Image Credit: Illustration by Vimrod – vimrod.com

Instead of twiddling your thumbs, try tingling your tastebuds over at Sips Artisan Bistro in James Bay Square (425 Simcoe Street) this week!

Larry Arnold, Product Consultant for Spinnakers Wine, Beer & Spirits Merchants, will be hosting a special wine tasting on Thursday, October 22 from 4:00 to 5:30 pm featuring the reds and whites of the award-winning Hillside Estate Winery, (celebrating 25 years of passion for plump grapes in Penticton, British Columbia).

For the wine connoisseur on your birthday, Christmas, or wedding list who would be pleased with a few extra bottles to cellar, consider a consultation with discriminating wine buyer Larry Arnold. Whether he recommends small-lot BC rarities, classic vintages, organics and biodynamics or, for the trophy hunter, Chateau Cheval Blanc 2005 Bordeaux (at $1,400 a bottle, purportedly the greatest vintage produced in the last 50 years), he caters to big and small collectors.

To contact Larry: Tel: 250-590-3515, or Email – larry@spiritmerchants.ca

It is reputed that Victoria, British Columbia is one of the most haunted cities in north America. So, it’s not surprising to find John Adams, a James Bay resident and local historian leading ardent apparitionists not to mention perhaps a few fearful folks through the night, pointing out where the ghost are most likely to be found.

Throughout the month of October, there are at least eight different nightly ghost tours (usually 90 minutes in length) organized every week to keep both spooks and spectators busy.

Saturday night tours focus on three spooky spots in the Inner Harbour, the famed Fairmount Empress Hotel, Helmecken House (British Columbia’s oldest house), and nearby St. Ann’s Academy (a civic landmark and national historic site).

Monday evenings highlight some superb spirits who inhabit the Provincial Legislature, the native burial ground at Laurel Point, and the Gatsby Mansion (where they are known to have scared more than a few caretakers from the premises).

Wednesday nights, it’s back to the James Bay neighborhood again to seek out more spunky spirits, surprising sights and sensational stories to keep everyone entertained.

All Ghost Walks begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Visitor Information Centre at the corner of Government and Wharf streets. Cost is $12.

For more information, check out Discover the Past: Tours in Downtown Victoria & Environs.

Image Credit: Illustration by Dean Lewis, (from the front cover of Focus magazine, Volume 21, No. 3, December 2008, and insert for the article, "The Inconvenient Truth About Her Axe and His Tax" by Katherine Gordon) 

What would a "Snippets and Snapshots" gallery be without a few colorful characters?

The Legislative Precinct of James Bay has two prominent politicians, Gordon Campbell (Premier of the Province of British Columbia and Leader of the Liberal Party), and  Carol James (Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the New Democratic Party) who are known to frequent the neighborhood every now and then when the affairs of state demand their presence.

Thanks to the artistic hand of Dean Lewis, (a resident of James Bay who delights visitors to the Inner Harbour every summer with their very own caricatures), we now have some rather pithy portraits of these powerful political potentates.

James Bay is Victoria’s oldest neighborhood, so it’s not surprising that some "very important people" have lived here since the early days. (Note: In the coming months, we’ll be profiling a number of these colorful personalities in the history section of this rather fine place.

In the meantime, we can certainly report that this eclectic and often entertaining community is home some 12,000 souls, a few of whom happen to be female politicians (not to to be confused with their male counterparts often referred to in the vernacular as ’baby-kissers’ ‘grandstanders’, ‘handshakers’, ‘lawmakers’, ‘legislators’, ’office-holders’, ‘orators’, ‘parliamentarians’, ”public servants’, and ‘whistle-stoppers’). 

Pam Madoff (a resident of James Bay who is also Councillor for the City of Victoria with a keen interest in heritage preservation).      

Gretchen Brewin (former Mayor of Victoria from 1986-1990, and New Democratic Party MLA for the riding of Victoria-Beacon Hill from 1991 to 2001) also resides here. 

Pieta VanDyke (International Chair & Board Member of Harbourside Rotary Club, volunteer at "Our Place", and former B.C. government Senior Policy Analyst, Vice-President of the James Bay Neighborhood Association, not to mention leadership roles in James Bay community groups, a women rights and child-care advocate and employment/labour activist).

Other leading lights and orators of the oviparous kind include:

Carole James, the current leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP) of British Columbia representing the riding of Victoria-Beacon Hill) whose mother also plays a prominent role in the community as Board Chairperson of the James Bay Community Project.

Denise Savoie, NDP Caucus Member, and first woman elected as Member of Parliament for Victoria, British Columbia in 2006, and re-elected in the October 2008 general election.

The James Bay neighborhood has a rich treasury of talented artisans, artists, crafters, entertainers, musicians, performers, photographers, potters, sculptors, videographers, and writers; (hopefully we’ve covered all the bases!)

ARTISTS – VISUAL

Amanada Gaunt, (Plant Materials Artist), 64 Menzies Street, Victoria, BC – Email: kamanda[at]island.net 

Ann White (Photography – Images from France, England, Bhutan, Namibia and West Coast), 432 Heather Street, Victoria, BC – Email: annwhite[at]shaw.ca

Anne Hansen, (Visual artist – seaside theme), Victoria, BC – Tel: 250.381.7313. Email: annebike[at]look.ca

Aurafidelite Arindam, (Visual artist specializing in botanical drawings), 205-425 Simcoe Street, Victoria, BC – Email: auraart[at]telus.net

Avril Nolan, (Visual artist, Metis ancestry themes), Victoria, BC – Tel: 250.382.7512

Carolyn Sadowska, 43 South Turner Street, Victoria, BC – Tel: 250.386.2518. Email: carolyn[at]queencomedy.com

Kirsten Brand, (Painter – Studio 222), Victoria, BC – Email: kirstenbrand[at]shaw.ca

David Ladmore, (Paintings/Etchings), #7 – 103 Menzies Street, Victoria, BC – Tel: 250.361.3243 – E-Mail: davidlaurieladmore[at]shaw.ca

Dean Lewis, (Caricature Portraits), P.O. Box 5791, Victoria, BC, V8R 6S8 – Tel: 250.370.7764 (During the summer months he’s down on the Inner Harbour Causeway, and in the fall, he is busy with corporate and special events.)

