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C M Y K Page D6 WINNIPEG FREE PRESS • SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2012 tourismwinnipeg.com TOP TEN WAYS TO ROMANCE YOUR LOVED ONE 1. Book an exotic theme suite at Mariaggi Hotel, one of the world's top 10 romantic hotels according to a TripAdvisor list based on traveller's reviews. C M Y K Page D8 Winnipeg Free press • saturday, January 7, 2012 IT'S MANITOBA TIME T he holidays are over but you haven't gone quietly into that Silent Night. Good thing. You have so much left to do – and you don't even have to leave our home province to do it. We offer these amazing experiences for you to add to your Manitoba winter bucket list. Bucket lists inspire people to do the things they've always wanted to do. While the phrase originates from taking action before you "kick the bucket," we suggest a lighter approach. Toss off the blankets. Embrace winter, embrace new experiences and embrace the moment. It's Manitoba Time – make the most of yours. Winter Skies Find yourself under Aurora's spell at Churchill's new Northern Studies Centre. "We expect a peak of aurora activity in 2012-2013," says Michal Goodyear, the cen- tre's executive director. This is the height of a solar cycle that won't come around again for another 75-80 years, says Goodyear, and Churchill is one of the best spots on Earth to witness this stunning light show. The Aurora and Astronomy is offered February 16 -21, 2012 and March 1- 6, 2012. Learn more about everything Aurora, from folklore passed through the generations to the most recent scientific findings. www.churchillscience.ca I wish I had a river I could skate away on... Joni Mitchell, we wish you were in Winnipeg. A day on the River Trail might make things look a bit brighter. Five new warming huts will grace the Guinness World Record-holding skating trail this year including one designed by renowned architect, Frank Gehry. Skate, sled or walk along the frozen Assiniboine River and take in some of the special events planned for the Assiniboine Credit Union River Trail. On January 13, from 6 to 8 p.m., join Trail by Fire, complete with entertainment from fire spinners and more. www.rivertrail.ca Festival du Voyager tipples and treats If your bucket list includes recognition for sprouting winning facial hair, the Festival is your event. Enter to win the Voyageur Beard (wild and woolly) or Novelty (groomed beard and/or moustache) categories. All that facial hair could now, you can still plan a fall trip to Churchill to see the bears in one of the most accessible places in the world. An ice way to spend a day Many Manitoba Master Angler fish are caught throughout the winter months. And if catching a Master isn't enough on its own, how would you like to add winning $40,000 to your list? It's the top prize in the Dauphin Lake ice fish- ing tournament www.originalice- fishingcontest.com. The Dauphin derby prize is $10,000 (2012 info not online yet, last year's tournament/ derby happened in March). Falcon Lake's Winter Fish-Off also takes place in March, with $10,000 to the winner. www.winterfishoff.com. www.manitobamonsters.com Adventures for Kids Skate the newly expanded duck pond at Assiniboine Park, and follow up with a hot chocolate in the new Qualico Family Centre's Park Cafe. Thrills and chills Add these Manitoba experiences to your winter Bucket List get a bit sticky from sampling maple taffy on snow – one of the February 17-26 event's signature experiences. Manitobans – by the address on your driver's license or in spirit – should also imbibe in a Caribou on Ice, a fortified wine served in a glass made of ice, only available at Festival's Snow Bar in Voyageur Park. www.festivalvoyageur.mb.ca Igloo slumber party If the best way to learn is by doing, you'll be an expert after one weekend. For many years, Jill Oakes and Rick Riewe have taught the art of winter survival and igloo construction to students in their weekend workshops. The workshop is on the move due to damage from flooding at the former site at Delta Marsh Field Station. Oakes and Riewe provide every- thing you need, including caribou hides to bed down on in your igloo on Saturday night. Two weekend dates to choose from: January 27-29 or February 3-5. For