Making a list, checking it twice

I regularly review albums for the Free Press, and have been doing so since the demise of the standalone version of Winnipeg’s alt-weekly publication, Uptown Magazine. Every year, at around this time, my editor, Jill Wilson, asks me and the newspaper’s other regular reviewers, Holly Harris (classical) and Keith Black (jazz), to compile lists of our favourite recordings for publication at year’s end (Dec. 27 this year, I’m told).

I like to say I loathe this practise, mostly because I find it exasperatingly difficult to narrow my list of favourite records down to 10. My predilection for procrastination also means I usually leave my list-making to the last minute, which, of course, makes it that much more stressful.

Supplied image – It's time to compile my year-end list of the best albums of 2024. Will Waxahatchee's Tigers Blood be on it?

Supplied image – It’s time to compile my year-end list of the best albums of 2024. Will Waxahatchee’s Tigers Blood be on it?

But I also love the process. While procrastinating, I eagerly scan the year-end music lists of others – not because I’m looking to copy their work but because I’m always on the lookout for something I may have missed. I review over 40 albums each year, but that’s a tiny fraction of the music released per annum, so I rely on podcasts, newsletters and the reviews of trusted critics and friends for suggestions and recommendations, and when the time comes to put fingers to keyboard and make my final best-of choices, I often end up with two lists – one of my 10 favourites and another, much longer list of albums I want to hear.

If you do the same, or you’re interested in a broad overview of what music critics liked in 2024, I suggest you start with yearendlists.com, which regularly aggregates the favourites of others. It’s not exhaustive, but there’s a deluge of best-ofs available at this time of year, and it’s useful to see many of them collected in one place.

One of the most enjoyable parts of my job as editor of the Free Press Community Review is covering amateur sporting events. Regardless of the sport or level of play, I enjoy watching athletes in action and I love getting caught up in the spirit of competition.

That spirit is especially evident at the finals of Manitoba’s big high school sports — football, volleyball, hockey or basketball. Parents, friends, families and students of the competing schools really get into the action, with organized cheering sections, face-painted fans, even drums and air horns. It’s something to behold…

Supplied photo — Jann Arden brings her Christmas concert to Club Regent Event Centre on Dec. 12 and 13.

This year’s Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association AAAA volleyball finals are being played tonight at Investors Group Athletic Centre at the University of Manitoba. The girls’ final, at 6 p.m., pits Brandon’s Vincent Massey Vikings against the Jeanne-Sauvé Olympiens, while the boys’ final, at 8 p.m., will see the River East Kodiaks take on the St. Paul’s Crusaders.

I’m headed down to take photos of those matches and I have to admit I’m quite looking forward to it. Best of luck to all the teams, players, coaches and fans involved.

Maybe I’ll see you there…

One of the purposes of Community Calendar is to offer a select list of upcoming events and to encourage people to submit their events listings to our online events page.

To submit your listings, click on the Events listings tab in the menu bar at www.fpcommunityreview.com

If you would like to submit an event and want to bypass all the key-pressing, you can do it here and if you simply want to see what’s going on around town, you can do so here

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I’ll be back in your inboxes on Monday, Dec. 8. Until then, enjoy the week!

Supplied photo – Slow Leaves performers as part of Sam Singer's Songwriter Hour at the Times Change(d) HIgh & Lonesome Club on Friday, Dec. 13.

Supplied photo – Slow Leaves performers as part of Sam Singer’s Songwriter Hour at the Times Change(d) HIgh & Lonesome Club on Friday, Dec. 13.

I’m headed down to take photos of those matches and I have to admit I’m quite looking forward to it. Best of luck to all the teams, players, coaches and fans involved.

Maybe I’ll see you there…

One of the purposes of Community Calendar is to offer a select list of upcoming events and to encourage people to submit their events listings to our online events page.

To submit your listings, click on the Events listings tab in the menu bar at www.fpcommunityreview.com

If you would like to submit an event and want to bypass all the key-pressing, you can do it here and if you simply want to see what’s going on around town, you can do so here

If you received this email from a friend and would like to subscribe, sign up here.

I’ll be back in your inboxes on Monday, Dec. 8. Until then, enjoy the week!

I’m headed down to take photos of those matches and I have to admit I’m quite looking forward to it. Best of luck to all the teams, players, coaches and fans involved.

