Folklorama 2015

Have you ever wanted to travel the world in a night? I know it seems impossible, but bear with me here. For anyone not familiar with Winnipeg, we have a festival that runs for two weeks every August that allows you to do just that. Folklorama is a celebration of life and culture; it's the longest running multicultural festival of its kind in the world. Essentially, it allows you to experience the food, the life, the history, and more of over 40 cultures every summer. 

The festival is a staple of a Winnipeg summer. Year after year, I find myself visiting pavilions old and new. Year after year, I learn something new about Winnipeg's many people. I was lucky enough this year to hit five pavilions in one day. Are you ready to hear about my adventure? Well buckle up, because here we go!

UK Pavilion - 1770 King Edward St.

3:45 PM

My family history is closely tied to the UK. On both sides, I have English and Irish heritage respectively. I'm a huge fan of all things UK. The BBC, Benedict Cumberbatch, The Beatles, the food...


My first stop was the tea room. I chose the earl grey tea and a sample of the vegan chocolate cake, the custard tart, and an imperial cookie. My eyes were definitely bigger than my stomach. But oh how delicious it was. The cake was moist and chocolately (not a word but it needs to be), the imperial cookie literally melted in my mouth, and the tart had fresh berries all over it. With four more pavilions to go I would definitely need to pace myself better.

During the whole experience, I could almost pretend I was in a Jane Austen novel. I felt so proper sipping my tea from a fancy cup, pinky up. The ladies in the tea room were wonderful. Just about the nicest people I've ever met and so attentive. If you go, tell Lisa I sent you!

As I was finishing up, I noticed my elbows were on the table. Jane Austen would not be proud of me…

Hungaria Pavilion – 2055 Ness

5:15 PM

Next stop, Hungary! Leslie greeted me at the door and was the sweetest. She recommended the chimney cake which was new to the pavilion this year. I chose a cinnamon one and went to town. The soft, gooey pastry was still slightly warm and the sugar covering it was the perfect amount to satisfy my sweet tooth.

Of course, what’s Hungary without goulash? Well I wouldn’t know since I’d never tried it. I changed that quickly. Side note: did you know that it`s pronounced goo-yash and not goo-lash? I did not.   

The pavilion opened at 4:45 and when I got there at 5 the line for food was already around the side of the room. I think that tells you what to expect. Hint: it’s great.

On a screen at the front they had a PowerPoint playing on a loop that pointed out things and people that were from Hungary. I thought it was quite interesting. For example, did you know that the Pulitzer prize is named afterJoseph Pultizer, born in Hungary? Or how about the inventor of Excel, Charles Simonyi, having been born in Budapest? Pretty interesting if you ask me and a great touch to the pavilion. 

Slovenija Pavilion – 720 Alverstone

6:45PM

I rolled my way over to Slovenija for dinner. Bar none, this may have been my favorite stop of the night. Not to say it was better than the rest, but because Helen made it such a lovely experience for me. She greeted me at the door and led me around the cultural display. She then set me up with a sampler platter and the Ukrainian girl in me went nuts. Perfectly spiced pork sausage, coleslaw with a light vinaigrette dressing, potato salad to rival my mother’s and a crepe to top it all off. I knew I was in trouble; I was stuffed. So much for pacing myself…

The glass of white wine I had paired really well with what I'd chosen and was the perfect touch to cap off an extraordinary meal.

The entertainment consisted of lots of accordions which made me want to get up and dance pretty bad. I held back though, don't worry. I wasn't quite ready to grace the world with my Elaine Benes dance moves.

Oh, and I will also give five imaginary dollars to the first person who can correctly identify what is in the below picture. Hint: Some seriously cool Slovenian history.

Ethiopia Pavilion – 215 Selkirk Ave

8:15PM

From Europe we jetted off to Africa and landed in Ethiopia. I've been a huge fan of Ethiopian food since I worked in the West End. But come on, any time I am encouraged to eat with my hands I’m on board. I brought my best friend to this pavilion with me as she'd never experienced Ethiopian culture and frankly, I couldn't keep eating on my own. We shared the injera platter and destroyed it in minutes. If you've never tried Ethiopian, I’ll warn you it can be spicy, but trust me when I say the flavors are an explosion of delight in your mouth.

My favorite part about the pavilion was the coffee. I drink a lot of coffee in a day; 8 cups to be exact. So I know my coffee. They were brewing it fresh up at the front and the aroma was incredible. I highly recommend you try it if you can!

