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Explore: Wine Festival, modellers show, lantern tours

Scale modellers don’t repeat history — they recreate it in miniature. This Saturday, the Victoria Scale Modellers club will stage its annual show with a special theme: the First World War.
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VICTORIA, B.C.: September, 18, 2018 - Portrait of Jack Funk, who is the president of the Victoria Scale Modellers Club. The club is hosting its annual show and contest this Saturday, with the First World War as a special theme. VICTORIA, B.C. September 18, 2018. (ADRIAN LAM, TIMES COLONIST). For City story by Richard Watts.

Scale modellers don’t repeat history — they recreate it in miniature.

This Saturday, the Victoria Scale Modellers club will stage its annual show with a special theme: the First World War. Many of the models will depict the ships, tanks, guns, soldiers and aircraft of the 1914-1918 conflict.

Jack Funk, president of the Victoria Scale Modellers Club, is entering a plastic scale model of a 1916 British artillery gun.

But Funk also builds models of planes, vehicles and artillery pieces from many eras, always in 1/72 scale, which gives him an easy cross-reference.

“I like to hold that history in my hand and see what the objects I build would look like in relation to others from different times,” he said.

The show doesn’t end with military history. Some modellers love spacecraft, from real ones to those from science fiction. For others, it’s sci-fi creatures, monsters and heroes from books, TV and movies.

Cars, trucks and road vehicles of all kinds are always a favourite at the show, and Victoria’s Society for Plastic Automotive Modelling is an annual collaborator. This year’s show will also feature food for sale from a real truck staffed with culinary arts students from Camosun College.

The model show is on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Salvation Army Citadel, 4030 Douglas St., just north of McKenzie Avenue next to the Patricia Bay Highway. Entry is by donation. Details for modellers who wish to enter can be found online at vsm.bc.ca.

 

Wine Festival keeps the focus on affordable sips

David Bain doesn’t pretend to be an expert on wine.

He started the Victoria International Wine Festival precisely because he’s just a regular guy who likes wine.

“I’m what I call a wine intermediate,” he said. “I’m not an advanced wine expert. I’m just a wine lover.

“And what I saw consistently was that when I walked into a liquor store, I was overwhelmed with selection and choice.”

Figuring that other people felt the same way, Bain consulted friends who are sommeliers and together they conceived a festival that focuses on international wines accessible to the average consumer.

“Yes, we’ll still have the $70-plus wines, but we try and make sure that 80 per cent of our wines are under $25,” he said. “So folks can actually come to the festival and feel a lot more OK with it.

“I think that’s what’s happened over the last few years, is that more and more people feel like it’s something that they can attend and really learn and value.”

The festival has steadily grown in popularity, to the point where this year’s event, which begins today and runs to Saturday at the Parkside Hotel and Spa, is expected to draw about 1,200 people. Most sessions are already sold out.

There will be more than 300 wines from 11 different countries at the three-day event.

Germany, as the featured region, will showcase 10 unique wines made from a number of grape varieties, including Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Riesling.

In addition, four seminars will focus on the latest trends in wines, such as rosés or the wines of Argentina.

There’s also a panel session in which sommeliers will select and discuss wines with interesting back stories. “They walk you through the story of that wine while you get to sample it,” Bain said.

The festival will serve “small bites” of food, but organizers stress that it’s a wine, not a food, festival and encourage people to eat before they arrive.

They also remind people to bring two pieces of government-issued ID, as you must be at least 19 years of age to attend.

Bain said the last thing festival organizers want is for people to feel intimidated, so organizers focus on creating a comfortable atmosphere.

“We’re here to welcome you,” he said. “We make sure that everyone has a good understanding of wine when they leave.”

Although most of the sessions are sold out, tickets to some of the seminars or tastings might still be available by visiting the festival’s website at vicwf.com.

 

Lanterns light up Fort Rodd Hill, Westhills walk

Flickering lantern light will illuminate an historic fort and Canada’s first west coast lighthouse on Saturday evening.

