Melissa F.'s Profile

I went in for a consultation today after thinking about laser eye surgery for 4 years, seeing a lot of happy customers- at various clinics- and spending countless hours on forums where people dish their experiences (see http://forums.redflagd...)

This review is for the consult only- and if I decide to go with Lasik MD I will, of course, update.

The clinic, located at 130 King in the exchange Tower is very easy to find- right beside the elevator column on the main floor.
I booked online and they called a couple times to confirm my appt. An important thing to know that they DON'T tell you before you book online- YOU HAVE TO BE CONTACT FREE FRO AT LEAST 24HRS prior to consult.  NOT telling me this resulted in me cancelling a last min consult I made earlier in the year.

The formums on redflag deals didn't have that many nice things to say about the confidence in MD Lasik, wrt to the consult.  But I found them very thorough (but, of course, i still dont' have much to compare it to).
The consult took 2 hours, as they told me and here's how it went:

1) Nice waiting room, can be a bit noisy b/c it's on the main floor and there is a lot of bustle, but they make it as comforting as possible with no name cookies, Tassimo coffee/tea, granny smith apples, and various magazine, newspapers.  Couches with dimly lit areas (to rest your eyes when you get your pupils dialted) are available.
Step one is to fill out the forms and wait til they call your name.  The closest washroom is at starbucks to your right or downstairs in teh foodcourt- they REALLY should have one in the office, but they do not.

2) You see an eye technician first who measure your eyes, they sterilize/swab all the instruments that you'll be resting your face on- a nice plus that you dont' ahve to tell them to do this
Pleasant

3) Next step is the opthomologist who tells you your updated prescrip, will put some numbing drops to measure your cornea (not scary at all), and will go over your options for procedures and then your specifics for what is best for you.  In my case I was a candidate for both lasik and prk but from my own research I knew I wanted prk (although there is a longer healing process it retains most of your cornea tissue in case another surgery is necessary- which it is most likely in 20-30 years to adjust).

4) Finance officer who will tell you how you can finance your surgery, and wil quote you a price.  I was quoted just under 4000$ for custom wavefront PRK.  This is on par with other quotes from larger or well known clinics- not the most expensive (5400 for upper tier) and DEFINITELY not the cheapest (I have been quoted less than 2000 at clinics that I know and trust from friends and family experiences with the same surgery and similar prescrip).

Lasik MD does have a Lowest price guarantee and will match + 100$ less your consult.  This means that I will be shopping around for quotes.

I've been nervous to shop around- but after reading a lot of forums and knowing my options well I know that it's not a huge deal- all these clinics have qualified drs and thousands of cases of good results- ppl are nervous to shop around because it IS a surgery- but really, as long as you go with one of the bigger names there is no problem to shop around.

All in all an a-ok experience, I may adjust the 3 stars up or down as I get other consults but for now I think they are a-ok.

Just saw Caroline or Change: http://actingupstage.com/
at this theatre and it was fantastic.

I love this theatre- it has a great Shakespearean setup- it's a lowered stage (my fave format), rather than a raised stage.  
I must admit that I have not seen the BEST plays here, and have never even heard of this one before but it was recommended and tickets were less than 30$ (note- i'll pretty much see anything for less than 30$)

WOWEE- I cannot recommend this musical more.
It's got an amazing cast, everything was sung, a fairly serious topic done very tastefully with a range of very entertaining laughing moments and some serious tear-jerkers.

This is a lower budget venue where there tends to be a range of performances some of them good and some of them bad- I suppose go on reputation because this particular musical was top notch.  

I would have easily paid twice as much as I did for this show.
A definite must see!

Good sushi. Pretty classic Vancouver.
Quality rolls. Good price. Chinese owned and run.
Nothing to rave about but definitely nothing to complain about either.

You will notice that the best ratings were given a long time ago when this place just opened up.
After MANY changes, this place has become disappointing.
I like the regular staff- they are friendly.
But everything about the food and consistency is now lacking.
The jams are no longer homemade- they are clearly jarred.
The plates are inconsistently made- even when several people order the same thing at the table.
And the pastries (esp croissants) look horrid and are worse quality than plain grocery market pastries.

I really want to keep liking this place- so hopefully management will respond to the declining ratings.

I'm not a fancy person.  But at a time when I was looking for a rare-ish brand of clothing and a very specific item this place knocked it out of the park.  I would never go here to get everyday clothing.  but if there is a specific item you need - they have an excellent selection.  

What I was most impressed with was the customer service.  they didn't over-sell items and were sensible and not trying to oversell trendy colours/styles.  

I had such a good time with the staff here- we spend a good 30 minutes bantering back and forth.  Nice people here. Show owner comment »

I don't know why there are two postings for the same place but I'm assuming "Li'ly" denotes the downstairs portion of this place. http://www.yelp.ca/biz...

Now I've passed by this place before and have actually kind of loved the music (electronic, house) that blasts from this place.  But the clientele is just so........  Woodbridge... And so I've always continued to mosey on down the road to meet at my intended spot.

