FREElancing

Last week I had an awesome opportunity to write for the Winnipeg Free Press again.

This time, instead of listing some neat places to check out the city, I was writing about one super-awesome place (the YMCA).

Sweet! More freelancing.

Only this time it was really FREElancing. As in, there was no money involved.

That’s fine. I had a lot of fun writing this story and the reactions I’ve gotten have been amazing.

An old boss of mine said:

“Well done on the article in the Free Press…though I shed a tear for you leaving. I wish you all the best!! You are a great swim instructor and a great person!”

Smiles.

The YMCA – YWCA of Kamloops shared the story on their Facebook page. As did quite a few other employees here in Winnipeg and elsewhere in Canada. It was pretty cool to get that kind of recognition.

Smiles again.

Click here to read the story on the Winnipeg Free Press website.

Of course, to celebrate, I ate a sandwich. My dinner date ate another one. Fortunately, they were fan-friggin-tastic.

Here’s what I had at Cornerstone Bar and Restaurant:

Steak Sandwich: tenderloin steak, sauteed mushrooms, chimichurri, fried egg, served open-faced on a ciabatta. $16.00

Chipotle Chicken Melt: roast chicken in chipotle barbecue sauce with bacon jam, tomato, avocado & cheddar, served open face. $13.00

Reading

Friday, September 20 marked the beginning of Winnipeg’s International Writers Festival, Thin Air.

Throughout the 8 days of Thin Air, writers from Canada and elsewhere come to read, lecture on, and talk about their books.  I’ve had the pleasure of hearing from three presenters.

1.  Shawna Dempsey & Lorri Millan.  Their stories of lesbian pirates and not-so-lonely lone rangers were exciting and emotional.  The pair shared their experiences working together; someone in the audience asked if ‘white-livered’ meant lesbian.

2.  Michel Cormier.  The CBC news correspondent spoke about writing his book, The Legacy of Tienanmen Square, while stationed in Beijing China.

3.  Jim Nason.  His latest book, I Thought I Would Be Happy, explores perspective through the view of an ophthalmologist, his lover/film noir expert, and an artist named Mya.

Wait…What does this have to do with Sandwiches?

Naturally, all this talk about reading and writing got me hungry.  So I set out to find the perfect Thin Air sandwich.

Prairie Ink is a cozy little restaurant inside McNally Robinson Booksellers, one venue for Thin Air events.  It’s also got some sandwiches worth reading about.  

Here’s what I got at Prairie Ink Restaurant and Bakery:

The Italian: Genoa, calabrese, prosciutto, fontina cheese, tomatoes, shaved red onions, lettuce, house ciabatta bun, garlic aioli.  $10.00

Impression: (Ultra-literary style) The thick ciabatta bun was soft and seductive.  It stood tall and proud, anxious to show what it held within.  The sensual threesome of Italian meats lay protected inside the bun’s embrace.  Their salt-slicked bodies slid against one another, wrapping around the pure cheese.  The smooth slice of fontina cheese was quivered as the meat held tight to it’s porcelain frame.  The tomatoes and onions lay just above the cheese, giving themselves to the crisp piece of lettuce.

What made it? Garlic Aioli.

Grab a sandwich at Prairie Ink this weekend and check out these speakers at McNally:

Afternoon Book Chats: Lauren Carter & Lucie Wilk
Friday, September 26 – 2:30 p.m.

“In thse striking debut novels, Lauren Carter sweeps us into a frightening near future of environmental collapse, and Lucie Wilk immerses us in a gritty hospital in Malawi.
Click here for details.”
– Thin Air

Here & There: Story Time – Marie-Louise Gay
Saturday, September 28 – 10:30 a.m.

“A new Stella and Sam book by Marie-Louise Gay is always a cause for celebration, and Read Me a Story, Stella has her signature wit and respect for a child’s imagination. Young book-lovers (and their families) are invited to join this internationally-beloved writer for a special story time.  Click here for details”
-Thin Air