BLOG -- Man with a Mission World Tour 2023 ~Wolves on Parade~ @ The Axis Club (May 25, 2023)

So Man With a Mission (MWAM) stopped by Toronto over a week ago, and I went. I initially was too busy but then I made myself un-busy. I had so much fun at their last concert (so many years ago) that I realized I couldn't miss the chance to see them again.

For anybody curious, here's my blog to the last concert:

https://ironixgirl.blogspot.com/2019/09/blog-man-with-mission-chasing-horizon.html

The stage for MWAM.

Me and Man With A Mission - Update

There's not much to update from the last time. I still listen to MWAM every now and then, "akatsuki", "Memories", and "Please Forgive Me" still being my favourite songs (please perform them live in Toronto one day!).

For this concert, I was thinking of getting a VIP ticket (since I got one at the last concert). Then I saw the price and promptly purchased general admission. $300-something for VIP vs  $35-something for general admission is a huge gap... especially if we're all sharing the same stage! Was it to offset ticket scalping? Sorry... I just couldn't do it. The most I would probably pay for VIP would be maybe $200 after tax.

The Little Details

Date of Concert: May 25, 2023

Venue: The Axis Club (Toronto, Ontario)

Time: 8:00 PM (Doors open 6:45 PM for VIP; 7:10 PM for general admission)

Ticket Price Total: $36.75 (general admission)

Seating: No reserved seating

5:15-ish PM @ The Axis Club

The line into The Axis Club.

I got to The Axis Club about 2 hours early with my boyfriend. We were there that early to meet with a couple friends, but they didn't show until much later. By that time more people had lined up behind us.

The weather was pretty windy so it was a bit agonizing being in line for so long. My boyfriend and I ended up chatting with the person behind us. The guy seemed open to small talk so it was a good way to pass time. We talked about how we first got exposed to MWAM (his first exposure was through watching Seven Deadly Sins). We also talked about some anime series we enjoyed (he really liked Air Gear -- I'll have to check it out sometime). I talked about Monster and Black Lagoon (series I'll blog about one day). The guy also mentioned attending Anime North the next day and it being his first convention ever. I wished him luck with all the long lines he'll be facing. 

At some point, the line got divided into a VIP line and a general admission line. We also had to make space to let all the beer get wheeled in (we saw tons of tall Heineken cans). Eventually the VIP attendees were given a bag of goodies (much better than what I got as VIP at the last concert). They were let in around 6:45 PM.

Before we got let in, we had to show an ID to get a wristband to let the staff know we're of age to buy alcohol.

The line for general admission.

7:10-ish PM -- Going into the Den...

The stage inside was much larger than the last concert. There was a large standing area in the center, the bar area on one side and a wall bench on the other side. There were also stairs leading to a mezzanine. I quickly went to the merch table while my boyfriend went to buy a couple drinks (one drink was for me). The guy was also at the merch table. We got a couple things and went back to the standing area where my boyfriend met with the couple of friends we were supposed to meet up with earlier.

The guy noticed that some of the VIPs were standing on the mezzanine. I was a bit surprised. The view would be great for sure, but the mezzanine was much farther from the wolves. Wouldn't a VIP want to be as close to the stage as possible? 

Close to 8 PM (show time), I went to the washroom. I decided to use one attendee holding a MWAN plushie as a "landmark" to help me find my way back to my boyfriend and friends. Sadly, I didn't see that person at all when I came back to the standing area. I weaved into the crowd and then saw a friend's head some rows in front of me. So I weaved out of the crowd and gently pushed my way back in. 

Around 8 PM, some attendees were howling (like wolves), I guess hoping it would encourage the wolves to come out.

A couple times, an announcement came on telling the attendees that it was very bad luck to take photos and videos during the concert. I laughed. I thought it was cute.

The merchandise shop! It was pretty small.

The stage but with a different image.

8:15-ish PM -- Music START!!

It -- was -- fantastic! MWAM really knows how to keep a crowd pumped up. Throughout many of the songs, one of them would make hand motions (like clapping or waving the arms) and we'd follow along. My feet were already starting to ache after the 3rd song (please keep in mind that I was standing since 5:15 PM), but I kept going, cheering and moving my arms.

