VICTORIA AND VANCOUVER ISLAND - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 169

Also offering magnificent water views is Spinnakers Brewpub (308 Catherine St., 250/
386-2739, 11am-2am daily), across the Inner Harbour from downtown. Having opened in
1984 as Canada's first brewpub, Spinnakers continues to produce its own European-style
ales, including the popular Spinnakers Ale. The original downstairs brewpub is now a res-
taurant, while upstairs is now the bar. Most important, both levels have outdoor tables with
water views. The classic Spinnakers combo is a pint of India Pale Ale ($6.50) and a half
dozen local oysters ($11).
Most of Victoria's nightclubs double as live music venues attracting a great variety of
acts. 9one9, in the Strathcona Hotel (919 Douglas St., 250/383-7137), has been a city hot
spot for more than 30 years. It comes alive with live rock-and-roll some nights and a DJ
spinning the latest dance tunes on other nights. In the same hotel, Big Bad John's is the
city's main country music venue. At the bottom of Bastion Square, Darcy's Pub (1127
Wharf St., 250/380-1322) is a great place for lunch or an afternoon drink, while after dark,
it dishes up live rock to a working-class crowd. A popular nightclub is Boutique (1318
Broad St., 250/384-3557), a small dance club venue with attitude.
Festivals and Events
SPRING
Officially, of course, February is still winter, but Victorians love the fact that spring arrives
early on the West Coast, which is the premise behind the Flower Count (last week in
February, throughout the city). While for other Canadians summer is a long way off, locals
count the number of blossoms in their own yards, in parks, and along the streets. Totals in
the millions are tabulated and gleefully reported across Canada.
The birthday of Queen Victoria has been celebrated in Canada since 1834 and is espe-
cially relevant to those who call her namesake city home. The Inner Harbour is alive with
weekend festivities that culminate in the Victoria Day Parade (Mon. preceding May 25,
downtown). The parade takes two hours to pass a single spot. (Although Queen Victoria's
actual birthday was May 24, the event is celebrated with a public holiday on the Monday
preceding May 25.)
Although most visitors associate Victoria with afternoon tea at the Empress, cowboys
know Victoria as an important early-season stop on the rodeo circuit. Sanctioned by the Ca-
nadian Professional Rodeo Association, the Luxton Pro Rodeo (250/478-4250, third week-
end in May, Luxton Rodeo Grounds) features all traditional events as well as trick riding
and a midway. Access to the grounds, west of the city toward Sooke, is free, with admission
to the rodeo costing $20 per person.