The Admiral Inn Blog

We don’t make a habit on the blog of promoting local businesses, but we have to make an exception in this case – rarely have we had such praise from our guests about the above and beyond the call type of service that they received from GSA Auto Rentals. Not only did  the guest get a substantial discount because of his stay at the Admiral, but a friend was given one too, simply because he was our guest’s friend. In addition, the manager met another of our guests friends at the airport with a rental car. Not so unusual? The flight was delayed for five hours and arrived at midnight. The manager from GSA was waiting when the friend deplaned. The same manager drove a car down from Sidney to Victoria to accommodate our guest. We’re more than pleased to talk up the GSA Auto Rentals with service like that! And their prices are reasonable, too!

It’s jazz season here in Victoria. Well, we have jazz all year round, and especially in the summer when Jazzfest is on, but this week seems to be even more jazzy than we usually are.  John Hammond, grammy award winning blues guitarist is appearing at Hermann’s Jazz Club on March 12. Be sure to be there to hear one of the icons of blues and jazz.

Amina Figarova will also be appearing at Hermann’s on March 16 – she’s one of the most productive jazz composers and talented jazz piano players from Europe. She studied as a classical concert pianist at the Baku Conservatory, jazz performance at the Rotterdam Conservatory then the Berklee College of Music in Boston. In 1998 she was accepted into the prestigious Thelonious Monk Jazz Colony in Aspen, Colorado.

And just to make the collection complete, be sure to drop into the O Bistro in James Bay throughout March to hear some of the following talented jazz musicians: Maureen Washington and Daniel Cook ;Nadine Florence and Paul Laverick; Diane Pancel and Thomas Kinzel; Flora Scott and Sean Drabitt;  Melinda Shittaker and John MacArthur.

If operetta is also one of your loves, then you’ll enjoy the hilarious musical theatre production of ‘The Sorcerer’ by The Victoria Gilbert and Sullivan Society.  The action takes place in a small, quaint village, where life is placid and boringly predictable, until John Wellington Wells, an employee of a respectable firm of Sorcerers (think Harry Potter’s great grandfather!), turns their predictable little world upside down. March 13, 20, 21, 27 and 28 at the Mary Winspear Centre and the MacPherson Playhouse.

And last, but certainly not least, we couldn’t let this pass by without a mention. The Rocky Horror Picture Show is coming to the MacPherson Playhouse. Okay, it’s not Tim Curry reprising his role, and Susan Sarandon just couldn’t make it, but the Lawyers on Stage will be every bit (almost) as good. Come and sing along, throw toast, light your lighters and prompt the lawyers when they forget their lines (after all, we all know it by heart, don’t we?) And don’t forget to join in on the Time Warp! (. . . and a step to your ri-i-i-i-i-ght! Put your hands on your hips and bring your knees in tight!) Ahem. Anyway – it’s playing Mar 9 and 10. Dig out your fishnet stockings, your Harley vests and enjoy!

We remember the good old days here at the Admiral. I’m going to be singing the Time Warp for the rest of the evening. But we’re also up to date in terms of our cheap prices, our outstanding service and our friendly, home away from home atmosphere. If you’re here for a day or for a month, it makes no difference to us – we’ll welcome you just as warmly and be as sorry to see you leave. Located on the edge of Victoria’s downtown Inner Harbour, the Admiral is within walking distance of all of downtown’s attractions, as well as the entire coastline of James Bay. Be sure to check our prices and availability and book your stay with us now.

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Well, okay, maybe not a real, Roman Centurion, but the Canadian Navy has been around for 100 years this year. And our Canadian Forces are going all out to celebrate the fact. How can the ADMIRAL! hotel ignore our naval celebrations? Well, it’s simple. We can’t.  Be sure to check our specials page for a sweet deal for any out of town sailors who’ll be here, and keep your eyes on this space for information about any and all upcoming events from now until the International Fleet Review week (and after) June 9-14. Over 25 maritime nations from around the world have been invited to visit and participate in the review, and the USS Nimitz will be participating as well. No word yet on whether there will be tours, but starting now and continuing until August, Dockyard will be offering free guided walking tours. Gather up ten friends and call or email ahead to book, (by phone at 250-363-5291 or by e-mail at darelle.odo@forces.gc.ca) and take a look at what our Navy does (and has done since the dockyard opened) here in Victoria.