Aside from hoping my favourite songs would be performed, there were two things I was hoping would happen: that moment of being motioned to sit and jump all at the same time (something that happened at the last concert), and chances for wolf pats. The wolf pats did not happen this year (understandable since COVID is still a thing), but the sitting and jumping did! I got so excited when one of the wolves made hand motions for us to "sit"... XD

Halfway through the concert, the wolves left and we were shown a short video clip of Spear Rib (drummer) in a meeting with an executive. Spear Rib wanted to draw some wild animals so they were on a roadtrip to the safari. Little did they know that Tokyo Tanaka (lead vocalist) was the driver! They ended up at an F1 track (I think it was F1) and Tanaka suggested that Spear Rib try drawing him while he was driving fast. It was pretty hilarious -- and very random XD

At some point, one of the wolves (maybe Jean-Ken Johnny? If I'm wrong, please correct me) said they tried the sushi in Toronto and said we really screwed it up (jokingly, of course). He also encouraged us to visit Japan to try out the sushi there.

The only other time things slowed down a bit was when Jean-Ken Johnny (I think?) performed an acoustic version of "Change the World". It was great.

Any Demon Slayer fans watching season 3 probably went wild when familiar string rhythms to "kizuna no kiseki" began (I'm still a couple seasons behind so I didn't recognize it). 

After the last song, they thanked us and walked offstage. My feet and arms were so sore, but I didn't want it to end. The crowd kept clapping and shouting "Encore!". Then it changed to "One more song!". Then it was just clapping. We were all probably so dead tired but we all wanted more.

The wolves came back on and did two more songs. The last song was "FLY AGAIN -Hero's Anthem-", which I thought was very fitting for a last song.

When it was over, some of the wolves wrapped their open mouths with scarves (to hide their faces) and then told us it was okay to take pictures and videos.

The show ended around 10:05 PM.

The wolves. The only time we're allowed to take photos.

Another shot. Don't they look ferocious and adorable?

Setlist

Here is the setlist for MWAM. Unlike the last time, it was much easier to put together. For this tour, MWAM had a Spotify playlist that changed to match the setlist of the current concert. So after the concert, I quickly copied the setlist for Toronto before it changed to the next concert.

Here's the Spotify playlist for Toronto if you want to check it out:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1ivgEQ9jo3Mmfcd7Hc0PIu?si=f12405cd8a2f418a

-database
-Get Off of My Way
-Merry-Go-Round
-Thunderstruck
-Emotions
-Seven Deadly Sins
-evils fall
-Dark Crow

----short video was shown----

-Change the World (Acoustic)

-Between fiction and friction I

-Hey Now

-Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana cover)

-kizuna no kiseki

-Dead End in Tokyo

-Raise your flag

-INTO THE DEEP

Encore:
-Take Me Under
-FLY AGAIN -Hero's Anthem-

Overall Experience

This was so much fun. I'm really glad I went in the end. If you want to attend a concert that stays high energy the whole way through, this is definitely one! If you enjoy anime and like upbeat vibes, this concert will satiate. I was so tired and so energized at the same time. The next day I didn't want to move, hahaha.

A special thanks to the guy who chatted with me and my boyfriend during the 2-hour long line into the club, for telling me where to find MWAM's setlist for the night, and then sticking with us through the concert. If he happens to be reading this blog (almost 100% unlikely), feel free to drop a comment or send a message through the contact form and say "hi". I'd like to talk some more anime! May we possibly meet again at another MWAM concert! XD

MWAM, thank you for coming to Toronto! Please come again soon! <3 <3 <3

I swear... I'll be able to tell you guys apart at the next concert! XD

My swag. A t-shirt plus their 10 year anniversary "Best Mission" CD.

Total cost was $90.

Thank you so much for reading!

If you have any questions / comments, feel free!

Take care, stay safe, and until next time! :)

BLOG -- Radwimps' North American Tour @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre (April 26, 2023)

So a couple weeks ago I attended Radwimps' first concert in Toronto. It was a mix of recognizable songs and new exposures!

Radwimps! Sadly there was somebody's head blocking my view at times. You'll see this head in most of my pics and videos throughout the blog.

Me and Radwimps

This section will be really short because I don't have much history with Radwimps. I think I heard of the name as I grew up but I think I've only listened to their music in Makoto Shinkai's movies (Your Name., Weathering With You, and Suzume). If I have listened to any of their other songs before, I didn't know it was their song.

When my friend told me about a Radwimps concert coming to Toronto, I knew that it'd be sold out right away. On top of drawing the natural Radwimps fans, being attached to Shinkai's movies would definitely draw another type of fan -- the fans who watched Shinkai's movies and developed an emotional connection to the songs in the movies. I fell in the latter.

When I attended the concert, I made sure to keep an open mind since I knew I'd be listening to more than just the music in Shinkai's movies. 

