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Out & About #601 | LINE Friends, Peanuts + stackt Holiday Hills Market

11/30/2019

The holidays are just around the corner, which can only mean:

Seasonal-themed product packaging
Pine centric decor
Black Friday sale-
"Value pack" gift sets; and
Many, many Christmas markets throughout the GTA

It is, essentially, a time of giving and acquiring - a win-win situation for both charitable organizations and retail.

Weekend grocery trips usually involve adhering to the perimeter. Weekend grocery trips usually involve adhering to the perimeter. But, woe is me, for the heart is weak in the face of cute characters, especially Brown.

With snow mounds having rapidly dissolved over the past two weeks, I was able to break out a new - or rather, old-but-never-before-worn - pair of colourful kicks for a casual day out. These have since replaced my ever-tattered, royal purple pair while reinforcing my loyalty towards New Balance.

Morning rituals of McD's brewed coffee and oatmeal were supplemented with half portions of Chiamigos. A regrettable purchase from the Seasons Christmas Show, the organic, vegan, and gluten-free instant mix packets were sugary and ultimately unfulfilling. Contrary to their declared fibre potential, the formula displayed incompetence in lubricating the GI tract. Back to my Porridge Oats & Ancient Grains I go!

I'm on an unspoken mission to partake in as many holiday markets as possible this year - the free ones only, of course.

stackt provided a relatively dismal experience when I visited earlier in the year. Besides offering clean bathrooms and an outlet for suburban independents to reach a larger customer base, the shipping container market was an all-around average ordeal. In spite of this, its coordinates are fairly close to the downtown core, and also conveniently along the way to west elm.

Limited-time additions to the outdoor space included a "Crokicurl" rink, an open kitchen/dining area, plentiful string lights, and a handful of pop-up shops.

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Out & About #600 | Seasons Christmas Show + Light Up The Square

11/23/2019

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I'm no hater of early holiday promotions. Frankly, I set it as a form of taking initiative, as well as a subtle reminder to commence preparations. (The only exception is back-to-school season, when backpacks and stationery kits are inappropriately introduced in mid-July.)

Recall my fondness for themed events, but disapproval of admission fees - for it pains to pay for entry, then pay again for retail purchases. The Seasons Christmas Show at the International Centre was a standalone case, where special circumstances had enabled hassle-free access to the GTA's best cookies. (Yes, I said it.)

The three-day event was, more or less, a festive marketplace filled with gaudy Christmas gear, unnecessary kitchen tools, and customizable stocking stuffer options. Some vendors were swell at promoting their table items, though a handful were less than apt at convincing consumers of their products' superiority.

Its main demographic was female, ranging between the ages of forty and seventy, I reckon. Beyond this group were young families, which explained the random bursts of winter boot-clad children in our peripheral.

We paraded through the aisles without much aim, then again along the perimeter and even the depths of the space, the designated sections for workshops and lectures.

Admittedly, a few items did catch my eye. Ahgase-themed earrings were spotted; while adorable, its composition was ostensibly poor.

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Out & About #599 | Kinka Izakaya Harbour/York

11/22/2019

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And just like that, the snow has come and gone. Overcast skies persist, however seasonal climate has seemingly returned.

Weekend activities involved the regular grocery runs, cold brew preparations, and zealous recipe testing for a coincidentally gluten-free prototype. The results were a tad damper than desired, but overall better than expected, given that the scale's battery had been zapped mid-weighing.

P.S. These Colorado beans were saved for a later point in the future, substituted by a full-bodied medium-dark roast for the time being.

A second round at innisfree earned me a three-piece Holiday Hand Cream set, a much-needed blusher, and some nonessentials that inexplicably made their way into my basket.

The visit confirms that, while the store is smaller in comparison to the Yorkdale flagship, product range was not compromised. Friendliness of the floor staff remained consistent, though the manager on duty was a positively disagreeable character - and a shameless one at that.

After a grueling four-month wait, one of two Kinka Group eateries has unveiled its interior to the avid diners of the waterfront food scene. While Kinton isn't slated to open until December ("The wallpaper is being put up."), the neighbouring Kinka Izakaya has supposedly been serving dinner for the past two weeks, and, more recently, lunch.

It brings me much sadness that the establishment can only be accessed at street level, and even further disgust that greasy fumes manage to permeate hair follicles and cotton apparel despite the two-door barrier. Such griefs are owed to an open kitchen, as well as peak lunch hour in full swing.

