Vancouver Ventures | DAY 7: (Pt. 2): TurF Kitsilano, Roaming Richmond Centre + BC Liquor Again

Read Part 1 HERE !

​It was by chance that I had won the Best Friends Day Giveaway hosted by Uniqlo. Known for notoriously poor ticketing luck (but good bias luck), I hadn't expected to win anything. Of course, surprises happen when least expected.

The date had coincided with my tattoo booking, and its timing had originally conflicted. Upon learning of my winner status, I urgently requested an earlier slot from Kettle, who honoured the shift to 10 AM, and reached out to my local food enthusiast, who enthusiastically agreed to join me.

​Taking the bus across the Granville Bridge, I'd enter into the east section of Kitsilano. 

My surroundings transformed from the bustle of office workers and retail stores to cycle boutiques, specialized gear outfitters, and exercise studios. It was an unmistakably nicer area than Hastings - but then again, what isn't? - and also seemingly the fittest district in Metro Vancouver.

​TurF was a few minutes west of the bus stop. As I made my way over, I couldn't help but observe similar traits in those that passed me in the opposing direction. Nearly all were in their late 20s to early 40s, clad in minimalist workout gear, and in exceptionally good shape. Several of them wielded bicycles, customized of course, as well.

The entrance to the gym wasn't exactly obvious. TurF had marketed themselves as a "hub" for fitness lovers, expanding their floor area to offer more than simply recreational group classes. The business boasted an outdoor patio, indoor dining space, commercial kitchen and food preparation counter, in-house apparel shop, lockers and changerooms with showers, and, of course, a sophisticated studio for classes.

The fare on offer was reflective of a Whole Foods wannabe, though noticeably more innovative and visually appealing. Classifications of "vegan", "gluten-free", and "keto" weren't uncommon, however.

Near the apparel shop, a member of staff had laid out various sizes of Uniqlo DRY-EX t-shirts in anticipation of the brand-sponsored class. She would, in a prominent English accent, also conduct an attendance check and distribute the t-shirts on a first-come, first-serve basis. While all winners were supposed to specify their desired shirt size in the provided Google Form, one would still be able to choose between from the colours available on site. A Ladies' Small was handed to me in a pastel yellow-green hue that made me shrivel with disgust.
"Would I be able to take a black instead?" I inquired, pointing to the three other stacks on the railing.
"You could, but those are men's sizes." She cautioned me of the difference in sizing.
I picked up the one closest to me, a Men's Small in onyx grey. It was larger than my usual exercise fit, but likely more manageable than a fitted, light-coloured top. "I'll take this one." I announced with hesitation.

My premature entry into the studio would be met with the startled look of the instructor. Sporting a curly bob and matching coral set, she was in the midst of preparing the studio...with an incense stick. Mats, towels, resistance bands, and foam blocks had been laid out in advance; the apparent final step was to conjure a zen-like atmosphere. I was advised that I could lay my mat on top of the provided one at the start of class, instead of swapping out the studio mat altogether. Upon receipt of a satisfactory answer, I departed for the washroom instead, leaving her to continue the incense-waving process as required.

​The CORE class had been depicted as a "no-impact" pilates workout, though I had my reservations for mat pilates classes catered towards the masses, and especially large groups.

In a completely packed studio, where your neighbour would be less than one foot away from you, we were instructed to lay down and commence with deep breaths to establish calmness in the mind. The instructor spoke in a hushed, almost-hypnotic tone, clashing with the powerful background track playing overhead. This pre-workout meditation lasted five minutes longer than desired. Next, we'd flow through a series of crunches, lunges (using the block), squats (using the band), and other basic moves. Planks were not to be omitted, of course, though I modified my staying on my palms instead of dropping down to forearms. Bringing along my own mat was admittedly troublesome, but far better than risking infection using those intended for the general public. The class would conclude as it started: with a meditation moment as opposed to stretching the impacted muscles for enhanced mobility.

Needless to say, the class itself did not pose any sort of challenge to me. The moves were very manageable and the props had been used in a conventional, predictable manner. However, the sheer temperature setting had rendered perspiration inevitable. Incense aside, I did not enjoy the 28.5 degree studio whatsoever. The provided towel would be used as a fanning device well throughout the second half of the session.

To my surprise, other class participants had managed to execute the moves with accuracy. Some even displayed impressive endurance. These observations were consistent with previous remarks towards the Kitsilano demographic: Fitness appeared to be a regular constituent of their daily lives, thus translating to better performance in group classes. The same simply could not be said with regard to GTA residents, whose lack of dedication is often evident in the studio.

Overall, the TurF experience felt quite premium. The last-minute scurry and slapping down of mats would be replaced with uniform, orderly layouts established by staff in advance of class slots. Perfectly white, cotton towels were provided for use during class, though larger towels for showering could also be obtained free of charge after a sweaty sitting. Not to mention, the studio used well-maintained Lululemon mats - a grand departure from the chipped, peeling abominations of Goodlife and LA Fitness.

In spite of the lavish setting and amicable service, the studio interestingly did not offer benches outside the barefoot studio for attendees to sit and remove their shoes. 