If you’re interested in roses, or in the WRCNS (Wrens), then be sure to attend the planting of a new rose hybrid strain at the Wardroom on March 8. The AC ™ Navy Lady was developed specifically to honour the women who chose to serve their country in the Navy – both those in the past, and those who are serving today. If you like the strain, then purchase one at a selected nursery. Information is available at the WRCNS website.

For all of you who are Welsh, or only, like most of us, wish we were Welsh, be sure to drop into the Saanich Fairgrounds on Feb. 27 to listen to Rig-a-Jig as they join the City of Garden’s Chorus to celebrate St. David’s Day in a massive, fun ceilidh. For those unfamiliar with Celtic terms, a ceilidh (caylee) is a dance. But don’t worry if you don’t know the steps, because they’ll have a caller and the dances are easy and fun. St. David is the patron saint of Wales, and his official feast day is March 1, but who can blame the City of Gardens for wanting to celebrate early? They’ve been selected to compete at the prestigious Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales in July 2010! Congratulations to the Sweet Adelines and best of luck to all of them!

If bluegrass is more your style, or your musical tastes are eclectic, then catch the Bluegrass festival at Ocean Island on Feb. 27.  Introducing Bluegrass Sunday, hosted by Doosie and Decker. Eat, drink and check out Ocean Island’s first bluegrass extravaganza, or bring along an instrument and be part of the jam. Starts at 9pm.

And I really recommend you don’t miss Phoenix Theatre’s production of Problem Child. Confined to a hotel room, a desperate and dysfunctional couple tries to put their past drug abuse and prison terms behind them in order to regain custody of their baby. Walker is one of Canada’s most prolific and popular playwrights, best known for his fast-paced black comedies that satire the woes of contemporary culture under the pressures of capitalism. Advisory: Strong language. Two performances are captioned for those with hearing issues. Feb. 18-27.

Be sure to check our blog regularly for more information and events related to the Canadian Naval Centennial – all sorts of things are in the works, from parades to the unveiling of a statue, to tours and BBQs, right on up to Symphony Splash this August as the Victoria Symphony pays tribute to the Canadian Maritime Forces. We at the Admiral are proud of our women and men in uniform, and we are offering a special package for service families while the International Fleet Review is on, June 9 – 14. We’re located adjacent to the Inner Harbour, and offer modest, one could even say, cheap, rates. But our services and cleanliness are top of the line, as befits an Admiral! Come and stay with us and enjoy the spring and summer events that are within walking distance of the hotel (and that’s all of downtown!) We look forward to welcoming you, and your family, at the Admiral Hotel.

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Tourist season is drawing close, and as the attractions brush off their winter sleepies, they have to practice to make sure everyone is eager and ready for the summer’s visitors. That’s why we have the annual “Be a Tourist in your own Hometown” event, starting March 3. Come on out and get a free or really cheap view of almost all the attractions in Victoria. Tickets are on salea now and can be purchased through Tourism Victoria’s Visitor Centre by calling 250-953-2033, in person at 812 Whrf Street and online. Tickets are available singly at $10.00 + $.50 GST or in packs; Buy 4 and get the 5th one free at $40.00 + $2.00 GST. It really is a wonderful opportunity for residents and visitors to get an inexpensive look at what Victoria has to offer.

If there’s a kid you know (regardless of their actual age) who loves Lego, then be sure to be at Tillicum Mall March 5 to 7 for the great Lego building contest. The Zone radio station and Tillicum Centre are proud to present the Lego Build & Win Challenge. You must register with the contest to enter your Lego creation, but call The Zone, or check their website for details. As a contestant, you’ll have the opportunity to bring in your LEGO masterpiece that depicts what you love most about Vancouver Island. You can also meet LEGO certified professional, Robin Sather and watch him build a GIANT LEGO sculpture.

This weekend, if you have children who like musical theatre or you want to introduce them to live theatre, then be sure to drop by St. Ann’s Academy to catch Fliberty and the Penguin, staged by Four Seasons Musical Theatre.  Flibberty, a goblin, meets a penguin searching for his parents, and decides to help the lonely bird. Stong music, rollicking fun and a chase that allows for audience participation ensures that kids of all ages will enjoy this delightful muscial. For tickets, call Four Seasons or check their website.

