16 replies to this topic

[aastra]

Anybody been to this place? I picked up the brochure on the ferry.

[Holden West]

1007 Government St.

It looks pretty swanky. I've never bought anything there, tho.

I heard the Douglas Hotel/Rialto liquor store was going to get the Mark Anthony franchise or whatever it is but something went wrong in the negotiations (due to construction delays??) and they went to this location instead which was a real "stab in the back".




ha ha...get it? oh, man i crack myself up...

[aastra]

Et tu, Holden?

For the record, Antonius was loyal to Julius Caesar. It's a bit brutish of you to suggest otherwise.

[G-Man]

yup it is really nice but limited in selection. They also have a tasting bar.

[Holden West]

Aastra, I never let the facts get in the way of a good joke (or a bad one).

I see that wine shop has a vintage-style bicycle outside their door so that hotel guests can get their hootch delivered.

[zoomer]

It has a bit of a touristy feel to me, although it's fairly nice still. Has a nice gas fireplace at the back where you can sit (and sip?).

[aastra]

I hope everybody got my deliciously clever reference to Brutus there.

Isn't it funny how the English equivalent of Antonius is Anthony (eliminate the "S" and replace it with a vowel sound), whereas the English equivalent of Colombo is Columbus (eliminate the vowel sound and replace it with an "S"). What's up with that?

[Holden West]

I thought the English equivilent is Columbia?

Anyway, Mark Anthony is regarded as the quintessential "boutique" wine store--smashing the fearful stereotype of crime-attracting "liquor store". Now, you're seeing the term used for liquor stores well outside downtown (like the proposed Quadra Village one) described as "boutique" as if the majority of user in that neighbourhood won't be buying Lucky beer and Kiwi-strawberry coolers.

I haven't heard anything lately about the Executive House hotel boutique liquor store. It's a good location even though technically it's inside the area claimed by the Strathcona hotel's liquor license area so it's a grey area as to whether it's legal. (I know VicHockeyFan has said in the past this is totally irrelevant and that the free market will sort it out.)

[aastra]

Christopher Columbia?

[Holden West]

I think Columbus is Latin; Colombo is Italian.

[aastra]

Colombo is his real Italian name. In English we usually call him Columbus. So you're saying Columbus is what we call him in English, because Columbus is the Latin equivalent of Colombo?

Whereas Antonius IS Latin, and yet we call him Anthony in English.

[aastra]

And Juan de Fuca is the Spanish equivalent of the guy's actual Greek name, Ioannis Phokas. Naturally, we continue to use the Spanish equivalent, rather than calling it the Strait of John Fuchs.

For some reason Ioannis Phokas is also known as Apostolos Valerianos. Anybody know the story behind that?

[Holden West]

Yes, and if we were to Anglicize it, it would be Columbia or Columbine. That's my theory and I'm sticking to it!

This off topic post brought to you by "Off-Topic Wines™©" by Mark Antonius. When you want your dinner conversation to veer off-topic, open up a few bottles of Off-Topic™©.

[aastra]

Pompous, irrelevant fare like this is best enjoyed over a glass of wine by a fireplace.

[Oxford Sutherland]

That store is much better than seeing another tacky tourist shop.

I think they also have a store in Cadboro Bay.

[gumgum]

^Agreed, Ox.
I've enjoyed seeing more stores on Gov that lean more toward the practical for the residents.

[Walter Moar]

I think they also have a store in Cadboro Bay.

They do indeed have a store in Cadboro Bay, it sells the Mark Anthony import products as well. The downtown store only sells Mission Hill product -- its biggest flaw.