WINNIPEG: A Comprehensively Captured Core

[BrickJunkie]

Greetings.

This is a compilation thread of sorts, including several of my least horrible photographs of central Winnipeg. I apologize in advance that I haven't figured out consistent sizing, so some photos are larger than others. Also, I haven't found a way to eliminate the text near the bottom of my pictures. Some folks don't care, but I find it distracting and annoying.

This thread shall encompass everything inner city: the good, the bad, and the hideously grotesque Ann Coulter ugly. If my efforts succeed you will see a pretty damn comprehensive tour of many inner city neighbourhoods.

You may recognize some photos from previous threads, but rest assured I'll only select the best. That said, I have the photography skills of a drunken hippopotamus with a concussion, so please excuse the dubious quality of my offerings.

This thread is massive and will probably make your computer explode. I recommend starting to load it and then going on vacation; when you're back she should be good to go.

Without further ado, here's a little town with a lot more urbanism to offer than one would expect from a city of 800,000 inhabitants. The city I lust for. Winnipeg....

Lookin' south-ish:
[IMG]Winnipeg Downtown Skyline by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Oh yeah:
[IMG]165 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

A slice of Chinatown, home to Winnipeg's ethnic Hungarian community:
[IMG]Winnipeg Downtown Chinatown by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Manitoba Museum and Planetarium:
[IMG]Winnipeg Downtown by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

To quote the geeks from Wayne's World 2, isn't it cool to be downtown?
[IMG]122 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Damn I dig this town:
[IMG]112 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

The Exchange District is home to North America's largest intact neighbourhood of pre WW1 buildings by some definitions:
[IMG]119 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Lil' beaut:
[IMG]Winnipeg Downtown by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Curves like your sister's thigh:
[IMG]Winnipeg Downtown by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

The historic Exchange District:
[IMG]Winnipeg Downtown by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Gotta dig those Gotham areas:
[IMG]Winnipeg Downtown by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Great ol' bones in this town:
[IMG]Winnipeg Downtown by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

The Electric Railway Chambers:
[IMG]Winnipeg Downtown by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

A seemingly 2 dimensional gem:
[IMG]Winnipeg Downtown by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Fly:
[IMG]Winnipeg Downtown by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

The beauty and the blandness:
[IMG]Winnipeg Downtown by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Dark City:
[IMG]Winnipeg Downtown by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

The newly emerging Waterfront Drive district:
[IMG]Winnipeg Downtown by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Oh, to have a Chicagoesque L Train.... One can dream:
[IMG]Winnipeg Downtown by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Yep:
[IMG]Winnipeg Downtown by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Pedestrian bridge over the Red River:
[IMG]Winnipeg St. Boniface, bridge, & Red River by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Another bridge, and the obligatory revolving tower restaurant, if you're into that sort of thing (and I hear you are):
[IMG]Winnipeg bridge and Fort Gary Hotel by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

It ain't all dolled up, but it has character:
[IMG]July 2010 004 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Blocks:
[IMG]105 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Looking south towards the Legislative Building:
[IMG]069 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

I've always dug this fella as well:
[IMG]066 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Contrast:
[IMG]018 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

My guest quarters:
[IMG]July 2010 003 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Inner City Gritty:
[IMG]July 2010 005 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

A very rare example of a Mansard roof this far west:
[IMG]July 2010 008 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Lookin' west down the Assiniboine River:
[IMG]July 2010 013 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Quirky francophone home in our quirky francophone area:
[IMG]July 2010 022 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Assiniboine, yo:
[IMG]July 2010 024 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

There are roughly 9.6 billion of these little gems in Winnipeg:
[IMG]July 2010 027 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Cool idea. Strings would have been ideal though:
[IMG]July 2010 028 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Kick Art:
[IMG]July 2010 029 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Yep:
[IMG]July 2010 030 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

The streetcar suburb of Tuxedo is host to highrises and a Jewish theology centre:
[IMG]July 2010 031 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Looking southeast-ish:
[IMG]August 2nd, 2010 020 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