Maybe I’ll see you there…

One of the purposes of Community Calendar is to offer a select list of upcoming events and to encourage people to submit their events listings to our online events page.

To submit your listings, click on the Events listings tab in the menu bar at www.fpcommunityreview.com

If you would like to submit an event and want to bypass all the key-pressing, you can do it here and if you simply want to see what’s going on around town, you can do so here

If you received this email from a friend and would like to subscribe, sign up here.

I’ll be back in your inboxes on Monday, Dec. 8. Until then, enjoy the week!

I’m headed down to take photos of those matches and I have to admit I’m quite looking forward to it. Best of luck to all the teams, players, coaches and fans involved.

Maybe I’ll see you there…

One of the purposes of Community Calendar is to offer a select list of upcoming events and to encourage people to submit their events listings to our online events page.

To submit your listings, click on the Events listings tab in the menu bar at www.fpcommunityreview.com

If you would like to submit an event and want to bypass all the key-pressing, you can do it here and if you simply want to see what’s going on around town, you can do so here

If you received this email from a friend and would like to subscribe, sign up here.

I’ll be back in your inboxes on Monday, Dec. 8. Until then, enjoy the week!

I’m headed down to take photos of those matches and I have to admit I’m quite looking forward to it. Best of luck to all the teams, players, coaches and fans involved.

Maybe I’ll see you there…

One of the purposes of Community Calendar is to offer a select list of upcoming events and to encourage people to submit their events listings to our online events page.

To submit your listings, click on the Events listings tab in the menu bar at www.fpcommunityreview.com

If you would like to submit an event and want to bypass all the key-pressing, you can do it here and if you simply want to see what’s going on around town, you can do so here

If you received this email from a friend and would like to subscribe, sign up here.

I’ll be back in your inboxes on Monday, Dec. 8. Until then, enjoy the week!

I’m headed down to take photos of those matches and I have to admit I’m quite looking forward to it. Best of luck to all the teams, players, coaches and fans involved.

Maybe I’ll see you there…

One of the purposes of Community Calendar is to offer a select list of upcoming events and to encourage people to submit their events listings to our online events page.

To submit your listings, click on the Events listings tab in the menu bar at www.fpcommunityreview.com

If you would like to submit an event and want to bypass all the key-pressing, you can do it here and if you simply want to see what’s going on around town, you can do so here

If you received this email from a friend and would like to subscribe, sign up here.

I’ll be back in your inboxes on Monday, Dec. 8. Until then, enjoy the week!

I’m headed down to take photos of those matches and I have to admit I’m quite looking forward to it. Best of luck to all the teams, players, coaches and fans involved.

Maybe I’ll see you there…

One of the purposes of Community Calendar is to offer a select list of upcoming events and to encourage people to submit their events listings to our online events page.

To submit your listings, click on the Events listings tab in the menu bar at www.fpcommunityreview.com

If you would like to submit an event and want to bypass all the key-pressing, you can do it here and if you simply want to see what’s going on around town, you can do so here

If you received this email from a friend and would like to subscribe, sign up here.

I’ll be back in your inboxes on Monday, Dec. 8. Until then, enjoy the week!

I’m headed down to take photos of those matches and I have to admit I’m quite looking forward to it. Best of luck to all the teams, players, coaches and fans involved.

Maybe I’ll see you there…

One of the purposes of Community Calendar is to offer a select list of upcoming events and to encourage people to submit their events listings to our online events page.

To submit your listings, click on the Events listings tab in the menu bar at www.fpcommunityreview.com

If you would like to submit an event and want to bypass all the key-pressing, you can do it here and if you simply want to see what’s going on around town, you can do so here

If you received this email from a friend and would like to subscribe, sign up here.

I’ll be back in your inboxes on Monday, Dec. 8. Until then, enjoy the week!

I’m headed down to take photos of those matches and I have to admit I’m quite looking forward to it. Best of luck to all the teams, players, coaches and fans involved.

Maybe I’ll see you there…

One of the purposes of Community Calendar is to offer a select list of upcoming events and to encourage people to submit their events listings to our online events page.

To submit your listings, click on the Events listings tab in the menu bar at www.fpcommunityreview.com

If you would like to submit an event and want to bypass all the key-pressing, you can do it here and if you simply want to see what’s going on around town, you can do so here

If you received this email from a friend and would like to subscribe, sign up here.

Enjoy the week!

