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Out & About #921 | Bloom Cafe, Chinatown Bakeries + Genmaicha Ube Yema Roll Cake

7/30/2023

A taste of the baklava platter from the division-wide training session had prompted me to explore the confectionery further, especially when a fellow tablemate informed me of his go-to destination of Baklawa King. One of two outposts was located in close proximity to the sleepy polar bear, which naturally led to my fee-free UberEats request being honoured.

An assorted selection supposedly rang in at twenty-five dollars. From the total, I was allotted a portion, comprising of Borma with Pistachio, Diamond with Cashews, Assabeh with Almonds, Swar with Pistachio, and Wardeh with Pistachio.

The nutty, bite-sized parcels were ranked in the following order:

Wardeh with Pistachio - for its harmonious combination of flaky phyllo pastry and chewy sweetness
Assabeh with Almonds - for a similar reason to the Wardeh, merely with less complexity
Diamond with Cashews - as the flavours were distinctly divided into an upper half of crispy layers and bottom half of consolidated sugar instead of a mouthful of uniformity
Swar with Pistachio - for its sweetness was overwhelming
Borma with Pistachio - for the creation was not nearly as enjoyable as the one I had sampled previously: the nuts tasted burnt, while the thready strands of dough were excessively saturated with syrup

Also bestowed upon me were two Pineapple Buns and one Hot Dog Bun from Papa John's Bakery. The former was met with dismal feedback, for the bun was needlessly dense with an atrociously thin, crumbly topping resulting in minimal contentment.

Finding myself back in the scorching, stinky downtown district, I set out northbound to familiarize myself with destinations that the sleepy polar bear had visited in a static group gathering the weekend past, braving both rainfall and ruthless UV exposure with but a single umbrella.

Retailers along Yonge Street primarily comprised of casual eateries. Woven between them was the occasional apparel and specialty goods boutique.

Along my trek, I came across funky-looking Nyanko-senseis, a mahjong café, and, of course, some sketchy, shuttered storefronts - quintessential elements of all urban cities.

Nearing signage for Dance Life X, a studio that I had bookmarked for years but have still yet to visit, I came across the storefront for Bake Code Croissanterie.

The name was likely a spinoff of "viennoiserie", the French terminology for enriched, yeast-leavened dough, intentionally made elaborate to exude the illusion of prestige. This was, of course, not to say that their products didn't deliver. I had yet to deduce a conclusion, after all.

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Out & About #920 | Barbie + Gyu-Kaku (Round 2)

7/22/2023

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The last time I found myself in a theatre was probably for the redemption of a soon-to-expire voucher, amidst the physically-distanced COVID era no less. Venom hadn't been all that enthralling, speaking quite frankly - neither had my company at the time - and even less the prolonged duration of mask-donning, which had introduced dehydration in addition to discomfort.

From that point onwards, I had sworn against further visits to the cinema. My ever-hectic, evolving schedule played another part in extinguishing any eagerness. Why be limited to showtimes that prohibit pausing and washroom breaks when one can watching the comfort of one's home, ideally while foam-rolling?!
Despite the rise in popularity of Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and more, not all shows are released onto a digital platform. Months would pass before movies would eventually make their way to each production studio's exclusive streaming service. For foolproof evasion of spoilers, in-person viewing was mandatory.

A great deal of trouble was suffered using Cineplex's online booking system, for it neither synced seamlessly with Scene+ nor encouraged advance seat selection, made known in its $1.50 per ticket booking fee. Promo codes were tried, then Perkopolis vouchers, the latter ultimately leading to non-refundable packages that cost more than simply purchasing via the Cineplex website sans-promo. The experience was aggravating to say in the least.
Alas, booking in advance was highly recommended, for Saturday showings of new movies sold out quickly, especially on opening weekend.