The Osborne Village residential area south of the financial district across the Assiniboine:
[IMG]August 2nd, 2010 023 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Another for good measure:
[IMG]August 2nd, 2010 031 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Peace. Far out:
[IMG]August 2nd, 2010 046 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

I actually went out of my way to snap this building before it inevitably gets destroyed in favour of something else:
[IMG]August 2nd, 2010 048 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Erect:
[IMG]August 2nd, 2010 049 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Grrrrrrrrrrrr. Legend has it this piece of antiquity was originally cast between 61 and 64 C.E. by the sculptor Malvandar the Younger of Minneapolis:
[IMG]August 2nd, 2010 059 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Inner city greenspace:
[IMG]August 2nd, 2010 068 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

The Manitoba Hydro Building (2009) was at the time billed at the world's most energy efficient building and is of course certified LEED:
[IMG]A Study In Blue by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

I like this shot, so it was worth it to get kicked off of the parking garage by security moments after:
[IMG]Yep. by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

The Royal Winnipeg Ballet (centre) is said to be one of the most renowned ballet companies in the world. Behind it we see the Manitoba Legislature Building peeking out:
[IMG]The Royal Winnipeg Balllet Building by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

APTN (building in foreground) is Canada's 4th national broadcaster, the only one with headquarters outside of Toronto, and the world's only aboriginal broadcasting corporation:
[IMG]Peg City, Y'all. Word. by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Contact:
[IMG]Nothing to do With Zebras by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

The historic Fort Garry Wall at the site of the first fort:
[IMG]Historic Wall of Fort Garry by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

One of my numerous homes overshadowed by a 31 story highrise from 1990:
[IMG]Complimentary Duo by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Groovy:
[IMG]Clouds by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Nifty:
[IMG]Contrast by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

All right, so it's not exactly in the core, but Assiniboine Park is one of Canada's premier Victorian parks, and contains formal gardens, the largest collection of Leo Mol sculptures in the world, a heritage train, a tropical conservatory, and Assiniboine Zoo, which doubles as the largest polar bear research centre in the world. The building pictured below houses the only known original painting of Winnipeg's namesake critter, Winnie the Pooh:
[IMG]5300_117907303019_516373019_2381504_5943098_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

More super sexy structures:
[IMG]26815_375734148019_516373019_3763560_7033944_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

I can't read a word of it, but Hebrew "looks" fucking cool:
[IMG]26815_376012943019_516373019_3770762_754184_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Some funky West Broadway action:
[IMG]26815_376012958019_516373019_3770765_3915686_n(2) by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

One of several buildings housing Great West Life, a major national insurance provider which is headquartered here:
[IMG]26815_376012963019_516373019_3770766_4252507_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

This storied structure has undergone a recent renovation. It's apparently where "Men With Brooms" was filmed, because I know you were dying to ask:
[IMG]26815_376013018019_516373019_3770776_7961094_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Yep:
[IMG]26815_376013028019_516373019_3770778_4670851_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Iconic Portage and Main:
[IMG]26815_376013113019_516373019_3770792_1052460_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Damn, this city has some pretty rad pockets:
[IMG]26815_376013138019_516373019_3770797_7021397_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Straight up, yo:
[IMG]26815_376013143019_516373019_3770798_2981219_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Fort Gibraltar was constructed in 1809 by French fur traders:
[IMG]26815_376013163019_516373019_3770801_4270511_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

I promised y'all some grit, so let's head into what is perhaps the most economically deprived community in Canada, Winnipeg's beautifully historic and now notoriously violent North End:
[IMG]28254_400683938019_516373019_4391066_1111987_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

The poverty is easy to ignore until you actually set foot there:
[IMG]28254_400685363019_516373019_4391154_3017623_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

