Tag Archives: British Columbia

Oomomo Victoria, BC Please!

24 Oct

Company Name Change Announcement - Yokoyaya to Oomomo (Downtown Vancouver) — Oomomo | Japanese Household EssentialsBy Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Daiso Canada rebranded as OOMOMO a year ago, and this company sells Japanese daily living necessities. This place is my go to place whenever I’m on the mainland, and with this year being what it is, I haven’t headed there until recently. I often go there to buying media storage products in bulk and affordable replacement screen protectors. Now, they have a few other items on my list that I’m glad to stock up on.

There are eight locations across Canada. I’m amused three are in Vancouver. Aberdeen Centre is their biggest store, and it’s almost fully operational. Their e-shop is running, and shoppers can stop by to pick up their orders. I’m glad they’re taking the pandemic seriously. But when they allow regular shopping and wandering the aisles, the search for Sanrio products begins!

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A Call to Arms: Saving the Moonless Oasis

18 Oct

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

World Broadcast Premiere
October 31, 8:00pm

In British Columbia and Alberta on CBC’s Absolutely Canadian and streams nationally on CBC GEM

It’s hard to believe that in British Columbia, we have our own Jurassic Park. In our case, it’s not dinosaurs that we have wandering the unexplored regions, but rather in what is growing in deep trenches underwater. Just like the franchise, the lesson conservationists need to teach is how not to meddle with evolution and protect the prehistoric glass sponge reefs from human interference. Otherwise, the result may well create an appropriately (titled) Moonless Oasis.

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How to Tackle Halloween 2020 in Victoria, BC Safely

12 Oct

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By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

COVID-19 isn’t going to shut down every Halloween celebration in Victoria, British Columbia. Those events allowed to continue are smaller for a reason. Some are self-guided, like enjoying your time at two of this city’s most famous haunts–Hatley Castle at Royal Roads University or Craigdarroch Castle–and others are designed so you can wander cemeteries on your own and to appreciate the past.

Ross Bay Cemetery (with Sunday afternoon guided tours by Victoria’s foremost historian John Adams) is said to be the most haunted–if you believe the lore. Alternatively, theres attempting to find Doris, the famous Victoria Golf Course ghost. The latter is discouraged because the area is patrolled at night. But truth be told, it’s been said she’s moved on. Just what remains may well date to the time local aboriginal tribes who once resided here, prior to being converted to a huge sports park.

Not everyone wants to be confined into a coffin (at home) on the days leading up. Well, you have to be a certain famous vampire for that. The following is an ever-changing list as events are confirmed as a go by the Vancouver Island Health Association. If you have an activity which fits right in, please contact us or post in the comments section so others can enjoy!

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Taking on Once More With Feeling, Year Two with Buffie the Vampyre Slayer!

26 Sep

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Playing at The Roxy
aka Bluebridge Repertory Theatre
2657 Quadra Street

Sept 24-26 & Oct 2-4
Evening performances: 8:30pm
​Saturday Matinees: 5:30pm

Regular tickets available for purchase online and Virtual screening tickets can be bought here.

Original review posted 2019/10/19 

This year’s version of Starry Starry Skies‘ Once More, With Feeling; Buffie the Vampire Slayer is bigger and I’m sure the plans to even expand it further will take up the entire breadth of the stage. I’m fairly sure this musical will be a staple in the Victoria theatre scene like Atomic Vaudeville’s Rocky Horror Show (unless cancelled because of a certain pandemic). So far, this company is one of two shows at The Roxy offering something spooky for the Halloween season.

Instead of a female narrator demon, this year’s version is male, and there’s more gender swapping going on. One casting difference has another actor playing the role of Spike. Corin Bert Winglet really nailed that role for me with his charm from last year’s show. This time, he’s Sweet, the demon who magically compels his victims to break out into song and dance, and revealing something each character prefers to keep in the closet. But when all the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players, just who manipulates whom in this play is at the core of this musical.

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