downtownpeggy

Last Minute Father’s Day Ideas That You Can Find Downtown

Published on June 16, 2017June 19, 2017 by downtownpeggyLeave a comment

Father’s Day is this Sunday, June 18th and if you’re still having trouble figuring out where to take/what to buy your dad, take a look at some of these great ideas that I’m sure he’ll love!

Blacksmith Parlour

Located at 289 Garry Street, Blacksmith Parlour is the first of its kind in Canada specializing in men’s grooming needs.

Their staff offers a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere where men can receive a variety of services including hair removal and hand and foot treatments. They also use quality, industry leading products that enhance the personal hygiene and appearance of the modern man.

Enjoy a day out with your dad or purchase a gift certificate in store at their downtown location.

For more information about their services, visit blacksmithparlour.com.

Goldeyes vs St. Paul Saints

The Goldeyes play the series finale against the St. Paul Saints at Shaw Park on Father’s Day! Bring Dad to the ballpark for an afternoon of Goldeyes baseball. The first 1,000 fans will receive a Goldeyes cap courtesy of Boston Pizza. Plus, after the game you can bring Dad on the field to play catch!

For tickets, visit goldeyes.com/tickets/.

Dinner at Prairie 360

Prairie 360, located at 83 Garry Street, is cooking up something delicious for Father’s Day this Sunday. Celebrate with one of the best views in town!

Book a dinner reservation today!

Dad’s Special Day at the Children’s Museum

Calling all dads! The Children’s Museum is offering half-price admission for all dads on Father’s Day. Dads and their children can explore the galleries together and make memories that will last a lifetime. It’ll be a dad-tastic day!

Happy Father’s Day!

See you downtown,

Top 5 Ways to Celebrate Canada Day 150 in Downtown Winnipeg

Published on June 15, 2017June 15, 2017 by downtownpeggyLeave a comment

Every July 1^st is special as we celebrate Canada Day and this year as we celebrate the 150^th anniversary of Confederation, Canada Day holds extra meaning.

If you’re looking for ideas on how you can celebrate Canada Day in Downtown Winnipeg, read on!

201 Portage Canada Day Living Maple Leaf

Portage & Main, 8am-10am

Tens of thousands of people have come together over the past years to create the Canada Day Living Flag in several locations around the downtown on Canada Day.

This year, the annual Canada Day event takes over the iconic Winnipeg intersection of Portage & Main from 8am-10am on Saturday, July 1.

Everyone is invited to start your Canada Day with the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ in the heart of Winnipeg as together we create a living maple leaf. This family-friendly event is open to everyone and we know you’ll enjoy being a part of this special event! The Dirty Catfish Brass Band will once again entertain the crowd, plus we look forward to hosting some special guests, so come for 8am to dance and enjoy!

The first 2,500 people will receive an official 201 Portage Canada Day Living Maple Leaf shirt and we ask that you please wear a red to this event.

Click here for more information and how you can participate!

Winnipeg Goldeyes vs. Sioux Falls

Shaw Park – 1 Portage Ave E., 4pm

The Winnipeg Goldeyes host the Sioux Falls Canaries on Canada’s 150^th Birthday at the ballpark with a special start time of 4pm.

Via Rail Canada will also be giving away a train trip for two to Jasper, Alberta.

Come and cheer on your Winnipeg Goldeyes, the 2016 American Association Champions! Check out their website for ticket information.

Canada Day at The Forks

The Forks, all day/evening

The Forks has been a meeting place for over 6,000 years, so you can bet the Canada 150 celebrations on site will be spectacularly festive!

Tons of free, family-friendly programming is on the line-up with five stages offering entertainment all day long under the canopy, on the barge, in the skatepark, Oodena Celebration Circle and of course, headliners at the Festival Stage. A stunning fireworks spectacle will cap off the day of celebrations at 11PM.

Bonus: Bike valet will be on site all day for you to store your bikes, helmets and gear.

Check out The Forks website for more details about Canada 150 celebrations.

Canada Day Rooftop Party at the MET – June 30

The Metropolitan Entertainment Centre, 9:30 pm – 2:00 am

Come in your best white outfit and kick off Canada Day Long Weekend at the MET on June 30th.

