Out & About #294 | Koreatown + Put A Cone On It

​The process of obtaining a haircut is an interesting procedure: I've honestly been trying to put it off until the winter break, seeing as I've yet to find a salon capable of meeting my needs, both economically-speaking and performance-wise, and am not particularly eager to risk my already thinning tresses on a mediocre stylist whilst attempting to find rightfully tempered bowl of porridge.

A hip friend of mine recommended Sora in Koreatown; Yelpers had commended it for suprising quality at an unbeatable price, prompting me to forthwith book an appointment.

The bold lettering was impossible to miss while strolling along Bloor. The shop was extremely easy to find and even featured the shop name in different languages to enhance clarity.
Its interior was concise and compact, comprising of all the essential hair salon elements in a fraction of the space of a suburban spot. A small reception table is situated directly beside the landing platform, and directly behind it a waiting area of black couches. Approximately five hair-dressing and two hair-washing stations line the perimeter of the shop. Mirrored walls lend the illusion of additional depth

Washrooms were located at the bottom of a flight of crickety wooden stairs, which were almost completely hidden from view behind the hair-washing area. The once vividly pink frames were dilapidated, hooks were non-existent, and a decent layer of dust had settled on the individual elements of the stall. For the most part, it was in dire need of a facilities upgrade and renovation.

Retreating back to the main floor, I was guided to a comfortable patent leather chair by my selected hairstylist. A brief consultation commenced after my coat had been hung up and my handbag secured in a small chest of drawers. Coincidentally, she shared the same name as the stylist I had visited at mauve in the summer.
Their appearances varied vastly though: the Koreatown employee donned winged charcoal eyeliner and neo punk-esque sleek black locks featuring a half-updo with a sky-high bun and bleached blonde-pink tips. The West Coast resident had leaned more towards a mature 森ガール (Mori Girl) style with deep honey brown tresses and layers of muted clothing.

​The hair-washing process was executed leisurely; the chairs, while comfortable, were stationary, meaning that customers would be required to bend back as needed. Despite this, the well-padded chairs ensured comfort would be maintained. Additionally, a small piece of material was placed across the eyes to prevent the intrusion of splashed water.
Trimming was speedy but precise: the hairstylist made sure to check the length periodically for maximum satisfaction.

A stable, password-secured Wi-Fi was also made available to guests to use during their stay - quite a bonus in my opinion. The bill totalled an impossibly reasonable thirty dollars with tax included, making Sora a superb option for a straightforward wash and cut. Given this price, I found that the level of customer service and cleanliness of the styling area to be significantly better than ancipated.

Following my stopover at Sora, I headed to the Green Beanery for the sake of checking out the impressive selection of coffee brewing equipment, then to Put A Cone On It in search of sustenance.

​This place was no stranger to my feed during the warmer months, so it brought me great joy to finally be able to visit the colourful ice cream shop and cafe hybrid in person.

​It was largely empty on an early weekday afternoon, though this changed promptly as the day eased into the afternoon rush. A single member of staff - a young girl in a tan sweater - was in charge of the entire store's operations. She didn't possess too wide a variety of expressions, and seemed confused most of the time, but still remained pleasant in spite of the lack of smiles.

​I first opted for Kyoto Smoke - the shop's take on a Houjicha Latte - along with a Chocolate Hazelnut Croissant. Both were absolutely scrumptious! The roasted essence of the latte paired exceptionally well with the croissant, which was flavourful and flaky without being excecssively buttery. The crispy bits (which I assumed to be chocolate-covered crisps) on the surface served to heighten the texture profile, while the gooey, delectable filling provided instant satisfaction.

View the full album HERE !

The Matcha White Chocolate Chip Cookie was an item that a lovely fangirl friend had once brought back for me to try. I became smitten with its depth of flavour and crunchy bits of chocolate, so it only felt right to purchase two to take home. Spicy Black Sesame was another flavour that piqued my interest.

​It was necessary to sample their ice cream before departing, for waffle-topped ice cream was the shop's specialty product. The girl was kind enough to serve me samples of each flavour in their display case (except Pistachio as I tend to steer clear from the floral nutty taste), from Roasted Banana to Earl Grey to White Peach Sorbet.
Ultimately, a single scoop of Raspberry Sorbet and Black Cat Espresso were chosen for their epic fruity-aromatic combination and smoothness. The triangular piece of chocolate waffle added a nice crunch, but I'm convinced the vanilla version would have suited it equally well. I particularly enjoyed the fact that all of Put A Cone On It's offerings, spanning from baked goods to ice cream, were crafted from scratch.

​The washroom, as with other Koreatown shops, was located in the basement. Keys attached with plastic spatulas were hung at the top of the stairs for easy access; each was associated with a door of the same colour.
Stalls were suprisingly spacious and well-lit; the interior boasted new, clean facilities and even a small table to setting down bags and purchases.

​Put A Cone On It brought me an immense amount of joy: there's definitely something for everyone, whether it be caffeinated beverages, good-for-you breakfast cookies, or vegan ice cream. Lighting can be a tad dark towards the back of the cafe, though the front area is spacious and visually appealing. It's far from being completely accessible - the addition of the StopGap ramp is undoubtedly appreciated though - but the concept is well perceived by customers such as myself.

​A quick stop at Kevin's Taiyaki in P.A.T, Hodo Kwaja (their Chun Byung is amazing!), and several choker-hunting rounds at the independ retailers later, I was on my way back to the suburban area I call home.

​Behold: the spread of carb-laden goods.

The cookies, unveiled for consumption in the proceeding days, tasted exceptional, especially when devoured in conjunction with a Snow Day latte. (The DAVIDsTEA Advent Calendar totally surpassed its expectations!)

​Is it too soon to say that I'm already looking forward to my next Koreatown visit? (I mean, I need to purchase more copies of FLIGHT LOG: TURBULENCE anyway...)

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