Fringing

I have not been much a fringer in the past but I have always had it on my list. This year my aunt was visiting from BC and she is always open to adventure and a friend was able to take a little time off during the day one day. I was able to check out The Cube with some of the free entertainment as well as 2 shows.

We picked our shows based on time availability mostly. Both shows were at noon during the week. My aunt and I headed down early so I could take her over to Parlour Coffee and then to Toad in the Hole for some shopping for her granddaughter. We then went over to the Planetarium where our show would be. I like that venue as it is comfortable and there is easily accessible bathrooms. We enjoyed the show a lot. It was called Traveltheatrics and was about a young woman who loves to travel from a very young age. She tells about several some are very light and fun and some are dark and scary but ends with how she has overcome and learnt a lot about herself and the world. We then had lunch at my favourite downtown lunch spot, Clementines, and then checked out the free entertainment at The Cube.

photo credit: Patricia Dandeneau

The next time I was able to get downtown to watch a show was with my friend. We decided to go to see one called F Words. I thought it was so hilarious I could have peed my pants! And it was a really good thing I had asked outside if there was a washroom inside as there was no washroom at that venue and had to go use the portapotties in The Cube area. Honestly, that one was so funny I would love to see it again. But those who know me know I am a sweary pants so to have a song entirely about the ultimate F-word was up my alley. So was the fact that she was talking about being Forty, Fat & Forgotten. It was just so relatable and done in a hilarious manner.

When that was done we went back to The Cube and both hit up some food trucks and took in a show there. It was not nearly as good as the Firefighter Clowns from Australia but it was ok. The food was awesome. I had perogies and Amanda had deep fried cheese curds from the Bothwell truck.

When you get the chance, get out to a couple fringes. Read the write ups and reviews and see what calls to you and get out and see some.

2018 Patio #1, 2 3 & 4.

I love patios. Till wasp season anyway. We try to eat el fresco any time possible in the early part of summer. And I am hoping that the wasps won't be as bad this year as they were last year so we can continue to eat outside into the fall.

1. The first patio we hit up this year was Beachcomber at The Forks. It was threatening to rain but we decided to chance it. We did get a few drops here and there but their big umbrellas kept us dry and the clouds blew by. The service was great and the crowd was cheerful and friendly. I almost always opt for Manitoba walleye when given the opportunity and it was tasty. We left very full and enjoyed a walk around The Forks. Definitely bonus points for extra things to do before and after a meal.

2. Santa Lucia rooftop patio. I love their rooftop patio. They have a roller shade that allows for shade and wind protection but can be opened late in the evening to let in the light breeze and warmth of the setting sun. The pizza is amazing even for those of us that aren't crazy about pizza. It was a weeknight so it wasn't very busy at around 7:30/8pm on the patio.

3. Resto Gare for a late lunch was amazing and we had the whole patio to ourselves and a little baby bunny! Despite us being the only people outside our waiter was super attentive and funny. I ended up boxing up half my Mac and Cheese and had it the next day for lunch. Jamus usually doesn't like homemade fries but he devoured these ones. They are so good! I had been on the patio here last year with girlfriends and a live band and had a great time so I knew it wouldn't disappoint. The menu here is so varied in options and prices that there really is something for everyone.

4. I went to Promenade Cafe for brunch with a girlfriend. I had booked the reservation the night before requesting the patio. The previous time I had tried to book the patio here for a late night reservation we got a call cancelling due to rain and they had graciously moved us inside but gave us the option to cancel. We did go and loved it but I still wanted to try it out at brunch and on the patio. I got there earlier then my reservation time and the patio wasn't set up. She didn't notice my reservation was for the patio and hadn't planned on setting it up till the other waitress came in later in the morning. She decided to get it set up while I waited (it took her under 3 minutes) and I was seated. I read and sipped tea till my friend came and by then there was several other people enjoying the beautiful view from the patio. If you don't know where Promenade is, it is on Tache looking towards the Forks, Esplanade Riel bridge and The Canadian Museum of Human Rights. They have quite a few options on their brunch menu but were slow to bring coffee and tea refills and even slower to bring the bill. We actually joked about just leaving as we hadn't seen the waitress in so long and this was after the other waitress had come in. Overall, it was mid-morning, unhurried brunch so was all good. I would go again - the view and food were great.

Hopefully we get in a few more patios this year. What have your favourite ones been so far?

