What’s up: Authors Adam Shoalts and Laurie Gilmore, classical music, comiccon, Begonia

An evening with Adam Shoalts

• McNally Robinson Booksellers, 1120 Grant Ave.
• Saturday, 7 p.m.
• Free

British-born Hubert Darrell made a name for himself in the early 20th century as an explorer and mapper in Canada’s North — until he disappeared in November 1910 in the Anderson River area of the Northwest Territories. He first moved from England to Birtle when he was 16 before venturing north in 1897, swept up by the Klondike gold rush.

While Darrell’s disappearance made headlines around the world, these days his name isn’t nearly as well-known as it was at the time. He left behind hand-drawn maps, journals and letters, which were scoured by modern-day explorer Adam Shoalts in advance of his tracing Darrell’s steps through the northern wilderness, a journey he recalls in his new book, Vanished Beyond the Map: The Mystery of Lost Explorer Hubert Darrell, published Oct. 7 by Allen Lane.

Buy on mcnallyrobinson.com

Shoalts is an archaeologist, historian, geographer and explorer. He’s also the author of a number of books about his adventures and exploits in Canada’s wilderness, including Where the Falcon Flies, Alone Against the North and A History of Canada in Ten Maps. His latest journey sees him come ashore at McNally Robinson Booksellers’ Grant Park location on Saturday at 7 p.m., when he’ll launch Vanished Beyond the Map and sign copies of the book.

— Ben Sigurdson

 

Laurie Gilmore launches The Gingerbread Bakery

• McNally Robinson Grant Park, 1120 Grant Ave.
• Tuesday, 7 p.m.
• Free

This is the perfect season to curl up with a cosy, small-town romance — and American author Laurie Gilmore knows cosy, small-town romance.

Her first novel, The Pumpkin Spice Café, won the TikTok Shop Book of the Year award in 2024 and launched her New York Times– and Sunday Times-bestselling Dream Harbor series. Now, she’s coming to Winnipeg for the first time to release The Gingerbread Bakery, the fifth and latest book in the series.

“Laurie Gilmore” is a Gilmore Girls-inspired pen name; she also publishes paranormal romance under her given name, Melissa McTernan, but don’t let the Stars Hollow-meets-Hallmark vibes or cute book covers fool you; it gets downright steamy in Dream Harbour.

Gilmore will do a reading and then will be hosted in conversation by McNally Robinson’s social media manager, Elissa Hall, with a book signing to follow. The event starts at 7 p.m. in the atrium.

— Jen Zoratti

 

The Lost Violin of Sherlock Holmes

• Garrick Hotel, 287 Garry St.
• Saturday, 9:15 p.m.
• Tickets $32.40 at 3common.com

The Garrick Hotel bar may not be the first place minds turn to when thinking of classical music venues in the city, but that hasn’t deterred owner Gary Birshtein from presenting the hostelry’s first classical concert this weekend.

The venue has been hosting music events since 2012, from metal and rock to folk, country and hip hop gigs, and earlier this year began to put on jazz nights.

Saturday’s event is “groundbreaking for the local classical music scene,” Birshtein says.

The Sherlock Holmes fan had already worked out the concert’s concept and theme but was unable to present the show until he met violinist Clair Tang, who came on board as musical director.

“We received many rejections because (the venue) was not prestigious, as it was not at the concert hall. I met Clair and she immediately understood what’s going on here and how cool it can be. The rest is history. Basically, when the right people meet, they can create magic,” he says.

The concert features classical works with “dark and mysterious themes” performed by Tang on first violin, Will Harder on second violin, Chelsea Dong on viola and Natanielle Felicitas on cello.

The musicians will play 14 pieces, ranging from classic works such as Vivaldi’s Four Seasons: Summer, to contemporary compositions such as Hans Zimmer’s Discombobulate, the traditional folk song Bessarabian Girl and some of Tang’s original pieces.

Doors open at 8:30 p.m. for the 18+ show and seating is not assigned. The bar is cash-only.

— AV Kitching

 

Winnipeg Comiccon

• RBC Convention Centre, 375 York Ave.
• Tomorrow to Sunday, various times
• Tickets and schedule at comicconwinnipeg.com

Celebrities, comic book creators and cosplayers are set to converge this weekend at the fifth annual Winnipeg Comiccon, which features attractions for fans of all stripes.

Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange), Ron Perlman (Hellboy) and Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings) are among the A-listers available this year for autographs and photo-ops. All three are scheduled for audience Q&As at various times on Saturday and Sunday.

Event goers can meet the illustrators, animators and voice actors behind Sailor Moon, Justice League, Archie Comics, Mad Magazine and other pop culture phenomena.

Cosplayers and LARPers (live-action role players) can participate in panels, costume contests and meet-ups throughout the weekend, many of which are themed around niche fandoms, from Ghostbusters to Star Trek to KPop Demon Hunters.

Gamers of the e-sport and tabletop varieties can take part in tournaments and casual play, while collectors can peruse the wares for sale at Comiccon’s sprawling exhibition hall.

Convention programming runs from 4 to 10 p.m. Friday; 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Three-day weekend passes start at $80 and single day tickets range from $25 to $55. Special event and VIP passes are also available. Children under five get in free.

— Eva Wasney

 

Begonia Fantasy Life listening party

• Frenchie’s Records & Coffee, 260 Taché Ave
• Friday, noon to 2 p.m.
• Free

Not interested in an autograph from Samwise Gamgee? Nab one from Winnipeg’s resident diva Begonia, who will be at St. Boniface record shop Frenchie’s to release her latest album, Fantasy Life, out Friday via Birthday Cake Records.

Adding to her estimable discography (Lady in Mind, Fear, Powder Blue), Begonia’s latest is as eclectic as the singer herself, who’s never been more at ease and in command. After her first two full-length albums found Alexa Dirks looking backward with a renewed sense of understanding of her past self, on Fantasy Life, the artist peers ahead, wrestling with the wide-open possibilities of self-actualization as worldwide calamity enters the picture.

“The world’s on fire and I’m gonna write a pop song — ha, ha, ha — I’m not actually laughing, but the world’s on fire right now, and I’m here, I’m in the booth,” she says introducing My Fantasy Life, the penultimate track.

Begonia will also celebrate her album’s release with two seatings (6 p.m. and 9 p.m.) at Public Domain (633 Portage Ave.) tonight.

“I’m also planning a kind of one-woman show for this one,” writes the singer. “Come and find out what I actually mean, ie: I’m finishing my monologue as we speak.”

Whether Begonia’s singing, speaking or performing slam poetry, we’re listening.

— Ben Waldman

 

Halloween Howl

• Manitoba Children’s Museum, 45 Forks Market Rd
• Saturday, 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m.
• Tickets: $20 at childrensmuseum.com

People talk about the 12 days of Christmas.

Rarely do they talk about the 12 days, give or take, of Halloween — mostly a contrivance so adults can have at least one Friday or Saturday night to don fangs or bunny ears and cut loose.

Silly rabbits, tricks and treating are for kids – still, everyone loves a good costume party.

The Children’s Museum offers just that with their family-friendly, indoor Halloween Howl, now in its 27th year.

While Winnipeg dance party legend DJ Mama Cutsworth conjures musical spirits in the Times Squared gallery, kids and parents can collect treats in each of the museum’s other 11 galleries, make friends with not-so-scary live animals and create creepy crafts.

There’s also a meet and greet with Mick E. Moose, mascot of the Winnipeg Jets, a photobooth where costumed guests can strike their scariest pose and other fun to be had.

—Conrad Sweatman