Out & About #1001 | Centennial Park Blossoms, Claw & Kitty + Bingz

​Having not been fully informed of the details of the proposed outing itinerary, my browsing partner arrived with a demeanour reflective of utmost irritation. Frankly, sporadic adventures have assumed my preference as of late, for there are simply too many last-minute adulting tasks that creep up without warning.
Nevertheless, the concerns were valid: The inability to tend to one's own schedule in the absence of information is admittedly frustrating.

​My first stop was Centennial Park. Tips had circulated online of the presence of cherry blossom trees at the Etobicoke park, and I was been eager to catch a glimpse of the baby pink buds, should they still be intact after days upon days of rainfall and gusty conditions.

We parked quite far from the pond, the landmark by which I had intended to commence the trek for flowering shrubs. The availability of more than one asphalt lot hadn't been considered, for my last visit had steered me closer towards Rathburn Road and the Conservatory.

​Disembarking onto a gravel path, I immediately grimaced at the suggestion of climbing the hilly part of the park. While I normally wouldn't have opposed physical activity in any form, my exceptionally loose platform Vans were not suited towards unpaved pathways. Furthermore, the tongue had already begun to dig into the tops of my feet.

Instead, we continued along the main trail, largely unshaded and full of ponding patches. It wasn't until after rounding the corner that a series of blossoming trees would be spotted - none of which were cherry blossom, however.

​My browsing partner was annoyed, but ultimately proved to be a good sport. I requested multiple photos along the way before various trees and blossoms. Against my better timing choice though, the sun had reached a point of direct glare, causing harsh shadows to fall on the objects directly underneath.

I couldn't quite recall the destination of the my first ever Centennial Park cherry blossom sighting, thus we continued walking until an acceptable array came into view.

By the time we neared Joe Benesh Pond, my feet began to ache. The sneakers' acceptable walking distance had exceeded their allocated threshold.

​Normally, I wouldn't have minded extending the active leg of the trip, nor browsing the complimentary conservatory, had it not closed for the evening. Weather conditions were incredibly forgiving, hovering about the double-digits with a resilient breeze. Suffice to say, a better choice of footwear is needed for any future trips to the park.
It is also worth noting that an incredulous amount of construction persists about the centre of the park - storm pipe and drainage activities that hadn't been observed from the Centennial Park Road access.

​After some deliberation, we set out in the northeast direction. Despite not being geographically coherent whatsoever, my ever-specific request for HK Milk Tea was not denied!

Our arrival at First Markham Place was made just before Cafe de Hong Kong's closing time of 7 PM. I had expected to be denied of placing any takeout orders, given that most eateries will hold "kitchen last call" thirty minutes before closing.

But, lo and behold, beyond the double glass doors was nearly a full house of patrons. Yet, amidst the chaos, the staff were still as prompt, courteous, and helpful as ever.

​We took to a duo of hot HK Milk Tea and Iced HK Milk Tea with Ding Ding Candy before venturing across Fairburn Drive to the main FMP lot.

The retail plaza was also slated to close at 7 PM. Upon entering though, it was discovered that majority of the shops had already ceased operations at 6:30 PM or earlier. Eggette Hut and its adjacent jerky boutique continued to serve a queue of customers, but those immediately across had their lights dimmed and folding security gates fastened in place.

​At this point, I pointed towards Claw & Kitty, reminding of an unfulfilled promise. The establishment's 8 PM closing time assisted in my case, for there was just over sixty minutes to relish in the experience.

​As with Cafe de Hong Kong, the interior was absolutely bustling during our time of entry. Shopping carts and a substantial (read: heavily stocked) redemption counter were positioned along the south edge of the facility; meanwhile, the centre corridor provided a photo zone and seating area and the north edge a variety of claw machines.

Frankly, there were fewer claw machines than expected given the spaciousness of the internal quarters. Variety was on par with Koi Claw, though the plushies contained within the machines themselves were of noticeably better quality. Dislodged eyes and manufacturer defects were remarkably few.

The token system was unlike that of OHYO or Koi Claw, for a VIP/membership option was not offered. One could collect stamps via a digital loyalty card and save points by registering for a phone number-based account, but discounted token bundles were not available for purchase.

The minimum quantity was 22 tokens for $20 - essentially, market price. That said, game play averaged at 5-6 tokens per play, as opposed to the standard 3-4 tokens. Our eventual decision resided with the $56 package, which included 100 tokens. For a limited time, visitors could earn a bonus Piplup plushie with any purchase of $100 or more; extra stuffed, non-furry toys were not my goal though.

We succeeded in obtaining about four toys in our first round about the facility. There were a few unconventional games as well, such as those involving dropping a ball on coloured cans and stopping a timer exactly at 10.00 seconds to win one's prize of choice. A member of staff intervened to explain the latter game to us, and even offered us two free trials for a better grasp of the machine's operations.

