Propose some locations, please.

November 1, 2008 12:03 PM

Where is a good place to propose in Winnipeg, Manitoba?

My girlfriend and I will be visiting the windy city in a month or two, and I'd like to propose to her while we're there. Unfortunately, I don't have much experience with the city, and I obviously can't ask her for advice.

So, can any MeFites recommend scenic places for me? Restaurants, parks, etc. I'm not sure what the weather will be like in early winter, but I'm willing to brave the outdoors.

posted by anonymous to society & culture (7 comments total)

The St. Boniface Cathedral could work - and if you had a photographer friend, you could get them to surreptitiously take a cool candid photo of you on bended knee popping the question in front of the impressive facade.

Or there's that tower at the Forks.

Congratulations!
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 1:51 PM on November 1, 2008

What about the Winnipeg Airport Expansion Location? Unconventional I know, but that's what I'd do.

Maybe Sals?
posted by ageispolis at 1:53 PM on November 1, 2008

I did it at Tre Visi. It's a little Italian bistro in the Exchange District, and it's my favorite restaurant in Winnipeg. I didn't tell them in advance, but I think they could tell something was going on, as they discreetly left us alone after dinner when I proposed. It worked out pretty well.
posted by Jupiter Jones at 2:47 PM on November 1, 2008

Some friends got married on the frozen Assiniboine river at the Forks. It was at night, so all lit up. Quite nice, but so cold.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 4:08 PM on November 1, 2008

Assiniboine River... If it's in two months, the river will likely be frozen. Weather permitting, this could mean the best ice skating in Canada - if you start from the forks, you can skate towards Osbourne village and then go past the bridge, and you're usually alone at that point looking at all the warm people in their apartment buildings (it's about 2 km away from the starting point). The other direction gets you a view of St. Boniface and the Downtown area. Are you a warm weather person? If you don't know how to skate, you'd have to learn. You'd also need a backup plan. Global warming and all that, you know.

It depends on the girl, though. Some Winnipegers hibernate all winter, and would rather be near a fireplace. In that case, the traditional thing to do would be to rent a cabin in the park near Ontario (Whiteshell National Park).

For restaurants, 529 Wellington if she's a gold digger (OMG! I'm paying $8 for a la carte carrots! I could plant a whole garden of carrots in my backyard in the northend for that!), or La Vieille Gare (Old Train) in St Boniface for actual good food.

If there's a special attachment to Winnipeg between yourselfs, I'd recomend the revolving tower restaurant. It changes owners every two years, so I have no idea if the food's good, but the view, combined with the praire flatness, causes this: you look at every single apartment building you've ever lived in, every house you've been to a house party in, the route you drove your bike during that summer at Convergys, you see Tache Hall (University Residence at U of Manitoba)... It's the perfect way to bookend any relationship you have with that city.
posted by sleslie at 11:36 PM on November 1, 2008

I agree that, in addition to Tre Visi, 529 Wellington or the Whiteshell Provincial Park are excellent choices.

529 is very expensive though. It's a high end steakhouse. It is a very very nice place and has tremendous meat.

The Whiteshell is one of my favorite places in the world. It's about an hour and a half drive from Winnipeg.
posted by Jupiter Jones at 7:47 AM on November 2, 2008

At the Forks, there's a sunken circular area surrounded by spotlights - apparently it's called the Oodena Celebration Circle. That would be the #1 spot I would suggest, along with dinner at Sydney's at the Forks.

The St. Boniface cathedral is a lovely place; that was one of the places I considered proposing. Ended up doing it at Birds Hill Park because we had a mutual favorite spot there.

The Leo Mol sculpture garden at Assiniboine Park. Visit on your own ahead of time to pick a good spot within the garden if you can. Caveat: Leo Mol sculpted a crapton of naked ladies.
posted by pocams at 6:00 PM on November 2, 2008