more information and to register for this University of Manitoba program, e-mail jill_oakes@umanitoba.ca or call (204) 474-7352. Jet to Bears Some Manitobans may have thought they'd died and gone to heaven when they learned of the return of the Winnipeg Jets. Give yourself a pinch, and you'll realize you still have time to take in a NHL game. While tickets are difficult to come by, a limited number of seats are available on a game-by-game basis on the third Saturday of each month. After completing an online ballot at WinnipegJets.com/tickets, fans will be randomly chosen and provided a password to use on a private page at ticketmaster.ca to purchase seats. If you score a ticket, you'll see another bucket list item highlighted at the game. Travel Manitoba is running a contest for a trip to Churchill's Nanuk Lodge. The Jet to Bears contest is promoted at each Winnipeg Jets home game until the end of the season. You can also enter via www.travelmanitoba.com/ JetToBears. While the polar bears are on their sea ice hunting grounds Stay warm in the colourful set- ting of the Manitoba Children's Museum. January 8 is your last opportunity to see Eaton's Fairytale Vignette Display at the museum. Build an inukshuk using blocks of coloured ice or try your hand at burling (a combination of curling and bowling) during family-focused events weekends along the As- siniboine Credit Union River Trail. Voyageurs will be leading activities from the site at The Forks on January 21 and 22. Witness adventure onstage January 13-15 with The Last Tree of Rapa Nui at the Manitoba Theatre for Young People. The show is both an environmental musical and an inspiring story. Who built the stat- ues that dot this island, and what happened to the trees? For more information on all there is to do in Manitoba, visit www.travelmanitoba.com or call 1-800-665-0040. UPCOMING EVENTS JANUARY 10 - Manitoba Chamber Orchestra presents Scott Yoo Guest Conductor, Westminster United Church www.themco.ca JANUARY 11 - Steinbach Arts Council presents Old Concepts to Modern Art and Creating Memories www.steinbachartscouncil.ca JANUARY 12 and 14 - NHL Hockey Winnipeg Jets vs San Jose Sharks (12), and Winnipeg Jets vs New Jersey Devils (14), MTS Centre www.nhl.com JANUARY 13 - Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra presents Mozart: Sinfornia Concertante in E-Flat Major, Centennial Concert Hall www.wso.ca JANUARY 15 - Prairie Vision Arts Council presents Blue Hawaii Performance and Supper, Melita Strand Theatre www.melitamb.ca Visit www.manitobahot.com for updates on other exciting Manitoba events. Enjoy a fabulous stay at THEFORTGARRY hotel in downtown Winnipeg with bEdandbrEakfast Enjoy a fabulous stay at THEFORTGARRY hotel in downtown Winnipeg with bEdandbrEakfast B Take a bite out of the city Diversity, talent and value in one place "Tell me what you eat, and I'll tell you who you are." - Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1755- 1826) rillat-Savarin, a foodie from a time before there were foodies, would have a hard time figuring out what it means to be a Winnipegger. We are Italian, French, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Greek, Indian, Mexican, Japanese, Vietnamese, Ethiopian and more. Perhaps three in one day, if you take in breakfast, lunch and dinner. "Not only do we have a full spectrum of ethnic choices to indulge in, within the last few years, the people preparing the food have become some of the most skilled and visionary in Canada, if not the world," says Brandon Boone, Editor-in-Chief of Flavours magazine. "Right now, Winnipeggers are enjoying a perfect culinary trifecta – diversity, talent and value – that would give the usual Canadian foodie destinations a real run for their money," says Boone. But where should you begin? This story includes more than a few suggestions. But in a city with more than a thousand restaurants, it's worth taking a few chances on your own. Try that new eatery down the street, or finally step inside the burger joint you've driven past countless times. Best bets for breakfast At The Tallest Poppy, fresh, local ingredients are always on the menu. Pull up one of the mismatched chairs and fill up on creative offerings, like scrambled egg spring rolls and crispy maple