Kat "in dire need of a printervention" F.'s Profile

GOAL:
Quick stop to purchase a new pen.

ACTUAL OUTCOME:
Walked out TWO HOURS later, $100 poorer with a whiplash and tinkling vertigo sensations in my ears from craning my neck so many times to focus my attention on the scads and scads of things in this store.

Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. Why is this place in the same zip code as my new office?? I'm going to try to get banned from Westfield Place just as a preventative measure and for the health of my bank balance.

It'd be quicker to list what they DON'T have, but for starters, here's a sample of what I found
* magnetic Russian nesting doll clips
* paperclips shaped like hot dogs
* plastic file folders covered in goldfish
* over 5000 types of notebooks (whoever said there wasn't enough selection here is seriously tripping). Ruled, graphed, dotted, plaid, blank, spiral, saddlestitched, perfect-bound, whatever. They have it.
* plaid, magnetic bookmark clips
* page flags in hundreds of patterns
* origami paper (excellent for making happy stars)
* hundreds of plastic sleeve binders for presentations, recipes, lookbooks or any other sort of scrapbooking needs. As a person who at one point hoarded over 2200 magazines, these are going to come in quite handy for sorting my articles.
* flash cards shaped like toadstools, chocolate bars, mermaids, Willy Wonka, eyeballs, etc. (I made up those last two but chances are, I'm not wrong)
* PENS! The pen porn here is surreal. I brought my own notebook for testing purposes and must have tested out over 150 pens before settling on my dream pen by Ohto (Needle-Point 0.7mm) as well as a Lamy fountain pen and a few highlighters (available in a trillion colours).

I also picked up a nifty cover for my building security card and a coffee mug with smiling clouds on it that's so fucking cute I almost shattered it from oversqueezing.

On my way out, the quirky manager yelled "ARIGATO!" at me so loud I jumped two feet and almost pooped my pants.

Sometimes I just want an expertly made coffee without the frills, and that's exactly what I was swiftly delivered when a quick search of my surroundings while apartment hunting near 24th & Mission led me here. I wasn't in the mood for an extra walk to Four Barrel Coffee, but oh boy, did I ever crave a cappuccino made with their beans.

The owner at Grand Coffee whipped one up for me made with FBC beans at $1 off (just for mentioning Yelp) - a sweet bonus, and I loved every molecule within my 8 ounce cup. No extra accoutrements required - this was one perfect cappuccino for a finicky caffeine addict like me. While I waited, he poured me some sparkling water for sipping and palate cleansing before handing over my heavenly brew.

This isn't a sitdown place - in fact, I almost thought it was a walk-up window as I approached. So stay for a quick chat with the friendly owner, but move along if you're looking for wifi or a spot to spread out with your stuff.

I didn't find my dream apartment on this particular visit to The Mission, but finding a gem like Grand Coffee makes me think I need to step up my search for one in the 'hood!

I dig. The hours are deece (till 10pm), the wifi is free and strong, and my cappuccino (make sure to ask for a double) for $2.50 was a steal and quite tasty to boot (if a little foamy). There were no hot foods on offer when I visited, probably owing to the 90F temperatures outdoors - lord, I wouldn't want to turn on an oven in this weather either. However, that does not make up for microwaving my bagel.

BAGELS SHOULD NOT BE MICROWAVED. EVER.

I assumed bagel and cream cheese = toasted bagel with cream cheese but I was wrong. I hope this was a one-off, because that's definitely not what I was expecting. I can't think of a worse way to eat a bagel and it's an affront to yeast lovers everywhere.

There are a few competing types of music playing, both equally annoying (bring headphones) and this seems to be a hotspot for canoodling couples (bring an eye mask?).

If you work from home, might I suggest surrounding yourself with the intoxicating aroma of fresh cut flowers? If this idea appeals to you, come hang out at T-Shirt Guys Plan B. It's a glorious space to repurpose as your office-away-from-home.

The space doubles as a flower shop and the selections are breathtaking. There are flowers everywhere, beautiful, fragrant ones too, like gerbera daisies, hydrangea, tulips, crocuses and hyacinth. I'm more than pleased that I haven't killed any by merely sharing the room with them, as I've often done. They make the space so bright and lively. The friendly lady that runs the flower portion of the shop will remind you of Jackie from Roseanne, except she doesn't snoop over your shoulder or give you sass. She's solid.

