Happy Monday, Winnipeg!

A new week means new things to try, from a hidden spot on Osborne to a few cozy fall drinks.

Here’s what’s in today’s edition:

— Jas Singh

Banana Ball is coming to Winnipeg next August, and it’ll be the first time it’s ever been played in Canada.

Toronto is the only other Canadian city on the schedule, and we’re getting two games right here at home.

If you haven’t heard of it, it’s the version of baseball the Savannah Bananas made famous, with music, dancing and comedy all game long.

The rules are a little different too.

If a fan catches a foul ball, the batter is out. There’s no bunting, and games have a two-hour time limit, so it’s fast-paced from start to finish.

Tickets go through a lottery, and you have until Oct. 31 to join the list. A random draw decides who gets the chance to buy, so entering doesn’t guarantee a spot.

Send this to the friends or family you’d love to go with, and get your names in before the deadline. You might just be the one who catches that game-changing foul ball.

Click here: To enter the Banana Ball ticket lottery before October 31!

You had a great idea back in September.

Maybe it’s half-sewn and stuffed in the closet. Maybe it’s last year’s costume that needs fixing. Or maybe it’s still just a picture saved on your phone.

And every year, it ends the same way. October 30th, a hot glue gun, a handful of safety pins, and hoping it holds together for one night.

Or you give up and grab a costume in a bag that ten other people will be wearing.

This year, there’s a better fix. Lilax Studio is running Halloween 911, small semi-private sewing sessions to help you get your costume done before the big night.

Sessions are led by Beth Syrnyk and Gillian McDonnell, instructors with decades of sewing experience between them.

Need materials? Their clearance sale has hundreds of metres of fabric starting at just $1 a metre, trims at 50% off, and plenty of black fabric for costumes, cosplay and spooky backdrops.

Three sessions, small groups, and 12 days to go. Book a spot and finally finish the costume you’ve been picturing since September.

P.S. Getting ready for Comic-Con or a fall ball instead? Same sessions, same help.

Some of the best nights out start somewhere you’d never think to look, and one of them is hiding at Tabula Rasa on Osborne.

Head down the hallway past the kitchen and you’ll find what looks like a wall of records. Give it a push, and the whole thing swings open.

Behind it is Solera, a small cocktail bar with low lighting, plush seats and plates made for passing around the table.

The room is small, which is half the fun once you’re inside and the whole reason to book a table first.

It’s the kind of little secret that’s even better shared, so bring someone you’d love to surprise.

📍 725 Osborne St. (inside Tabula Rasa)
🕒 Tuesday to Thursday, 5 PM to 11 PM, and Friday and Saturday until 1 AM

Click here: To see Solera’s menu and reserve your table!

A lot of us order the same thing every time. It’s the same café, the same size and the same drink, and honestly, it works.

But every fall, local cafés bring out drinks you can only get this time of year, and a few of them are worth breaking the habit for.

The other four are waiting in the full roundup, and there’s still plenty of fall left to work your way through them. Pick one, bring someone along and make an afternoon of it.

Your usual order will still be there when the season’s over.

Click here: To see all 7 fall coffees and find your next favourite!

P.S. Save it for your next coffee run, or send it to a friend who’s always up for trying a new café.

After months of exposure warnings and families worrying about their little ones, Manitoba’s measles outbreak was declared over on Oct. 16th, with the last confirmed case reported back in August.

It's a relief for families across Manitoba, especially after seeing how many people were affected.

But over doesn’t mean gone for good. It’s still worth keeping your family’s vaccinations up to date and watching for symptoms, especially after travel.

It’s been a long few months for parents of young kids, and it’s nice to finally breathe a little easier.

Click here: To read the official announcement and see the recommended immunization schedule!

When a community centre runs out of space, it’s the people who count on it who feel it most. For decades, the North Point Douglas Women’s Centre has been where women and families turn for support, programs and connection, and it’s been outgrowing its walls.

Now, the province is putting $568,400 toward plans for a bigger space close to home.

The project is still in the planning stages, and this funding helps move it toward construction.

The centre has always made room for the women and families who count on it, and soon, it’ll have the space to welcome even more.

Click here: To learn more about the expansion plans and what's coming to North Point Douglas!

We usually keep our stories inside the city, but plenty of us grew up in a small town. If you did, you might remember the rink on a winter night or the outdoor pool where you spent every summer afternoon.

Keeping those places in good shape isn’t cheap, which is why the province is putting $300,750 toward five arts and recreation spaces across Westman, in western Manitoba.

It’s all part of the province’s From the Ground Up program, which helps communities improve the places where people gather.

These are the places a lot of us grew up in, and now a whole new generation gets to grow up in them too.

Click here: To see what's planned for all five Westman projects!

This section includes only the major events happening soon. For a complete list of all events, you'll have to wait for future editions!

Events marked with ($) require a ticket in advance. Please search them up before going.

Thanks for reading The Winnipeg Digest! Let’s chat again on Wednesday!