New Images of Proposed Johnson Street Bridge Unveiled

The City of Victoria recently released new design images for the proposed new bridge that will replace the aging Johnson Street Bridge that connects downtown Victoria with the Songhees area. A new website, www.johnsonstreetbridge.com, describes the project in detail and includes an animated video with various “fly-overs” of the new bridge.

The fly-through was produced by Wilkinson-Eyre Architects based in London, UK.

Earlier this year, the Victoria City Council approved a proposal that would replace the current 85-year-old and rapidly deteriorating Johnson Street Bridge with a brand-new bridge that would include amenities for improved cycling, walking and accessibility.

The City views the new bridge as a top priority because the span functions as one of the main corridors into downtown. Over 30,000 vehicle trips cross the Johnson Street Bridge daily in addition to thousands of pedestrian and cycling commuters.

Construction on the drawbridge is expected to begin this coming spring with an estimated completion date of Fall 2011. The total cost of the project is projected to be a modest $63.2 million.

By all accounts, the modern design is popular with the public. “Seeing these images really conveys a feeling of how breathtaking this new bridge will be for the City,” said one member of the citizen advisory board, David Cubberley, in a City press release. “These new illustrations will generate a lot of excitement for the future and the amenities the new bridge will provide, including dedicated bike lanes and pedestrian walkways.”

Bob Dylan at Save-On Foods Memorial Arena October 23

Legendary songwriter and pop cultural icon Bob Dylan will appear at the Save-On Foods Memorial Arena beginning at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, October 23. Dylan is one of the world’s most popular and acclaimed songwriters, musicians and performers in the world, having sold nearly 100 million albums and performed literally thousands of shows around the world in a career spanning five decades.

Dylan’s most recent trilogy of studio albums — Modern Times, Time Out Of Mind and Love & Theft –have been among his most commercially successful and critically lauded, each having sold more than a million copies in the U.S. and earning Grammy nominations for Album Of The Year (Time Out Of Mind won that award in 1998). He wrote and recorded “Things Have Changed” for the 2000 film Wonder Boys, for which he received both the Academy Award and Golden Globe. Read more

Victoria BC Free B-Movie Films Under the Stars in Victoria’s Beacon Hill Park This August

This is the kind of event that makes Victoria such a fun place to live and visit. Once again this August, the Victoria Film Festival will host FREE screenings of classic B-movies outside under the stars at the Cameron Bandshell in Beacon Hill Park. All shows start at 9:00 p.m. on select Friday and Saturday nights.

The films are absolutely FREE. Just bring your own snack, flashlights and blankets!

The lineup this year includes:

Labyrinth
Fri, Aug 8th • General; 101 min.
David Bowie stars as the fiendish Goblin King, sending a young Jennifer Connelly through a devious maze in order to save her baby brother from his evil goblin minions. Plus it’s got all the cool, incredible worlds and fascinating creatures from Jim Henson’s Muppet Workshop that you know and love so much.

Teenagers from Outer Space
Sat, Aug 9th
(General, violence); 86 min.
Aliens descend from the stars to take over the earth and turn it into a giant ranch for hideous space monsters! It’s Rebel Without a Cause… but with “lasers”.

The Princess Bride
Sat, Aug 16th • PG; 98 min.
The ultimate fairy tale! High adventure and comedy abound in this fabulous star-packed “twoo-wuv” story of pirates and giants and tyrants. Oh my! Star Fred Savage may be a lot older now but this is a story that will live on forever.

Forbidden Planet
Sat, Aug 23rd • General; 99 min
The sci-fi story that ushered in a new era for the silver screen! On the edge of the galaxy, a strange invisible monster threatens to destroy a lost expedition before they can discover the secrets of the long-dead civilization that once populated a strange and fantastic world.

The Goonies
Fri, Aug 29th • PG (may frighten young children, course language); 114 min.
Get your 80s on because “The Goonies” is back! A mysterious pirate treasure map takes a group of kids on a perilous journey through an old and secret series of caves. Fighting to save their home from an evil developer, those caves will take them on the greatest adventure of their lives…

Bikini Beach
Sat, Aug 30th • General; 100 min
Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello: need we say more? The usual gang of suspects is back for big hi-jinx and slapstick laughs on the surf and on the sand when a millionaire sets out to prove his pet theory about the local teenage population and their strange little surf-happy lifestyle.

Victoria BC Sees Old-Fashioned Soda Shoppe Across the Street from the Fairmont Empress

Rogers’ Chocolates — a Victoria institution for more than a century — just announced the grand opening of their newest store, an old-fashioned Soda Shoppe. The store is located in the heart of downtown Victoria at 801 Government Street, just across from the Fairmont Empress Hotel.

The Soda Shoppe will be using ice cream made at the Rogers’ Chocolates factory in Victoria. Some of the other items on the menu include parfaits, malts, sundaes, floats and milkshakes as well as hot fudge and caramel sauces made at the Rogers’ Chocolates factory. The signature item is the Capital City Banana Split.

The Soda Shoppe’s interior is a mixture of past and present; including a restored soda fountain, retro bar stools, and marble counters. With the option of “for here” or “to go”, the Soda Shoppe strives to be environmentally conscious and is using glass steel and biodegradable cups and spoons made from corn.

With both their Heritage Chocolate Store and Sam’s Deli, the Soda Shoppe will be the third addition to the Rogers’ Chocolates family of stores on Government Street in their 123 year history. The Soda Shoppe operates between 10 AM and 10 PM daily.

Spectacular Tall Ships Return to Victoria BC June 26-29!

Victoria’s scenic Inner Harbour will once again provide the backdrop for an event that will touch the hearts and minds of thousands this June 26-29, 2008. During four unforgettable days of revelry and celebration, the city will commemorate its maritime heritage with the historic visit of over two dozen tall ships from around the world.

This renowned international event means Victoria will have an unprecedented opportunity to experience history at first hand. Visitors will be able to walk the decks, touch the massive timbers, look up through the rigging at the sky, and turn back the clock to a time when the city’s future was being built by ships like these.

In addition, there will be a program of interactive educational activities, concerts, craft fairs and festive events that will celebrate Victoria’s history and BC’s 150th anniversary.

Read more

Kid Rock Performs July 5th at the Victoria BC Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre

American rocker Kid Rock will perform July 5th at the Victoria Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre with his “Rock And Roll Revival Tour” including featured guests Reverend Run, Peter Wolf, and Dickey Betts in addition to Kid Rock’s Twisted Brown Trucker Band. The band is to play a medley of hits has garnered the best reviews of Kid Rock’s career.

The Kansas City Star describes Kid Rock’s music this was: “It was lowbrow and hardcore and rock solid and it made for one of the most entertaining live shows you can see these days.” Kid Rock’s hometown paper The Detroit News concurred, saying “this revue-style rock and roll revival is the most musically impressive tour Rock has ever put on.” Nielson SoundScan reported Rock’s “Rock N Roll Jesus” is climbing the charts, hitting number 19 in mid-June. Read more

A Walk Down Fan Tan Alley in Victoria’s Historic Chinatown

Driving Along Dallas Road in Victoria BC

Hanging Out at the Beach at Esquimalt Lagoon

Why People Fall in Love with Victoria BC

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