btwinnipeg

“They” say you learn something new everyday… Now, I’m not sure if that’s 100% accurate, but I can say that I did learn something new TODAY!

It’s a little embarrassing to admit, but I’m starting to feel like technology is passing me by a little bit.  It seems everyday there is a new, smaller gadget that allows you to read books, use the Internet, Tweet, take photos, send emails, listen to music, watch videos AND get voice-activated directions.  Now, I own a digital camera, an Ipod, a Facebook account, a Rogers Android, and apparently I blog… so I’m doing okay.  But today I learned how to insert PHOTOS into my blog!

Yes.  It is as big a deal to me as I am making it seem…

Check out the (somewhat blurry) photo of floor director Jonny Cameron that I took with my Rogers Android!

Now who says ya can’t teach an old dog new tricks

Heart.

Jenna

Tell me…  what’s better than lying on the beach in the sunshine with a good book?  OR… curling up with a good book and a cup of tea during one of Manitoba’s rainy, summer afternoons?

Now that we’ve got our bases covered on the weather front (hehe front… that was a weather joke!), let’s talk books.

Starting this month, The BT Book Club is giving viewers (and readers!) a chance to read along with us as we delve into a new book every month.

July’s book of choice:  The Prairie Bridesmaid by Daria Salamon.

Krista Strang from McNally Robinson Booksellers stopped by this week to tell us all about the book, written by a local author.

The Prairie Bridesmaid tells the story of 30 year old Anna Lasko, who is stuck in a decade-long relationship with a man she realizes she doesn’t really even like anymore… the book is peppered with meddling girlfriends, family bonds, and nightly counsel with a backyard squirrel.

Daria Salamon’s writing sparkles with wit and charm, and you may even detect the dark humour and quirkiness of another Manitoba author — Miriam Toews.

We want YOU to read along with us, and then send in your reviews of the book to citysays@btwinnipeg.ca.  We may even read yours on the air

Pour yourself a glass of cheap merlot and pick up “The Prairie Bridesmaid” today!

Heart,

Jenna.

The New Pornographers hit the stage at the Garrick Centre last night… and the crowd went wild to see the entire band up there together.

They’re touring on the release of their latest album, aptly named, “Together”… and it’s the first time in a long time that every member of the band has toured together.  Each member has it’s own project on the side, making them all very busy people (according to Uptown Magazine, “Together” was recorded in 7 different studios to accommodate all their schedules!).

This is my second time seeing an NP show, and I have to say that having Neko Case and Dan Bejar up there made all the difference — best show yet!

And the guy beside me at the show certainly seemed to agree…

The one thing that put a slight damper on my enjoyment of the show (and I don’t usually use my blog as a rant session…) was buddy beside me who fist pumped, and high-fived his entire way through the show!  Now, I am ALL FOR everyone enjoying a show in their own right, it’s when it borders on affecting the enjoyment of OTHERS that it begins to irk me.

At last count, I believe 51 high-fives had been exchanged between he and his friends.  And the good news is, once I backed up slightly so I was no longer getting random elbow jabs in the face, he actually became quite the entertaining sideshow

We got two handed, single finger doo-wops, more fist pumps, more high-fives and even a half moonwalk!

So I must say cheers to the High Five Dude… and cheers again to The New Pornographers!  They put on an absolutely killer show that I am thrilled to have witnessed!

Heart,

Jenna.

I thought I had a good idea of just how easy it is to become a “crazy cat lady” before… but now I can say that for SURE.  (And to all the “crazy cat ladies” out there, please know that I use the term with love!)

Putting our family cat down after 16 years was one of the saddest days I can remember.  He was a big part of our lives, and became my parents’ “only child” after my sister and I moved out of the homestead.  But with loss, comes new life.  And it’s approaching the time that my parents are ready to find a new feline friend to take over their house.

We’ve begun cat “shopping”… visiting some of the wonderful people at the wonderful animal shelters in Winnipeg.  And meeting some wonderful potential pets.

One thing I have to say though, is that for every smile a cat puts on my face, there is also a sadness in realizing that it is yet another pet without a home.

I’ve met Firestone, Minouette, Louie, Licorice, Jackson, TinkerBell, Casper, Jaffa, Red, Cleo… and many, many more.   I’ve fallen in love 15 times in 15 minutes (over and over again!) and would love to be able to take them all home!

While it will be going to my mom and dad’s house and not to mine… our family will be giving one lucky kitty a new home very soon.

And if there’s room in yours, I encourage you to stop by The Winnipeg Humane Society, D’Arcy’s Arc, or one of the many other wonderful shelters in Winnipeg… and take one home too!

Just make sure you’re ready for the responsibility and unconditional love your new pet comes with!

Heart.

Sigh… there’s just something about that feeling you get when you leave a live show and you realize you’ve been smiling for the past three hours.

