Out & About #602 | Miscellaneous Winter Visuals

Mother Nature is an indecisive beast - a force to be reckoned with, especially in the cooler periods of Canadian climate. For one moment may witness above-seasonal rainfall, while another harsh hail (and the consequential cancellation of scheduled social pursuits).​​

​These chilly conditions are commonly interpreted as prompts for hibernation, or at least increased susceptibility to inactivity. To combat feelings of laziness, winter walks were executed along the waterfront.

​Holiday festivities have landed at Union Station. The second last day of November marked the introduction of an outdoor skating rink at Toronto's largest transit hub.

While I had my initial doubts about the project, primarily in terms of commuter safety and ease of navigation, the rink proved significantly more secure than imagined. Surrounded by wooden barriers, the raised recreational facility was distinctly separated from pedestrian traffic and monitored by authorized personnel. With only one supervised access, it ensured that commuters could continue with their routine, completely uninterrupted by the installation. It'll only be a matter of time before I embark on my own test of the addition, since the allure of free rentals and free lessons is simply too great an offer to refute.

In terms of vendors, there was, sadly, limited numbers. In consideration of the several other markets taking place in parallel in and around the downtown core, this is of little concern for the urban adventurer.
Walk-worthy points within Union included nut butter and Panettone samples from the Biscotteria Forno Cultura pop-up, whiskey sampling and custom engraving at the Johnnie Walker booth, and the upcycled Tomorrow Tree, all of which were housed within the VIA Rail Hall/West Wing, connecting Great Hall and the UP Express pedestrian bridge.

Breakfast burritos from McD's were discovered to be no larger than the size of my palm, yet, nonetheless satisfactory in delivering energy to fuel fatigued mornings.

The Office Treats series persists in the form of dainty cookies, chocolate-covered dates from Dubai, praline sweets from Ukraine, dense slabs of vanilla shortbread (Can you tell I wasn't a fan?), and brimming boxes of The Night Baker.

​Taking place between Wednesday to Friday was The Buildings Show, a phenomenal construction-focused expo spanning both the North and South Buildings of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

​Weekly occurences of the Artisan Market welcomed Pokéball bath bombs, essential oil aromatherapy products, chopstick holders in the form of Mt. Fuji, and sodium laureth sulphate-free handcrafted soaps. The amusing baubles served as great stocking stuffers, or simply tidbits to supplement Christmas gifts.

Between the countless Canadian and international building material vendors were businesses looking to introduce new technologies into the industry, whether that be Bluetooth-equipped sensors capable of detecting concrete temperature and strength or drones for construction surveying. A wide variety of lectures, panels, and discussions also took place in unison throughout the duration of the extravagant two-and-a-half-day event.

​Brewed coffee from McDonald's were frequent over these few days. Meal expenses surged by way of: a Grilled Halibut Sandwich from Buster's Sea Cove, a McChicken acquired via Mobile Offers, and a Spinach Mozzarella Bagel slathered in cream Cheese from my least favourite fast food outpost.

​A fellow alumni introduced me to The PATH's Chatime Atealier after our journey across the showroom floor. Her Black Onyx was crafted without milk, then served lukewarm instead of piping hot. The team had no issues rectifying their error, though took their sweet time doing so.

​We took a few moments to explore the general vicinity - whilst catchin up, of course - before calling it a night.

​I revisited The Krys for an afternoon pick-me-up. This decision was far from being informed, however selection is limited by the waterfront, especially those that do not involve a trek outdoors.

​ The Strawberry Matcha Latte that I had hoped would rival that of Boba Guys demonstrated absolute repugnance in every possible aspect: sickeningly sweet with chunky bits of jam, complete with a murky grey layer of supposed matcha. The Milk Tea wasn't half bad in comparison; that said, tapioca pearls were horrendously soggy though.
It wasn't until later that evening that it dawned on me: the cashier had omitted the Holiday promo price from our order altogether.

​A late Friday lunch took place at Kibo, which had been named the destination of choice upon discovering Kinton Harbour's ridiculous lineup. "Cash & Carry" sets of tempura rolls, salmon nigiri, and spicy tuna rolls set us back fifteen dollars in total.

​When I least expected it, Kindred Culture launched a three-week "express" Beginner Hip Hop program. Enrollment in the series spanned several minutes, then ultimately resulted in the enactment of payment. It was, an admittedly last-minute decision, though not one that spurred remorse or regret.

Nathan, whom I had spoken with prior to committing to the weekly KDC Drop-In sessions, led the first Beginner class with perfect pizzazz. His positive presence was unmistakable, and his patience a basis for encouragement.

Class commenced with a brief rundown of hip-hop history, with emphasis that dance is a form of expression, and that there is no wrong way to "groove". The fundamental moves were taught while identifying and repeating their names - a highly effective tactic in the adoption of new information.
The group practiced various methods of move projection: subtle vs. exaggerated, facing the mirror vs. facing the back wall, etc. Purposes of these exercises were to highlight areas of uncertainty and prompt the incorporation of personal style. The act(s) of suppressing or amplifying moves assisted in expression, for altering between degrees of exaggeration adds interest, much like how speeches are delivered in dynamic tones with varying intonation.

The final exercise involved turning off the lights, creating the ultimate judgement-free zone to articulate oneself in his or her desired manner. The routine was fun, and, in spite of being unable to memorize the entire routine with confidence, I was satisfied with my progress, knowing that there was potential for continued growth.