Food and art served together for co-op

FOODIES ALERT: Nine of Winnipeg’s top chefs are cooking at the Art of Good Food fundraiser for NorWest Co-op Community Food Centre on Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Qualico Family Centre, 330 Assiniboine Park Dr. Sizzling chefs include Ben Kramer and Mandel Hitzer of deer + almond; Eraj Jayawickreme from the Fairmont Winnipeg; Kyle Lew from Chew; Talia Syrie of the Tallest Poppy; Norm Pastorin from the Cornerstone Bar and Restaurant; Aron Epp of Peg Beer Co.; Heiko Duehrsen from Assiniboine Park Conservancy; and Norwest community chef Grant Mitchell. It’s a night of food tastings, artists and an art auction.

NorWest Co-Op teaches folks in the Seven Oaks area how to grow gardens and create healthier diets. "Diabetes is a big problem and good food is a big factor in fixing that problem," says organizer Janellyn Marcial. "We are not funded by government or the United Way. It’s mostly me looking for grants and doing programs like this."

The event also features works created on the spot by local artists Nereo Jr. Eugenio, Jessica Hodgson Ceramics, Marc Liss of Origin Handcrafted Goods and Lennard Taylor of LennardTaylor.com. Beeproject Apiaries will be on site with a enclosed observation hive. Tickets are $90 and VIP tickets are $150 by emailing jmarcial2@norwestcoop.ca or calling 204-795-1454.

UP ON THE ROOF: Jessi Cruickshank, host of the CBC television show Canada’s Smartest Person, was in Winnipeg recently and got a tour from a personal guide — Jason Syvixay, the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ’s resident Energizer Bunny.

He took her to the top of the Fairmont, and then it was off to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. It can be a serious place to visit, but the motto for Cruickshank’s show is "no brains, no gains."

"She especially loved looking out the Tower of Hope," Syvixay said.

Downtown Winnipeg BIZ has just Syvixay and his staff of two others, Rose Dominguez and her assistant Sarah Lipinski, to co-ordinate the more than 200 events that take place downtown between now and the ManyFest event on Broadway, Sept. 9-11. That works out to two or three events per day.

 

TAROT READING CLASS: People in Winnipeg will spend money on a tarot card readings, but it’s a skill that can be learned, says Lisa Tjaden, a tarot card reading instructor who owns Radiance Gifts. She has 15 readers working part time out of the shop, including herself. Her intensive three-hour class is on June 25 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the classroom at the back of the shop.

At the workshop, people learn common meanings behind the 78 different tarot cards. Course cost is $60, including a manual with illustrations. Call 204-284-4231 to register.

NEW ADVENTURES IN SEX AFTER 50: The baby boomers have reached their 50s and 60s, but it’s never too late to learn some new tricks. An instruction book called The Ultimate Guide to Sex After Fifty by Joan Price has just arrived at Love Nest, and is flying off the shelves, says owner Linda Proulx.

Price dives into everything, including how to get your mojo back, what to wear in the bedroom, medical challenges, positions, sensitive spots and many more topics. "In all my years in the business — 28 now — this is the first book we have gotten with excellent info for people over 50, both men and woman, and I just love it," says the 66-year-old Proulx.

SOLSTICE PARTY: Summer begins next week and Sage Garden Herbs is celebrating with a solstice celebration Thursday at their location at 3410 St. Mary’s Rd.

The celebrations happen in the greenhouse workshop and the field behind the funky-looking nursery. It’s an introductory class where participants plant a black cauldron with "magical plants" such as blood marigolds, heliotrope and pimpernel. They’ll also have a bonfire "and be smudging with sage, wormwort and mugworts," says owner Dave Hanson with a laugh. Go to sagegardens.ca to register or call 204-257-2715.

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