Barbie was the movie in question.
It wasn't that I had loved figures throughout my childhood - quite the opposite really, for board games and hard, plastic contraptions had always taken a backseat to soft, huggable plushies. But the trailer had appealed to me in its juxtaposition of the vibrant, flashy "doll world" and bleak, desaturated setting of Santa Monica. Cinematography was another interesting element, for placing humans in a dollhouse environment while evoking a sense of relatability is no easy feat.

We arranged for a late morning screening at Cineplex Junxion, intending to have the visit double as our first experience at the new theatre. As always, punctuality wasn't my forte, and we pulled into the asphalt lot around 11:34 AM. Dashing inwards, we zipped past the arcade games, dining area, and concessions to find the auditoriums. Washrooms were located just outside the auditoriums, before reaching the check-in podium - placement that differed from the Square One and Courtney Park locations.

At 11:39 AM, we entered into the auditorium, just as as a magenta pink Warner Bros. logo emerged on the screen. It was starting!
Seats were allocated extremely spaciously. I had braced myself for popcorn-filled grunts for when we were to inch towards our seats, but experienced no such issues. Even in the full-reclined position, there was ample space to navigate between the rows. Sinking into our spots, we too soon rejoiced in the cushiony comfort of patent leather (?), a swivel side table (complete with drink holder!), and unthinkably roomy lounge chairs

SPOILERS AHEAD!!

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Out & About #919 | Escape Manor + Musoshin Ramen

7/21/2023

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Fridays are for easing into the weekend, or at least making the appropriate arrangements for outstanding chores and errands.

When an in-office presence was mandated, I was only moderately annoyed though, for training days are shorter in duration and routinely provide complimentary breakfast and lunch.

Prior to these sessions, which commence at 9 AM instead of my usual 8 AM start time, I am granted the opportunity to explore Union Station briefly, unrestrained by the incredulous commuter traffic and tourist volumes of the afternoon hours.

I found Kibo Market now open within Union Market, situated in the connecting corridor between the York and Bay Concourse levels. Lining the shelves were instant noodles, various sweet and savoury chips, and even soy milk daifuku. Individually packaged ice cream bars and sandwiches were a splendid find, though I had my reservations towards large bags of frozen Honey Butter Chips.

Beaming and brilliant were the skies above my head. Precipitation hadn't assumed a part in the day's weather forecast, however climbing temperatures were inevitable.

A muffin duo of Lemon Cranberry and Double Chocolate were secured from the refreshments table upon my arrival. Having already consumed a morning meal of coffee and banana bread at home, the two were swiftly wrapped in plastic wrap, placed into a rigid plastic container, and slid into the depths of my backpack for later munching if needed.
The frugal gesture, while earning me a bewildered gaze from my table mates, would prevent potential impromptu purchases of mid-afternoon snacks for fuel.

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Out & About #918 | Downtown Retail Therapy + Homemade Kalbi

7/20/2023

By realigning my in-office days for the week, I was able to grasp a taste of a faux three-day weekend. Oh, what bliss!

I tended to chores, and even finally unveiled some mail! Sunday Baking and ANook3's collaboration sticker set had arrived; accompanying it was an illustrated version of Sunday's go-to scone recipe. A clear phone case had been ordered through ebay to facilitate the crafting of a customized sticker phone case. Alas, my hasty decision hadn't considered the bulky component surrounding the camera lens, which is now blocked after application of the case. The ambitious DIY project has now been set aside for the time being, its imitation date unknown.

Sunday evening would see well-warranted decompression with Larry and Miniso's steaming eye masks - too steamy, should you ask me - after a much-needed massage.

The next morning, I rolled out of bed embracing the arrival of Monday. Having adopted the routine for the past few weeks, I had forgotten the tremendous amount of relief sustained by not having to scramble towards the GO train for my early morning commute into the city.

At home, I witnessed the creation of the coveted Chive & Egg Scramble, while munching away at a marvelously lush frosted Cinnamon Roll from COBS Bread. The location nearest to me was always consistent in production quality, and the complimentary birthday treat was significantly more enjoyable than last year's from the downtown Oakville outpost.

