4 Treats You Have to Try at Neon Cone This Summer

Warm sunny days like today are perfect reminders that summer is just around the corner, and one of our favourite ways to celebrate that as often as possible is to swing by Neon Cone, grab a couple of scoops, and chill on the patio.

Although you’ve probably been there for rum raisin or tiger tiger before, the shop – which has been a family-run staple at The Forks for more than twenty years – has so much more to offer than just the traditional standbys. They gave us the inside scoop (har-de-har) on what's brand new, and what you absolutely have to try.

1. Ice cream made in-house, at The Forks

Ice cream is a tricky and delicious science. There's a delicate balancing act between the cream and the rest of the ingredients, that can make or break the flavour or texture. Neon Cone has spent the winter months researching ice cream trends (could there be a worse job?!) perfecting their recipe, sourcing local ingredients, and concocting a line-up of outstandingly delicious flavours that are truly Manitoban. 

With the advice and guidance of a real, Italian gelato specialist, they've also been making their own gelato in the shop for the past few years. 

Featured above: maple whisky butter pecan. It's ok, we're drooling too. 

2. Ice cream flights 

Because you know you're going to want to taste them ALL, this helps eliminate the decision making process. Flights will feature four made-in-house flavours. We got to try a few of them, and haven't stopped thinking about them since. The flight on the left includes all house-made gelato flavours: (from top) dark chocolate, raspberry, mango, and lemon. On the right, homemade ice cream: local honey + lavender, espresso flake, strawberry rhubarb crumble, and carrot cake. Other flavours you might spot in the freezer this summer: Manitoba rooibos tea + blueberry as well as London fog (Earl grey tea + vanilla) with teas provided by local tea shop, Cornelia Bean. Yum.

3. Cookie Girl ice cream sandwiches

These aren’t the freezer-burned ice cream sandwiches that stuck to the paper you knew as a kid – this is the highly upgraded and doubly delicious version. Neon Cone has partnered with local baker Cookie Girl for a build-your-own ice cream sandwich that will make your sweet tooth swoon. Choose from cookie flavours like funfetti, peanut butter cup, or salted caramel and fill 'em with an ice cream like vanilla, chocolate, or hey, even cookie dough. They keep the ice cream in an extra-cold freezer so it's less prone leak out the sides on that first highly-anticipated bite. Genius.

For another delicious pairing, look for the Tall Grass Prairie Bread Co. brownies in Neon Cone's brownie sundaes this summer!

4. Rotating tap at Fro-Gurts

The family who owns Neon Cone also owns its frozen-yogurt counterpart, Fro-Gurts. While they always offer a selection of your favourite flavours, they also have a rotating seasonal tap – they featured pumpkin pie and gingerbread this winter. Coming up in May: juicy and refreshing blood orange.

Is your mouth watering yet? Neon Cone updates their Instagram account with photos of their newest flavours and specials. Check it out so you don’t miss a minute of the sprinkle-coated action!

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by Diana Chabai, The Forks Marketing + Communications Intern. Diana's favourite ice cream flavour is usually mint chocolate chip, but Neon Cone's strawberry rhubarb crumble might be the new winner. 

Picking Something Fresh in the Public Orchard

What's better than walking around, enjoying the summer sun, and picking berries right from the branch? Picking berries in the heart of Winnipeg's downtown! The fruit in our Public Orchard is starting to ripen, and we can't wait until you can harvest fruit from the trees. Yes – you can pick the fruit for FREE!

In 2013, Winnipeg CORE helped us install 61 fruit trees and as many as 75 fruit bearing shrubs as a part of our Target Zero initiative. Since the trees and shrubs are still fairly young, it will take 2 or 3 years until all the plants are producing the fruits of their labour. 

BUT, some of the plants in the Public Orchard are very close to giving us summer treats! 

Here are some of our favorites:

1. Ben Connan Currant

Taste: Rich blackcurrant flavour
When they're ripe: When they are a deep purple (darker than in this photo)
Use them for: Blackcurrant Shortbread Bars

2. Goji Berry

Our Goji Berry plants are currently full of flowers like these ones that will soon produce fruit!