The fact a new transit shelter was even built here in the first place is a positive sign:
[IMG]26815_376013403019_516373019_3770842_1199152_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Infrastructure improvement projects like this aren't even a priority here any more:
[IMG]28254_400686468019_516373019_4391183_8218348_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Thar she be:
[IMG]28254_400686463019_516373019_4391182_6631339_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Not quite like what the kids get in the 'burbs:
[IMG]28254_400686458019_516373019_4391181_6702189_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Dishes:
[IMG]28254_400683983019_516373019_4391069_4189950_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

More wonderful housing opportunities in this rich nation of ours:
[IMG]28254_400686453019_516373019_4391180_2766755_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Not a phone I want to be using at three in the morning:
[IMG]28254_400685373019_516373019_4391156_1660221_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

I witnessed two hand-to-hand rock deals within a few minutes while shooting this hood:
28254_400685368019_516373019_4391155_1732956_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr

Troubled water:
[IMG]28254_400686478019_516373019_4391184_3657288_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Sad but true:
[IMG]28254_400684033019_516373019_4391076_885273_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Boards don't get smashed out as often as windows:
[IMG]28254_400684028019_516373019_4391075_4896468_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

One word says so much:
[IMG]28254_400684018019_516373019_4391073_6066507_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

More blight:
[IMG]28254_400685363019_516373019_4391154_3017623_n(2) by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

If you're not thoroughly depressed yet I can't imagine how:
[IMG]28254_400685358019_516373019_4391153_5043291_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Here's a thing:
[IMG]28254_400685313019_516373019_4391147_6976726_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Last renovation - 1906:
[IMG]28254_400686683019_516373019_4391197_1081828_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

I was there:
[IMG]28254_400686563019_516373019_4391195_1361606_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

She's a fixerupper:
[IMG]28254_400686543019_516373019_4391192_3788667_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

This house must have seen some crazy shit over the years:
[IMG]28254_400686538019_516373019_4391191_4595847_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Exit Police:
[IMG]35127_411591448019_516373019_4675351_1605158_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Ah, the North End:
[IMG]28254_400686518019_516373019_4391190_5768172_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Perhaps we should leave the North End for a while and explore brighter pastures:
[IMG]28254_400685318019_516373019_4391148_2821085_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Bend o' the Red:
[IMG]28254_400685263019_516373019_4391142_334940_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Les bridges:
[IMG]28254_400685243019_516373019_4391140_82771_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Heralded as "Western Canada's First Skyscraper" (depending on how you interpret the words "Western" and "First" and "Skyscraper"), The Royal Bank Building has been renovated since this photo and now houses a culinary institute for the downtown campus of the Red River College:
[IMG]28254_400684933019_516373019_4391122_2859105_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Looking South down Main Street:
[IMG]28254_400684913019_516373019_4391118_5621855_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

For the better or worse, our downtown sometimes reminds me of Edmonton's:
[IMG]28254_400684583019_516373019_4391111_2819659_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Lots of cool old neon in this burg:
[IMG]28254_400684563019_516373019_4391108_4001671_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Some cool new neon too:
[IMG]28254_400684558019_516373019_4391107_2117199_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Typical nook in the Exchange:
[IMG]28254_400684528019_516373019_4391104_1695569_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Last night slowly comes back to me:
[IMG]28254_400684523019_516373019_4391103_5660262_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

"Where's your new job, Honey?" I asked. "Nowhere special," she replied:
[IMG]28254_400684498019_516373019_4391099_4034019_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Stellar:
[IMG]28254_400684453019_516373019_4391093_341834_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

A work in progress:
[IMG]28254_400684068019_516373019_4391080_7295493_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Let's head into Wolseley, Winnipeg's eclectic mix of hipsters and yuppies and students and seniors and actual poncho-wearing-patchouli-bathing hippies. It's my favourite hood in town, and for about 17 hours a year the gardens here will rival anything in Vancouver. Here's the street I lived on for a few years when I first moved here from out west:
[IMG]26815_376028463019_516373019_3771056_2691823_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

More Wolseley:
[IMG]074 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Sherbrook Street borders Wolseley and the gritter West Broadway area:
[IMG]071 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Same area:
[IMG]063 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Rapidly gentrifying Sherbrook Street:
[IMG]061 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

