It's Fabulous Underground

Last week, I went underground. As in, to the Underground Cafe on 70 Arthur Street.

The restaurant is tucked away in the building's basement, featuring some colourful murals and some delicious lunchtime dining eats.

I tried the Fabulous Sun Burger for the first time (which is apparently a famous Winnipeg staple, accordingly to everyone I've raved to). Their burger is a masterpiece made of toasted sesame and sunflower seeds, vegetable protein, mozza and cheddar cheeses, rice, eggs and assorted spices. The patty is served with lime-dill sauce, romaine lettuce, green peppers, onions and tomato, served on a perfectly toasted bagel.

It was definitely one of the best vegetarian sandwiches I've had in a while, on par with the White Star Diner and Boon Burger Cafe. The restaurant features a delicious selection of other menu items, featured on their website.

The Underground Cafe is also excellent at updating their Facebook page with their specials of the day. Check them out!

So many things to do at Manyfest!

As a proud downtown Winnipeg supporter, I was absolutely ecstatic to hit up Manyfest for the first time last weekend.

Manyfest is a street festival organized by the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ. It celebrates the arts, entertainment, health and most importantly, community in the heart of our city. Downtown Winnipeg's largest street festival anticipated 30,000 people in attendance this year, and stretched all the way from the Manitoba Legislative Building almost all the way to The Forks!

The festival was constantly bustling with vendors selling goodies like crafts, baked treats, vintage clothing and fresh produce. One wing branched off into food trucks offering delicious eats including my favourite indulgence in the world, mini donuts.

At night, the medians of Broadway hosted space for a wide array of performers such as fire dancers, Bollywood talent and local bands.

Although I loved every aspect of the street festival, I would have to say my personal highlight was the outdoor wine tasting event. You could purchase taste tickets for $1 each, which gave you a small sample of their huge selection of wines or you could redeem it for a tasty treat, like a kebob of cheese of a few slices of bread with bruschetta.

At the end of Saturday night, volunteers passed around candles for Lights on Broadway. Those who cycled to the event also had the opportunity to light their bikes up at a designated station. It was beautiful to see lights flickering as far down as the eyes could see.

All in all, the festival was a great experience and shone light on local business owners, performers and most importantly, the spirit of togetherness in downtown Winnipeg.

Here will always be home

Dear reader,

It's hard to believe a whole year has passed since I first started writing for The Downtown Dweller.

Last September, I practically pulled my hairs out of their follicles trying to choose something worth blogging about. Food? Crafts? Fonts? (Yes, I was seriously considering pitching an anti-Comic Sans website.)

And suddenly, it came to me. Why not write about what I already know? Quite practically where I eat, sleep and breathe. Downtown Winnipeg was, and still is, a huge part of my life and why wouldn't I want to share my love for it with the rest of the online world?

I moved into the Exchange District over a year and a half ago. Since then, I've discovered (and blogged) about dozens of new eateries, shops and festivities I originally knew nothing about. During my short lifespan in our city's DT, I've grown to appreciate all of its quirks and character. The people and places here truly highlight the best that our city has to offer.

Never mind the breathtaking architecture in the Exchange. Forget about the scenic trails down Waterfront Drive. Who cares about the fun festivities held at Old Market Square and The Forks - they're nothing here compared to grandeur of big cities like Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal, right?

Well, in my opinion, anyone that hasn't put in the effort into appreciating our city's bright and vibrant personality is truly missing out. It's not only these things I cherish, but also the not-so-glamorous qualities - like rowdy Jets fans flooding the streets for a late celebratory night. Heck, I'll cheer with them.

Downtown will always be my home. Wherever I end up in a few months, years or decades from now - this part of our city will always have a part of me.

Always yours,
Jackie

Are you "pho"ll yet?

If you’re a fan of Vietnamese cuisine, Winnipeg offers no shortage of fine pho all over town.  With our city’s pockets brimming with delicious Asian dining options, the appropriate question to ask is not where these places are, but which one to go to.  If you’re close to downtown, there’s a place not too far away that might meet your Vietnamese dining desires.

Courtesy of foodpages.ca

It’s hard to miss Pho No. 1’s bright yellow sign as you pass it on the corner of Isabel Street.  Just a brief detour outside of Winnipeg’s city centre, this restaurant offers a decent selection of Vietnamese and Chinese dishes, including noodle soups, meat entrees and combination platters.  They also feature an impressive vegetarian menu.

The restaurant is average in size, and comfortably sits between 30-40 people in cushioned booths and tables.  There’s nothing flashy about their décor, which is a running theme similar to a few other venues of its kind in the city.

