Thursday, 1 September 2016

Soaking in Summer's Last Long Weekend


Oh, how we're going to miss the long days in the summer sun, biking around, and sipping caesars on the patio with friends. The air is starting to cool down, the sun is starting to set earlier, and the leaves are slowly changing from rich green to a yellow-ish tinge. 

BUT – it's not over yet! Luckily, we have one last weekend to adventure in the summer air, so let's make it the best one yet. 

Here are our top 5 things to do at The Forks this long weekend:


1. Take a photo-walk

A photo posted by Jessica Kalinski (@jkalphoto) on

It's beginning to feel all too real that summer doesn't last forever, so capture the memories while you can – especially in the gorgeous summer/fall lighting. Grab some friends, your camera or phone and snap away around The Forks. Be sure to tag The Forks on Instagram (@theforkswinnipeg) when sharing them with friends.


2. Drop a line

A photo posted by J Daniels (@jpox) on

One of the best things about summer is the bragging rights of getting the catch of the season. Pack up your jigs and fishing poles, and pull up a chair with us along the Assiniboine River for the Fall Fishing Derby this Saturday. Registration starts at 9:00 a.m. under The Canopy. 


3. Go to the beach

Just because you're in the middle of Winnipeg for the long weekend, doesn't mean you can't take a trip to the beach. Grab an ice cream from Neon Cone and good book from Forks Trading Co. and snag a deck on the Beachscape. 


4. Spruce up the school bag


Okay, we know, you don't want to think about going back to school or your last long-weekend of freedom. But, school-supply shopping can be fun – we promise! Especially when your picking up eco-friendly goodies from Generation Green. 


5. Dance the weekend away

Take a walk down to Oodena Celebration Circle to see the Founding Nations Pow Wow. This will be their last one of the summer, so come soak in all the beauty of the colours, dancing and celebration of culture.

 Whatever you do this weekend, have a blast and make the best of it!

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Friday, 26 August 2016

Prairie Garden: 8000 Years of Growth



Way back when – we're talking 8000 years! – the Tall Grass Prairie started growing. It grew and grew, and eventually, it covered an area that was one and a half times the size of Manitoba, stretching all the way from Winnipeg to Texas. It was big, and it was beautiful!

But, when settlers arrived less than 200 years ago, they flattened the Tall Grass Prairie to make room for crops. Now, less than 1% of that natural grassland is still around. 


We think that the Tall Grass Prairie is too beautiful to let disappear, so we created a Tall Grass Prairie right in the heart of Winnipeg's downtown – we call it the Prairie Garden.

It's filled with 150 native species of plants that grew wild here long before we ever came to The Forks for an evening walk or brought the family down for a weekend visit.



The Canada Goldenrod is one of our favourites. It is a stunning yellow form of aster, and right now, they're at their peak blooms. They really remind us of sunny days on the prairies.

The Cree name for this beauty is chachamos kakew which means "to make one sneeze." We haven't tested this theory, but we dare you, stop and smell the Canada Goldenrod!



The honey bees that live in the hives that the amazing BeeProject Apiaries put on our caboose love the Narrow Leaved Sunflower. The bees need flowers like this one, so they can buzz from bloom to bloom, pollinating each one. And then, they make honey with it, and oh my, is it delicious!




If you've been to Winnipeg Folk Festival, you've probably seen a show or two at the lively Big Bluestem stage. You guessed it – everyone's favourite party stage is named after this grass that dominates the Tall Grass Prairie. It was also the hundreds of buffalo's favourite snack!



The Tall Grass Prairie was a complete ecosystem that included animals like buffalo, elk, deer, and little bunnies like this one!


This weekend, come take a stroll through the Prairie Garden and experience the tranquility of thousands of years ago, when the greenery and critters ruled the land we love so much today.

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Friday, 19 August 2016

Getting Cool for School: Back-to-School Shopping at The Forks


It's almost that time again – back to school! The end of August means you're probably double and triple checking your schedule, making sure your son or daughter's backpack is in good shape, or packing a cart full of notebooks, pencils, and crayons for the year ahead.

 When you're checking off items on your school supply list, stop by The Forks Market to buy extra special school supplies and #shoplocal!

 We put together your full back-to-school shopping list, so all you have to do is check them off as you wander around The Forks:


WELL ENERGIZED

 Whether you're packing a meal for the kids or making one for yourself, it's important to eat well during school year.

 PackIt Freezable lunch bags from Generation Green
By packing a lunch every day, you are saving money by limiting your amount of fast food and restaurants trips. You are also helping save the environment by reducing the amount of packaging that ends up in landfills.

In-house roasted coffee from Espresso Junction
Come get your study-fuel! Did you know that you can buy high-quality coffee that's roasted right on The Forks site? Espresso Junction carries a large selection of coffee that rotates flavours about every two weeks.

BEST DRESSED

 Sometimes the most exciting part of school supply shopping is buying your outfit for school pictures or finding the perfect vest for a little confidence boost. 

 Pebble & Dime Camel Vest from Forks Trading Company
A cozy vest is the perfect addition to a comfy dress or pair of jeans – perfect for the mornings when you just want to toss something on and head to school. 

Bamboo dress from Hempyrean
Once you put this dress on, you won't want to take it off. The bamboo is SO soft! It will be perfect for looking good and feeling good in a hurry, and it will look really cute under your new vest!

BauXo tote bag from Forks Trading Company
You'll need something cool to carry around all your books and notes in. This tote bag is the perfect size for a notebook, a few books, and a 13-inch laptop.

New kicks from Sk8 Skates
If you have teens, you know they can be notoriously hard to shop for. Sk8 Skate's store is so well curated that you will have a hard time finding something that your son or daughter doesn't like!



STAND OUT IN THE CROWD

 Big box-stores often carry the same products, making it hard to stand out in the crowd. Find school supplies that match your new get-up and reduce waste!

 Onyx + Green school supplies from Generation Green
The Onyx + Green notebook is made without any paper. Yeah, a notebook without paper, cool right? The pages are made out of stone and the cover is cork. They also make a huge range of eco-friendly school supplies made from bamboo and other earth-friendly materials.

Dreaming Tree Paper Company notebooks from Forks Trading Company
These notebooks will either have you nostalgic for your favorite childhood book. Or, if you're buying for the kids, they'll love taking notes and drawing in a notebook up-cycled from their favorite childrens' books.

 Glasses from Eye GO Mobile Optical
Make sure you or your kids can see the white board with glasses to match the rest of your back-to-school style.


 DOWN TIME

 Stress can make it even harder to study, so make sure you or your kids have everything they need for a little relaxation time. Everyone deserves a moment to kick up their feet!

Boreal Wildcraft "The Wall" tea mugs from Forks Trading Company
With this mug, all you need is water and tea. After a night cramming for exams or finishing a project, sit back and enjoy a cup of tea – you deserve it!

 Yoga mat from Generation Green
Yoga is a great escape from the classroom whether you're a kid or an adult. Studies show that physical activity reduced stress and improves concentration – sounds like exactly what you need during school, right?

 Dream catcher from Teekca's Aboriginal Boutique
We know that sometimes school can feel like the stuff of nightmares. Hang a dream catcher over your bed to protect yourself from the real nightmares and to make sure you get your well-needed rest.


STAY FRESH

 It's easy to let studying get in the way of our skin-care routine, so make sure you have everything you or your kids need to stay in tip-top shape all year. 

 Mama Pacha skin care from Generation Green
These skin care products are all natural and eco-friendly. You can even refill some of the containers right at Generation Green. There is a HUGE range of products for you to choose from, so you're keeping fresh for the school year.

 Good luck this year!

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