One stop shop for sheesha and fresh green coffee beans:
[IMG]057 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Average beads and granola houses in Wolseley:
[IMG]053 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Typical housing stock:
[IMG]052 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

More Wolseley colour:
[IMG]051 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Did I mention how much I adore this hood?
[IMG]028 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

'Nother nifty nook:
[IMG]024 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Sleepy Sunday:
[IMG]021 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Far out:
[IMG]26815_376028453019_516373019_3771055_3223777_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

True story:
[IMG]26815_376028423019_516373019_3771053_3425589_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

And a lil' sprinkling of St. Louis:
[IMG]26815_376013498019_516373019_3770856_5749651_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Here's something:
[IMG]010 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Yes, we do actually have water taxies, when the ice finally leaves:
[IMG]26815_376013473019_516373019_3770854_6547668_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Heading into Osborne Village, perhaps our trendiest and most vibrant area:
[IMG]26815_376013468019_516373019_3770853_2429425_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

The heart of the Village:
[IMG]26815_376013448019_516373019_3770850_1625264_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

"Not dealing drugs:"
[IMG]26815_376013443019_516373019_3770849_7001764_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

A gentrifying Village:
[IMG]016 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Many urban legends persist about this building and her supposedly insane architect. Apparently there are halls that lead to nowhere and no two rooms are alike:
[IMG]26815_376013438019_516373019_3770848_7924779_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

A tiny sliver of Corydon Avenue, our trendy Little Italy strip. Though with all the sushi joints popping up it will soon be Little Japan:
[IMG]008 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

So many of these nice ones:
[IMG]003 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Randomness:
[IMG]26815_376013398019_516373019_3770841_7202674_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Steeple, people:
[IMG]26815_376013363019_516373019_3770835_7825541_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

I believe this fella is from 1888:
[IMG]26815_376013358019_516373019_3770834_919804_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Winnipeg played an important role in the women's suffrage movement:
[IMG]26815_376013338019_516373019_3770831_8383148_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

This used to the city hall for St. Boniface (east across the Red River from downtown) when it was its own independent city. Now it serves as a tourist centre for the surrounding French Quarter:
[IMG]26815_376013238019_516373019_3770815_4425981_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

There's this type of architecture all over this damn city. It's like a 24/7 eyegasm:
[IMG]26815_376013233019_516373019_3770814_3328808_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

More from Fort Gibraltar:
[IMG]26815_376013198019_516373019_3770808_4773945_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Ol' wall of Fort Garry:
[IMG]39751_413165883019_516373019_4718281_3042037_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Deep City:
[IMG]38529_413165698019_516373019_4718272_7282620_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Solace:
[IMG]37785_413165648019_516373019_4718269_357508_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Memorial Boulevard:
[IMG]39162_413165298019_516373019_4718224_2255681_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Winnipeg Art Gallery:
[IMG]38362_413165083019_516373019_4718214_6819562_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

My hood (I'll actually post some more from my area later):
[IMG]35127_411591653019_516373019_4675392_2442971_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

City Hall:
[IMG]065 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Thunderbird House is an urban sweat lodge catering to the largest urban aboriginal population in the world:
[IMG]060 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Tops:
[IMG]055 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

In most cities a house like this with a decent interior would be reserved for the upper middle class, but given the "transitional" (rough) area it's in now even I could afford it:
[IMG]041 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

I don't recall exactly where this building is, 'cause jazz like this is all over the place:
[IMG]039 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Coppertone:
[IMG]045 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

The eclectic style of Portage Avenue:
[IMG]066 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

West Broadway area:
[IMG]35127_411591648019_516373019_4675391_296341_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

More West Broadway:
[IMG]018 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

A busy morning on East Broadway:
[IMG]072 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

The Remand Centre taken from the courthouse; there are prisoners behind the glass in their temporary cells:
[IMG]35127_411591618019_516373019_4675385_5234894_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Former courthouse/gaol now primarily inhabited by ghosts:
[IMG]35127_411591608019_516373019_4675383_1759968_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Reflection perfection:
[IMG]35127_411591603019_516373019_4675382_7413935_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

