

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04.30.15
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A Nerdy Events Guide to this May Weekend in Victoria, BC

Free_Comic_Book_Day

Not only will the city of Victoria, BC get an extra day of geekery on but also, not many cities can lay claim to having four days dedicated to various fun events taking place nearly all at the same time. Here’s a quick summary of what’s going on:

May 1st
Lego at the Library (2:30pm)
Greater Victoria Public Library
Juan de Fuca Branch
This event is technically for children ages 7-10 who want to have fun with the sets offered at the library. Registered participants are also encouraged to bring their own bricks so they can learn how to stack them up in other creative ways for a take-home project.

Avengers: Age of Ultron Movie Premiere (evening)
This movie will definitely delight Marvel Movie Universe fans. Not only does this film continue on from where the first film and Captain America: Winter Soldier left off, with hints of two mutants — Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch — being important in the film, but also this movie will set the stage for the third part of the saga cumulating to Avengers: Infinity Wars.

People going to the IMAX screenings on this day should, in theory, get a keepsake poster while supplies last.

May 2nd
Comic Book Day (starting 10am)
This North American wide event has become the norm. With the Greater Victoria Public Library Central Branch and at least two of the three three comic book stores participating in this city, the fun can be shared, if not spread around. When the stores have to restrict just how many titles readers can grab, all the smart collector has to know is to walk from store to store (and library) to get a good fill.

This year has comics that will introduce folks to the fantastic worlds featured in Doctor Who, the realm where there’s plenty of robots in disguise in Transformers (thankfully not the awful Michael Bay version), the pulps in The Phantom and the mutants in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. A full list can be found on the official website.

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04.28.15
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The Victoria Film Festival Rebrands their Foodie Film Festival & One Bloke’s Picks

FeastIcon

The Victoria Foodie Film Festival has renamed to become Feast, Food & Film. Now into its third year, this rebranding is most likely needed to give this event its own unique name and help identify if in the arts and entertainment world of Victoria, BC. VFFF can be known as F^3 in short, and in what isn’t is the lineup of films and tastes to be found May 28 to 31st, 2015.

This year has eight films lined up to play in conjunction with hors-d’oeuvres (mostly) that snackers can take into the theatre. Unlike the previous year where most of the events took place at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel, this one places more emphasis at the Victoria Film Festival’s home digs at The Vic Theatre.

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04.26.15
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The Pita Pit Is Where It’s At for Late-Night!

IMG_0896 Ira SmallWhen it comes to evaluating franchise operations, I can certainly say that hands down, The Pita Pit is better than Subways. Although they are tucked away in a corner of downtown Victoria on Wharf Street, they are open late at night to cater to the hungry late-night crowd. I’m surprised there isn’t an operation closer to the University of Victoria, as that was where this franchise got its start from (to cater to the student crowd), but alas, maybe they can get better digs in due time.

When it’s late a night, and my buddy Ira Hunter, Editor-in-chief of Absolute Underground Magazine (that I’m a frequent contributor to), had a food craving and so was I.

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04.22.15
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Let Me Sing a ‘Fig’aro and I’ll Be Back for More

Fig Mediterranean Delicatessen
1551 Cedar Hill Cross Road
Gordon Head
Saanich, BC
(250) 727-3632

Just where Cedar Hill Cross Road, Shelbourne and Cedar Hill meet is a mecca for lunch, and every regional delight is represented here. There’s 1550’s, Kuma Noodle, Young Young and Fig Delicatessen. The latter is often missed because it’s a deli. Who would’ve thought this market has a huge kitchen inside and the scents is a delight when you’re hungry.

To miss out on this hidden gem will mean hungry students will miss out in the best of what Mediterranean food has to offer. There’s bins of candied fruits, plenty of nuts, a treasure trove of spices, and scented olives to feast upon visually. It doesn’t feel as crowded as Blair Mart Mediterranean Foods downtown, and with this place very close to where I live, I don’t have to travel far when the mood hits me. Nearly all the countries surrounding the Mediterranean are represented here, and yes they have homemade Turkish delights!

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