The same member of staff would later observe us attempting to secure a Moomin, only to see the toy plummet back into its pile when we had failed to initiate the "grab" function on the claw.
"Nooooo" she called out in the distance, where she had been restocking another machine. "Our machines have a two-press system. It must be your first time here." to which we both nodded in unison. She then proceeded to demonstrate on the Moomin machine, noting that small toys could be obtained more easily by quickly wrapping the rubber-lined tips of the claw around the body or head.

​The attentive continued as we maneuvered about the facility. Beyond cheering us on and providing game explanations, the staff did not hesitate to provide assistance, all without being intrusive or overbearing. We were given multiple complimentary chances, pointers on adapting the strategy for the toy at hand, offers to shuffle toys for better reach, and even allowed swapping of toys within the same display case. The experience was unlike any other claw machine facility! The team was extremely friendly, attentive, and ensured visitors had a fun time.

​The visit also constituted my first trip in which a pushcart was needed to store winnings. Most of the toys were the equivalent of two points. At other facilities, the redemption ratio was quite poor, and one was likely to depart with a miserable consolation prize at best. In contrast, Claw & Kitty offered a broad range of prizes at decent quality. Sanrio products, such as keychains or small- to medium-sized plushies could be redeemed for as low as 4 points. Pokémon-themed merchandise would start at 25 points and vary according to size or rarity. Even with one point, participants could redeem a pair of Hello Kitty socks. Desk mats and hampers were also available, though admittedly poor quality in comparison to the plushies lining the shelves.

​My browsing partner opted to retain three of the plushies from the machine, then redeem an additional one for the collection. Meanwhile, I leaned in favour of just one pink strawberry, converting the rest for points storage. These points would be associated with the phone number and name on file, and readily available for redemption in the future.

Without a doubt, Claw & Kitty was the best claw machine outpost to land in the GTA. For starters, service was impeccable. The establishment was an absolute playground for all ages, heaven for plushie lovers and collectors, and a stellar destination for those that thrive off games and thrill.

​The skies had dimmed to an ominous grey when we returned to the car. My watch read quarter after eight - just enough time for a last-minute LCBO detour.

​The liquor store was set to close at 9 PM, enabling me the ideal window for quick perusal of the aisles and swift acquisition of exclusive sake offerings. My sole complaint was being unable to sample Waterloo Brewing's latest summer release, the Mango Passionfruit Radler.

​Braving the droplets in hoodless outfits, we hurried back to the vehicle and began to contemplate options for supper. Hana Don wasn't far, but was hardly the most economic of choices.  ​We settled for Bingz instead, and promptly returned to the First Markham Place parking lot.

​Only three other tables were occupied at our time of visit, two of which had already concluded consumption and merely chatted away. As a consequence of low customers volumes, orders were received and processed with impressive speed. Since my last visit (824), an entirely foreign cast of Southeast Asian attendants had replaced the previous team. The unfamiliar faces had struck me by surprise, yet their accuracy and agility greatly appreciated.

Unsurprisingly, the tables and bathroom stalls were filthy at the late hour. All dispensers ran low on soap; one stall was utterly devoid of toilet paper. When the issue was brought to the attention of one of the staff members, she nodded in acknowledgement and tended to the scene following cleanup of the handwashing station.

By the time I had emerged from the sliver of a washroom stall, our orders had emerged, neatly secured in takeout packaging as requested. Nestled inside the checkered paper bag was an A4 Combo, comprising of a Signature Beef Hamburger, Wonton Soup, and Smokin' Hot Shake Fries. In the absence of Liangpi, my request of the A3 Combo could not be completed. I pivoted towards the Signature Pork Hamburger instead, settling to supplement the meal with the Wonton Soup included as part of the A4 set.

Flaky, warm, and delectable, Bingz had never once failed to provide a gratifying, budget-friendly meal. The Wonton Soup was also better than expected, with hearty bits of mini shrimp wonton, egg threads, nori, scallions, and goji berries. Its base was an MSG-based broth, yet a rendition far superior to that of Good Luck HK Cafe. The Fries weren't bad either, albeit adopting slight sogginess. ​Having omitted the "Smokin' Hot" seasoning, I can't comment on the spice level, nor desire to enravel myself in potentially disastrous throat pain.

"It's like a Chinese Five Guys." was announced across from me.
The corners of my lips curled up into a smile. "Indeed." I thought. The concept was similar, in that the franchise offered Chinese hamburgers paired with either soft drinks or more traditional picks of Plum Cold Brew and Soy Milk.

​That said, I am absolutely of the opinion that Bingz is better than any standard North American burger joint. Not many eateries house warm broths, noodles, and wonderfully crisp, flaky burgers brimming with tender meat.