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Out & About #598 | You Calling My Name

11/16/2019

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You Calling My Name is a revolutionary concept for ahgases, especially those that have stood their ground since the beginning. Unprecedented in sound as well as style, the approach shifts from enigmatic synth sounds paired with powerful vocals to soft, seductive utterances and "sorrowful" verses.

Clad in fitted leather suits - with some strategically positioned slits - the MV depicts a desire for one's name to be called, along with regret for having caused feelings of pain to a past lover. The foundation of the song stemmed from fanchants, an impactful element of live performances and, especially, concerts.

In the 90-minute-long showcase, the boys discussed the back stories behind B-side tracks, choreography trivia, and the members' individual efforts to sharpen themselves in preparation for the comeback. Leading up to the comeback, the already lanky maknae lost 3-4 kilograms, while our sunshiney otter summoned absolute willpower to drop 8 kilograms (the equivalent of 17-18 pounds!!), even exercising after hours amidst a global world tour. His efforts did not go unnoticed, for the 96-liner is rapidly rising on my list. Crash & Burn showcases his charisma and extensive vocal range, which is only further enhanced by smoky makeup and coloured lenses.

As for the title track, 니가 부르는 나의 이름 (You Calling My Name), there is not a single member engaged in the K-Pop scene who can deny the dynamic of my husbae. His newfound confidence enabled stylists to dress him in mesh and see-through apparel, moreover dismissing the all-too-frequent undershirt layers spotted in previous comebacks. My sanity, as well as the the minds of countless others, were thoroughly degenerated with the mere sight of him. New ahgases shall never comprehend the lengthy journey that was exposure beyond the neck and forearms.

The physical album was - and still is - beautiful, of course. Photobook contents did not adhere to the customary age-based sequence, therefore resulting in anxious flips of the page; units graced different sections of the booklet, while (closeup) solo shots followed suit.

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Out & About #597 | ProFusion 2019 + Toronto Christmas Market

11/14/2019

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There is nothing quite like the allure of free events. I'm a firm believer that organizers need beware of this fact: Admission fees are deterring.

ProFusion entails not a single cent for entry, yet entices, enchants, and bestows knowledge upon all attendees, of all ages, professions, and budgets.
Having been an attendee since the photo and video expo's first year of realization, I can profess that major improvements have been made with each passing year.

From only a handful of vendors occupying the basement level of the Sheraton Hotel to a jam-packed space of presentations, product demos, and up-and-coming media equipment brands in MTCC, the event has evolved into a 2-day course of knowledge acquisition, attracting not only local photographers but those south of the border as well. Last year's exhibit saw an influx of 360-degree technology, while this year's focus shifted towards drones and other remote-controlled devices for cinematography.

Those that attend are primarily photographers or videographers by trade, the turnout also comprises of younger faces - students and/or aspiring filmmakers. I remain an enthusiast, for drawing upon a hobby as a source of income seems to evict all enjoyment for me. Equipment testing is my main goal of the event; being able to discover, then depart with a sense of enrichment is always something to look forward to.

The second day of ProFusion happened to coincide with the Toronto Christmas Market's first day of operation - and, as it turned out, the same day as the Eaton Centre's tree lighting ceremony (which orangecane and I sweatily attended last year).

For the first time ever arose the desire to tune in for the Distillery District's edition.

Weather played its part and ensured that the trip there (and back) were free from ice, snow squalls, and plummeting temperatures. Winter is unpredictable, so mild mercury levels are never to go unappreciated.

We entered by the Mill/Parliament access, passing Palgong, and finding ourselves (or myself, at least) roped into a low-budget engagement session for CIBC customers. With the flash of a credit card, participants were provided a plastic token to toss into a waterless wishing well; prizes that resulted from the toss included monogrammed mittens and toques or $5-off vouchers for Tornado Potato's spiralized potatoes. The latter was attained but ultimately went unclaimed, for the very reason that I'm unfond of cold, sodium-laden carbs.

Vendor stalls had been rearranged since the previous years, with food and retail interspersed along the various cobblestone corridors instead of being based on category. The revised setup stimulated simulatenous acts of shopping and eating, instead of engaging in one activity before moving onto the other, customarily becoming distracted along the way.

View the full album HERE !

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Out & About #596 | Weekly Roundup: Call My Name Preview + Fishy Features

11/9/2019

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I've been debating reverting to numbered recaps for simplicity's sake.
That said, I won't deny that, now that winter has officially arrived, hibernation tendencies are in full effect. (This can also be interpreted as the sheer desire to snuggle beneath fuzzy covers, embracing its coziness in lieu executing acts of productivity.)

