Category: Shopping - Random Thoughts of a Quirky Blogger

Out & About #860 | Light Up the Square

11/26/2022

Between editing content from the previous week's happenings and mentally preparing for the Holiday Cookie Box (858) production line, little energy remained for further events. Ultimately, I deemed myself physically unfit for undertaking more test batches and in dire need of escaping the sporadic bursts of nonsense that would occasionally drift towards my ears.

The answer was fresh air in the form of Light Up the Square.

Past years evoke hazy experiences at Celebration Square, normally comprising of lights, hot beverages, and the occasional marketplace.

Complimentary gifts from sponsors and children's games are common constituents of the event as well. Obtained from one year were touchscreen gloves and hot chocolate!

We parked in the north garage underneath Celebration Square, and miraculously found the entrance to the elevators unlocked. Beyond the doors to P1 was tri-toned carpet bearing a pearly white City of Mississauga logo. Immediately beside the elevators were conveniently placed bathroom facilities, which we visited before heading to ground level.

The skating rink greeted us at City Hall's south entrance. Lights, music, and more had been set up for the season's opening evening. Differing from the previous year was the overall layout: the series of benches normally finding themselves at the north end of the rink were now sectioned off with glass panels to improve flow. A food truck vendor equipped with crêpes, coffee, waffles, and ice cream had now found itself at the northeast corner. The heated patio remained, but space was exceptionally limited.

Local artwork adorned the pillars on the northeast end of the rink, as well as on the northwest side by The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Garden, named in honour of the late British monarch. Info boards had been erected in the proximity of each of these LED-equipped installations to shed additional information.

View the full album HERE!

Beyond surreal crystal-like formations and a display case of faux cakes, we found lanterns in the form of picnic-style offerings: watermelon slices, coolers, cookie tins, and even extending to include Krispy Kreme and Mr. Puffs boxes (Heartland sugar staples).

Out & About #857 | Activate + Brampton Santa Claus Parade

11/19/2022

The annual hangout with my active July baby was delayed this year. Between my post-vacay exhaustion, unpredictable work transitions, conflicting work schedules, and general life matters, the event was eventually postponed well after the conclusion of summer and fall.

With temperatures hovering around the freezing mark, there were few outdoor activities of interest to us. And no, I wasn't about to pursue snowboarding - followed by three consecutive days of pain - on a whim again.

I stole the idea of Activate from friends of the sleepy polar bear, then later realized that each booking required a minimum of three people. (Alternatively, groups of two could book as three, but the games would prove more challenging and the three-person admission rate would still apply.) Naturally, we sought the schedule availability of the sleepy polar bear and friends.

Our booking had initially been made for the Burlington location, then modified to the Brampton outpost given the array of events taking place on the weekend. As the neighbourhood lacked restaurants of interest though, I proposed a mid-day meal at Yum's Kitchen before venturing northeast.

My first order of business was to rectify the incorrect number of points awarded to me. The lady behind the counter deferred my concerns to one of the co-owners, urging me to reach out via phone. I received a response of acknowledgement in record time, and my points were added to my account six days later.

Since my last dine-in visit, the eatery has invested in an order number calling system by the food preparation area. Ideal for periods of high visitor volume, order numbers are announced audibly throughout the dining floor and visibly by a digital display.
Our duo of Grilled Pork Steamed Baos were delivered first. Loaded generously into an unthinkably plush casing were marinaded, grilled meat, carrot slaw, and a few vibrant sprigs of cilantro. Tearing into the bao wrappers, I couldn't suppress my enthusiasm at its lush, satisfying texture.

Readiness of the Grilled Chicken Fresh Rolls was announced a few moments later, adopting a presentation akin to I Love Pho, but bearing a profile distinctly inferior. While I was appreciative of the sauce being less invasive than my go-to pho place of the year, its constituents were largely bland and the wrapper tough instead of tender.

Neither of us were satisfied with the portions, but my fellow July baby had another suggestion beyond Yum's small snack plates.