All right, a quick street scene before some prick from D.C. or Boston says "where are all the people lol?" I generally avoid people shots and focus on the architecture, but some folks do actually live in this city as well. Look, I'll prove it:
[IMG]35127_411591553019_516373019_4675372_7941587_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Sexy:
[IMG]35127_411591533019_516373019_4675368_5348015_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

This building served as Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Jeff Daniel's apartment in the stellar film "The Lookout." It's also on the promotional poster:
[IMG]35127_411591488019_516373019_4675359_2260908_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Old school:
[IMG]35127_411591473019_516373019_4675356_7733594_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Yep:
[IMG]35127_411591383019_516373019_4675338_676402_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Reprezentin' Peg City:
35127_411591373019_516373019_4675336_5805166_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr

Rivers run through it:
[IMG]014 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

What is left of the St. Boniface cathedral after a fire allegedly started by leprechaun mimes destroyed both steeples:
[IMG]034 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

I like my headstones like I like my women: old, dirty, and French:
[IMG]033 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Obligatory faux density:
[IMG]095 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Always a welcome sign:
[IMG]076 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Wowzers:
[IMG]069 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Part of the University of Winnipeg:
[IMG]063 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Lookin' south down Main Street:
[IMG]025 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Historic St. Boniface:
[IMG]056 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Urban:
[IMG]040 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Built in 1845, the former Grey Nun's Convent is the oldest surviving all wood structure in Western Canada, and one of the oldest intact wooden buildings in North America:
[IMG]038 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Another gem:
[IMG]023 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Riel's grave. If you have a working knowledge of Canadian history you will be familiar with the name:
[IMG]031 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

A tiny bit of The Forks, Winnipeg's own market revitalization success story. It's like Vancouver's Granville Island. Or Seattle's Pike Place Market. (Or Calgary's Eau Claire, but ours is actually cool and successful):
[IMG]26815_376013048019_516373019_3770781_6183953_n by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Home of the Winnipeg Jets:
[IMG]July 2010 002 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Cage:
[IMG]161 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

You're turned on. Don't deny it:
[IMG]017 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

I still don't know what to do when life hands you lemurs:
[IMG]035 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Thanks for checking this jazz out, folks! It's been swell. Tune in later for some sexy pictures of my calves.
[IMG]068 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

[SignalHillHiker]

Awesome commentary. And great set!

[MplsTodd]

Great tour and great set!
The Exchange District is an incredible gem!

[Wigs]

most comprehensive Winnipeg photo tour I've seen!

[ue]

Winnipeg is one of the good ones - a vastly underrated little gem on the prairie. It baffles me the Exchange District isn't more vibrant.

[downtownpdx]

Your commentary cracks me up. Except the hippo photographer one ... you've really got some great stuff in this thread. Thanks for the awesome tour, quite a nice looking city.

[BrickJunkie]

Thanks for the comments, folks!

Regarding the Exchange District....

I moved here from the Calgary area in 2008, and from what I understand in the 1980s and 90s the Exchange was a very rough area and was host to decrepit buildings and the streets were essentially reserved to prostitution and an open air drug market. Even today on the Northern edge of the Exchange (the area that is home to Chinatown) there is blight and a fair amount of surface area parking lots. It's generally bustling in the daytime and on weekends, especially in the summer, but the further north you stray after dark the more hazardous and violent the scene gets.

The good news, however, is that things are headed in the right direction. The Waterfront Drive area (the newer lowrise condo units shot earlier in this thread) borders the East Exchange next to the Red River and is adding a solid residential base to the neighbourhood. More condo units and a hotel or two are also in development or construction stages. As well, as lot of the old turn-of-the century buildings pictured have been converted into residential lofts and artist studios in recent years, and this trend continues. The city is also negotiating with the developers of future projects to ensure the area gets a couple of parkades (eliminating surface lots) and a much needed local grocery store. Hopefully this will create some kind of critical mass. It would be nice to have a few thousand more permanent residents here so there's more pedestrian activity, especially at night. This creates a safe environment for locals and tourists alike after hours.

