Before departing, we made one last visit to the bathroom. Desperate attempts were made to dry my jacket with the hand dryer. No luck.
We scurried back to the car, with me smelling absolutely musty in drenched cotton and polyester. Bless my companion, who allowed me to hang my belongings about the passenger seat while taking control of the navigation aspect.
We scurried back to the car, with me smelling absolutely musty in drenched cotton and polyester. Bless my companion, who allowed me to hang my belongings about the passenger seat while taking control of the navigation aspect.
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The entrance to the Amazing Brentwood was not easy to locate. Construction for the mallside condominiums was underway, which led many entrances to be obscured by construction fences. After looping about one half of the shopping centre, our eyes met signage for an undercover parking garage. It wasn't until disembarked that we came to recognize the covered lot as private property demanding parking fees.
Trying our luck by the London Drugs entrance, we found an entrance to the rooftop asphalt lot. An elevator, unlabelled and situated far, far away from any occupied shops, brought us down to the retail level of the mall. Further and further we trekked, first finding shops puny enough to rival the likes of Oakville Place.
Trying our luck by the London Drugs entrance, we found an entrance to the rooftop asphalt lot. An elevator, unlabelled and situated far, far away from any occupied shops, brought us down to the retail level of the mall. Further and further we trekked, first finding shops puny enough to rival the likes of Oakville Place.
An open concept food court was situated on the top level of the east building. In contrast to the shops we had passed, it adopted the appearance of One York's Harbour Eats by Mercantino, sophisticated with black and gold accents.
A pedestrian overpass had been constructed over Alpha Way to connect the west and east buildings. Crossing over to the other side, The Rec Room came into view. We were greeted by a group of attendees, one of which requested verification of IDs prior to entry. Witnessing staff stationed beyond the limits of The Rec Room itself had already been peculiar, but ID checks before 10 PM was another odd procedure at the Burnaby location.
My wristband and Pump It Up! card had been left at home, since venturing out for The Rec Room had been unthinkable without a ride. I promptly purchased a new game tag and proceeded to load 170 credits. As my companion anxiously retraced her steps to the car to check fulfillment of door-locking protocols, I readied myself for gameplay.
The Pump It Up! pads were amazing: unlike those back home, the keys were sensitive and not depressed at all! Moreover, the facility was spacious, clean, and evidently very new. Several business conferences were observed to take place during our stay, likely in an attempt to advertise the establishment for team-building purposes.
The Pump It Up! pads were amazing: unlike those back home, the keys were sensitive and not depressed at all! Moreover, the facility was spacious, clean, and evidently very new. Several business conferences were observed to take place during our stay, likely in an attempt to advertise the establishment for team-building purposes.
Leading the way, I guided my partner through the various arcade games The Rec Room had to offer. She proved a natural aptitude at Grand Piano Keys with steady, sharp hand-eye coordination and generally good sense of rhythm at Pump It Up! The location also featured games like Fruit Ninja and Hungry Hungry Hippos, previously only seen at D&B locations.
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We continued to browse the rest of the spread at our leisure: one air hockey table, racing simulators, and even an exclusive VR area. Speed of Light was nowhere to be seen, though I did take interest in Bejweled and a fishing game (that introduced more resistance than my wrists were capable).
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Besides being roomier (read: proper breathability) than the Roundhouse and Square One outposts, the redemption prizes offered much greater value. Pump It Up! player cards, a Nintendo Switch, official Pokémon merchandise, and even a Kitchen-Aid Stand Mixer (!) could be found in the Trophy Cabinet. If only I had not forgotten my wristband!!
One of my objectives for the trip had been to find new clothes for changing into. Of course, upon spotting The Rec Room, my priorities had shifted completely. Truthfully, my top was no longer damp after Pump It Up! anyway.
Urban Outfitters was amongst the few shops open for business, though its selection failed to meet the standards of functionality, style, and economics. The rest of Brentwood was still quite barren, with many spaces vacant and available for lease.
The original proposal for bingsoo had been foregoed on the basis of chilly temperatures and overcast conditions. Instead, I proposed Chicha San Chen Tea, a suggestion derived from the Café Kitsune staff, which happened to be a fifteen-minute drive away.
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Google Maps' rough location had led us to believe that the bubble tea shop was located within Crystal Mall. We parked underground, but realized soon after that we'd need to head up to ground level. With my own jacket damp in the car, my companion graciously lent me her water repellant down jacket for cover, resorting to her less-effective hooded cotton zip-up for protection.
Difficulties continued to ensue even after we left Crystal Mall's covered corridors. Its storefront, hidden behind the entrances of a hotel, Goodlife, and trattoria, was missed entirely. As opposed to facing Kingsway, the entrance actually faced Willingdon instead.
Difficulties continued to ensue even after we left Crystal Mall's covered corridors. Its storefront, hidden behind the entrances of a hotel, Goodlife, and trattoria, was missed entirely. As opposed to facing Kingsway, the entrance actually faced Willingdon instead.
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The menu was centred about its brews, allowing patrons to customize their beverages through step-by-step selection of roast, fruity or milky addition, and topping. Needless to say, ice and sugar adjustment options were not to be neglected either.
For those less keen on crafting their concoction from scratch, a series of Signature creations could also be summoned. Merely ordering the tea would incur a cost of $5.50; flavourings and toppings were an extra loonie each.
For those less keen on crafting their concoction from scratch, a series of Signature creations could also be summoned. Merely ordering the tea would incur a cost of $5.50; flavourings and toppings were an extra loonie each.
My request assumed an Osmanthus Oolong Tea with Passion Fruit and Konjac Jelly, while my partner's a Green Tea with Passion Fruit and Grass Jelly. Despite being told that the passion fruit flavouring was of a syrup-only format, I was pleasantly surprised to find crunchy, refreshing passion fruit seeds in its stead. Konjac jelly was chewy without being heavy - a good middle ground for those looking for a softer consistency than coconut jelly but less dense than tapioca.
Unique to the shop was a U-shaped piece of tea-brewing machinery. Two portafilter baskets resided on the underside of the contraption, one at each end. However, instead of being filled with coffee grinds for pulling espresso shots, the device was used for extraction of tea from loose leaves. Diamond-shaped openings on the side of the equipment enabled dissipation of heat.
It was an undoubtedly majestic process to observe, similar to the craftsmanship of independent café baristas. But, while Toronto is intensely invested in coffee, Taiwan is devoted to their tea.
Read Part 3 HERE !
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