In the T&T plaza, where ShareTea and BlackBall had once occupied, a new contender for bubble tea had appeared. From Hero Tea's online platform, a White Peach Oolong Milk Tea w/ tapioca and cream-topped Mountainous White Peach Tea were ordered. Both drinks were ready for pickup at the time of arrival, but I paused to peer at the new interior.
And thankfully I did, for my White Peach Oolong Milk Tea was horrendously astringent at 0% sugar, resulting in an unpleasant aftertaste on the tongue. The beverage was gladly reconstructed with boost in sugar level. Even at 30% sugar though, the tea was still on the mild end, but tapioca compensated for sweetness.

Joined by the sleepy polar bear, we then headed towards Brampton City Hall. Much like in Mississauga, parking in the City Hall garage was free on weekends. The lot enabled easy access to the seasonal light fixtures just before the municipal building, as well as Gage Park, which had yet to be transformed into a rink.

Braving the gusty breezes, we began our trek towards the Alderlea building, which was only visible after rounding the residential corner of Wellington and Elizabeth. Within the building was an artist market, complete with free postcards and a button-making station in the foyer.

Vendor tables had been arranged in the adjacent rooms, each featuring a local Brampton artist. The various works spanned illustrations, paintings, accessories, and even quilted creations.

Out & About #856 | Distillery Winter Village 2022

11/17/2022

My eyes were set on Tree Lighting night, just they had been last year. The day actually played out similar to last year as well, in that I would be venturing downtown in advance of the afternoon rush, setting up a remote work station nearby, and trekking over as dusk fell upon the city.

The primary difference was the bonus of being chauffeured, which enabled me to continue working throughout the commute, redirecting my attention from the sleepy polar bear's sometimes aggressive roadway maneuvers to the multiple databases and email panel before me. For this year, they had removed the ticketing requirement for the ceremony, reinstating complimentary admission for the event's first night of operation.

Parking rates had, thankfully, not seen a spike since the rise in GTA-wide prices. The Cooperage garage remained at a $9 flat rate for any period over three hours. I proposed the location again due to its proximity to the market and outlet-equipped café.

At Dark Horse, I would continue my duties until the 4 PM mark. In the meantime, the sleepy polar bear, who had griped about my not requesting the day off to match (why would I?) but opted not to venture off solo, requested a Pumpkin Spice Latte for sipping. It was quite tasty, admittedly, in spite of the fall flavour's questionable track record in my books.

We then began to make our way over to the Distillery District. The path was identical to that of the previous year, with the exception of more construction signage, closed sidewalks, and patches of slushiness. It was, most likely, the warmest year of any Christmas Market attendance. (Obviously, this didn't stop the sleep polar bear from complaining though.)

Volunteers and other event staff had just started filing in at this time. The intersecting paths of bulbs were yet to be illuminated, but a faint glimmer could be observed on the premises: either the gentle flickering from the lampposts or the gleam of golden ornaments.

View the full album HERE !

Out & About #855 | Weekly Roundup: Isle of Coffee + Banana Choc Chunk Muffins (Ver. 2)

11/13/2022

Entering the week with a somewhat suppressed appetite, I requested I Love Pho as remedy.

#215 Lightly Fat Well-Done Beef & Tendon Brisket w/ Rice Noodle Soup aided in alleviating such woes, as it always does, with a flavourful (yet oddly gelatinous) broth, fresh veggies, crunchy bean sprouts, mild acidity from the lime wedge, tender brisket slices, and feel-good rice noodles.

The sleepy polar bear bestowed upon me a container of braised pork and egg from the larger household portion. Small cubes of marbled pork resided within, along with a foreboding-looking egg. Unaccustomed to pork pieces with such high fat content, I relayed my feedback as such; amongst the finely diced sections were either those comprising entirely of fat or those with a 70:30 fat to flesh ratio. Pork belly had been their costly cut of choice, but was hardly my preference beyond its uses in bossam and suyuk.