While I was stuffing my face, we watched the dancers on stage. The energy they have is incredible. If I only had 1/5 the energy and charisma they do, I'd be unstoppable. Please, I beg of you, go take in this pavilion. They put so much effort into making sure you have a great experience. GO!

German Pavilion – 121 Charles St.

9:45 PM

Folklorama is amazing for many reasons, but where else can you get from Ethiopia to Germany in under two minutes? Seriously, they are only two blocks apart. But since I'd eaten enough to feed an entire family of 5 by this point, I confess I drove to Germany. I know, for shame, for shame... I could have used the walk!

Now, I have a particular soft spot for the German pavilion because my friends and I have a tradition of going to the late night party every single year. We take a limo bus that’s how dedicated we are (safety first folks)! You could say I’m a veteran at this pavilion. I walked right up to the counter to order my food with pure confidence. Schnitzel please. Schnitzel with a side of Apple Strudel. There was no tort left for me by the time I arrived, but I've had it every other year and I highly recommend it as well. I was nice and split the apple strudel with my friends, who yes, had chosen the same night to take in the German Pavilion.

Hands down, the best part about this pavilion is how interactive it is with the audience during the entertainment. Everyone participates and I know the dances by heart now. I told you, we go every year. 

#tbt to the @germanpavilionwpg on Sunday! #folklorama46 #seeitall

A video posted by Melissa (@melissanicole14) on Aug 6, 2015 at 1:40pm PDT

**********************************************

I only managed to hit five pavilions in one day. Honestly, if I had more energy, and the stomach capacity, I would have gone to five more (although time definitely would not have permitted this). Learning about and experiencing cultures vastly different from my own is an eye opening experience. I highly recommend you take a trip around the world too. Folklorama runs until August 15th, so put on your party hats and start prepping your stomachs. You're in for a treat!

Now it's your turn; I want to know about your experiences. What pavilions did you see? What did you learn? But most importantly... what did you eat?

Folklorama Info:

Website

Instagram

Twitter

Facebook

Saying Goodbye to Take Me To The Pilot

If you've been around these parts for awhile you'll know I have some pretty talented friends who go by the name of Take Me To The Pilot. This past summer, they played their final show. 

Broadview opened and killed it as per usual, as did my favorite singer/songwriter east of Winnipeg, Nic Dyson. 

As the final song came to a close, it was a bittersweet moment. More than a few tears were shed and the love in the room was overwhelming. 

Here's to five years of great music, great people and great memories. Thank you Jon, Mike, Eric and Adam for giving us the gift of TMTTP. 

For photos a million times better than my crappy cellphone ones, head over to Kelsey Giesbrecht Photography.

Inferno's on Academy

I have a confession to make. Until very recently I was a bit of a seafood snob - as in I didn't eat it. I was convinced I hated anything that came from the water unless it was shrimp or a really fresh lobster. I mean who doesn't love shrimp? Come on. 

A few months ago I was at an Italian restaurant with my family when I decided to bite the bullet and shove a mussel in my mouth. I swear I saw fireworks. "Why have I been missing this my whole life?" I thought to myself. From that moment on, I was a seafood convert. I tried scallops, I tried crab cakes, I tried more mussels than my stomach could handle. My life was changed! 

Enter Inferno's Bistro. If you want a new favorite day of the week, I will tell you now it's going to be Thursday. One pound of mussels for $13. I think my eyes popped out of my head like one of those cartoons. Being from Transcona, frugality runs in my blood. I'm cheap and I love food so this was a perfect combo. 

There were at least 10 flavors to choose from; it was a difficult task, let me tell you. I settled on the Herbes de Provence (I think, I'm running off memory here) and my best friend ordered the Green Thai Curry. We then, of course, split a plate of fries. 

I couldn't finish I was so stuffed. It didn't help that we made it in time for happy hour and I loaded up on Caesar's. If you're looking for a patio to set up shop during the week with your friends, do yourself a favor and make it Inferno's on Academy. 

If you do, I want an invite. 

Food Truck Friday: Habanero Sombrero

I have a bit of a thing for Mexican food. And by that I mean if I could I would eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It's my favorite food in the entire world and if you know me, then this is common knowledge. This is why it was no surprise to my cousin that I chose this truck when she met me for lunch. Luckily, she also shares my love of tacos.

Habanero Sombrero is possibly the best taco truck I've ever eaten at, and I've been to a few in my time. My cousin and I decided to try the three tacos combo and I was pleasantly surprised that I could choose three different meats if I wanted to (which I obviously did). The service was quick and the owners were some of the nicest people!

