Hi all! This next entry in the series has perfect timing with our gorgeous fall weather lately!
4. Elm Tree CanopiesWinnipeg is known for its elm trees particularly in the older neighbourhoods. In these neighbourhoods, the streets are a bit narrower allowing the trees to completely cover the area below. It’s so beautiful and especially romantic when the leaves start to change colour and gently fall to the ground below.
Did you know that October is library month? It’s true!
5. St. Boniface Library
{St. Boniface Library}
The St. Boniface Library is now one of my all time favourite libraries right up there with the Banff Park Library. I like them both for the same reasons. They have a great selection but you’re only exposed to a small amount of it at a time. Because of the smaller selections, I find that I’m more likely to try something new rather than the same type of books I generally go for.
For those who aren’t familiar with St. Boniface, it’s a large french speaking community within Winnipeg, Canada. Its library, (the one picture above), holds books that are primarily French. I would estimate that about 90% of the libraries books are French. The English books take about 3 or 4 rows as well as some racks of paperbacks. Of course, because it’s part of the Winnipeg public library system, I was able to order English books and pick them up there. However, sometimes you just need to browse you know?
At this library, I took a chance on books and authors I honestly wouldn’t have picked up at larger libraries. That’s the benefit of smaller libraries and sometimes fewer options.
I’m so behind on this series! I moved over a month ago already.
7. Le Croissant
{Le Croissant}
Without a doubt, one of the places I’m going to miss the most is Le Croissant. This little bakery makes the absolutely best croissants in Winnipeg. One of my favourite things to do was to wake up and walk the 20 or so minutes to the bakery to pick up a croissant for an am break. If you haven’t been there already, you really have to go. Just get there early to make sure there’s a bit of a selection. I personally love the selection of fruit croissants that arrive in the summer.
It has been such a lousy couple of weeks for me. I was ill, then I was trying to move in 40C weather and I’ve just finished with a bout of teeth grinding. Just bad news bears all around. So behind in my posts!
8. Le Garage Cafe!
{Le Garage Cafe}
When I was younger, there seemed to be a lot more restaurants on Provencher Blvd than there is currently. More importantly, there seemed to be more places that had fantastic poutine. However, when I moved there I couldn’t seem to find what I was looking for. Fortunately, Le Garage Cafe has fantastic poutine and features great live music. It’s one of the places I know I’ll be meeting people for lunch when I head over to that end of the city.
{My favourite veggie burger & poutine}
If you’re looking for a place to hear such great live music and meal, check out Le Garage Cafe next time you’re in St. B!
Happy Belated Canada Day!! Last night, while watching Twin Peaks (obsessed, by the way), I could here the fireworks starting to explode nearby. I got up and made my way to the bathroom window which offers a perfect view of our city’s fireworks display. This reminded me of what I would miss when I move in a couple of weeks (14 days but who’s counting?).
9. Fireworks!
{This was taken last fall during the NHL’s return fireworks}
When I first moved to St. Boniface, I got excited about being within walking distance of the fireworks. Previously when I decided to drive in and check them out, it always turned into a hassle. As with most things, I soon got tired of the idea after a few trips out. Plus, I started to realize that there were fireworks nearly every other weekend for one festival or another.
However, I know that the time will come and I’ll miss when I was able just walk out of my room and watch beautiful fireworks explode in the sky.
On Friday, I signed the official papers making me the owner of my condo! Very exciting and a little bit scary. There’s just so much to do I’m starting to feel a bit overwhelmed with it all. Even though I wanted to move across the city to be closer to work meetings and my friends, I have to admit that the move is bittersweet. I’ve really loved living in Old St. Boniface and there are a lot of things I’m going to miss about St. B. Who knows? Maybe my next home will see be back in Winnipeg’s French Quarter.
I’ve already mentally started a list of all the places and things I have to do before I leave the neighbourhood. Listen to me, it’s like I’m moving abroad. lol. Over the next couple of weeks, I thought I’d share with you my favourite bits of my current corner of the world.
10. The Flute Guy
Picture this: It’s a few minutes before 8 am and you’re in that perfect barely awake stage. You’re alert enough to know you’re awake but you still need your alarm on. As you lay there with your eyes closed, you hear a few sweet notes that could only have come from a flute. You’re a bit confused by the whole thing so you pull yourself up and look out the window to see the pied piper. He’s not there.
Ok. So I’m not sure when I first heard The Flute Guy but it’s definitely spanned two summers. Nearly every weekday morning, The Flute Guy walks down my street playing on his flute. It is so gentle and beautiful. It reminds me of being in Europe and hearing the musicians playing the flute on the street – perfection. He sometimes plays on the way home as well. I have only caught the back of him once but honestly, I like how he’s still an enigma.
Of course, in my mind I picture him as Tewt from The Mighty Hercules. That might sound ridiculous, but I have yet to be proven wrong.
I will definitely miss waking up to the sounds of The Flute Guy.
What do you love about your neighbourhood? Do you have any wandering flutists?
Winnipeg is known for its elm trees particularly in the older neighbourhoods. In these neighbourhoods, the streets are a bit narrower allowing the trees to completely cover the area below. It’s so beautiful and especially romantic when the leaves start to change colour and gently fall to the ground below.