Despite having prepared myself for the worst, the lone egg was quite possibly the worst egg I had ever tasted in my lifetime. Overdone specimens adorning naemgmyeon had once been slotted in most despicable slot, but eggs braised beyond ingestibility has surpassed these in recent months. A rigid film had formed outside of the egg - a phenomenon I hadn't known to be possible! - while the insides were stiff, relatively bland, and wholly unenjoyable. Horrible was an understatement.

Needless to say, I set out the next day to reinstate my faith in eggs. A written recipe had never resulted from my countless iterations of Soy Braised Eggs, however I recalled the constituents and procedure sufficiently to produce a batch of five.

Patience is the key to success for this recipe, but more specifically: time and temperature control.
It is critical to remove the eggs as soon as they reach a soft-boiled state, then shocked with cold water to prevent the yolks from cooking in residual heat. The braising liquid should also be allowed to cool fully before submerging the eggs within, for the same reason of preventing further solidification of the yolks. The eggs should then be allowed to rest within the braising liquid, ideally entirely submerged, for 48 to 72 hours.
I had previously tested eggs at 24 hours (inadequate complexity) and 48 hours (passable, but not fascinating), until finally admitting that 3 days' worth of chilling was needed to attain the luxurious, golden goodness of slow-braised eggs.

These scrumptious units were consumed in conjunction with Steamed Tofu with Scallion-Infused Soy Sauce and Vermicelli with Napa Cabbage, Shiitake Mushrooms, and Pork Meatballs.

Seasonal exclusives from The Flying Monkey were added to the to-drink collection. Meanwhile, the final five Pecan White Chocolate Cookies were retrieved from the freezer, then paired alongside Lavender Carbonated Water from NEOB. Frankly, this combination is not recommended due to the potent properties of the cookie and subdued nature of lavender.

In a span of two weeks and three visits to the Yonge-Eglinton client office, I was pretty much onboarded to the project. Neither a handover document nor an up-to-date manual had been provided for my reference. Instead, the "training" process had merely comprised of haphazard meetings with hours upon hours of unsynchronized thoughts. "Talking at me" was the best way to describe it.

Out & About #854 | Weekly Roundup: Commuting Chaos, Yonge-Eglinton Finds + Chocolate Chiffon Cake

11/6/2022

The first day of the work week closed on a celebratory note with a shrimp cocktail ring and Rosé Cider from Chudleigh's. Admittedly, the finish was quite dry and evoked a palette more reminiscent of wine than cider.

Given the brutal drive home last week, I opted to undertake a multimodal commute to ease my stresses. The plan was to park by York Mills station, then board Line 1 for two stops. I had my initial qualms towards the dilapidated asphalt lot being an uncovered space, though the neighbourhood was relatively safe and attention was paid no further. Around 8 AM, there remained an ample number of spots. Proceeding to pull into the next available slot, I disembarked to pay my daily dues. The lot was operated by Canada Wide Parking instead of my preferred Green P.
The machine was finnicky and ultimately doubled my charges: the flat rate of $13 during business hours became $26 instead. I took these concerns to their customer service department, eventually reached them the following day, and received promise of a refund - after their $1 administration fee, that is.

The two-stop commute towards Eglinton station was smoother than pictured, and I arrived at the chaotic construction scene roughly ten minutes later.

Over lunch, I began to explore the area once more. The following discoveries were made:

Merrithew Studio's nearby presence
A Dollarama assortment that spanned two floors (yet comprised of zero Halloween clearance items)
Juicy Dumpling's midtown location

Also surprisingly was the name change of Punto Gelato to Gemma Gelateria. The Thai ahgase and I had chanced across the dessert parlour after a dinner of Isaan Der. My visit roughly one year later was met with an unfamiliar name, yet an interior relatively consistent with my recollection.

Having escaped my memory, though, was the gelato shop's minimum purchase requirement for credit card payments. Transactions under ten dollars were restricted to cash or debit payments only, neither of which I had on hand. Glancing between the lady behind the counter and my small Cappuccino gelato, I offered to add other items to the bill to make up ten dollars.

