Many years ago, I used to work downtown at the Air Canada Building. Diagonally across from it was…read moreEaton's. On a day shift, on a Friday, I'd walk over and head up to the restaurant on the top floor for lunch. The roast beef with Yorkshire pudding was so good, as was the open-faced turkey sandwich with veggies and mashed potatoes. I'd also check out the grocery store in the basement. I loved shopping there before heading home. I also have fond memories getting a pair of Esprit cargo pants that I wore until they weren't wearable and heat-changing nail polish. I moved to Rochester, MN. Eaton's shuttered for good across Canada. This building was demolished. When I moved back to Winnipeg after my stateside working stint was over, MTS Centre was built where Eaton's was. Winnipeg lost its NHL hockey team, the Jets. We gained getting the Manitoba Moose, which was the the AHL farm team of the Vancouver Canucks first, and now the Jets. Both the Moose and Jets used to play at Winnipeg Arena before that arena got demolished and MTS Centre, affectionally called the Phonebooth, became the Moose's home. I was a season ticket holder for the Moose for a couple of years (same as what I have with the Minnesota Wild, which are a handful of tickets each season) before I moved back to the greater Toronto area. I would often go to Marlies games when the Moose were in town. Well, MTS Centre is now called Canada Life Centre. Yep, the insurance company that used to be Great West Life. So many changes. Don't ask me what the arena's nickname is. The Policy? I don't know. Last month, I took in a Manitoba Moose game after over a decade. I parked on Hargrave, a block away from the arena. I used to park at Eaton Place before it changed its name to City Place. Change is totally a constant here. The interior of this venue has been spruced up with the Jets 2.0 also sharing the same space as the Moose. It's bright and welcoming. The doors open an hour before the game starts. We were lining up in the lobby. There is only one entrance. If you're a kid playing hockey at intermission, you can bypass the crowd and go in. Lucky kids! Staff were extremely helpful and nice. You first go through a security scan. You then present your ticket on your phone. It was such an easy process. I'm so used to not bringing a bag thanks to going to Xcel Energy Center that I didn't bring one here. Instead, I got a Moose-branded bag that made my day. I never got swag in the past. I used the washroom a couple of times. Washrooms are more spaced out at this centre, but the one that I used was clean and nicely maintained. I got a fountain drink at one of the concession stands. As usual, it was overpriced, but I needed one. I paid with a credit card and had a nice woman get me my Diet Coke. It lasted during the entire game. I got a decent seat almost dead centre. Unfortunately, the guy sitting next to me decided to shake his leg and it was touching mine that I told him to move it not once, but twice. He might like the earthquake feeling, but I don't want to be forced to join him. So odd! Anyway, it was great watching a Moose game, despite the team losing to the Milwaukee Admirals. Although I don't take in AHL games as much as I used to, it's nice that I tend to see one every year. I visited the Jets Gear store to check out the merchandise after the game was over. It didn't have a lot of Moose items. I still have a couple of Moose front-zip hoodies. I wish that this store had some so I could spruce up my Moose wardrobe. Mick E. Moose is the team mascot for both the Jets and Moose. Dancing Gabe, a fixture at Jets 1.0 home games, is still kicking around for Moose and Jets 2.0 games. Unfortunately, I was not in town to catch a Jets game. However, supporting the Moose by seeing a game was a ton of fun and long overdue. Canada Life Centre is a decent arena to take in a hockey game. Prices are reasonable and there isn't a bad seat in the house. I look forward to returning to hopefully see the Jets or another Moose game, or take in a concert. (102)

Who approved the mens bathrooms w only 1 way & one way out? Yikes worst people flow I have seen &…read morecrazy to maneuver the confuse between periods. But...what a GREAT place to watch a game!!! We sat in Sec 106, row 2, seats 17-18 - awesome to be so close to the players even if it was hard to see the players in the far corner. Also great to be in the end the Jets shoot twice & by the box. To see the full rink row 7 would be about right. Fans were super friendly - they were playing the Hawks - although it probably helped I was wearing my Bobby Hull jersey! Beers were easy to get ($11.62 USD) and popcorn was like movie theater! Also really cool how you walk inside from the Delta hotel and the main level is actually at street level - so the stadium goes down to the ice. Great times & highly recommend a game.

Check out their website for ongoing shows. Comedy, improv, music of all kinds. Great for people who…read morelike something a little more intimate. A quirky venue for sure, but never a dull moment and they get some big names stopping by so keep your ears open!