Downtown commercial vacancy rates are low, and the core is experiencing a slight upturn in commercial development and a pretty large upturn in residential growth. Also, the campuses of both the University of Winnipeg and the Red River College are experiencing HUGE expansions, which obviously adds to the density. What is hindering this growth (and may sabotage dreams of critical mass in the Exchange) is our collective reluctance to invest in rapid transit. Our "BRT" system is a full fledged effort and the buses run on an EXCLUSIVE right of way separated corridor, including major enclosed transit stations, making it a "true" BRT system and not a half-ass "express bus service" billing itself as BRT like some other cities have. The problem? Our first leg of BRT only extends 3.6 fucking kilometers and essentially goes nowhere. City Hall has been bickering for DECADES on the best approach and our 3.6 km joke only entered service a couple of years ago. Now our corrupt bitch of a mayor is stalling the second BRT leg (which would make the service viable and extend it South to the University of Manitoba main campus / new football stadium) yet AGAIN. Thery're even rehashing the light rail / BRT debate again. So it could take years to get a rapid transit system that actually functions the way it should and brings people into the core efficiently. Until this happens I'm not sure our core will truly become a destination to "live, work, and play."

Sorry for the massive rant. But here's my two cents: the Exchange is cool, and downtown is on the up and up. But until we have an effective rapid transit system that truly connects important development nodes we won't witness the critical mass we so desire.

Again, sorry for the ramble, but I'm passionate about this jazz. Thanks again for checking out the thread!

[DLLB]

Excellent thread. Love the comments. The ole Peg is looking gooood!

[phillyskyline]

Nice tour, I enjoyed it!

[Beedok]

My (very) brief visit last summer impressed me. I never actually set foot anywhere other than the bus station, but the ride through the downtown felt very impressive. It felt much grander than Ottawa that's for sure. My only complaints are that it sometimes looks a little American and to go with that it seems a bit dangerous (though I'm not sure if it's that much worse than Tbay).

[Urbanguy]

Very cool! Lot's of great older buildings & loving those distant skyline shots too!!!

[ColDayMan]

Thanks for the tour!

[BrickJunkie]

Thanks again for the comments, folks.

Oh, and Beedok, the areas you would typically pass through on the way from the airport / Greyhound station to downtown are generally a bit rougher. I don't want to stereotype or apply a blanket term to a large area, but the stretch of Sargent Avenue closest to the core you probably travelled down does have some social issues. I'm curious as to what you mean by "American" though. I suppose Winnipeg probably has a more "American" vibe than Halifax or something, but we ain't exactly Phoenix either....

Anyway, this thread is already massive - and I'm talkin' Rob Ford massive - so I figured I might as well add a few more.

I realize the building is indeed white in colour, but this has got to legally fall under the "false advertising" umbrella, ja?
[IMG]114 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Lookin' East down Portage Avenue. True story, you can look it up:
[IMG]128 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

For at least a couple of decades the (previously vacant) building with the shiny new balconies was painted a delightful shade of Ground-Salmon-And-Octopus-Foetus-Mixed-With-Pepto-Bismol Pink, and I miss it dearly. The fella rising down the street will be a hotel:
[IMG]109 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

When I originally moved here I made the responsible decision to explore the core on acid. When I first saw the Electric Railway Chambers (now perhaps my favourite building in the city) and my friend told me what the building was called I said "Yeah cat, I can seeeee it!" and he looked at me like I was an idiot and explained "No, man. That's actually the name of the building:"
[IMG]106 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

I suspect this thing has about a 2.47% chance of being built and actually looking anything like the image, but here's hoping I'll be wrong about something for the first time in my life:
[IMG]097 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

We may not be exploding like Calgary, but even seeing this kind of infill is nice, and for the first time in decades Winnipeg is experiencing a real large-scale density upswing in the core:
[IMG]090 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