The Little Details

Date of Concert: April 26, 2023

Venue: Queen Elizabeth Theatre (Toronto, Ontario)

Time: 8:00 PM (Doors open 7:00 PM)

Ticket Price Total: $80 (General Admission)

Seating: Mezzanine (with seats), Row AA, Seat 22

7:00-ish PM? -- Doors Open

I did not get there by 7:00-ish PM to see the line start moving. I got there around 7:15 PM and boy was there a long line! I took the streetcar and as it was pulling into the venue, I saw the line snaking around a few buildings! When I got off the streetcar, I was in the middle of the line and had to walk to the end (which snaked around a couple more buildings).

I could understand the long line, because all the non-mezzanine seats were first come first serve on where you could stand. If you wanted a good spot you'd have to line up early. I had mezzanine tickets which had assigned seating so I didn't stress about lining up. I waited for my friend to show up and then we went into the line.

Inside the venue, there were a couple areas to take pictures and the merch table. I went to the merch table. There was a long line so I looked at the table from the side. Some items already looked like they were sold out, and the $120 pricetag on the hoodie turned me off.

When we got to our seats, we were surprised that the first row of the mezzanine seats (the seats we got) were on the same level as the standing area. This means that everybody in the floor area would be blocking my view of the stage unless I stood up, too. All the other mezzanine rows were slightly raised. I call this bad venue design.

This is just part of the line! There are more people in front and at the back of the line.

A shot of the merch table. I would have bought a CD, but I guess it was already sold out.

A sheet of all the merch and their prices. $120 for a hoodie sounds a bit hefty. o.o'

View of the stage from my seat. I had to stand if I wanted to even see the stage.

You can't see but there is a large screen at the very back of the stage to show any visuals.

8:10-ish PM -- Music START!

Yay!

When the lights went down the audience cheered. I expected there to be restrictions on taking videos and pictures but nothing was said, so phones stayed out (including mine). I would have taken more videos and pictures but my phone battery was really low at the time (less than 40%), so I stuck to recording a bit of the start of each song (so I could build the setlist, which is further below) and then taking some pictures here and there plus a few short clips if it piqued my interest. 

For songs I recognized I smiled. For songs I didn't, I'd nod my head to the beat and maybe sway a bit depending on the song's energy. I was pleasantly surprised that their unfamiliar songs were a mix of different styles. They don't just do pop music! Audience participation was encouraged throughout some songs, like clapping and sometimes waving the phone left and right like a light. I tried standing throughout the concert but I got tired partway through and had to sit at times (am I getting too old??? D:).

At certain points of the concert, the lead singer and other members of the band would talk a bit. They mentioned that they initially were going to have only one concert in Toronto, but tickets sold out so fast that they set a second concert date (which also sold out).

When they performed "Zenzenzense", the first recognizable song for me (which is really my bad -- I should have recognized the first song ><), the crowd went wild with excitement. Ahhh, what a nostalgic song for me!

A very short clip of "Zenzenzense".

You might need to click "play" twice to play it.

After "Zenzenzense", I think the lead singer (Yojiro Noda) sat by the piano and started playing the most beautiful, nostalgic tune. The audience went quiet and let the piano notes fill the room. I didn't remember the name of the song but I knew it was from Your Name.. I could feel the emotions from it -- it was breathtaking.

At the end of the song, the piano notes transitioned to the tune for "Sparkle" (another song from Your Name.), and the audience cheered and went wild.

Almost all of "Theme of Mitsuha". I loved this so much. <3

A clip of "Sparkle". It was nice seeing so many people waving their phones.

After "Sparkle", more unfamiliar songs were performed. I sat at my chair, needing a rest. One song with interesting video footage started, but I stayed sitting on my chair. In the middle of the song, it sounded like some guitar battle was going on. My friend (who was also sitting) stood up to watch and motioned me to get up, too. I stood up and saw two guitarists standing really close to each other, playing. Then one of them went to the other end of the stage and the lead singer  went to the centre and would motion with his arms when to stop and start playing. It was very amusing and very fun!

A clip of "Oshakashama". I love the buildup of the guitars and the overall energy. It makes me want to dance!

I tried standing for the rest of the concert. More unfamiliar songs were performed, but the visuals were engaging every now and then. I was very interested in a song that was completely in English.

Some translated lyrics for "Brain Washing".

At some point, the lead singer said the next song would be their last for the night. The audience were sad. He thanked us for coming and hoped to come again and asked if we'd see them again.

"KANATA HALUKA", the last song of the concert. The audience screamed when video clips of Suzume came on.

A very short clip of "KANATA HALUKA" with the video clip of Suzume.

At the end, the audience cheered and clapped. Somebody at the front gave the lead singer a flag of Canada which he used to drape himself with. All the members of Radwimps then gathered to the front, bowed, and then exited the stage.

