​My New Year's Eve had been spent working on an intense project, to the extent where determination to complete the backbreaking task far exceeded any desire to celebrate the arrival of 2019. Said project remains incomplete and undisclosed from the world due to technical limitations (otherwise known as an extremely faulty laptop with diminishing RAM).

I had granted myself a short breather from the venture, which permitted indulging in other interests - namely GOT7 fancams and food adventures.

1) Attempting the Inkigayo Sandwich
Never to be the quickest at picking up trends, news of the Inkigayo Sandwich hadn't quite made its way to my attention until orangecane uploaded her extremely overdue Korea post.

​I was instantly intrigued, for how could I not be? Strawberry jam and egg salad sounded like a fabulous combination. The same cannot be said for cabbage slaw, on the other hand. Regardless, I became invested in the idea and promptly set out the next day in search of ingredients.

Many YouTubers had developed their own rendition on the broadcast station cafeteria special, which I scrutinized down to the very detail before formulating my own recipe.
Potatoes were neglected - for carbs on carbs is just excessive - and a dash of fresh dill was incorporated. Homemade strawberry jam was substituted for the sugary storebought nonsense. Imitation crab meat was wholly forgotten until the slaw filling had been completed and set to chill.

​A large batch had been constructed in preparation for a potluck dinner. The remaining ends of the purchased loaf were then utilized to create a prototype featuring the three fillings. At this point, it was discovered that four slices of bread was absolutely ridiculous, even when pressed together firmly. Consequently, the final version consisted of three slices, with sides bearing strawberry jam and cabbage slaw meeting at one end of the sandwich.

​To be quite frank, the resulting product was a tad odd-tasting. Coleslaw wasn't my cup of tea to begin with, though tried-and-true fillings such as strawberry jam and egg salad hadn't succeeded in raising its ranking either. Food fads have always been a hit or miss though.

​2) A cozy east-meets-west potluck marked the farewell party of a certain foreign comrade. It was here that homemade 쌈 wraps, mushroom-laced 불고기, extra-mild kimchi fried rice, and not-so-mild Mapo tofu (麻婆豆腐) were served to us (in a rather interesting manner, I should add).

The room we dined in lacked a table, so the group resorted to eating off the floor. A candle was lit to set the mood and compensate for inadequate insulation.

(Side story: Amidst setup preparations, someone carelessly dropped my coleslaw on the ground, cracking the container in a manner I hadn't thought possible. Hence, there was no other choice than to wrap up leftovers in a flimsy plastic bag...reminiscent of scraps. Sigh.)

The occasion also marked my first attempt at SoMaek (소맥) - a popular Korean mix of beer and soju - as well as the first intake of soju in my entire lifetime. Both thrilling and terrifying, the experience was one I wouldn't mind repeating at a later point in the future, when I have a ride home secured.

We ended the evening off by dashing out into the streets with a confused, angry middle-aged man questioning our identities. Fun things do happen downtown.

​Just as countless others are reminiscing about their accomplishments within the past twelve months, I am subconsciously acting likewise. I've arrived at the conclusion that the latter half of the year progressed speedily without any signs of halting, whlie the first two quarters were sluggish and largely uninteresting - except for Kipling and graduation of course!

The Year of the Dog was a pivotal period in my life, overloaded with emotions and brimming with extreme ups and downs. I was periodically rewarded with several GOT7 sightings and a DAY6 World Tour, yet also flung into an unknowingly toxic work environment. New friendships were made, while old ones were strengthened (or withered, for whatever reason).

​2019 lies not far away, and I anticipate its many offerings. As someone who believes strongly in the concept of fate, there is not much else to kick back, observe the flow of the year's happenings, and react accordingly. (AND hopefully continue the Maritimes Madness series.)

Many would have assumed this roundup to consist mainly of meal snippets. And I have no reason to deny this hypothesis, for it is completely accurate.