If I'm going to show off our impressive structures like the new museum and pedestrian bridge, I might as well be honest and show you some blocs d'commie as well:
[IMG]082 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Our 1980s revitalization attempt at a mall is not "quite" a complete disastrous failure, but damn close. The structure was built to accommodate two towers - one on each end of the mall - that never materialized. As such, there's no residential component, which would be ideal for the mall to maintain longer hours and sustain more stable businesses. The bottom level is filled with semi-successful retail outlets, but the upper two stories have been re-purposed as lonely offices. The city also went from two IMAX theatres down to one when this one closed. A normal theatre with a few screens remains. Oh, and if you're visiting the city and desire to purchase an organized-crime sourced, unethical and under weighed "gram" of shitty ditch weed, I recommend standing anywhere in front of the mall at any time and making eye contact with somebody:
[IMG]078 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Judging by this shot you would think we had some kick ass density downtown. You would be wrong:
[IMG]076 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

New Flyer Industries, a major bus manufacturer, has its headquarters here. Sometimes the city can even afford to buy a few (though hilariously our "new" articulated units are actually second hand buses purchased at a bargain rate from the City of Ottawa):
[IMG]073 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

This is the relatively dingy strip of the North side of Portage Avenue looking West away from downtown. The newer building is part of the U of W expansion, and the highrise in the background is the Association Of Left Handed Irish Windsurfers:
[IMG]011 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Our record-breaking heatwave last August:
[IMG]034 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

One of the larger vessels I've seen on the Red River. There is a river cruise dinner and dance gig you can attend during the warmer months, but I don't believe this is the company ship. Or is it a boat? It's either a very small ship or a very large boat, and I can't be bothered to look it up:
[IMG]075 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Autumn is beautiful here, and it's a shame it only lasts for about an afternoon:
[IMG]079 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

New condos in the Waterfront Drive district on the NE corner of downtown, taken from the first place I lol'd as your ex-gf omg'd:
[IMG]072 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Siding is expensive, but giant pick-up sticks are economical as fuck (fuck being extremely economical):
[IMG]068 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Y'all might like to know that Winnipeg is the first (and to my knowledge still the only) Canadian city to have a 45 degree angle option on Google Maps. So if you're a geek like me and want to roam around the core a bit, I recommend clicking your way around Google. I realise this has nothing to do with the photo:
[IMG]054 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Old St. Boniface, just East across the Red River from downtown and connected via that nifty pedestrial bridge:
[IMG]051 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

L'hôpital général de Saint-Boniface, as its known in Cantonese, is the region's second largest health care centre. The aqua coloured building on the right lights up and changes colour at night:
[IMG]049 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Still quite central, and near the previously pictured hospital in "new" St. Boniface:
[IMG]043 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

I instructed the contractors to build a dome - shaped theatre to enhance the acoustics of the room:
[IMG]042 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Either a Winnipeg Transit water taxi or a tourist cruise headed back to the docks at The Forks. Both use similar.... boats:
[IMG]036 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Yep:
[IMG]034 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

"Do not mistreat my people." OK, we obviously misread that last part. But the next time we invade a land we will totally take your advice:
[IMG]032 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

This town is old. Like, older than VHS. The Latin inscription reads "People In Dresses Touching People Not In Dresses:"
[IMG]030 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

This exists:
[IMG]024 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

One of my better watercolours, I think:
[IMG]015 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

My current hood, the West End, which we've barely touched thus far:
[IMG]013 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Nifty:
[IMG]183 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

The Health Sciences Centre, the region's largest:
[IMG]178 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Hazy Exchange (which incidentally describes most of my recent drug deals):
[IMG]179 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

The Odeon was renamed The Walker and then finally The Burton Cummings after the Guess Who singer. Why it wasn't named after the infinitely cooler Neil Young, another local artist, is beyond me. Maybe instead of being named after an ex-coke fiend who inexplicitly still has a beer gut it should be called The Place That Held The Public Forums That Led To Women Voting In Canada:
[IMG]172 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

