Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/958362
4 WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, SATURDAY MARCH 24, 2018 C A R M A N Breakaway Family Restaurant & Lounge Corner Hwys. #3 & #13, Carman, MB 204-745-6785 • All Day Breakfast Specials • Lunch & Dinner Specials • VLT Lounge Open to 2 a.m. Mon-Wed 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. ; Thurs-Fri-Sat 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. ; Sundays 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. HOURS: Carman, MB Exclusive manufacturer of grain drying equipment for new and existing Bins, Quonsets or Piles Email: info@allsize.com www.allsize.com Phone: 1-204-325-9457 READY TO MOVE HOMES Custom designed homes or built to your plans! • Cozy • Quiet • Comfortable • Secure lasting value Keith Barkman keith@kmconstruction.ca Cartwright, MB 204-529-2441 (c) 204-922-0982 Call or stop by to discuss your home building plans with us! Cus Cu www.winklergolfcourse.com FOURSOME WITH CART 400-15th Street, Winkler MB For Tee Time Call: (204) 325-7582 $ 160 Valid all week, one coupon per group. Not valid for tournaments Expires Sept 30. 2018 with this coupon Golf the Beautiful Winkler Centennial Golf Course TRY US, YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU DID! We carry a large selection of gently used clothing for the entire family! Twice as Nice consignment 582 Main St., Winkler • 204-325-9931 Actors Kathryn Kucharsky (top) and Rene Alarie (above) play murder mystery characters at Barbara Alarie's (above right) busy bed, breakfast and bistro. Photos by Darcy Finley Setting the Scene Bell Aura B&B hosts murder mysteries, yoga and more BY JENNIFER MCFEE F or those with an appetite for adventure, murder mysteries are on the menu at Bell Aura Bed, Breakfast and Bistro. As the Carman-based business nears its fourth anniversary, owner Barbara Alarie continues to expand its offerings. Visitors come from near and far to experience the cozy accommodations nestled inside the historic church built in 1898. With nine themed rooms, Bell Aura can sleep up to 24 people at a time. At breakfast time, Alarie creates a buffet feast for her guests, who range from single travellers and couples to social groups and sports teams. The bistro is now only available by appointment for group bookings, includ- ing diners who participate in murder mystery events. "For the murder mysteries, I have a list of topics that we've done or that we're familiar with, although you can practically get anything online. They select their dates, and I send them out a list of possibilities with a little blurb as to what it's about," Alarie explains. "After they choose which one they want, I send them out a package with invitations and character sketches. Then it's up to them to decide who is going to play what." Alarie recommends gathering a group of at least eight people, although she has accommodated smaller numbers. On the upper end, she has created mys- terious scenarios for groups as large as 34 people. "One time last year, there was a family that had stopped giving each other Christmas presents and birthday presents because everybody's got everything. Once a year, they have an adventure instead," she says. "So this time, their adventure was having a murder mystery here. They did The Last Train from Paris. I make the food, so I did a French meal for them." In keeping with the theme, Alarie transforms the B&B to reflect the story and time period. "We change the place into whatever the setting is. For instance, to make it into a train station, I got out all the old trunks and made a depot on the outside of the building," she says. "When people came in, they got their little package, which we called their ticket to travel. Then they went upstairs to their rooms to get into their cos- tumes. They came down another set of stairs into what was the waiting room on the train. From there they went into our dining room, which was the dining car. It was really lots of fun." The cost to participate in the murder mystery is $75 plus tax per person, which includes a five-course meal. Bell Aura hosts other culinary themes such as Mardi Gras or Ukrainian Christmas — basically, whatever the diners dream up. Alarie also takes book- ings for weddings, reunions, bridal showers, birthdays and other gatherings. "If there's a group that wants to do a June-in-January party or they want to do Alice in Wonderland or whatever else, then we just go with that theme. It's very theatrical and I really enjoy it. That's my artistic outlet," Alarie says. "They have to make arrangements ahead of time for the bistro to be open, and it doesn't matter what time of day it is. I recently did a 60th wedding anni- versary breakfast at 8 a.m. And on a recent Saturday night, we had a full house for a 60th birthday party. We did all the hors d'oeurves, and they brought in a jazz pianist. It was very nice." Adding to the activity menu, a yoga studio is located on the lower level, with two instructors who offer classes to the community. An upcoming yoga and self-care retreat will run from April 27-29. The B&B is also an ideal venue for workshops on everything from drum- making to scrapbooking to quilting. As well, in-house concerts continue to attract music lovers and musicians alike. ■ To keep up to date with all the happenings, visit Bell Aura's Facebook page or the website at www.bellaura.ca. With nine themed rooms, Bell Aura can sleep up to 24 people at a time. At breakfast time, Alarie creates a buffet feast for her guests, who range from single travellers and couples to social groups and sports teams.