After entering the narrow entryway, you’re quickly seated and served a tall glass of water.  I appreciate something as simple as an oversized serving of H2O, considering the restaurant is often busy and glasses are not always actively attended to.  The service isn’t exceptional, but they do try their best to accommodate to your individual needs.

The food usually comes out shortly you order, and rarely ever disappoints.  For lunch, we ordered salad rolls ($5.99), vegetarian spring rolls ($5.99), deluxe wonton soup with BBQ pork, shrimp, chickens and vegetables ($7.99), lemon chicken ($8.99), and vegetarian spring rolls with vermicelli ($6.00).

Their appetizer rolls are always fresh on the inside and out.  Namely, the vegetarian spring rolls were warm, crunchy and filled with a mix of tasty vegetables.  The salad rolls were served with a side of peanut sauce, which tasted fairly similar to other recipes I’ve had in the past.

The deluxe wonton soup was filled with a generous serving of meats and vegetables.  The broth was nicely flavoured from the medley of ingredients.  The lemon chicken was covered in a fluffy batter, and the chicken inside was juicy and tender.  The consistency of the batter was different than most other lemon chicken dishes, with a panko-like shell of crumbs covering its exterior.  The vegetarian vermicelli dish featured the same delicious spring rolls we had as appetizers, however the lettuce in the dish was slightly browned and wilted.

The overall restaurant experience was well above average, with short wait times and fresh, tasty meals.  The only downfalls were the not-so-fresh lettuce and the long absences of our server.  Understandably so, because Pho No. 1 does get quite busy, especially around lunch and dinnertime.  If you plan on paying this restaurant a visit, make sure to spare a few minutes before your meal to beat the afternoon or evening rush.

What the duck?

It's Vogue.
It's Wired.
No, wait - it's duckface Magazine!

On March 30, Red River College will be hosting the Creative Communications Magazine Trade Fair at The Roblin Centre.  Come join us from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. as we launch duckface Magazine, Winnipeg's first publication bridging the gap between tampons and technology.

DUCKFACE MAGAZINE LAUNCH

Magazine Trade Fair

The Roblin Centre, 160 Princess St.

12:00PM to 4:00PM

Free admission

duckface Magazine quacks proudly about social media, online dating, digital software and Winnipeg's top tech females.  Our premiere edition also features a beautiful eight page spread on technology through the ages.  We'll have paper and digital copies available for purchase exclusively at the Magazine Trade Fair.

Next Friday, we'll be giving away tons of free swag, including gifts from Mondragon Bookstore & Coffeehouse, Cake-ology and The Vantage Lounge.

Pucker up, ladies.  Don't forget to follow us on Twitter @duckfacemag, like us on Facebook, read our http://duckfacemag.blogspot.com and visit our website.

Care about it or don't, just know about it.

Winnipeg bloggers

The Winnipeg blogging community is filled with passionate individuals who love sharing their thoughts on our prairie city.

In ode to their enthusiasm, I would like to send a shout out to some recent Winnipeg bloggers who were kind enough to feature The Downtown Dweller.

Winnipeg Internet Pundits

A blog written in conjunction with a local radio show, playing every Wednesday at 5 p.m. on 101.5 UMFM.  Their blog also features an endless list of other prominent local bloggers and is a fountain of Winnipeg-related information.

Slurpees and Murder

A news, commentary, personal and MP3 blog written by the oh-so-eloquent James Hope Howard.

West End Dumplings

An awesome source for current stories and the historical background on Winnipeg's West End and surrounding area.

One Man Committee

A thorough blog focusing on Winnipeg's economic development and future projects.

Winnipeg is Beautiful

A blog created by Erica Glasier showcasing the work of Winnipeg's amateur and professional photographers.

Return of the Mac Miller

The young phenomenon Mac Miller returns to Winnipeg this weekend to showcase his lyrical know-how.  This 20-year-old rapper from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is quickly climbing the ranks of hip-hop stardom, often seen as the "new Eminem."

Photo courtesy of http://theurbandaily.com

Mac Miller is performing in concert at The Garrick Centre this Sunday, March 11.  You can purchase tickets here.

His Twitter handle is @macmiller.  He's fostered almost 2 million followers, almost doubling since he hit his 1 million mark in October 2011.  Not too shabby for a self-taught youngster from Pennsylvania!

What's for breakfast?

In a perfect world, my breakfast plate would consist of:

From http://askfreud.org/

A crepe from Cora's
Toast from The Tallest Poppy
Jam from Stella's
Hash browns from The Don
Croissants from Tall Grass Prairie

I've gotten a ton of great recommendations to breakfast joints I've yet to explore, including Fresh Cafe, The Nook, The Black Sheep Diner, Pineridge Hollow, French Way Cafe and Sunday brunch at The Fort Garry Hotel.

