#the store is a lot like those little shops in arcades and laneways

[lumoshyperion]

My beautiful friend Vanessa @goldenlikealbus​ is having a bad day today, so I thought I’d write her a little gift to try and cheer her up ❤ Based on a conversation we had this morning about Scorpius and Albus bringing home one of those life sized plush toys, like the ones in IKEA. Except this one is shaped like Totoro, because we’re wholly convinced Scorbus would love Ghibli ❤

It was unusual for Albus and his boyfriend’s uni schedules to align. And it was even more unusual for them to both finish early so, after Scorpius had left work at his placement job and Albus had finished rehearsals one cloudy Tuesday afternoon, they met up in the city at their favourite cafe.

They found a table by the large windows that overlooked the street below and sat and talked for hours and hours. It was late Autumn, but it was still warm outside, so they decided to go for a walk through the laneways and arcades - taking the long way to the station before heading home together.

They ducked in and out of stores, laughing at the novelty iron on patches in a small hole-in-the-wall shop and gasping with delight at a cat shaped mug in the window of an artisan store. They paused to take photos of the street art and listen to a busker playing La Valse d’Amelie on the accordion.

They watched crepes being made in an old converted news stand and pointed out dogs to each other as they walked through the city streets. They stopped to collect postcards and flyers from a booth outside one of the theatres, Scorpius proudly showing off the one he had found for Albus’s uni production to the confused but delighted ticket salesperson.

Their last stop before the train station was something of a tradition. There was a bookstore, tucked away in one of the arcades, that Scorpius had fallen in love with years ago. Whenever they were in the city together, they always stopped there to browse the shelves - leaving hours later with bags full of new additions to their growing home library.

Albus wasn’t a ferocious reader like Scorpius, but he loved flicking through the art books and brushing his fingertips across the spines as he wandered through the shelves. And it helped that his favourite cafe - the one with the chairs hanging from the ceiling - was just next door.

While Scorpius went inside “just for a quick browse”, Albus ordered a flat white and aimlessly flicked through the brochure for one of the local theatre companies. But the afternoon was dragging on, the skies were growing darker with the promise of rain, and it had been almost half an hour since Scorpius disappeared into the bookstore.

He peered through the shop window, trying to spot a boy with silver hair and a stack of books in his arms, but only caught the eye of a small child in a pink pinafore who blinked back at him with curiousity. He gave them an awkward wave, before turning around and staring out into the street again.

Suddenly, someone emerged from the store with a giant Totoro plush obscuring their face. Albus watched them stumble on the footpath and almost run into a pole, before he instinctively reached out and pulled them back by the arm.

“Sorry, you just - oh.”

Scorpius peered over the plush toy’s enormous shoulder and grinned at him. “Isn’t he great? I didn’t even know they sold stuff like this, but they had a whole Ghibli shelf set up today!”

“I thought you were looking for books?” He asked, running a hand over the Totoro’s belly. It was even softer than it looked.

“Well, I was, but - then I saw this and I blacked out and now I’m here.”

“That checks out,” Albus replied, with a laugh. “Never thought I’d see you walk out of a bookstore without any books, though.”

“I did find some books, thank you very much,” Scorpius huffed. “I just couldn’t carry both, so I left them.”

“Totoro over books? Scandalous.”

“Hmm,” He hummed, before glancing sadly back at the bookstore.

“Do you want me to hold that so you can go back and get them?” He asked, playfully tugging at the little feet of the Totoro while Scorpius watched on with amusement.

“...Yes, please,” he replied, before carefully handing him over to Albus and heading back into the store.

If it was awkward for him to carry, he hid it well, because Albus struggled with the awkward shape of the thing. His arms just weren’t long enough to wrap around its middle and, after a while of wrestling with it while passersby looked on in amusement, he settled on putting him down on the footpath with an exasperated sigh. 

He’d introduced Scorpius to Ghibli’s films a few years prior, one Summer during the end of their school years. His sister had grown up watching Ponyo, which came out the year she was born and quickly became a staple of her childhood. She loved the colours and she loved copying Ponyo as she ran around the house with a towel wrapped around her shoulders.

Kiki’s Delivery Service and My Neighbour Totoro followed not long after that, and they watched Arrietty together at the cinema. But while James and eventually Lily grew out of the films, Albus kept returning to them whenever he was sad or he missed home. 

When he first started dating Scorpius, it was on a trip to the country side during their Summer holidays. They brought their bicycles and went riding through the hills and stopping at the village market to buy local honey and sprigs of lavender. They were staying in a cabin with no reception and a television that couldn’t even pick up the local stations, but Albus had come prepared with a couple of Ghibli films on a USB - hoping to finally introduce Scorpius to them.

