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Calgary | DAY 2: (Pt. 2) Exploring Downtown

2/4/2023

Read Part 1 HERE !

It was around 1 PM when we departed the gift shop.

"What's next?" asked the sleepy polar bear, who had been ravenous enough to devour a mini KitKat from my bag while I browsed the gift shop.
I admitted that I didn't have a plan for the few hours to follow. The purpose was to explore the vicinity, obtaining sustenance wherever convenient.

We quickly learned of the limited pathways permitting access North/South over the CN tracks, the closest being either 1 St or Macleod Trail via a pedestrian underpass. The former led us underneath the tracks through a dim corridor devoid of illumination, natural or artificial. Frankly, the Bay and Yonge Street underpasses are often no better in terms of visuals, but the 1st Ave one was horribly eerie even during daytime hours.

Our steps led us past a number of eateries, none piquing my interest. With every stride southward, the sleepy polar bear urged for a decision to combat hangriness. Bistros with high Google Review ratings did not entice me, nor did the bustling crowds spotted within.

Just when our options along the stretch seemed to diminish into commercial territory, First Street Food Hall emerged as a pleasant surprise.

Its concept was akin to Assembly Chef's Hall, offering a range of various independent kiosks with a communal dining environment. The cuisine assortment included Indian, Vietnamese, burgers, tacos, pizza, local coffee, and beer on tap.

Seating was found at both ends of the building: tables at its dimly lit southeast corner and bar stools at its comparatively grander west. These accommodations were in closer proximity to the bar, bathrooms, and large LED screens suitable for catching game nights.

In contrast to my sheer delight, the sleepy polar bear griped about the facility being a "food court" without table service. Immediately retorting that table service equated to a slower meal, prolonged hunger, and reduction in exploration time, I also defended the establishment for its avant-garde presentation. Furthermore, neither of us would need to concede to the culinary wishes of the other. The Food Hall was, instinctively, the ideal choice for swift execution of a late lunch.

We placed our respective orders at Hi5 Burger and Moose and Poncho, then took our beepers to the bar seating overlooking the snowy grounds of Haultain Park.

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Calgary | DAY 1: (Pt. 1) Foreword + Arrival at YYC

2/3/2023

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This five-day trip to Calgary was definitely not planned early enough for my liking. Travelling within the first quarter of the year is rare, for beyond a hefty number of annual renewals and the all-too-taxing tax season, Q1 trips deplete vacation days that could be reserved for later use in the year.

Shortly after the arrival of January, and my widespread declaration of making "me time" a more conscious decision, I was informed of a last-minute wedding ceremony taking place just one month later. Details were few, but contemplation around schedule arrangements began. Ultimately, the decision lay between a short, domestic trip to Alberta or a larger future ceremony in Guangzhou. Alas, China was not a destination on my bucket list - not now, not ever.

The sleepy polar bear would tag along on the availability of a plus one invite. I selected one of the few reasonable westbound flights, then commenced logistics planning.

Bidding farewell to Larry, Mini Sulley, and Mr. Buttons, I set out with my incredulous bag count around the 11:18 AM mark, arriving just before 11:40 AM. There were, thankfully, no issues with the luggage belt this time around.
The timing worked out well, enabling a swift commute under off-peak traffic conditions and a virtually vacant array of check-in kiosks. Even the lineup for the check-in cashiers didn't span more than five parties. Staggering was the difference from the early AM rush (presumably business meetings) and red-eye budget flights.

Also unthinkably quick was the security screening process: A trial lane was opened for select flyers, in which passengers did not need to remove electronics from their bag for a screening. What a blessing it was! There were significantly fewer people in this lane, meaning that there was no rush to assemble all of one's belongings to keep the queue moving.
Of course, in spite of this, I ended up dropping a handful of chargers on grimy floor when attempting to rearrange belongings between backpack and carry-on.

Unlike my usual airport course, I actually completed all baggage drop-off and screening procedures early enough to procure Starbucks. Once again, the lineup was notably shorter than the AM flights. A water refill was requested, then a Turkey, Provolone, and Pesto Sandwich. The toasted sandwich was cheesy and gratifying, succeeding to appease lunchtime hunger before boarding.

The sleepy polar bear found me gazing out at the sunny, subzero scene outside with serenity.
"You are actually easy to find." I was informed. "You are the most purple person here." Admittedly, the hair and jacket speak louder than I often anticipate.

Boarding commenced around the 1:30 PM mark, at which point I filed into the Zone 2 lineup as part of Premium Economy benefits. Despite finding myself at the end of the line, Zones 1 and 2 alighted the aircraft quickly.

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Calgary | DAY 1: (Pt. 2) Lonely Mouth Bar, Downtown Preview + The Rec Room

2/3/2023

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Read Part 1 HERE !

Toronto is two hours ahead of Calgary. By the time we had settled into the room, I was exhausted and ready to tumble into bed after a nice, rewarding shower. In spite of having expressed an inclination towards ordering UberEats, the sleepy polar bear hovered about sheepishly, refusing to budge.

Fighting fatigue, we readied ourselves for the drive into downtown.

Contrary to the calm conditions of the highway, I was surprised to find an abundance of flickering lights as we entered into the downtown district. Calgary had a night life after all.