I'd like to know what your favourite breakfast food items are, and where from!  Share your comments below, because I'd love to write more about some of Winnipeg's best morning meals.

Sh*t Winnipeggers Say

"I hate Winnipeg."

I've said it a few times.  I've heard it hundreds of times.  We can moan and groan and make fun of Winnipeg all we want, because that's just what Winnipeggers do.  But no matter how many times we complain, there's bound to be a soft spot in our hearts for our snowy city.

Last week, my friend Reid and I decided to record a Winnipeg version of the "Sh*t __________ Say" meme.  Although this trend has been done to death, I still wanted to leave a digital mark in honour of our hometown.

Within 24 hours, our video fostered 5,000 views.  It's currently sitting at over 15,000 views - and counting!  Needless to say, I really appreciate everyone's support in making this production a success.

Thanks to everyone for both the positive comments and constructive criticism on what we have said and haven't said.  It's important to hear feedback to help us get better at what we do!

Now simulating Winnipeg's first hackerspace

On November 5th, Winnipeg's first hackerspace opened its doors to the public.

Hold on a second.

.. A hacker-wha?

What is a hackerspace, exactly?

Captured from http://www.tony5m17h.net/Matrix.html

Also referred to as a hackspace, hacklab, makerspace or creative space, a hackerspace is a physical hub where people with common interests gather to meet, share, learn and create.  The subject of these meetings generally fall under the categories of technology, science or digital art, but there are many other lesser known themes that they can be focused upon.
The cool thing about these centres is that their members often collaborate to develop software, hardware and various technological tools.  Hackerspaces also provide a venue for different presentations, workshops and lectures led by local techie wizards.
To learn more about Hackerspaces, click here.

Captured from http://www.skullspace.ca/

Located on the 3rd floor of 125 Adelaide Street in the Exchange District, SkullSpace offers a place for hackers, builders, programmers and artists to intellectually and creatively collide.  They aim to provide the space, tools, education and freedom to make their ideas come to life.

They also have a pretty sweet blog that you can check out.  It gives you a better taste of what's hidden inside of their space - pinball machines, vintage games feeding through a projector and apparently there was some sort of remix of Nyan Cat going on at their after party.  Sounds like a good time to me!

For anyone that's interested in signing up to be a member of SkullSpace, they host their weekly meetings on Tuesdays at 6:00PM.  There is paperwork on their website, http://www.skullspace.ca/, that you must fill out for the meeting.

Members that decide to make the commitment pay $40 a month.  This membership grants you 24/7 access to the space, ridiculously fast bandwidth speeds and various tools, amongst other things listed on their Member Benefits page.

Just another hidden gem in the Exchange definitely worth checking out.

Stickers are the best incentive

Today marks a very important day in Jackie Doming history: I submitted my very first electoral vote.

And I even got a fun yellow sticker to prove it!

I filled out my ballot at the advance polling location inside of Winnipeg Square.  For those of you who are unaware, advancing polls are closing tomorrow at 8PM.  If you aren't quite sure where to vote and you know that you won't be able to vote on October 4th, this link will help you find out where to go.

Something that I found really great were these Future Voter Pledge Cards (and matching stickers), a certificate to give your children which encourages them to vote - once they're of age, of course.  I think that it's a fantastic method of advocating democratic practices to our youth.  When I was wee lass, I never had the opportunity to witness or really understand the voting process.  I hope for a better experience for our future generations.

At 57% in the 2007 provincial election, our voter turnout isn't too hot right now.  But, on the bright side, we can work towards improving these numbers and getting people to speak up, speak out and VoteAnyWay.

That was definitely the highlight of my day.  It probably sounds lame to some of you, but I honestly feel quite empowered.  I know that this may sound juvenile, but I feel grown up!

On a side note, please enjoy this picture of my delicious southwestern fried tofu sandwich from Mondragon's.  I scarfed it down yesterday on the way home from school and I feel the need to share with you guys how freaking tasty it was.  For all of you vegetarians and vegans out there, eat your heart out.

Let's face it, David Carr's a genius

It's not every day that you get the chance to see all of the going-ons inside of one of the most successful American newspapers of all time.

Last Friday, I saw Page One - Inside The New York Times, a fly on the wall documentary about The New York Times and the newspaper industry. It highlights the negative impact that the Internet is creating on printed media, believing that all of our current technological advances may ultimately put the paper industry out of business.