But last night this WAS my intended spot and didn't even realize it til I was at the doors saying to myself, "really?"

A few moments and 10$ cover later (for the downstairs party- they were hosting an EDM party) I'm dancing to possibly some of the best electro house I've heard in Toronto.  This is likely because of the party and not because of the venue- but it seems like this venue generally has some great potential and I'm looking forward to checking out subsequent electro-house to make this 3 star place a 4.

really, the only weakness is the crowd- but when they host parties you get the regulars of the party and not the regulars of the venue, if you know what I mean.

Generally a great space.  The upstairs has a nice long bar with some space up front to dance (although I've never seen it busy and I've never seen people dance even though the sound system is capable of a good dance party).  Downstairs is a small square space- great intimate dance space and just enough room for how popular this place is as of now.

Come here, but bring your own crowd.  

ps: I don't know what's with this place but it always seems a bit man heavy for gender breakdown- I never had to wait to use the washroom and the washrooms were really really clean at the end of the night still.

YVONNE BEAT ME TO IT!

wow, I was like, "what if I were the first one to review this event?  That would be awesome"  and then Yvonne T took away my glory.  whatevs- props to yvonne T.

I wa super excited about this event and really- I was right to be excited.  I met a lot of cool new ppl and umm... polaroid cameras awesome

highlights and low lights
1) Tequila- now.. they went RIGHT for the shots.  No watering down that shiz- that was nice.  
And the sipping tequila was great even though I did not partake- was trying to keep it light tonight.
2) Drink Variety- great options but actualy GETTING a drink took quite a bit of effort..or waiting.  Which is likely a GOOD option since there wasn't much food to soak up the alcohol (esp given the easy access to shots) but just sayin' took a bit of finagling to get in there.
3) Thank you for offering beer even if the selection was not "decidedly southwestern". (aka corona- even tho I don't drink that)
4) venue- you know that i've been here SEVERAL times and not known it?  It's such a different feel when it's a yelp event.
5) good work on the theme- like.. when we were walking down the street we were like, "ossington hipster or yelp?" (aka, as my lovely +1 stated, "decidedly everyday or decidedly southwestern?"
6) Why was there no yelpstick for me to steal???
7) not an official "lowlight" but really...*I* should have won whatever raffle prize it was.  I dont' care what it was.  I want it.
8) Did anyone else get sunglasses?  Aren't they AWESOME?
9) Polaroid camera.  nuf said.
10) Several after parties went on.  much dividedness- could have been cool if everyone settled on a space and we kept the party going.  Visited a few places after and was pleased to reconnect with people I had just met.  

Shoutouts:

Madelyn S- thank you for being my amazing date.

Connie- there are SEVERAL funny things you said tonight that we decided would be your new "in quotes" name but I forget and I assume you forgot too.  Thanks for shouldering me in the face- it was a pleasure.

Eric Sam-U-Elle- dude- high fiving you is never regretful.

The other Eric- we shared a chair at the ossington. you promised we'd make that happen again.  Let's make it happen again.

The Sheriff- I don't remember your real name but apparently we're already yelp friends. that and you took a LOT of pics during the night.  post those and hope to see you again-again (more than one "again" because we go way back)

Tony F. Brooothaaaaaa... you my racist homeboy.

Denise- Glad to finally meet you and nice catching up on Seattle faves.  ps: how are you so pretty?!

Sol- you are retired.  And you were funny.  have a good trip and properly join yelp so you aren't just a plus one next time.

the woman whose name that starts with an 'm' and we traded nametags.. (Morgan?): let's dance to sketch electronic music again, whether it be at the ossington or not.  you equal awesome.

tequila bob.  yeah dude- you tequila bob.

And to everyone who I missed- you know it's just because of the copious tequila.  Nice to see you all again and until next time : )

xo, Melissa F.

ps: thumb war arena- i'd say "classic" but it really isn't.  we just need to make it "classic"
amazing.

cheapest freshest fruit i've seen in toronto
and great customer service to boot!

Georgina has the best patties around- she'll joke that they are not jamaican patties- they are Canadian patties Jamaican style- me? They're Georgina's patties.

simply perfection. piping hot, fresh and delicious.  In a couple months she's going to be moving, but within the same building, I think.  Please please support the deliciousness at here and go give her a visit!

I decided to try it.  Just because the lines at this place are INCREDIBLY wrong so it makes me think they must be doing SOMETHING right.  I hate foodcourt food, I truly do.  But in a bit of a food (that is fast) desert (not a fast-food desert- because there is lots of that)- I needed something quick and the line had yet to form.

I got the pad thai because that's just what you do when you come to a standard place like thai express.

The food was so bleh, the veggies didn't look fresh- especially since they just fry them up, and i'm fairly sure a lunch to-go- portion comes up to my daily caloric intake- which isn't necessarily a terrible thing if the TASTE was commensurate with how BAD it is for you.  it wasn't.

Don't let the long lines trick you- they are NOT good.  It merely has a long line because desk-job office workers who didn't bring their lunch also happen to be people with no taste buds.