Sunday, September 27, 2015:
Last night was my first Nuit Blanche Winnipeg and here are my thoughts on the experience. I found the concept of the event very intriguing, a night full of art and entertainment spanning across the various districts in Winnipeg including Downtown, the Exchange District, and St. Boniface.
I started my night out around 7:30pm at the Winnipeg Art Gallery. The first thing I saw were some dancers in front of the gallery dressed in toga like attire. The dancing was done in silence and with the element of the wind, I'd have to say that the whole thing was quite beautiful.
I entered through the VIP lineup as I have a student membership with the WAG. They checked my ID and I was given a blue wrist band to indicate that I was legal drinking age and could order an alcoholic beverage. This is when things got a little tedious. I then had to get in line to buy a drink ticket which was $6 for one drink. Next, I took my drink ticket to the bar where I attempted to order a drink. I asked for a glass of red wine, however I was informed that they don't serve red wine as the floor in the gallery is porous and would soak up the red wine if it were to be spilled. I then opted for a Screwdriver instead. Inside the WAG there was a DJ playing electronic music which was more enjoyable than I would have predicted as electronic music isn't usually my forte. I walked around the gallery, however the exhibitions on display were ones which I've already seen as they've been up since I got my membership 2-3 weeks ago.
Next I made my way down Graham Ave hoping to begin the bigger adventure of the evening. I came across several things which weren't as exciting or eventful as I thought they were going to be. I was quite disappointed at the crowd turn out, as I was expecting the numbers in attendance to be way more than it was.
Finally, I made it to the Exchange District and the area I believe people were calling the Cube. This was also a bit of a let down as I expected more excitement and activity happening in the centre of the Exchange District which I thought would be one of the more eventful parts of the night.
I hit up a bar called the King's Head Pub, which was quite an experience in itself. Ordering a drink from the bar was a whole new endeavour since there were two bartenders taking orders from either end of the bar and there were two lines of people waiting to order a drink. I've never "waited in line" for a drink at the bar. The lines were not moving quickly either which added to the list of let downs of the night.
From here I made my way over to St. Boniface where things were low key. There was an interesting exhibition in a gallery which I've shown some photos of below. I also came across a band playing some live music outside of a coffee shop. The music was dying down by the time I had gotten there but I liked the laid back aspect of the intimate mini concert setting with the band and small audience.
All in all I enjoyed roaming the streets looking for art and finding other things that the night had to offer. I only wish that I had seen more as I look back now and see the list of events and feel as though I saw only a glimpse of what there was to see. I only hope I am able to see more the following year!