If real opera is more your taste, then be sure not to miss Pacific Opera Victoria’s  Capricco by Straus. The Countess Madeleine is torn between two lovers – a poet and a musician. The solution to her dilemma is to commission an opera – and she will decide how it ends. But in choosing one lover, she must lose the other. Poetry or music – which will prevail? For tickets and information please contact the McPherson box office in person, by phone at 250-386-6121, or online at www.rmts.bc.ca.

We’re hoping you’ll come to Victoria and experience the wakening of the world as spring edges out the wintry grey weather. Stay at the Admiral and enjoy all the city has to offer, at your doorstep. As your home away from home, the Admiral can provide a warm, relaxing and ultra clean hotel room or suite, with a relaxed and sumtous continental breakfast for you each morning of your stay. Don’t feel like walking? Borrow (that’s right, borrow, not rent) one of our bikes and cycle your way around the gorgeous seafront. With all of downtown just a stroll away, and the gorgeous inner harbour practically next door, how can you want to stay anywhere else? Check our specials and reservations page, and we’ll look forward to welcoming you at the Admiral!

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That’s right – the flower count starts tomorrow. Be sure to visit us during from now on to enjoy all the blooms and buds that are popping up all over town – this next week, if temperatures stay balmy should show the absolute incredible beauty of the flowering cherries, and it only gets better as we head into a real spring and a wonderful summer.

Love is in the air as we head toward Valentine’s day, so be sure to take in the Canadian Pacific Ballet production of Konservatoriat, a marriage by advertisment February 13 and 14. A restaging of the esteemed Dutch ballet by renowned coreographer Kennet Oberly brings to renewed life the story of a lovesick man, overlooked true love, a practical joking ballet company and the 19th century.  Be sure to take that special somone and enjoy the dance!

The Arrogant Worms are a Canadian institution, and if you haven’t heard of (or heard) them, you don’t know what you’re missing. One of the best Canadian comedy musical groups ever, the Arrogant Worm’s satire is biting and the musicianship is second to none. Their appeal has earned them fans from kids to parents to grandparents to Princess Leia. Their songs are in school lesson plans, in textbooks and even played on the Space Shuttle. On earth or in space, everyone digs these Worms. They’ll be at Alix Goolden Hall Feb. 18. Be sure to be there, and be ready to laugh the night away as you sing along!

Don’t forget that February is Black History Month here in town, and check out these events to help celebrate the presence of people of colour in our city. Feb. 14 join Louise Rose and the Victoria Good News Choir, The Vic High RB Band and MoonDance at UVic’s Farquhar Auditorium for jazz, funk, gospel singing and dance. Then learn a bit about how escaped slaves traveled to freedom along the underground railway when Ron Nicolson, the fourth generation descendant of one of those runaway slaves, talks about the danger, heroism and hardship these intrepid people experinced on Feb. 20 at the Travellers Inn on Douglas St. Please email joan671@hotmail.com if you wish to attend this, as a lunch is provided and numbers are needed for the caterers.

GUNG HAY FAT CHOY! That’s the Chinese expression that you hear around town these day – it’s the Chinese New Year and it’s all over town. 農曆新年 is the written form of it. Technically it happens on Feb. 14 this year, but the Chinese community is going to wait a week to celebrate, so be sure to be downtown on the weekend of Feb 20-21 to see all the excitement!

Even though we have flowers and the weather’s been balmy, winter is still officially around. And we can still celebrate the sports of winter, as we welcome the NHL Old Timers to our city on March 22. They’ll be playing here at the Save on Foods Memorial Arena. Among the still-glowing stars will be Cliff Ronning, Tiger Willilams, Theo Fluery, Gary Leeman and Rod Black. We have six (6) free tickets to the event, if you stay with us – plus we have a special cheap price for anyone coming into town to see them! Check the specials page for details.

Victoria is a special place, as this blog, the Admiral and all our events prove. Stay at an extra-special hotel, close by the inner harbour and within walking distance of all of downtown, and most of the city’s attractions. We’d love to welcome you to the Admiral, serve you our complimentary continental breakfast and draw up a sightseeing itinerary specially tailored to your tastes and interests. Spotlessly clean, warmly welcoming, cheap and friendly, the Admiral can be your home away from home.