There's a buttload of fresh baked treats and sandwiches to choose from, and the vintage Coke case is impressive - I'm sure you've heard me mention more than once how much I love the availability of glass bottle Coke, and you can get it here, as well as V8, iced tea and Vitamin Water.

The large communal table in the centre is wonderful to work from. The people who share it with you might chat you up and you'll be happy to socialize, otherwise, just put on headphones. Wi-fi is reliable and the dogs (and the owners that bring them) here are some of the best dog breeds I've had the pleasure of mauling with affection. There's a huge rollup garage door that is kept open during the summer months that leads to the street, and that's where the dogs chill together.

Word has it the owners are planning to make Plan B more of a community space with late night movie events and such. Stay tuned!

My only regret is that I ordered too much food. Yes, this is a regret, because naan is one thing that doesn't reheat well. But who could blame me, after feasting upon Everest's online menu and seeing a dizzying array of tasty options before me. I wanted to try everything! There are heaps of vegetarian options to choose from.

I settled on Paneer Tikka Masala ($10), which is a sauce I've very much missed since becoming vegetarian. This dish afforded me the best of both - tangy tikka masala paired with paneer (cheese) cubes. Chana Masala ($9) was decent but I have had better (read: more tamarind-y/tomato-y) chana. I also ordered a few slabs of their honey naan ($2 or $1.50 for plain), something I've never seen on an Indian takeout menu (maybe this is the Nepalese influence). In a word, toothsome! Basically regular naan brushed lightly with honey. To drink I ordered iced tea ($2) expecting a can, but instead got a homemade, unsweetened cup of iced tea.

Delivery took 45 minutes and was delivered by a pleasant young chap who may or may not have been old enough to drive...everything was super well packaged and fresh. The meals come with rice included though I didn't use any of it as the naan was a sufficient sopping device.

You can order online or by phone until 9pm and delivery takes 45 minutes with a $20 minimum.

I can't bear the thought of entering this store without walking out stacked with bags on both arms and a wallet significantly more empty than when I entered. This boutique has it all, and it's crammed with brands like Girl Friday, Matt + Nat, Foxy, Rocket Dog and Dish. There are lots of frilly summer dresses, killer denim and a decent selection of shoes to choose from.

Your work here consists of entering the store, making eye contact with a sales clerk, and telling them what you're in the mood for. Then head to the change room where you'll be handed item after item to try on. And if those don't fit or suit your tastes, more items aren't far behind. I defy you to not drop a load in here!

Note: There isn't a huge variety of sizing, but if you run up to a size 8 or so you should be able to find clothes without any trouble.

If you need a solid asskicking, Running Room will deliver it, and swiftly. Highly recommended is the 10K clinic led by Kerry, who will lightheartedly (but in all seriousness) tell you that "you will love hills" and "hills are so good for you!" But seriously: do hills. You'll hate every moment, but it's worth it in the end.

If you sign up for a clinic you'll run three times a week with the group (clinic night plus Wednesdays @ 6:30pm and Sundays @ 8:30am), and then more on your own, if you're up for it. Personally I was never really "up for" running at the ungodly hour of 8:30am (yes, a time of day exists where there are people watering their lawns and smiling maniacally like those fucks in Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun" video; I've seen it), so I arranged group runs with other clinic participants later in the day. Whatever works.

Store manager Rina is an absolute peach. She's easygoing, always smiling, and at the ready with a joke, pun or witticism to cut the whiny mood that's often present when there's inclement weather (which in Toronto is, um, always). She'll even run with your group from time to time and make sure there's no one lagging behind.

Watch out for gnat swarms along the boardwalk at Ashbridges.

I don't normally like veggie burgers all that much, and I definitely don't like mushrooms (unless they're canned - gross, I know), but hear me out: "The Option" at The Burger's Priest is an absolute vegetarian delight!