John Kendle, Managing editor, Free Press Community Review

EVENTS

Out & About

Downtown Winnipeg Farmers’ Market • Dec. 12, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Cityplace. Feat. music by Andrina Turenne. More info and details at downtownwinnipegbiz.com

Pitâw mïno muskîkî Indigenous Handmade Winter Market • Dec. 13, 5-9 p.m., Dec. 14-15, Union Station (123 Main St.) More info and details at pitawminomuskiki.ca

Pop Up Pasko Market • Dec. 14, noon-8 p.m., Dec. 15, noon-6 p.m., The Forks Market Event Space. More info at theforks.com

Canad Inns Winter Wonderland • Until Jan. 4, 2025. Red River Exhibition Park. Tickets and more into at tobatickets.ca

Zoo Lights • Until Jan. 5, 2025, 5 – 10 p.m., Assiniboine Park Zoo. (Closed Dec. 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 24, 25) Tickets and more into at assiniboinepark.ca

Le Marché St. Norbert Farmers’ Market (3514 Pembina Hwy.) • Dec. 14, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., More info and details at stnorbertfarmersmarket.ca

Comedy clubs

The Basement Speakeasy & Comedy Lounge (3740 Portage Ave.) • Dec. 13 – Dream Factory Fundraiser, feat. Brady Holm, Matt Kay, Julian Rowan, Eric Parent

Club Happenings (114B Osborne St.) • Dec. 15 – Open mic, 7:30 p.m.

4^th Line Pub & Grill (3025 Ness Ave.) • Dec. 9 – Comedy Invasion open mic, 7:30 p.m., hosted by Scott Porteous

Marion Hotel (Marion St.) • Dec. 10 – Open mic night, 8 p.m.

Rumor’s Restaurant & Comedy Club (190-2025 Corydon Ave.) • Dec. 10-14 – Matthew Broussard

Yuk Yuk’s Winnipeg (Fort Garry Hotel, 222 Broadway) • Dec. 13-14 – Jon Mostyn

Concerts

Christmas Concerts at Polo Park Shopping Centre (2nd floor lounge, The Forks Market) • Dec. 13 – Clyde Heerah, 3-5 p.m.; Dec. 14 – Café Latino, 1-3 p.m.

Hélène Perreault • Dec. 9, 8 p.m., Salle Pauline-Boutal, CCFM. With Jeannine Guyot. Tickets at eventbrite.ca

Winnipeg Boys’ Choir • Christmas with the Boys – Dec. 10, 7 p.m., Crescent Fort Rouge Arts Centre. Feat. WBC String Quartet, Winnipeg Brass Quartet, Lottie Enns-Braun (organ), Brendan Thompson (percussion), Brendan Thompson (percussion), WBC Alumni Choir. Tickets at eventbrite.ca

Humour & Humanity • Dec. 11, 8 p.m., Nor-Villa Motor Hotel. Feat. Scott Porteous, Jon Ljungberg, Rollin Penner, The Big Bear, Carole Cunningham, Ainsley McPhail, Serena Shane. Tickets at eventbrite.ca

Royal Canadian Air Force Band • Home for the Holidays – Dec. 12-13, 6:30 p.m., Desautels Concert Hall, U of M. Dec. 13 show SOLD OUT; Dec. 12 tickets at eventbrite.ca

A Jann Arden Christmas • Dec. 12-13, 7 p.m., Club Regent Event Centre. Tickets at ticketmaster.ca

A Rocky Mountain High Christmas • Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m., Centennial Concert Hall. Feat. Rick and Steve Worrall, Winnipeg Youth Choir. Tickets and more info at centennialconcerthall.com

Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra • Handel’s Messiah – Dec. 12, 13, 14, 7:30 p.m., Knox United Church. Feat. The WSO, David Fallis (conductor), CMU Festival Chorus (Janet Brenneman, artistic director), McKenzie Warriner (soprano), Ashley Schneberger (mezzo soprano), Matt Chittick (tenor), Matthew Pauls (baritone). Tickets and more info at wso.ca

A Drag Queen Christmas • Dec. 12, 8 p.m., Burton Cummings Theatre. Hosted by Brooke Lynn Hytes, feat. Plasma and Q. Tickets and more info at ticketmaster.ca

Holy Void • Dec. 13, 8 p.m., West End Cultural Centre. With Show Pony, Tired Cossack. Tickets at wecc.ca

