Out & About #960 | Christmas Trees in the PATH + Wonka

Inspiration comes easily for me, with implementation shortly on its heels.
After sampling Issho Bakery's PB Miso Corn Chex Marshmallow Square, I was immediately inspired to delve into my own rendition. Swapping Shreddies for Chex, Nutella for peanut butter for Nutella, and toasted almonds for colour sprinkles, yet another variation of Rice Krispies materialized in my kitchen before noon.

The result was crunchier than that of Issho, but also stiffer due to the lower marshmallow content and innately denser qualities of Shreddies (versus Chex or Crispix). While Jif is often stocked within our household, I reached for the adjacent jar of spread instead, for large quantities of PB isn't quite my style.

In hindsight, this had been a well-informed decision, for my former carpooling partner, the recipient of a portion of these squares, was (re-)learned to be severely allergic. To accidentally earn the title of a criminal I did not wish in the slightest.

Similar to the previous week, baking projects were temporarily set aside due to being overwhelmed with work assignments and, consequently, an influx of incomplete chores and errands.

Meals of the week comprised of combinations of Braised Pork and Daikon, Steamed Minced Pork and Tofu, and Gai Lan or Choy Sum over Short-Grain Rice.

​The office's many December birthdays prompted a trip to ARZ Fine Foods out of curiosity.

A single serving of the Mocha Mousse Cake had intended to be acquired for research purposes, though I ultimately departed without one as only 8-inch rounds were available.

Against my better judgement, nearly the entirety of Pelee Island's Lighthouse Riesling had been downed after dinner. It paired well with amusing stories and Salted Caramel Caramilk, though ultimately led to a horrendous throbbing headache the following morning.

​Hand-eye coordination and balance appeared minimally impacted, though there was tremendous difficulty in forming words and sentences.

Nevertheless, I somehow made it into downtown without any issues, bidding a reluctant adieu to my Soft Friends as I usually do.

Lunchtime was spent browsing the PATH, for external conditions were breezier and chillier than anticipated.

The holiday season introduced twinkly trees in nearly every commercial building, as well as endless pop-ups at Union Station.

​A sample of TAO Tea Leaf's Lemonade Hibiscus was obtained in the Bay Concourse.

The same destination would distribute holiday-themed coin purses to the first 500 visitors - but only upon request, for the merchandise was camouflaged underneath the serving counter.

Since the departure of Haribo and The Body Shop on the heritage level of the transit hub, a new contender has arrived just in time for Christmas shopping. Sparetime had recently moved into the space, offering a wide assortment of Ghibli products without the dreaded queuing of TIFF's pop-up shop.

​The carpeted space boasts items of interest for hobbyists, either in the form of plushies, collectibles, or comparatively more functional products such as a Calcifer frying pan.

​My inclination towards active entertainment led me to Union Winter's Roller Express. Though, with one-third of my allocated break spent trekking towards Union, undertaking the venture was deemed unfeasible.

Opting instead to enter into Fairmont Royal York across the street, an unexpected journey through a carpeted corridor of traditional Christmas trees and wintry backdrops awaited me.​

​There was even a gingerbread house arch - complete with candy cane décor! - over one of the escalators.

​Between Scotia Plaza, Richmond-Adelaide Centre, Union Station, and the Fairmont hotel, at least seven spectacular trees were observed.

​The displays succeeded in brightening my day instantaneously, welcoming festive spirit amidst a dreary, hangover-hit work day.

Sobriety was declared for at least one week after the incident.

​Restored with mobility on the next in-office day, I managed a quick trip to Dollarama in search of a bench scraper. While finding none, more Christmas trees were discovered at the base of the 10 Dundas St building at Yonge/Dundas.

​News of Korea welcoming its first Tim Hortons instilled a sense of amusement. The hype had spread back to its Canadian roots, prompting a visit to the nearest outpost.