The lights went dark. Nobody was leaving, though. The audience was cheering "Encore!", and then "One more song!", all the while clapping. After what felt like five minutes, Radwimps came back and performed two more songs.

The show ended around 10:00 PM. My phone battery was at 9%, hahaha... ^^;

Setlist

Here is the setlist for Radwimps in Toronto for April 26, 2023. It differs just a bit from other setlists floating about. If I missed anything, please let me know. My most favourite tracks were "Theme of Mitsuha", "Oshakashama" (especially those guitar battles), and "I I U".

I also put together a Spotify playlist if you want to check it out: 

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3c21tlW9CStYSjlIvsB568?si=cfc1be4420e245d3

-Grand Escape (from Weathering With You)
-NEVER EVER ENDER
-TWILIGHT
-Gimigimikku
-Zenzenzense (from Your Name.)
-Theme of Mitsuha (from Your Name.)
-Sparkle (from Your Name.)
-Dada
-Oshakashama
-Brain Washing
-I I U (a song in English)
-Tummy
-One Spring Day
-Nanemonaiya (from Your Name.)

-KANATA HALUKA (from Suzume)
-Kaishin no Ichigeki

Encore

-Dream Lantern (from Your Name.)
-Iin desu ka

Overall Experience

Overall, I had a really good time. It was really nice to be exposed to new, fun tracks. For a Radwimps fan, I'd say this was a must-attend concert. For a fan who has only listened to their songs from Shinkai's movies, the experience will vary depending on how open the person is. Based on this concert I can say that Radwimps plays with more musical styles than just what's in the Shinkai movies (which I like).

If Radwimps comes again, I'll definitely attend. By then I should be more familiar with their discography :)

Thank you so much for reading! As always, feel free to comment. If you were at the concert, what did you think of it? What were your favourite moments? Please share XD

Take care, stay safe, and until next time! :)

BLOG -- Man with a Mission: Chasing The Horizon World Tour @ Adelaide Hall (September 21, 2019)

So last Saturday I attended a concert for Man With a Mission (MWAM), a band I wasn't too, too familiar with. I was genuinely surprised by how much fun I had!

Me with my face grey-blocked and Man With A Mission.
I guess I'm still not ready yet to show my face here.

Me and Man With A Mission

As mentioned above, I wasn't too familiar with MWAM and their music. The only song I knew from them at the time was "database", the opening theme for Log Horizon anime series, a song that I thought was "just okay" (any fans reading this and disagree -- I hope you don't judge me too harshly for saying that!).

Then about a month ago, one of my friends messaged me on Facebook, telling me that MWAM would be doing a concert in Toronto on September 21st. I looked up the day. 'Okay. It's a Saturday... I might be able to go...' I thought. Then I looked up MWAM and my eyes went wide. 'They have wolf heads.... kowaiiiiiii (Scary)....' I got a little scared. 'What if I get eaten...?' I told my friend I'd have to look up more of their music before deciding whether or not to go.

Then... with about two weeks left to the concert, I decided to finally take the dive and check out MWAM. I searched up MWAM on YouTube and let the videos autoplay while I did other tasks. While not all the tunes landed for me, for the most part I enjoyed what I listened to. I really liked that some of their songs had English lyrics. I also liked that while many of their songs were upbeat and energetic, they had some slow emotion-evoking tunes.

I decided: I'm going to attend their concert. At the time, regular tickets were sold out, so I purchased a VIP ticket. The VIP ticket supposedly came with a pre-show meet & greet and a gift.

And that is the story of how a shy little sheep like me bought a VIP ticket to meet and greet with the wolves! (the photo above)

For the concert, I was really hoping they would perform "akatsuki", my favourite song from what I had listened to at the time. I also hoped they would perform "Memories", my second favourite song.

The Little Details

Date of Concert: September 21, 2019

Venue: Adelaide Hall (Toronto, Ontario)

Time: 8:00 PM (Doors open 6:30 PM for VIP; 7 PM for non-VIP)

Ticket Price Total: $129.07 (VIP admission)

Seating: No reserved seating

5:30-ish PM @ Adelaide Hall

The line into Adelaide Hall! To the right was the VIP line. 
To the left was the non-VIP line.

Finding Adelaide Hall was a little difficult. It wasn't on Adelaide Street, even though the address was 250 Adelaide Street West. I was directed to walk to the corner of Adelaide and Duncan Street, walk North, and then turn left at the first alleyway. The instructions sounded kinda sketchy, but I followed them and found a small crowd standing about in two lines.

I asked the last person in line if this was for the MWAM concert. He said yes and then I promptly got in line.