Lazy River Adventure

I am totally in love with lazy river tubing but the Pinawa area is the most beautiful spot I have done this in Canada (the caves in Xcaret Mexico were still my favourite despite the BAT!). I have tubed a couple of places in Manitoba (Asessippi & Roseau River) and in Penticton, BC but Pinawa had such beautiful rocks and trees along the river banks. It was just gorgeous.

Jamus & I have our own tubes so we didn't need to rent any but the rest of our group did. I would recommend the kind with a canvas-like cover to protect from getting it pierced. Wilderness Edge in Pinawa rents tubes for $20 each with tax and that includes giving a member of your party a ride back to the starting point so you can leave your car at the ending point without having to bring 2 cars. You can book this online as some weekends they do sell out. They also have change rooms, bathrooms and showers at their facility. So once you have gone to Wilderness Edge to check in and change they give you a claim ticket for tubes and the ride at the starting point and direct you on the map on where to go next.

So you go to the starting point at the end of Highway 211. Someone from your group will follow the driver back to the ending point and leave your car there while the rest of your party gets the tubes ready. We rented a cooler tube as well so we could bring lots of water, fresh fruit & berries in snack bags, cut veggies in snack bags, hard boiled eggs, cheese sticks and other snacks for the 2-3 hour ride on the river.

Once the drivers got back we headed down to the channel's starting point. You definitely need water shoes for this part as it is large rocky gravel. The temperature was 33 Celsius on a Saturday so you can imagine how busy it was so we did have to wait our turn to get started but it wasn't a long wait at all. You do have to carry everything down to the river's edge and part of it is steep so keep that in mind when you are packing up a heavy cooler.

Then you just get on the tubes and start floating. There are some rocks near the beginning but once we got past that we rafted our tubes together and enjoyed the float. There was some rocks and faster spots towards the end as well.

We saw lots of children on this tube ride. They do recommend bringing life jackets for the little ones as they have a limited number of kids ones in different sizes. It is very family friendly as most of this run is very slow and shallow although there are spots that get about 10 feet deep. As with any water activity, life jackets are important and rafting the tubes together so your children are always close to you recommended.

Here is the list of things I recommend to bring:
Shoes you can wear in water
Lots of water proof sunscreen
Water guns (we had a super soaker which was fun but others in our group got these water cannons at the dollar store for $1.25 and they were wicked!)
Waterproof case for anything like your cell phone & keys if you are taking it on the river but Wilderness Edge does not recommend doing that. They recommend hiding your key in the bush.
Water, lots of water... freeze some of it so that by the last half you still have cold water
Sunglasses (and maybe a sports band to keep them on)
Hat (even better if you can tie it to your head)
Waterproof camera or Go Pro with a floaty on them if you have
Snacks in waterproof bags
Towels, extras to put on the seats of car when you get out at the end
Change of clothes so you can change after you are done
Life jackets for kids or poor swimmers (they will provide but have limited amounts)
Small first aid kit in water proof container (my sister is always prepared!)
A water proof bluetooth speaker would be fun
Your adventurous friends!

Have you tried tubing somewhere in Manitoba? Where was it? I want details as we would love to try different spots.

Loud, hot, fast, summer fun!

We love going to the oval dirt race track for some loud, hot, fun on a Thursday evening. The closest one to Winnipeg is Red River Co-op Speedway just off Highway 75 near St. Adolphe. You can save a couple dollars per ticket by picking them up at any Red River Coop Gas Station but beware that they do run out of tickets sometimes so it isn't always best to wait till you get to St Norbert (the last one not the way out of the city) to buy them.

We decided pretty last minute that we were going and texted a few friends to see if anyone else was available. We went July 5th and they were celebrating Canada Day which just passed. They had some make up races to do from a previous rain out in June so we were getting extra races and fireworks. Jay and Irka decided to join us even though they would be late.

So we took a couple blankets to sit on and one to use to save them a spot. We went early so we could get dinner at the concession. They have things like burgers, hot dogs, pizza, taco in a bag, fries, chicken burgers, chicken fingers and a few other things. Their chicken fingers are really good, breaded chicken filets and we always enjoy their burgers or taco in a bag. They offer a large assortment of condiments including all the taco fixings, sourcrout

Some things you may want to bring besides something to sit on: If you have sensitive hearing you should bring earplugs. I do notice adults and really young children seem to wear them the most and Jamus says it really makes a difference to his ears to have a set. It is nice to have a pair of cheap sunglasses to keep the dirt out of your eyes. Some nights you could also need sunscreen or mosquito repellent. And it does cool off some nights towards the end so a sweater is always nice to have. If there is a chance of rain you may want to have a poncho and something to put down on your car floor as if it does rain it is a muddy mess in the parking area.