Once we got our tacos, the hardest decision of my life commenced: which salsa do I use? All of the options were fresh and homemade, so I did what any sane person would do... I used them all. By far, the best one was the pineapple salsa. I've never had pineapple salsa and my mouth exploded with flavor. I would definitely say I preferred the chicken to the beef but I'm just not a huge red meat fan.

If you ever see them around stop by and give them a try! Let me know what you think. I'm more than likely going to be returning real soon. Let me know if you want to go for lunch!

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Food Truck Friday: Greektown Winnipeg

I've been away for awhile because I've been so darn busy! This city is just full of so many things to occupy my time. Working on Broadway has been seriously bad for my diet and wallet, but man are the food trucks phenomenal.

I'm a sucker for Greek food. If I could, I would put feta and tomatoes on everything. It's no surprise that one of the first trucks I found myself at was Greektown Winnipeg. It's a little pricier than some of the other trucks I've tried but it didn't bother me since the food more than made up for it.

I had a gyro and Greek salad and I didn't need to eat again all day. The portions were big and quite filling. My favorite part had to be the dressing on the salad. Thick, rich and flavorful! I'm a little disappointed I didn't try the stuffed peppers and tomatoes but I guess that gives me an excuse to go back!

I also really loved how they decorated the pavement in front of the truck. It added something to the whole experience.

Be sure to check them out and let me know what you think.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram


*********

I can't wait for next week! So, who wants to go for lunch?

Food Truck Friday

It's hard to avoid them; they're everywhere. Am I complaining? Absolutely not. My wallet might be at the end of summer, but we have to take advantage of them while we can.

My first encounter with food trucks began a couple of years ago at my first job on the cusp of Downtown Winnipeg. Granted, not many trucks made their way towards my office, but there was always one parked outside of the CBC I could saunter over to. I think my first food truck was Pimp My Rice. Filipino food at it's finest and quickest.

So I've decided to carve out a little space here on Friday's to showcase the best the city has to offer in restaurants on wheels. The food truck craze is certainly gaining momentum every year; more choices, more competition and more food for me. 

My new job has me on Broadway Ave - food truck central. Both sides of the street are lined up with them and it's a sure sign that summer has made its way to Winnipeg. My goal is to try every single one. A feat I'm sure won't be easy but I'm up to the task.

Today, a coworker and I ventured down the street to find Better Than Baba's. They boasted boiled perogies made fresh daily. I was intrigued.

Ukrainian food is in my blood; my great-grandfather (Didia) was a big part of my life until I was 13 and he had come straight from the Ukraine when he was young. It's safe to say I'm a bit of a perogy snob. I firmly hold the belief that my aunts make the best perogies in Winnipeg.

I ordered the four cheese perogy combo that came with a grilled piece of kielbasa. I was expecting it to be okay, but I was pleasantly surprised - blown away, in fact - by the sheer amazingness (not a word but it needs to be) that were these perogies. Perfectly boiled with soft, fresh dough and smothered in sour cream, bacon and onions.There's really nothing more you can ask for.

While I still hold firm that my family makes the best - Better Than Baba's is a really close second.

Find more information and follow them here: 

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 

The Real Escape

Recently, I participated in an activty that's fairly new to this city of ours. Have you ever heard of an "Escape Room"? If you haven't, you should probably Google it right now. It was the absolute most fun I've had in months.

Are you competitive? Do you like to solve puzzles? Do you like to show your friends how smart you are? Then this is definitely up your alley!

 

My friends and I ended up at The Real Escape, located on Portage Avenue. From the moment we walked in our senses were on high alert. We were so excited to try it out; we'd been waiting weeks! The current theme was "Nuclear Meltdown" and the premise was Winnipeg's Nuclear Facility went into lock-down and you had 60 minutes to figure your way out of the room or you died. Obviously you don't really die, but you'd be surprised what that idea has on your psyche the whole time you're in the room. The closer the countdown gets to the end, the more frantic you become. It's a real adrenaline rush!

Luckily I have really smart friends. We pulled our weight fairly evenly and got out of the room with more than 20 minutes to spare. And not to brag (I'm totally bragging), but our team solved the room 3rd fastest out of 600 teams to attempt it. No big deal or anything. With a 31% success rate we were all feeling pretty proud of our teamwork skills. Also, nice to know I didn't die in a nuclear explosion. The current room ends on April 13th and they're back on April 23rd with a brand new room: Escape from Death Row. You bet your bottom dollar we will be heading to that one.