I was surprised there was already a line-up at 5:30 PM. I thought I was early! I was also surprised that the VIP line looked a bit longer than the non-VIP line. Was it because there would be a pre-show meet & greet for the VIP attendees?

That was something I was disappointed about: VIP attendees weren't instructed what time to show up for the pre-show meet & greet. I had contacted the organizer about two days before the concert asking this, but got no response. A bit more communication would have been very much appreciated...

6:30-ish PM -- Being Let into the Den...

Around 6:30 PM, VIP attendees got let inside. There were two flights of stairs before getting to the hall space. To one side was a small merchandise area selling T-shirts and hoodies.

We were still in line form, apparently being led to the wolves themselves. The pre-show meet & greet was happening! We were instructed to have our phones ready to get a picture taken.

I was getting nervous. What should I say? How should I act? I'm not a crazy-big fan like everybody else here... Right then I truly felt like a sheep in a wolf's den, hahaha. I quietly observed how the other attendees behaved around the wolves.

When it was my turn, I walked up to the wolves and bowed my head a little, saying a quiet, "Hello". Then I turned around to "pose" for my picture with them. I held up my hands to mimic wolf paws, but I knew my paws were lame and not vicious at all.

After that, I was gestured to the stage area. I was surprised by how tiny it was! There were no chairs -- it was a complete standing area. I stood as close to the stage as possible, and observed other VIP attendees and the wolves since the meet & greet was still going on.

When it was around 6:50 PM, the meet & greet was over. The wolves proceeded backstage, waving at us all as they walked by. I took this time to buy a T-shirt from the merchandise area, figuring it'd be better to buy now before the rest of the attendees got let in. At that time, another VIP attendee was inquiring about the "gift" that was promised with the VIP admission. Since nothing else was given to us, I concluded that the "gift" was the photo with the wolves.

I rushed back to the crowd. When the rest of the attendees were let in and the venue slowly filled up, I thought, 'Oh dear... I probably won't be able to move much from this spot. I've never stood in the center area before in a concert. Will I make it out of this concert in one piece????!!!'

The merchandise shop! From what I saw, they were only selling T-shirts, 

a hoodie, and some small meshy bag thing.

The stage. It's super tiny!

8:00-ish PM -- Music START!!

Dancing in the center area -- was -- an -- experience! Being surrounded by fans who were super pumped and moved about excitedly -- even a shy girl like me started to move the same way. I still tried to be considerate of those around me, and tried to move in a way that wouldn't injure me or others (like not jumping too high, not dancing on people's feet, etc.), and I tried to make sure my purse wasn't hitting anybody whenever I moved my arms.

I got pushed around quite often though from some other attendees who let their inhibitions completely fly out the window. I tried staying close to one attendee who seemed pretty good at keeping most other attendees at bay. I'm almost 100% that that attendee would never come across this blog, but if he has and is reading this -- thank you for being my unintended shield! *bows*

Some notable / memorable moments from the concert (that I could remember):

1. Whenever some of the wolves grabbed / shook attendees' hands or allowed some wolf head pats, the crowd would move closer, myself included. I was always only a few arms away, hahaha... ;____________;

2. After one song, one of the wolves made hand motions, conveying the word "sit". At first, we were hesitant since we were all standing so close to each other. But slowly, after more of the same hand motions, we obeyed. Then he told us that at a certain part of the next song, he wanted us to jump at the same time. When the moment came, we all jumped. It was wild!

3. During one song, I noticed an attendee was "flying the waves" towards me. Scared that I'd get crushed under his weight, I moved back. Thankfully he got moved to another direction.

4. During another song, one of the wolves jumped onto the crowd. This time I went towards him, but my arms were too short to reach. In my defense... I knew many others would be sharing in the weight, so I didn't worry about getting crushed in that situation.

5. At various times, the wolves eyes would glow a menacing yellow.

My favourite song of the night was a tie between "Emotions" and "Fly Again". I was surprised by how much I enjoyed both songs since the album versions didn't do very much for me. I especially liked doing the hand movements for "Fly Again" (waving our arms from left to right to the beat). I really appreciated that one of the wolves gave hand instructions on what to do and which direction to start.

After the last song, they thanked us and walked offstage. I was sweaty all over. My arms were sore, but I was still standing. We alternated between clapping weakly and meekly shouting "Encore". I think we were all tired, hahaha. After a few minutes of nothing happening, we strengthened our clapping and shouted "Encore" more fervently. I thought, 'These wolves won't give us an encore unless we show them we want it!'

The wolves came back on and did two more songs. We danced like crazy again.