This all-white affair themed party will start at 9:30 pm and feature samples from Torque Brewing and music by Jamil the DJ, winner of the Winnipeg Night Life Award for DJ of the year!

You purchase tickets today by clicking here.

Carbone Block Party – June 30 and July 1

Carbone – 260 St. Mary Avenue, 8pm-1am

You’re invited to the second annual Canada Day Music Festival & Block Party at Carbone Downtown.

There’s a 500 person Beer Garden, live DJs, Live Bands and of course, great pizza and you’ll find it all in the entire block behind their building.

Entry is free before 10pm and $10 after.

Check out their Facebook page for more details and updates!

Hope to see you at one of these exciting events to celebrate Canada 150!

See you downtown,

Bring Your Furry Friends out to the Ball Game!

Published on June 13, 2017June 16, 2017 by downtownpeggyLeave a comment

The Winnipeg Goldeyes and the Winnipeg Veterinary Care Group are proud to present the third annual “Bark in the Park” night at Shaw Park this Saturday, June 17th as the Goldeyes take on the St. Paul Saints at 6:00 p.m.

Bark in the Park is a special dog-friendly baseball game where fans are invited to bring their dogs to watch a Goldeyes game. This year’s game is taking things to the next level with expanded ballpark seating, plus an official Guinness World Records™ title attempt for Most Dogs Attending a Sport Event! The current world record is 1,222 dogs achieved by the Chicago White Sox in 2016.

Bark 2015 IMG_8434 Photo Credit Pawsh Dog

Bark 2015 IMG_8466 Photo Credit Pawsh Dog

Bark In The Park-Jul 19 Jeff Miller-WG_99369

This year’s “Bark in the Park” game will feature a special pre-game Pooch Parade, where fans and their pooches get to parade around the field before the game. There will also be a number of other fun things to do including the Pooch Smooch Cam, 7th Inning Fetch and entertainment by X-Treme Dogs.

Fans and their four-legged friends will enter Shaw Park through a special gate reserved just for them and can enjoy a designated “Puppy Potty” with real-grass sod and “Puppy Pools” for pooches to dip their paws by the registration tent.

Tickets for “Bark in the Park” are on sale now! Each ticket includes admission for one person and one dog, plus a complimentary “treat bag” (while supplies last). A portion of ticket sales will also be donated to the Winnipeg Humane Society.

To purchase tickets in advance, visit ticketmaster.ca or the Shaw Park box office.

Come join in on this exciting event that celebrates the pets we love and help break a Guinness world record!

CONTEST ALERT! I have 2 pairs of “Bark in the Park” tickets to giveaway! Share this blog post and you will be entered to a pair of tickets (2 people and 2 pups).

See you downtown,

Top Downtown Winnipeg Locations for Wedding Photos

Published on May 29, 2017May 29, 2017 by downtownpeggyLeave a comment

Summer wedding season is right around the corner. Your social media feeds will soon be caked with photos of blushing brides and wedding hashtags.

If you or someone you know has upcoming nuptials in the heart of Winnipeg here are some great downtown locations for wedding photos courtesy of my friends over at Black & Gold Photography:

Legislative Grounds

This Winnipeg staple is really popular for wedding photos so we suggest booking in advance. This will give you access to the main indoor staircase as well as some of the upper floor hallways and pillar window areas. Outside you can pose in front of the fountain or have your bridal party spaced out over the carefully landscaped greenery.

Hydro Building

If you want a more modern feel for your wedding photos we suggest booking the hydro building for a one hour timeslot. This building has a lot of natural light, a black rainfall backdrop and chic red leather couches. The glass stairwell and mural in front of Ruby’s Restaurant can also be used for a different backdrop to your photos.

The Forks

There are several indoor and outdoor locations at the Forks to show off those freshly celebrated “I Do’s”. Ride to the top of the market elevator for a cityscape backdrop or walk hand in hand along the red river side. At just the right angle you can also catch the Esplanade Riel Bridge or beautiful architecture of the Human Rights Museum in the foreground.

