Happy Monday, Winnipeg!

What a weekend to be outside. The sun was out, the air was warm, and the whole city took the hint. Between the markets, the live music, and Corydon going car-free for Open Corydon, something was happening on just about every corner.

We hope you got the chance to soak it up. Weekends like this are exactly why summer in the city feels so short and so worth it.

Now it's back to it, and we've got plenty to catch you up on.

Now, in today’s edition:

— Jas Singh

If you've spent any time outside this past week, you already know the mosquitoes have taken over…

After weeks of rain left standing water all over the city, the population exploded, and the City of Winnipeg started up its fogging program over the weekend to help get things back under control.

The city starts spraying once the traps average 25 female mosquitoes. Right now, that count sits at 84, nearly four times over, so the trucks are already out.

Crews went after the worst areas first, including Assiniboine Park, St. Vital Park, and King's Park, the spots we all fill up on a summer evening.

When the fog reaches your own street, comes down to where you live, so if you've got a barbecue or patio night coming, it's worth checking when your area's up.

Click here: To see the full spraying schedule and find your area!

Not thrilled about the fog coming past your place? There are a couple of things you can do at home.

The simplest is emptying standing water, since that's where mosquitoes breed. Tipping out bird baths, wheelbarrows, kiddie pools, and clogged eavestroughs stops them from multiplying in your yard.

You can also apply for a 90-metre buffer zone around your home so the trucks skip your property. Here's what that takes:

A spray-free yard isn't for everyone, but if it gives you a little more peace of mind this summer, it's good to know the option is there.

Click here: To register your property for a mosquito fogging buffer zone!

You show up certain that this isn't your thing.
Almost everyone does.

Twenty minutes later, you're moving to the music and wondering what you were ever nervous about.

That's a first lesson at 1100 Dance, and it's one of our favourite low-key nights out in the city. When was the last time you tried something totally new?

This is an easy place to start. No experience needed. No pressure. Open to all ages.

And it barely costs a thing. Group classes start at just $15 a person.

Every class starts from the very first step, so there's no keeping up and no falling behind.

You don't have to be good at dancing to love it. You just have to show up once.

📍 1100 Pembina Hwy, Winnipeg

P.S. Grab a friend and make it your weekly thing. Everything's more fun when you're both a little bad at it.

Step into an old brick building in the Exchange District and you'll find a warm little room that's three places at once.

Part tea room, part cocktail bar, part cozy kitchen. That's Amsterdam Tea Room, home to 74 teas, and the only spot in Winnipeg where the tea you order might come back as a cocktail.

Some teas get poured straight, some get shaken into cocktails, and others flavour the Dutch-inspired small plates coming out of the kitchen. It's the kind of mix you won't find anywhere else in the city.

Can't decide where to start? Order a tea cocktail flight. You pick a flavour, and the bartender builds three cocktails around it for the table to share.

It's the kind of evening where the plates keep coming, the conversation slows down, and nobody's in a rush to leave.

There's really nowhere else like it in the city, and that alone makes it worth planning a night around. Bring a friend, grab a seat on the patio, and settle in.

📍 211 Bannatyne Ave, Exchange District

Click here: To check out their menu and pick the flavours you'll want to try!

It's funny how a five-dollar ticket can change everything. For one Winnipegger, it just did in a big way.

Richard Martini took home the grand prize in this year's Tri-Hospital Dream Lottery, walking away with $1.35 million, the largest payout in the event's history.

He now gets to choose between the tax-free cash or one of five luxury home packages, each worth more than $1.7 million.

But here's the part we love most. This win reaches far beyond one lucky household. Every ticket sold goes toward caring for Manitobans when they need it most, supporting the foundations behind three of our hospitals:

That money helps buy new medical equipment, update aging technology, and fund research that gives local patients better care.

So while one person celebrates a very good day, hospitals across Manitoba win in a bigger way. That's the kind of win worth cheering for.

Click Here: To see the complete list of this year's winners!

If your dog gets excited the second you reach for the leash, there's a new spot in South Winnipeg you'll want to add to your walking route.

The new Bridgwater Trails Dog Park officially opened this weekend inside Shaheed Bhagat Singh Park, giving pups a big new off-leash space to run, sniff, and burn off some energy.

It's already turning into more than a place to let the dog run.

Neighbours are stopping to chat, dogs are making fast friends, and everyone seems to head home a little happier than when they showed up.

So whether you've got a mellow senior dog or one that never seems to run out of steam, this might just become your new favourite weekend stop.

Click Here: To see what the new dog park looks like!

Winnipeg loves its trees, and this is the time of year the city works to keep them standing.

If you spot crews around ash trees over the next few weeks, there's nothing to worry about. They're part of Winnipeg's yearly effort to protect ash trees from the Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive insect that can kill a healthy tree if it's left untreated.

The idea is to treat the trees before any damage is done, giving them the best shot at staying healthy for years. It's a quiet bit of upkeep, but it's a big part of why our streets and parks stay as green as they do.

If you're wondering whether crews will be working in your neighbourhood, you can check the city's latest treatment updates below.

Click Here: To see treatment updates and whether your neighbourhood is included!

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

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