A $3.50 pack of Nocciolcono cialde per gelato Ventagli In Cialda cookies was placed on the counter.
"Is that enough?" I warily asked.

Out & About #853 | Deluxe Pizza, Black Sesame Mousse Cake + Errands

10/31/2022

One of my ongoing concerns is the persistent presence of preservative-free items in our fridge.

On one fateful evening, I attempted to combine Chudleigh's too-sweet Apple Cider with the last bottle of flavoured soju in my inventory. Several encounters later, I learned that soju wasn't my cup of tea. But since I still had a few bottles on hand, it was only reasonable to deplete them in the least painful way possible.

That night, I succeeded in ridding the house of Peach Soju, but suffered horrendous dizziness several hours later. The sensation had not been partnered with tipsiness nor a headache, but arrived in a wave of suffering. Although having replenished hydration levels intensely, I struggled to suppress the recoil.

"It feels like something wants to come up." I reported to a soju-acquainted friend.
"Yeah that sounds like soju." He replied knowingly.
Well, soju was banned from that point. I'll happily be returning to my beer roots.

The sleepy polar bear delivered Tiny Toms to me the next morning, along with a single unit of Lindt's Peppermint Crunch Truffle. It was a thoughtful gesture, for we had skipped the stop during our last trip to Markham. That said, Tiny Toms is best eaten fresh, and when the appetite is willing.

My body expressed reluctance to venture past warm broths, but I managed to digest the seasonal offering of Pumpkin Spice before rolling up the rim. It was surprisingly delicious. The other flavours of Icing Sugar, Cinnamon Sugar, and Chocolate had been reserved for the next day, though were ultimately disposed as staleness prevailed.

Delivery pizza is a never-before-seen occurrence in my household. Requested as part of Halloweekend celebratory affairs, two Medium Gourmet Pizzas were ordered from Pizzaville. The package also included Cheesy Breadsticks and a foil-encased portion of Rigatoni.

The Deluxe was phenomenal: loaded with fresh tomatoes, green peppers, and an ample amount of mozzarella for ultimate stringiness. We excitedly reached towards the slices while piping hot.
Unveiling the Provolone Hawaiian, we were admittedly disappointed at the comparatively scanty toppings versus the Deluxe. Pineapples were barely observed on its surface. The cheese, appearing (and tasting) more cheddar-like than mozzarella, was present throughout; the same could be said in regards to the ham and bacon, which were savoury and crisp to touch. It was merely a shame that pineapple chunks had been so deficient, for the sweet, acidic notes would have been stellar at offsetting the otherwise severely savoury profile.

Cheesy breadsticks and pizza is a popular combination. I would presume the concept to originate from a business decision to repurpose leftover dough and cheese, though must admit that sometimes all that a solo diner craves is cheese-covered carbs. The four-piece Cheddar-Mozzarella Stix emerged as an asymmetrical slab bearing three cuts. These cuts were anything but even - kind of like if they were done by yours truly - with the corner piece noticeably smaller than the rest. Positively plush with a satisfying cheese pull, the side was far more delectable than expected. That said, its profile would have easily been elevated with the addition of garlic - be it minced garlic, garlic oil, or garlic seasoning.

The Rigatoni was, hands down, the worst item of the spread. While promising in visuals, it was repulsive in taste. The noodles were stiff and starchy, the sauce emitting a synthetic sourness (yes, sour, not tart), and the entirety of the sampled spoonful clumped together.

The delivery meal was consumed at the midway point of cake creation. A Black Sesame Mousse Cake would be in progress for roughly three quarters of the day.

Liberated from the painstaking likes of buttercream roll cakes, I sought out inspiration from the ever-trustworthy Sunday Baking.

Out & About #846 | Chudleigh's Entertainment Farm

10/15/2022

Long awaited was this apple picking journey. My intent had been to visit the farm at my earliest opportunity, however that would have conflicted with road trip plans for the Thanksgiving long weekend.