Album Sides • Pink Floyd’s The Wall – Dec. 14, 8 p.m., Park Theatre. Tickets and more info at ticketweb.ca

Christmas with Johnny Reid • Dec. 14, 8 p.m., Centennial Concert Hall. Tickets and more info at centennialconcerthall.com

Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir • Christmas with the Phil: Snow Day – Dec. 15, 3 and 7 p.m., Crescent Arts Centre. Tickets at thephil.ca

La Chorale des Intrépides • Noël c’est l’amour! – Dec. 15, 3:30 p.m., St. Boniface Cathedral. Feat. La chorale de l’École Taché, Les Blés au Vent; CMU Handbells Ensemble, Dominion Voice, Musica Singers Filipino Choir, Oberih Children’s Choir, Oberih Ukrainian Choir, Sean Foster (violin, piano), the Strong Warrior Girls Anishinaabe Singers. Free admission.

Film

Dave Barber Cinematheque (100 Arthur St.) • Dec. 10 – Trash Cult Tuesdays: Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2, 7 p.m.; Trash Cult Tuesdays: Silent Night, Deadly Night, 9 p.m. Dec. 11 –The Girl with the Needle, 7 p.m.; Ernest Cole: Lost and Found, 9:15 p.m. Dec. 12 – McDonald at the Movies: The Apartment, 7 p.m.; Flow, 9:30 p.m. Dec. 13 – The Wonderful Worlds of Studio Ghibli: Pom Polo, 7 p.m.; Ernest Cole: Lost and Found, 9:15 p.m. Dec. 14 – The Wonderful Worlds of Studio Ghibli: Pom Poko, 2:30 p.m.; The Girl with the Needle, 5 p.m.; The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, 7:15 p.m. Dec. 15 – The Wonderful Worlds of Studio Ghibli: The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, 2:30 p.m.; Flow, 5:15 p.m.; The Girl with the Needle, 7 p.m. More info and tickets at davebarbercinematheque.com

Millennium Library (Carol Shields Auditorium) • Dec. 14, 2 p.m. – NFB Film Club: A Return to Memory

The Met Dinner & A Movie • Miracle on 34^th Street – Dec. 15, 4 p.m., Metropolitan Event Centre. Tickets at ticketmaster.ca

Galleries

210 Gallery (210 Princess St.) • Until Dec. 18 – Wild Gardens, by Rhian Brynjolson. More info at manitobaartsnetwork.ca

Aceartinc. (206 Princess St.) • Until Dec. 14 – States of Self, by the Winnipeg Pantsuit Collective. Hours: Noon – 5 p.m., Weds. to Sat. More info at aceart.org

Arts Accessibility Network Manitoba Gallery (102-329 Cumberland Ave.) • Neurohilarity, by Angela Taylor. Hours: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Mon. to Fri. More info at aanm.ca

Blankstein Gallery (Millennium Library, 2nd floor) • A Celebration of Arts and Crafts, by Ashleigh Drewett-Laird. More info at www.wpl.winnipeg.ca

Buhler Gallery (St. Boniface Hospital) • Until Jan. 12 – Off the Clock, biennial show by staff, physicians and volunteers. Hours: 1–5 p.m., Monday to Friday; Noon–4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. More info at galeriebuhlergallery.ca

CCFM Art Gallery (340 Provencher Blvd.) • Until Jan. 9, 2025 – Aux Alentours / Our Surroundings, works by Françoise La Roche, Michel Gignac, Virginie Hamel. More info at ccfm.mb.ca

Cre8ery (2-125 Adelaide St.) • Until Dec. 17 – Full Circle, by Dave Colvin, Leon Pewarchuk. Hours: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday. More info at www.cre8ery.com

C2 Centre for Craft (1-329 Cumberland St.) • Until Dec. 19 – Through Words and Deeds: Oral history clips from 30 artists. Until Dec. 31 – Diversified: Showcasing recent additions to MCML collection. Hours: Noon – 4 p.m., Wed. to Sat. More info at www.c2centreforcraft.ca

Gallery1C03 (University of Winnipeg) • Until Feb. 14, 2025 – Seven Generations, by KC Adams. Hours: Mon. – Fri., Noon – 4 p.m. More info at uwinnipeg.ca/art-gallery/

Graffiti Art (109 Higgins Ave.) • Until January 2025 – A Warrior’s Red Road: A Photovoice Display of Indigenous Men Connecting to Culture through Drum-making, by Akicita Cane Waste Men’s Group (Brandon, Man.). More info at graffitigallery.ca

Katie + Gunner Gallery (103-141 Bannatyne Ave.) • Until Dec. 20 – Inside Out, by Bîstyek. More info at katieandgunner.com

La Maison des Artistes (101-219 Provencher Blvd.)

