Splash Toy Shop offers something special for everyone

In a world awash with big box toy store, it's refreshing to find a smaller version in your own neighbourhood.

Splash Toy Shop was a joyful part of my kids' growing years.

I can remember my daughter and son never ever walking to the front door. Instead, they tried their best to outrun one another as though it was a contest worthy of their most admirable effort.

Once inside, my daughter naturally gravitated towards the crafty kits, envisioning what she could make beyond what's suggested on the colourful glossy packages. Her ability to think "outside the box" made me think that toy companies should hire imaginative children on their design team, but that's a whole other story.

My son, on the other hand, walked past the imposing train set, past gleaming swords and shields, past boxes of crayons and paints, past plush bunnies and dogs, all the way to the back of the room. There, he would stand mesmerized in front of a rack that displayed an array of inexpensive items.

One day, an uncle visiting from abroad took him to Splash Toy Shop and offered to buy him anything he wanted.

"I can have anything I want?" asked my seven year old.

"Anything you want," uncle said with a wink.

"How about two, can I have two?" pressed my son.

Uncle paused a moment, probably trying to figure out how much money he had in his wallet, "Well, OK, you can have two."

My son was jubilant. He dashed all the way to the back of the store, the shiny and colourful displays blurring past him.

So he stood in front of his favourite rack, strained with great indecision as he weighed his options with gravity. He tentatively picked something out, hesitated a moment, and carefully put it back. Again and again.

After an agonizingly long time, he went back to his uncle and announced that he had made his decisions and brought his hands from behind his back.

Uncle held his breath.

"What?" uncle said. "A deck of playing cards and a set of dice? Are you sure?"

"Yep," my son said, his eyes aglow with pleasure. He skipped all the way home and spent the next few weeks lost in endless games that he had learned or invented in his own head. To this day, he still has his deck of cards and set of dice. Okay, he has since graduated to more "normal" toys and, as we speak, is an avid 20-year old gamer.

But for many years, Splash Toy Shop was my children's destination of choice and we came to depend on it for our party, picnic, and celebratatory needs.

Now, I smile when I see neighbourhood kids peering into their windows, fingering sales items that crowd around the front doors, and yes - racing and pushing each other to cross the threshold first.

You can't say that about the big box toy stores, can you?

Adorabelle rejuvenates Steveston Courthouse with tea room and gift shop

Although Steveston is mostly associated with seafood, sometimes you feel like having something other than great fish & chips.

And even those who consider themselves devoted to casual dining must, at times, crave for something a little more formal?

So, when I heard of Adorabelle and the promise of a fine pot of tea and dainties, I decided to take a look at this new addition to Steveston's growing string of culinary pearls.

White and pink pearls, as it turned out.

Located in historical Steveston Courthouse, Adorabelle beckons you from behind a neat picket fence. One window welcomes you while the opposite one bids you farewell. What a creative way to mark the "entrance'' and "exit" doors, I thought.

Once you step in, you are greeted with a charming interior that evokes a sense of gentility with glimpses of the Eiffel Tower, pretty trinkets and cards, and tables and chairs in soft pink and white. And Cathy - in her frilly apron and warm welcoming smile - just seems to complete the picture.

Adorabelle offers four one-hour sittings, from Wednesday to Sunday, where you can partake in a dainty feast of tea sandwiches, baked scones, and petite sweets - served with a heartwarming pot of loose leaf tea. What a refreshing way to celebrate life's special moments - right in the heart of our village.

So, call ahead to make your reservation. Then dust off your floppy hat, pull on those gloves, and head on down to Adorabelle.

From Steveston to Storybrooke - our neighbourhood gets a makeover

Everyone knows that since the start of the filming of Once Upon a Time, our own Romania Country Bread has been sporting a new name - Storybrooke Country Bread. With lovely loaves painted underneath the curvy and swirly text.

Here's what it used to look like



And here's what it looks like now - at least temporarily.



Remember Cannery Cafe? With its charmingly rustic exterior, brown planters, and cozy windows?



Look at how lush and green it has become as Granny's Diner.



And don't forget Serenity, with its array of jewelry, purses, and gadgets jostling for position in its front window



In Storybrooke, Modern Fashions caters to the couture-conscious.



These are just some of my favourite pre- and post- images. Enjoy!

Once Upon a Time in Steveston

Are you swept up in the excitement generated by the TV series Once Upon a Time?

I admit it. I enjoy sitting on my sofa and spotting all the familiar scenes as they parade across the screen. Like a child on Disneyland's Main Street USA, I find myself pointing out a street corner here and a shop there, with widened eyes and unbridled delight.

On a few occasions, when shooting was in progress, I felt minor annoyance as traffic officers waved my car off Moncton Street. But, I suppose that's the price we pay for having our stomping ground under Hollywood's glamorous spotlight. And the inconvenience is well worth it when you realize that weeks, perhaps months later, glimpses of your 'hood will be broadcast internationally through billions of flat screen TVs and , may be, even handheld devices.

And the production company has been more than accommodating to casual passersby, never barring us from getting too close to the crew and their tangle of equipment. Sometimes those posted as sentries on the sidewalks would ask us to pause until someone of authority would clear the pavement for foot traffic. I often wonder what they would do if I were to suddenly give a loud cough in the middle of a movie shoot.

It's really quite amazing how they can transform Steveston to Storybrooke by sprucing up some of the local stores and buildings. Which gave me an idea...

Given that I have been capturing Steveston's historical buildings and landmarks for close to two years now, why not start a Storybrooke line, featuring - ta da! - the TV version of our familiar haunts.

In this post, I will show images that are unique to the show itself, such as:



Mr. Gold - considering how much gold is worth today, he would be the richest man in Storybrooke. OK, second only to King Midas.



Worthington's Haberdashery - offering a whiff of nostalgia. I bet only those who had lived through a more genteel era would know what a haberdasher is.

And...



Storybrooke pets shelter - a place that would be dear to animal-loving Stevestonites - which is just about everyone I know.

In the next post, I will show familiar buildings and landmarks as they appear in Steveston and in Storybrooke. You can compare how the TV production professionals have transformed our little corner of the world into a fairy tale world. Stay tuned!