Word to the wise: you need a team name. Come prepared or you'll end up scrambling for something  at the end and settle on Super Sleuths. Come on guys, we can do better than that!

For information check out their website!
You can also find them on  Facebook or Twitter.

I'm Baaaack

Hello? Are you there? It's me, Melissa. I'm back. I know I said that before and then let you down but I'm going to try really hard to make it up to you. Okay? Okay.

I even got my friend to redesign this whole space and look how pretty it is! If that's not reason enough to come back to this little blog of mine, I don't know what is. Oh wait, there's even more of a reason and that is Winnipeg is fantastic and more people need to know it!

I have a few tihngs in the works and I'm even trying to convince a couple 'murican friends of mine to come up for a visit this summer. Let's cross our fingers for that. In the meantime, I will see you back here tomorow bright and early for a post on something a little new to the city: Escape Rooms.

Chao for now!

Ethiopian New Year

Sometimes life surprises me. This morning included. I was unhappy about having to wake up at 5:15 am for work. I am NOT a morning person. I grudgingly got out of bed and cursed my job all the way there because I was cranky, not caffeinated, and cold. My morning went from bad to amazing. I was invited to celebrate Ethiopian New Year in the West End where I work and it was one of the best experiences I've ever had.

From fresh roasted coffee beans, to traditional Ethiopian cuisine, my whole morning got better and better. They were welcoming, caring, happy and giving. They've ruined coffee for me forever because now all I want is that fresh roasted Ethiopian dark, rich goodness. I might have a new obsession.

Not only did I get to indulge in food, but I was able to learn about an entirely different culture from my own. One of the strangest but most pleasant experiences was when we all sat down to eat. A sign of love and respect in their culture is to feed someone. I have never been hand fed and while uncomfortable at first, it became a really rewarding experience. To feel included in their family and community was unlike anything I've ever experienced.

I'm so lucky that through work I get to have my eyes opened to so many cultures. The neighborhood we work in is one of the most ethnically diverse areas of the city and I've been fortunate to learn so much about so many people.

Filipino, Indian, Ethiopian, Vietnamese, Somalian, Korean, Lebanese, Chinese, and the list goes on and on. I would never have had these experiences were it not for my job and I'm so thankful for that. It's days like today that keep me going.

Thank you Gohe (pronounced go) for allowing me to be there while you were interviewed on Breakfast Television. It was a wonderful morning.

Gohe is located at 533 Sargent Ave and I highly suggest a visit! My favorite cuisine and some of my favorite people.

Skip The Dishes

Who has a problem spending money on lunch when they have a fridge full of food at home? THIS GIRL.

I've tried multiple times to motivate myself to pack a lunch, but when you work on the outskirts of Downtown and the West End, the mystical pull of food is too hard to ignore. I'm so lucky to work in an area teeming with culture, but my poor bank account hates me for it. 

The other problem, aside from spending money I should be saving for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, is time. I only have 45 minutes for lunch and I don't like spending it walking to get my food. 

Enter Skip The Dishes. (This is not a sponsored post, I just love it this much.)

It is one of my favorite things in the whole world because I can order food from Osborne Village, Corydon, St. Boniface, etc, and have it delivered to me in the West End in time to enjoy it with all my coworkers. The amount of restaurants that participate is astounding. I have so  many options, sometimes I can't even choose. First world problem, I know.

The most embarrassing factor is the frequency in which I order from Stella's. It's a 5 minute walk from my office. I order it for delivery a solid once a month at least. Can you say lazy? Doesn't matter, because it's delicious and I don't have to wait in line.

Do yourself a favor next time you can't decide on lunch and order through Skip the Dishes.

Oh one more thing! It's also great for ordering dinner. Sometimes I'll order it for delivery right before I leave work and then I bring it home to the delight of everyone. Basically I use it to buy people's love. It works. So you're welcome for that helpful tip.

Have you used Skip the Dishes? What are your thoughts?

Chocolate Zen Bakery

If you follow me on Instagram you would have seen this picture on Saturday. My roommate and I were out and about and decided to stop for a little something to satisfy our sweet tooth (teeth?).

Chocolate Zen is located at 553 Osborne on the corner of Morley. Doug and Betty have been working together for about 20 years and the shop opened about 8 years ago come this October. They do weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and everything in between. Cakes, cupcakes, french macaroons, pastries, dainties, the list goes on. They even do the baking for places like The Gates on Roblin.

