Category: local

Colin Newell has been writing for the website CoffeeCrew.Com (Formerly the Coffee Experts Group) for 25+ years. That is a long time in internet years. This blog was created as an outlet for some of my stranger ideas, which sadly, outnumber my truly bright ideas. Bio Stuff The Coffee as website concept thing has served…

Broadcast journalist Gregor Craigie has been on the radio; CBC Radio 1 Vancouver Island, CBS, the British Broadcasting Corporation and Public Radio International in the United States as well as CBC Television as a political reporter… Audio snippet – the thinking behind the book Vancouver Island’s largest historic earthquake was a magnitude 7.3 event that…

Soul Commotion from the archives! Download here – Track-1-Small.mp3 Way back in the 1990’s I did a photo shoot for a Gospel R&B band that rehearsed at Glad Tidings Church. The objective was to get some tight band shots for use in promotional materials. I shot a few rolls. The band leader was not excited…

This Chicken Ramen makes a delicious and flavorful ramen in about half an hour in your Instant Pot digital electric pressure cooker! I used the left over bits from a $9 BBQ Chicken from local grocery Thrifty Foods. INGREDIENTS 1 tablespoon sesame oil 1 onion, sliced 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger root 4 garlic cloves,…

We have had our Instant Pot less than 1 week and we are firmly in love with it. Ours is the 1000W 6 quart. We have a 7.5” Steel bowl that we put to use for a “pot in pot” process classic. What is pot in pot? Well, you add the requisite cup and a…

Join Erica & Sue – Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators, for an afternoon of stamping in support of breast cancer research. Make six all occasion greeting cards while learning a few cardmaking techniques. When – February 25, 1 PM-5 PM Where – Cedar Hill Recreation Center How Early registration: $50 / after Jan 31 until Feb 11:…

When Michael Kaeshammer sits down at a grand piano worthy of his dynamic range, the genuflection towards the likes of Albert Ammons, Meade Lux Lewis, Big Joe Turner and Pete Johnson (the Grand masters and caretakers of the Boogie Woogie music genre of the 30’s and 40’s…) is immediate, respectful and unmistakeable. Born in Germany,…

We shared a 1/2 lamb with my sister and brother-in-law – and with that package came from great ground lamb. This was the perfect recipe for lamb. This is a fascinating mixture of spice with an intriguing Mediterranean flavour and a nice bite. This recipe was inspired from the latest issue of EAT Magazine in…

Talking music with Maureen It was a windy and wet Thursday night at Habit Coffee & Culture on Yates Street at the Atrium in downtown Victoria when we spoke with the lovely Maureen Washington – Jazz singer, mom of five, vocal coach, and mentor. Born and raised in Prince George, British Columbia, Ms. Washington draws…

Just got the news that my sister’s devoted companion of so many years, Sasha, has moved on to the next leg of her journey. Sasha has been the family canine companion, living with my dear sister Lisa, for many a year. And as everyone knows, the family pooch is often the cornerstone of this thing…