This year we had as our Guest of Honor, "B N F" -- Joe Bethancourt, aka Joseph of Locksley, aka "that guy with all those instruments and fingers that fly so fast we can't see them", from Phoenix Arizona. Plus he performed in House Concert at Pondside Music, June 30th so the rest of the city enjoyed him too. It was a sell out crowd and we're looking forward to his next visit.
426 Kinver Street see yahoo maps Phone (250) 361-1830

	Joe Bethancourt plays more instruments that we own (and that's hard to top ) He's an accomplished professional musician who is equally at home on the classical stage, Folk Concert stage, a filk convention, an SCA fireside or a Wild West reenactment. He's been playing professionally for over 30 years people like him so much - they even pay him to stay! Seriously -- we were very proud to be able to bring Joe to Victoria for Pondfilk III. The opportunity to make music and listen to a musician of his caliber does not come along often - we made this opportunity happen. If you've never heard Joe then you're really in for a treat. You name it, he can play it - styles, instruments, truly a renaissance man. It was not a coincidence that Echo's Children composed and perform, "Play it Slow Joe" he really is quite something. His recordings often sound as though he was born with 25 or 30 fingers. Speaking of Echo's Children, we had Callie Hills. Shadyr, our Pondfilk I archivist was there. We'd like to see YOU there too NEXT Year!! Pondside is in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
What do I get with my registration? The chance to join us at Pondfilk III - you'll not regret it! Song circles, master classes (Hey Joe - how'd you do that??) good people and a serene pond filled with friendly koi. A hot tub and ... did I mention good music? Yeah -- filk -- a whole weekend of it!! The Pacific Northwest's own FILK CON. What is Filk? You can take a break Saturday morning and wander around Victoria, get up early Sunday (if you plan to sleep at all) and have dim sum down in China Town... (as the cruise tours put it - at your leisure) We provide accommodations that span from "luxurious and spacious" to - "grab a corner of the floor next to the other 6 people in this room..." Book early for actual "bed space" .
Bed countdown:
Reserved: 1 queen - Pondside master suite 1 queen - Pondside Office 1 single - Pondside basement corner suite 1 single - Pondside library 1 single - Oceanside basement cat free zone 1 queen - Oceanside basement 1 double -Oceanside spare	Available: 2 double -hidabeds Pondside basement 1 single - hidabed Pondside basement Other - 2 couches and lots of floor...
ALLERGY WARNING: We have very hairy cats and dogs. The dogs are allergy free brands but the cats are a menace to respiration. We have the house professionally cleaned prior to events and have non-pet sleeping quarters (next door) but the music area(s) are not cat free. They live here...
Food Issues: We will provide home cooked food for the weekend - if you have special dietary needs (we have registered attendees with diabetes and food allergies) we will try to meet your needs - but if we can't -- -there is a major grocery store 3 blocks away.     Douglas in the kitchen with his famous "Dutch Babies"

How do I get there?

Well, that depends on where you start:

From Vancouver - Catch BC Ferries at Tswwassen or Horseshoe Bay (there are buses available on those ferries) and travel to Victoria. BC Ferries runs every hour during the summer - foot passenger cost approx $9.50 CA$, Parking approx $8.50 per day.

From the USA - we have an international airport, inner harbour water planes, a helijet route and of course - both BC Ferries and the Coho Ferry that runs from Port Angeles to downtown Victoria . Parking approx $5 per day US$, foot passenger $8.50 US$. If you are planning to take the Coho ferry - a good choice btw, you should know that they have limited sailing's and NO reservations, so if you plan to bring a vehicle - I'd think twice. Parking on that side and walking over is much easier - cash is required for parking.

However you decide to get here: please contact us to register and discuss travel details and directions. We are offering pickup service from ferries, airport and bus depot. Local bus service runs from the ferry to downtown, from downtown to within one block of Pondside.

Victoria is situated on Vancouver Island. While you do not have to have a passport, if you are crossing the Canadian/US border you will require:

1. picture ID - drivers license or military id etc... AND
2. proof of citizenship such as your birth certificate, naturalization card, voters card

A passport is definitely the best bet these days (as you'll want to get back into the US after Pondfilk) but lots of the above will work too.

Small gentlebeings:

• If you are planning on bringing smalls with you, you will need permission or presence of both parents and good id including proof of citizenship for them too. Without this you will not be crossing the border. If you're coming from Canada, Vancouver Island does not require proof of anything other than the willingness to pay lots of money to use a ferry, plane or helicopter.
• You should know that Pondside is NOT childproof. We have large areas of very deep water (ponds) 2 small dogs who tolerate children but are not used to them and 2 cats.

About us:

Pondside Gallery

Juliana and Douglas McCorison welcome you to Pondside, our home and to Pondfilk III.

Pondside Music presents approximately eight House Concerts per year, Celtic, folk, blues, etc. with all proceeds from the reservations and CD sales going to the performing musician(s). The seating capacity of the great room is approximately 40 with overflow seating potential in the grandhall and upper balconies.

If you'd like to listen to music while browsing this site we offer Warren's Song in MP3 format click on the music control in the top right corner of your screen. **Note this music file is a 2.7mg MP3 file -if you are using a dialup 56K or slower connection you may wish to pass on this opportunity to listen.