pepper bacon. If it's Sunday, don't miss brunch where everything is served family style. Every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Fort Garry Hotel serves a legendary brunch. Hot selections include bacon, house-made sausage, French toast, hash browns, and eggs Benedict. Brunch also features a chef's station with fresh waffles, omelettes and carved meats. Save room for dessert – there's a chocolate fountain, ice cream station, dainties, truffles and more. If you're looking for something to grab on the go, pick up a sticky bun from Jonnies Sticky Buns, the small bun bakery at 941 Portage Avenue is celebrating its one-year anniversary serving up sweet and savoury creations from banana nut to chocolate chunk buns. Continue on your culinary adventure for the city's best buns with a visit to one of two Tall Grass Prairie Bakery locations, 859 Westminster Avenue or at The Forks, for a classic cinnamon bun made from stone-ground whole wheat flour from organic Manitoba grains. Lunch with punch For lunch, head just outside downtown to the multicultural neighbourhood of the West End. At Café Dario, the chef's Colombian roots are on display. Try a prix fixe, three- course feast of dishes like lobster ceviche, lamb lollipops coated in mole sauce and spicy pork tenderloin. Or check out the new Smoke's Poutinerie in the Exchange District, where the Canadian classic is elevated with toppings such as curry chicken or chipotle pulled pork. Consider a stop at the Winnipeg Free Press News Café, where discussions of current affairs are served up along with comfort food classics such as the Manitoba Club sandwich, featuring Bothwell aged cheddar and Winkler bacon. For a noontime bite with a retro- Winnipeg feel, settle into a red upholstered booth at Rae and Jerry's. The panelled walls are a perfect backdrop to a lunch of a chicken pot pie or roast turkey sandwich. Or visit Kelekis Restaurant on Main Street and sample the burgers, milkshakes and shoestring fries that have kept Winnipeggers topped up for more than 75 years. And what would a briefing on lunch be without a mention of a Salisbury Nip, the hamburger that has anchored the Salisbury House menu since 1931. Enjoy one at Sals on the Bridge at The Forks, where you take in a view of the Red River below. Where's the beef? Not at Boon Burger – and it won't be missed with choices like the grilled Buddha patty: organic chickpeas and brown rice, spiced with curry, onion, fresh ginger, garlic, fresh cilantro, and lemon juice – just one of the delectable selections on the menu at the all-vegan burger café at 79 Sherbrook Street. Dinner with a difference "Winnipeg is hitting its stride," says A.P. (Ben) Benton, editor of the online savourwinnipeg.com. "People are more in tune with eating local, and the industry is responding," says Benton. "We're seeing seasonal dishes emerge more on menus." Just one example of an advocate for locavore dining is Chef Ben Kramer of Diversity Foods, who heads up the kitchen at Elements in the new University of Winnipeg Science Complex (the building with the periodic table of elements on the outside) at 599 Portage. Fusion Grill was one of the forerunners in a return to regional cuisine, where local ingredients from bison to pickerel to wild rice are perfectly paired with Canadian wine choices by owner Scot McTaggart. Other new developments on the Winnipeg scene include a renovation at Bistro 7¼. The French dining experience on South Osborne has expanded to the space next door to 725 Osborne Street. A lounge and a room for private functions have been added to the mix. The menu by chef and owner Alex Svenne includes bistro favourites such as mussels served with fries and homemade mayonnaise, 2. Walk along the river and head to the beautifully lit St. Boniface Cathedral for a picture-perfect kiss. charcuterie boards and more. In Ferno's, at 312 Des Meurons in St. Boniface will open a second location soon at 414 Academy in the former Frenchway Restaurant and Lounge. Meanwhile, the Frenchway lives on at The Frenchway Café on Lilac, in the former Bread and Circuses location. Diners can also look forward to the opening of Promenade Café and Wine Bar this spring, located at the foot of Esplanade Riel overlooking the Red River and the new Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Benton also notes a new spicy trend on the Winnipeg food scene with the addition of a new Mexican eatery La Bamba Café & Lounge in the former Manhattan Bistro space at 285 Portage Avenue. Tacos are on the menu in St. James with the new JC's Tacos and More at 2615 Portage Avenue, a second location of the popular Henderson Highway restaurant. The heat has also been turned up with the rebranding of the former Dacquisto Restaurant to Los Chicos Restaurante y Cantina at 1715 Kenaston Boulevard. Deseo Bistro, the restaurant serving Latin and Spanish-influenced dishes is now at 696 Osborne Street. Or try Segovia at 484 Stradbrook Avenue for sensational Spanish-style tapas, including Berkshire pork belly with hot mustard aioli or elk tartare with tandoori hollandaise. Sensational snacks Stop in at Morden's Chocolates – a Winnipeg institution for more than 50 years and makers of the award-winning Russian Mint. In the Exchange District, don't miss the cake-pop-like cakettes or a cupcakes found at Cake-ology. Further indulge your sweet tooth with the artisanal chocolates of Chocolatier Constance Popp at 1853 Portage Avenue, including the award-winning Manitobar, made with Manitoba Harvest hemp seed, Ecofarm sunflower seeds, John Russell lemon honey and Manitoba flax. Not only delicious, it's also a source of omega-6, omega-3 and fibre. Healthy options also taste great at Fresh Café, where you can sip fresh squeezed juices and smoothies made to order at 775 Corydon Avenue. Decadent desserts Head to Baked Expectations for sky-high cakes all served in a cute and quirky '50s diner setting. Or share something sweet at Dessert Sinsations Café near the Winnipeg Art Gallery. Crepes stuffed and rolled like an ice cream cone at Osborne Street's Kawaii Crepe include divine offerings like the Third Wheel – a combination of peanut butter, Nutella and banana. Sign up for Tourism Winnipeg's e-newsletter at www.tourismwinnipeg.com/enews-signup and you could win tickets to Winnipeg's NHL hockey team! You'll get all the latest info about events, attractions and everything happening in Winnipeg. 3. Nibbling on rosehip and lavender- infused artisan chocolates from Chocolatier Constance Popp. 4. Explore a new neighbourhood together – make a dinner reservation, browse the shops and check out the attractions. 5. Silk, satin and lace undergarments from Eyelet Dove. 6. A candlelit dinner at chic Italian eatery Tre Visi. 7. Relaxing during a 90-minute full-body couples massage at Riverstone Spa. 8. Sip on bubbly by the glass using the self-serving sparkling wine system at Mona Lisa di Cantina. 9. Stargaze at "Manitoba Skies" now showing at the Planetarium. 10. Distinctive, sparkling jewellery from Bijou Treasures. UPCOMING EVENTS THROUGH MARCH 3 – Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre presents The Fighting Days at Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, John Hirsch Mainstage 204-942-6537, 1-877-446-4500, www.mtc.mb.ca FEBRUARY 12 – Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra presents L'Amour, Toujours, L'Amour, The Winnipeg Art Gallery; 204-632-5299 www.winnipegjazzorchestra.com FEBRUARY 14 – NHL Hockey Winnipeg Jets vs New York Islanders, MTS Centre; Ticketmaster 204-780-3333 www.nhl.com FEBRUARY 16 – Simple Plan, MTS Centre, Ticketmaster 204-780-3333 www.ticketmaster.ca FEBRUARY 17 – NHL Hockey Winnipeg Jets vs Boston Bruins, MTS Centre; Ticketmaster 204-780-3333, www.nhl.com FEBRUARY 17-18 – Manitoba Theatre for Young People presents Offensive Fouls, Shaw Performing Arts Centre; 204-942-8898, www.mtyp.ca FEBRUARY 17-18 – Mardi Gras, Winnipeg Convention Centre; 204-957-4535 www.winnipegmardigras.com FEBRUARY 17-18 – Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra presents American Masters, Centennial Concert Hall; 204-949-3999 www.wso.ca FEBRUARY 17-26 – Festival du Voyageur, Voyageur Park, St. Boniface; 204-233-2556 www.heho.ca FEBRUARY 19 – NHL Hockey Winnipeg Jets vs Colorado Avalanche, MTS Centre; Ticketmaster 204-780-3333 www.nhl.com FEBRUARY 20 – Winnipeg Children's Museum Franco-Fun Day, 204-924-4000 www.childrensmuseum.com FEBRUARY 23-MARCH 11 – Prairie Theatre Exchange presents Altar Boyz; 204-942-5483, www.pte.mb.ca FEBRUARY 24 – The Winnipeg Art Gallery presents Art & Soul - Après Ski; 204-789-1760, www.wag.ca Visit www.manitobahot.com for updates on other exciting Manitoba events. rates from$129. www.for tgarryhotel.com rates from$129. www.for tgarryhotel.com facebook.com/travelmanitoba l c a n t s e B e e v WATCH FOR IT'S MANITOBA TIME In the TRAVEL SECTION of each Saturday! C M Y K Page D8 Winnipeg Free press • saturday, January 14, 2012 IT'S MANITOBA TIME effects, from the nagging stiffness in your neck to your less-than-glowing complexion. It's time for a holiday from your holiday. Fortunately, Manitobans have access to some of the world's best spa treatments and soul-nurturing settings to rehabilitate the partied-out. Slip on a robe and slippers and reach a new level of post-holiday Manitoba time. A spa treatment can be one component of a low-key Winnipeg weekend. Continue your experience with a relaxing meal at one of the city's many restaurants, from a homey breakfast at The Tallest Poppy to an array of Spanish-style tapas at Segovia for dinner. W Ten Spa A true spa experience is more than just getting your nails done or having a massage, says Ten Spa Director Elena Zinchenko. "Once you're here, we don't want you to think any more. We want every minute to be special and perfect," she says of the spa located on the 10th floor of the Hotel Fort Garry. While it has a European tradition, the therapeutic treatments are designed for Manitobans and the challenges brought by a climate of hot summers and cold winters. Ten's Custom Facial is just one example. It features skin analysis, custom microdermabrasion, an oxygenated face mask, hydrating hand treatment, task specific eye and custom-blended face masks, strategic massage, and more. Zinchenko advises that you give yourself the gift of time for your spa experience. "You could spend the day here; take advantage of the therapeutic steam room before a treatment. You'll benefit more, especially if you're coming in from a -30° day. The spa's signature treatment is the Hamam, a traditional Turkish bathing ritual developed thousands of years ago. www.tenspa.ca Solstice Spa The Solstice Spa at The Elkhorn Resort, Spa & Conference Centre is a wellness spa, says Stephanie Picard, operations manager at the resort located near Riding Mountain National Park, approximately a 2.5 hour drive from Winnipeg. "It's a pristine setting, something we try to reflect in the products we use," says Picard of the spa's use of vegan-friendly, organic and natural products wherever possible. While you might want to centre your visit on spa relaxation, you'll find plenty of other opportunities for replenishing your spirit at the resort, from watching for wildlife while cross-country skiing or snowshoeing along the trails. The spa has a new line up of treatments for the New Year, from alternative therapy including reflexology, Shiatsu massage, and Thai hot stem massage, where bundles of herbs are moistened and steamed before being rolled on your body to help ease tension and nourish the skin. From the Far East, you can move closer to home to try a Great Canadian Mud Wrap, where mineral- rich mud blankets your body before it (and hopefully your troubles) is washed away. There's also the Clear Lake Cleanse, a detoxifying treatment using rosehips and juniper berry essential oils in a heated body wrap. All Solstice spa treatments include the use of the Equinox Mineral Pool, steam rooms and Swiss showers. The mineral pool at Solstice uses natural crystals found 3,000 feet below the Canadian Prairies. These provide essential elements that work together to help increase circulation, Enjoy a fabulous stay at THEFORTGARRY hotel in downtown Winnipeg with bEdandbrEakfast rates from$129. www.for tgarryhotel.com Minnedosa Minor Hockey is proud to present 6th Annual promote healing and regeneration of the skin and warm muscles before your treatment, says Picard. It's good that the prairie is giving back, as it can do a number on our skin – "there's a windburn "mask" in Manitoba: a redness to the forehead, nose and cheeks that you don't see anywhere else," she says. The quiet of a spa paired with invigorating outdoor experiences are a great way to begin the new year. "You're a new person every time you leave the spa," says