Taste: Slightly bitter with a sweet berry aftertaste
When they're ripe: When they turn bright red and taste slightly sweet
Use them for: Pineapple Goji Berry Smoothie

3. Northline Saskatoon Berry

Taste: Sweet and juicy
When they're ripe: When they are a deep purple
Use them for: Saskatoon Berry Ice Cream

4. Goodland Apple

Taste: Crisp and tender sweetness
When they're ripe: When nearly half the apple has turned red
Use them for: Classic Apple Turnovers

5. Double Delight Raspberry

Taste: Classic and sweet
When they're ripe: When they turn bright red and taste sweet
Use them for: Raspberry Lemonade Yogurt Popcicles

6. Pixwell Gooseberry

Taste: Boozy grape-like flavor
When they're ripe: When they turn red and feel soft (pick green berries for cooking)
Use them for: Gooseberry and Elderflower Jam

Full list of fruit in the Public Orchard:

Berries & Cherries:	Apples & Pears:	Plums & Apricots:
Tundra Honeyberry Red Lake Currant Pixwell Gooseberry Polaris Blueberry Goji Berry Northern Sky Blueberry Northline Saskatoon Berry Double Delight Raspberry Highbush Cranberry Theissen Saskatoon Berry Ben Connan Currant Nankin Cherry Black Nankin Cherry Carmine Jewel Cherry Cupid Cherry Evans Cherry Crimson Passion Cherry Russian Orange Sea Buckthorn	Milstream Apple Goodland Apple Zestar Apple McIntosh Apple Goodmac Apple Red Sparkle Apple Prairie Magic Apple Fall Red Apple Carroll Apple Apple Multi-graft Dexter Jackson Apple Prairie Sun Apple Northland Apple Norkent Apple Early Gold Pear Golden Spice Pear Ure Pear	Toka Plum Pembina Plum Westcot Apricot

Follow the progress of the Public Orchard on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and now Snapchat! 

Happy picking!

Homegrown Summer: A Visit to The Forks Farmers' Market

Blog post by Lindsay Somers

I don't know about you, but I love enjoying each season and the unique things it brings. In summer, I love biking and taking in the sites, sounds, and flavours. One of my all-time favourites is the fresh produce that we get here in Manitoba, and nothing says summer like going to a farmers' market to get it. So last weekend we (Bob and I) biked to The Forks Farmers' Market (open on Sundays from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. near The Forks Market) to check out what they had.

We decided to bike there because - well, I want to ride my bike everywhere! It feels great to use your own body to move, get outside and is a more pleasant way to get places. With updated bike lanes and oodles of bike parking, The Forks is an easy bike destination to get to [just remember to bring a tote bag to haul all your goodies!]. 

Farmers’ Markets are always a bit of a surprise shop, you never know what’s in season (non-gardener here!), and artisans always have new and different handmade offerings. My strategy is always to walk a couple laps first as see what’s out there before really honing in.

I love chatting directly with the people who spent time handcrafting and growing the goods. Everything is made with pride and care. It feels so good buying directly from the source.

One of my favourite finds was infused vinegar from Blue SkyManitoba. It’s a game changer for homemade salad dressings. Just mix with olive oil, and voila! Delicious salad dressing. There were over 20 different kinds of infusions. After some hard deliberations, we chose oregano, sun dried tomato and garlic. You can smell every sample to see what suits you. The vinegars are also great for meat marinades and dips too!

Another great discovery was Teamate tea. Every tea you could possibly imagine, I mean EVERY kind. We settled on mint green, ginger fresh and iced lavender. It is worth stopping by this booth if only for the aromatherapy!

Fruit and vegetable season is just beginning, and there was already so much to choose from! I picked up a few salad essentials: spinach, radishes and zucchini. I always prefer locally grown vegetables, they taste so much better. And, all are grown organically with no pesticides. We rounded out our shopping trip with some classic Manitoba perogies! I imagine they were made with tender love in a rural church basement.

What a lovely way to get my produce and a few essentials for the week. It’s an excellent way to spend time together browsing about on a sunny day. Ah, summer.

Later, we came home and put together a simple summer supper. Perogies and salad, so good! I can’t wait to see what they’ll have next week!

Lindsay Somers is an expert in urban lifestyle health. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram. All photos by @janinekropla

Saddle up for the Rodeo- Interstellar Rodeo that is.

Interstellar Rodeo has been slowly creeping into Winnipeg’s consciousness after three great festivals in Edmonton. Adding Winnipeg as Interstellar Rodeo’s second home was a natural. Winnipeg is a music-lovers town. We punch well above our weight when it comes to the talent that oozes out of here, and we are well known to be prolific and discerning when it comes to making and taking in live music.  Our festivals are renowned – every summer weekend boasts musical opportunities of all genres and vibes, and even our winter has shot up as a music festival season with events like Festival du Voyageur and Big Fun. Interstellar fits right in to the scene. It’s an urban festival – easily accessible by foot, bike, bus, car and even boat.

