With each passing year is incremental desensitization to the infamous New Year resolution buzz. Perhaps it is the coming of age, or maybe the progressively surging workload as a full-fledged human in the workforce. Our growth as mortals is somehow proportional - linearly or exponentially is for you to decide - to the daily task count that must be accomplished by day's end. And with that, we lose sight of the specifics of daily activities. A routine is adopted thoughtlessly, and time slips through our fingertips as do grains of sand on a Malibu shoreline.
As extensive as this collection of visuals may be, it merely serves to convey my early 2020 observations at a very high level.
As extensive as this collection of visuals may be, it merely serves to convey my early 2020 observations at a very high level.
Java is the notorious propellant of all Monday activities, in addition to majority of weekday morning happenings. To be graced with the smoothest espresso on the planet, one heads to Pilot. A decadent Mocha and exquisite Flat White soothed our fatigued souls from the evening prior.
Later in the afternoon was a second boost. Marked by a lunchtime walk about St. Lawrence (and prompted by the St. Lawrence Market's weekly closures) was a stopover at Balzac's. The two-part partitioned coffee shop was a cozy endeavour in the historical, parking-scarce neighbourhood: brick walls, wooden floorboards, and seedling-and-coffee-pot-embellished wallapaper contributed a certain zen-ness to the established environment.
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The clock was ticking, so we chose our items to go: a Brewed Coffee for the prehistoric creature and a Ginger Mollasses Cookie for myself. My treat was chewier than it was crunchy, and not nearly spicy enough. The prominent presence of molasses was pleasant, though the tacky texture of the flat round left much to be desired. A slight gripe was also emitted at the absence of the ginger candy centrepiece adorning the surface of every other unit in the stack. Unfortunately, the specimen had been shoved into a paper bag swifter than the blemish could be diagnosed.
Other activities of the week involved errand-running (Pistachio Oreos anyone?) and LCBO-perusing.
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A successful solo skating session was also performed at Harbourfront's Natrel Rink.
Might I also add that Sansotei's long-awaited opening at the Union Station Food Court has taken place at long last.
Might I also add that Sansotei's long-awaited opening at the Union Station Food Court has taken place at long last.
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Supposedly one of many monthly specials to come, the launch of The Krys' Black Sesame Latte was embraced with open arms, that is, until it was proven milky to an unreasonable degree. It wasn't an issue that couldn't be rectified with a shot of espresso, however. The tapioca pearls included in the iced rendition of the drink was an ̶a̶d̶d̶e̶d̶ ̶b̶o̶n̶u̶s̶ interesting feature.
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Proposed on the chilliest day of the week was a trip to Mimico, skates in tow. A certain prehistoric creature had proposed post-sunddown plans in the vicinity.
Prior to such outdoor engagements was a stop at SanRemo, a bakery that had been bookmarked by yours truly.
The local Etobicoke favourite offered a vast variety of nourishment, spanning the categories of sweet, savoury, caffeinated, and pre-packaged. Sandwiches and Café Frappé were items of lesser interest to us; on the radar from the getgo was the bakery range - namely the croissants, loaves, and pastries. Portuguese egg tarts had failed to be detected amongst the spread, so we turned to the refrigerated display case instead. Resulting from our unhurried analysis were a strawberry jam-filled croissant and Tiramisu cup.
The local Etobicoke favourite offered a vast variety of nourishment, spanning the categories of sweet, savoury, caffeinated, and pre-packaged. Sandwiches and Café Frappé were items of lesser interest to us; on the radar from the getgo was the bakery range - namely the croissants, loaves, and pastries. Portuguese egg tarts had failed to be detected amongst the spread, so we turned to the refrigerated display case instead. Resulting from our unhurried analysis were a strawberry jam-filled croissant and Tiramisu cup.
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The standalone Italian dessert was brimming with the essence of mascarpone. Each spoonful was as creamy as could be, and free from the sickening sugary aftertaste I had feared. Even if a tad dry and even if produced in absence of coffee liquer, the cup's contents were competent in satisfying our sweet tooths.
A flaky, icing sugar-dusted cross-section confirmed the croissant's gustatory adequacy.
A flaky, icing sugar-dusted cross-section confirmed the croissant's gustatory adequacy.
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Stomachs made merry, we continued along the intended route towards the Colonel Samuel Smith Skating Trail. Previously unbeknownst to me was the existence of the figure eight-shaped course. It was, as I later learned, one of the city's numerous skating facilities with free admission but zero skate rentals. The presence of a (paid?) parking lot enabled non-commuters to drop by on a whim as well.
An approximate sixty minutes passed - a portion of which was spent engrossed in the intended activity, and the remainder huddling inside the cubby area out of frigidity. The building appeared to operate as a daycare during work hours; immediately before it was a slender, circular tower reminiscent of Mac's very own Nuclear Reactor.
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Source: Google Maps, Mar 2018
En route to supper, we chanced across Tatsu's Bread - another bookmarked destination. It was, unsurprisingly, closed for operations.
Some breezy walks around Port Credit later, we landed ourselves into a booth at Myungdong Kalguksu.
Some breezy walks around Port Credit later, we landed ourselves into a booth at Myungdong Kalguksu.
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It was a quiet evening filled with kimchi and a MD Dumpling Hotpot for two. The latter was, in fact, too hot for our tastebuds, which resulted in additional broth being requested for the purpose of dilution.
Never before experienced was the airiness of whipped mascarpone in the form of a foamy, winter-appropriate beverage.
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Friday visuals could be summed by The Alley's new location in the PATH and miscellaneous snacks.
The first three-hour run back at Kindred finished with two complimentary KDC classes.
It sufficed to say that I was well worn out by the second hour mark and could no longer process the third and final class, despite its fun, groovy nature.
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