JP Hoe (and guests) put on a FANTASTIC show last night at the West End Cultural Centre, including an opening act that featured Ruth Moody (of the Wailin’ Jennys) performing songs from her upcoming solo effort.

The rest of the show highlighted some new songs, as well as some old favourites that had fans singing along and cheering with appreciation.

There was also a musician’s game of musical chairs.  His band and back-up vocalists included appearances by local musician Sheena Grobb, as well as a few of the guys from Quinzy jumping into the mix… playing everything from the yukele to the pedal steel (and a few instruments I did not even recognize)!

If you’re a fan… you know exactly what I’m talking about   And if not, check him out at http://www.myspace.com/jphoe.

Heart,

Jenna.

What a weekend Manitoba!

Manitobans were drenched with more than 100 mm of rain in some areas over the weekend, and Saturday proved to be total chaos – with road closures, flooded basements, and puddles you needed a lifejacket to navigate through!

Like the hardy Winnipeggar that I am, I braved the elements Saturday night to paint the town red!  A friend is in town from Austin Tx, and I needed to show her a good time!  Though I suspect only the ducks ACTUALLY had a good time outdoors on Saturday…

Amber and I decked ourselves out in our best attire (the works – hair, make-up, heels, dresses!) and despite our best efforts, ended up looking like drowned rats by the end of the night.  But FABULOUS drowned rats, I must say!

The reason for our efforts?  The Q Dance ballet production at the Gas Station Theatre.  The evening featured three separate pieces, two of which were world premieres, as well as the Canadian premiere of “In Tandem”, all works choreographed by Peter Quanz.  “In Tandem” was commissioned by the Guggenheim Museum in New York City in 2009.

Was the performance worth our soggy feet and frizzy hair?  It was indeed!  I found “In Tandem” to be breath-takingly unique.  Unlike any other ballet performance I’ve seen before.  Not to mention, the choice of venue made the production a very up close and personal experience, and featured 6 dancers from the Royal Winnipeg Ballet.

Watch for more productions by Q Dance, the project-based dance  company – likely coming on an annual basis to Winnipeg.

And if you’re a motorist, watch for lovely ladies in heels fighting the rain, and SLOW DOWN please!

Heart,

Jenna

Definitely can’t get enough of this summer-y weather!  I keep forgetting it’s only April!  I will stop talking about it though, as I don’t want to jinx it!

This weekend I checked out Grand Prix Amusements… not for Go-Karting (I’m wayyy too chicken) but to play some mini golf in the sunshine!  I can’t believe I’ve never been there before!  What a great family place!  I even saw a family birthday celebration taking place at one of the picnic tables.

Basically I spent as much of my weekend outside as possible – first backyard bonfire of the year, first Grand Prix mini golf game of the year, and lots of walking through the Village and Corydon.

Looks like seven days of sunshine ahead, make sure you enjoy it!

Heart.

Hey all!

Hope you enjoyed my interview with Hawksley Workman this week!  On Saturday I had the chance to sit down with the returned-to-indie rocker and we had a nice chat about the Canadian music scene, his latest pair of albums “Milk” and “Meat”, and also what’s next for Hawksley Workman.

I checked out his show later that night as well, and was blown away by the entire three hours he rocked that stage!

Maybe all my gushing doesn’t sound all that professional… but an entertainment host has to let the inner fan out once in awhile!

Hope you got a chance to see the interview on BT – if not, I have a feeling it will be re-appearing in a Best of BT down the road!  I’ll keep ya posted

Heart, Jenna

What a fun weekend!

This weekend was the annual Media Lip Sync at the Travelodge in support of the Children’s Wish Foundation.

As always, we entered a team – and while we didn’t come out on top, we had an absolute blast and helped to support a great cause!

It was the 13th year of the competition, so the organizers went with a spook-tastic theme.  Our group chose to do Grease “We Go Together…”, but with a zombie-high twist.  Who doesn’t love a little Greased Lightening with zombies!

And I was especially proud of the group!  One of my co-workers and I choreographed all our dance moves in my living room (yep, that’s not weird at all!) and I was so proud to see the way our team worked hard to learn the steps WHILE singing nonsense words like “Shamma lamma lamma Ka-ding, Ka-ding Dong” and “Shoo Bop Shoo Wadda Wadda”…

Wonderful event… and now that it’s over, we can look ahead to next year!

Heart.

Hi all!

Last night I checked out PTE’s “Lawrence and Holloman”.   I’ve never actually been to a play at PTE before, and I was blown away by last night’s performance.

Michael Spencer-Davis was genius at his portrayal of the pessimistic, slightly creepy “Holloman”, and Matthew Edison had me laughing out loud as he played the obnoxiously optimistic Lawrence with charming arrogance.

The play isn’t for the young’uns, a warning to you.  But the dark humour and deliciously twisted story-lines will keep a more mature audience well entertained!

This is the last weekend for it, and if you can take a break from your Olympic viewing for a couple hours, “Lawrence and Holloman” is very much worth checking out!

Heart.