There is a ton of free parking. If you prefer to park close you can pay for VIP parking for $5 or if you need accessible parking and have a permit you can drive right up to the gate where VIP parking is and park for free by showing them your accessibility permit. They will also give you a lift in a golf cart if you let the parking attendant know you need assistance as the seating is up on the hill.

The races were so much fun. The fireworks show was really impressive as well. They did a great job!

Have you been to any of the race tracks in the province?

Glamping in the Whiteshell

We had the opportunity to get a Yurt at Nutimik campground for a couple nights. We were in Bay 1, Yurt 19. Yurts are soft sided canvas structures with a proper floor and furniture so it is not quite cabin but not quite tent. They have a double bed with a single bunk on top and a futon, a dresser, a table and 4 chairs, a lamp, a fan and a heater. They also have some clean up items like garbage and broom. 

They are set nicely in private sites. We had enough room to set up our dining tent, park our car and still have lots of room for the fire pit. The modern bathroom was about a 150 foot walk. The showers were down the road somewhat and the beach you can either walk a trail to get to (which has a beautiful scenic view but was too wet for us to trek this time), or you can take your car and park. 

The campground beach is small but it doesn't seem to get too busy most weekends. There are so many other beaches nearby. We love the scenery in the area. Blueberry Hill is that hill to the left. You can access it by hiking in behind some cabins before the store. It has a wonderful vista of the lake. Unfortunately, because of 2 full days of rain it was too wet for us to be trekking out on the wet rocks so we stuck to doing other things. 

There is so much to do in the area we didn't even touch the surface. Sturgeon falls is a short walk, over a bridge that was put up less than 10 years ago. Petroforms and Pine Point Rapids are really close by as well. There is a museum right in Nutimik. Of course, you can fish or go boating. 

I had specific things in mind for our two days there. I wanted to read and unwind, cook over the fire, go to the spots where my family had my grandparents memorials, and check out at least one spot we have never been. I grew up going to the Whiteshell every summer so even though there is unlimited things to do out there it would be interesting to see what we come up with. On Saturday we set up our stuff and got settled and then went off to one of our favourite spots that we always visit. Rainbow Falls at White Lake. It is Easy to get to from either side of the Whiteshell so we seem to go no matter where we are staying. We were going to do the hike but it was so muddy and the woman in front of us slid and fell in the muck so we decided to just enjoy the falls and the view on the lake. There were a ton of dragon flies landing on us and in the water. 

We capped off the evening with cooking steak on the fire and playing cards in the dining tent. 

Sunday we started out bright and early by heating some chai latte mix with milk in the kettle on the fire and sat and read for a while. We decided to head to Seven Sisters picnic area. It is outside of the Whiteshell but is where we had my grandpa's memorial. It was packed there with day campers out to have picnics but we grabbed a spot on the side of the rapids and just sat on the rocks. We had a picnic and reminisced about the many picnics we have had there both before and after grampa passed away. We walked around the area and compared the water levels to years gone by. I enjoyed watching the pelicans bathe in a calm pool in amongst all the rapids. 

We decided to head to Pinawa to find the suspension bridge but we took a wrong turn and ended up at the old dam instead. Since were were there we decided we would take a look as neither of us had ever been there. We ended up spending hours there looking around and walking. It was hot but Jamus loved looking at all the old ruins and I love hiking so this was a win for both of us. I especially loved getting in behind the old dam where you can be close to the water. We weren't prepared to go swimming so we just sat with our feet in the water. We had brought our cooler with us so we had lots of snacks and drinks. Despite this being a provincial park the outhouses there are not kept up at all. There was no toilet paper and they were disgusting compared to most of the trail outhouses we have seen. Despite that we can't wait to go and spend a full day there in the future. 

We ended that day by heading back to the yurt, having a big fire and cooking dinner. We were tired from all of the heat but enjoyed the quiet campground as it was almost empty now that it was Sunday evening. 

