So You’re Spending a Weekend in Winnipeg…
Dear Conference Registrants (especially students),
Welcome to Winnipeg! We are excited to host you here. The students of Robson Hall have compiled a helpful list of places to eat and go, and things to do and see while you’re in our fair city. We know you will be busy with the conference until Saturday at lunch, but we hope that you have some time to enjoy Winnipeg after that.
Near the Fort Garry or Delta Hotel downtown…
Where to eat (pricey):
Blaze Bistro: This restaurant is conveniently located right in your hotel. Offering breakfast, lunch and dinner, in addition to ample lounge space, Blaze Bistro has delicious, regionally inspired fare. You’ll get a lot of bang for your buck, but this is a more expensive option.
Ichiban: (189 Carlton Street) Japanese grill, and a little entertainment too. Pricey, but always satisfying.
The Lobby on York: (295 York Street) Want to experience the life of a high-powered Winnipeg lawyer? Go straight to The Lobby on York – a very pricey steakhouse that most law students can only dream of frequenting.
Bombolini’s: (326 Broadway) The less expensive sister to the upstairs Amici’s offers updated twists on Italian food. Worth a trip for the bread basket alone.
Where to eat (moderate):
East India Company: (349 York) If you didn’t get to the restaurant on Friday night, make an effort to try it out on Saturday. Delicious Indian food and an extensive buffet, including many vegetarian and vegan choices. The vegetable korma is a legendary favourite of anyone who has ever attended the Winnipeg Folk Festival.
The Fyxx: (101- 310 Broadway) The Fyxx is a fantastic local coffee shop, with great coffee and even better ambience. Stay for lunch – the fresh made sandwiches and salads are worth it.
Thida’s Thai Restaurant: (72 Donald) A bit hard to find at the base of the Donald Street bridge, tucked next to a convenience store, this Thai spot is a favourite of lawyers looking to escape courthouse cafeteria food. Inexpensive lunch specials and an extensive menu featuring delectable Thai specialities explain why.
Oscar’s Deli: (175 Hargrave) Famous for the Oscar’s Reuben sandwich. Egg salad sandwiches on rye, crunchy pickles on the side… Oscar’s is another favourite of Winnipeg lawyers and judges alike.
Soup, Sandwiches & More: (428 Graham) Fresh, fast and delicious. An added bonus is the huge selection of vegetarian options.
Things to Do: Saturday, October 20 2012
Theatre
Manitoba Theatre Centre (MTC): A Few Good Men, A thrilling Broadway hit by Aaron Sorkin. A young American lawyer defends two Marines accused of murder in a hazing incident gone wrong in Guantanamo Bay. As the legal team digs for the truth, they uncover a high-level conspiracy that threatens the integrity and honour of the military system.
Prairie Theatre Exchange (PTE): The Brink. Pat has always lived in the shadow of famous family members: a grandmother who went over Niagara Falls in a barrel in 1910; an uncle who was almost an Olympic vaulter (if the 1940 Olympics hadn’t been cancelled), and a notorious wild-child of a mother. And yet, even as mankind stands poised to walk on the moon, and the world is on the brink of an explosion of technology, Pat can’t seem to gather the courage to make any kind of leap at all. Is trying to save the family print shop from extinction enough of a life, or should she take the advice of an American soldier hiding out from the Vietnam war and finally step over the brink to something different?
Music
Folk/Pop: The West End Cultural Centre, 25th Anniversary Concert, 8 p.m.
Classical: Trio di Virtuosi – MYR Piano Trio – Three of Canada’s most celebrated soloists are well versed as chamber musicians. Programme: Works by Bach-Busoni and Schubert. Eckhardt Gramatteé Hall, University of Winnipeg, 555 Portage Avenue.
Rain, A Tribute to the Beatles, MTS Centre, Portage Avenue
Ballet
Royal Winnipeg Ballet: Twyla Tharp’s new ballet The Princess and The Goblin, Centennial Concert Hall. 555 Main Street.
Sports
(if the lockout is over!) Winnipeg Jets play Philadelphia Flyers, 6 p.m. MTS Centre, Portage Avenue. Tavern United at the MTS Centre (260 Hargrave) shows all the games.
4Play Sports Bar (323 Portage) across the street from the MTS Centre is another good bet.
Boston Pizza (333 St Mary) across from the Delta is also a good option. You will definitely need reservations if you’re going for a game!
Bison’s Football Team playing UBC, 1 p.m. University of Manitoba Stadium
Comedy
Rumor’s Comedy Club, Rory Scorel, 190-2025 Corydon Avenue, .
Pub
The Elephant and Castle: (350 St Mary) a great little pub located on the main floor of The Delta. Typical pub fare and the perfect place to grab a pint.
Mall and Cinema
Portage Place Shopping Centre: (393 Portage) Not the world’s best mall, but The Globe Cinema is usually showing a quirky selection of movies and you can re-capture your youth by visiting the Imax Theatre. There is also a Shoppers Drug Mart in the mall, in case you need to grab any essentials.
Near the Inn at the Forks…
Where to eat:
Lucky you! The Forks is full of excellent eating options. Visit The Forks Market for numerous food stalls featuring a huge variety of cuisines. This is a very cost effective option. Be sure to note the hours. The Market is open daily from 9:30 – 6:30 and on Fridays from 9:30 – 9:00. Find excellent coffee and tea at The Human Bean (1 Forks Market Road). Tall Grass Prairie Bread & Co and Deli (1 Forks Market Road) has the best cinnamon buns in the world and delicious sandwiches and salads to go. For a very pricey option (a celebratory dinner, perhaps?), head to Sydney’s At the Forks (215 – One Forks Market Road) for a prix fixé dinner, or order off the menu at lunch.