​1) Experimental Pound Cake (as led by Cooking Tree)
​2) The inescapable CoCo runs

3) GOT7 - Present: You & Me
Despite my initial reluctance to purchase yet another repackage, the availability of a locally-organized G.O. (as well as Jinyoung's all-too-persuasive teaser images) convinced me otherwise.
That said, this may be my last time joining a group order, for I always seem to have better bias luck with sealed orders.

​4) More CoCo!
5) A late lunch of mild Chipotle at Mississauga's busiest shopping centre

The very notion that a separate entity on this planet is capable of sharing similar interests with you is wonderful in itself. Being able to further identify with that interest to a likewise degree of dedication is just incredible. This realization first hit me whilst engaging in late-night spam sessions with a certain potato across the border about our shared affection for GOT7. The second was when I came across a written piece that I could not have agreed more about.

Even prior to our somewhat substantially-sized paintball gathering, stenoodie and I had been planning a catch-up session for some time now. Once the details had been ironed out, we set out for downtown - her heading from the east, and me heading from the west.

​I was first to arrive at Cafe Cancan, where I learned that those without nimble fingers would have to resort to bar seating on a first-come-first-serve basis. The entirety of the seven tables available had been reserved in advance, likely via OpenTable.
Space was scarce inside the dainty-looking French bistro, so reservations were of great significance. I was made aware of this in an adequately friendly manner: it was evident that the restaurant looked towards serving patrons that understood the value of their dishes as opposed to garnering hype and lineups as a fad eatery.

​Dining on high stools was not the issue for me, nor was the empty promise of a brunch menu. (Apparently, the brunch menus were rotated only on weekends.) Rather, it was the lack of space for my weighty backpack. Those that entered the premises donned posh getups, ranging from sleek over-the-knee boots to fitted knit dresses, so this was less of a problem for the majority of diners. As a commuter with many-a-task to complete, the bulky bag could not be eradicated.

A coat rack was positioned next to the bar area, while hooks had been installed underneath (as I later discovered). This definitely provided more room for movement, despite not being the most comfortable of arrangements.

​Stenoodie joined me shortly after my arrival, at which point we evaluated the menu. Shortly afterwards, we were informed that a reservation had been cancelled, permitting a shift from the bar to a table. What luck!
I dove for the booth seat, as I could rest my backpack without bothering other patrons. Admittedly, the adjacent tables were seated quite closely, but not to an unbearable extent.

As a matter of fact, it was the music blaring overhead that proved bothersome. Over the course of the meal, it became increasingly difficult to converse in peace. Noise levels had surged in order to be heard over the escalating jazzy tunes.

I requested a Mimosa to start, in spite of the absence of a brunch menu. Following our meticulous review of the available selections, we opted to share a 2-Course and 3-Course Prixe Fixe meal. The former enabled the user to choose any two dishes from the Hors D'Oeuvres, Entrées, and Dessert sections, while the latter one from each. In fine print was a more flexible - yet much extravagant - à la carte alternative for specific items.

​The table setting comprised of a delicate centrepiece of dried yellow buds, utensil sets encased within stark white cloth napkins, and shiny blush glasses - very reminiscent of Planta's slightly taller cups but tinted dusty pink to match the decor of the cozy eatery. Other noteworthy details included: subtle leopard print tiling on the ceiling, fans operated via a pulley system (versus the typically concealed electric source), stout cylindrical lampshades, and bar stools whose back designs matched the cushions at the tables. Marble tabletops were witnessed at every dining surface. All design elements contributed a strong sense of cohesiveness, ensuring that classy, cultured vibes resonated throughout the space.

Of particular interest to me were the light fixtures, for I had not laid eyes on such a style in my previous eating endeavours. Moreover, I appreciated that the intensity of illumination could be adjusted (diffused) to suit both daytime and evening hour ambiances.

View the full album HERE !

​The Mimosa arrived first - without a single garnish, if I may add. The glass had been filled below the commonly accepted line and the insides were a tad foggy, as if its contents had been swirled around several times before making its way to our table. At a mere ten dollars, it definitely wasn't the priciest cocktail I've seen in the city. That said, its profile was rather lacking; while refreshing, fizziness was scarce. Over the course of the meal, the denser Prosecco seemed to have settled to bottom third of the glass, resulting in sweet sips of orange juice followed by an astringent buzz. Uniformity would have been preferred.

