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Beginning in Books
coffee, concerts and community at Poor Michael’s
Since 1992 , Poor
Michael’s emporium
(322 Highway 10) has
served up coffee and
camaraderie on the
doorstep of Riding
Mountain national Park.
owners Murray evans
and lei anne Sharratt
have since expanded the
shop, which now offers
more books, fair-trade
coffee and light meals.
Treasure hunters will also
find a curated collection
vintage vinyl and works
by local artists. evans
recently sat down to
talk shop.
Poor Michael’s has
become a destination
unto itself. Why does
it work?
i think because because
of the diversity and
character of the shop,
and because we’re both
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eat
hands-on owners who
are here daily. we’ve
truly got something for
everyone: a souvenir
piece of pottery from
a local artist, a pair of
earrings from asia or
just a really great cup
of coffee. we love our
mix of customers, from
locals to out-of-province
visitors who heard about
us from a friend.
You host a summer
concert series on your
patio. How did that
come about.
The series features
musicians, authors
and poets and usually
attracts 100 or so fans
on our patio. eight years
ago, there was a concert
called the last waltz at
the onanole community
centre. it was a huge hit,
so we decided to revive
it. with so many pro
and semi-pro musicians
in this area, we have a
core of performers—plus
plenty of special guests.
it’s the music of the 60s
and 70s, which really hits
home with our crowd.
You recently published
a book, Fear & Loitering
in Asia. What can you
tell us about it?
we started sending
emails to family and
friends during our travels
in the early ’90s. Then
we had a recurring
series in the Brandon
Sun for a few years. So,
we decided to bring
all those photographs
and stories together in
a book. a good many
copies sold through the
bookshop, and we’re
currently working on our
next book.
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location is everything and Arrowhead
Family Resort has nailed it. located in
the middle of wasagaming drive, the
33-room hotel has a heated pool and
sprawling green space for maximum
chill time. 116 Wasagaming Dr.
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Renowned architect Stanley
Thompson, who gets high marks
for his work on golf courses in Banff
and Jasper, designed the first nine
holes of clear Lake Golf course.
it’s the perfect setting for a round.
1 Johnnie Lawrence Dr.
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For close to three decades, T.R. McKoys has
been dishing up Italian fare in the space
that was once home to local stalwart, the
Park Luncheonette. Generations of visitors
have gathered inside the log-clad room
over steaming plates of penne with Italian
sausage and chicken and poached salmon
with coconut curry and fresh mango salsa.
117 Wasagaming Dr.
Venture down the 30-kilometre gravel
road leading to Lake Audy to see
the park’s most visited residents—a
herd of 40 bison. along the way, you
might spot moose, bear and elk.
West of Wasagaming, off Hwy 354
CAA MANITOBA
WINTer 2018
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