No matter what city I live in...I never find an indoor concert space I love as much as I do the…read moreWECC. It opened in 1987 when volunteers renovated the building to make a community arts facility. The first concert - Spirit of the West - was a total success and since then the calendar has been full with dance performances, concerts and literary readings. Nothing can equal the intimacy of the WECC or the diverse performers that come to grace it's stage. I was there when the Skydigger's played and the joint rocked so hard that the floor collapsed and the show was discontinued. I was also there on a quiet, rainy night -the first time I was brave enough to go to a concert alone - when Bob Snider sang and joked with us. The room was only 1/2 full, and it felt like we were all old friends laughing and having a conversation around his guitar. I also loved seeing local bands like Transistor Sound & Lighting Co. and Weakerthans play when they were starting out. Tickets are so reasonable too! This place is a gift to the city...

I went over last night to see the Sonata Arctica show and I had the best of time. The rooms were…read moreclean an spacius (until it filled up) and the drinks were easily accesses. Security was good and the stage was quickly set up between bands. The only real problem was there was a high pitch sound coming from the speakers but that may have been the band and not the fault of the crew.

Went here recently for a comedy show; this was my first time at this venue. Lots of staff keeping…read morean eye on security, tending bar, etc. Parking on-street in the neighborhood was limited but we came early and didn't have a problem finding a spot. Security kept us outside until the doors officially opened. Luckily the weather wasn't too bad. The event was fun, the venue was clean and neat. I was surprised it was folding seats rather than permanent seats but I guess that lets the venue be flexible. They had a full slate of events on their schedule, that is good news as we need more venues in Winnipeg. Noise from the club next door was a little noticeable at times, but not so much that it was a problem. I'd definitely go to more events here.

This venue is so clean and cool! Kind of hipster-ish without anyone saying it is. Kind of punk too…read more 2 bars on site. One for the visitors in the lounge and the other in the concert area. There's about 3 couches in the concert zone. They are thankfully comfy! Anywhere in the concert zone has a good view of the stage. It's very intimate and stress free. The floors are nice. The walls remind me of a movie theater wall. Minimalist. People at shows who drink beer can just drop their empty beer cans on site and after the show a staff member will clean everything up. Pretty good vibes here!

The WAG was on my list to visit for years. I finally made it happen by driving the long drive from…read morethe US. Was it worth it? Oh, yeah! I geek out on Inuit sculpture and this museum has a treasure trove. The lobby of the modern white addition to this museum has a multi-story wavy glass vitrine filled with Inuit pieces. It's a delicious appetizer so I eagerly went up the stairway and into a massive gallery with rows of Inuit pieces, I felt like I was 5 years old and wanted to jump up and down. Every piece is beautifully displayed and illuminated in a white-walled room that, despite having no windows, is perfectly lighted. Art appreciation is so much easier and pleasant in a room like this. This 'Art by Inuit' exhibition is a survey from approximately 200 BCE to present day. It includes typical hunting and domestic scenes of which Inuit art is most well known. There are also many works that explore the human psyche. For me, this is the humble and sincere strength of Inuit art that can grab the viewer. The small exhibition titled 'Gasoline Rainbows' features the work of Tarralik Duffy. Her leather gas cans find the sculptural beauty in the everyday world. Her Spam-container-looking leather sculpture called 'Klik' is a biting reminder of how western foods replaced the traditional foods of these northern communities. There's more to the WAG in their ultra-cool Brutalist building. A surprising gallery of European Old Masters is one of the better small collections in Canada. Another gallery has Impressionist and mid-20th century paintings. (The harsh lighting in these galleries could use the magic touch from the Inuit galleries.) A cavernous exhibition featuring the meticulous works of Tim Gardner, an artist who I'm embarrassed to say that I'd never heard of, blew me away. That one person could churn out so many detailed paintings and watercolors seems impossible. His works include portraits, images of liquor bottles, hyper-realistic paintings copied from amateur photos, and images of Los Angeles so engaging that I felt as he had entered my mind and tagged along on bike rides through my old neighborhoods. The WAG is a joy, both architecturally and in the art on display. For dessert, the gift shop can't be missed. Several Canadian art museums do something that is more rare in the States: feature and sell compelling works by local and regional artists. This isn't the books, mass-produced art/souvenirs, and t-shirts often for sale in other museums. There is genuine one-of-a-kind art and shelves of superior quality artisan-created crafts for sale. It's like a little museum in itself. I happily walked out with an Inuit sculpture that could have been included in the exhibition upstairs.