Diana's Oyster Bar was a distant (and not particularly pleasant) memory for me. I hadn't bothered with the various varieties of oysters at the time, nor had the open bar piqued my interest. Besides the immensely delicious crabcakes, it was the sole instance where I had met someone adopting both the entities of a food enthusiast and makeup/style fiend

​A few years (and two cases of plan fall-out) passed before we finally agreed on meeting up again.
Said social media user is based in Markham, and having put Pacific Mall errands on the back burner for some time now, it was essentially killing two birds with one stone.

​I pulled into the parking lot a few minutes past noon, then swiftly met up with her to discuss the plan. The initial route consisted of restocking my K-Beauty inventory, next lunch, and lastly churros for dessert.
Alas, our appetites trounced the desire to shop; we retreated back to the car, then made the painstaking drive to Nichiban Sushi 4 U, our pre-determined (read: pre-researched) midday meal of choice.

Being the impatient one of the two, I committed the terrible mistake of U-turning into the adjacent gas station, nearly annihilating a cyclist in the process. Upon discovering that the asphalt lots did not connect, there was no other option than to turn back onto Kennedy and loop into the correct plaza.
One ought to note the narrowness of the Nichiban plaza, for it only capable of one-way traffic when the compact lot hit capacity. It was thankful that loading time has passed, and that no trucks were parked in the main passageway during our visit.

​Nichiban was a sliver of a casual Japanese restaurant, and apparently geared more towards takeout orders than dine-in. Though, it also appeared to be popular amongst those that worked in the vicinity.

My friend - a seasoned feaster in the Milliken Heights area - did not hesitate to suggest the 888 Combo to share. The twenty-four-dollar platter had been named appropriately: it included eight slices of sashimi, eight specialty rolls, eight pieces of nigiri, along with the standard offerings of miso soup and side salad.

​Both starters were mediocre. Adding to the fact that traffic volumes were on the low end, it seemed odd - and slightly stingy - to me that we were not offered a starter set each. Such small details go a long way in leaving a lasting impression.

The nigiri and sashimi specimens were determined by the chef, but we were given the option to choose our preferred style of specialty roll. Black Dragon was my pick, on the basis that marinated eel has been included on the list of constituents.

​How could one possibly go wrong with tempura and unagi, right? WRONG.
In hindsight, it probably wouldn't have mattered which specialty roll was chosen. Quality was consistently terrible throughout.

​December 10th marks the end of a truly backbreaking era.
While neither as prolonged nor physically draining as my days in a (lower-than-) minimum wage position devoid of health and safety practices, I shan't hesitate to declare this short-lived occupation as the worst job I've encountered to date. Amidst a society flooded with technological advances and the drive to constantly improve oneself, there lies a community of tight-knit, good-for-nothing tattlers that thrive off taxpaper funding. And where one cannot assimilate, he or she shall be exiled for their nonconformities.

​My final mid-day meal in the vicinity comprised of sushi. Yet, it wasn't just any old regular grab-and-go joint. Spring Sushi was located on the top floor of 10 Dundas East, next to the VIP Cineplex entrance and overlooking the bustle of Toronto's busiest pedestrian crossing.

​The interior was quite grand, featuring a street art-esque mural along the ceiling of the dining area. Staff were aplenty, but many failed to immediately acknowledge our presence in spite of the nonexistent lineup at the reception desk.
Order placement had shifted from interaction with physical bodies to being completely electronic. An iPad was placed at the end of our table, where diners could select All-You-Can-Eat or à la carte items. For the most part, Spring operated in a manner similar to Hana, just simply without the small-scale monorail.

< Pictured above and below: Diamond Sushi, Crystal Sashimi, Chashu Miso Ramen >

Sashimi cuts were average at best, as was the presentation of our orders. Stray sesame seeds and random squirts of mayonnaise were not appreciated. The provided starter salad and miso soup were decent, though the rice proved tremendously dry.
Ginger slices and wasabi were also of mediocre quality: the former hadn't undergone sufficient pickling, while the latter was mushy and lacked pungency.