Tickets were retailed exclusively online through Chudleigh's website. Adult admissions were priced at $16 each, then subject to HST. I purchased on behalf of myself and the sleepy polar bear for the 12:30 PM slot. An early lunch in Streetsville was proposed to precede this event.

Throughout the work week, I chanced across a promotional image for the Fall Market at Streetsville Village Square. Independent businesses, including an Indonesian food vendor, would be present early enough for sustenance to be obtained prior to departure.

I geared up in denim and plaid, distinctively autumn attire that happened to be atypically me. Bearing bare skin, shoes beyond sneakers, and a hoodless jacket contradicted my priorities of comfort and mobility. Yet, I persevered, for it would likely be the final opportunity to capture fall colours.

Conditions at the Square were ruthless: windy, chilly, and absolutely dreadful considering the inadequate layers I had donned. We strode about the venue for a brief moment, browsing the selection of retailers before retreating to the food stalls for early lunch.
At Indonesian's Flavour, we took to a four-piece Sate Ayam, Mie Goreng with Chicken, and Ronde. These were transferred to takeout containers and foil-lined packets to order.

The Chicken Skewers were cold by the time we made it back into the car. In fear of the condiment spilling, I merely took to the skewer in its undressed form. Despite its nicely charred edges, the fleshy blocks were rigid and, frankly, quite bland. Some of its edges constituted grounds for discard due to toughness.
Addicting was the Mie Goreng with its umami-filled soy-based seasoning. Shredded chicken rested atop the dish in a tangled cloud, providing protein though not necessarily contributing depth of flavour. After a few bites, I deemed the dish too greasy for my continued consumption. The noodle dish was best enjoyed in small quantities.

Ronde was, without hesitation, my pick of the trio. Delectable was its sweet ginger broth and fragrant was the peanut filling. While I must admit greater affection for the thinner casings of Chinese glutinous rice balls, the thicker shell of the Ronde prevented leakage of filling. Three mochi balls set us back a whopping eight dollars. I had intended to reserve the last piece for later enjoyment, only to have the sleepy polar bear inform me that it was disposed - by a third party no less! - in under twenty-four hours without consent. (Why can't people just ask?!)

With jitters growing progressively prominent, I proposed a hot beverage from Lemon Bar. The stall's assortment spanned hot lemonade, either mixed with sweetened condensed milk or, interestingly enough, hot chocolate. The acidic-milky pairing drew apprehension, yet sounded intriguing nonetheless.

Its menu board was devoid of descriptions, causing many patrons to inquire the constituents of each drink before proceeding with their order. Hot Chocolate Dreams was our choice: a hybrid of lemonade and hot chocolate that proved tastier than anticipated. Harmonious were the two contrasting profiles, delivering sweet warmth with a dose of zestiness. That said, neither of us were particularly keen on its sugariness, which could have been reduced by 25-30%.

Unable to resist the single-digit temperatures any longer, I direly requested to be taken home. Additional layers would be added to the ensemble, along with a scarf, beanie, gloves, and hand packs. The unexpected reversion delayed our arrival to 1:15 PM, in spite of low traffic volumes on the 401.

We arrived to a fairly busy gravel lot and voiced our tardiness concern to one of three ticket checkers at the admission gate. "Don't worry about it!" He responded cheerfully, "I'll scan you in for 1."
Black paper wristbands were distributed, then through the gates we entered.

The sleepy polar bear regarded the scene in awe, exclaiming the facilities to be "far better" than our early September choice of Applewood Farm.
"Of course!" I retorted. "This is an entertainment farm. Did you not check the website? And here you were saying that we wouldn't 'need three hours'.".

View the full album HERE !

Out & About #841 | The Apple Factory

10/1/2022

Last year, we witnessed the Thanksgiving weekend Pie-Thru and deemed the farm's market's Apple Pie inferior than that of homemade renditions (albeit soggy bottoms executed the first time around).

