Out & About 578 | Canadian National Exhibit (CNE) 2019 - Random Thoughts of a Quirky Blogger

Out & About 578 | Canadian National Exhibit (CNE) 2019

8/23/2019

I can't identify with the CNE being an annual tradition.
Rumour has it that the August-limited venture warrants a visit from Ontarians near and far every single year. And that is, personally speaking, an occurrence that would spur greater stress than joy.

Scorching temperatures, draining energy levels, public transit chaos, obnoxious lineups, and pricey, off-tasting fare characterized my first visit. It's been five years since then - half a decade, in other words; the expedition garnered a lasting impression, flourishing with enough negativity to recall several years later.

This recount then poses the question: So why visit again?
Because I was looking for a post-work hour activity that could be easily accessed by all members of the party. At the same time, everything deserves a chance for redemption.

I renounced the grueling door-to-door trip on transit in favour of driving then commuting along the Lakeshore West corridor. By the time 4 PM rolled around, I was ready to head over, but due to staggered work times, the trio didn't assimilate until closer to 6 PM.

Brown had snuck his way into my bag, prepared to ventilate the vicinity when summoned. However, this year's visit was nowhere near as sweltering as the 2014 run. Weather conditions were stellar throughout our entire visit - totally unlike the sticky, humid obscenity from before. In spite of the incredulous amounts of foot traffic, neither a fan nor a sleeveless, strappy top was critical to my overall sanity. An occasional breeze was felt here and there.
Sundown paved the way for stooping mercury levels, prompting the need for either a cardigan or thin jacket.

View the full album HERE !

We commenced our journey at the west limit, the point connecting TTC and GO Transit services. The Food Building was our first stop.

Lineups are inevitable at the CNE, frustratingly so. From the washrooms to the vendors to dealing with slow-moving eventgoers within the structure, there wasn't a single instance that didn't require deploying the virtue of patience.
On a brighter note, the lines did tend to move quickly. The stalls, while repulsive in every shape and form, cleared in under five minutes.

My first stop of Mac & Cheesery resulted in an approximate twenty-five-minute wait. I had joined the snaking formation of roughly twenty five (proud and tolerating) patrons before spotting the "Cash Only" sign perched beside the cashier. A fleeting moment of concern passed as I recalled the availability of two ten dollar bills in my wallet. Workers operated in dedicated roles in an assembly line, which alleviated the pressure on some of the kitchen staff. I hung around the grill for about five minutes, observing the crafting process in anticipation.

The guys had taken to small containers of popcorn chicken whose dryness could rival the Sahara. For reasons beyond me, they had also selected a combo with the same popcorn chicken, this time served atop soggy, salty fries. The sheer lack of diversity led me to furrow my brows in disappointment, but the taste - or lack thereof - later earned them displeased eye rolls.
In exchange, they offered to transfer the picking rights. Rainbow Grilled Cheese was my answer.

Gimmicky as the ten-dollar specimen was, it boasted a sweet-and-savoury profile that none of us could have predicted. Food colouring contributed absolutely nothing in terms of taste, though the sprinkles were a fun addition. Otherwise, it was your average greasy grilled cheese - sans crunch and sans crisp. A single strip of pickle and layer of Miss Vickie's were found underneath the sandwich.

With my major items of interest located outside the Food Building, we bid farewell to our standing table and meandered through the crowds, back into the great outdoors. Blue skies and bustling booths of false hope welcomed us with open arms.

Having tested luck previously (and dumped far more funds than reasonable) on Whac-A-Mole and bowling ball rolling, I marched past without a shred of enthusiasm. We did, however, keep our eyes peeled for decently priced frog-flipping and hoops-shooting opportunities.

I paused for a Hot Waffle Ice Cream Sandwich and Pink Lemonade. In comparison to my previous records, the stalls prices have undoubtedly undergone inflation; witnessed was a minimum markup of thirty percent.
With each item ringing in at $4 though, it was a small price to pay for a grand deal of enjoyment. The waffle was a tad tricky to consume with grace, but nonetheless delicious. I will also stand by my declaration of Pink Lemonade being superior to its normal, sunny-hued counterpart.

The haggis-containing Scotsman Burger was, regrettably, an item limited to Tuesday to Thursday sales. Pickle Pizza became the next article to hunt down.

A hefty slice at a hefty price, Rick's Pizza's heavily advertised creation featured a more innovative profile than imaginable. The crust was thin and exceptionally spongy at its edges; tangy pickle slices and a generous handful of fresh dill constituted the toppings portion of the product. The combination was not a poorly executed one.
Its infamous title was not unjustifiable, for the gargantuan triangle was tasty at its extremities: the cheesy tip and chewy crust. Overly oily was its centre section, which I passed to one of my dining partners-in-crime without reluctance.

The guys had their turn at Bingo before sauntering over to the rides section.

Along this stretch, we caught sight of more games, the lengthy lineup for Sky Ride, as well as a concert in full swing. Our route to Princes' Gate saw the presence of more vendors (Galleria, Nintendo, Dove, and more) and a section devoted to food trucks and craft beer.

Originating from the strings upon strings of incandescent bulbs, vibe of this strip was not dissimilar to a patio on a balmy summer evening. The downside, though, was the price of the tokens required to obtain a sip of one's desired drink(s). Sample cups could be exchanged for one token, while full-sized cans demanded eight. As each token was $2.50, we quickly added up our numbers, deemed it exorbitant, and moved along.

Enercare Centre's exhibition halls were of little interest to us, so we swiftly shifted to the Legends of the Silk Road display as the event wrapped up for the evening.

The concept was familiar: a similar exhibit had taken place at Ontario Place some few years ago. This rendition was smaller in scale, however its indoor coordinates enabled greater flexibility in terms of arrangement.