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Learn from a Local - Kathy Kay
A few questions for… Victoria Film Festival Director Kathy Kay
As VFF festival director, Kathy Kay spends a lot of time in dark theatres, but she also loves Victoria’s cafes, pickle boats and outdoors. The creator of Art of the Cocktail and the Free B Film Festival has grown the annual film festival into a must-attend in her 25 years at the helm. She’s focusing on creating new pop-up events for the film fest, which unspools every February in Victoria.
Q: What’s your favourite thing about Victoria?
A: Kitty Islet Park in Oak Bay. It is a lovely spot that someone has put some Adirondack chairs on so you can go and sit and feel close to the water. In truth, I really love all the various places like bus stops and parklets where people have put chairs so that others do not have to stand when they have a long wait, or want to just relax.
Q: Victoria is for brunch lovers. What’s your favourite spot?
A: Anywhere without a line up. Is that wrong?
Q: Let’s go for a walk. Where are you headed?
A: The Westsong Walkway, the section that starts at Spinnakers and goes west. It’s gorgeous and a bit twisty and well, there’s Spinnakers to build up your strength before or after such a nice walk.
Q: If Victoria had a theme song, what would it be?
A: “On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever)” — or at least as far as Mount Baker.
Q: Have you ever ridden in a pickle boat? How was the trip?
A: Gotta love a good pickle boat ride! It makes me think of the word “perky”.
Q: What’s your favourite place in Victoria to get away from it all?
A: The Horticultural Centre of the Pacific has such a wonderful garden to spend time in. In the summer they even have a few live music concerts in the evening.
Q: What’s your top Victoria restaurant?
Q: What’s your favourite Victoria craft brewery, distillery, coffee shop or winery to visit?
A: Fernwood Coffee/Parsonage Café. Best espresso drinks ever! (Oops, one too many) and I love the bagel sandwich. Excellent quality.
Q: What’s the biggest misconception about Victoria?
A: That it is as rainy as Vancouver. But we shouldn’t let others know, they might want to move here.
Q: What do you do on an ideal day or evening in Victoria
A: Take a drive in our little red convertible along the waterfront.
Q: What’s the best place to watch a movie in Victoria?
A: No competition, The Vic Theatre. I think it’s the monkey lights.
Q: What’s your favourite movie-watching snack?
A: At the cinema, it’s the husband’s popcorn.