Their delivery vehicle is unique to say the least. The hearse is a newer addition. They take "to die for" to a whole new level. Sinfully sweet if I do say so myself.

I was given a tour of the shop and it was hard to keep my hands to myself. I wanted to try everything; all the things! I settled on a chocolate croissant, because obviously, and it was one of the best I've ever had outside of Paris. Other notable mentions are the cheesecakes and the truffles. I've had them before when my parents would bring them home and I swear the cheesecake melts in your mouth.

I did a quick search of their social media to showcase some of the many beautiful cakes and things they've done in the past. You can see more on Instagram if you search #chocolatezenbakery.

I highly recommend checking out this quaint little shop in Osborne! There's only one table so it's more of a takeout atmosphere but definitely worth the try. You'll be running back for more, I promise you that!

Facebook | Instagram | Website (Under Construction) | E-mail

Manitoba Derby Day

August long weekend has always held the tradition of going to bet on the ponies. My family goes every single year. Rain or shine. This year was the 66th Manitoba Derby and we of course went. Now I'm not a big gambler. My dad always taught me to stick to $2 bets. I also don't care about odds. I pick the horse with the best name. Or if I think it's the prettiest. Obviously I'm really well versed in horse racing.. ahem. 

This year was the first year that I won big! I won $15.00 but it was still a big win to me since I only bet $2.00. 

Derby Day is always fun since women go all out and wear big fancy hats. There's even a contest. I completely forgot to make a hat this year and I kicked myself for it. 

I guess there's always next year!

The family that bets together stays together. Definitely one of my favorite Winnipeg summer traditions. I highly suggest a day out at the races. If you go, let me know if you win!

What They Ask For

Take Me To The Pilot has officially left the building (well, province). They've set off on their Eastern Tour and just a few days ago dropped this beauty of a new single. You obviously don't need me to tell you how much I loved it.


If I were you, I would follow them on YouTube to stay up to date on tour happenings. They barely made it out of Manitoba and a tire blew so I'm sure there'll be lots of excitement to come as well. 
If you're looking for tour dates check out their Facebook for complete info!
They'll be playing a show at The Park Theatre on August 18th. I will, of course, be there to support. So I wanna see all your faces there too!

I'm Coming Home

I have seriously neglected this blog in the pursuit of growing my other one. It's time I get back to one of my biggest passions: my city. Look for a new layout and new posts coming within the next month.

Now that the weather has FINALLY taken a turn for the better, I will be once again exploring my city. I recently moved into a new neighborhood so expect some posts to do with that as well.

I'm sorry for taking such a long hiatus but I'm back and ready to discuss all things Winnipeg! It is the heart of our country after all.

Celebrations Dinner Theatre

via

I had the pleasure of attending The Big Boom Theory 2 at Celebrations on January 11.  It was a great night out, since I never go out anymore. If you've never been to Celebrations, what in the heck are you waiting for!? I've only been twice, but both times I left with sore cheeks from laughing and a tummy full of delicious food.

This time around, I went with my immediate, and some extended, family. We were there with East End Community Club to celebrate the end of another great year and also my aunt's retirement. The food was phenomenal, the show was absolutely hilarious and the actor's were so on point. 

The actress who played Bernadette had her voice down perfectly and Leonard had mastered the facial expressions. I actually felt like they were the real characters from The Big Bang Theory. If you've never been to a dinner theatre GO. It's the best 4 hours you will spend I promise you. 

This particular show is over but the next one is The British Invasion which looks amazing in its own way. Might just have to hit that one up too!

Music Made in Manitoba

Winnipeg has a booming music scene. Talent on talent on talent. Arguably some of the greatest musicians have come out of our beautiful city. See: The Guess Who and Fred Penner (seriously I adore Fred Penner, he made my love of sandwiches cool). 

Today, I am going to introduce you to my 5 favorite Winnipeg artists. If you're new to the city or a long-time resident, you need to give all of them a listen. 

If you're not from the city give them a listen anyway and expand their fanbase because they 100% deserve it! 

So without further ado, here are the Top 5 (as deemed by me) Best Acts in Winnipeg Today:

5. Nic Dyson

THE FEELS. Every time I listen to Nic, my heart goes out to him. You can actually feel his emotions in his songs. And then I start to feel those emotions. It's crazy. He's also proof that you should never stop following your dreams. You can do anything. He inspires me. Just try and watch him sing I Miss You and not shed a tear yourself. I see big things in this boy's future. BIG THINGS. 

