What’s Up: Riopelle, National Indigenous Peoples Day, Alleyways, Brunchfest, Shane Mauss and more

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This article was published 19/06/2024 (445 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Pop up to the rooftop

Riopelle-inspired art, wine and chocolate pairing

• WAG-Qaumajuq Rooftop
• Thursday, June 20, 7 p.m.
• Tickets $55 at wag.ca

Grippin Sage

• WAG-Qaumajuq Rooftop
• Friday, June 21, 7 p.m.
• Free with gallery admission

The WAG-Qaumajuq rooftop is the place to be this week.

First up Thursday is a pop-up chocolate, art and wine pairing inspired by the newly opened Riopelle: Crossroads in Time. Tour the bold, influential works of Canadian artist Jean-Paul Riopelle before heading up to create your own Riopelleian works of art on chocolate under the guidance of chocolatier Helen Staines of Decadence Chocolates. Feel free to sample your creation with a paired glass of wine; custom-designed Riopelle chocolate bars to take home are also available for purchase.

On Friday night, celebrate National Indigenous People’s Day with Grippin Sage, a dance party helmed by Boogey the Beat, along with DJs Corvo, the Kaptain and Zuki. Specialty cocktails and mocktails will be available at this family-friendly event where everyone is welcome to dance away the extra long twilight.

For more information on both events, visit wag.ca.

— Jen Zoratti

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Alleyways in the Exchange

• Arthur Street; Elgin Avenue and Bertha Street; Albert Street and Bannatyne Avenue; John Hirsch Place
• Friday, 5-10 p.m.

Taking place across four alleys in the Exchange District, Friday’s event is the first of three taking place over the summer (there will be one on July 19 and another on Aug. 23), and features a market, audio performances, an art lounge and dance performances.

The market on Elgin Avenue is curated by Lucky Girl and offers a range of handcrafted items from local makers, ready-to-eat snacks and locally sourced food.

As part of Alleyways Sounds, the alley behind Pantages Theatre on John Hirsch Place will resound with experimental audio, pop-up installations and live performances of jazz, electronic music, poetry, and sound and visual art.

Alleyways Lounge’s features an art installation by Ehidiamen Ojeaga in the lane behind Artspace on 100 Arthur St., from 5 to 10 p.m. There will be a bar featuring Nonsuch and Patent 5 products.

For those looking to move, get carried away in Alleyways Tango as Albert Street transforms into a dynamic dancefloor. Put on your dancing shoes on and experience the fervour of classic Argentine tango with Tango Nuevo Winnipeg.

— AV Kitching

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Kilter offers taste of the tropics

Tropical Thursday and Flamingo Friday

• Kilter Brewing Co., 450 Rue Deschambault
• Today and Friday from 11 a.m.
• Free

If the rainy weather’s got you pining for sunnier skies and warmer temps, Kilter Brewing Co. has a pair of events to get you feeling totally tropical.

The brewery plays host to two days of summer-inspired food, drink, music and more on their patio (weather permitting) as they present Tropical Thursday and Flamingo Friday today and tomorrow. The tropical-themed parties will feature street tacos, beer ice cream and slushies, summery cocktails served from a tropical pop-up bar, live DJs and more.

Food will be available for purchase from 11 a.m. both days, with a lunch special running until 4 p.m. that includes two tacos and a 16-ounce beer of your choice for $15. Kilter’s got a big batch of summery brews on offer, including the Mexican cerveza, Crush passionfruit and guava radler, Splash raspberry lemon fruit beer, Sunny Dreamsicle milkshake IPA, Lagermelon light lager (infused with watermelon and sea salt), Acid Palooza fruited sour punch and more. They’ve also got plenty of non-alcoholic options.

Admission to Tropical Thursday and Flamingo Friday is free; the event is family friendly and pets are welcome on the patio.

— Ben Sigurdson

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It’s brunch time

• Upper Fort Garry Park Site, 130 Main Street
• Saturday, 11:30 a.m.
• Tickets: $69.99 plus tax at letsbrunch.ca

Indulge in a delicious weekend with the return of Brunchfest, presented by Manitoba Egg Farmers. This year, Winnipeggers can enjoy tasting-size portions from some of the best brunch chefs around.

The event features seven food vendors such as Kyu Grill and Milksmith, alongside seven cocktail stations and two beer stations.

An all-access pass allows ticketholders to sample food, enjoy cocktails and participate in games. Each pass allows you to try offerings from every food vendor once.

Brunchfest is an 18+ event. Tickets are available on the Brunchfest website.

— Thandi Vera

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Veneer, French Class, Nereo Zorro and Andy_2_k

• The Forks
• Saturday, from 3:30 to 7 p.m.
• Free

Summer Heat, a new free concert series programmed by Real Love Winnipeg, kicks off Saturday at The Forks.

Fresh off their latest album Drifting, Veneer is first in line. Bandmates Claire Boning, Talula Schlegel and Sam Sarty have all the ingredients to get the party started, right here in their own backyard.

French Class — the electronic project of Megumi Kimata and vocalist Tiana Garcia — makes infectiously danceable beats, perfectly suited for a daytime disco. Also crashing the party will be Infinito, an arty hip-hop project from local muralist, painter and designer Nereo Zorro.

Local vintage merchant Andrew Chipman of Chip’s Vintage will supply the interstitial soundscape, playing between each set as his DJ alter-ego Andy_2_k.

— Ben Waldman

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Stand-up for tripping out

• Rumor’s Comedy Club, 2025 Corydon Ave.
• Wednesday; 7:30 p.m.
• Tickets $29.75 at rumorscomedyclub.com

Comedian, science communicator and self-professed psychonaut Shane Mauss is bringing his psychedelic comedy tour A Better Trip through Winnipeg on Wednesday.

Billed as “part trip report, part TED Talk,” the 90-minute, one-man show is a celebration of mind-altering substances and psychedelic history. The jokes and storytelling are paired with trippy animations and video loops. Ingestion of actual psychedelics not required.

Mauss has performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Conan. His documentary, Psychonautics: A Comic’s Exploration of Psychedelics, follows his own experiences with mushrooms, MDMA, LSD, ayahuasca and everything in between. He also hosts several general science podcasts and YouTube channels.

— Eva Wasney

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