10-30-2018, 07:53 PM
(10-30-2018, 09:49 AM)Rainrider22 Wrote: How interesting and timely your post is. This past Saturday my daughters (7 and 9) and myself decided to put backpacks on and go for an adventure DTK. We parked at the Charles/Benton garage. Our first stop was Darlise Cafe for breakfast. WOW, unbelievable food. Service was amazing and the atmosphere was great. We then walked around the core, checking out construction sites and taking in what the future is going to look like (very positive). We stopped for coffee and perhaps the best hot chocolate in the city at Matter of Taste. We sat there for a while drying out and warming up. Wonderful friendly people coming and going. People actually acknowledging one another with smiles and hellos, how refreshing. We set off to walk toward the market. We passed a guy having an episode yelling at no one and talking to himself. (likely some mental health issues) My daughters questioned his behavior so we discussed mental health issues and how some people are disadvantaged and need assistance. The walk was nice looking into different shops and taking notes of restaurants we want to come back to. A stop in the New City Supermarket for treats and watching live fish. We got to the market and spent lots of time there buying from vendors and listening to buskers. Oh, and I was able to get a 2 dollar parking coupon for the Benton Street parking garage, how cheap is that !! As we exited the marked we were facing our favorite Vietnamese restaurant, Pho Dau Bo, and we were in for our next meal. Then we started walking back to the parked vehicle only to see the LRT go by at Charles onto Frederick, we all thought the same thing. We cant wait till the day that we can ride the LRT into the DTK and do it all over again.
I agree, the East end has lots of potential to further develop around the market. I believe that as the new residential units come on stream, we will see many great improvements. I think it will end up being a destination point. What I think people need to do in the interim is look closer at what is there. There is a great diversity of culture that offers much. Sure it doesn't always look very polished and perfect like Uptown Waterloo, but my kids get an experience that opens their eyes more, and will make them more diverse.
Just my thoughts.....