When it was over, one of the wolves told us it was now okay to take pictures and video. Everybody whipped out their phone immediately! The wolves did some more thanks and posed every now and then.

The show ended around 9:49 PM.

As soon as they say it's okay to take pictures and video, 
everybody's phone gets whipped out!

Another shot. Look at those glowing yellow eyes!

Setlist (Partial)

Here is a partial setlist for MWAM. This is NOT listed in the correct order. I tried linking each song to the official audio track / music video on YouTube.

I know that I am missing a lot of songs from this setlist. If anybody reading this also attended the Toronto concert and know a song that is missing from this setlist, please let me know! I've been directed to a setlist for another venue during this same tour, but with me listening to their songs frequently after the concert, I don't fully trust my memory on if I actually listened to it at the concert, or if I listened to the song on YouTube only.

-Hey Now
-Emotions
-Dog Days
-Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana cover)
-Chasing the Horizon (Acoustic version)
-Fly Again
-Winding Road
-Seven Deadly Sins
-86 Missed Calls

Encore (I think these were the encores):
-Dead End in Tokyo
-Raise Your Flag

Overall Experience

Aside from the pushings every now and then, I had an absolute blast! I was completely soaked with sweat by the time it was over. Thank goodness there were electric fans blasting from above, even though I didn't feel it much once the concert started. Even though dancing in the center area was super sweaty and tiring, I felt so energized and alive afterwards. I would definitely be in the center area again. But hopefully next time I'll be closer so I'll be able to give wolf head pats.

A special thanks to my friend who told me about the MWAM concert in the first place. I would have missed this completely, and would not have gotten exposed to MWAM's cool music. For anybody who is curious, my friend had a non-VIP ticket so we were at different areas of the venue.

MWAM, thank you for coming to Toronto! Please come again soon! <3 <3 <3

A few days after the concert, I received an e-mail from the event organizer, asking me to provide my mailing address to receive my VIP gift. So there was an actual gift for the VIP admission. As soon as I receive it, I'll update this blog.

UPDATE -- October 26, 2019 -- My VIP gift arrived and unfortunately, I am very underwhelmed, hahaha... I also have suspicions that I've been sent the incorrect gift. Take a look below.

My VIP gift!

So this looks like a mini-postcard, but the date on the postcard was for the Vancouver concert, which I did NOT attend...

I provided my mailing address twice, and I received this, so I will not bother to make a fuss and just say I had a good time taking a photo with the wolves and dancing at the concert.

Since the concert ended, I've been listening to more of their musics and have come across another favourite track: "Please Forgive Me". "Akatsuki" is still my most favourite.


The next time I see them in concert, I swear... I'll be able to tell them apart! Hahaha ^-^'''

Thank you so much for reading!

As usual, If you have any questions / comments, feel free!

Have a wonderful rest of the weekend and until next time (which should be tomorrow)! :)

EXPOSURES (FOOD PLACES) -- Genji Sushi, WVRST

Before I start this blog, I'd like to say "Congrats!" to myself. Including my end-of-month blogs, this is my 200th entry. Woot! Next week I will have another thing to celebrate, haha.

GENJI SUSHI

Location: 2899 Steeles Avenue West, North York, Ontario (close to Keele & Steeles) Google Map

Contact #: (416) 667-0867
Website: http://www.genjitoronto.com/

Type(s) of Cuisine: Japanese, Korean

Specialty (if any): None that I know of

Price Range (for a main dish): Mid-High (Around $10-$20 for lunch sets; California Rolls: $5.95; Dynamite Rolls: $9.95; Salmon Sashimi [3 pieces]: $4.95)

Restaurant Size: Small

Recommend? Yes

Brief Impression

Well, this impression has been long overdue. I've actually visited Genji Sushi multiple times now and my sister even made a custom order with them for her bridal shower. All-in-all, I've been satisfied every time.

The decor is kind of like any other sushi place -- wooden tables, wooden chairs, wooden other things -- but it is nice and has an elegant touch.

From what I've tried, the food is very yummy! The adjectives that often pop in my mind are: light, fresh, smooth, yummy (of course, lol). Often when I visit I order their maki so I can't comment on their other items like u-don, donburi, teriyakis, etc. One of my favourite items is their kani salad (crab salad).

There is no question I would visit them again. I kinda wish they were situated more downtown since then I'd be able to go more often.

(Some of) What I Ate / Drank ...

Kani Salad -- I love this dish! It is so smooth and delicious. This is one of my staple orders when I visit.
Salmon Sushi Pizza -- This was really good!
Dynamite Roll -- This was really good, too!