Visitors are invited to step back in time during a lantern tour of Fort Rodd Hill and the Fisgard Lighthouse. Take in the sights, sounds and smells of life during the period of 1897-1956 and raise funds for the Victoria-Esquimalt Military Re-enactors Association volunteers.

Fort Rodd Hill was built in the late 1890s to defend Victoria and the Esquimalt naval base. It includes three gun batteries, underground magazines, command posts, guardhouses, barracks and searchlight emplacements.

Fisgard’s red and white tower has stood at the entrance to Esquimalt Harbour since 1860. The lighthouse, which was automated in 1929, is still operational.

During the hour-long tour, visitors will be able to eavesdrop on the uniformed actors as they re-enact activities of garrison life.

The event is suitable for all ages, but visitors should be prepared for uneven surfaces and be comfortable walking in the dark. Only service animals are allowed. Several vignettes will take place in different areas of the fort. Once the tour is completed, visitors can meet with site staff for further information. Guided tours leave every 15 minutes between 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.

Tickets are available online only at: lanterntour2018.brown papertickets.com.

The cost is $13.90 for adults, $13.40 for seniors and $10 for youth and annual pass holders.

Lanterns will also be glowing in Langford at the Light Up the Hills Lantern Festival on Sept. 22.

Between 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., visitors can walk along an outdoor path illuminated with handmade lanterns and glowing art installations. Crowds can expect performances from aerial circus artists, harpists, ballet dancers and local musicians.

The free event takes place at Belmont Secondary School in the Westhills Community at 3041 Langford Lake Rd. The festival, in its third year, is presented by the West Shore Arts Council and Westhills.

There are also lantern-making workshops leading up to the event, including tonight at the Westshore Town Centre (Unit 160-2745 Jacklin Rd.).

The intermediate to advanced lantern-making workshop costs $15 and runs from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. with registration online only at lantern-making.eventbrite.ca.

 

Pie awaits at Fairfield’s fair

Fairfield’s fall fair on Saturday promises live music, dancers, harvest hat-making and everybody’s festival favourite — a fruit pie competition.

The festival, called Fall Fairfield, takes place at Porter Park, 1330 Fairfield Rd., from 1-6 p.m.

The annual music and arts event brings together local businesses, neighbours, artists and performers for family fun.

“It strengthens community, it’s a community give back with live performances and interactive vendors there mainly to engage and educate the public,” said event co-ordinator Melissa Faye Reid.

Scheduled to perform are high-energy folk-rock group Bucan Bucan, soul and hip-hop group Spliff Personalities, Birds on Stilts, who dress as various birds and walk on stilts, and the Lekwungen Traditional Dancers.

There will be food trucks, a beverage garden, bubble making and a silent auction.

Bakers can register their fruit pies at fairfieldcommunity.ca and bring them to the pie tasting by 12:30 p.m. on the day of the festival. Bakers can also drop off pies at the Fairfield Gonzales Community Centre on Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or Saturday morning before 12:30 p.m., including the baker’s name and pie flavour. Pies cannot be cream-filled or based.

Festivalgoers can taste the pies and cast votes. All funds raised support the Fairfield Gonzales Community Association..

 

Browse book sale in Colwood

Hundreds of fiction and non-fiction books as well as DVDs, videos, CDs, audiotapes, LPs and sheet music will be up for grabs at the 11th annual West Shore Community Book Bonanza.

The sale is hosted by Church of the Advent, 510 Mount View Ave. in Colwood.

Bibliophiles are invited to attend Friday’s pre-sale from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (A $5 admission fee applies).

Admission is free Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Organizers promise all goods are well sorted and displayed for easy perusal, with a number of categories including: children’s books, cookbooks, gardening books, magazines, self-help books, biographies, travel books, reference guides, romance novels and books on history, nutrition and health, religion, and crafts and patterns. Wares will include old books and newer editions.

There will also be a Christmas section so you can get an early start on your decorations.

A bake table will be available with homemade goodies..