Out & About #750 | Dixie Orchards, Downey's Farm Market + Venom

I've gone many years without a peregrinating about a pumpkin patch. But this fall would be different - I hoped for some form of seasonal activity while temperatures remained such.

Around quarter past one, we set out for Dixie Orchards. The weather prevailed warmer than predicted, so instead of the flannel and denim pairing I had pictured for the occasion, a crushed velvet tank was sported instead.

Directions to the farm were quite straightforward, with the corn maze coming into view slowly but surely. "We're here!" I announced, catching sight of the rows of vehicles and farm sign. The lot was unmarked, unpaved, and mainly grassy; several trees served to delineate the lush locks of lawn from the arterial. Spotted at the east end of the lot was a broad solar panel, and behind it a small fenced area.

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Striding past the open market towards the entrance sign, we were inquired of reservations by a woman in neon yellow. We shook our headings, denying that advance arrangements had been made. As mentioned on the website, walk-ins were permissible in review of existing entry volumes. A quick glance at the farm-goers behind her and we were gestured towards a temporary gazebo.
Admission fees were collected in the form of either cash or debit, with wristbands provided at time of payment. Other groups were spotted sporting green, while ours were yellow. While the colour was non-indicative of capacity count, they were used to mark time of entry. That said, we confirmed that there would not a time limit imposed on our stay.

Traversing past the bathrooms was a map. To its left were farm animals, ranging from ducks to an elderly goat perched on its open penthouse. Beyond the mini range were hazelnut bushes. Parading through the aisles granted glimpses of the nuts in their pre-processing stage. We picked none, and proceeded onwards to the Corn Maze, the main attraction of the day.

Between the access/egress points of the maze was the Straw Jump, where stout barrels of hay were positioned upright for jumping on top and between. I avoided the activity in fear of ankle-rolling and straw strands penetrating my shoes. Between the points were also - "tourist-like", as per orangecane's words - photo-taking opportunities.

A divergence from the labyrinth that was Reesor's Farm, the Corn Maze was quite linear and required no more than 10 minutes to solve. Some cobs were even still intact. Tree - or rather, stalk - cover was minimal throughout, as one would expect, making for a balmy course (followed by unexpected tan lines). The odd breeze would induce rustling of shriveled husks, emanating a sound reminiscent of crunchy leaves beneath one's feet.

Immediately adjacent to the maze was a pumpkin patch. Many families had been spotted with wheelbarrows in tow for pumpkin picking. Despite the lack of variety on the parched-looking plot, groups excitedly ventured to various corners in search for a suitable squash.

We also traversed between wilted sunflower fields and stout apple trees that had been barred off with a "NO ENTRY" sign. Apparently majority of the apples had already been harvested, with only a few varieties awaiting ripeness. Among them was a Mutsu type with a skin of swirled green-red.

A covered green wagon provided complimentary trips back to the farm entrance. The opportunity had been missed two times already, thus we dashed for the third. Amongst the last few riders the contraption could seat safely, we breezed by the attractions we had perused, inhaling exhaust fumes along the way.

Dixie Orchards was home to a covered market area, in which one quarter was allocated towards sales of pies, beverages, and gelato. The remainder comprised of souvenir-like merchandise - think bottled maple syrup, postcards, jarred preserves, and wine jellies. By the checkout was a refrigerator with 2 L and 4L jugs of apple cider, priced at a lower point than the Apple Factory's 1L and 3L containers.
It was undeniably on the thin side, even earning the title of "apple juice" by my partner-in-crime for the day. Evaluation against our go-to of The Apple Factory resulted in remarks pertaining to "lack of body", to which I could not agree more.

​​A few minutes away was Downey's Farm, the originally proposed point of interest. Given the unpredictability of weather, tickets had not been reserved in advance. Tickets to Pumpkinfest had been four times as much as that of Dixie Orchard's. And upon our arrival, it was observed that the crowds were also likely four times in volume.

​We had first landed at the Strawberry and Apple Farm, and were then redirected to 230 m down the street, where the hoards had huddled about the pumpkin patch and marketplace. Lineups had formed at nearly every corner of the farm, with more visitors entering the farm by the minute.
I scanned for some indication of pumpkin donuts, then found a winding queue to the Pie Shack, a counter acting as an exclusive retailer of tarts, cider, and the infamous cinnamon sugar-dusted donuts. Much to my relief, the longer line to our right was for entry into the marketplace. Another sigh of relief arrived as shade and tree cover graced our wait time.