Kani salad. This is sooo yummy! The serving size is a bit too much 

for me, though, so I always have to share it when I get it.

WVRST

Location: 609 King Street West, Toronto, Ontario (close to Bathurst & King St. W.) Google Map

Contact #: (416) 703-7775
Website: http://www.wvrst.com/

Type(s) of Cuisine: Hot dogs and fries

Specialty (if any): Sausages; Duck fat fries

Price Range (for a main dish): Low-Mid -- ($6.50-$9 for the sausage; $3.5-$8 for the fries)

Restaurant Size: Small

Recommend? Yes

Brief Impression

WVRST has a communal / cafeteria-like atmosphere. Most of the dining area is made up of long rows of tables and benches. There are also a few separate tables, but I think they are mainly used for reservations (somebody please correct me if I am wrong). When you come in, you don't get seated -- you can pretty much sit anywhere that has an open spot.

When I first entered the place, two employees handed me a menu and explained how to order (I told them it was my first time there). When you know what you want, you go to the cashier and make your order. You also pay there. Then you are given a number and your food will be brought to you. There is also a bar area if you wanted to order any booze.

While I'm not a big fan of a communal atmosphere (you know -- because I'm shy and don't meet people very well), I do like that I can sit wherever I want. Even after sitting down, I can move to another spot if I wanted to. That also means, though, that if you come in with a group, somebody should stay sitting while the rest orders food so nobody swoops in and commandeers your spot.

Food-wise, WVRST pretty much offers sausages, fries, a few sides, and ice cream. It doesn't seem like much but there are many varieties for the sausages, and there are a lot of dipping sauces to go with the fries. I have no comments on the bar area, but according to their website, they seem to offer a variety of ciders and craft beers.

I have to say that there is some noise level. Unless I'm going deaf, I found it difficult to have a conversation at my regular volume.

Overall, I enjoyed my experience at WVRST and would totally go back.

What I Ate / Drank... 
Danger Dog with Currywvrst -- I think this is a standard beef sausage wrapped in bacon. The currywvrst is some piece of bread with tomato curry sauce. The sausage was okay. I really liked the bacon and curry sauce.
Duck Fat Fries -- I honestly don't know how to compare this to regular fries. It kinda tastes like regular fries, but with some added smoothness and saltiness. I can say that I really enjoyed it. I ordered it with honey dill sauce, which was an interesting flavour.

The Danger Dog with Currywvrst. I was kind of expecting this to be a 
hot dog, but I guess this is how it's presented with Currywvrst. 
I really enjoyed the tomato curry sauce.

Thanks for reading! If you have any comments or want to know more about anything, feel free! :)

BLOG -- My First Real-Life Room Escape Game Experience

Soooo... this past Sunday evening (which is why this blog is late), I had my first room escape experience -- and it was totally fun!

For those who don't know, a room escape is this kind of game that places a group of people in a room or series of rooms, and they have a set amount of time to solve puzzles and either find a way out of the room or try to finish whatever objectives are given.

Ever since I played this flash game (many, many years ago) called "Crimson Room" (I would embed a link here, but I don't know what the official link is anymore -- and if the official link even works), and then its "sequels" "Viridian Room", "Blue Chamber", and "White Chamber", I've had this sort of fascination with room escape games. It kinda makes me think 'What can I use that's present to get out of a situation? Can I figure a way out?' It was only recently that I found out real-life room escape games existed -- and when an opportunity presented itself to participate in one (and with people I was comfortable with), I took it.

The Little Details
Day: Sunday August 16, 2015
Time: 7:15 PM
Place: Escape Games Toronto (11 Kodiak Crescent, Toronto, Ontario)
Room / Mission: The Haunting of Noriko (7-12 players)
# of People in My Group: 10
Time Limit: About 1 hour
Admission (per person): $22 

Now... I can't really give much detail since I don't want to spoil the experience for anybody, but I will give some kind of overview.

In short, it was a very enjoyable experience. However, since our room was themed "The Haunting of Noriko", I was also very creeped out. Even though some people in my group were kinda expecting more horror elements, I thought what they had was enough to establish an unnerving atmosphere. For certain areas I had my hand up just to block my vision from some of the elements. The unnerving atmosphere also kinda stuck with me for a while after the game ended.

I was pleasantly surprised that we got to explore more than one room, though I couldn't really bring myself to go off exploring on my own. I was just too scared! Hahaha.

Another thing I enjoyed was the amount of puzzles that called for teamwork. I mean, this particular room called for a fairly large group. I think it would be pretty sucky if a group was there to do puzzles could actually be done solo.