​The highlight of the meal was the Chashu Miso Ramen, strangely enough. In spite of the spurious noodles (wavy ones reminiscent of the instant variety), its overall composition was far tastier than Chef Papa's custom creation.

Washrooms were not visited on this occasion, and therefore no comments can be made in that regard.

​Bidding farewell to an environment of utmost toxicity meant indulging on two of my all-time favourite activities: karaoke and grabbing bubble tea - specifically CoCo.

​Customer service has seen a steep plummet since our last visit: no longer was the friendly elder working the counter, but a bitter middle-aged man instead. Prices have seemingly also undergone inflation, though this has yet to be confirmed since we had upgraded to a large room from our regular small one.

​Light Up The Square returned on a rainy Saturday this year. It was slated for a 3pm opening, though setup preparations extended well past 3:40pm - the approximate time of my arrival.

The dull, dreary skies caused a grey haze to hover about Celebration Square. Lights looked relatively lucid against the fog, and  an overall dampness was felt with each step around the pavilion.

​Food trucks and stalls were situated at one end of the venue, and independent shops at the other. The skating rink was also in full operation.

​Minimal time was spent here; cold and breezy conditions did not agree with my HEATTECH Warm. I trekked through the Candy Cane Garden, brimming with remorse and empathy for the soaked plushies on display.

Returning to the car provided much relief. As did a quick run through the mall.

Next stop was Snowies Bingsu, which I had been itching to visit since Day 1.

The modern dessert parlour had taken over Fauchon Bakery in the Man Doo Hyang plaza.

Replacing dingy yellow setting and dull, amber shelves were muted blush walls, rose gold light fixtures (à la Sorry Coffee), and neon pink LED wall decor.
Seating took the form of lilac and pink booths and marble tables. Laminated menus were placed before us after we had chosen our seat by the cashier. Nearby was a condiment stand that featured napkins, disposable cups, and a water dispenser.

Before we had a chance to peruse our options on the single-sided sheet, an all-too-familiar tune began to play.
My eyes widened, while the corners of my mouth lifted into a cheeky grin. "GOT7" I mouthed.

The night had been a restless one. A strict schedule was in place for the next day after all.

​It's honestly a sin for airport-bound buses to run every 15 minutes on weekdays, yet only hourly on weekends. Approximately one hour and ten minutes of idling later, DAY6 was spotted disembarking their van.

​The staff and members moved swiftly towards the security line, and minimal enforcement was necessary. Besides me, there were only a handful of girls capturing the scene in silence on their handheld devices.

​Not a single DSLR-equipped being was in sight - a distinct difference to GOT7's movements around the globe.

Thanks to orangecane, my second DAY6 concert could be delightfully viewed from the second row. I was a P1 ticketholder, with a photo op was in my name.

Toronto was the first stop of the Youth World Tour, which meant anxiety and anticipation for the boys and maximum hype for us.

I headed over to the venue after work for merch pickup and to find SCENE1219 for complimentary fans.

The plan was to meet up with ochungg afterwards. Dinner was simple: I suggested McDonald's in the PATH on the basis of economics and convenience.

Venue

We entered the venue through its main doors. Though Roy Thomson was connected to the PATH, indoor access was blocked, and all foot traffic had been directed to the main entrance. This was, of course, much to my dismay, for I had wished to avoid the dreary, rainy conditions altogether by making use of the underground network.
Just like Massey Hall, security was quite lax. And again, they seemed to care more about water bottles than anything else.

Once inside, several members of security were positioned along the stage and in front of each stairwell leading to the main orchestra. They did not budge for the entire duration of the show. Eliminating them from images proved impossible. Once again, cameras seemed not the main issue for them. It was more imperative that we remain at our seats despite standing. 