La Galerie contemporaine: Until Dec. 21 – Boucler la boucle: Annual Members’ Exhibition

Hours: 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tues., Weds., Fri.; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thurs.; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sat. More info at maisondesartistes.mb.ca

MHC Gallery (610 Shaftesbury Blvd.) • Until Dec. 21 – No Place Like Home: Beyond the Walls, feat. 16 artists from Harte Trail Studio Tour Hours: Mon. – Fri., 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.; Sat., noon – 5 p.m. More info at www.cmu.ca/gallery/

Piano Nobile Gallery (Centennial Concert Hall, 555 Main St.) • Until Feb. 28, 2025 – Endangered Species in Manitoba, by Olga Krahn

Platform Centre for Photographic + Digital Arts (121-100 Arthur St.) • Dec. 6 – 11 x 14 fundraiser. Hours: Weds. – Sat., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. More info at platformcentre.org

Plug In ICA (1-460 Portage Ave.) • Until March 8, 2025 – Ghosts of Canoe Lake, by Marcel Dzama. More info at plugin.org

School of Art Gallery (University of Manitoba)

Main Gallery: Until Feb. 1, 2025 – Next Door, Around the Corner, Inside the Bathhouse, By the Sea and Back, by Jade Yumang. More info at ca

Soul Gallery (65 Albert St.) • Until Dec. 21 – Holiday show and sale. More info at soulgallery.ca

Urban Shaman Contemporary Aboriginal Gallery (203-290 McDermot Ave.) • Until Dec. 14 – Warpaint, by Brianna Wentz. Hours: Tues.-Sat., noon to 5 p.m. More info at urbanshaman.org

Video Pool Media Arts Centre (300-100 Arthur St.) • Until Dec. 2 — VCR Residency: New videos created James Dixon, Ibrahim Shuaib, Natalie Baird, Toby Gillies. Hours: Wed.-Fri., noon to 5 p.m. More info at videopool.org

WAG @ the Park (Assiniboine Park Pavilion)

Community Gallery (2nd floor) – Until Feb. 3 – Dark and Deep, by Karen Adamson; and Landscapes and Faces, by Alan Adamson
Pooh Gallery (2nd floor) – “The Best Bear in All the World”: The Many Sides of Winnie the Pooh
John P. Crabb Gallery (2nd floor) – Dec. 14-spring 2025 – Living Pictures from the Land, works by Walter J. Phillips, Edward Burtynsky, Simon Hughes, Sarah Anne Johnson, Holly King, Shelley Niro
Ivan Eyre Gallery (3rd floor) – Shifting Horizons, works by Ivan Eyre and others, curated by Nawang Tsomo Kinkar

Visit assiniboinepark.ca for more info.

WAG–qaumajuq (300 Memorial Blvd.)

Exhibitions:

The Water Initiative: pimâtisiwin nipi/ bimaadiziwin nibi/tu besudi, works by Daimhín Ó Rinn, Desiree Moise, Jasmin Fontaine, Zac Ironstand. Muriel Richardson Auditorium
Winyan. Works by Lita Fontaine. Until Jan. 12, 2025
Colour Therapy. Curated by Dr. Riva Symko. Until Jan. 12, 2025
Motherground, by Dominique Rey, with Madeleine and Auguste Coar. Until March 31, 2025
Omalluq: Pictures from My Life. Works by Omalluq Oshutsiaq. Until March 31, 2025
Backyard Florigelium, curated by Nicole Fletcher and Riva Symko. Until March 31, 2025
Inuit Sanaugangit: Art Across Time. A survey of artistic expression from 200 BCE to the present day. Until March 2025

Hours: Weds–Sun, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Admission: $18 adult, $15 65+, free youth, members, Indigenous members. Visit wag.ca for more info