Our inaugural 2015 Winnipeg festival features a slick set of excellent artists – the unofficial theme has something to do with badasses. While very different musically, artists like Sinead O’Connor, Steve Earle and Tanya Tagaq are not afraid to tell their truths. Personally, I think every summer festival should end on a Blue Rodeo high; and so this one shall, right after a summer stunner of a set by Vance Joy who is burning up the airwaves and is about to hit the road with Taylor Swift!

When I think about Interstellar Rodeo, much of my excitement comes from envisioning it at The Forks. That museum in the background? After show drinks at SMITH? (maybe a breakfast cinnamon bun from Tall Grass…). I just can’t wait to sip exquisitely paired wine on one of those berms, watching Winnipeggers enjoy the site, the sights and seeing some old favorites like Dwight Yoakam, and likely find some new great bands to love.

Guest Post by: Sara Stasiuk

{fan of good music}

Interstellar Rodeo Winnipeg Artists & Schedule

FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 2015

Hawksley Workman

Tanya Tagaq

Sinead O’Connor

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2015

Amelia Curran

NQ Arbuckle

Elliott BROOD

Justin Townes Earle

Steve Earle & The Dukes

Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings

Dwight Yoakam

SUNDAY, AUGUST 16, 2015

Jason Plumb and the Willing

Black Joe Lewis

Rhiannon Giddens

The Lone Bellow

July Talk

Vance Joy

Blue Rodeo

Tickets:

Tickets go on sale Friday, April 10 at 8 a.m. 

Prices range from $48.75 (Youth single-day tickets) to $225.00 (Adult weekend transferable passes). 

There are limited quantities of First Mover Weekend Passes, which are just over $140 (1/3 off the advance price.)

For more ticket details, click here.

How to become a Scotiabank Busk Stop Busker

It’s that time of year again! It’s time to decide who gets to hold the golden ticket – a 2014/2015 Busk Pass – and entertain Forks visitors with their amazing and unusual talents year-round.

We’re hosting busker auditions May 2 and 3 and we want to see what you’ve got!

You should become a Scotiabank Busk Stop busker if you:

a) can play an instrument

b) can make balloon sculptures

c) can sing

d) can ride a unicycle

e) can make some really cool art

f) can walk on stilts

g) can juggle many interesting objects

h) have an alter ego

i) have some other amazing and wacky talent

j) can do any or all of these things – in unison, in a family-friendly, entertaining fashion, in front of large groups of people, indoors or outdoors at The Forks

On audition day, you’ll have five minutes to show the judges your busking talent – make it fun!

If you are a musician – if you play an instrument or if your voice is your instrument – you’ll have to provide the judges with two different 30-minute set lists. The judges will ask you to play songs from the set lists you provide.

Once you have a Busk Pass, you’ll be able to set yourself up at one of the Scotiabank Busk Stops at The Forks and entertain the masses!

Submit your application to audition by 4 p.m. on Friday, April 25. Download the form here.

Questions? Call (204) 987-4356 or email buskers@tf-np.ca

Happy busking!

By The Forks communications intern, Larissa Peck

Summer at The Forks

Canada Day has come and gone and summer is in full swing at The Forks.  The July 1st celebrations were a huge success and we want to thank everyone who came out and made it a party to remember!

Canada Day at The Forks is part of our Scotiabank Summer Concert Series, a collection of four large scale events held on site during the months of June and July.  We kicked off the concert series with Pride Day celebrations, then APTN's Aboriginal Day Live & Celebration and, most recently, Canada Day.  If for some crazy reason you missed all three of those events, not to worry, we have one more coming your way!  The Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Folklorama Kickoff will be hitting the Scotiabank Stage and Festival Field on July 27.  Watch for an upcoming blog post on that.

Looking for something to do at The Forks THIS weekend?  Why not spend the afternoon hanging out on the beach in the Historic Port?  The beach is an interactive installation of art and architecture that is part of Cool Gardens, summer's answer to the now famous Warming Huts.

Feeling the heat from all that beach sitting?  Zip on up to Neon Cone at The Forks Market and grab and ice cream cone or gelato to cool you off while you kick back and relax on the Splash Dash River Tour.  Waterbus tours run daily with pick ups and drop offs right in The Forks Historic Port.

If all that leisure and relaxtion has made you thirsty why not enjoy a cold bevvy in the shade at the Muddy Waters port side patio.  Excellent views of the river and The Forks site make it one of the most appealing patios in town.

Remember we have plenty of places to lock up your bike, so why not leave the car at home next time you head down to The Forks?

If you're looking for more information on any events happening at The Forks, you can always visit our Calendar of Events on theforks.com.  Thanks for stopping in.  Stay cool, Winnipeg!