5 Events to Check Out During Bike Week

We love summer for so many reasons! But, one of the best things about summer is that we can go for evening bike rides with our favorite people while the sun is setting over downtown. 

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June 18-24 is Bike Week, and we can’t wait! It’s an entire week dedicated to those evening bike rides, your daily commute, and morning rides with the kids!

These are some of our favorite events happening during Bike Week. Check out their Event Schedule for the full list.

Sunday, June 19th | Community Bike Shop Day | 12:00 - 4:00 pm

Is your bike making a strange noise you can’t fix? The W.R.E.N.C.H. with South Osborne Bike Hub, Orioles Bike Cage, and The Bike Dump will be under The Canopy to tune up your bike, so it’s running smoothly for the week. 

While you’re here, tie-dye a Bike Week shirt for $10 or bring something white from home. Don’t have a bike? We will be auctioning off refurbished bikes at 2:00 pm.

Tuesday, June 21st | Birds Hill, Biking and Beer | 4:30 pm

Now here is a perfect evening – riding from downtown to Birds Hill Park and coming back for a well-deserved beer on a patio! Meet the Executive Director of the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ, Stefano Grande, at Air Canada Park for this city to park ride. You can register by calling the Biz at (204) 958-4640.

Wednesday, June 22nd | Moveable Feast | 5:30 - 10:00 pm

Cycling is hard work, and hard work makes us hungry. We can’t wait for this ride because along the way, you stop at five different restaurants downtown - Little Sister Coffee Maker, Café 22, East India Company, Carbone Coal Fired Pizza, and The Planit. We’ve never had such a delicious bike ride! The ride cost $40, and you can register here.

Thursday, June 23rd | 2016 Bicycle Infrastructure Tour | 6:30 - 8:30 pm

Bike Winnipeg and Active Transportation Planner, Erik Dickson, will be leading a ride around Winnipeg, explaining some of Winnipeg’s cycling infrastructure. You’ll learn why these paths and bridges popped up, where there’s room for improvement, and where it’s going. Space is limited, so make sure to register!

Friday, June 24th | 9th Annual Bike to Work Day | 6:30 to 9:00 am 

                               | Winnipeg BBQ Party | 4:00 - 7:00 pm

We’re riding our bikes to work on Friday and stopping at the pit stops along the way! Stop by the W.R.E.N.C.H. by The Caboose for a tune up and a fuel up with juice and a Tall Grass Prairie Bakery cinnamon bun!

After work, ride down to the University of Winnipeg for Bike Week Winnipeg BBQ Party. Grab some free food (first 300 people), and buy a pint of Bike Week’s special brew, Bikey McBikeface Grapefruit Lager by Half Pints. Yes, it’s called Bikey McBikeface Grapefruit Lager, and we’re loving it!

While you’re there, dance to the DJ and check out the displays and demonstrations. Bring the kids! They can play in the kids area and decorate their bikes.

Happy riding!

Date Idea: Bike Ride & Picnic at The Forks

 

Hands down, one of my favourite things about summer is a leisurely bike ride and a picnic. One of the best Winnipeg destinations on bike is The Forks. My husband Bob and I recently rode to The Forks on a sunny Friday night and had a lovely picnic date.

With all the bike paths, it’s a quick and easy ride over to The Forks. No parking, no traffic. And? Exercise and fresh air! Watching the world go by while cruising on my bike makes me so happy. You can see so much more on a bike! The city comes alive. To plan your bike route to The Forks check out the trail listings. On super busy days The Forks offers bike valet service, the valets will usher your bike away and lock it up, so fancy!

A picnic at The Forks is the best because you don’t need to pack a thing! The market is loaded with options. When I think picnic, I think France. So, I immediately gravitate toward the cheese and baguette at Tall Grass Bakery. But, you could get ANYTHING from the food vendors and take it outside. With the new Food Hall opening soon, there’s even more exciting options around the corner!

On the way out, we popped into Johnston Terminal and grabbed an Italian soda from Espresso Junction and a frisbee from Kite and Caboodle.

There is no shortage of picnic spots at The Forks. Shade, sun, river view, people view, whatever you need The Forks has it! Strolling around looking for the perfect spot is half the fun.

My favourite picnic spot is smack dab in the middle of it all! Sitting here you get the ultimate Winnipeg skyline view. CMHR, the Esplanade bridge, Portage and Main, The Hotel Fort Garry. It really is the best downtown view.

We think of The Forks as our own backyard. It’s where we come to play, relax and spend time outside. When is the last time you went outside and just played?

I love kicking back here. I turn off my phone. Read, nap, play some more frisbee, eat some more cheese…it doesn’t get much better. I wonder if I can convince someone to put up a large hammock installation?

I just love a picnic date, it’s a simple forgotten way to spend time together. Whether it’s a date with your sweetie pie, pal or kids, I highly recommend adding it to your Winnipeg summer to do list!

Lindsay Somers is a Lifestyle Health Coach. You can follow on Twitter and Instagram. Photos by Janine Kropla. 

Cheers to the first Craft Beer and Wine List!

The opening of the Craft Beer and Wine Kiosk at The Forks is SO CLOSE, and we can't wait to celebrate with you with a bevvy in the Food Hall!

We've got our first lineup of beers to sip with your fish and chips and wines to enjoy with your Greek salad.

So, who chooses the craft beer and wine?

We tasked Canadian-based professional sommelier and beverage business development specialist, William Predhomme, with choosing the beer and wine for our new Craft Beer and Wine Kiosk. Oh boy, did he deliver!

William says when he heard about the Craft Beer and Wine Kiosk, he couldn't say no. He created a list that is nothing like any other licensed Food Hall in Canada – a truly craft list not bound by large suppliers and with something that everyone will like.

All of our beer and wine has been carefully chosen to pair with the delicious food in The Market.

Without further ado... 🍺🍷

I can't wait until these taps start pouring the nectar of Gods. #Winnipeg #TheForks #beertime #craftbeer

A photo posted by Mike Smith (@wpg_msmith) on May 29, 2016 at 7:04pm PDT

Which craft beers?

We've handpicked the best beers to go with your Skinner's hot dog:

• Hop City Barking Squirrell
• Samuel Adams Boston Lager 
• Erdinger Weissbier 
• Stiegle Radler 
• Rhyme & Reason APA 
• Saugatack Brewing The Reverend Monk 
• Pommies Apple Cider 
• Local features from Half Pints Brewery and Fort Garry Brewing

We will serve beer in 12 or 16 ounce servings for $8-10 a glass. You can also get flights that will feature four, four ounce beers for $12-20.

Which wines?

We've chosen wines that come from as far away as Portugal and South Africa, to as local as British Columbia and Ontario.

• Bengamine Bridge Tial Bay
• Opawa Pino Noir
• A.A. Badenhorst Family Wines The Curator Red 2012
• Sepp Moser Gruner Veltliner
• Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon
• Leaning Post The Fifty Unoaked Chardonnay (Owned by former Winnipeggers!)
• Leaning Post Syrah

We will serve six ounce glasses for $8-40 dollars a glass. You can also get wine flights that feature three, two ounce wines for $12 and $20.

#WineWednesday anyone!?

A photo posted by John Medina (@itsalexmedina_) on May 24, 2016 at 6:05pm PDT

The Craft Beer and Wine Kiosk will be opening VEEERRYY soon. Keep an eye out for announcements of the opening date, hours, and new food tenants!
Cheers! 🍻