Monday morning we cleaned up our site and the yurt. We had a fairly comfortable stay. Jamus is a bit too tall for the bed or the futon but otherwise it was great. We decided to go for a late morning swim since it was already so hot and packing up was sweaty business. We used the showers before we left the campground and then set out on our way. 

Our next stop was Brereton Lake. We picked some daisies and then we went down to Gram's old dock - we still know who owns it and they told us to go whenever we want. We had Gram's memorial there so we sat on the dock and reminisced about the good old days. Did you know there is a trail to a beautiful ravine behind the cabins at the store? We used to go up behind there with the other kids in the neighbourhood all the time when we stayed with Gram and Grampa Bill.

Anyway, we decided to stop in Falcon next since Jamus had never been and I had only been in there once before. We went in to the Lakeshore Campground and asked a ranger there if we could use a campsite for an hour to make lunch. He said he wasn't going to stand in anyones way of enjoying the outdoors on such a beautiful day so we had a little fire and cooked up some dogs and left over bacon from breakfast. We still had some cheese left from the day before too so we had some pretty gourmet camp dogs. After stretching our legs around there we decided it was too cool for a swim now and headed home. It was still a long drive and it was getting to evening already. 

All in all we had a great time. I finished a book. We went to 2 new places and had a ton of fun. 

Manitoba Getaway!

We decided last minute to book a room up at Lakeview Resort Hecla so we could have a much needed getaway and enjoy some nature. We do love it there and they allow us to bring our dogs. The dog friendly rooms are laminate and tile so they don't get stinky like some other dog friendly places.

Because we booked so last minute we just got a room, not a suite which was fine since it was just for one night. It still had a very nice tub/shower and a fridge so we could keep the dog food in the freezer.

The hotel was full so overall it was noisier then when we have gone in the past. We were at the end of the hall by the stairs and door to outside so we heard it open and close a lot. It was handy for taking out the dogs though.




I enjoyed their adult only spa and pool area. They have a variety of pools ranging from hot tub to arctic pool. I love their salt pool. And the spray they have in the sauna is so refreshing. Jamus enjoyed a nap after the long drive.

Then we went to explore the area. We went to Hecla Village and checked out the docks and saw lots of people fishing. We saw an eagle checking things out from the top of a pool near the lake. We enjoyed the pelicans and watched a fisherman bring in his nets. The dogs loved exploring and the walking on the paths near the lake.

 

We did a movie night in the room to hang with the dogs and ordered room service. The food was really good. I had the Manitoba Walleye and Jamus had a burger. 

We ordered room service for breakfast as well since taking the dogs to the restaurant isn't appropriate. If the trip wasn't so last minute I would have been more prepared and brought something we could have made in the microwave as I have done in the past. But their food is great so it wasn't a hardship! 

The drive home we took our time and went to check out Camp Morton as we have a cabin booked there in August. Then we went to Gimli and took the dogs for a walk along the lake, got gas and a snack for the ride home. Then we ended up going into Winnipeg Beach to see if anyone was on The Gator at the marina. They had already left so we kept on going and finished the day by stopping for dinner at Half Moon in Lockport. It was a short trip but we made the most of it and had a blast. 

Where is your favourite Manitoba get away spot?

Movies in Luxury!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!

Mom wanted to see the new movie with Melissa McCarthy called "Life of the Party" so we decided to make an event of it and take her to the newly renovated Landmark Cinemas 8 Grant Park.

We have been the the Cineplex VIP theatre and love it there so I will do a comparison.

Both have comfortable seats that turn into "loveseats" if you push the middle arm up so they can be coupled or put the arm down to be separate.

VIP you can rock in your comfortable chair. Landmark you can recline the seat and put your feet up!

Landmark has more space between the chairs behind and in front of you to allow for the recline but this also means if people around you are talking you aren't as likely to hear them.

VIP is 18+ which means no one under the age of 18 can come in at all. That one could be a pro and a con! They also sell alcohol.

VIP has in-seat service till the show starts.

VIP only has 3 theatres so there is a limited time for each movie that plays there. Landmark has 8 so a movie will play there longer.

Both theatres offer pre-purchased tickets with seat selection.

Landmark prices vary from $6.99 to $15.99 depending on promo days and if it is 3D with their regular price being $10.99. VIP varies from $13.49 to $19.99 depending on the promo but offers less choices of times of the day.

Have you been to both or either? Which one do you prefer?