A prime location for music appreciation, Roy Thomson did not disappoint in terms of sound quality. Regardless of the tier or row, clarity remained uncompromised. Whether it was ongoing performances or ments, each segment was crystal clear with depth and contrast.
Our seats were extremely close to the overhead speakers, but echoes were next to nothing. There was also no interference between mics nor other musical equipment. It was truly an upgrade from the crackly discord of the ACC.

The Members

Jae was a solid performer who thoroughly enjoyed his time on stage. He engaged in countless adlibs during songs, which only made the experience more enjoyable and memorable. Easily hyped, he didn't bother with concealing his emotions and simply let them run wild. He didn't quite finish his emotional speech this time around, but had a good laugh over it.

Sungjin, who recently made his return with an ahjussi buzz cut, constantly made amusingly bizarre expressions over the course of the show. His studio-quality vocals rang throughout the auditorium with absolutely no variance in strength nor definition. Despite not having much to say during ments, he was determined to deliver the message that he had enjoyed himself at the first stop of their tour. During the ending ment, he recalled the evening as "정신없어" - a good kind of "dizzy"; without realizing it, he had completed three songs in a giddy blur - he had said.

Dowoon was very cute in his new platinum hair. He sat behind the drums in his own little world for majority of the show and only stood up during the opening ment so front row attendees could spot him. The only other times he abandoned his elevated platform for the main stage were the ending ments and latter half of encore. This maknae is still as adorable as ever, and I'm honoured to have been able to witness his growing vocal participation in the band's songs. In his ending ment, he apologized and told MyDays to wait for him; the exact timeline was undetermined, but he confirmed that they "will be back".

​Young K - or, as Torontonians prefer to call him, Brian - was back at home with a boost of confidence. Last  time, he stuttered slightly when speaking in English, occassionally unable to think of the exact word to express his emotions. This time around witnessed fluid speaking skills, along with a highly humourous narration about how he selected the name "Brian". The crowd had proceeded to chant "Brian" at first, then <i> Young K towards the end upon Jae's request. Resonating intensely from the night were his crystal clear, angelic vocals contrasting against devilish rap.

From our seats at the far left, we were unable to see Wonpil very well for majority of show. Regardless, he was very sweet and cute; his facial expressions were few, yet it was obvious that he was moved by the audience's unconstrained engagements. For the moments where he was under the spotlight, he serenaded us with gentle, adept vocals. During ments, he made sure to acknowledge our efforts and even teared up slightly towards the beginning; in his own words, it was "unbelievable" that the crowd was able to enjoy and relate to their music even though if the lyrics were in Korean instead of their (our) native language. For the next show, he vowed to work harder to improve his English so that he'd be able to crack jokes like Jae and Brian.

View the full album HERE !

Encore

The "Youth" Tour in Toronto was, hands down, the most orderly encore I've taken part in to date. Spirits were crazy high and the members were having fun, but MyDays remained well-behaved. Instead of dashing up to the stage at the start of the encore, they didn't shift an inch from their seat. Of course, members of security were constantly observing our actions, but the scene remained calm.

I shall define the final performance of "Sing Me" as "calm" by ahgase standards. There was no shoving, no hair-pulling, and the aisle remained clear for the members to walk by. Fans were, dare I say, conservative. But this degree was very much appreciated, as it enabled all participants to enjoy the show (and depart free from injuries/muscle strain).

When VYbE announced five-dollar classes, I was instantly inclined to make a Markham visit. With that, I figured I might as well make a P-Mall trip to stock up on items I hadn't purchased in the States.

Dak Lak was my suggestion: a necessary first stop to obtain Thai Milk Tea. orangecane added Pandan Jelly to hers, while I opted for a mix of Tapioca and Pandan Jelly to ensure that the purchase would sum up to five dollars. (Each individual topping was seventy-five cents instead of fifty cents.)
The staff were as pleasant as ever, though the Thai Milk Tea tasted on this visit was merely passable instead of delicious. Tapioca pearls were soggy and potentially amongst the worst I've tried from the Asian shopping centre; pandan jelly was fragrant, but overwhelmed the concoction entirely. The beverage lacked balance. Moreover, the long, green strips were impossible to pick up using the standard bubble tea straw. Both of us resorted to tossing the lid and tipping out the cup's contents after numerous futile attempts.