The year before that, I discovered the Strawberry Rhubarb Pie that I loved so dearly to be tacky and wholly disappointing. But, of course, we weren't about to go a year without Apple Cider.

Having being reminded of Thanksgiving long weekend's pending arrival, I proposed a visit to The Apple Factory at my earliest opportunity. In advance of the celebratory holiday, the wagon of decorations had yet to emerge. A handful of scarecrows and the market's signature smiling pumpkins greeted us instead.

Apples obtained from the grocery - and not just one, mind you! - had been dismal. Bruised on their surface, rotting from its core, or a combination of both, up to 70% of these purchases were discarded. While I do not declare myself an avid enjoyer of apples, I do enjoy the aromatic, floral qualities of seasonal produce.

Out & About #839 | ROM After Dark + P1Harmony

9/16/2022

Long ago did I request my 48-hour mid-week leave. Emails were monitored occasionally during this period, with Thursday evening revealing a 9:30 AM meeting for discussions that would likely bleed into lunchtime.

I slept fitfully the night prior, following a relatively early return from Junny's marvelous performance. An early awakening enabled construction of Marbled Banana Bread.

For once, I had executed the recipe perfectly, inclusive of the confusing and particular flour-folding procedure! Immediate worries were extended to the repetitive mixing process, for gluten formation was the last element I would hope for.

The loaf emerged delicious, sturdier than the six (or seven) banana edition with distinctive, cozy spices and irrefutable chocolatey-ness.

Quarrels over banana consumption and storage delayed final inputs into a work writeup, therefore also impacting my scheduled departure. The sleepy polar bear was advised to acquire a Vietnamese Ice Coffee (V2) from Yum's Kitchen in the interim. At 2:20 PM, we made our way downtown, energized by the potency of the drink.

The last trip to the ROM, beyond school field trips, had been undertaken in 2016 while maximizing a student discount.

Having verified the museum's operating hours in advance, we made a quick round through the gift shop first, as it would be the first attraction, if I may denote it as such, to shutter at 4 PM.

Out & About #837 | Mississauga Munching Feat. Xe Kem, Hachigo + Yum's Kitchen

9/13/2022

The sleepy polar bear was, essentially, on standby for my announcement, and the minute I declared my availability, off we sped.

I desired coffee, and further investigations of the cute, compact space in the Mississauga Chinese Centre. Little had I known that the grab-and-go spot, while very Vietnamese in every vein of offering, did not offer Ca Phe Sua Da.

We took to a palm-sized cup of Coffee Jelly cup and an even smaller Caramel Flan, both priced at $2.50. Within the Coffee Jelly were alternating layers of agar agar-stabilized solution. Its consistency was uniformly thin and slippery, as opposed to the contrasting gelatin-mousse mix I had been expecting.

The Caramel Flan, on the other hand, was a much more enjoyable portion, despite its reduction in size. Creamy, silky, and with a fitting quantity of toasty caramel to offset its sweet, custard-like qualities, I proceeded to demolish majority of the cup, pausing only once such that the sleepy polar bear could sample.

The unquenched urgency for coffee (and bathroom facilities) had us contemplating nearby establishments. Not quite inclined to visit Tokyo Cheesecake Cafe, nor adventurous enough to try royaltea's coffee-based drinks (though they were closed anyway), I proposed Dixie Outlet Mall for indoor plumbing services.

Frankly, I could not recall a time I had stepped foot on the premises. Decidedly less extravagant than Toronto Premium Outlets, the plaza appeared grim, dingy, and nearly warehouse-like.

We strode through the Nike Factory Store for mall access, finding Kin-Kin and Hachigo nearly instantly. Washrooms were used and stores browsed briefly. Then, we returned to the colourful stall for a closer look at their products.

WHAT DOES "QUIRKY AESTHETICS" MEAN?

Quirky = a term that commonly refers to something/someone distinctly different and unique
Aesthetics = the visual aspect of things

Together, Quirky Aesthetics refers to the things, events, and happenings seen and perceived by this blog's creator - quirky perspectives in a visual form.

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