4. Royal Canoe

Coming in at number four we have Royal Canoe. Recently discovered thanks to Ace Burpee, I cannot stop listening to them. Their video for Bathtubs just speaks to me in the weirdest, best way possible. I haven't seen them live but I hear it's a good time. I'm putting it on my list of things to do in 2014. 

3. Andrew Mitchell Music

Am I allowed to put a friend on the list? Whoops, I just did. Andrew Mitchell is one super talented dude. He works really hard at it too and that's pretty inspiring. I've never met anyone (other than me) who wakes up at 3 am, has an idea, and starts writing it down immediately. That's dedication. Because ya know, sleep is usually important. I'm off topic. The point is, he's good. And ladies he's single.

2. The Treble Band

These guys are big news. So don't tell me you've never heard of them. And if you haven't then you need to get to clicking and listening because ehrmagerd so good. I have also never seen them live but that is another thing on my list of things to do. I've maybe creeped on them once or twice at a TMTTP show and by creeped I mean passed them and was like "oh that's The Treble, cool". Anyway, I'm getting off topic. They're really good and it reminds me yet again how lucky I am to live in this city. I'm pretty sure one of them is a teacher and how cool would that be to be his student? Pretty cool if you ask me. I need to stop saying cool so much. 

1. Take Me To The Pilot

I may be biased. Actually I am 100% biased because my friend Jon is the drummer. But that doesn't mean they aren't the best thing to come out of Winnipeg since Winnie the Pooh (which is really high on my list of amazing things Winnipeg has given the world). Their pop vibe and foot-tapping, head bobbing, sing-at-the-top-of-your-lungs inducing melodies make them easily number one on this list. Also, ladies, they aren't bad on the eyes if ya know what I mean. 50% of them are single but you'll probably have to fight off their screaming fan girls to get to them so good luck with that. They just came back from touring Western Canada so I'm not sure when you can catch them live but I'm sure (hoping) they'll be performing in early 2014. I also heard rumors of a new album coming, so anyway, enough rambling, listen to their beautiful holiday track. 

So there you have. My Top 5. I hope you enjoy them. Anyone you think I should add to my list? Let me know, I love hearing from you!

Cancer Doesn't Care

I made a promise yesterday that I would post about Winnipeg music today.

I lied. 

Something extremely important and dear to me came up and I'm gonna need to postpone that other post to make way for this one instead.

I'm going to need everyone to take 2 minutes out of their day and read this post right here. This girl is an American blogger that I follow and she posted about an organization called The Young and Brave. It's an American non profit dedicated to raising money and awareness for cancer. Focus on the Young. Cancer doesn't care how old you are, how fit or active you are, the price tag on your jeans, what material possession you may own. It strikes whenever and however it wants to and it doesn't discriminate.

This is a cause near and dear to me. I had a cousin lose a leg before he was even a teenager. He was active, fit, no one saw it coming.

Canadians are generous peoples. Winnipeggers do so much for Cancer research and that's something I'm so proud of. So now I'm going to encourage you to go to Cancer Care Foundation MB and see what you can do to help. Cancer doesn't care if you're 20 or 50.

via

I also encourage you to visit Children's Wish because they made my cousins dreams come true and kept his spirits high.

via

Thank you Winnipeg. I love you.

Santa Claus Parade and My Apologies!

Hi my name is Melissa and I am the WORST. I have neglected this little blog of mine but I will try my darndest to keep this corner of the internet up to date from now on. In the next few days, there will be a new design and posts every day!

I never completed my list of 101 Things to do in Winnipeg but that isn't going to stop me from exploring this beautiful city of mine. Now that the snow has fallen, there are 100 new things for me to do. Recently, I've been hitting up the local music scene. So tomorrow, I will give you a full report on what I've been up to lately. For now, please accept my sincerest apologies.

Today I want to discuss the Santa Claus Parade. In my humble opinion, it is one of the greatest Winnipeg traditions! This year, I was lucky enough to be on a float with my work. Probably the most fun I've had on a Saturday in a loooong time. Seeing the thousands of parents and children line the streets of Portage Ave and Main St. was so heart warming. I didn't get a chance to see many of the other floats, just what was directly in front of me and directly behind me (shout out West Jet for a cute float!). It was well organized, the weather was perfect and the smiles on everyone's faces was almost too much to handle. Enjoy this photo dump from the day.

If you missed the parade, I found this Youtube video you can watch to get an idea.