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There is so much going on in Victoria this week, there’s no way we can list it all! Everything from nature outings and lectures to dance, music, gardens, gaming and much, much more!

Starting off with the highly cultural, Canadian Pacific  Ballet will be mounting Konservatoriat, a marriage by advertisment February 13 and 14. A restaging of the esteemed Dutch ballet by renowned coreographer Kennet Oberly brings to renewed life the story of a lovesick man, overlooked true love, a practical joking ballet company and the 19th century.  Be sure to take that special somone and enjoy the dance!

February 5 to 7, if you game, you’ll  want to be sure to catch GottaCon - the second annual gaming convention. Boasting game of all kinds, from computer, to video to board and role playing, the event last year attracted over 800 game happy participants. This year the fun should be even better – there are workshops, games, vendors, food and costume judging. This year’s presenters include Dead Gentlemen Productions, filmmakers specializing in gamer films, David Pulver author and game designer, LoadingReadyRun, Karl Johanson, editor & award winning editor, game editor and SF expert, Eric Seaton, writer and game designer. It’s sure to be a weekend to remember.

For those more naturally inclined, be sure to be at Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary on Feb. 14 to listen and watch as local bird biologist, James Clowater, delivers a multi-media presentation on Valentine’s day among the birds. He’ll show and discuss the courting habits of a number of species of birds, how they use plumage and display to both impress their intendeds, and discourage their competitors. Love Among the Feathers is bound to be fun and entertaining.

If it’s music you’re looking for, then be sure to check out The Lost Fingers, a platinum record band with Juno nominations, Fan Choice awards and the Album of the year awards. They’re an acoustic jazz trio from Quebec who draw their primary inspiration from gypsy jazz icon Django Reinhardt. Appearing at The Victoria Event Centre, 1415 Broad St Feb. 12 only.

For theatre buffs, Belfry Theatre’s Where the Blood Mixes is ongoing until Feb. 21. Irreverently funny and brutally honest, Where the Blood Mixes is an extremely moving story of loss and redemption from a shameful episode in our national history.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg – you’ll have to come to us, here adjacent to the beautiful downtown Inner Harbour, within minutes of most of the Victoria’s attractions, at the Admiral Inn. We have packages and specials available, as well as tours and events of our own. An inexpensive, but not cheap place to stay while you enjoy the last of a mild winter and the arrival of a spectacular spring, the Admiral is eager to welcome you to your home away from home!

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Cheap at twice the price! What more could you want than music that spans the centuries, dance that never gets old, and garden flowers in February? Okay, the last week of January, but who’s counting? Well, Victoria is. Our annual flower count is coming up, and if what already flowering is any indication, this is going to be an incredible year. Depending on who you talk to, this is either our celebration of the approach of spring, or it’s us gloating to the rest of ice- and snow-bound North America that we have it better. Whichever, if you do want to get away from the icicles, the slushy end of winter snow, and the shivers, come on out and stay at the Admiral hotel. We’ve got lots going on this week to tempt you.

First up is the Bamberton: Contested Space show at the Open Space Gallery. Cedric and Nathan Bomford are brothers, both more known for their photography than the current installation, but both agree that the current work is a logical progression of their previous work. It’s an unsual and highly interactive display, so check it out while you’re here.

The Victoria Conservatory of Music is pleased and proud to present their Baroque Music Festival, running from the 4th to the 7th of February. Going into it’s 6th year the February Classic, Pacific Baroque Festival welcomes Bernard Foccroulle (organ), Anne Grimm (soprano), the return of Colin Tilney (harpsichord), Elissa Poole (baroque flute), Sand Dalton (baroque obio) as well as the Pacific Baroque Orchestra and The Victoria Children’s Choir. The festival focuses on music by three great composers of the German baroque: Dietrich Buxtehude, who J.S. Bach famously walked 300 km to hear play the organ, Georg Philip Telemann, who appears in the Guiness Book of Records as the most prolific composer of all time, and the great J.S. Bach, whose music remains timeless.  The 2010 Pacific Baroque Festival will feature a Thursday morning and evening special event at the Victoria Conservatory of Music and Christ Church Cathedral, two main concerts on the Friday and Saturday evenings at Alix Goolden Hall, and a Free Event “Choral Vespers and Abendmusik” on the Sunday afternoon at Christ Church Cathedral. Make your plans now to join a welcome audience of Local and Visitor, Classical and Baroque music enthusiasts for this unique, acclaimed music festival event in Victoria BC.

