Tues. April 11 - Cruise ship season kicks off today

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning !

Today, cruise ships return to Greater Victoria, beginning with the Sapphire Princess. As we ask every year…

NEWS

Cruise ship season begins today—here’s what local businesses are expecting

As the first cruise ship arrives in Victoria today at 9am, tourist season officially begins. The next six months will bring 320 cruise ships, an estimated 850,000 passengers, and what the chamber of commerce believes will be $130 million for the region arriving within the next six months.

While the harbour authority looks toward making the industry more sustainable long-term, local business owners are readying themselves for high traffic and plenty of spending. Capital Daily talked to some of downtown’s key tourist-dependent businesses to hear what they are doing to prepare for the second cruise season since the pandemic pause.

Capital Bulletin

☁️ Today’s weather: A few morning showers, then cloudy with 30% chance of showers through into night. Wind becoming southwest 30km/h gusting to 50 except west 50 gusting to 70 near Juan de Fuca Strait. High 9C / low 3C.

🌊 April 9-15 is Tsunami Preparedness Week, as declared by the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. The week is meant to encourage residents to develop their own personal emergency preparedness plan.

⚠️ High streamflow advisories issued for the entire Island, and much of southern BC.

FOOD

The best spots for a first date in Victoria

It’s spring and love is in the air! We asked Capital Daily and Tasting Victoria readers what the best first-date restaurants in the region are, and here are your choices. These venues that topped the category in the 2023 Tasting Victoria Restaurant Awards presented by Gordon Food Service feature candlelit bars and hidden courtyards, with cozy brick and flourishing foliage. Check out these three picks for a glass of wine and a plate to share with someone special—or someone new.

Il Terrazzo
Inspired by Northern Italian cuisine with a Pacific Northwest twist, Il Terrazzo Ristorante has served Victoria for three decades in the heart of Old Town. Located in an old hotel and courtyard, this lively, unique dining experience offers a diverse, well-rounded menu and extensive wine program. It’s truly got something for everyone, as evidenced by its win for best First Date spot in our readers’ choice poll.

Tapa Bar
Tapa Bar fills Trounce Alley with lively conversation and Spanish-inspired cuisine. Along with its fantastic happy hour, and underneath the sparkly Trounce Alley lights, Tapa Bar is a great place for a first date: it’s romantic, relaxed, and lively. Tapas are also a great first date food, because you’re sharing and experiencing the dishes together: a great ice-breaker, in our opinion.

Wind Cries Mary
Tucked away in Bastion Square, and down a short flight of stairs, Wind Cries Mary feels like you've left Victoria and been transported to Montreal or New York. The dark and moody candlelit space has a canopied bar at the centre of the room filled with local and international wine and spirits, and an even cozier brick-walled room once you’re in. Further back in the restaurant, you'll find the best seats in the house: the hidden courtyard patio.

Check out the full list of winners by downloading the PDF guide to all the best restaurants in Victoria.

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Capital Picks

🔄 Levidrome: Which two words spell each other backwards and are described by this clue: French golden Steward

Answer on Facebook or Twitter and tag #levidrome and #capitaldaily. Last time: Fuel prices fall = gas / sag

🎵 “Richly humorous, wildly entertaining, and deeply moving.” Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story, the award-winning musical opens next week at the Belfry. Tickets and information.*

🎙 Reuben and the Dark at Capital Ballroom: Calgary indie folk band Reuben and the Dark will take to the stage at Capital Ballroom on Wednesday, April 12. [Tickets]

🏠 Want to age in place? Next Day Access delivers and installs mobility and accessibility products right to your home. Schedule your free in-home assessment today!*

👄 Victorious Voices at the Roxy Theatre: Semi-finals on Tuesday and finals on Wednesday for this spoken word festival. [Tickets]

*Sponsored Listing

In Other News

🚰 Local garburator alternative company gets $3.7M investment
A potato peel debacle during Victor Nicolov’s time as a UVic student led the local entrepreneur to invent an under-sink device that directs peelings into the compost rather than the plumbing. This recent $3.7M seed round will help his company, Sepura, scale up across the North American Market. [Vic Tech Journal]

🎽 New Pacific FC jerseys feature West Coast designs
The Westshore pro soccer team’s new kits feature a purple geometric pattern with a Spirit Bear on the stomach on the primary [below left] and a pale teal-and-white illustration of coastal recreation on the alternate [middle]. Both have gold accents for the 2021 championship. The third jersey will remain the popular black-and-white design by Maynard Johnny Jr., the Kwakwakaʼwakw and Coast Salish artist who also illustrated the Salish Heron ferry. But the team hasn’t yet shown if and how its sponsor switch from BMW’s round logo to the Telus wordmark will affect that design. [Photos from Canadian Premier League]

In Case You Missed It

🐳 Whales make spring appearances in Island waters: The latest Bigg’s whale arrival featured not only a cameo from 45-year-old fan-favourite Chainsaw, but also the apparent debut of a seventh calf for prolific mother Raksha (T046B). [Capital Daily]

🌊 COAST Talks April 12: Data’s Deep Dive explores how BC’s ocean tech companies leverage AI to propel innovation and solve clim/ate problems.*

🫖 James Bay’s teacup tree brimming with beauty: While spring brings the arrival of the cherry blossoms, one tree also brings teacups and a teapot to its branches. Rory Palmer started hanging cups on branches of the tree outside his home a dozen years ago. [CBC]

😴 Got Sleep? Dodd’s is Vancouver Island’s #1 sleep gallery with over 40 sleep comfort options! Visit the sleep experts to see how you can start sleeping better.*

*Sponsored Listing

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