One of my biggest gripes from last winter was the blatant absence of blue skies. Dreary greyness, blurred lines of day and night, and slick, desaturated streets - these were uncommon sights to central and east Canada. I pray that the same fate does not fall upon on us this time around.

Following the announcement of oncoming slush, I embarked on a frigid walk along the waterfront.
Peculiar it was that, while the trees remained in full fall swing, the air spoke in a frost-laced tone. Mother Nature is clearly conflicted.

I also happened to catch IMPULSE's on its final week of operation. Sans illumination and sans seesaw partner, it was quite mundane of an experience.

The holiday season welcomes more than just precipitation, however. Chasing the sugar rush that was Halloween are the vast assortment of indulgent treats resulting from countless end-of-year gatherings.

Hershey's was quick to hop on the holiday bandwagon, introducing a bakery/café pop-up inside Scotia Plaza.

Along with timeless Kisses and decadent brownies in the display case, the limited-timed installation featured "mixed-to-order" cookies.
The concept was simple: Customers chose their pick of cookie dough (Original or Peanut Butter), and then picked three toppings from the bar. Employees operated in a four-member assembly line, each adopting roles such as the Form Filler, Topping Scooper, Mixer and Moulder, and Baker. Cookie dough scoops were placed onto parchment paper for shaping, then baked for about three minutes - just until the chocolate began to become gooey.

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Out & About #595 | Weekly Roundup: Jack O' Katsu + Revisiting Dr. Seuss

11/3/2019

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"Winter is coming." booms a sinister voice in my head.
The season most dreaded by Canadians is nearly upon us, its inevitable appearance foreshadowed by Mother Nature warnings of frost and powerful gusts.

But alas, I shall continue to bask beneath the rays of sunshine until the fateful day dawns upon us

Early in the week, I was summoned to the east side of the province - even further than the city's east limit of Scarborough. Being a commuter through and through, I chose the GO Train (and the utterly dismal municipal bus) over the estimated two-hour drive. I predicted some nap time, or at least a breather from nervewracking wayfinding procedures induced from unfamiliar surroundings.

With a starting point of Union Station, the entire journey approximated two and a half hours, including transfer time.

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Once business had finished, I patiently retraced my route. This time, my endpoint would be Mississauga.

I don't know how the residents of Whitby survive with a GO-connecting DRT route operating every thirty minutes during weekday peak hours. Suburbs aren't renown for public transit, however I can't say Mississauga nor Markham fall within such a dire category.

Moreover, there was but only one option to kill time in the presence of Wi-Fi: our nation's (supposedly) favourite coffee shop. A severe lack of McDonald's in the walkable vicinity meant securing a Four Cheese Bagel from Tim's. Albeit warm (and delivered to me with an even warmer smile), its dryness was unmistakable. The absence of butter had further emphasized the bagel's denseness. In contrast, muted were the normally fragrant qualities of cheese.

I demolished the snack fairly quickly, which made the wait for the bus seem even lengthier in comparison.
Eventually, it pulled up outside the municipal building, then rushed its only five riders in the direction of Whitby GO.

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Out & About #601 | LINE Friends, Peanuts + stackt Holiday Hills Market

Out & About #600 | Seasons Christmas Show + Light Up The Square

Out & About #599 | Kinka Izakaya Harbour/York

Out & About #598 | You Calling My Name

Out & About #597 | ProFusion 2019 + Toronto Christmas Market

Out & About #596 | Weekly Roundup: Call My Name Preview + Fishy Features

Out & About #595 | Weekly Roundup: Jack O' Katsu + Revisiting Dr. Seuss

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Out & About #601 | LINE Friends, Peanuts + stackt Holiday Hills Market

Out & About #600 | Seasons Christmas Show + Light Up The Square

Out & About #599 | Kinka Izakaya Harbour/York

Out & About #598 | You Calling My Name

Out & About #597 | ProFusion 2019 + Toronto Christmas Market

Out & About #596 | Weekly Roundup: Call My Name Preview + Fishy Features

Out & About #595 | Weekly Roundup: Jack O' Katsu + Revisiting Dr. Seuss

Who Am I?

Archives

Categories

WHAT DOES "QUIRKY AESTHETICS" MEAN?

Contact ME

​Subscribe

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