The Office Experience was created by Original X Productions (OGX) and Universal Live Entertainment in consultation with The Office’s U.S. creator Greg Daniels. It delivers an experience that is as close to being on the set of the series as possible.

As guests walk through the space they will come across fun facts about the series, the characters, set re-creations, original costumes and props and so much more! The high level of detail in creating this fully immersive experience really surprised us. Mega-fans will definitely get the most out of this self-guided wander through Dunder Mifflin Business Park experience. If you’re a newbie to the show (or those who have maybe just dabbled here and there) it’s still a fun walk through and a throwback to the average office vibe in the 80s. It may even inspire many to return to the series!

The Office has been such a phenomenon and a huge hit for many years. It ran for nine seasons. Recently,  a whole new generation of college and high school students have given the series a fresh boost along with existing fans, making it the most streamed television series in the U.S. during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

What is the enduring popularity of this show? “It’s the subversive, and sometimes shocking, humour,” said Michael Silver, President of Global Business Development, Universal Parks & Resorts. “It’s also very relatable. The characters on the show were just ordinary people working in an office but they got into a lot of eccentric and crazy things happening in very ordinary situations.”

This experience is filled with the tiniest of details. “It’s not just an Instagrammable walk through for people to take pictures, although there’s lots of opportunities to do so, but we wanted people to actually do stuff like open drawers, pick up the telephone receiver, play Dunder Ball,  and dance down the wedding aisle. There are a lot of fun ‘Easter eggs’ to discover.”

Sets have been re-created where fans can even act out a few of the most iconic scenes. Confessions in the conference room anyone? There’s also The Bullpen, Michael’s Office, Ryan’s Closet, Pam’s Reception Desk,  Kevin’s Chili Spill, The Conference Room, Jim and Pam’s Wedding Chapel and more. Be ready for a few “Oh, I remember that episode” type of nostalgic moments!

Find actual printed out business cards in the cardholders? Keep that as a souvenir. Consider this a scavenger hunt full of surprises!

We also love all the 80s office things. The fax machine, vending/coffee machines, inspirational posters hanging on the walls, mission statements made us laugh. No in-office baristas making bespoke coffee or matcha lattes here! Also, be sure to open the fridge.  For those who may not be as familiar to the series. A visit to the meet the team wall, office romance graph, and even Pam and Jim’s Love Story timeline will offer insight into the characters.

You can take ALL the photos you’d like but there are also a few premium photo opps that fans might want to nab with printed photos. We won’t give away all the surprises! Trust us, there’s LOTS!

What else could fan expect? We wouldn’t be surprised if they host trivia nights, scavenger hunts, and corporate team building events. Heck, someone could maybe do a buy out the space and host a wedding here. Just a thought. Apparently someone did do a marriage proposal when the The Office Experience was in Chicago.

THE OFFICE Experience at the Yorkdale Shopping Centre is now open until June 4, 2023. For more information and tickets visit www.TheOfficeExperience.com — some walk-in tickets will also be available depending on capacity numbers. The Warehouse Gift Shop will be open to ticket and non-ticket holders during regular business hours.

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Pet Photo Studio at Yorkdale: Furry friends are invited to have their photos taken with Santa from December 1 to December 24. All pets with paws and their families are welcome! Pre-registration and pre-paid packages required. They will also be accepting cash donations for Team Dog Rescue – a foster based registered Canadian charity is dedicated to helping homeless dogs find their forever homes. A separate outdoor entrance located on the north side of the mall for convenience. Photos are printed while you wait. And while you wait, there are several photo worthy set ups within the space so you can take even more photos! A doggy bathroom area and water station is also on site. They think of everything! Link here to reserve.

Kimpton Saint George Hotel: December 4, 11 am to 1 pm in The Living Room. Get in the spirit of the season at this luxe hotel and have your photos taken with Santa (Free). The event benefits Sunshine Therapy Dogs.

Howliday Market hosted by Ontario Doggo: Heritage Court, Exhibition Place. December 10/11. This festive market is created for pet lovers and their furry pals. Complimentary Santa photos (but ticketed entry to the event). Shop for all your holiday pet needs with over 50 vendors.

Juno Vet: 1073 Yonge Street. Your dog is invited to have a visit and free photos with Santa on Sunday, November 20 (11 am to 5 pm) at the newly opened Juno Vet clinic. Juno Vet is Toronto’s first members-only vet practice that guarantees same day or next day appointments and 24/7 access located in the Summerhill area of the city.