Meals of the week included: Homemade Cha Siu and Gai Lan/Chive & Egg Scramble over Steamed White Rice, and Ube Yema Toast.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. Preparing for thirty-plus degree weather, I slipped into one of my breeziest tops and grudgingly made my way downtown, bidding farewell to my soft friends once again.

Out & About #917 | Red Lobster, % Arabica + Philippine Festival Mississauga

7/15/2023

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Ever since nearly uprooting a tooth from Black Wolf's Coffee refrigerated Cookies 'N Creme Cookie - just why?!?! - I've been anxiously awaiting a visit to the dental office. My fate would be delivered to me in an instant: either extraction and implant for life, or sheer peace of mind. Thankfully, I was informed of the latter.

A little more than sixty minutes had been allocated for the appointment, but the checkup had merely spanned twenty minutes, including visual examination and x-ray. Proposing to visit Yorkdale in advance of our lunch reservation, we began to traverse south along Dufferin.
Google Maps guided me along the path less travelled: a roundabout way to access the parking garage along Yorkdale Rd. In spite pulling in before 11 AM, the ground level garage was already nearing capacity. I managed to secure a spot in a dead end zone, then trekked through the stuffy garage towards the air-conditioned interior.

A number of changes had taken place within the retail space:

Craig's Cookies now had a storefront across from Starbucks
TWG was no more
The luxury wing had expanded to include new stores such as Alexander Wang and Fendi (not one, but two!)

Acne Studios' low shop entrance was intriguing to me, as was the furry lilac bag positioned on the display table. Immediately drawn to its lovely, textured exterior and buttery soft calve leather lining, an inkling of purchasing power surfaced - that is, until I revealed the price tag of $1050.

At the west edge of the mall were eateries: an Uncle Tetsu counter (with three-dollar reusable eco totes for sale), the combined space of Konjiki Ramen and Saryo Cafe, RH Courtyard (on my bucket list!), Aburi TORA, and Cafe Landwer.

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Out & About #916 | Tempura Keisuke, LA Fitness Hurontario + Too Good To Go Impressions

7/14/2023

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Ever since I entered the workforce, be it a temporary placement (co-op) or permanent, post-undergrad experience, there wasn't a single year where I chose to work on my birthday. My latest job transition would, unfortunately, overlap with unpaid time off until the end of probation. As such, I opted to "cut my losses" and bear with the ill-fated timing.

Monday marked yet another trip into downtown - a quiet one, thankfully - accompanied by my new friend, LCBO's Summer Cooler Bag.

While past years marked at least two consecutive days of liberation, the same would not apply this year. After a sluggish morning, I made my way over to Eaton, where The Body Shop's Lavender & Vetiver Essential Oil Blend was finally procured with my birthday reward. Along the way, I made note of bucket hats (with strings!) trending, as well as Gong Cha's refusal to birthday drink redemptions.

I had strode out of the office around noon, much earlier than my usual lunch walk period as to facilitate lunch plans with a fellow July baby.

Assembly Chef's Hall was my proposal, on the bases of proximity and assortment.

Tempura Keisuke had piqued my interest weeks ago, and I was glad to finally have an opportunity to sample the eatery. Originally seeking out the Gyu Don, a last-minute swap was made for Gyu Tendon, for it seemed unfitting to omit the shop's signature offering. The Gyu Don was priced at $19, and the Gyu Tendon a toonie greater at $21. All mains fell within the double-digit range, with the most economic being the meat-less options of Vegetarian Curry Rice (at $15), Kistune Udon (at $16), and Vegetable Tendon (at $17). An approximate seven-minute wait ensued after order placement, despite the absence of a lineup.

