Travel Manitoba and the Manitoba Lodges and Outfitters Association welcome Mariko Izumi as guest speaker to the MLOA banquet on December 10 at the Canad Inns Polo Park in Winnipeg. Mariko is the host of the World Fishing Network’s Hookin’ Up, where she takes viewers to fishing hot spots around the world. A meet and greet autograph session takes place 2-4 pm and at 6 pm during the keynote speech, Mariko will share her knowledge on using the internet, social media and other modern communication tools to connect with a new generation of clients and outdoor enthusiasts. All are welcome - get your tickets through the MLOA at 204-772-1912.

http://www.travelmanitoba.com/images_tr/pdf/mariko_mloa.pdf

The Winnipeg Art Gallery has gone south of the border to select the primary architect for what's expected to be the next iconic building for downtown Winnipeg -- the WAG's $35-million Inuit Art and Learning Centre (IALC).

The art gallery announced Thursday award-winning Los Angeles architect Michael Maltzan has been chosen as the prime and design architect for the historic project, which attracted bids from 65 architectural firms from 15 countries.

Because his firm, Michael Maltzan Architecture, doesn't have a licence to practise in Manitoba, it will partner with Winnipeg's Cibinel Architects, Ltd. on the project. Cibinel will act as the associate and technical architect in Winnipeg.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/wag-picks-la-architect-for-new-inuit-centre-180566741.html

Forced to compete with the lure of even more duty-free exemptions this shopping season, more Canadian retailers are expected to jump on the U.S.-style Black Friday bandwagon in an effort to keep price-conscious shoppers from crossing the border.

While still not reaching the frenzied heights seen in the U.S., the Canadianized version of Black Friday —the annual U.S. Thanksgiving merchandise sales event — has steadily caught on in Canada over the past few years and is expected to have its biggest year yet.

"I think you'll see, across the board, all the major players participating this year in the Black Friday frenzy," said Ran Ravitz, general manager of RedFlagDeals.com, which keeps track of consumer deals.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/11/16/f-black-friday-retailers-canada.html

I knew we weren't in Canada anymore when we were zipping down the highway through Grand Forks and looked over to see a normal bustling fast food jungle looking oddly dark.

First lesson: Don't start driving to the United States seeking Black Friday deals hours before on the Thursday night with an empty stomach. It's the American Thanksgiving -- think Christmas here -- and the vast majority of restaurants and takeout joints are shuttered tight.

I also had another inkling about what we were getting into as we hurtled towards the Albertville factory outlet mall outside Minneapolis while zipping through Fargo. I looked over at the West Acres Mall area and saw tents bunched in front of the nearby Best Buy outlet and a line that went clear around the building. Nearby, other long lines could also be seen outside Target and Toys R Us.

"Where's the line outside Walmart?" I asked a worker at the takeout Pizza Hut, which was, from what I could tell, the only food place open there. "They let them in already."

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/travel/shop-till-you-drop-on-black-friday-179777351.html

Complete: SEASIDE HEIGHTS, N.J. - The remains of a roller coaster that was knocked off a New Jersey amusement pier by Superstorm Sandy and partially submerged in the Atlantic Ocean might be left there as a tourist attraction.

Seaside Heights Mayor Bill Akers tells WNBC-TV in New York (http://bit.ly/XCW35T) that officials have not made a decision on whether to tear down the coaster. But the mayor says he's working with the Coast Guard to see if the coaster is stable enough to leave it alone because he believes it would make "a great tourist attraction."

Meanwhile, efforts to rebuild the storm-ravaged town are continuing. Demolition crews have removed the resort's damaged boardwalk. And Akers says construction on a new boardwalk is expected to begin in January and be ready by Memorial Day.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/travel/seaside-heights-nj-roller-coaster-submerged-by-sandy-might-stay-put-as-tourist-attraction-180550531.html

(A complete article published originally in the WFP, Nov.  '32)

Bringing the season's total to a new high, snow Tuesday again brought about disruption of rural highway traffic. Scores of men kept Winnipeg streets free from drifts and motorists were able to navigate. Rural roads, however, are all badly blocked with snow. Despite the heavy fall of big moist flakes, railways have been able to maintain their schedules. Snow plows have been pressed into use and have kept tracks clear. Street railway service in Winnipeg was reasonably good throughout the day. The company kept 10 of its rotary sweepers on the move, from early morning and. also operated now plows on bus routes. Tuesday's blanket brought the season's total to well over 21 Inches Last year 8.2 Inches of snow had fallen by Nov. 21. Snow plows had cleared the road :ac du Bonnet, but it is feared that the wind Tuesday night has again blocked it with big drifts. Busses from southern Manitoba were able to complete1 their run into Winnipeg, as was the bus from Portage. All reported a terrific struggle however. A. C. Emmett, secretary of the Manitoba Motor league, Tuesday night, issued a warning to motorists to keep off rural roads unless absolutely necessary. Although some roads had been cleared earlier in the day, a strong north wind in the afternoon caused bad drifting. Marshalling its entire snow-fighting force into action, and, supplementing it by the addition of a score of temporary helpers, the city began its herculean task of clearing street early in the morning. Over 75 teams, 30 sidewalk plows, and between 15 and 20 graders were at work throughout the day. A gang of about 30 men is being employed. Little if any snow fell west of the Saskatchewan border. Several points In this province reported no snow Tuesday.