Kid friendly Crumsby’s Cupcake Café: Estevan Village

Crumsby's Cupcake Cafe

image credit: Mama in the City

While recently shopping at Estevan Village (2500 block Estevan Avenue) with a friend and her little girl I got the chance to visit Crumbsy’s Cupcake Cafe. I have wanted to try this new cafe since earlier this past summer I spotted its sign advertising cupcakes and its pretty, seaside holiday inspired decor. My long anticipated visit lived up to my expectations. When we stepped inside we found customers sipping tea served in brightly coloured ForLife teapots while lounging pretty outdoor style furniture finished in matt white paint. The holiday furniture is beautifully complemented by the brightly painted blue and yellow walls and the whimsical decorations, such as the tin picture above, perched on shelves.

Tea is served in cute ForLife Teapots

As the name of this cafe suggests Crumsby’s sell a range of cupcakes – in child and adult flavors – as well as mini-muffins in interesting flavors (raspberry oatmeal and lavender lemon). My friend and I both choose a mini-cakes which were delicious while my friend’s little girl had a healthier muffin.

For parents a highlight of Crumsby’s is the play area located  on one side of the cafe. A lot of thought has obviously gone into this space which is furnished with beautiful wooden toys, a large chalkboard and child sized furniture. While my friend and I chatted, drank tea and munched our lovely cup-cakes her little girl played very cheerfully. Indeed she was having so much fun when she thought her mum was coming over to take her home she bolted to the other side of the cafe. What ensued was a very amusing chase around the cafe until eventually the little run away was captured. Luckily for her it wasn’t time to head home. It was muffin time!And she seemed to enjoy the muffin very much. It seems that this little girl is not the only one to appreciate the play area as the cafe was mainly packed with mums and dads with little ones.

While Crumsby’s has many attractions for parents it is definitely a place that the childless will also enjoy. If you want to see a little more of the charms you can check out some lovely pics of the cafe interior and its changing flower displays taken by one of the women who works at the cafe. (see FlickR) or just check out the cafe itself, with or without a little one in tow!

image credit: Mama in the City

Details:

Crumsby’s Cupcake Café 250-595-2221. 2509 Estevan Ave.

OPEN CINEMA host Victoria premiere of The Age of Stupid

“We could have saved ourselves, but we didn’t. It’s amazing. What state of mind were we in, to face extinction and simply shrug it off?”

 

The week after next (18 Nov) OPEN CINEMA are hosting the public premiere of The Age of Stupid a movie that blurs the edge between sci-fi and documentary and an open forum discussion. Open Cinema is a non-profit society that aims to use film as a tool of community engagement. Consistent with this mission The Age of Stupid examines the issue of climate change through the eyes of a man (played by Postlethwaite) living in the devastated world of 2055, watching old footage from 2008 and asking: why didn’t we stop climate change when we had the chance? The film in 2055 when the planet has been ravaged by drought and storm, its coastlines have flooded, and millions of people have been dislocated or have been thrown into conflict. The caretaker of the Arctic  archive whiles away hours scrolling through snippets of footage from our decade musing about why we knew the dangers of climate change and had the tools to change the system but instead of changing direction chose to stick with business as usual. If you want to learn more about the film there is tonnes of information on the film website.

If you want to catch the age of stupid and participate in an open forum discussion then head to:

Victoria Event Centre, 1415 Broad St, doors open at 5.30 and movie starts at 7. Organizers suggest that you get there early to avoid disappointment. Entry is $10 suggested donation. There will be a cash bar, food concession, door prizes and more!

Open forum discussion details

Dr. Colin Campbell, Science Advisor (www.sierraclub.bc.ca), Dorothy Cutting (www.WestCoastClimateEquity.org), Michelle Culossi (www.TransitionTowns.org/VictoriaBC) and moderator Dr. James Rowe (School of Environmental Studies, UVic).

Tonight: 2 Nov – Victoria Symphony presents ‘The Planets’

Celebrating the International Year of Astronomy the Victoria Symphony presents Gustav Holst’s dramatic masterpiece “The Planets.” While the orchestra plays artist Dr. José Francisco Salgado’s video suite will be projected on a giant screen. Dr Francisco was interviewed on the CBC this morning and small pieces of “The Planets” was played. The music was dramatic and beautiful and Dr Fancisco’s video installation, which incorporates the highest quality images of each of the planets, sounds like something that is well worth taking the time to see. There will be a preconcert talk in the West lobby, 45 mins before curtain.

Details:

8PM Nov 2, Royal Theatre

Tickets and other details see the Victoria Symphony website: http://victoriasymphony.ca/concerts/#656

start your Halloween early: Cheesecake Burlesque Revue presents Hallowe’en show “Boooooo-bs!”

Get warmed up for Halloween at the Lucky Bar tonight as the wonderful ladies of Victoria’s Cheesecake Burlesque Revue twirl their  special kind of treats and tricks. Their 4th annual Hallowe’en show, aptly named “Boooooo-bs!” takes place on Thursday, October 29th at Lucky Bar. Their Halloween show includes new acts along with beloved classics like their version of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, will thrill and delight!

