Out & About #1112 | Pt. 1: Ontario Science Centre Pop-Up at Sherway + Strolling through St. Lawrence

Since I'll never know when my TPL card may cease to provide me with complimentary entertainment, it's in my best interests to squeeze in as many attractions as possible as they become available, especially if they are limited time attractions.

Musical and theatre performances do not intrigue me, nor do film showings. Of the remaining attractions, the Ontario Science Centre Pop-Up emerged as the only destination of interest, of the current TPL Map offerings anyway. Their release times differed from the rest of the fixed attractions, yet I swiftly secured a booking nonetheless. My choice of reserving August 10th had been intentional; I could simply stop by Sherway Gardens on the way into downtown for K-Expo.

The plan was to undertake the venture solo, however, given that the pass enabled entry for two adults, I offered my browsing partner a chance to join.

At 10:45 AM, we arrived at a surprisingly busy Sherway Gardens. Traffic had been forgiving, but mall volumes were higher than anticipated for the first hour of opening.

The hp booth that had graced the Square One Centre Court last week had shifted locations to the CF location. We played the games once more, allowing for expansion of my previous assortment to include an additional reusable utensil set and a trio of reusable Stainless steel straws (1 thin, 1 curved, 1 extra-wide) and cleaning brush in a compact nylon pouch.

Then we resumed our search for the pop-up. After mistakenly turning down two different corridors, we found the facility in Nordstrom's old space.

​Albeit an evident temporary setup, the pop-up exceeded expectations wholly. There was an extensive assortment of interactive educational material, with plenty of hands-on activities for visitors of all ages to enjoy. Admission would normally be $15 per person, but, of course, the TPL Map pass had enabled up to two adults (and some number of children) to enter for free.

The first section of the pop-up was an exhibit on water safety. It included a display on different types of life jackets, referred to as Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs), and their respective uses. A camp tent was also set up nearby, allowing visitors to explore the interior if desired.

​Nearby were creation stations, where visitors could try their hand at building structures to resist wind, connect platforms by building bridges with trusses, and hoisting paper sails to determine the relationship between sail surface area and travel speed/navigability.

"SURVIVAL The Exhibition" was a fun walkthrough segment showcasing various elements of outdoor safety.

Each was clearly identified with signage and relevant installations. Interactive displays and colourful information boards with bold, sans-Serif font boosted visual interest and educational appeal to children (and me). In particular, I appreciated the neatly arranged text, exemplary use of colour and texture, and wide variety to materials to spur interest and support understanding.

Some areas were carpeted with printed animal tracks, indicating dryer conditions. Others were fitted with a roof of starry skies and rigid benches to give the illusion of cold, wintry climate. Visitors could also follow demonstrations on how to build traps using (plastic, colour-IDed) sticks or use create a virtual fire with a long pole and friction.
Overall, the exhibit was executed spectacularly with attractive info boards and various rooms organized to stimulate thinking and foster safety in the wilderness.

Towards the back of the pop-up space were quieter installations. While they were also brimming with scientific trivia, they maintained interactive elements by incorporating doors (to reveal different insects), windows, and jigsaw puzzle-like pieces that would sync with a nearby screen to show 3D renderings. I particularly enjoyed a four-sided cycling setup that illustrated the conversion of potential energy to electricity to power a grid. As the activity could be undertaken with three other parties, the total energy output could be redistributed between the cities to "share power".

Another fun, kid-friendly attraction included feeding plastic balls along looped contraptions. Since some balls did not succeed in traversing over the humps, it depicted different energy potentials in a tangible manner. At a different station, visitors used a makeshift water pump to depict how many gallons of water are required to manufacture a chocolate bar.

But the installation that had initially drew me to fight for the TPL Map pass was none other than the compact treetop trekking course - and a complimentary one at that!

Harnesses and helmets were provided by staff, who would suit up each participant prior to providing a safety briefing. I appreciated that hair nets were provided, as shared helmets always pose the potential of lice contamination. The course itself was trickier than expected, and I began to sweat under the harsh lighting. Nonetheless, the experience was thoroughly enjoyable.

​The Sherway Gardens Ontario Science Centre Pop-up was, without a doubt, much better than expected. For families with young kids, I could foresee upwards of three-four hours being spent on journeying through the different installations.

Before heading into downtown, I made a point to enforce acquisition of sustenance. An absolutely scrumptious Farcita Cotto focaccia sandwich from EATALY served as a nice snack. When reheated, the surface of the focaccia became addictively crispy, juxtaposing the soft cheese and tender slices of zucchini encased within.

Journeying into downtown on a weekend afternoon also poses great challenges. The drive from Etobicoke approximated thirty minutes, which was better than expected. Locating parking, on the other hand, was hardly enticing. It took me three visits before locating a reasonably priced garage. The nearest Target Park was $20, while Novotel a whopping $26. Indigo Park on Wellington was a tad further, but acceptable at a rate of $16.

​Having arrived with sufficient time to explore the vicinity, I declared a visit to St. Lawrence Market being possible.

Unfortunately, the new Farmer's Market building was found to be only operation on Saturdays between the hours of 5 AM and 3 PM. Disappointed, we made our way across the street into the original heritage building.

The interior was as packed as could be, risking tremors of claustrophobia with each step. Escaping back outside provided relief from the crowds, but subject us to torturous heat and humidity instead.

​Once we had explored all the booths in the area, in addition to a random antique market, we headed over to the Union Summer pop-up along Front Street.

I had been lured towards Ruru Baked's booth upon catching news of a Biscoff offering. Alas, the flavour had vanished from their menu board by the time I caught their last day at the outdoor summer market. ​To be frank, their now-shuttered Pacific Mall location had not impressed me in the slightest, but I decided to give them another chance. The booth refused to provide samples, so it was difficult to envision the exact profiles by description.

Between my browsing partner and I, we decided on a three-flavour flight of: Honeycomb Cereal Milk, Watermelon Lychee Sorbet, and Banoffee Pie. A Yuzu Soda was also tacked onto the order to provide relief to the otherwise dreadfully scorching day.

​I had tremendous regrets about the Watermelon Lychee Sorbet, for the concoction was artificial-tasting and cloying as opposed to floral and refreshing. Banoffee Pie, likely inspired by the banana pudding that took Toronto by storm, was good at first, but quickly grew tiring. After a few bites, the banana flavour became too intense and failed to complement the other choices of the spread. Simply put, I could not stomach a full scoop.
My browsing partner's pick of Honeycomb Cereal Milk was, amusingly, the best of the three. Beyond a delightful textural variance, the formula itself was divine - complex without being excessively sugary.

​Generally speaking, the flight was superior to the melty catastrophe of the Pacific Mall location. The scoops were colder, preserving their shape even amidst the heat. Sturdy biodegradable spoons were also appreciated over the despicable rigid, rough-edged wooden variation from before.

Ringing in at $5.50 before tax, the Yuzu Soda was zesty and invigorating, but a tiny portion for its given price.

​My browsing partner and I parted ways at Union, with me heading northeast through Brookfield Place back to the grounds of K-Expo.

Along the way, I passed the unexpected sighting of Neutral Pilates. The downtown outpost was likely to attract office workers with its convenient location and serene setup. Though, a food court-facing group exercise room may not have been the best choice for comfort and concentration.

Read Part 2 HERE !