Hot summer nights keep Corydon patios hopping

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This article was published 19/08/2011 (5190 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MAGICAL SUMMER OF 2011! — Corydon Village patios have been loaded far into the night as people enjoy what’s left of the tropical-style weather. “Never has there been a summer like this, in 43 years (of being in the business)!” says Arnaldo Carreira of Orlando’s Seafood restaurant. “We haven’t lost one day this summer. Maybe it rains for 20 minutes but then it goes away.”

But Wednesday night Carreira confessed he was secretly hoping the crowd would buzz off, so he and his love Catherine Harris could celebrate a special anniversary. The lovebirds are planning to marry in Carreira’s home of Portugal “when it’s not so busy,” he says, gesturing at the people in his restaurant.

“This year there were no mosquitoes and very few wasps and that has made a big difference,” says John Kolevris who owns Saffron’s, which has the biggest patio on the strip.

“Spring was cold but the summer has been good. But, there’s been better. Six year ago we had a great summer with a nice early spring, and we went like that all the way to the beginning of September.” Kristina’s owner, Yvonne Nakoulas, says Winnipeg people forget April, May and half of June were cold.

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JAZZ BLAST! — On Wednesday night, The Orbit’s Cool Wednesday Night Hang was jam-packed very early and ready to blast off with a lot of young people. Why? “It’s my favourite time of year… jazz camp,” said bassist Steve Kirby. He’s head of jazz studies at the University of Manitoba and the summer camp for 60-70 up-and-coming jazz players. They get one week of intensive training with local jazz stars/instructors and many play at this open mic. It also signals the end of The Hang’s summer hiatus for jazz fans who come from all over Winnipeg. Kirby kicked off onstage with his U of M posse Jimmy Greene, Quincy Davis, Larry Roy and George Colligan.

The first song was dedicated to jazz aficionado Cynthia Horgan, a corporate training manager for Red River College, who can’t play or sing jazz herself but is crazy about it. “I fell in love it when I was dating a jazz drummer a long time ago,” she confesses. “This kind of talent is rare… so hard to find. Look how they play off one another.”

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MAKING A BIG DIFFERENCE — Winnipeg child-care worker Stephanie Flater is throwing a big three-band benefit concert to raise money for the children and community she worked with as an art teacher in Uganda. “I still carry all those people in my heart,” says Flater, 20. The event is Saturday, Aug. 27 at St. Joseph’s Parish Hall, 515 College Ave. The money raised is going to “basic things like a school that isn’t made of mud with a tin roof” and latrines for the kids. “And part of the profits will go to West Africa, because of what’s going on there now — the famine.” Flater is a tiny girl but a superwoman.

Two years ago, at only 18, she was determined to go to Africa and networked until she found Linda Chegwin, a nurse from Brandon, who was headed for a project in Uganda and off she went with her. She stays in touch online with the Busowa community priest Father Jude who will oversee her project money. Tickets for the benefit social are $10 at the door.

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COMEDY WINNERS — Aisha Alfa, a life coach, model and comedian — and the host of some segments on WFPtv — won first place at Rumor’s finals for the 2011 Winnipeg’s Funniest Person With a Day Job. The “old ball coach” Ben Walker and Jordan Wellwood, both from ShawTV’s The Week Thus Far, tied for second. Insiders know Walker is actually Alfa’s boyfriend, and my spy tells me, “She told him he could be bitter for one night and then he had to be nice.”

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NEW KID ON THE BLOCK — “We’re upscale casual in chic surroundings,” says Joanne McFadden, co-owner of The Loft at 774 Corydon Ave. She and her family have replaced The Liquid Lounge with a chichi European gastropub venture in the midst of mainly Greek, Italian and Japanese offerings. McFadden hired Chef Daniel Nicholls (La Vielle Gare, Dubrovnik, Tiffany’s) to cook, and her son Colin McFadden and his wife Tara are hip young management with modern music happening.

 

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