Meanwhile, my fellow July baby headed across the aisle to Pokito, where a bowl of dismal-looking Ahi Tuna poke bowl emerged from Pokito's counter within minutes. I hovered about the pickup area while in wait of my order, grimacing at the fumes originating from Charcoal Biryani nearby. The 2023 edition of Pokito was shockingly insubstantial in comparison to the colourful, flavourful combination consumed at their Queen West outpost seven years prior. The white ceramic bowl seemed to comprise of no more than steamed white rice, a scoop of (artificial) crab meat salad, and a cabbage-carrot slaw of sorts. Topping options of crispy onions and pickled ginger were positioned adjacent to the disposable cutlery, as were sauces in the condiment bar. Personally, the entire bowl may as well be compiled via a self-service bar at this point.

Upon receiving my order from Tempura Keisuke, we hurriedly navigated to a brighter, cleaner section of the upper-level dining floor. No more fumes!

Having requested takeout packaging, I unveiled the contents of the plastic bag upon being seated. Neatly secured within was a small container of miso soup with scallions and wakame, an untainted napkin, chopsticks, and a plastic spoon. The entrée was filled generously with tempura: at least two ebi, one sweet potato, one sizable round of zucchini, and a few other vegetables I did not identify. Nestled underneath was a thin layer of short-grain rice, benishouga, and scrumptious strips of tender beef.

My personal preference still lies with a traditional gyu don, for the quantity of beef was rather meager. That said, the variety of components included within the order was well worth its associated price tag. Tempura items were impressively airy without exuding greasiness. Admittedly, they were a bit rigid for my injured tooth, but nonetheless boasted an enjoyable degree of crunch. The miso soup was flavourful as well, and did not exhibit the dreaded grittiness witnessed in typical sushi takeout spots.

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Out & About #915 | Rollerpony + Mikaku Izakaya

7/8/2023

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After concluding a day at Wonderland, my birthday buddy called me out on an obvious lack of effort in dressing up for outings.
"Do you even try anymore?!" she exclaimed vehemently. "It's either leggings or sweatpants and some weatherproof jacket."
Her words struck home, and I admitted to all charges, though without a shred of remorse. In my defense, the simplest outfits are the quickest to compile, and further serve to facilitate movement in the chosen activity.

For our annual birthday hangout though, it was unlikely that we'd be moving much. We agreed upon rollerblading at least several months prior, then finally decided on the outfit theme in the morning: 90s schoolgirl. Drawing inspiration from NewJeans' Hype Boy performance attire, I revealed myself in Danielle's braided Pucca buns, choker, collared shirt, and knee socks. Meanwhile, my Birthday Buddy mimicked Hanni/Minji with a knitted V-neck pullover, cute hair pins, black knee socks, black lace-up sneakers.

The excursion likely marked one of the few times we purposely matched getups. But, as with all intentional styling, the process is painfully time-consuming. We departed one hour later than the proposed departure time, partially owed to my looping back home to grab PPE (ie. knee and elbow pads) and picking up a Drive-Thru order at McD's.

The atrociously pricey Zesty Lime McWrap was dismissed for a Ranch Chicken Snack Wrap with Grilled Chicken, which rang in nearly 2.5 times cheaper at $3.29 before tax.

Rollerpony had been chosen destination for rollerblading (or roller skating, depending on the chosen footwear). Owned and operated by the same owners as Pursuit OCR, I pulled into the familiar asphalt lot, expecting to find an adjacent warehouse fixture with signage. When I did not, I looped about the facility and spotted a loading deck with the burgundy, triple-outlined R logo. Behind it was the customer entrance, and across the entrance a handful of parking spaces along a wired fence.

Pulling away the doors revealed high ceilings and a colourful interior. It was apparent that, instead of purchasing a new property in the vicinity, a section of the Pursuit OCR warehouse had been allocated towards Rollerpony, with the businesses assuming Unit A and Unit B respectively.

We strode up towards the front desk to notify the staff of our reservation. The slot had been secured between 1-4 PM, although we had just pulled into the lot nearing 2 PM. Waivers could be completed online prior to arrival, or filled on site using the provided tablets lining the wall. Beyond the signing of waivers, the staff member also requested IDs, despite the booking only falling under one name.