Via Rail

If the forecast calls for rain on your big day no worries. Via rail’s indoor main lobby offers a stunning photo area with high ceilings and structural design. The outside tunnel under the train track bridge is decked with a cobblestone road. This rough texture looks great with formal wedding attire.

Millennium Library Park

A small patch of serenity is found behind the Millennium Library. Who wouldn’t want the emptyful structure with cascading water and fog in their wedding photos? This location is a great place to choose if you want some flowers, plants and green for your downtown photos.

These are only a few of our favorite downtown wedding photo locations. Of course there are some non-traditional locations but that’s something to discuss with your wedding photographer.

Still need a wedding photographer? Black & Gold Photography would love to meet with you! For more information about their services, visit www.blackandgoldphotography.com and tell Joel & Cheryl that Peggy sent you ;).

See you downtown,

Top Highlights of the 12th Annual Manito Ahbee Festival

Published on May 25, 2017June 16, 2017 by downtownpeggyLeave a comment

The 12th annual Manito Ahbee Festival presented by Casinos of Winnipeg was once again a successful celebration of Indigenous music, arts and culture. This year the Festival reached new and exciting milestones that included the Kick Off & Lighting of the Sacred Fire, the Indigenous Music Conference, MTS Youth Education Day, the Indigenous Music Awards and the International Pow Wow.

Here are the top highlights of the 12th Annual Manito Ahbee Festival:

MTS Youth Education Day

A thousand students from across the city filled the University of Winnipeg RecPlex for MTS Youth Education Day where they learned about the Seven Sacred Teachings (love, respect, courage, honesty, wisdom, humility and truth) and Indigenous tradition, culture and art.

EducationDay_AdamCollier056 — Photo courtesy of Mike Sudoma

The Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Northern Cree

At the Indigenous Music Awards Show, twenty awards were given to the top indigenous talent in categories ranging from rock to traditional Pow Wow and included the Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Northern Cree.

The Northern Cree singers are one of the most respected and influential groups on the Pow Wow trail and have won hundreds of championship signing titles from every major Pow-Wow including the Gathering of Nations Pow Wow in Albuquerque, New Mexico and the Julyamsh Pow Wow in Post Falls, Idaho.

NorthernCreeGroupShot — Photo Courtesy of Mike Sudoma

Chante Speidel Crowned as New Miss Manito Ahbee Youth Ambassador

The title of Miss Manito Ahbee Youth Ambassador honours the memory of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls and every four years an Indigenous woman, who was taken much too soon, is honoured by the Manito Ahbee Festival

This year the Festival crowned Chante Mikwan Caroline Speidel from Saptoweyak Cree Nation Standing Rock Sioux Tribe as the new Miss Manito Ahbee Youth Ambassador.

jendoerksen_manitoahbee-259 — Photo courtesy of Jen Doerksen

Honouring the Founder & Visionary of the Manito Ahbee Festival

The Pow Wow community honoured the founder and visionary of the Manito Ahbee Festival, Lisa Meeches, who is also set to receive the Order of Manitoba on July 13, with a dance, offering her healing, support and well wishes.

The Order of Manitoba honours any current or former longtime resident of Manitoba who has demonstrated a high level of individual excellence and achievement.

BuioAssis_Kick_Off-137 — Photo Courtesy of Buio Assis

First Place Art Challenge Winner

The Art Challenge was an exciting competition where artists painted live before an audience during the International Pow Wow. The competition consisted of two rounds of 20 painters where each participant was given 30 minutes to produce a painting.

Patrick Ross took home first place in the Art Challenge competition for his incredible painting of Indigenous art.

Manito Ahbee 1 — Photo courtesy of Jen Doerksen

If you didn’t get a chance to attend the Manito Ahbee Festival this year, don’t worry, the Festival will be back next year from May 16 – 20, 2018!

See you downtown,

Top 7 Things to Do in Downtown Winnipeg This Summer

Published on May 25, 2017May 29, 2017 by downtownpeggyLeave a comment

Here in Winnipeg, we know that summer certainly doesn’t last forever and that getting the most out of the few summer months, starts with planning early and enjoying the beautiful outdoors.