If you’re a Bob Marley fan, then make sure you get to the Sugar Night Club on February 5 to celebrate what would have been his 65th birthday. Jamaica’s ROOTZ UNDERGROUND will be making their Canadian debut at the celebration, and Sugar has lined up an amazing number of quality local bands to properly honour the best known reggae artist.

If Jazz is more your speed, then be sure to drop into Hermann’s Jazz club on Feb. 5 for and evening with CR Avery. Hermann’s has been offering quality jazz in Victoria for a long time, and they’re one of the premiere jazz clubs in town.

The ballet season is in full swing, so be sure to get yourselves to the Charlie White Theatre for February 6 and 7 for Cinderella. Get swept away by Ballet Jorgen Canada’s exhilarating interpretation of the classic fairy tale, Cinderella. This enchanting ballet, set to Prokofiev’s score overflows with passion, wit and charm. This ballet by Bengt Jorgen is an innovative take on the classic fairy tale. 

Signs of spring are showing all over town, from the snowdrops and crocuses to the swelling buds on the ornamental cherry trees to sightings of the ruby-throated hummingbird at neighbourhood feeders. Sure, it’s only January, but we can be hopeful. So come and stay with us, and track the arrival of the rest of the spring flowers, the returning birds, the warming temperatures and the brightening sun. We aren’t cheap – we’re inexpensive and we have a room or suite to suit your budget. We give discounts too – AAA, Seniors, corporate and government all qualify for discounts. And if you tell us why you like us, we’ll give you one even if you don’t qualify as a senior, or AAA member! The Admiral Inn rates may be bargain basement, but our quality is top drawer and our warm and friendly atmosphere is out of this world, so be sure to book your rooms or suites soon.

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It’s coming up to that time of year again – the Victoria Independent Film Festival is about to begin, and do they have a line up! Not to mention incredible parties, workshops, special guests and much, much more. In addition, the Belfry Theatre is hosting one hell of a party for their annual fundraiser. We normally don’t use language like that on this blog, but there really is no other way to describe what is coming up – as you’ll see, below! Did you know that Victoria has a chance to make it onto the monopoly board? We do – but we need your vote to do it – see details, below. And just so we don’t leave the amateur athletes out of it, Victoria is host to the National Street Hockey championships!

The Victoria Independent Film Festival runs from Jan 29 to February 7, and includes guests such as Kris Kristofferson (Me & Bobby McGee, Help Me Make it through the Night), Barry Pepper and Joshua Grossberg, both of whom have films showing at the festival. The opening bash is already sold out, but be sure to get your tickets now for the rest of the festival, including the closing gala.

Be sure to join the Belfry and its supporters at the Laurel Point Inn on Feb. 6 for their annual (but this one is a once in a lifetime) Fundraising  Gala. You can go to either Heaven or Hell (or both) this year. The fundraiser features not only the talented perfomers Bryden Street House Party, Louise Rose, The Cheesecake Burlesque Revue, and Bučan Bučan (among others, who are being kept under wraps for now), but the talents of Executive Chef Brad Horen, team captain of Canadian Culinary Olympic Team 2010, who will be preparing an incredible three-course meal for guests in Heaven and a selection of hors d’oeuvres for guests in Hell. Tickets: HELL $66.60 (includes the party, hors d’oeuvres and entertainment). HEAVEN $175 (includes tax receipt, an elegant three course sit-down dinner with wine, special exclusive entertainment, gift bags and entry into Heaven and Hell). A Table in HEAVEN $1750 (includes for 10 people ~ tax receipt, an elegant three-course sit-down dinner with wine, special exclusive entertainment, gift bags and entry into Heaven and Hell). To book tickets please call 250-385-6815. To book a table please call Kathy St. John at 250-385-6835 ext. 229.