Next door at the Johnston Terminal, you’ll find moderately priced pasta and Italian options at The Old Spaghetti Factory (110 – 25 Forks Market Road).
The Current: Located right in the Inn at the Forks, The Current does regional cuisine at high end prices. This restaurant is a great option for breakfast, including an expansive Sunday brunch.
Hu’s on First (One Portage Avenue East): You’ll find Hu’s in the ball park. They offer classy Chinese food. It’s a little pricey for the size of the portions, but is a good option for a new twist on old favourites.
Times Changed High and Lonesome Club: (234 Main) Looks like a dive bar that locals know to be a hidden treasure – and it is. Great live music and the best spot to grab a drink downtown, Times Changed also offers what is widely believed to be (by Robson Hall students at least) the best Mexican food in town.
Ivory: (200 Main) Indian food with classy ambience, featuring a good buffet.
Things to Do:
Exploring the Forks is a ton of fun. There’s a bunch of shops to check out, and The Forks is a national historic site. Go walking on the river trail. Be sure to take note of the ongoing construction of The Canadian Museum For Human Rights, located on the river between the hotel and the ball park. Finn McCue’s (210 – 25 Forks Market Road), located in the Johnston Terminal, is a pub with lots of pool tables and is a good place to grab a drink and hang out.
Head over the Provencher bridge or the pedestrian bridge at The Forks into St. Boniface, the largest Francophone community in Canada outside of Quebec. You’ll find the Grey Nun’s convent, Winnipeg’s oldest building, which now houses Le Musée de Saint-Boniface Museum (494 Taché Avenue). The beautiful ruins of the St. Boniface Cathedral-Basilica should not be missed – be sure to find the grave of Louis Riel. If you have an evening visit to St. Boniface, check out Le Garage Café (166 Provencher) for great food (arguably the best poutine in the city) and live music.
Near the U of M
Where to eat if you are staying at Four Points Sheraton:
Degree’s Diner: (304 University Center) Degree’s is a second home to Robson Hall students. Conveniently located on the 3rd floor of University Centre, Degree’s features diner food with a twist. We love it for the prices, the awesome coffee, the fresh and healthy options (poutine is fresh and healthy, right?) and the large selection of vegetarian menu offerings. Expect counter service and having servers identify you by a strange toy or object you are given to take to your table. Great, cheap breakfast, licensed, and open late.
Bistro Two o Five: (205 University Centre) Also in University Centre (on the 2nd floor), this is a classier option open for lunch. Prices are still reasonable, and though the menu is small, the options are diverse.
Edna Fedya: (1 Research Road) Slightly off campus in the so-called “Smart Park”, this is an off-shoot of the local chain, Stella’s. All day breakfast, reasonable prices, good coffee and great selection.
North Garden Restaurant: (33 University Crescent) Just down University Crescent from campus, this is a Chinese restaurant popular with university students. North Garden is always busy, so be sure to call ahead.
Nicolino’s: (2077 Pembina) A short drive or twenty minute walk from campus is worth it if you’re looking for updated Italian food and fantastic pizza. The attached lounge is a nice spot for drinks.
If You’ve Got Time…
Things to Do in the Downtown Area:
Spend some time in the Exchange District. The Exchange is a national historic site and Brad Pitt once walked the streets of this neighbourhood, so you really can’t lose. The Exchange is full of local boutiques, galleries, music stores, toy stores, and more. We love Smoke’s Poutinerie (131 Albert) for all-night poutine, The Line-Up (98 Albert) for inexpensive, quick, greasy grub, and The Underground Cafe (70 Arthur) for burgers and sandwiches. For more expensive but classier options, head to Peasant Cookery (100 – 282 Bannatyne) for regionally inspired dining, Hermanos (179 Bannatyne) for Brazilian influenced fare and Blufish (179 Bannatyne) for innovative sushi. The King’s Head (120 King) is a favourite local pub, featuring live bands and delicious pub food.
Another area not to miss is Osborne Village, located on the other side of the Osborne Street bridge from Broadway or an inexpensive cab ride from either The Inn at the Forks or The Delta. Also filled with local shops and restaurants, this area is beloved by Winnipeggers and visitors alike. The Village is full of things to do, from breakfast until the wee hours of the morning. Start your day out like a true Winnipegger and have breakfast at Stella’s (166 Osborne). Also a lunch and dinner spot, Stella’s is legendary for their awesome all-day breakfast, featuring in-house made jam and the infamous Mexican Breakfast. Shop the street to find clothing, shoes, music and collectibles. Lunch is a guaranteed hit at either Burrito del Rio (433 River) or Spicy Noodle House (102 Osborne). Dinner can be had at Fude (102 Osborne), for higher priced eclectic regionally inspired grub, Wasabi (121 Osborne), a popular gourmet local sushi chain, or La Bamba (222 Osborne), for authentic Mexican offerings. Hit up The Toad in the Hole (112 Osborne), a pub near and dear to Winnipeggers’ hearts for its great vibe and deliciously greasy pub food. You’ll find local music downstairs from The Toad at The Cavern and a dance party next door at The Green Room (108 Osborne). Late night pizza at Little Pizza Heaven (120 Osborne) or Papa George’s (93 Osborne) is an absolute must.
If you feel like some post-conference relaxing, head to Boa Lounge (177 Lombard Avenue). Boa is a cool little lounge, with couches for relaxing, big open space, but still has a dance floor. There is a dress code at Boa. Another more casual place for dancing is Whiskey Dix (436 Main Street), a country themed bar playing all your top-40 dance hits. If you are more in the mood for a pub-celebration, The Yellow Dog (386 Donald Street) is a local favourite, featuring great pub food (the perogies are highly recommended) and a quirky atmosphere.