When I was here, the galleries were full of flower arrangements inspired by the artworks they were…read morepresented with. I've never seen anything like it in a museum before and it was an interesting idea. I happened to show up during the opening for this event, so the gallery was pretty lively. While there are wall cards giving background on the curatorial direction and on individual pieces, I found they assumed a familiarity with Manitoba's history that I lacked. It was refreshing to see so many pieces of art by artists I'm unfamiliar with and to leave with a long list of things to look up later. It inspired me to pick up some books after my visit. That said, they also have a small, thoughtful selection of the sort of stuff you expect to see in an art museum in North America. So if you want to see representations of the standard European and Canadian art movements and pieces by familiar names, you'll find those, too.

A gravel lot behind a shabby fence on main street that just happens to be a great little music…read morevenue.

Dive bar, but that means overall good vibes, reasonable drinks prices and solid rock acts... Get…read morethere early to get a good table or you'll end up on a stool somewhere...

When I lived in Winnipeg, I took in Winnipeg Blue Bombers (Canadian Football League) games and…read moreconcerts at the old Winnipeg Stadium in St. James. It has since been torn down. I finally got to visit Princess Auto Stadium (previously Investor Group Field) a couple of times last month. Canada Day celebrations were happening here for free. A few days later, I took in a Bombers game on a Friday evening. This stadium is home of Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Valour FC, and University of Manitoba Bison. It's a football sandwich with soccer as the filling. It's located on the University of Manitoba campus. Canada Day celebrations consisted of various Canadian music acts playing for roughly an hour. It was a rainy day. The rain held off when I was there for a few hours. I parked in a lot across from this stadium on Chancellor Matheson Road. Parking was free. I got a decent spot. It is a bit crazy crossing the street, as you are essentially jaywalking. Pack some patience. I entered through the nearest gate. I liked seeing the Bombers Hall of Fame names. I spent a lot of time looking at the names. Seeing Khari Jones (2008) and Milt Stegall (2009) made me happy. They were and remain the best quarterback-receiver duo ever in Bombers history. The man at the gate was nice. He said that I didn't have to show my free ticket barcode. Instead, I could just go in. Nice! The stadium is spectacular. It's so much nicer than the old one. It looked good even on a gloomy day! I found a seat and took in roughly three acts. I called it quits at around 8 pm. I had had a long day (I woke up at 4:30 am to travel to Winnipeg). There was also a threat of thunderstorms, which did affect the fireworks display at 10:30 pm. I also wanted dinner, but not from a concession stand. Before I left, I did hit a mini Bomber Store and got a t-shirt for $24. Lindy was the associate who helped me with my purchase. I paid with a credit card. I got my receipt and waved off getting a plastic bag. I thanked him and headed to my car. I was debating whether I wanted to see the Bombers play. At this point, the team had lost every single game. Would the team bomb (pun intended) again or would I be their lucky charm? It was a hot, humid day. I had to. I had paid for parking. Trying to find where to park with a gold pass was interesting. I had one staffer said to head east. I did. I parked in lot W (W for win?) and took a leisurely walk over to the stadium. There were activities for kids and tailgating fun for adults. It was cool. I entered through gate 3. I had my barcode scanned. Done! I got a level 200 seat. I didn't break the bank. I was so happy with where I was. It was shaded and I had a good view of the Bombers hitting the field and more. I took the elevator to the second floor. A male staffer was operating it. When I left the stadium, I walked down stairs. It was great. The food here was yummy and prices were decent. I wish that there were more sugar-free options. The concession stand that I visited only had Pepsi. It needs Pepsi zero or Diet Pepsi. The drink was cold. I got a bag (a heap) of popcorn for $5. It was a good deal. I didn't finish it. The bag was larger than it looked. I brought it back to the apartment. I felt comfortable in my seat. There was a holder for my drink. I find that Winnipeggers aren't great at excusing themselves so that they can walk past you. The woman next to me literally went in front of me and kicked me with her foot. When she came back, I directly told her to stop. I got up so she wouldn't kick me with likely the other foot. I was not happy and made that fact known to her boyfriend who had manners. Bombers fans are loud. They still are. It was great! It was a tight game between the Bombers and RedBlacks. The home team won its first game of the season. I was their good luck charm. I'm sticking with it! I ended up visiting the main Bomber Store after the game. Staff were super helpful and nice, asking me if I needed any help and also letting me figure out what I wanted. I got my second t-shirt from this store. I loved the feel of it. The woman at the checkout was great. She gave me a bag for my t-shirt. I paid with a credit card. The transaction was smooth. I thanked her and took my time walking back to my rental vehicle. The women's washroom was clean. There was a bit of a wait after the game. I was briefly a graduate student at this university. It felt both familiar and different as I walked to the parking lot. Things have changed building-wise, but it threw me back to being a student walking towards the Winnipeg Transit bus stops. It's how I used to get to and from the university. There was a bit of congestion getting off-campus. It was a single lane in either direction. I thought that my visiting the Bomber Store would help a bit. It still took ten minutes to reach Pembina Highway. It was cool dropping by twice. I had a terrific experiences on the whole. (303)