Hasbro Canada has determined that they will celebrate the 75^th anniversary of the popular board game Monopoly by releasing a special Canadian edition with city names in place of streets.  Sixty-five Canadian cities are currently vying for the 22 spots on the board, with Victoria currently number 10 on that list of 65.  As well, the current gap between the frontrunner and the last on the list is less than 5% of votes – the dynamic shifts dramatically from hour to hour.  Twenty cities will be selected by online voting, with two more picked from wildcard selections by voters.  The city with the most votes will be listed as one of the most valuable spaces on the board, the city with the second most will be assigned the second dark blue space, and so on.  There are 39 days left to vote – and each person can vote once per day at www.monopolyvote.ca.  Let’s make sure Victoria gets a spot on that board!

Don’t miss the National Street Hockey Championships, being held right here in Victoria on January 29 & 30. Hosted by CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada, the 4 member teams will battle it out on Belleville Street, between Menzies and Government (that’s just outside the Parliament Buildings, right up the street from the Admiral) from 9am to 6pm, with the championship beginning at about 5 pm on the 30th.

If you’re looking for a place to stay to be part of any of the activities above, be sure to think of the Admiral - we’re next door to the Laurel Point, seconds away from the street hockey games, and minutes away from the  VIFF offices. We’re spotlessly clean, have a great sense of humour and love guests! Seriously, check out our specials page for unbeatable rates and special packages, and book today for any or all of the fun that’s coming up! And as a bit of extra information – please check our specials page to know that we are a part of the Victoria Dine Around experience, with rooms offered for this experience at special low prices. Also check out our new “About” page with valuable information on our history and amenities, not to mention our dirt-cheap prices!

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If you’re interested in culture – arts, music and history sports, Victoria is the place to be. We aren’t crowded the way Whistler and Vancouver are, and will be through February, and we have lots of wonderful things going on around town.

The Royal BC Museum is proud to host S’abadeb, the first major exhibition to explore the unique artistry and culture of the Coast Salish First Peoples of British Columbia and Washington State. Organized by the Seattle Art Museum, the exhibition features more than 175 works of art from national and international collections. Visitors will be offered a glimpse into the daily and ceremonial lives of the 40 groups that make up the Coast Salish. That’s in addition to their regular, wonderful exhibits. Their hours are 10 am to 5 pm daily. BC Archives are now open 10 am to 8 pm, Monday to Friday and Saturday 1 to 5 pm. 

The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria is just exploding with some wonderful artwork. Be sure to catch Vision into Reality: The Birth of the Collection. Colin Graham, the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria’s Founding Director, had remarkable insight in starting the Asian art collection, now one of the most important in Canada. Among the very first works of art accepted into the Gallery’s collection in 1950 were two Japanese woodblock prints by the well-known artist, Utamaro (1753-1806). These were given by important early benefactor, Miss Katherine McEwen. Following her lead, Miss Kathleen Agnew and Mrs. Massy Goolden generously supplied funds to purchase early Chinese ceramics and bronzes as well as Japanese lacquerware. In 1960 the collection got its first major boost. Colin Graham met Mrs. Isabel Pollard of San Francisco and was able to persuade her to begin collecting Asian art for the Gallery. With astute Japanese antique dealer, Bunzo Nakanishi, and well-known Japanese scholar, Dr. Toru Mori, she built an extraordinary collection of nearly 1,000 works, mostly Japanese. In the 1970s, a retired Graham encouraged donation of works from esteemed collectors Mr. and Mrs. R.W. Finalyson and family of Toronto and Brian S. McElney of Hong Kong. Their support of the Gallery continues. Colin Graham also remains an enthusiast, having created a home at the AGGV for what is now a world renowned Asian art collection.  The Birth of the Collection explores the various strengths of the collection including examples from local, Canadian, and international artists working in fine and decorative art media. Highlights include a significant collection of old master prints by Rembrandt, Durer, and Goya as well as works by other international artists such as Turner, Daumier, Rodin, and Whistler. Graham also developed a fine survey of important historical Canadian art including paintings by Emily Carr, David Milne, Fred Varley, and Arthur Lismer. Alongside these traditional works he introduced international modernism through prints by Wassily Kandinsky, Henry Moore, Odilon Redon, and Georges Rouault. Perhaps most significantly he represented the art of his time though modernist paintings by Mark Tobey, Jack Shadbolt, Roy Kiyooka, Jock Macdonald, and Jack Bush, among many others. The exhibit shows until March 28.