The sleepy polar bear urged me to secure a table first, for there was limited parking surrounding the restaurant. Hurriedly gathering my things, I hopped onto the sidewalk.
After taking a few steps, I realized it was remarkably warmer than it appeared. Icy patches remained on the walkway in spite of the above-zero temperatures. In the upcoming days, we would learn that this was, unfortunately, the norm.

Lonely Mouth had been my pick, as was 90% of the itinerary. The storefront adopted the form a tall wooden entrance, awakening vague recollections of Raku. Amidst the dimness, I had failed to see that the entrance was not one door, but two. Yanking hard to combat their weight, the corner of one door promptly slammed into my big toe, causing a pained yelp and groan of annoyance.

Limping into the eatery, I entered through the second door - this one propped open for customer ease - and scanned the environment. The dining area was illuminated minimally and fully occupied. I hovered about until a member of staff approached me. The hostess inquired whether I had made a reservation; I hadn't. But even so, there were three tables available in the covered patio area.

Being seated away from the crowds was great. Beyond being able to hold a conversation at normal volume levels, the booth seating offered more space for my jacket and backpack. The heater installed above were less to my liking, as it caused profuse overheating. It was probably geared towards patrons clad in skimpy going out attire, but internal temperature is unlikely to be low with alcohol in one's body.

Water was served prior to the arrival of the sleepy polar bear. Interestingly enough, there was no additional charge for sparkling water.
Not sure of the status of parking acquisition nor the delivery speed of sustenance on a bustling Friday evening, I took to requesting Tempura Ebi, the sole dish the sleepy polar bear was bound to enjoy, and a Hitachino Nest Yuzu Lager. The evening marked my first and only instance on the trip of being asked to provide proof of age for alcohol-affiliated affairs.

The Yuzu Lager was refreshing and zesty: light, as lagers tend to be, and not hoppy or malty whatsoever. The drink was ideal for those looking for a juicy beer that is less a radler and more a beer. Had the eatery also carried the Espresso Stout I had spotted on their online menu, I likely would have ordered that too.

The sleepy polar bear's entrance coincided with the arrival of my drink, at which point we discussed - in brief, for one of us was hungrier than the other - the remaining items to be requested. Instead of the hostess this time, a different member of staff approached our table. Shortly afterwards, he delivered a ceramic plate with two steaming hand towels, intended to be used just before the arrival of food.

View the full album HERE !

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Out & About #875 | Jinyoung - Chapter 0: WITH, Bluberry Crumble Cake + Torta Caprese

2/2/2023

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No other work week feels as short as one before a trip, especially with a rush of month-end wrap-up tasks, unexpected spectacle complications, and unfavourable commuting conditions.

When my carpooling partner warned of an earlier departure time, I grimaced. Joint trips often commence early, but terminate far later than desired. To peel myself away from an area of respite even sooner than 6 AM did not align with personal productivity-promoting protocols. I resolved to undertake the grueling drive downtown by myself.

Monday morning traffic was surprisingly light, but any prospect of arriving early (and leaving early) would be eradicated upon coming face to face with an unexpected TTC delay. Thankfully, the "broken train" issue spanned just a total of twelve minutes. I succeeded in making my arrival at 7:55 AM; the office, much to my relief, was relatively vacant with the exception of two large meetings, one in each boardroom.

Originally, I had planned to visit the optometrist's office first thing. Delaying the trip to the following day eventually emerged as the better decision, for the lens of one pair popped out while in the office. The remainder of the day was spent working without the assistance of screen spectacles. But, in the very least, I'd be able to service all three pairs in one trip.

Lunchtime proved surprisingly warm. My westbound trek was accompanied by a picturesque scene of slow-falling snowflakes. Though, "picturesque" may be a debatable term, for construction and precipitation often make for muddy ground conditions and splatters on pants.

On the bright side, many of the construction fences had been removed with the completion of cycle track paving and interlock work. This enabled smoother flow of foot traffic, in spite of snow piled about the curb.

At spotting "Mont Blanc" adorning the online menu of Isle of Coffee, I opted to venture out for a second visit. The cafe's madeleines had been disappointing overall, but the Fig and Caramel Scone had left its mark.

Obtained in addition to the scone were a small Houjicha Latte and Mont Blanc. While the drink was being prepared, I treaded down a flight of narrow, rickety wooden stairs to the basement. Amidst the dim ambiance were a handful of tables, two incredibly focused ladies seated at those tables, working away on their laptops, and an old movie - complete with subtitles - being projected on an empty wall. Left of the stairwell was a door that read "Employees only", but beyond the limited seating was a second door - the washroom!
The single stall was fairly clean, equipped with a swing top garbage bin, one backup toilet paper roll under the sink, and a toilet with competent flushing capabilities.

Awaiting my return to ground level were my treats were perched on the counter, neatly placed in a brown paper bag. The Mont Blanc resided in a paper box at the bottom, while the Fig and Caramel Scone rested on top in a white paper bag.

The cashier-barista added the finishing touches on my Houjicha Latte and handed the cup to me with grace. The beverage was toasty and positively nutty: warm enough to unleash distinctly houjicha aromas, but not scalding to the point of tongue-incinerating (Looking at you, Starbucks).

I took a few sips of the latte before reaching over to the condiment station for an emerald green lid. Impeccably luscious and downright flavourful, Isle of Coffee had succeeded in satisfying the void that The Social Blend had failed to in their absence of houjicha.