As others have mentioned, oozy, melty cheese is surrounded by two portobello caps and then deep fried in panko crumbs. It's exactly as awesome as it sounds, only deadlier. And I mean deadly in a good way. At no point did I feel like I was eating mushrooms or even vegetables. Delicious and very unique. The bun was also great - simple, fresh and soft without overpowering what was between the two halves. I took my Option with ketchup, a bit of mayo and tomatoes and it stood up quite nicely to being pried apart (but watch out for the oozing cheese - it really wants out!).

The fries were OK. Drink options are plentiful. The menu is straightforward; not too many choices to make and the toppings are minimal, which was appreciated in today's world of choice overload.

Get yours to go (it's kind of the only option here - there isn't a lot of room to groove inside) - my recommendation is to pick up some booze at the nearby LCBO, get your burger and then cross Queen to the south side. Go enjoy your burger at the picnic tables behind the Harvey's or at nearby Ashbridges Bay Skate Park. Terrific addition to a sorely lacking strip of Queen Street East!

Cash only & closed on Sundays for church.

I ordered the wrong thing.

I expected my "world famous" filet of fish sandwich to be a solid, I dunno, filet, but instead it was twelve (no kidding) separate bits of fish piled high on a stale-ish egg bun. It was akin to a plate of breaded chicken fingers on a bun, and that's not what I was expecting. In fact, at first I thought I had accidentally gotten my friend's order of calamari (plus a bun). I ended up dipping the fish fingers into the questionably fresh 'tartar sauce' (I'm assuming that's what it was, anyway) and leaving the bun on the plate. This was not a sandwich. The server either felt bad that I didn't like my meal or only charges customers based on a per consumption basis, because my sandwich wasn't on the final bill (thank god, cause paying for it would have really pissed me off).

While I wouldn't come here again for food, the happy hour atmosphere here was bumpin'. Literally everyone on the massive sidewalk patio was drinking alcohol; some sitting at tables, some sitting in solo seats propped up against the shrubbery, but there was no question that this place is a hotspot for post-work drinks. I should have clued in that food wasn't the way to go when I noticed that not a single table had food on it.

If you're in the mood for flying into a jealous rage, read on.

I've been invited as a guest to the quarterly Estee Lauder Warehouse Sale not once, but twice in the past year. If you weren't already wise to Estee Lauder's acquisitions, among them are MAC, Origins, Clinique and Bobbi Brown. Yep.

Also, bet you didn't know MAC was Canadian (from Toronto). Moving along.

This sale is VERY organized, and there are rules to follow:

1. You need an original invite to attend, and they're free. You can probably buy a legit invite on Craigslist, but the fact that someone's selling them for profit is unethical and illegal.

2. You can only spend $600. You might think to yourself, "holy fuck, $600 on makeup in one visit?!?" but yeah, it can be done. However, it needn't be done when prices are as rock bottom as this. Bear in mind that some ladies that attend these sales do so once a year, and buy a year's supply of makeup and fragrance as gifts. You can pay cash, debit or credit.

3. No strollers/children under 16. Some people who receive invites obviously don't read the light amount of copy on the invite because they show up with babies in strollers and are turned away at the door.

TIPS:
* Bring disposable wipes. Every surface of your hands and wrists will be covered in swabs and swatches. You'll want to clean up.

* Bring a click pen and crappy notebook so you can take down the product numbers and names instead of using their shitty golf pencils and scraps of paper. Write the name next to the code and verify that the clerk has given you the right product, since you'll be positively dizzy with "sale brain" and might not remember what you chose in the first place.

* Bring a list and have a budget in mind. I usually budget $80 and keep track of what I'm tossing into my back. I also only buy HG or wishlist items, so have things in mind that you've been lemming or hoping to buy. There are a lot of discontinued and limited edition items here (my all time favourite lipstick, Marquise'd, was on sale at 3/$15) so you can stock up, but don't go bonkers. Read reviews beforehand on Amazon or MUA.

My haul:
Origins Clean Energy Cleansing Oil
Bobbi Brown Face Blender Brush
MAC lipstick in Marquise'd, Hug Me and Charm Factor
MAC cream blush in Sweet William
MAC Select coverup in NW20
MAC Dazzleglass in Baby Sparks
MAC pigment Golden Olive & Teal
= $75