​Overall, the TurF experience felt quite premium. The last-minute scurry and slapping down of mats would be replaced with uniform, orderly layouts established by staff in advance of class slots. Perfectly white, cotton towels were provided for use during class, though larger towels for showering could also be obtained free of charge after a sweaty sitting. Not to mention, the studio used well-maintained Lululemon mats - a grand departure from the chipped, peeling abominations of Goodlife and LA Fitness.

In spite of the lavish setting and amicable service, the studio interestingly did not offer benches outside the barefoot studio for attendees to sit and remove their shoes.

Once removed from my sodden Uniqlo attire, I happily sank down into the air-conditioned dining area across my exercise buddy of the day. Her schedule did not permit further relaxation, thus I wished her well on volunteering endeavours and began to contemplate my next steps.

​Similar to the bathrooms, the tables in the seating area were wiped down sporadically throughout the day. In spite of the smeared surface, I remained perched at the table, physically recharging my body as well as my five-year-old smartphone. The morning's expedition had rendered its battery level to 20%!

By this point, my watch read 2 PM. Instead of taking off to a different café and risking the presence of outlets and water refill stations, I resolved to investigate Turf's culinary assortment. "Power Smoothies" and protein snacks were not my cup of tea. In the absence of lean red meat, I sought out the Salmon Burger, onions removed.

​A laminated image of a turtle would be bestowed upon me in place of a buzzer. In under ten minutes, I'd receive my order, accompanied by a set of napkin-wrapped Stainless steel utensils.
​
Under the premise of a health food counter, my expectations for the purchase were low. I had requested the burger to be placed in a takeout container just in case, and did not foresee utensils to be provided for a burger. Unveiling the specimen, I was delighted to discover a full fillet of sockeye salmon. For under $20, this inclusion would be unthinkable elsewhere!

A halved pickle was placed on the side for casual munching. Meanwhile, the interior featured lettuce, tomato, and a tartar sauce brimming with more pickles. The condiment was tangy, rather than creamy and satiating. Faint hints of herb-iness were detected as well, though not in the form of an unpleasant contribution.
The "vegan brioche" did not yield when bitten, readily shattering instead. While I have zero oppositions against vegan bread - and am certain tasty vegan loaves are possible - I am of the firm opinion that egg-less and butter-less doughs should hardly be considered "brioche". 

Notwithstanding the above, the Turf Salmon Burger exceeded expectations and was surprisingly delicious!

​Sustenance attained, the Kitsilano neighbourhood could now be explored.

​After a few minutes of walking, I encountered the signature clothed entrance of Raisu. Adjacent was a compact market featuring a wide array of alternative milks, once again fitting of the local market needs.

Roaming about under treacherous UV rays with the weight of my backpack and yoga mat on my shoulders, plus the added insulation of jeans, gradually made me miserable. Unable to locate a refreshing tea-/matcha-based beverage that adequately satisfied my criteria, my footsteps guided me towards the closest bus stop.

​The promised bus was nowhere to be seen. Other commuters joined me in my wait. Turning to my left, I couldn't help but notice a mini fan attached to a stroller - an ingenious idea, if I must say.

Eventually, the next bus brought me to Olympic Village, where I transferred onto the SkyTrain.

Disembarking at Aberdeen enabled familiarization with newcomers to Aberdeen Square. A Filipino bakery by the name of Khaykery replaced the vendor next to the former Estea, while the bubble tea shop moved into the Aberdeen Centre food court. Shiny Tea persisted in its original location, now adding milk tea soft serve parfaits to their roster.

​Still on the prowl for a heat-quenching pick-me-up, I found myself across OOMOMO's non-alcoholic drink assortment again. The prices of non-alcoholic beers were still too pricey to be justified, but my second choice of a chilled 0.0% Yuzu Amazake utterly failed to deliver. The can's contents tasted like pickled plum (話梅) in a milky base with grains of rice - a repulsive combination, to say in the least.

Continuing towards Brighouse, I finally caved and purchased a Pineapple Bun and Pai Bao set. The enticing aromas of baking brioche were too delectable to resist. The Pineapple Bun embraced a golden, crunchy top; albeit delicious, it shattered in all directions, making it a mission to enjoy in public.

The temperate climate conditions incited a trip into Uniqlo, for there was no way to survive the rest of my trip with just jeans and leggings. In the fitting room waiting area, a member of staff saw my intense struggle with the mat and bags, and kindly offered to set the items behind the counter instead of lugging them into the changeroom. The gesture was beyond considerate and earned me tremendous peace of mind, even if temporary.

A number of shopping centres have also begun to feature merchandise crafted by local artists. While similar establishments have landed in Ontario, the quality of the artwork and variety of products differ drastically. Intricate and refined are these BC-made pieces, contrary to the shoddy, expensive GTA equivalents. Even since my anime convention-attending days, I've noticed this deviation.

BC Liquor would be my last stop before heading back.

As per the suggestion of my browsing partner, I reached for two bottles of Echigo to take back home. In the meantime, I'd take to a 4-pack of Partake Non-Alcoholic Pale Ale for my drinking needs.

​The formula was a darker, somewhat amber brew not nearly as refreshing as lager, but still decently robust for a non-alcoholic pick. I sipped on, recalling my missed opportunity of wine samples paired with cheese and crackers.