They watched film after film, while devouring pastries and sweets they’d bought at the market. Although it was getting late and they had a tour booked first thing in the morning, Scorpius insisted that they keep going - he was so enamoured with each and every movie they watched. Deep down, Albus had always known that he would love Studio Ghibli. There was a sense of wonder and hope in every scene, that he saw reflected in Scorpius’s eyes and in the way he talked about the things and the people that he loved. 

They were always finding new traditions with each other, over the years and as they went through secondary school and then university together. The table by the window at their favourite cafe, the bookstore in the arcade, the funny cat photos whenever one of them was sad - and now they had Ghibli, too. 

He should have felt embarrassed, running through the city with a giant Totoro carried between them as they tried to beat the imminent rainfall that was so frequent in their little, beloved city.

But as Scorpius confidently placed the giant plush toy on a seat on the train, before sitting down next to it and beaming at Albus, he couldn’t possibly feel anything but warmth and joy. So he leaned across from his seat, and he kissed him. 

As he pulled away, Scorpius blinked at him and smiled. “What was that for?”

“Nothing,” he replied. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

[randylavalley]

17 Unusual Date Ideas To Try in Toronto

Shocking date evening is a terrific means to revisit your #RelationshipGoals. In a city that is constantly in change, with brand-new experiences always opening up, Toronto is an excellent location to get imaginative with your tryst. Whether you are on an initial day or in a rut, taking your BFF out or taking place a solo date, here's our selection of what to do on date night.

Be travelers on a hop-on hop-off bus

Traveling with a loved one is constantly a bonding experience. Order a hop-on hop-off sightseeing and tour open-top bus ticket from City Taking in the sights and explore Toronto all weekend. For visitors, this is an enjoyable means to see the city, as well as locals get to be tourists for the day with their loved one as well as make new memories at home. Your ticket will additionally get you various other benefits, such as a totally free islands cruise, totally free midtown pickup, as well as a souvenir map.

Take their breath away at the Aga Khan Museum

The Aga Khan Museum's unbelievable collection of art, antiques and residues from old worlds makes for a remarkable day, but what makes this gallery such a preferable location is the magnificent premises of the architectural gem. Take their breath away amid white natural beauty, lovely landscape design as well as sparkling granite swimming pools.

As dusk falls and also the weekend break shows up, the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) becomes among Toronto's special social events. At ROM Friday Night Live, visitors can discover Canada's biggest museum of art, society, and also nature while partying with the dinosaurs. Consume, attempt food from specially picked suppliers, as well as delight in live songs from bands as well as DJs. No Friday Evening Live coincides, as there are various motifs each time (such as techno style, Bollywood beats, superheroes). Each season, ROM releases a brand-new timetable.

Experience an unusual type of love at Thomas Fisher Rare Book Collection

If your date is a literature lover whose heart thaws at the aroma of a book, take them to the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library. Inside this sensational structure, you'll find the Division of Rare Books as well as Unique Collections. The library holds greater than 800,000 materials, making it one of the most substantial collection of openly available rare books and also manuscripts in Canada. The shelves are home to literary prizes such as Margaret Atwood's original transcribed draft for The Handmaid's Tale, Shakespeare's First Folio from 1623 and Leonard Cohen's notebooks.

Enjoy movies under the stars

Reimagine a quintessential date by taking things outside for one of Toronto's top summer season tasks, enjoying movies outside. There's a host of configuring completely until September, from motion pictures in the park at Christie Pits, Minister Park as well as St James to the Sail-In Movie Theater down on Sugar Coastline, Open Roofing System Celebration as well as the large screens showing standards at Dundas Square and also Harborfront Centre. A lot of the motion pictures are complimentary, so all you need to do is bring coverings and snacks.

Obtain your hearts competing at Canada's Heaven

Canada's Heaven, Toronto's top amusement park, features all the thrills needed for an amazing day. Theme parks, although relaxed as well as enjoyable, can be filled with intimate moments, as well as you can utilize the time you're standing in line to get to know each other or reconnect. Sitting on a rollercoaster beside a person you're extremely drew in to is a terrific method to obtain hearts competing. The adrenaline thrill you'll obtain resembles those first sensations of falling in love. Aside from flights, Canada's Heaven has wacky foods such as channel cake, reveals, games as well as lots of various other tourist attractions to maintain you delighted.

Experience an alternating reality

Traversing brand-new globes as well as alternative facts while keeping your feet grown on the floor could be the new means to fall in love! Virtual reality (Virtual Reality) lounges have actually been appearing throughout Toronto, and also it is a neat suggestion for an immersive day experience. Just like whatever, there are lots of selections but VRPlayin, Residence of VR, and also Levelup Virtual Reality Arcade all come very rated.