Live Music

The Big “A” (1975 Portage Ave.) • Dec 13-14 – Brianimal

ANAF Club 60 (3-433 River Ave.) • Dec. 13 – 5^th annual ANAF Christmas pageant

ANAVETS Unit No. 283 (3584 Portage Ave.) • Dec. 13 – Destiny

Belgian Club (407 Provencher Blvd.) • Dec. 12 – Jam night w/ Beg, Borrow and Steel

Belle’s Kitchen and Music Hall (1212 Nairn Ave.) • Dec. 10 – Quinton Blair, noon; Dec. 11 – The Stephanie Westdal Duo, noon; Mark Conroy, 2:15; Bobby Dove, 5 p.m.; Mitchell Makoons, 8:15 p.m.; Dec. 12 – Curtis Newton, noon; Rob Ivany, 2:15 p.m.; The Tara DeCastro Duo, 5 p.m.; Rob & Theo, 8:15 p.m. Dec. 13 – Orvis Thomas, noon; Sean Burns, 2:15 p.m.; Matt Zelich, 5 p.m.; Robert Andreas Trio, 8:15 p.m. Dec. 14 – Paul Lucyk, noon; Richard Inman, 2:15 p.m.; Todd Hunter Trio, 5 p.m.; The Deidra Borus Trio, 8:15 p.m. Dec. 15 – Blair Hordeski, noon; Kaidys Valentine, 2:15 p.m.; The Honest Faces, 5 p.m.; Strum + Strummer, 8:15 p.m.

Blue Dolphin (South Beach Casino, Hwy. 59) • Dec. 13-14 – The Bobcatz

Bulldog Event Centre (1374 Main St.) • Dec. 12 – Christmas Fundraiser, feat. Thatcher Robinson, MVJIIK, Loverboy_Nel, XTP47, Jay Red, Yung Balboa, Nat Saturn; Dec. 13 – Knife Hunger, Book of Ghosts, Ash and the Arsonists; Dec. 14 – Cathartic Release Techno Therapy, feat. Double D, Xeön, LSDave, Wnder.ful, Albean.

Club Happenings (114B Osborne St.) • Dec. 13 – Junction X Takeover, feat. Albean, Konvex, Wndr.ful, Xeön

Curtis Gordon Hotel (1011 Henderson Hwy.) • Dec. 13-14 – Jukebox Heroes

C-Weed’s Cabaret (171 Dumoulin St.) • Dec. 10 – Open mic w/ Les Jerome; Dec. 11 – Talent Show; Dec. 13, 14 – C-Weed; Dec. 15 – Country jam, 7 p.m., hosted by Keith Dutiaume Jr.

Darling Bar (171 McDermot Ave.) • Dec. 14 – A Merry Li’l Crunkmas

Exchange Event Centre (292 Bannatyne Ave.) • Dec. 14 – EDX

Jazz at the Fort Garry Hotel (222 Broadway) • Dec. 15 – Holiday Favourites: Amber Epp

Fort Garry Legion No. 90 (762 Pembina Hwy.) • Dec. 14 – Dance in Ur Pantz

The Getaway Cafe (7-1500 Dakota St.) • Dec. 12 – Hillbilly Night, w/ Darren Day

Gordie’s Coffee House (Gordon-King Memorial United Church, 127 Cobourg Ave.) • Dec. 12 – Marcel Desilets

The Handsome Daughter (61 Sherbrook St.) • Dec. 13 – What’s Your Excuse? – feat. Hedonist, Fetid Grave, Nocturnal Departure; Dec. 14 – What’s Your Excuse? — feat. Meantime, Puffer, Class Act, Juice, Jug

Henderson Legion No. 215 (214 Maxwell Dr., East St. Paul) • Dec. 12 – Hwy 6

Hermanos (179 Bannatyne Ave.) • Dec. 13 – Marco Castillo Duo

Into the Music (B-245 McDermot Ave.) • Dec. 13 – Our Friend, Oscar, 7:30 p.m.

The Junxion (Cineplex Kildonan Place) • Dec. 13 – Brennan Hakes, 5:45-8:30 p.m.; Dec. 14 – Jamie Buckboro, 5:45-8:30 p.m. Dec. 15 – Central Sound Wave, 5-7:45 p.m.