I went to my first Bombers game a couple Fridays ago. Living downtown, I like the location as it's…read morea straight shot on the Blue bus from home; I got to the stadium in about 20-25 mins. My first reaction to the stadium was that the concourse is very cramped. It definitely felt like the concourse at Canada Life Centre is wider than IGF, despite the capacity being over 50% less. It definitely made for a suboptimal experience when I went to find food before the game and drinks during halftime. The experience in the stands, on the other hand, was amazing. The Blue Bombers are billed as the loudest fans in the CFL, and I can see why with all the cowbells and acoustics there. I highly recommend wearing earplugs if you're prone to loud noises or hearing problems. Food options are pretty decent and, if I'm to be honest, reasonably priced for stadiums. Shawarma Khan seems to be the go-to for many fans when I was there. If the concourse was less cramped this would be an amazing stadium. Sadly given that experience I believe a 3-star rating is more than reasonable.

Tip: Collect Scene+ points when you pay for movie tickets either online or at a kiosk, and snacks…read moreat the concession stands. I had a few fun goals during my recent vacation in Winnipeg. One of them was to visit this Cineplex Odeon McGillivray Cinemas and VIP. It completed my visiting every Cineplex location in Winnipeg. This Cineplex location is the only one offering VIP experiences. I like the idea of dining while taking in a movie. The downside is that it's super expensive at any Cineplex VIP location, including this one. I took in F1: The Movie on my birthday. I chose going to the 4 pm show, which was perfect for me to have lunch and dinner before and after this flick. This Cineplex opened well after I had moved back to the greater Toronto area. It was nice to finally check it out. There was plenty of parking when I arrived. I parked fairly close to the entrance and walked in. I like that there's a ramp when you enter the building. It makes those who require a wheelchair enter and leave it more smoothly. There are also hand railings for those who need some sturdy help. Stairs can be difficult, so it was nice to not see them. I made a left and was at the concession stands. I had already had lunch, but needed a drink. I got a regular Diet Coke. The man at the concession stand was friendly and great. He scanned my Scene+ barcode on my phone, and then my e-gift card barcode to pay for my drink. Done and done! I found auditorium 8, which was next door to the VIP theatres. Sadly, the F1 poster wasn't there. I couldn't take my usual photo of it. What's cool about auditorium 8 is that you descend down to your seat. I chose row F. Everyone else was higher up, likely because they like being further up from the screen. I like being closer to it. At this theatre, it felt like I had the entire theatre to myself because no one sat around me. It was heaven! There was lots of leg room. I appreciated the drink holder. The screen was bright and crisp. The sound was amazing. The stairway was lit when the rest of the movie theatre was dark. F1 had a duration of 2.5 hours. I was so into this movie that it didn't feel like it was that long. My bladder also held up nicely. Yay! I used the washroom before I left. It's the same style of washrooms that you get at any Cineplex VIP. I like that you don't need to push a door to enter the women's washroom. You simply walk in and find a stall. The women's washroom was impeccably clean. It was bright and inviting. Full marks! I had a wonderful experience here. I'd definitely return to take in another movie when I'm in Winnipeg. (286)

I am so happy Winnipeg offers a dine-in and movie experience. Everyone sneaks in food to theaters…read moreall the time, so this concept just makes sense. You can purchase food prior to entering the seating area in their lounge and take it into the screening. Or you can order food right at your movie theater seats. Fried pickles with ranch: this was a wonderful appetizer. They used big quarter pieces of pickles and fried them lightly in batter. The dish wasn't oily at all. The ranch dip was a perfect compliment to the dill taste. The seats were nothing like I've ever sat in for a movie. It was like sitting on your own personalized couch. I'm 5'10 and my legs were sprawled out without touching the seat in front of me during the movie. I was even able to curl up and almost sit cross-legged in these seats. The tables placed on either arm rest was spacious enough for me to put everything on. They give each patron 2 cup holders too! For $17.99 admission, you pay for an experience rather than just a movie! It's hard to go back to the "normal" movie theaters after the VIP experience.