Top 5 things to do in Winnipeg this weekend
This weekend is all about great music and good beer, and if you want to get the best of both, you’re going to have to muster up some Friday night energy.
You have only a few more weekends left this year, so if you haven’t had an amazing one yet, you owe it to yourself to brave the cold and head out on Friday.
Try checking out Eagle Lake Owls and Haunter’s show, then end the night with a great dance party led by DJ Co-Op and recover with a documentary at Cinematheque on Saturday.
Happy weekend, Winnipeggers!
WHAT: MUSIC — Eagle Lake Owls at the Folk Exchange
When: Friday, Nov. 29 at 8 p.m.
Where: The Folk Exchange at 211 Bannatyne Ave.
Cost: $10 (advance tickets)
The oft-overlooked Folk Exchange is hosting a delightful acoustic set with Winnipeg’s Eagle Lake Owls on Friday.
The early show is the perfect excuse to put on your Sunday best (or a hoodie and jeans, folkies are easy) and enjoy a sweet night with some talented musicians.
Eagle Lake Owls have a great twangy, Prairie sound that sort of fits into the indie-folk crossover genre. Think an acoustic version of The Dodos or Sufjan Stevens.
The vocals are nothing short of incredible, and the show will be worth your trudge through the snow and crumpled $10 bill.
This is one you’ll want to pair with a few glasses of early wine, some patterned tights (guys, I don’t know what your equivalent to that would be) and people you love.
And if you’re not sold yet on the intimate venue and lovely sound of the band, I should let you know there is a cellist in the band. You can get all your hipster points in one adorable night.
WHAT: MUSIC — Haunter’s farewell show at The Windsor
When: Friday, Nov. 29 at 10 p.m.
Where: Windsor Hotel at 187 Garry St.
Cost: $10 at the door
If you’re feeling a little restless and more than a little thirsty after the Eagle Lake Owls show, take the 10 minute walk down to the Windsor for Haunter’s last show ever.
The Winnipeg indie staple is breaking up, which is absolutely terrible, but at least they are playing one last show.
Haunter is a bit more danceable with a grungy, sort of garage-rock sound. They’re like a softer, way more accessible mix of The Bokononists with a hint of The Weakerthans' Left and Leaving album.
Basically, they play the kind of Canadian indie music you’d expect to hear in the basement of a Winnipeg hotel on a cold night.
And if they’re not entirely your thing, DJ Co-Op (my most favourite city DJ!) will be leading a post-Haunter set dance party. He says he’ll be spinning some new wave and punk, so it should be loads of fun.
Plus, for $10 it’s a steal, you guys.
WHAT: DRINKS — Barley Brothers craft brewery
When: Friday, Nov. 29
Where: Barley Brothers at 655 Empress St.
Cost: About $5-$10 per beer
Barley Brothers craft brewery is holding its grand opening this weekend. The brewery has already been open for several weeks but all of their taps go on for the first time on Friday.
They have super affordable eats, and they will definitely be playing the Jets game. So if you haven’t checked it out yet, this weekend should see decent crowds.
On Saturday, the brewery is hosting an awards ceremony that will see the best beer made in Winnipeg crowned. The Brew Bombers hosted the first pro-am brewing competition over the past few months, and they’ll announce the winners around 7 p.m. on Saturday.
They’ll even have people giving talks about beer. If you find them boring, you can just drink more beer.
WHAT: FOOD — Brewer’s Beer Dinner at Mise
When: Friday, Nov. 29 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Mise Bistro 842 Corydon Ave.
Cost: $65 per ticket
Normally I don’t suggest going to do things that cost this much money, nor do I do things that cost this much money. The thing is though, this involves beer and good food so exceptions must be made.
Mise is hosting a Brewer’s Beer Dinner on Friday where a chef and brewer pair a bunch of craft beers with fancy food.
If you’re not familiar with it, Mise is that fancy restaurant on the edge of Little Italy that has a cute patio and puts wild rice in a lot of their dishes.
The event is being put on by the Winnipeg Brew Bombers who are hosting a pro-am beer challenge for local brewers this weekend. They have events going all weekend, with this one being the unquestionably most delicious.
The dinner has everything from maple chipotle salmon to BBQ pork ribs to a caramel crème brulee. There are also two dishes on the menu with wild rice because obviously.
It’ll be a cute date night where you can get medium-dressed up and learn some things about pairing beer with food.
WHAT: DANCE — Movember Gala at the Pyramid
When: Nov. 30 at 8 p.m.
Where: Pyramid Cabaret at 176 Fort St.
Cost: $20
Super exciting! That philanthropic-themed month where every handsome man in the city ruins his face with a moustache is finally coming to an end.
Lots of do-gooding has been done, and there’s one last hurrah on Saturday night.
The Pyramid is holding a Movember Gala that will raise money before the clock strikes midnight and the moustache month is over.
There will also be a moustache-judging contest, which you enter by showing up.
The Pyramid has been missing out on a lot of great acts since Union Sound Hall opened, and this is a rare opportunity to enjoy one of my favourite venues in the city.
WHAT: FILM — Oil Sands Karaoke documentary
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Where: Cinematheque at 100 Arthur St.
Cost: $9
It turns out not everything that comes out of Alberta’s oil sands is completely terrible. This weekend Cinematheque is showing one of the good things: a rad little documentary about a group of strangers who live in Fort McMurray and are really, really into karaoke.
From a nerdy truck driver to a local business owner who performs in drag, the film profiles a group of unusually awesome karaoke stars in the oil town.
For $9 you can check out the sweet little doc, and on Saturday night, Cinematheque is hosting its own karaoke event after the show.