​This visit to the Korean beauty aisle did not yield much of a haul (thank goodness). For once, I purchased the few items I had set my eyes on and didn't stray any further from the list.

​I ought to note that VDL's Expert Color Liquid Eyeshadow is becoming less annoying to employ with acquired experience. The pigmentation is meek and the glitter still transfers, but lasting power is applaudable and its base notes are versatile enough to be paired with a variety of shadow shades. That said, there was minimal reluctance to test out the Expert Metal Cushion Foundation as a replacement Missha's Tension Pact. (Mine unfortunately melted in the 30-degree-plus insulated interior of a vehicle.)

2​Seeing as our first class of interest was slated to commence at 5:05 PM, we ate an early dinner of Gyugyuya around 4 PM. The curry house's new location in the Pacific Mall food court was a godsend, for it meant being able to taste the flavours of Japanese curry without having to venture to Midland and Finch (or downtown).

Similar to Papa Chang's stall, a series of bar stools were allocated at the side of the booth to allocate exclusive seating for the eatery's customers.

< Pictured above and below: Gyu Curry, Gyu Cheese Curry >

We consumed a heartier portion than needed for a dance class, and spent the remaining one hour leading up to the session feeling groggy and utterly unmotivated. That said, I enjoyed the meal immensely; the curry sauce was a tad spicier than I would have been able to handle, so opting for a takeout setup enabled me to control the precise portion desired.

The school season is in full swing. And for the first time ever, I can proudly say that my day-to-day activities are no longer governed by this jurisdiction. Of course, that also means I've found myself in an undesirable state of unemployment.

As one phase terminates, another shall commence. So until fate decides to bestow me with another early morning position - 5 am mornings aren't that bad, really - I'll be happily engaging in catch-up sessions and indulging in GOT7's comeback album!

​1) CoCo's new location has arrived!

​Not only is the Dundas spot significantly closer to my residence, the staff are friendly and orders are processed with ease and accuracy. Moreover, the bathroom stalls are pristine and equipped with functioning facilities and basic necessities. The only aspect I'd like to make note of the awkwardly tight spacing between the toilet and the front-facing wall.

​I do digress: the shop is currently operating under Soft Opening procedures, so cash is the only accepted form of payment. Vicinity points are also unable to be rewarded until their Grand Opening, which is scheduled to take place later in the week.

​2) Mediheal x BTS mask sets were spotted at the Erin Mills and Centrepoint Miniso locations, not that orangecane would have purchased them in a heartbeat anyway. (She's not quite like me...)
​
​​3) One Zo's Brown Sugar Dirty Matcha Latte was tastier than expected, in spite of sandy "matcha" base. Though the drink was restricted to a fixed sweetness level, the result was enjoyable rather than sickly sweet. The same remarks were uttered in regards to the tea-less Brown Sugar Dirty Milk.

​4) Budding florals Feat. another run to CoCo's new location

5) High Zone Karaoke 
Young St has been Mississauga's long-standing karaoke spot for as long as I can remember. The song selection module is finnicky, but one cannot complain about Happy Hour prices and private asphalt lots. The bathrooms and service, on the other hand, have been subject to a constant decline over the years.

​New to the scene is High Zone - a great alternative to the heavily congested and dilapidated Young St. Furnishings are new, though admittedly a bit gaudy with the heavy usage of gold; the bathroom is clean (huzzah!), for now anyway.

​Once again, the song selection is primarily Chinese, with a decent selection of English, Korean, and Japanese. It's not the easiest to navigate the karaoke machine as foreign artists are not classified under the correct tabs/search criteria most of the time, though this isn't of great surprise to me.
Price ranges based on room size (party size) after 9PM; Happy Hour (3-8PM) is a flat rate of twelve dollars (plus tax and automatic gratuity) and includes one non-alcoholic beverage per person. During our stay, the staff member was pleasant and prompt in tending to our requests/call for mic battery changes.