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“Christmas is most truly Christmas when we celebrate it by giving the light of love to those who need it most.”
– Ruth Carter Stapleton

The holiday season is a state of mind. For many, it's the most wonderful time of year. For others, it's an ordeal. Those of us in the former group have a clear mandate: be the bringer of light. It doesn't take a lot to spread a little cheer: a smile for a passer-by, an invitation to a seldom-met friend to catch up over coffee, a  greeting card to those geographically out of reach, a wrapped chocolate in recognition of someone's effort or kindness, an evening of song and stories spent with friends and community. Share your light and bask in the the reflection.

So what's new?
This time of year we're drawn to the light. Whether from candles or Christmas lights, they bring warmth and comfort on a cold winter's night, so you'll find all kinds on our shelves, from Votives, candle holders and holiday-scented soy candles that conjure up the spirit of the season, to battery-operated LED seed lights to brighten a dark shelf or corner. 

What would the holidays be without seasonal drinks? We've expanded our latte offerings to include a non-dairy eggnog and a cleverly delicious s'mores latte featuring genuine toasted marshmallow syrup (no preservatives) and topped with graham cracker crumbs and our own house made chocolate syrup. For an extra-special treat (provided you're of legal age of course), we can even add a shot of your favorite liqueur, brandy or rum to the hot or cold beverage of your choice! 

We're also featuring a delicious wild sockeye salmon lox on a Mount Royal bagel with cream cheese and capers - a tasty savoury to balance out the sweets: Portofino gingerbread and shortbread cookies in a variety of flavours, real pumpkin pie milkshakes and much more! 

You'll also find an Empourium-sized selection of unique and intriguing stocking stuffers: bracelets and bangles, lotions and potions, balms and bath salts, old-fashioned games and amusements, travel mugs and bicycle repair kits, books and calendars from local authors and artists - as the proprietors of bygone mercantiles were fond of saying:

"If we don't have it, you don't need it". 
Carmen Croteau was born in Chile and came to Canada in the 1970s. She arrived in Victoria in 1975 and now resides and paints here in beautiful Brentwood Bay. Her inspiration comes from geometric forms found in nature and architecture. She uses bright colours, including neons and metal coppers, that find their origin in the colourful hues of her native Chile, copper artifacts, and her joy of life. 

Now retired, she divides her time between spoiling her beautiful grandchildren, Quinni and Layla, and painting. 
DID YOU KNOW that Canadian art is a tax-deductible business expense? Under the Tax Act, as long as the art costs at least $200, it can be capitalized and depreciated at a rate of 20 per cent per year for tax purposes, provided it was acquired for the purpose of earning income and that the artist was Canadian at the time the work was done.
DEC 13 7:30PM FEATURE PERFORMERS:
MIKE, JOSH & JIM

No cover Friday! Drop by the cafe or call us at 778-351-0178 during business hours to save a seat. 
Our friendly neighborhood music teachers bring their soulful three-part harmonies and Bluegrass funk to folk and pop classics. 
DEC 20  7:30PM OPEN MIC CABARET

$5 cover charge for all open mic evenings to help cover the cost of hosting and staffing.
Our annual Christmas singalong! Come and help us make a joyous  For details on performing at an Open Mic Cabaret, click the image above.
JAN 10 7:30PM
DAVE GALLANT & FRIENDS

No cover Friday! Drop by the cafe or call us at 778-351-0178 during business hours to save a seat. 
Folk/roots troubadour Dave Gallant's west coast musical lineage stretches back the 70s and in that time he's played with pretty much every west coast musician of note. Expect some friends to join Dave and make for an excellent evening of music and fun!
JAN 11 7:30PM
JOHN GOGO: COAL & WOOD

Buy your tickets early! Purchase by phone at 778-351-0178 during business hours. 
This engaging one-man show written and performed by well-known island singer-songwriter John Gogo revisits the gritty mining and logging towns of Vancouver Island on Canada’s rugged western coast. Haunting folk tales by four generations of a Nanaimo pioneer family offer a fascinating look beneath the surface of history unfolded from 1895 to 1995. Their songs explore the unique and layered lives of heroes and villains: the visionary Finns of Sointula, the notorious Dunsmuirs, labour martyr Ginger Goodwin, the ghost of Clarence Ballance and the infamous Brother XII of De Courcy Island. For a sneak preview, click on the image above!

Tickets are $20 in advance and would make a great stocking-stuffer for any local history/music buff. Doors open at 6:30pm for this special Saturday evening house concert. Desserts and drinks available. 
JAN 17 7:30PM
THOMAS P. RADCLIFFE

No cover Friday! Drop by the cafe or call us at 778-351-0178 during business hours to save a seat. 
Acclaimed finger-style guitar virtuoso and legendary folk singer Thomas P. Radcliffe has performed in orchestral and solo settings on various stages for many years and is currently touring as a solo singer-songwriter, solo finger-style guitarist.

His menagerie of stringed instruments now features the amazing 12-string Spanish Laud, which he plays fluently and naturally in his own inimitable style, as the Puerto Rican Cuatro, a lovely and brilliant 10 string instrument .

Thomas’s performances are intimate and personal and touch his audiences regardless of the size of the venue, not to be missed.
JAN 24 7:30PM
OPEN MIC CABARET

No cover Friday! Drop by the cafe or call us at 778-351-0178 during business hours to save a seat. 
Open Mic Night at BBVE is an opportunity for performers of all types to share their talents, connect with other artists and be a part of our local arts and entertainment scene in a friendly, supportive and social setting. Enthusiastic audience welcome! PLEASE NOTE: there is a $5 cover for this evening. Click on the image above for details on how to participate.
How do No Cover Fridays work?
Most Friday evening music events are no-cover. That means we don't sell tickets or charge admission*. But you can still save a seat by getting your name on our Advance Seating list. Drop by the cafe or call us during business hours (you must speak to someone who can check to see if we still have seats available - please don't leave a message), and give us the name of each person in your party. Arrive prior to 7pm on the evening of the event and we'll have seats for you. At 7pm sharp all unclaimed seats are released for walk-ins: first come, first served. 
* We encourage our audience to help support the performers who come to play our venue. There is a pay-what-you-can tip basket at every no-cover evening.
Our community roots run deep. This Christmas our shelves are chock-a-block with the beautiful labours of local artisans, artists, growers and makers and distributors, many of whom we are delighted to now call our friends and neighbors!  We hope you'll make time in your busy holiday schedule to spend some time browsing our selection. When you buy local, you're helping to build a stronger community for everyone! 
We hope you find the information in this newsletter interesting, relevant and well... noteworthy. We welcome your feedback and suggestions - drop us a line at info@empourium.ca 
Copyright © 2019, Brentwood Bay Village Empourium, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
12-7103 West Saanich Rd., Brentwood Bay, BC  V8M 1E7

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Brentwood Bay Village Empourium · 12-7103 West Saanich Rd. · Unit 12 · Brentwood Bay, British Columbia V8M 1R1 · Canada

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