Once the process was complete, we were supplied token for skate rentals. They were solid plastic chips adorned with the facility's logo, complete with a QR code on the backside. Rentals were situated at a different counter; a carpet with shoe sizes had been placed nearby for measurement, reminiscent of footwear stores in the 2000s. We relayed our sizes with hesitation, though the girl behind the counter assured us that skate sizes would align with our regular shoe size for the most part.

Similar to Pursuit, the facility offered an abundance of lockers, but no locks. Nearby were benches for changing shoes and tables for dining, if so desired. Having forgotten my lock at home, we settled for placing our belongs within one of the cleaner spaces, then closing the door. We weren't particularly concerned, as there were few skaters at the early afternoon hour. Furthermore, any valuables were locked within the car or zipped inside my waist pouch.

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Out & About #914 | Chocolate Mousse Cake with Ganache Montée

7/7/2023

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Nonexistent vacation days are decidedly unfamiliar to me. Known to accumulate days off for as long as carryover will permit, I approached both the long weekend and my birthday month without a single opportunity for liberation.

Returning to the office immediately after a day of non-stop laundry, I was exhausted and irritable. There was little to enlighten my day beyond the birthday freebies I was set to redeem.

My beloved cold brew and a Maple Crème Cookie held me sane until lunchtime, at which point I exited onto the homeless-infested streets of the city. Brutally hot it was, causing me to maneuver speedily into the air-conditioned space of Eaton.

At The Body Shop, I was informed that my redemption period had not yet commenced. Moreover, I would be unable to redeem given that purchases had not been made within the past six months. A one-dollar pin solved this dilemma for the time being; I'd merely return in the upcoming weeks for the lavender (and vetiver) essential oil of interest.

A ten-minute wait ensued at Sephora afterwards, followed by swift footsteps to Chatime. Complimentary beverages were limited to regular-sized offerings beyond the Espresso menu and devoid of toppings. My pick of Thai Espresso Milk Tea was reduced to the generic Thai Milk Tea, sans java.

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Out & About #913 | NOTL Day 2: Inn on the Twenty (Round 2)

7/3/2023

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I can count on one hand the number of times I've slept well in a hotel bed. In the past five years, it's been a maximum of once. Prince of Wales altered that record.

The room was cool and well-ventilated, unlike the one in Niagara Falls, though the thermostat was rather finnicky, and temperature/fan settings didn't seem to click. Being situated directly beneath the fan meant strong gusts throughout the night. That said, I didn't mind it one bit. After all, it's always better being colder than warmer. Moreover, the sheets were smooth and cottony - and surprisingly insulating!

I awoke just twice throughout the night, but fell back into slumber shortly afterwards. All was peace and quiet until around 6 AM, when the sleepy polar bear began shifting and exuding congestion-induced noises. The disruptions soon disappeared into the bathroom, then vanished altogether, reinstating the tranquil environment with which I was most acquainted.

Around 8:30 AM, my alarm signified the need to rise. We would be required to assemble any belongings before the 11 AM check out time.

Excitedly making use of alone time in the suite, I zipped throughout the space without restraint. Also eager to try the Chromecast function the TV, I retrieved my breakfast from the mini fridge, powered on the machine, and navigated to channel 8, as the sleepy polar bear had noted. Alas, I was unable to connect, and settled for flipping through the shows while munching on Coffee Cake from Balzac's and Nitro Cold Brew from 416 Coffee Co. An incredulous amount of grease had seeped out from the slice onto the white paper bag it had been presented with, leading me to believe that it was excessively moist. <i> But it wasn't. </i> It was despicably dry and crumbly, with a friable glaze (identical to their Chocolate Banana Bread topping) instead of streusel. Frankly, the loaf had no place in our suite, nor my stomach. I depleted it nevertheless alongside a Nitro Cold Brew that fell inferior to their Americano sample.