Picard. www.elkhornresort.mb.ca Men's Division Ladies' Division Youth Division 4 on 4 No Goalies 2 – 15 Minute Periods k February 18th & 19th, 2012 Minnedosa, Manitoba e e n a n d i l l l Ten Spa Spa la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la Rebound from the season with made-in-Manitoba spa solutions hile you may have closed the book on the season's celebrations, your body may still be dealing with its Israel, which is known for its many therapeutic benefits. Use of the pool is free with any spa treatment, says Wood, and often people arrive to enjoy the tub with friends or as couples, before moving on to individual treatments. While you stay in your suit for the pool, Wood addresses another common concern for first- time spa clients – the unease that may arrive with removing layers of winter clothes. "Everything is to your comfort level, and you're always draped throughout treatments. We want you to feel relaxed and leave rejuvenated." Imbibed in too many cocktails over the holiday season? Recover with a Revitalizing Glacial Cocktail with this treatment involving gentle exfoliation, massage and a marine algae wrap with menthol to ease tension and relieve stress. www.urbanoasismineralspa.com Riverstone Spa at The Forks The Riverstone Spa has worked to include the setting of the spa into their signature treatments, from the earth tones in the decor to the heritage of the early peoples who gathered at The Forks. "There's so much history here and we want to honour it," says Spa Director Janice Colatruglio. Hot river stones are used in many of their treatments, including the Riverstone Signature Indigenous Hot Stone Massage. It offers a respectful sample of Aboriginal traditions, from sage and cedar used to cleanse and purify to covering the client with a star quilt. "We worked with people from [Winnipeg's] Thunderbird House to develop this unique experience, incorporating items that are part of treatments used in Aboriginal culture" says Colatruglio. The spa also offers "escape" packages. One of Colatruglio's most recommended is the Tranquility Escape, as it combines a few treatments and the client can receive head-to-toe treatments without having to leave the comfort of a private room with a heated spa bed. www.riverstonespa.ca UPCOMING EVENTS JANUARY 15 – Has been set as a Provincial Learn to Ski & Snowboard Day by seven of the largest ski and snowboard areas in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Special offers at Asessippi Ski Area & Resort, Holiday Mountain, Mission Ridge, Stony Mountain, Table Mountain, Thunderhill Ski Club and Wapiti Ski area. Go to www.asessippi.com/press for details. JANUARY 13-15 – Winnipeg Wellness Expo, Winnipeg Convention Centre www.wellnessexpo.com JANUARY 16 – The Rankin Family in Concert PW Enns Centennial Concert Hall, Winkler www.winklerconcerthall.ca JANUARY 17 – Countryfest: Neil McCoy, Brandon's Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium 204-728-9510, www.wmca.ca JANUARY 17-19 – Manitoba Ag Days, Brandon's Keystone Centre www.agdays.com JANUARY 18 – Portage & District Arts Centre presents Reel Event, Cinema Centre Theatre Portage la Prairie www.portageartscentre.ca SolSTice Spa Urban Oasis Mineral Spa A retreat in the city, the Urban Oasis Mineral Spa at the Clarion is another place to rejuvenate after a busy holiday season. Spa Supervisor Jenna Wood recommends a soak in the mineral pool, followed by one of the spa's hydrating wrap treatments. The mineral waters contain Dead Sea Salt from waters of the Dead Sea in JANUARY 19 – Brandon's Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba presents Hovercraft www.agsm.ca JANUARY 19 - FEBRUARY 5 – Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre presents Master Playwright Festival: ShawFest 2012, various locations www. masterplaywrightfest.com Visit www.manitobahot.com for updates on other exciting Manitoba events. Proceeds towards the NEW Minnedosa Regional Events Centre Earlybird entry December 31, 2011 Early bird - $200.00 After Dec 31 - $250.00 skatethelake.ca or call For more info, go to 204-867-1942 CHECK OUT THE TRAVEL MANITOBA ONLINE EVENTS AT: www.winnipegfreepress.com/travel/travelmanitoba/ F u n f o r n w w w a a r d e . s k atethe l l F u l e r g l s lake.c a