I'm personally a tech enthusiast myself and I don't mind the digital lifestyle. However, it's still terrifying to consider that print media, something that society has adapted to almost instinctually, may someday soon become a thing of the past.

Tablets are taking over the market by storm and I really don't think there's much turning back at this point. Every tech giant wants a piece of the pie, after all. Competition is fierce, which is exactly why the printed paper industry is getting pushed to the wayside.

One can even argue that our newer alternative is a greener choice. However, there is much more to that argument than meets the eyes. Indeed, the cost of producing books on the environment does leave a significant carbon footprint behind. However, the mark an average eBook reader leaves is equivalent to the impact approximately 30-35 books would make. That's PER device, and some would say that it will eventually balance out by the time you've downloaded a few dozen books, but the debate remains.

Sorry for going off on a tangent there. I felt like that needed to be said.

On a lighter note, I would like to highlight my favourite part about the documentary. It goes by the name of David Carr.

The former cocaine addict slash single welfare-dependent parent definitely stole the show for me.  In the movie, he plays himself as a culture columnist for The New York Times. His unforgiving and honest journalistic approach is so refreshing. Although him and I are polar opposites, I would like to loosely emulate his no-BS demeanour one day.

Carr loves The New York Times. That being said, he basically cringes at the thought of adapting to the technological revolution. But again, if he wants to be successful in his industry, he realizes that it is something that he must learn to do.

As far as print media is concerned, I believe that all beauty must fade. There is a nostalgia that attaches itself to the act of laying out the morning paper next to your hot cup of joe. There will certainly be traditionalists that hold on to that last string of hope for printed news, and I personally hope that the string holds for as long as it can.

Those are my hopes, but we'll have to see how actual reality pans out.

100 reasons are more than plenty

Charlene Diehl and Amanda Hope swept the CreComm stage today during our morning seminar.  Riling us up for the up-and-coming Winnipeg International Writers Festival, I found myself stumbling onto their website's listing of 100 reasons why you should attend their festival.

I thought that the idea of compiling this list together was pretty nifty.  Here are a few reasons that really spoke out to me:

THIN AIR is caffeine for the spirit.  I'm not a big coffee drinker myself, but the concept of energizing one's soul with literature sounds like a wicked and healthy alternative. I love being able to pick up a book and walk away from it with a new found perspective on things. 

THIN AIR is for readers & THIN AIR is for writers.  Not to sound corny (I clearly am), but I think that it's a beautiful connection when authors are reunited with their audiences.  To be able to see the awe in both the readers' and the writers' eyes is a really sentimental experience.  I love that this festival gives people the opportunity to meet their literary idols.  Speaking to this, I would die to meet David Nicholls one day, who ironically wrote One Day.

THIN AIR treats writers like royalty.  I definitely don't think that most writers get enough credit for their work.  Being a self-proclaimed writer myself, I think that being good enough for people to give two hoots about your work is a pretty big deal.  I look up to those who have persevered and kept on writing, even when there was every other reason not to.

THIN AIR is literally fantastic.  The double meaning here says it all.

After reflecting upon this list, I am little more excited to see what the festival is all about this year.

Pleasant experience at the Peasant Cookery

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of having an exquisite dining experience at the Peasant Cookery, a delectable French restaurant located in The Exchange District.

I'll start by saying that I am indeed a huge culinary enthusiast.  I jump at any opportunity to try out different foods from every corner of the world.  Being a vegetarian, it makes these experiences even more interesting.  Some people believe that this attribute would be prohibiting, but on the contrary!  I believe that vegetarianism often gives me no other option but to try different, unique things that I wouldn't normally consider otherwise.

Entering the Peasant Cookery, I honestly had no idea what to expect.  I heard good word about it from various sources (mostly word-of-mouth), but this was my first glimpse of what the restaurant served, how they physically appeared and what their general mood was like.  My only other run with a similar restaurant in the city was at Resto Gare in St. Boniface.  Impressed with their authenticity and personable staff, the bar of what I would consider French cuisine was set fairly high.

There was a distinctive mood set by the restaurant, probably associated with the clientele that they served.  There was a romantic and simplistic ambiance in the open dining area, adorned with short candles in the middle of every table, white tablecloths and wooden furniture at the booths, tables and bars.  The customers were generally groups of white-collared corporate folk, not to exclude the occasional duo/trio of dressed-down visitors and couples.  The layout of the restaurant was very open, with tall windows shining light upon the innards of the restaurant and offering a beautiful view of Old Market Square.  The furniture was very appropriate, although dated, but I believe that it contributed to the rustic French appeal that they were aiming for.

