April 13, Songs of Spring

The trip started with a scenic and excellently well timed bus ride to the Fernwood Inn for an early lunch.  The food and service were very good, so we are using the Inn again in two weeks' time when we go the Belfry Theatre, which is just across the street, to see 2 Pianos 4 Hands. Several people we met had just seen the dress rehearsal and said that it is an excellent show.

After lunch we browsed a couple of galleries.  We met Harumi Ota at the Collective Works gallery.

He gave us all one of the beautiful ceramic paperweights (shown in the picture above) that he has prepared to promote an event supporting Japan on Saturday, April 16, at the Ecole Victor Brodeur School, 637 Head Street, Esquimalt, 11 am to 4 pm - FREE ADMISSION. The event features Japanese cultural performances including Taiko, Dance, Nagomi Tea Circle tea ceremony and more - cultural activities, children's corner, Japanese food, craft and bake sale, giant garage sale, and silent auction.  Support Japan 2011 Gambare Nippon T-shirts will be on sale. Harumi's ceramics were excellent and very striking!

Next we chatted with Marnie Hueston in the She Said Gallery.  It's an Aladdin's cave filled with art produced by local women artists. We're hoping to see her again when we visit the Belfry.

Next, we drove over to the Royal Theatre to join the other music lovers for a refreshing cup of tea and some cookies.

Victoria Symphony's Songs of Spring was an excellent way to get us in the mood for the new season. Host Duncan Regher's introductions were lugubrious and droll, soprano Melanie Krueger's singing was wonderful, and the concert was a refreshing interlude. Everyone had a great time, and we're looking forward to seeing you on the next Let's Do It Day Trip!