It is embarrassing to say... but I screamed once. After watching a couple people solve one of the puzzles, something near me fell and made a huge sound. Haha, jump scare! Hahaha... >_<'''

I can happily say that I contributed to solving at least one puzzle.

Unfortunately, we didn't succeed since we ran out of time. However, since we were on the last puzzle and were on the right track to solving it, we were shown the ending. I'd like to call this the "Consolation Ending", hahaha. I imagine that if we were nowhere close to beating it, we wouldn't have been shown anything (so we'd be able to go back and try again).

One thing I will always remember is while being briefed by a staff member, a loud scream came from one of the rooms. We laughed, as well as the staff member.

All in all, it was a really fun experience and I would totally do it again.


Thanks for reading! If you have any comments / questions, feel free. However, please try to refrain from any kind of spoilers (if you wanted to talk spoilers) for other people's sakes. Have a good rest of the week!

EXPOSURES (FOOD PLACES) -- Mariachi's, The Apricot Tree Cafe

It's been a long time since I've done an "Exposures" blog entry. I still do check out new places every once in a while, but less often these days. x.x

MARIACHI'S

Location: 2084 Yonge St., Toronto, Ontario (close to Yonge & Eglinton) Google Map

Contact #: (416) 481-7111
Website: http://www.mariachis.ca

Type(s) of Cuisine: Mexican

Specialty (if any): None

Price Range (for a main dish): Mid (Around $13-$18 for most main courses)

Restaurant Size: Small

Recommend? Yes

Brief Impression

This is actually the first time I ever visited a Mexican restaurant so I don't know how to comment on the decor (if it's authentic or whatever). The lights were dimly lit. There were festive streamers around the walls. I think it would give a very "festive" feel overall... if the lights were just a bit brighter.

The service was good overall. They were attentive and nice. The food was good, too. I honestly don't have any past experiences to compare it to, but what I had was delicious. I wouldn't really recommend the Churros, though, unless it's supposed to be plain-tasting.

I think it's worth checking out again -- if anything, for the guacamole.

What I Ate / Drank ...

Guacamole de gallo -- It was yummy. I've never had guacamole before. It's tangy and smooth. Supposedly the tortilla chips are homemade.
Taquitos -- The shell wasn't as crunchy as I thought it would be. It was good, though.
Churros -- This looked great, but tasted a bit plain...

The Guacamole de gallo. According to my team-mates, Mariachi's has one of 

the best guacamole. This means that every other guacamole I try 

elsewhere will be not as good. Hmm...

THE APRICOT TREE CAFÉ

Location: 1900 Dundas Street West, Mississauga, Ontario (close to Lansdowne Ave. & Dundas St. W.) Google Map

Contact #: (905) 855-1470
Website: http://apricottreecafe.com/

Type(s) of Cuisine: French? European?

Specialty (if any): Desserts

Price Range (for a main dish): Mid-High -- ($10-$22 for lunch; $11-$25+ for dinner)

Restaurant Size: Small

Recommend? Yes

Brief Impression

The decor is not one to write home about (Sorry!). It has a cozy enough feel with the painted walls of the night sky; I just think it would be received much better through a child's perspective. I think what I'm trying to say that is that if I grew up visiting this place, I would welcome and appreciate the decor instead of just thinking, It's nice.

I have to note that there is some noise level here. The kitchen seems to be situated right in the center of the restaurant, in view of the patrons, so it's understandable. One thing that The Apricot Tree stresses is that the food is homemade, so it would be neat to see your order being whipped up.

One really nice thing about The Apricot Tree is that they seem to have daily (or weekly?) lunch and dinner specials, so there can always be a different food experience. And the food. is. yummy! Well, at least what I had. 

The servers were really attentive, too. One of them even remembered that I left my earmuffs there when I went back later to check (I can't believe I forgot something at a restaurant! I think this was my first time).

Overall, it was a good experience, and I hope I'll be able to go back. They specialize in desserts, so if you get a chance to visit, try a dessert.

What I Ate / Drank... 
Apricot Beer -- First swig I was hit by the alcohol taste (bleh!). After more sips, the apricot taste started to kick in, and was pretty good.
Chicken Tarragon Crepe -- Yummy! I was at first wary of the sauce -- it looked like it would be thick and heavy, but it was light. Besides the chewy-ness of the chicken, the texture of everything inside was soft.
Mango Mousse -- This almost felt like eating a mango-flavoured shortbread. The top layers were soft and smooth, but the bottom layer was almost cookie-like. I enjoyed it!

Mango Mousse. The sauce on the right (white chocolate raspberry?) 
mixed well with the cake.

Thanks for reading! If you have any comments or want to know more about anything, feel free! :)