lawn bowling, sports fields, and a library, as well as a speed-skating oval in the winter. The West End also includes more than 1000 businesses and organizations in the area, including over 150 restaurants. Ellice Avenue, Sherbrook Street, and Sargent Avenue East of Arlington have a large variety of ethnic restaurants and markets, being home to many Philippine, Vietnamese, Portuguese, Chinese, East Indian, Somali, Ethiopian, and Thai restaurants. Polo Park, the city's largest mall, is also considered part of the West End. The commercial area in the Polo Park district has expanded rapidly beginning in the 1990s with the building of big-box retail outlets, restaurants, and a major hotel. It has now supplanted downtown Winnipeg as the city's main commercial area. Other attractions in the area include, the University of Winnipeg, Vimy Ridge Memorial Park, Omand's Creek and Park, Westview Park, and the Sargent Park Recreation Complex, as well as many houses, apartment buildings, schools, and an armoury with significant architectural merit. Portage Avenue is the site in the summer months of the "Sunday Night Cruise" by automobile enthusiasts, which while delighting the participants, raises the ire of many West End residents due to the noise, and the all too frequent practice of drag racing. West End Cultural Centre The West End Cultural Centre (WECC), established in 1987, is the area's main hub for live music. It is located on Ellice Avenue in an 80-year-old church building, and is one of the "greenest live performance venues in Canada." It receives support from the federal Department of Canadian Heritage, the Government of Manitoba, Manitoba Arts Council, Winnipeg Arts Council, Assiniboine Credit Union, and the University of Manitoba's radio station, 101.5 UMFM. Prior to the WECC, the building was occupied by: St. Matthews Church (1909-1912) Elim Chapel (1914-1928) St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church (1931-1969) the Portuguese Association of Manitoba (1973-1987) The Portuguese Association sold the building for CA$131,000 to Winnipeg Folk Festival founder Mitch Podoluck and Ava Kobrinsky, who had the vision of opening a community performing arts space, modeled on the Vancouver East Cultural Centre. Podoluck and Kobrinsky's project is what would become the West End Cultural Centre. Murals With over 50 murals, the West End has one of the largest collections of outdoor murals in the city. References External links West End Business Improvement Zone Neighbourhoods in Winnipeg Downtown Winnipeg