Be sure not to miss Glimpses of Japan, also at the Gallery, running until April 11. Over the past five years, the AGGV has acquired well over two hundred old and new Japanese prints. More than half the prints were recently purchased by the curator or donors over the internet and a wide selection of these will be on display. The prints were acquired to augment the Gallery’s fine collection of Japanese prints, one of the most comprehensive collections outside of Japan. Glimpses of Japan will display prints by famous 18th and 19th century ukiyo-e artists like Hokusai, Kunisada, Hiroshige and his students Hiroshige II and III, and Yoshitoshi. There will be examples of works by print makers of the shin hanga (new print) movement of the 1920s and 30s like Yoshida and his sons, Toshi and Hodaka, Hasui, Kanpo, and Shotei as well as prints by major sosaku hanga (creative prints) movement of the 20th century like Watanabe Sadao, Munakata Shiko, and Yoshitoshi Mori. The exhibition will offer interesting glimpses of Japan and its people from the 18th century through to the end of the 20th century. Subjects include landscape, historical scenes, individual portraits, genre scenes and impressionistic images.

If you’re in the mood to acquire art, be sure to stop by the Maritime Museum in Bastion Square. In 2009, the Maritime Museum of British Columbia was the recipient of a generous donation of original artworks from the collection of Ralph and Angie Roberts. The collection includes original paintings by internationally known artists such as Len Gibbs and Peter Ewart, three-dimensional works by renowned sculptor Maarten Schaddelee, among many other artists represented.  The Roberts made the donation for the express purpose of helping the MMBC raise much-needed funds through a sale of the collection. Starting in January, all items in the collection will be offered for sale to the public and our supporters. For a preview of the items in the Roberts Collection that will be available, visit the Art Sale Preview page on our website, at www.mmbc.bc.ca Selected paintings are on display at the Maritime Museum of BC. Please contact Kamala Paton at 250-385-4222 Ext 111 or email kpaton@mmbc.bc.ca for further information.

If music is your passion, then be sure to note these wonderful shows: A Closer Walk with Pasty Cline, at the Chemanius Theater. A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline by Dean Regan and starring Sara-Jeanne Hosie, features 20 hits, including Crazy, Walkin’ After Midnight, Sweet Dreams and I Fall to Pieces. Follow Patsy’s climb to stardom from her hometown in Virginia to the Grand Ole’ Opry, Las Vegas and Carnegie Hall! With a five-piece band, rave reviews across the continent and the first time the show has run on Vancouver Island in over a decade – this is a show you don’t want to miss! It is a musical tribute to a legend.  Please call the theatre box office for information and tickets at 250-246-9800 or email info@chemainustheatre.ca

Or catch The Da Vinci Codex, mounted by the Early Music Society of the Islands, presenting a concert with the Toronto Consort. Leonardo da Vinci: artist, architect, engineer and visionary. Less well known is Leonardo the accomplished musician. Nine members of Canada’s leading renaissance ensemble reveal the secret glories of Leonardo’s musical world.  Tickets and information from the McPherson Box Office in person, by phone at 250-386-6121, online at www.rmts.bc.ca or at the door.

And of course, our own Victoria Symphony always has something interesting going on. Join them on January 24 and 25 for Turkish Delight. Bernard Gueller conducts and Susanne Hou on violin perform Bell Spirit Trail featuring Mozart Concerto no.5 Turkish and Beethoven Symphony no. 2.  For tickets and information please contact the McPherson Box Office, in person, by phone at 250-386-6121 or online at www.rmts.bc.ca.

And if you just can’t get enough of the Butchart Gardens, or want to know more about the family which first built the remarkable gardens, during the winter months Benvenuto, the Ross family residence, is open for visitors to view a display of memorabilia chronicling the development of Jennie Butchart’s garden. Furnishings, correspondence, and photographs follow the development of the Gardens and allow the visitor to step back into the graciousness of the period. Staff members are on hand to assist visitors with their questions. Afternoon Tea, served in the Dining Room Restaurant, is available daily.