Donna Eichel, (Visual artist who augments her sculptural paintings with aluminum), 140 Government Street, Victoria, BC – Tel: 250.360.0939.

Elsie Goplen McLeod, (Painter, specializing in oils with varied subjects), #316- 215 Oswego, Victoria, BC – Tel: 250.389.2908

Eugenie Parker, (Visual artist specializing in paintings and collages), 15 South Turner Street, Victoria, BC – Tel: 250.383.2249. Email: eugenie_p[at]hotmail.com

James Lawler, (Self-taught visual artist, wildlife and landscapes), 302-1470 Dallas Road, Victoria, BC – Tel: 250.598.1532. Email: jamesart1924[at]yahoo.ca 

Janice Beiles, (Photographer specializing in everyday scenes), 62 Government Street, Victoria, BC – Tel: 250.472.3553

Jeff Molloy (Paintings & Sculptures), 1126 – 440 Simcoe Street, Victoria, BC – Tel: 250.882.0514 – Email: jeff[at]molloy.ca

John Boehme, (Mixed Media Artist), 106 Superior Street, Victoria, BC – Tel: 250.920.4284. Email: johnboehme[at]hotmail.com

Kathleen Daunhauer, (Character paintings), 2-589 Toronto Street, Victoria, BC. Email: kdaunhauer[at]shaw.ca

Laurie Ladmore, (Visual artist specializing in interior landscapes), 7-103 Menzies Street, Victoria, BC. Tel: 250.361.3243. Email: davidlaurieladmore[at]shaw.ca

Leudke Creative, (Graphic & Web Design, Illustration & Fine Art), 314 Niagara Street, Victoria, BC, V8V 1G5 – Tel: 250.380.2925 – Email: brandon[at]brandonleudke.com

R.C. Maxwell, (Abstract Artist), Victoria, BC – Tel: 250.544.0100 – Email: rcmaxwell[at]shaw.ca

Marnie Miiller, (Painter; studio open by appointment only), 5 – 108 Dallas Road, Victoria, BC – Tel: 250.477.2665 – Email: marnieart[at]shaw.ca 

Roberta Pyx Sutherland, (Visual artist specializing in textured paintings with luminous color and gold-leaf), 314 Huntington Place, Victoria, BC – Tel: 250.220.4887. Email: rpyz[at]me.com

Rosalinde Compton, (Visual artist specializing in oil painting, watercolour, pen and ink art cards, prints, matting & framing), 507 Simcoe Street, Victoria, BC – Tel. 250.382.3999. Email: rosalindemaria[at]shaw.ca

AUTHORS

John Adams, local historian, storyteller and author, 634 Battery Street, Victoria, BC V8V 1E5 – Tel: 250.384.6698 Fax: 250.384.2833.

Danda Humphreys, Victoria historian, author, and conference speaker, #1102 – 548 Dallas Road, Victoria, BC V8V 1B3 – Tel: 250.382.8029 – Email: dandaH[at]shaw.ca

H.R.H. Quipping Queen, online humor writer, Victoria, BC – Email: quippingqueen[at]shaw.ca

MUSICIANS/MUSICAL INSTRUCTORS

Michael Heaney, (Pianist/music for all occasions), Victoria, BC – Tel: 250.384.0235

N. Strand, (UVic B.Mus, 5 years’ teaching experience, performs regularly in the Victoria area. Lessons are held in the James Bay United Church (511 Michigan Street), Victoria, BC – Tel: 778.430.1756  – Email: nstrand[at]gmail.com

PERFORMANCE ARTISTS

COMEDY/IMPERSONATORS

Carolyn Sadowska, ("Laugh With Liz" – Queen Elizabeth Impersonator), 43 South Turner Street, Victoria, BC. Tel: 250.386.2518. Email: carolyn[at]queencomedy.com

The Sunshine Clown Band, Victoria, BC – Tel: 250.383.4001.

VOCALISTS

Janalee, (Jazz & Blues Vocalist), Victoria, BC – janalee[at]goddessofsong.com (This singer/songwriter not only lives in James Bay, she performs a local haunts such as “Heron Rock Bistro” and Sips Artisan Bistro).

Mercedes Ghosh, (Jazz Vocalist) – Tel: 250.380.7932 – Email: mercedes[at]mercedesghosh.com

PLAYWRIGHTS

David Elendune, a barista at James Bay Coffee & Books is a British-born director who has also written four plays including his most recent one, "Good Night Uncle Joe" (sponsored by Victoria’s Langham Court Theatre), and performed in Victoria’s 23rd Annual Fringe Festival.

POET

Hubert Meeker, Poet.

SCULPTORS/POTTERS

Birgit Piskor, (Modern cement sculptor), 570 Niagara Street, Victoria, BC – Tel: 250.858.4334. Email: birgitpiskor@gmail.com

Elaine White, 62 Government Street, Victoria, BC – Tel: 250.382.0317. Email: whiteelaine[at]shaw.ca