Trio to add jazzy twist to Nirvana’s classic

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This article was published 01/04/2019 (2736 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Not sure about jazz? Consider this mind-boggling crossover. Trio Antipodes, a funky trio composed of guitarist Keith Price, pianist Jeff Presslaff and drummer Graydon Cramer combine jazz with pop and rock on Tuesday night at 8 p.m. at the Centre Culturel Franco Manitobain (340 Provencher Blvd.). They will play their take on Radiohead’s Knives Out and Nirvana’s Lithium, plus songs from their new album Upside Downwards.

Price learned how to play guitar at age 11 on his grandfather’s axe, and turned that love into a professor’s job at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. He’s back in Winnipeg as part of a prairie tour.

GRAD DRESS RETRO RENTALS: Ragpickers Anti-Fashion Emporium is offering funky retro grad wear as affordable rentals. It’s kind of a “grad alternative,” owner Kristen Andrews says. There’s so much pressure on young people to wear snazzy graduation gowns or expensive rental tuxedos, she says.

“They can be as much as $5,000,” Andrews says. “Renting dresses represents a green statement against fast fashion, as in wear it once and throw it away.”

And she says young people want to express their individuality at grad. Ragpickers is at 92 Gomez Ave., but can be found doing more pop-up events around the city as spring warms up. To visit the place where they keep all their treasures, phone 204-942-7992 or email kristen@ragpickers.com.

WALL OF HONOUR: The Ernie Nairn Media Wing opened in March with three plaques on the Cyril (Zeke) Marantz Manitoba Jewish Athletes Wall of Honour. “We’re honouring gentlemen for their dedication, commitment and many years of service to their profession,” says Lindsay Sawyer Fay, president of the Rady Jewish Community Centre.

The first inductee was a natural — Ernie Nairn. For 47 years he’s chaired the marketing and media group to sell tickets for the annual YMHA/Rady JCC Sports Dinner, which has become a must-attend event on the city’s social calendar and Nairn’s ticket-selling has helped raise $12 million to date for children’s and senior citizens programming, as well as summer camp programs for less-advantaged children.

Nairn was a sportscaster with CBC Winnipeg for 26 years before retiring in 1992. He played a big role in preparing the successful bid for the 1999 Pan Am Games and lent his expertise to Sam Katz in bringing professional baseball back to Winnipeg, Fay says.

Also inducted was Harvey Rosen, a longtime sports writer for the Jewish Post and News and also a reporter for The Canadian Press before retiring last year.

“He spent many years covering the new and old Winnipeg Jets and the Manitoba Moose hockey teams,” Fay says.

The third inductee was Rich Nairn, Ernie’s son: He was a member of Manitoba’s under-16, under-18 and under-21 provincial teams and later became vice-president of communications for the Winnipeg Jets before the franchise moved to Phoenix. He still works for the Arizona Coyotes.

INCLUSIVE SIZING: The glamorous Valencia Boutique opened last Friday morning at 10-725 Corydon Ave. Owner Paige Butz is selling beautiful new dresses, purses, tops, denims, scarves and more — for every size of woman. Butz is proud of the “inclusive sizing.” She pictures all girlfriends now going out and being able to go clothes-shopping together at her place and find beautiful clothes that fit everyone.

Butz, a go-go entrepreneur, had started the online portion of her business already. But at age 31, she felt ready to go all out.

“I told my family one day I wanted to have my own store, and my dad said, ‘Do it!’” she says.

Setting up the shop has been a family affair with her dad and sister McKenna putting in a lot of work to get the store redecorated and ready for its March 29 opening. As she opened the door that morning, more snow started drifting down.

Butz, ever the optimist, couldn’t have cared less. “It’s going to be great! I’m thinking positively!”

MUSEUM BABIES: Touching strange and interesting stuff — that’s what babies love to do, and too many adults tell them not to. But the Manitoba Museum is offering hands-on for infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers throughout April.

On April 3, they’ll be able to interact with historical toys. April 10 is a day for letting kids handle animals and April 17 lets them encounter “everyday sounds and nature sounds.”

Finally, April 24 the youngsters discover colour, including some of the most treasured, brightly decorated items in the museum’s collection.

The cost is $78 for all four events and $22 to drop in for one week. Got questions? Call 204-956-2830.

Got tips? Cool events happening in your world? Know of new businesses and entertainment venues opening? Email Maureens’ Tips: mscurf@shaw.ca.