Play games

Take your favorite someone downtown to play computer game. There are plenty along Dundas West, yet Tilt Gallery Bar is just one of the most effective. You can select from more than 50 vintage gallery video games and also pinball makers, or relaxing up in among their booths to play video games together. If Tilt is loaded, you'll likewise discover an option of game and also computer game across the road at Dundas Video, or head to Blnd Tger in Little Italy, where you can obtain expensive with container service. Also on Dundas West is Heal; their video games include faves such as Teen Mutant Ninja Turtles, Vermin, Star Wars and also Dig Dug. Further west still, Unlovable has a bunch of '80s classics such as Donkey Kong and Ms Pac-Man.

Throw a rager with each other at Battle Sports

Do couples that rave together stay together? There's only one way to discover. Believe it or otherwise, Toronto has a Craze Area that supplies a date night special. For CA$ 75 (₤ 44), Battle Sports will allow you blast the playlist of your selection, grab a crowbar or baseball bat and shatter your way with 28 products and 2 electronic devices. They claim it's hotter than warm yoga.

Art Fight

If you love an excellent face-off, have a look at Art Battle. See as painters make use of a handful of colors and also some crucial devices to transform blank canvases right into masterpieces with just 20 minutes on the clock. Then, as target market members, you and your date get to identify the winner by voting for your favorite pieces. Examine their website to discover their timetable.

Admire Toronto's road art

Toronto is among the very best places to see road art. Lots of fantastic creations have actually been sprayed onto numerous buildings throughout the city. There are, however, some well-known graffiti hubs. Graffiti Alley (or Rush Lane) is well worth a browse through. The impressive murals and colorful developments by regional and international musicians are constantly changing, so it's worth repeat visits. Likewise check out Ossington Laneway, a strip in between Queen Street and also Humbert Street, where local street musicians have spray-painted the garage doors. Various other areas to take down are Kensington Market, Keele Wall and the Galaxy in Parkdale.

Graffiti Alley, Toronto, ON Canada

After-hours art celebration

The Art Gallery of Toronto (AGO) tosses the city's most significant after-hours art celebration on the first Thursday of on a monthly basis. AGO First Thursdays are curated occasions that display a headline entertainer or act, along with multiple DJs in different dancing areas around the gallery. As well as songs, visitors can engage with interactive exhibits as well as take pleasure in themed food as well as beverages. First Thursday motifs vary between what's occurring in the gallery and also what's taking place in the remainder of world, but each celebration is an enthusiastic attempt to showcase the most effective of art as well as culture.

Art Gallery of Ontario, Dundas Road West, Toronto, Canada, +1 416 979 6648.

Hit up a speakeasy.

Discover Toronto's hidden side by getting mixed drinks at one of the city's speakeasies or concealed bars. Roam hand-in-hand down slim alleyways and also look previous unnoticeable shops for these alluring locations. You'll discover cutting-edge mixtures, irregular menus and an atmosphere that's tailor-made for affection. Select from among the city's unique drinking experiences at Gift Shop, pizza as well as shots spiced with fernet at SP184, sultry cocktails at Bar Batavia, speakeasy vibes at the Cloakroom or Gatsby's, cheap consumes and also Bohemia at the Green Room. Or do a covert bar crawl along Dundas West, visiting at Mahjong, the Libertine as well as the Hole in the Wall.

Produce a signature beverage together at Labothéry Inc

. A great deal can happen over bubble tea at Labothéry Inc. For starters, it's not your typical bubble tea joint; it's even more of a lab than a tea shop, as well as the servers even use white coats. Site visitors make their beverages by picking from active ingredients offered in test tubes, syringes and also petri recipes. A day below will be incredibly speculative as well as imaginative, with all the various flavored syrups, powders, sugars, type of milk and also toppings on offer. Why not put your heads together as well as create your own special beverage?

Queue up for the latest "It" dessert.

Ditch coffee, supper and also beverage dates for something much sweeter. Residing in a lively city has some severe advantages due to the fact that there's always a new dessert to check out, and also Torontonians do not mind standing in line for them. Perfect pair bonding time.

Japanese soufflé pancake store Hanabusa Café (the jasmine tea pancake sounds amazing) sells gold-plated gelato, while Eative Movie Café Dining establishment provides blinged-out ice cream, and also Craig's Cookies sells right stuff desires are made of: every little thing from smashed strawberry pop tarts to Mars Bars and butter tarts is baked right into delicious chocolate chip cookies. Maintain your eyes peeled for the latest exciting offering from the maker of Bang ice creamery on Geary Method.