PetSmart: annual Santa Claus photos (complementary) are back at participating PetSmart locations. On these dates: December 10/11 and December 17/18. Reserve your spot at your location of choice. Sign up begins November 27^th for Treats Rewards Members and December 1^st to the general public.

The Coca Cola Caravan: Various locations starting November 25. Making hundreds of Canadian stops and spreading holiday joy to communities. Includes Santa photo opps for families and yes, dogs. First stop in our city will be on Friday, November 25 from 4 pm to 10 pm at Ripley’s Aquarium (outdoors 288 Bremner Blvd). On Saturday, November 26 from 5 pm to 9 pm it will be at Mississauga Light Up the Square at 300 City Centre Drive.

Canadian Pet Expo Toronto Christmas Pet Expo: November 19 & 20 at the International Centre (6900 Airport Rd.) The Jolly old man himself will be at the Toronto Christmas Pet Show on Saturday and Sunday to take photos with you and your pets! Be sure to put Santa’s Visit as a first item to see when attending the show and get ready to snap a ton of adorable photos!

Dufferin Mall: book your pet photos with Santa here on dates and times dedicated to our furry friends. November 27, December 4, and December 11 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm. Reservations are highly encouraged. Donations will be accepted in support of the St. Johns Ambulance Therapy Dog Program.

Grinch photos anyone? 

Feliz Navi Claws at Ren’s Pets Liberty Village: December 9 from 3 pm to 7 pm.102.1 The Edge’s Feliz Navi Claws holiday event to support the Ontario SPCA. Stop by to meet Kolter and Meredith from The Edge, and have your picture taken with the Grinch. Plus, see iconic Canadian band the Trews in a special busking performance at the event, all to support animals this holiday season.

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The entrance to the exhibit is larger than life, trust us you won’t miss it. The multi-room experience offers an in-depth look into the history, science, technology, genetics, engineering and profiles of the Avengers. The first room explains your mission. That is, to learn as much as you can and become an Agent of Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. Think you have what it takes?  Then enter in to gain access to the secret intelligence and absorb everything you can.

Inside, you’ll have a chance to explore various areas each one dedicated to a member of the Avengers. The exhibition includes interactive displays, incredible original costumes and props from the blockbuster hit movies. Where there are touch-screen opportunities, visitors are offered stylus pens to activate. Motion sensory missions keep you on your toes. Visit Iron Man’s Engineering Bay, learn about Tony Stark’s first Iron Man suit, find out why Steve Rogers was chosen to become Captain America, are just a few points of interest. But what’s really cool about this particular exhibition is the latest addition of Black Panther that’s making its worldwide debut. Here you’ll have a rare opportunity to also see one of the costumes up close that were created by the original designer for the film – we learned that no one else is permitted to recreate the actual Black Panther costumes.

Amazing photo opportunities are waiting for you, too.  Make sure your battery is fully charged. Once you think you’ve prepared yourself, you’ll be left with one final challenge before leaving — save your energy!

Agents (Staff) are standing by and ready to help answer any questions you may have. They’ll also have eyes on social distancing protocols. All areas of the exhibition will be frequently disinfected to keep surfaces spotlessly clean.

Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. has excited millions who have already visited in London, Seoul, Paris, Singapore, Beijing, Chongqing, and India. There is also a permanent exhibition in Las Vegas. The current production will continue on its Canadian journey with future stops in Vancouver and Montreal.

It’s recommended to purchase tickets online in advance to guarantee entry. Adult ticket pricing starts at $29, children (ages 3 to 9) starts at $25. VIP tickets also available. There will be some walk-in tickets available at the box office.

What else you may want to know?

There are several touchless hand sanitizer stations throughout the exhibition. Some interactive displays may be temporarily suspended due to COVID19 protocols. The producers of the show will monitor guidelines closely and adjust accordingly.

The entire exhibition would take approximately an hour (or more if you’re a die-hard fan) to explore. We suggest taking your time as there are LOTS to see and learn.

If Canadian health officials require exhibitions to shut down due to COVID19, then full refunds will be available.

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What makes them unique? For starters, their ingredients including Japanese Nisshin Seifun flour that’s made exclusive for Hattendo as well as the Yame brand matcha powder from Fukuoka known for the Hoshino Tea Gardens nestled in the mountains and produce some of the finest green teas in the world.

Each pillowy Hattendo bun is made by hand and hand-wrapped. The traditional bun itself is a cross between a bao and bun with a light texture that’s not too sweet complimenting the whipped cream-like filling.  Not as heavy as you would imagine when you hear anything that is creamy. We found them light and refreshing. A nice accompaniment to that afternoon coffee or worth packing for your weekend outings.