A medium-sized Baileys Cream Coffee, Chocolate Hazelnut Muffin, and Chocolate Lava Dream Cookie were acquired for afternoon snack. Frankly, the franchise's toasty, non-alcoholic take was superior to the Baileys Cold Brew, in which prominent acidity could not dismissed. The Chocolate Hazelnut Muffin was as delicious as I recalled. Meanwhile, the Chocolate Lava Dream Cookie possessed structured, chewy edges - an almost brownie cookie-like consistency - though the tacky, cloying "lava" portion ought be omitted entirely for the better.

​Our weekly team meeting, by some miracle, concluded well in advance of its usual time.

​Even with somewhat slowed footsteps, I arrived on the platform five minutes earlier than needed. The doors of the GO train had still yet to open for boarding.

I'm hardly the type to hold back in indulging in any new release of interest. Of course, streaming platforms are enablers in this facet, either allowing real-time viewing or, at the very least, same-day watching opportunities. But movies are different in the sense that the factors of convenience no longer apply.

It's decidedly uncommon to find me in a cinema, for I despise all the restrictions that come with movies: the inability to pause and resume, the need to get dressed and leave the house to sit in a room of strangers, forbidden fidgeting and movement, and, the most crucial of all, the grand price tag associated with modern day entertainment.

​When Wonka dropped its trailer, I was immediately intrigued. The level of interest was openly greater than Barbie, yet the decision to watch on opening weekend did not waver in the slightest.

Trailer Source: Warner Bros on YouTube

A last-minute Friday afternoon outing was proposed for its viewing at JUNXION, the unanimous theatre of choice. The entertainment quarters' proximity, abundance of parking spacious quarters, relatively empty 4 PM auditorium, clean bathrooms, and pleasant customer service team contributed to willingness to visit again.

As part of a previous purchasing error, I had a two-pack of General Admission tickets and one popcorn on hand. However, seat selection was not possible unless a processing fee was paid. The sole method of avoiding this charge was to visit the joint ticketing and concessions stand in person prior to the start of the show. Thankfully, the late afternoon showing was mostly vacant, making seat selection a breeze. With about 15 minutes till show time, we succeeded in nabbing dead centre in the fourth row - absolutely splendid!

The movie did not commence until the 4:19 PM mark, at which all lights dimmed to reveal a young Willy Wonka prancing upon his ship.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was a childhood favourite of mine. Although hard to believe, I was once an avid reader, thriving in fantasy tales. The period extended until at least my teen years, where I switched over to dramas, fangirling, and language-learning. Roald Dahl's other classics of The BFG and Matilda had also struck a chord within me, and I recall revisiting the paperbacks on more than one occasion.

Wonka the film serves as the prequel to Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, introducing the origins of Willy Wonka and his eccentric chocolate creations. Even without prior knowledge though, the movie could still very much be enjoyed as a standalone sequence of wonder and wit.

Trailer Source: Warner Bros on YouTube

Not a single moment was dull, tacky, or overdone.
Musical elements of song and dance were weaved in throughout, serving to enhance the scenes and overall mood. By using extremely synchronized dancers and skillful vocalists, the quality of such performance were naturally heightened as a result.

The cast was varied, fitting of their roles, and didn't scream "I am a minority group!" as other recent and semi-recent productions had. The pace was great too, adding in flits of flurry where needed to evoke the appropriate ambience.

The whimsical stories behind chocolate-making and innovative ingredient selection aligned rightfully with the perspectives of the baking enthusiast within me. It also reinforced that anything imaginable is conceivable, that creativity is boundless. There was also an underlying message that corporate corruption and income gaps could be overcome by bonding together, that the "Greedy does not always beat out the needy".

​Visually, the movie was impressive with constant lighting changes, humorous camera angles, stunning CG, and incredible attention to detail. The script was equally remarkable with its wittiness and ability to bridge a classic fable with present-day nuance.

From the Oompa-Loompa dance to the chocolate-crafting contraptions, Wonka succeeded in bringing one of my childhood favourites to life - drawing from the original story without losing its charming, refreshing, and heartwarming outlook.
It would be an understatement to declare mere enjoyment for Wonka, for my reception is beyond just fondness and admiration. Flawless in its execution, the movie easily earned a perfect score in my books - not an easy feat whatsoever.