Now, to talk about the most obvious motive of our visit: the food.

Oftentimes, when heading to both midscale and upscale restaurants, the quality of their bread baskets simply doesn't shock and amaze.  I don't make too harsh of a judgement based solely on this portion of the meal, because it's unexpected for places to serve something outstanding before the appetizers and the main course.  The Peasant Cookery, however, surprised and delighted me with warm, gooey and fresh slices of bread, straight out of the oven.  I also noticed that everything that this restaurant concocts is made in-house, include their bread, right down to their mayonnaise.  I appreciate this fine detailing and the quality of their food truly reflects upon that.

We started off our meals with a very decadent French onion soup.  This appetizer was outrageously delicious, and I am not embellishing this fact.  The soup contained a flavourful broth, soaked croutons, caramelized onions and was served with a slice of melted Swiss cheese floating atop its surface.  The consistency of the cheese, the potency of the flavour and the scent (oh, the scent!) was just mouthwatering.  I don't think that I've ever tasted anything like it.

Our appetizers were only the introduction of what I would consider the start of a beautiful, long-lasting relationship between the Peasant Cookery and I.  Once the main dishes were served, I then realized that we made the right choice in visiting this little District gem.  I chose the aged cheddar gnocchi, something that I would like to dub little cheese balls from heaven.  These soft and spongey balls were served on a dish accompanied by sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, piquilla peppers and caramelized red onions.  The onions were cooked to perfection, and the flavours of both the cheese and the spinach were not too overpowering, nor were they bland, by any means.  Every element of this dish simply blended together harmonious.  Although the servings weren't overwhelming in size, I felt more than satisfied by the last mouthful.

Needless to say, we filled out the post-meal survey with enthusiastic feedback and compliments to the chef in regards to delicious servings.  I walked away from the Peasant Cookery feeling enchanted and I anticipate that we will be returning there sometime in the near future thanks to a successful first experience there.

The Peasant Cookery is only one of many scrumptious little finds in The District.  I can't wait to visit more places and tell you all about them.  In the meantime, please vicariously enjoy this French dining experience.  The final verdict: an infinite YUM!

Drumroll please!

Hello there, stranger.  Fancy seeing you here!

WHO:  I suppose that introductions are in order.  I'd like to start by offering my name, Jackie Doming, and I am the blogmaster of this domain.  Some of you may know me as your fellow Creative Communications colleague, and for those of you that don't, I'm a student at the Red River College in Winnipeg, Manitoba.  I live in the heart of Downtown Winnipeg, conveniently located in The Exchange District.  And that's precisely what I'm going to be posting about - exactly how phenomenal it is to be living, eating and breathing in the most exciting part of this city!

WHAT:  During these upcoming weeks, months and beyond, you'll have the opportunity to follow me as I intimately explore The District and all of its hidden gems.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with what The Exchange District (a.k.a. The District, The Exchange) actually is, it's a national historic site which was originally associated with the Winnipeg Grain Exchange.  Since its inception in the late 1800s, it has undergone a dramatic facelift and is now known as one of the most happening cultural hotspots of Winnipeg.  It houses a plethora of speciality retailers, trendy restaurants, popular night clubs and so, so much more.

WHERE:  I am making a personal commitment to try to explore every nook and cranny that The Exchange has to offer (and hide!).  To be completely honest, I haven't taken full advantage of being so geographically close to this outstanding community.  There is so much culture, history and deliciousness (both artistically and food-wise) everywhere you go.  From now on, you'll be hearing about a wide variety of stories from all ends of the spectrum: interviews with the locals, restaurant reviews, fabulous fashion finds, events in Old Market Square, art exhibitions and whatever else is going on.  And there is always something happening in The Exchange.

WHEN:  You will be hearing from me on a weekly basis, if not more often.  This is preemptively telling you to stay tuned for future episodes of my Shenanigans in The District (this blog's official title, if you haven't noticed).  I would love for you to actively participate and share commentary on my findings.  Or better yet, you can certainly join me on these future escapades.  Now now, not all at once!

WHY:  Obligations aside, I think that exposure for this part of our city is so important in not only shaping peoples' perception of Winnipeg, but also building a sense of community and local pride.  So many great things are happening down in this niche of our great big town and the more people that know about it, the better!  The Exchange's tight-knit community is expanding at an exceptional rate, but every effort counts towards contributing to its growth.

I truly believe that it is my social responsibility, as an Exchange District resident and enthusiast, to share with you what it's all about.  I think that this'll be an interesting experience for both you and I.  So here goes nothing!