​With more than sufficient time for pondering, I settled on one dozen Pumpkin Donuts. Retailed only in half-dozen configurations, it enabled a headache-free distribution of goods between orangecane and ourselves. Butter Tarts with Pecans were added on at the last minute. Downey's offered other flavours as well, but custom combinations were exclusive to the indoor farm market, a destination that would entail another lengthy wait.

​The Donuts were well above average, as they earned positive feedback from two skeptical critics - one not particularly fond of donuts and one not particularly fond of cinnamon. Pumpkin essence was subtle, though interior boasted an adequate mix of chewiness and lightness. I also appreciated that they weren't overly sugary as I had feared from catching glimpses of their appearance. Its cross-section evoked a textural similarity to Timmies' Plain Old Fashion Donut, lightly spiced but far airier in comparison. I enjoyed two at room temperature with ease, though orangecane recommended it slightly warmed.

Also spectacular were the Pecan Tarts: delicious, with uniform distribution of the signature sticky butter tart filling and crunchy pecans. The tart crust was quite tasty as well, though perhaps not as flaky as my trusted SK formula.

​Roughly ninety minutes remained until the next planned activity. I pointed out that the Heart Lake Conservation Area was in close proximity, but quickly followed up with "It's too hot though." The comment was met with concurrence, and the idea was voided.
I became quick to suggest The Rec Room as a cooler alternative. Alas, our time of arrival permitted only one round of Pump It Up! and the swift acquisition of Bacon & Gruyère Sous Vide Egg Bites.

Venom: Let There Be Carnage was plucked from the decidedly non-Shangchi Marvel movie assortment. Tickets from 2019's Cineplex bundle purchase were to expire soon, and I was ready for its utilization on anything besides Paw Patrol.

Similar to my experiences with Star Wars and Infinity War, I opted for the 97-minute-long film without prior plot familiarization. In spite of this, the storyline was enjoyable with a somewhat predictable ending that wrapped up sooner than anticipated. The many lateral shifts in camera movement during the battle scenes made for entertaining angles, though effects could have been exaggerated for improved depth. The ending scene also revealed a noticeably shaky drone zoom-out, which was admittedly disappointing given the numerous other shots. Some fight scenes were at the aggressive end of the spectrum, making them violent and, most definitely, not for the weak-hearted (Ahem, I voluntarily self-identify in this category).
Overall, the Venom sequel boasts seamless inclusion of sci-fi elements with real-world characters, creating a world of relatability and regalement. The ending themesong was an interesting choice as well, as it combined a hollow, pop base with modern bars.

After the first round of credits came an epilogue. Within it was teleportation of Eddie and Venom to a tropical environment and foreshadowing of the Spiderman movie that is to air later this winter.

Both The Rec Room and Cineplex had checked for proof of vaccination at the entrance.

Myungdong Kalguksu was my supper suggestion.

I proposed taking advantage of the outdoor tables, as humidity from the daytime had dissipated. Remaining in the air was a light gust, easily handled by a durable windbreaker. Seating outside prompted no checks for vaccination, though a QR code was provided by contact tracing protocols. Those looking to access the heavily congested indoor dining floor were inspected at the door, just as with Cineplex establishments. A peak inside informed that all booths were open for dining. The sole form of protection was plexiglass between the headboards of the booths, though proximity to the adjacent table remained consistent with pre-pandemic circumstances.

Our meal witnessed a minimum of seven visits from the serving staff, as if to hurry us along even hours before closing time.
Amongst our picks were a Bulgogi Set, Sujebi, and the infamous MD Dumplings. The dumplings were served at a cooler temperature than past visits, but were nonetheless delicious. Fillings comprised of an ever-amazing blend of chives, plush pork, zucchini bits, and, of course, garlic.

Sujebi was recognized as traditional fare rarely adorning the menus of most Korean diners. While low in protein, I hesitated not to try the $14.99 bowl. Its broth emerged ridiculously peppery, permeating the hand-pulled dough bits rapidly and leaving a starchy pond at the bottom of the bowl. An ample dose of minced garlic had also been incorporated, rearing its head(s) was the unfinished portion was transferred to Styrofoam containers as leftovers. Graininess from the clams, excessive starchiness, and a potent, peppery influence are factors spurning a revisit of the item.

​The Bulgogi Set adopted a decent portion size, complete with tacky, short-grain rice and the restaurant's signature kalguksu bowl.