The sleepy polar bear retuned upon receiving confirmation of my wakening. While I was unenthusiastic to truncate my limited alone time, the inevitable invasion assisted in clarifying the Chromecast channel - 80, instead of 8 - thus enabling me to continue packing procedures in the splendid accompaniment of GOT7.

Naturally, I couldn't resist slipping into one of the complimentary robes before departing. The floor-length getup was toasty, cozy, and astoundingly plush.

A bellboy was summoned for transport of o̶u̶r̶ my many bags, against the sleepy polar bear's mingy wishes. Charges were due upon checkout. Having not requested a breakdown of the costs, the sleepy polar bear only later realized overcharge of our Noble meal. Thankfully, a speedy email turnaround ensured rectification of the costs in less than one business day.

I insisted on capturing series of photos from the hotel's side and rear entrances. The former featured a a fountain and distinctly yellow pedestrian covering to the adjacent building, while the latter an unobstructed view of British Canadian timelessness.

And then we were off, driving along serene pathways of slick asphalt towards Jordan.

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Out & About #912 | NOTL Day 1 (Pt. 1): Port Dalhousie + Prince of Wales Hotel

7/2/2023

There were few schedule availabilities in July for birthday celebrations. Between Kaiseki near JCC and my own choice of adventure, I obviously went with the latter After all, emptying one's pockets for a static experience is the preference of the sleepy polar bear, not my own.

My request of wine sampling at Inn on the Twenty eventually led to a long weekend getaway. But, when my first choice had filled up within twenty-four hours of contemplating the idea, we were directed to alternate accommodations within the Vintage Hotels lineup. Careful examination of the available options eventually led to Prince of Wales in Niagara-on-the-Lake, where the Summer Lovin' Package was chosen on its inclusions of a three-course dinner and complimentary wine to the room.

Canada Day celebrations had seen sunny skies and barely any precipitation, but the drive into NOTL was accompanied by a constant downpour, with some sections seeing heavier rain than others.
The trip had estimated two hours, but, like many previous Niagara-bound drives, gradually grew longer and longer. Much to my annoyance, a portion of the route was traversed on local, first exiting onto Trafalgar at 407, then along Dundas until Guelph Line. Congestion was horrendous, yet it wasn't even the start - nor the end! - of a long weekend!

With about thirty minutes of travel remaining, we stopped by Port Dalhousie around the 1.5 hour mark for a bathroom stop.

I was surprised to find a Balzac's outpost in the compact BIA area. The familiar coffee shop had seating distributed between two floors, along with an outdoor patio - fitted with the brand's signature yellow parasols - for use during nice weather. Bathrooms were located on the upper floor, atop a narrow, winding staircase. We dashed up the wooden steps, then spotted the spacious single stall. It was clean and fitted adequately with toiletries.

In the days leading up to the trip, the sleepy polar bear had grumbled of stuffy nose and fatigue, supposedly caused by recurring "sinus issues". I had recommended intake of water instead of caffeine, but my good intentions were dismissed when a Mocha was purchased after the bathroom visit. I took to a Nitro Cold Brew - Vanilla-flavoured, for that was the only option in the fridge.

<<Previous

Out & About #921 | Bloom Cafe, Chinatown Bakeries + Genmaicha Ube Yema Roll Cake

Out & About #920 | Barbie + Gyu-Kaku (Round 2)

Out & About #919 | Escape Manor + Musoshin Ramen

Out & About #918 | Downtown Retail Therapy + Homemade Kalbi

Out & About #917 | Red Lobster, % Arabica + Philippine Festival Mississauga

Out & About #916 | Tempura Keisuke, LA Fitness Hurontario + Too Good To Go Impressions

Out & About #915 | Rollerpony + Mikaku Izakaya

Out & About #914 | Chocolate Mousse Cake with Ganache Montée

Out & About #913 | NOTL Day 2: Inn on the Twenty (Round 2)

Out & About #912 | NOTL Day 1 (Pt. 1): Port Dalhousie + Prince of Wales Hotel

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