Arabesque Hookah Cafe ~ in Winnipeg

In the Osborne & Corydon Village area of Winnipeg, on the second floor of an unlikely looking building, is a new restaurant called Arabesque Hookah Cafe which Sherry discovered a few days before your faithful correspondent arrived.













Arabesque has thirteen definitions in Arabic. The most popular refers to a decor of interconnected togetherness and that seems to be what it's all about: bridging Middle Eastern culture and cuisine in the heart of Winnipeg.

There's a Japanese restaurant on the first level of the building, with Arabesque being a non-wheel chair-accessible stairway to the second. The purple theme is inviting and soothing at the same time.






We were here for lunch and friendly service and delicious food was the order of the day. The mint tea was wonderful.

The owners, as Sherry came to know, however briefly, are a couple who want to give back to the community they call home, and they provide opportunities to new Canadians, including refugees from Syria, to work in the restaurant. It's an inspiring business model, and one to support.








Arabesque is Halal, with meat, chicken and vegetarian dishes available in generous portions. If only they served wine.

Photos by Jeem. Copyright 2016 by Jim Murray.

Canadian Museum for Human Rights

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights is an impressive undertaking. Originally the dream of the late Winnipeg-based media mogul, Izzy Asper, it opened in 2014 after years of debate and controversy. According to the Act of Parliament that set up the Museum:

The purpose of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights is to explore the subject of human rights, with special but not exclusive reference to Canada, in order to enhance the public's understanding of human rights, to promote respect for others and to encourage reflection and dialogue (Museums Act).

Whatever that means.






It's an amazing place, with lots of open space, many interactive displays, and a flow that leads one through the various themes easily.

Six different levels, many exhibits, not enough time. Fortunately as one goes up to each new level, the floor space becomes smaller.

The Dirty War in Argentina is passed over rather lightly as is past US intervention in Latin America generally, and the war crimes committed during the American War in Vietnam.






How Canada deals with First Nations peoples is represented through a variety of displays and some are emotionally moving. The word genocide is not used to describe the way Europeans interacted with the Indigenous peoples of Canada and the western hemisphere.

However, there is this telling quote from a government official:

I want to get rid of the Indian problem... Our objective is to continue until there is not a single Indian in Canada that has not been absorbed into the body politic...

The Holocaust and the genocide of Rwanda are in the exhibit called Abuse of State Power. Putting it mildly.



I didn't see any mention of the Palestinian people and their plight, which seems odd in a museum dedicating itself to human rights. Nor is the issue of poverty given adequate exposure as an impediment to human rights. State abuse is shown to be a problem while the abuse of people by corporations is not.













The last part of the Museum, is an elevator to the top level for a view of Winnipeg from the Israel Asper Tower of Hope.

The Museum has its shortcomings, but it's essential viewing when in Winnipeg.

Photos by Jeem. Copyright 2016 by Jim Murray.

Fools & Horses Coffee ~ in Winnipeg

Not far from the Manitoba Legislature we found another great independent coffee shop called Fools & Horses.











The shop is done up in that elegant austerity style we've seen in other coffee shops. There's a full espresso bar that features Pilot Coffee as their anchor bean.








Interesting sandwiches include brisket on toast. Well, why not brisket on toast?






Service, like everywhere in Winnipeg, is friendly and efficient.



In the afternoon Fools & Horses offers wine, spirits and beer, including brews from emerging and established Manitoba craft breweries. The whiskeys include the hard-to-get Northern Harvest Rye from Crown Royal; reason enough to spend an entire day.

And, the coffee is worth lingering anytime.

Photos by Jeem. Copyright 2016 by Jim Murray.