King’s Head Pub (120 King St.) • Dec. 13 – St. Beach Boys; Dec. 14 – Black Lights

Marion Hotel (393 Marion St.) • Dec. 13-14 – Pop Vegas

McPhillips Station Casino (484 McPhillips St.) • Dec. 10 – Piano Catz (Mainstage); Dec. 13-14 – Almost Famous (Loft 180); Dec. 14 – Joe Maxim Band (Mainstage)

The Nob (3540 Pembina Hwy.) • Dec. 13 – Travis and Nazeem, 6:15 p.m.; Dec. 14 – Blue FX

Nor-Villa Motor Hotel (1763 Henderson Hwy.) • Dec. 13-14 – Crush

Norwood Legion (134 Marion St.) • Dec. 14 – Steve Ambrose

Osborne Taphouse (112 Osborne St.) • Dec. 10 – Open mic night, feat. Jace Bodner; Dec. 12 – Milt Homely Experience, Cordero, Irvin Miller; Dec. 13 – Saints & Rogues, Radio Riders, Jus D’Orange; Dec. 14 – Curubande

Park Alleys (130 Osborne St.) • Dec. 10 – Jazz jam session; Dec. 11 – Open mic; De. 12 – Manitoba New Music Night: Earth Angel, Jennifer Machado, Viento South; Dec. 13 – Faux Pas Funk; Dec. 14 – The Patty Cakes

Park Theatre (698 Osborne St.) • Dec. 13 – The Emo Nightmare Before Christmas; Dec. 15 – Heel Appeal Presents: Illusion, 6 p.m.

Le Patio 340 (Salle Antoine-Gaborieau, CCFM, 340 Provencher Blvd.) • Dec. 10 – Mardi Jazz: U of M Jazz ensemble; Dec. 13 – LIM: Rouges vs. Verts

Pony Corral Grant (400 Wilton St.) • Dec. 13 – Vinyl Revival

Public Domain (663 Portage Ave.) • Dec. 13 – DJ Corvo, Sweat drag show and dance party; Dec. 14 – FIINN, Foxwell & Earth Angel

Pyramid Cabaret (176 Fort St.) • Dec. 14 – Robots of Rush

The Rec Room (696 Sterling Lyon Pkwy) • Dec. 13 – Stephanie Westdal; Dec. 14 – Step Bros

The Riverside (531 St. Mary’s Rd.) • Dec. 13 – Jamie Buckboro & Friends; Dec. 14 – Kevin Martin Band

Royal Albert Arms (48 Albert St.) • Dec. 12 – Jared Adams, ByeOS, Freakout City, Ojiburry; Dec. 13 – Omens, Unsilenced

Royal George (123 Regent Ave. W.) • Dec. 10 – Songwriter Night, w/ Diana and Colette Desjardins, feat. Desiree Dorion; Dec. 11 – Jam Night w/ Gary Gach; Dec. 12 – Shandra Levreault & The Happy Endings; Dec. 15 – Fundraiser for Darren Lavallee: Country Sunday jam w/ Lionel Desjarlais, 3-9 p.m.

St. James Legion No. 4 (1755 Portage Ave.) • Dec. 13 – Vintage Groove

Shannon’s Irish Pub (175 Carlton St.) • Dec. 11 – Open mic, w/ God and the Bear, River City Blonde, Stephanie Westdal; Dec. 13 – Men with Benefits

Sidestage (700 Osborne St.) • Dec. 12-13 – Pie: The Music of Cake, feat. Comfort Eagle, Fashion Nugget; Dec. 14 – Creed tribute, Chris Cornell tribute

Silver Heights Restaurant and Lounge (2169 Portage Ave.) • Dec. 14 – Saturday afternoon jazz, 1-4 p.m.

Silver Spike Saloon (202 Bond St.) • Dec. 13-14 – The Headies; Dec. 14 — Country Round-Up Band, 4-7:30 p.m.

Smith Restaurant ( Forks Market Rd.) • Dec. 11 – Carter Graham; Dec. 13-14 – The Barnyards

South Osborne Legion No. 252 (426 Osborne St.) • Dec. 12 – The Borealis Big Band; Dec. 13 – Southside

Tehran Café & Bar (8-1875 Pembina Hwy.) • Dec. 14 – Amir & Behin, 7-9 p.m.

