Winnipeg baby a big hit on Ellen’s website

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This article was published 12/01/2015 (4252 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ELLEN SHOW WEBSITE HIT: Eight-month-old Altona baby model Rylan Klassen-Kehl has turned out to be a big favourite in the Kids and Pets photo section of the Ellen show’s website.

Before the holidays, the baby and his chihuahua Sparky appeared in a photo, snuggled up watching the show on TV in “front-row seats.” Though TV talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres gets thousands of pictures emailed to her show, Rylan’s picture is still a feature shot weeks later. (photos.ellen.warnerbros.com/galleries/kids_and_pets_2)

Grandma Candace Cooney sent in the hit photo, taken by her daughter, Courtnie Kehl, a self-taught photographer. The Facebook photos of her baby in different brand-name baby clothes have attracted several “brand reps” in recent months. The reps trade their baby clothes for Courtnie’s photos of Rylan wearing them, to post online.

Says proud Grandma: “The Baby Gap people contacted Courtnie and she’s going for a meeting with Rylan when he can stand on his own.”

Cooney adds the photogenic little fellow, born April 16, 2014, is a natural model who loves the camera.

“He’s hilarious — always posing, just smiles — never cranky and very happy-go-lucky.” She says mama Courtnie, and Rylan’s dad Braden Klassen, are “phenomenal young parents, teaching him things all the time, with tons of patience.”

 

ELVIS BIRTHDAY PARTY: The King would have turned 80 on Jan. 8, had he not died at age 42. Stalwart Winnipeg fans didn’t care a fig about that fact. They braved wind chills of -30 to get out and sing and dance to Elvis Presley’s music, celebrating his birthday anyway. The El Party went on all night at Rock the Mic at McPhillips Station Casino.

However, since a lot of Manitoba Elvis tribute artists live outside of the city and many roads and highways to Winnipeg were blocked, only three out of six scheduled performers made it to the stage, along with a trio of Priscilla backup singers.

Harold Prosken stole the show in his white jewel-studded jumpsuit, natural pompadour and wild moves. (Only his cookie-duster moustache gave him away.)

During the night he sang Elvis hits like Suspicious Minds, Steamroller Blues, Johnny B Goode and One Night (With You). Hip-swivelling Prosken admits he feels “sexy and inspired” singing Elvis hits.

“It channels through me and I love it,” the owner of Harold Ivan’s hairdressing salon said.

Prosken’s powerful signature baritone is recognizable from old Winnipeg rock bands such as Halo Syndicate and Five of a Kind.

 

EAST COAST SHELLFISH KITCHEN PARTY: Bring your spoons and start clacking. The first-ever kitchen bash of this kind happens Jan. 17, and it’s guaranteed to warm the cockles of any frozen Winnipegger’s heart. It’s happening at the restaurant 295 York as part of the P.E.I. Shellfish Festival organized by restaurant group Wow Winnipeg. Doors open at 6 p.m. The $40 ticket includes multiple food stations with lobsters, oysters, mussels and other East Coast delights.

Proceeds go to the Share Our Strength charity, which supports local food programs. The Celtic-style Bart House Band will be playing while people eat, drink, tap their toes and sing.

The kitchen party is just part of three days and nights of food-oriented events happening Jan. 16-18. Talented members of the P.E.I. Shellfish International Festival will help teach and supervise events such as oyster-shucking. See wowhospitality.com for the full roster of events.

Hot tip: Whatever you do, try to get tickets early for the kitchen party. You can cheer on the best bartenders in the city as they compete for the Best Caesar in Winnipeg title. Tickets at Wow, 204-942-1090 or 295 York, 204 -896-7275.

 

TRANSCONA HOT SPOT: Out in Transcona, a hardy crowd showed up at the Royal George Hotel Thursday night, stamping the snow off their feet to hear the mighty Shandra Levreault and her high-energy band (ironically called Slow Motion Walter) with Stephen Arundel on guitar, plus drummer Tim Hutton, bass player Vaughn Poyser and keyboardist Craig Wilson.

“In Transcona, every night is Friday night!” Levreault joked in the noisy bar. She credits owner Greg Pester, who is also a musician, for creating the party atmosphere. “Greg always has live music here seven days a week, and his band Sassy Jack plays Wednesday nights.”

Levreault says she fell into her regular Thursday-night gig by accident. Four years ago there was a pregnancy — somebody else’s.

“A friend’s band was playing here and she was very ill with morning sickness.”

So Levreault stepped in.

“The first week, Transcona loved us. We’ve been here four years and we love it here because this place is so friendly. Even if there are only 10 people in the bar, they are always talking to each other.”

 

WINNIPEG LIGHT SHOW: As people cross the St. James Bridge going north, a streak of multicoloured light shoots up into the sky. It’s the fully decorated balconies of the Kiltarton Towers that face the Assiniboine River. How does the building, owned by Lount Corp., get so much enthusiastic participation? A yearly contest with prizes. That’s a great idea for other apartment owners in Winnipeg during the next holiday season.

 

Got tips, events, unique things happening? Call the tip line at 204-474-1116, email mscurf@shaw.ca or send letters to Maureen Scurfield c/o the Winnipeg Free Press, 1355 Mountain Ave., Winnipeg, R2X 3B6