When the Canadian Idol tour makes its annual stop in Winnipeg, judge Zack Werner knows where to eat, where to go out and just how much time you need to make it through a yellow traffic light.

A native of the city known alternately as Canada's Gateway to the West and Winterpeg, Werner lived here until he was 18, when he moved away to study at the University of Minnesota.

"Let me explain something about Winnipeg," he told crew driver Eli Van der Giessen, minutes after five lucky Idol staff members piled into a van for a trip down Werner Memory Lane.

"This city has the longest yellow lights in the world. For real. You can actually enter in a yellow as long as you're out by the red."

The often-caustic music manager spent his first day back in his hometown showing off what he considers its landmarks -- including anything from his highschool girlfriend's house (she was also Miss Teen Winnipeg) to the International Inn where his mother used to sing in the supper club ("'Dad's making dinner' usually meant we were going to the bar," he joked).

And while Werner's traffic light tidbit could not be confirmed through Eye on Idol's research (nor could his insistence that the corner of Portage and Main is the windiest intersection in existence), another of his hometown claims-to-fame did have some backing: Winnipeg sells more 7-Eleven Slurpees than anywhere else.

Last year, the city won the "Slurpee Capital of the World" title for the sixth year running. About 400,000 of the colourful frozen beverages are sold here every month, according to the convenience store chain.

"See that," Werner said, pointing out an ordinary-looking Pembina Highway 7-Eleven to the van's confused occupants. "That… was my Slurpee."

Here are Zack's Top 3 Winnipeg must-sees:

The Pyramid Cabaret

This Fort Street venue has hosted many a band coming out of Winnipeg (a city known for producing acts including the Weakerthans and the Guess Who). "It's a great rock room," says Werner.

Salisbury House

This local chain of burger joints was purchased by a group including Burton Cummings around 2000, but was in existence well before that. Werner said he would often drop in for a snack at "the Sal" after an evening out on the town.

The Winnipeg Arena (for a limited time only)

In the midst of a complete demolition, the former home of the Winnipeg Jets (the franchise moved to Phoenix and became the Coyotes in 1996) is literally an empty shell of its glory days. Sitting on the outskirts of the city, its gargantuan skeleton is slowly but surely disappearing. "I've seen Kiss here, Genesis, the Rolling Stones, the 1972 Canada-Russia hockey game… and now look at it," said a reminiscent Werner.