The Downtown Winnipeg BIZ offers a variety of things to do for every age, which will give you the opportunity to meet the community, have fun and discover new or hidden spots. Whether you’re looking to enjoy the tastes and flavours of a diverse selection of restaurants, dance the afternoon away, get fit in the park or spend quality time doing family-friendly activities, downtown is definitely the place to be this summer!

Take a look at the top seven things to do in downtown Winnipeg this summer:

Downtown Farmers’ Market

Here’s a chance to get all your favourite, fresh and local items. With over 70 unique vendors, the Downtown Farmers’ Market provides a variety of fruits and vegetables, baking, preserves, meat, cheese, crafts, jewelry, and other food and artisan items.

Markets run every Thursday from June to September at Manitoba Hydro Place from 10 am – 3 pm.

Canada Day Living Maple Leaf

As we celebrate Canada’s 150^th birthday this year, Winnipeg will come together once again and for the first time ever, create the Canada Day Living Maple Leaf. This annual event has become a multicultural mosaic and snapshot of how welcoming, inclusive and accessible our downtown community truly is.

Join in on this free event on July 1st at the Portage & Main intersection from 8 am – 10 am.

Downtown Tours

Discover downtown like never before with six unique tours that showcase the incredible selection of restaurants downtown has to offer. Learn more about downtown’s history while also getting to see the new developments that are changing the city’s core.

Tours include the Breakfast Club Tour, the Moveable Feast Tour, the Patio Crawl Tour, the Tap In Tour, the Wine Tour and the Downtown Flashback Tour.

Special tours to look out for this year are the Our Doors Open edition of the Breakfast Club Tour, the Nuit Blanche edition of the Moveable Feast Tour, and the exciting new partnership with local downtown art galleries for the June 23^rd Wine Tour.

Tours are run at various locations and times. For more information about Downtown Tours and to register, visit downtownwinnipegtours.com.

Downtown Fitness in the Park

Fitness in the Park has attracted thousands of office workers and residents who want to include some much-needed activity and relaxation amidst the hustle and bustle of their everyday lives.

This year Downtown Fitness in the Park will kick off on June 1^st and run until August 31^st. The series will offer free yoga, Zumba, Pilates and boot camp classes from noon – 12:45 pm at different downtown locations.

Take a look at the complete Fitness in the Park schedule and start planning your workouts today!

Downtown Concert Series

Winnipeg is definitely a festival-friendly city and the Downtown Concert Series brings that energy to the city centre. This year, free concerts will be held on the Cityplace terrace, on Edmonton Street presented by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and at Portage Place from June – August. Concerts will run from noon – 12:45 pm and will feature new local artists and returning favourites.

A complete list of artists, dates, and locations can be found on the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ website.

Movies on Memorial

Hundreds of Winnipeggers voted online to determine what the 2017 Movies on Memorial theme would be. After calculating all the votes, 90s favourites was our winner!

Enjoy 90s favourites, including The Little Rascals, Spice World, Jumanji and others, every Tuesday in August at Memorial Park. Movies start at dusk.

Manyfest

Downtown’s biggest street festival returns this September 8 – 10 on Broadway and Memorial Blvd. Manyfest brings an energetic atmosphere of arts, entertainment and delicious cuisine and since its inception, has attracted well over 250,000 people to the heart of the city. This open, outdoor showcase of talent, community and healthy living is a must-attend event that brings the incredible summer to a close.

Enjoy your all-time favourites, including Food Truck Wars, live concerts, MiniFest Kids’ Zone, the Wine & Beer Garden, Farmers’ Market, movies and so much more!

For more information about any of these events, please visit downtownwinnipegbiz.com.

See you downtown this summer!

Peggy’s Squad Contest Winners

Published on May 17, 2017May 23, 2017 by downtownpeggyLeave a comment

I had such an amazing time on the Breakfast Club Tour with my Peggy’s Squad Contest Winners!

We had the opportunity to visit three incredible downtown restaurants, including Prairie 360, Blaze Restaurant at the Delta Winnipeg Hotel, and Café Bella. Each stop provided us with a delicious breakfast/brunch feature, which we all really enjoyed.

We also discovered and learned more about downtown Winnipeg’s history at Upper Fort Garry!

Be sure to watch out for the next Peggy’s Squad contest coming soon!

See you downtown,