I was almost too embarrassed to share this surface parking lot, which rests dormant mere steps from Portage and Main, where our tallest towers.... tower. In my rare fantasies that don't involve Natalie Portman covered in cheese, I imagine this parcel hosting some kind of Flatiron-ish building:
[IMG]174 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

The MTS Centre on Portage Avenue, where our NHL franchise is based:
[IMG]171 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Another from the fence:
[IMG]164 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Assiniboine Action:
[IMG]Feb 26th, 2013 148 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

The Osborne Village Rapid Transit Station is roughly the same length as our Rapid Transit Line:
[IMG]Feb 26th, 2013 123 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

The interior was clearly bustling that day:
[IMG]Feb 26th, 2013 125 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Yeah, I photographed this before. So what? Let's fight:
[IMG]Feb 26th, 2013 122 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Flat:
[IMG]Feb 26th, 2013 128 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

The asshole dinosaurs at City Hall say it would be "grossly inappropriate" for me to purchase this real estate and convert it into Canada's most exclusive brothel:
[IMG]Feb 26th, 2013 118 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

One of few dense strips in a largely sprawling downtown:
[IMG]099 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

This sucka's on Portage:
[IMG]104 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

I let JJ Abrams borrow my camera for one bloody picture and this is what happens:
[IMG]Feb 26th, 2013 121 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

This is a unique university campus because you can only visit it when you're in Winnipeg:
[IMG]110 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Groovy:
[IMG]111 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Spooky train station:
[IMG]094 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

Aight. I'm done for the day. Thanks again for checking this jazz out. I'm off like a prom dress.
[IMG]098 by Brick Junkie, on Flickr[/IMG]

[boden]

Really good work.....good photos and commentary. I've never been but I really want to.

[Wizened Variations]

To understand Winnipeg, and, all of Canada except for southwestern BC, go see Winnipeg when they are holding the Festival du Voyageur in February.

Winnipeg (yes Winnipeg) , and much Canada, is a pretty post card when it is not winter. However, when the days grow short and the cold Artic breath takes over the cities, Canada is.........Canada.

A place where Winter clothing can be very stylish. A place where walking (slowly) on a clear frigid night, brightly lit by a full moon centering a forest of moon dogs, is down right spiritual (And shoveling snow can be a proof there is a hell...)

Winnipeg is a tough, gritty, friendly place.

Nice photo presentation.

[roccerfeller]

Beautiful Winnipeg set

Love the Franco Manitoban stuff you were able to incorporate as well

Makes me really miss the city!

[TRiToNDREyJA]

Absolutely amazing

[Beedok]

Originally Posted by BrickJunkie

Oh, and Beedok, the areas you would typically pass through on the way from the airport / Greyhound station to downtown are generally a bit rougher. I don't want to stereotype or apply a blanket term to a large area, but the stretch of Sargent Avenue closest to the core you probably travelled down does have some social issues. I'm curious as to what you mean by "American" though. I suppose Winnipeg probably has a more "American" vibe than Halifax or something, but we ain't exactly Phoenix either....

The bus driver on my way west seemed focused on giving us a fairly thorough tour of the city. I don't know my way around the city well enough to map out the route we took, but it felt like we were site seeing or something. It looked quite nice and presentable though (of course having grown up in Hamilton and Thunder Bay my standards are probably fairly vague ). The dangerous thing simply comes from the crimes stats.

As for it looking 'American' it's all those early 20th century highrises and near highrises, with pretty well nothing newer intermixed. It reminds me of how a lot of US threads here look like the dowtown was finished in 1949 and then everyone forgot about it. The cities I'm used in Ontario have mostly pre-war midrises + lowrises and then mostly post-war highrises. It's not bad on it's, it's just something I associate with the US which makes it feel weird.

[ZeDgE]

Wow, amazing pics. Great comments too!

[DLLB]

The comments (and pictures) just keep getting better and better :-)