In-office days are generally more entertaining than a work-from-home routine. However, the pandemic has taught me to appreciate stability in the mundane, as well as the bonus hours of sleep.
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Instead of braving the pending snow storm, as my carpooling partner had opted to do, I rearranged my schedule to navigate into the city in the earlier half of the work week. Taken along for the ride was my standard breakfast fix of banana bread and iced coffee (cold brew this time); a generous wedge of Matcha Nian Gao joined the 9 AM party.
A bustling office encouraged me to venture outside for the midday break.
Northwest of the intersection was Yonge-Eglinton Centre, where I steadily ascended to the second floor in search of Mr. Buttons (and Mr. Tophat). Both fuzzy snowmen had disappeared from the shelves, leaving only elves and Santas in their place.
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As I maneuvered back to the ever-chaotic intersection, a rowdy homeless man was observed shouting - at nothing in particular - while glaring at the mass of pedestrians waiting to cross. He hovered about the southeast corner of Yonge/Eglinton, stepping into live, southbound traffic several times throughout the spectacle. He continued shouting as we collectively passed him by. I was hesitant to turn my back on him, yet ever more petrified to lock eyes. Resorting to sticking close to the girl before me, I rushed past the grimy presence with urgency in each step.
The re-configured pedestrian access had shifted foot traffic closer to the centreline of the roadway, creating a wind tunnel where commuters would be pelted with precipitation.
Due to wind conditions, navigating any further than Belsize Drive would entail an unpleasant trek back. I looped back after confirming the status of Gong Cha's storefront ("Coming soon" it still reads.), avoiding the southeast corner altogether by routing up and down the stairs of the 2200 Yonge building that houses Merrithew's corporate training centre.
The re-configured pedestrian access had shifted foot traffic closer to the centreline of the roadway, creating a wind tunnel where commuters would be pelted with precipitation.
Due to wind conditions, navigating any further than Belsize Drive would entail an unpleasant trek back. I looped back after confirming the status of Gong Cha's storefront ("Coming soon" it still reads.), avoiding the southeast corner altogether by routing up and down the stairs of the 2200 Yonge building that houses Merrithew's corporate training centre.
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East of the intersection is The Social Blend, which remains utterly unaffected by the pedestrian walkway shift. From the monthly selection of rotating flavours, I pointed towards Black Sesame, Fenglisu, and Hotteok to take home. An Earl Grey Puff and Dulce Latte are also added to my order.
Unlike the last visit, the girl behind the cashier was neither as attentive nor amicable. Despite absence of a queue, she proceeded with my order in a hurried manner, sliding the Earl Grey Puff towards me between the POS tablet and brewing apparatus, then the remaining three macarons on the other side of the counter. Before I could request a bag for my purchases, she dashed away with looking back even once. Her gaze remained as far from me as possible, prompting me to withdraw my own plastic bag for carrying.
Unlike the last visit, the girl behind the cashier was neither as attentive nor amicable. Despite absence of a queue, she proceeded with my order in a hurried manner, sliding the Earl Grey Puff towards me between the POS tablet and brewing apparatus, then the remaining three macarons on the other side of the counter. Before I could request a bag for my purchases, she dashed away with looking back even once. Her gaze remained as far from me as possible, prompting me to withdraw my own plastic bag for carrying.
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