Whether its music, history or art, we at the Admiral Inn are happy to arrange your tours and reservations – and we can sometimes get discounts on tickets for our guests. Here at the Admiral, we like all kinds of things, from music to theatre, art and literature, hockey, basketball and bike riding. Be sure to reserve a room or a suite with us, and we’ll enjoy welcoming you and hearing all about your fascinating trips around our city. Check our specials page for seasonal and one time specials, and call today (or visit our website at www.admiral.bc.ca) for your reservation.

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Well, we are always big time, but we actually have outdoor skating here in Victoria, no matter what the temperature! Yes, that’s right. Mayfair Mall has come up with a way to have an outdoor skating rink, on the roof of the mall, no matter what the weather. If you don’t have your own skates (because you left them at home – this IS Victoria, centre of Lotus Land, home of the annual February flower count, after all!) worry not! You can rent them for $5.00 a pair, with all proceeds going to aid the Land Conservancy and the SPCA. The rink takes up to 40 skaters an hour, it’s free if you don’t rent the skates (but a donation to either of those charities would be warmly welcomed) and music is provided by two of Victoria’s best radio stations – 103 the Q and 100 the Zone. How do they do it without the ice melting? All they’ll say is that it’s more environmentally friendly than frozen water. The rink will be open all of January and February.

Once you’ve warmed up and loosened up, and if it’s January 16, you might want to continue your charitable efforts by attending the For the Love of Africa dance and silent auction, music provided by the Vic High Rhythm & Blues Band. And if you haven’t yet heard this band, you’re in for a real treat – these kids know how to play music with spirit, with verve, with joy and with mega talent. It’s worth it alone, just to go listen to the band (but you won’t be able to resist getting up to dance when you hear them.) Tickets available online from the for Love of Africa website.

Then, when you’re pleasantly tired from the skating and dancing, stroll on over to the Victoria Symphony and listen to either of their two featured concerts – The French Connection, with maestro Jean Francois-Rivest and Avan Yu on piano, on January 11, 2009, or A Night at the Oscars, conducted by Regina Symphony Orchestra’s Music Director Victor Sawa. Thrill to the scores from Lawrence of Arabia, Robin Hood, Gladiator and more award winning movies on January 14, 15 or 16. Tickets available from the MacPherson Box Office.

We love winter and music here at the Admiral, and we’re looking forward to welcoming you for a stay for a night, a weekend, or for several weeks. This is the time of year our long stay guests begin arriving, and we’d love to have you join their company. During this time of year, it’s not just a hotel – the Admiral becomes a community – we have movie nights, organized tours, bridge tournaments, canasta games, and much more. We really do make this a home away from home while you’re here, and it’s warm and cozy inside the Admiral, where the coffee’s on all the time, and a brisk, short walk will bring you to the downtown inner harbour in just a few minutes. Check our Specials and Deals pages here on the blog, or on our website for seasonal and charitable specials.

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Should auld acquaintence be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintence be forgot
In days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne.
We’ll raise a cup of kindess yet,
For auld lang syne!

We sing it every New Year’s Eve, to welcome in the new year. But do any of us know what it means? We at the Admiral wondered, so we started looking around. Auld lang syne is Scottish for “the good old days.” Literally, “old long since”. The words are Scottish, attributed to Robbie Burns, but the tune has been traced to an English composer. “Auld” is old. So – should old acquaintence be forgotten. The actual meaning of the song varies with both the words and the expert (check out the numerous words and meanings by googling the phrase “auld lang syne”) but it seems to be asking if, when these days are “old long since” we’ll forget the people we loved the most, and welcomed in this new year with. But it also seems to ask if we’ve forgotten other, equally well loved friends in the years that are already “old long since”. Either way, it’s reminding us to keep fresh and vital the most important things of all – connections to family and friends.

Here at the Admiral, we value those connections, and we are always happy to welcome first time guests in the hopes that they will become old and valued friends whom we look forward to seeing again and again over the years.

To those of our wonderful guests who are practically family, to those of our wonderful guests whom we’ve only just met, and to all of you whom we hope will become members of the Admiral’s far flung “family” of guests – repeat or not - we wish a happy and prosperous New Year rich in good friends and loving family.

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