Times Change(d) High & Lonesome Club (234 Main St.) • Dec. 12 – Sam Singer Songwriter Hour, feat. Sam Singer, Slow Leaves, Dom Adams; Dec. 13 – Moonriivr, Jacob Brodovsky, Taylor Jackson; Dec. 14 – BA Johnston; Dec. 15 – Whitehorse, 3 p.m., Sunday night blues jam w/ Big Dave McLean

The Toad in the Hole Pub (155 Osborne St.) • Dec. 9 – Open mic night w/ James Buckboro; Dec. 12 – Jivetown; Dec. 13 – The G-Strings; Dec. 14 – Flesh Monkeys

Trans Canada Brewing Co. (1-1290 Kenaston Blvd.) • Dec. 13 – The Discmen; Dec. 14 – Derek Robertson

West Kildonan Legion No. 30 (1740 Main St.) • Dec. 13 – Bowman Brothers

Westbrook Inn (64 Keewatin St.) • Dec. 14 – Classic country jam w/ Darryl Sanderson & Chances R

The Wood Tavern (112 Marion St.) • Dec. 13-14 – Jeff Adams

X-Cues Café & Lounge (551 Sargent Ave.) • Dec. 9 – CaRaVan open mic, hosted by Paul De Bruijn

Museums

Canadian Museum for Human Rights (85 Israel Asper Way)

Exhibitions:

Until December – Climate Justice
Until March 2025 – Ododo Wa: Stories of Girls in War
Until August 2026 – Strength in Numbers: The Polish Solidarity Movement
Until Sept. 20, 2027 – The Witness Blanket
Permanent exhibition – Truth and Reconciliation
Permanent Galleries – What Are Human Rights?; Indigenous Perspectives; Canadian Journeys; Protecting Rights in Canada; Examining the Holocaust; Turning Points for Humanity; Breaking the Silence; Actions Count; Rights Today; Inspiring Change

Events:

Human Rights Day, Dec. 10 – Self-guided art tour, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Art + Human Rights Walking Tour, 1-3 p.m.

Museum hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday. More info at humanrights.ca

Dalnavert Museum and Visitors’ Centre (61 Carlton St.) • Hours: Noon – 4 p.m., Weds. to Sun., More info and tickets at friendsofdalnavert.ca

Manitoba Children’s Museum (45 Forks Market Rd.) • Until Jan. 5 – Eaton’s Fairytale Vignettes. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. More info at childrensmuseum.com

Manitoba Museum (190 Rupert Ave.)

Exhibitions:

Until March 2025 – Manidoo Miiniigooizowin: A Gift from the Creator – Southern Chiefs’ Organization 25^th anniversary exhibition.

Events:

Planetarium shows: Legends of the Northern Sky; Manitoba Skies; The Great Solar System Adventure; Forward to the Moon. Tickets at manitobamuseum.ca

Museum hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Tues. to Sun. Visit manitobamuseum.ca for more info

Oseredok Ukrainian Cultural and Education Centre (184 Alexander Ave. E.) • Until March 31 – The Holodomor Exhibition, by Yuliya Fedorovych. Until March 31, 2025 – Echoes of the Prairies: The Art of Peter Shostak. Hours: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. More info at www.oseredok.ca

Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada (2088 Wellington Ave.) • Until Jan 4, 2025 – Snoopy and the Red Baron. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily. More info and tickets at royalaviationmuseum.com

Theatre

Destination Dinner Stage (Canad Inns Fort Garry, 1824 Pembina Hwy.) • Golden Gals Vacation. Until Dec. 31. Tickets and more info at canadinns.com

Manitoba Theatre for Young People (2 Forks Market Rd.) • A Year with Frog and Toad. Until Dec. 29. Tickets and more info at mtyp.ca

Prairie Theatre Exchange (3^rd floor, Portage Place) • Outside Joke’s Christmas Miracle: An Improvised Holiday Rom Com. Dec. 10 – 22. Tickets and more info at pte.mb.ca

Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre (John Hirsch Mainstage, 174 Market Ave.) • Little Women, adapted for stage by Jordi Mand, directed by Katie German. Until Dec. 14. Tickets and more info at royalmtc.ca

Sick + Twisted Theatre (Colin Jackson Studio Theatre, Prairie Theatre Exchange, 3^rd floor, Portage Place) • Hansel and Gretel in Portage Place. Dec. 12-22. Tickets and more info at sickandtwisted.ca

Soap Scum Presents (Sidestage, 700 Osborne St.) • The Western: An Improvised Soap Opera (Ep. 4). Dec. 9, 7:30 p.m. Tickets at eventbrite.ca