Be beach bums.

Sand and also sea are the excellent setups for a romantic day or evening. While Toronto can't exactly supply you the sea, it does have plenty of sandy coasts along the city's shimmering lakeside where you can lay out a blanket for picnicking and also canoodling. The coastlines of Woodbine, Kew as well as Balmy, Sugar Coastline, Cherry Coastline and also Bluffers Beach are some of the local favorites, yet if you really want to spice things up, then go to Toronto's nude beach at Hanlan's Point.

Visit fairy tale Casa Loma.

Casa Loma uses pairs a fairy tale day within Toronto. The previous residence of Canadian investor Sir Henry Pellatt, this majestic castle has impressive collections, secret flows, an 800ft (244m) passage, towers, stables and also luxurious gardens. Only mins from the town hall, in a gorgeous part of town where the streets are lined with Edwardian, Tudor and also Georgian homes, it is the perfect spot for romance. Throughout the year, you can have a look at seasonal occasions and also programming. The elegant Casa Loma area additionally supplies whole lots to do. Loosen up in one of the comfy cafés along Dupont Street, or take a stroll together in Sir Winston Churchill Park. If you have even more time on your hands, check out the 19th-century manor house Spadina Gallery, or a modern dip into Tarragon Theatre.

The post “ 17 Unusual Date Ideas To Try in Toronto “ was originally seen on Culture Trip

Vitamin Therapy Toronto - The IV Lounge

[lumoshyperion]

If Albus would visit Melbourne, which places do you think he would go to and would absolutely love to visit? Also what do you think his coffee order would be when visiting the coffee shops there?

Oh my gosh, there's so many places I think he'd love. He's probably a student at the VCA and spends most of his time around campus or over at the Malthouse Theatre cafe/bar. He's probably one of those people who goes to the dome reading room in the State Library to study, because he can't concentrate in cafes - they're too loud.

He probably knows all the laneways and arcades like the back of his hand. He loves putting his headphones on, playing some loud music, and disappearing for a while in the many streets and corners and hidden spaces of Melbourne. He makes the excuse that he wants to see if there's any new graffiti art, but really he just likes the space and the time to think that those walks give him.

He loves the record stores and vintage shops in Brunswick and Fitzroy. Barely anything he owns is new and, since he and Craig are both design majors at the VCA, they've probably gone on a lot of sourcing trips to the city's north to find props and costumes.

His favourite theatre is probably one of the smaller spaces like fortyfivedownstairs. He saw a play there once about the end of the world - there was no set, hardly any props, and the actors were in modern dress. But the space spoke for itself - it's an industrial warehouse type space, cavernous and eery. You can feel lonely in a space like that, even when surrounded by people. And Albus - melancholic as he is - would love that.

He loves non traditional art spaces. He loves the art windows in the Degraves Street Subway. He loves the crowded Sticky Institute. He loves the exhibitions at the ACCA. He loves the buskers dotted throughout the city. He loves the little markets, especially the Rose Street Artist's Market and the Finders Keepers Market. He loves Pellegrini's and Brother Baba Budan and The Paperback and Readings. He loves seeing movies at Cinema Nova and then getting a cake and coffee at Brunetti's. He loves the Astor and was probably one of the organizers of the effort to save it from closure.

He loves hidden bars that can only be found through a wardrobe or a bookshelf. He loves late night dumplings in Chinatown and early morning coffees on the way to class. He loves sitting under the clocks at Flinders and watching the world go by as he waits for Scorpius's train to arrive. He loves Melbourne after rainfall - the way the lights reflect in the puddles. The crunch of leaves underneath his feet in Autumn. He loves the artists studios in the Nicholas Building and dreams of one day renting a space of his own. Albus would thrive in a city like Melbourne. Its beating heart is community, arts, coffee, and food. And threaded throughout are parks and trees and... so much light.

He probably usually orders a long black, espresso, or a macchiato - or a cold brew, once Summer hits. He likes the idea of strong, black coffee in theory, but in practice he's honestly more of a flat white or even a chai latte kind of person. Black coffee can be a little too bitter for him, and he prefers something with a bit more sweetness, but he's too committed to the aesthetic to stop ordering it.

He's such a coffee snob. He has a coffee machine and a grinder at home, and he buys his beans fresh from either Sensory Lab or McIver's Coffee in the Queen Vic Market. It's an expensive habit, and most of his friends are fine with capsule or instant coffee, but he likes making coffee at home. He loves memorizing the way his friends and family take their coffee, so he can always make them one whenever they visit him. Coffee is an act of love.