Old School

This is a little laundromat located on Quadra Street, and I have always loved this sign. It doesn't quite have the class of neon but the little girl in her yellow dress is endearing. It's one of the few remaining old ones around town. - Fern

Christ Church Cathedral

Victoria's Quadra Street might more aptly be named Church Street since so many of the city's churches (and a mosque) are located there. Here's probably the largest and most impressive, the Gothic style Christ Church Cathedral. Unlike the church in yesterday's post, the cathedral is still in use as a house of worship. It has a splendid interior and beautiful stained glass windows. I posted a photo of the interior about five years ago - it's obviously time to re-visit.

The Victoria Conservatory of Music

Here's a building I've not featured before on this blog although it is one of the more interesting heritage buildings in downtown Victoria. It's on the corner of Pandora and Quadra Streets. When it was built in 1890 it was consecrated as the Metropolitan Methodist Church. Now it houses the Victoria Conservatory of Music. Because the original church members had a strong music program the building was designed by Thomas Hooper with particular attention to acoustics. The Alix Goolden Performance Hall is used by the conservatory but also hosts many community events. The Victoria Heritage Foundation website has a good description of this building you can read by clicking HERE.

New Mosque Nearing Completion

This interesting looking new building nearing completion will soon be Victoria's mosque, the Masjid Al-Iman. The city has a small (about 1,200) but growing population of Muslims. Until the construction began here the Muslim community was meeting for prayers in two adjacent houses that formerly occupied this site on Quadra Street directly opposite Crystal Pool. The new building has separate prayer areas for males and females and a large basement area that will be used for other activities. You can find out more about the Masjid Al-Iman Project by clicking HERE.

The Vancouver Island School of Art

This old building, which used to be part of the public school system, is now a private art school. It's on Quadra Street, part of the revitalized 'Quadra Village.' I've been taking classes here on and off over the years and it's a great addition to the art scene in Victoria, with it's own gallery and regular events for all to attend. For anyone interested in making art or learning about art, this is the place to be! Their website is here and here is "random observations of an art school director who walks everywhere" a really interesting blog which is another viewpoint on Victoria, and art and all sorts of interesting things. - Fern

Shanghai Noodles

I pass this restaurant several times each week and only noticed recently that there is a new mural on the front of the building. It's interesting how certain wild animals come into style or become popular at various times. Pandas have been in vogue for some time now. Meerkats are also very in right now, at least with advertisers. Geckos are also currently popular. When I was a kid koala bears were much thought of but who ever speaks about koalas now? In any case I enjoy this Panda and her awesome brood. As for the food, I've not eaten there but I plan to after reading this review from Chowhound.

Inside Christ Church Cathedral

A couple of weeks ago I posted a photo of the exterior of Christ Church Cathedral. Here's what it looks like on the inside, though no photo can convey the sense of peace that fills this church.

Christ Church Cathedral, Quadra Street

I've posted photos of this church before but it's such a splendid building I can't resist continuing to photograph it. If you visit Victoria (or live here) stop in to see Christ Church Cathedral on Quadra Street to get a sense of spirituality expressed in stone.

Wildfire Organic Bakery and Cafe Gallery

On Quadra Street right opposite the former Baptist church pictured here last week is the Wildfire Organic Bakery and Cafe. The owners have embraced graffiti or street art to the point of allowing two sides of their building to be extensively painted by local artists. Pictured here is one side that usually has two large paintings. These seem to change every few months and are always interesting. I very much admire seeing "unofficial" art like this and applaud the Wildfire and its artists for being open-minded and generous enough to share these creations with us freely.

"Church" Street!

This is not actually "Church Street" but if I was re-naming Quadra Street I would call it that since there are four churches within a hundred meters of the two former churches I mentioned yesterday, and these are functioning churches. Above are the First Metropolitan United Church (left) and the Glad Tidings Pentecostal Church. On the immediate left is the St. John the Divine Anglican Church and to the right is the First Baptist Church. Christ Church Cathedral is also on Quadra Street and only a few blocks up from these churches is a mosque. So religion is certainly not dead in Victoria but, as in the rest of the world, its place in our city and in people's lives is changing.

Echo

I've mentioned before how I like it when a modern building acknowledges an older, neighbouring building in its design and here is another example from Victoria's Quadra Street. The modern building is a Ministry of Social Services building and the old many-turreted structure on the right is the Victoria Conservatory of Music. It looks like a church because it used to be a church, and that will be the subject of tomorrow's post.

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I am happy to announce that today marks the first anniversary of Victoria Daily Photo. Yes, it's one year today that I made my first post. I don't plan to do anything special here right now (aside from mounting a new header) but I hope to have some kind of retrospective when I have a little more time and inspiration during the next month. In the meantime, I thank all my visitors and followers, regular and new. Your visits and comments make it worthwhile and fun.

Christ Church Cathedral

Like many cities, some of Victoria's most interesting and beautiful buildings are religious. Christ Church Cathedral is an Anglican (Church of England) church. Construction of the cathedral began in 1926 but was spread over many years for political as well as financial reasons. Victoria's downtown has a half dozen interesting church buildings. Though Christ Church Cathedral is not the oldest, it is is the largest.