Top 5 things to do in Winnipeg this weekend

This weekend is all about great music and good beer, and if you want to get the best of both, youre going to have to muster up some Friday night energy.

You have onlya few more weekends left this year, so if you havent had an amazing one yet, you owe it to yourself to brave the cold and head out on Friday.

Try checking out Eagle Lake Owls and Haunters show, then end the night with a great dance party led by DJ Co-Op and recover with a documentary at Cinematheque on Saturday.

Happy weekend, Winnipeggers!

WHAT: MUSIC Eagle Lake Owls at the Folk Exchange

When: Friday, Nov. 29 at 8 p.m.

Where: The Folk Exchange at 211 Bannatyne Ave.

Cost: $10 (advance tickets)

The oft-overlooked Folk Exchange is hosting a delightful acoustic set with Winnipegs Eagle Lake Owls on Friday.

The early show is the perfect excuse to put on your Sunday best (or a hoodie and jeans, folkies are easy) and enjoy a sweet night with some talented musicians.

Eagle Lake Owls have a great twangy, Prairie sound that sort of fits into the indie-folk crossover genre. Think an acoustic version of The Dodos or Sufjan Stevens.

The vocals are nothing short of incredible, and the show will be worth your trudge through the snow and crumpled $10 bill.

This is one youll want to pair with a few glasses of early wine, some patterned tights (guys, I dont know what your equivalent to that would be) and people you love.

• CBC Music Listen to Eagle Lake Owls

And if youre not sold yet on the intimate venue and lovely sound of the band, I should let you know there is a cellist in the band. You can get all your hipster points in one adorable night.

WHAT: MUSIC Haunters farewell show at The Windsor

When: Friday, Nov. 29 at 10 p.m.

Where: Windsor Hotel at 187 Garry St.

Cost: $10 at the door

If youre feeling a little restless andmore than a little thirsty after the Eagle Lake Owls show, take the 10 minute walk down to the Windsor for Haunters last show ever.

The Winnipeg indie staple is breaking up, which is absolutely terrible, but at least they are playing one last show.

• CBC Music Listen to Haunter

Haunter is a bit more danceable with a grungy, sort of garage-rock sound. Theyre like a softer, way more accessible mix of The Bokononists with a hint of The Weakerthans' Left and Leaving album.

Basically, they play the kind of Canadian indie music youd expect tohear inthe basement of a Winnipeg hotel on a cold night.

And if theyre not entirely your thing, DJ Co-Op (my most favourite city DJ!) will be leading a post-Haunter set dance party. He says hell be spinning some new wave and punk, so it should be loads of fun.

Plus, for $10 its a steal, you guys.

WHAT: DRINKS Barley Brothers craft brewery

When: Friday, Nov. 29

Where: Barley Brothers at 655 Empress St.

Cost: About $5-$10 per beer

Barley Brothers craft brewery is holding its grand opening this weekend. The brewery has already been open for several weeks but all of their taps go on for the first time on Friday.

They have super affordable eats, and they will definitely be playing the Jets game.So if you havent checked it out yet, this weekend should see decent crowds.

On Saturday, the brewery is hosting an awards ceremony that will see the best beer made in Winnipeg crowned. The Brew Bombers hosted the first pro-am brewing competition over the past few months, and theyll announce the winners around 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Theyll even have people giving talks about beer. If you find them boring, you can just drink more beer.

WHAT: FOOD Brewers Beer Dinner at Mise

When: Friday, Nov. 29 at 7:30 p.m.

Where: Mise Bistro 842 Corydon Ave.

Cost: $65 per ticket

Normally I dont suggest going to do things that cost this much money, nor do I do things that cost this much money. The thing is though, this involves beer and good food so exceptions must be made.

Mise is hosting a Brewers Beer Dinner on Friday where a chef and brewer pair a bunch of craft beers with fancy food.

If youre not familiar with it, Mise is that fancy restaurant on the edge of Little Italy that has a cute patio and puts wild rice in a lot of their dishes.

The event is being put on by the Winnipeg Brew Bombers who are hosting a pro-am beer challenge for local brewers this weekend. They have events going all weekend, with this one being the unquestionably most delicious.

The dinner has everything from maple chipotle salmon to BBQ pork ribs to a caramel crme brulee. There are also two dishes on the menu with wild rice because obviously.

Itll be a cute date night where you can get medium-dressed up and learn some things about pairing beer with food.

WHAT: DANCE Movember Gala at the Pyramid

When: Nov. 30 at 8 p.m.

Where: Pyramid Cabaret at 176 Fort St.

Cost: $20

Super exciting! That philanthropic-themed month where every handsome man in the city ruinshis face with a moustache is finally coming to an end.

Lots of do-gooding has been done, and theres one last hurrah on Saturday night.

The Pyramid is holding a Movember Gala that will raise money before the clock strikes midnight and the moustache month is over.

There will also be a moustache-judging contest, which you enter by showing up.

The Pyramid has been missing out on a lot of great acts since Union Sound Hall opened, and this is a rare opportunity to enjoy one of my favourite venues in the city.

Bonus event (it's a movie!)

WHAT: FILM Oil Sands Karaoke documentary

When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Where: Cinematheque at 100 Arthur St.

Cost: $9

It turns out not everything that comes out of Albertas oil sands is completely terrible. This weekend Cinematheque is showing one of the good things: a rad little documentary about a group of strangers who live in Fort McMurray and are really, really into karaoke.

From a nerdy truck driver to a local business owner who performs in drag, the film profiles a group of unusually awesome karaoke stars in the oil town.

For $9 you can check out the sweet little doc, and on Saturday night, Cinematheque is hosting itsown karaoke event after the show.