Tourism Winnipeg

39 www.tourismwinnipeg.com Winnipeg Itineraries and are one of the many examples of how architecture and the arts are all-encompassing in The Peg. During Festival du Voyageur (Feb 12-21), where Winnipeg's Francophone community celebrates its fort and fur trading past, the arts are evident in nearly every form. Massive tents have live music each night (and sometimes during the day) where acts from across the globe – including well-known headliners, get the caribou drinking crowds jigging on the dance floor. In fact, St. Boniface, Winnipeg's French Quarter where FDV is held, is always up to getting artsy. For starters, on Provencher Blvd (the main drag) La Maison des artistes visuels francophones always has funky contemporary works on their walls (while also hosting great parties), while from October through to April Le Cercle Molière presents plays and theatrical experiences en français (with English translation if you need). Le Cercle Molière is actually one of Winnipeg's oldest cultural institutions, having been presenting French-language theatre since 1925, which also makes it Canada's oldest continuously running theatre company. Their new 125-seat multipurpose theatre (opened in 2010) is an absolute peach to take in a performance at. In the same St. Boniface neighbourhood is Le Musée de Saint-Boniface museum, the former home of the Grey Nuns, who arrived in the Red River Colony in 1844. This three-storey white board building is a treasure trove loaded with artifacts recalling the history of Francophones and Métis in Manitoba. It's a cultural gem if you are looking to find out about Winnipeg's socio-political past, with a section dedicated to Métis folk hero Louis Riel whose trials and tribulations – including inciting a rebellion which he was subsequently hung for – earned him the moniker the Father of Manitoba. Finally, on museums, the The Manitoba Museum, centrally located downtown is a must. Their Planetarium features one of the most technically advanced projection systems in all of Canada, which will whisk you across the galaxy, while their extensive collections detail our region's past, from the Ice Age through to the fur trade. Of particular note are the stunning dioramas (including a life size bison hunt which has become a bit of a Winnipeg icon) along with a massive replica of a 17th century English port, replete with the two-masted ketch the Nonsuch. Culinary Adventures My friends, Winnipeg's food scene is hotter right now than the hamam room at Ten Spa. There has never been a better time for gourmands to bask in our round-the-clock tasty times; whether you are looking for small plates, a sublime hair-of-the- dog weekend brunch, a nice spot to take the kids, or one of Canada's best restaurants, we've got your taste buds covered. MORNINGS Do you like coffee? Well so do we, and if you are downtown and need something crafted with care, check out our homie Nils at Parlour Coffee, who has perfected the craft utilizing some of Canada's best beans from carefully considered artisanal roasters. In the West Broadway neighbourhood the boys at Thom Bargen Coffee and Tea also brew a great shot, as do the ladies at Little Sister Coffee Maker in fashionable Osborne Village. And what goes well with coffee? Well, doughnuts of course. Bronuts in the Exchange District has found a following from the cool kids in the surrounding offices who frequently queue in the morning to get at their massive, soft, cake donuts, which are akin to eating a tasty cloud. From there, what's your breakfast style? Beet Happenings on Notre Dame features sausage rolls, along with other breakfasty rolls, breads, scones and yogurt parfaits. The coffee is locally roasted, fair trade organic (of course) and they also offer vegan and gluten-free options. Do you have kids with you? If so, go to one of several Stella's locations where, despite not pandering to children with kid's menus, they do it right for the whole family with fresh baked breads and homemade spreads (its jams are a thing of local legend) while they rock out waffles, smoothies and all manner of eggs while making it seem effortless. If you are of the hipset, then the Tallest Poppy on Sherbrook Street is where it's at for delicious things like fried chicken and waffles – all while you sit in a room adorned with local art while watching/listening to the bearded, moustachioed and horn- rimmed glasses-wearing patrons talk about last night's art show in the Exchange. Other breakfast spots of note (which also carry over into excellent lunching) include items from the lovely ladies of Marion Street Eatery, whose hearty, on-point fare in St. Tallest Poppy: Peg City Grub La Maison des artistes visuels francophones: Janine Kropla

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