Audience members are encouraged to dress as their ghouliest self and get all of those parties started early with a monstrous good time.

Audience members are encouraged to dress as their ghouliest self and get all of those parties started early with a monstrous good time.

Doors 8:00, Show 8:30 Sharp!!!
$15 adv/ $18 door
Advance tickets available at Lyle’s Place or at

www.cheesecakeburlesque.com

Again details:

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Time:

8:00pm – 10:30pm

Location:

Lucky Bar

517 Yates Street

Victoria, BC

Spooks n’ Spokes Ghost Ride – October 30

The Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition is running a Spooks n’ Spokes Ghost Ride – October 30

This easy 20 kilometre night ride on Friday, October 30 will teach you about the spirits who live in some of the castles and finest homes of Victoria.  Riders are encouraged to wear costumes and decorate their bikes! The ride departs from the fountain at Centennial Square at 6:30 p.m. and ends there at about 9:00 p.m.

You must have front and rear lights for your bike to participate!

all details: http://www.gvcc.bc.ca/

7&8 Nov Art of the Cocktail – fundraiser for the Victoria Film Festival

Coming up in the first week of November ( 7 & 8, 2009) is The Art of the Cocktail. It is a  two day festival celebrating the art, craft, and tradition of the cocktail. This is a fundraiser for the Victoria Film Festival, which like all arts in BC has been hit by funding cuts. There are three parts to this festival. First is The Tasting Room where you can taste spirits and cocktails, collect recipes and watch demonstrations. Pick a tasting time!

• November 7 Saturday 1 – 4 PM
• November 7 Saturday 7 – 10 PM
• November 8 Sunday 1 – 4 PM

Tickets for The Tasting Room are on sale now and can only be bought in advance.

In addition to The Tasting Room there are a large range of  workshops for which tickets are $20 each. Finally there are a range of dinners at some of the best restaurants around town. For all the details check out the VFF website.

more spooky fun: Ghost walks at St Ann’s academy

SWPL tells us that “When it comes to holidays, there are few that white people like more than Halloween.” So for those of you who know Victoria well it should come as no surprise that there is lots of Halloween activity occurring around Victoria. In addition to the plays I posted about yesterday for the next week and a bit you can join in more spooky Halloween fun by taking one of the Ghostly walking tours of St. Ann’s Academy and Grounds. The walks are happening on Friday 23 Oct, Sat 24 Oct, and Friday 30 Oct at 6PM & 8PM. The 90 minute guided tours will start at the entrance to the chapel. You can pick up tickets in advance at St Ann’s Caademy 835 Humbolt Street Ph 250 – 953-8829 email stanns.academy@gov.bc.ca

Creepy Craigdarroch showing 15-31 Oct

Halloween is coming soon and that means that Giggling Iguana productions are once again playing at Craigdarroch Castle. Last year year they presented The Picture of Dorian Gray and this year they are presenting The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Based on last year’s experience I would say that there is lots to recommend these productions. The rather gloomy Victorian-era mansion is the perfect location for a Halloween play. The director fully utilizes the castle’s unique setting by moving the audience through different rooms as the play progresses. These productions also give adults the chance to dress up and play with their ‘dark’ side. Virtually all of the audience last Halloween were wearing costumes which added a lot of fun to the atmosphere. On the less positive side the production last year was  not 100 percent professional. While some of the actors were great, a couple were a little amateur.  Despite this shortcoming I think we’ll be adding this play to our fall schedule. Check it out from now until Halloween!

Details:

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Opens 8pm Thursday, October 15 To October 31
Craigdarroch Castle, 1050 Joan
Tickets $22-$25 (advance only)
250-592-5323

See also article in this week’s Monday Mag: http://mondaymag.com/articles/entry/creepy-craigdarroch/arts/

Buy cheap MEC gear: Sunday Oct 18

You may have noticed that a MEC outfit is the official uniform here in Victoria. As Victoria is white person capital of Canada it also stands that MEC is one of the most popular places to visit on the weekend. You will find the place buzzing every weekend of the year. [See stuffwhitepeoplelike.com outdoor-performance-clothes] This weekend you can purchase cheaper MEC gear by visiting the MEC used gear sale. MEC members sell items and MEC also brings along their own used gear. For all details see:

http://gearswap.tumblr.com/

Antimatter Film Festival Oct 9 to 17

Antimatter Film Festival starts tomorrow night!

Antimatter Film festival

The Antimatter Film Festival kicked off with Small World on Friday, Oct 9 at Open Space (510 Fort Street). The excellent opening feature was a multi-media excursion through disney. Artists and local musicians interpreted Disney classics with assistance of shopping carts, painted acoustic guitars, accordions, smoke machines, quirky costumes, tinfoil, and pretty lights. A very fun night to kick off Thanks Giving weekend!

Antimatter continues through Oct 17 with screenings, performances and video installations. Short features are organized into themes including “warming trend: environmentalism alarm bells pealing out for hope; “O’er the land”; “Ju suis une bombe: aesthetic actions promulgate gender confusion/diffusion…”

Full schedule and info at http://www.antimatter.ws or pick up a program guide at any south island Serious Coffee location.