To celebrate their first anniversary in Canada, Hattendo has released a limited edition Smile Cream Bun Set. The company says they are “devoted to cheering people up” with this sweet set alongside their signature and seasonal flavours. We’re told the name of this anniversary set was inspired by the shape of the bun. Once filled, the bun creates an image of a smiling face.

The Smiling Cream Bun Set is what sweet dreams are made of.  The special anniversary set includes:

Strawberry Heaven – made with fresh strawberries embedded into the chilled signature Hattendo whipping cream and custard cream.

Sakura Sakura – A mix of cream cheese, whipped cream and Sakura paste. Decorated with salty pickled Sakura flower imported from Japan.

Back to Kyoto – made with premium matcha powder and red bean paste imported from Japan.

Ume in Hojicha Dessert – salted Japanese plum placed in the middle of Hojicha cream mixing with organic Hojicha powder imported from Japan. Although these ingredients are not commonly paired together, the salty and subtly sweet combination.

Chocolate & Almond on the Cloud: -Dutch chocolate cream topped with home-roasted almond crunch padded with soft and chewy mochi.

Aside from Hattendo’s Smile Cream But Set, their hand-made classic Chilled Cream Buns includes five signature flavours – with best sellers Custard, Matcha (a personal favourite), Azuki Beans alongside whipped cream and chocolate (another favourite of mine).

Another fun on-the-go dessert is Hattendo’s Japanese Fruit Sandwiches made with fluffy Japanese milk bread, slathered generously with their signature chilled custard cream and whippedcream and topped with fresh seasonal strawberries or mangoes — a popular food trend in Japan.

Due to the complexity of the buns, this anniversary Smiling Cream Bun set is available only by pre-orders until August 28th for pick up and delivery on Saturdays. Hattendo has locations on Baldwin Street, Square One Shopping Centre, Holt Renfrew Centre, and now Yorkdale Shopping Centre. You can learn more and reserve your order here.

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Samantha Wasser, founder and creative director, who’s family was already established in the fine dining restaurant scene, had the idea of opening a plant-based casual restaurant. When they were looking into various spaces she came upon a corner property in the West Village at the corner of Macdougal and Bleecker Streets. that had been left derelict from a previous restaurant. It was a location she felt had potential and the rent was reasonable even though, at the time, wasn’t the most desirable area with a lot of businesses turning over. “I was so interested in having a corner space,” said Wasser. “I fell in love with this location that was overlooked by many – there was a fire in the space before and it was just left alone. I began doing a lot of research and I remember walking around the West Village and kept looking at the space but everyone kept saying it wasn’t a great spot. It used to be a place called Cafe Borgia and it was where all of the beatniks use to hang out. It was the hotspot for famous poets like Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac, there’s so much history here. I really wanted to bring it back to life.” I dug deeper to discover that Andy Warhol, James Dean, Joan Baez and Bob Dylan also frequented the previous establishment.

The location was also near a university which was very appealing for foot traffic. “We liked that it was close to NYU and felt students would be essential to the growth of our brand,” said Wasser. “We saw that the younger generations were more interested in eating better and super conscious of what they were eating. They were also more adventurous with their food.”

The wishlist also included lots of natural light and insisted the establishment have a bright space, both indoor and outdoor, to set the tone and establish by Chloe. She knew social media would also play an important part in getting the word out.

They decided to open the doors to their first location in July of 2015. “Fast Casual” restaurants were just starting out and it was a runaway success but not without some growing pains. They decided to move forward into this style of restaurant and thought it would be okay to forgo wait service in order to have more accessible, delicious and well-sourced food. by Chloe opened during the summer break with the thought that it would be slow since the students weren’t there. “We thought we would have time to work out any kinks before the students came back. We couldn’t keep up. We were understaffed and it was our first time doing fast-casual.” They were greeted with line-ups immediately and it caught them by surprise. The turn out was beyond what any of them had expected. Even though her family was already in the restaurant business the fast-casual style of service was a completely new experience. “I remember when we opened and I was sitting with the head of operations and we were getting all of these orders and they would be coming out to the window and getting to the customer. I remember thinking how does it get from here to there or how do you pack for to-go or to stay?” There were lots of little details that were important in the process and everything had to move quickly. Dishes were made fresh to order and delivered to the table at first. Customers were given numbers on stands to be brought to their tables but then the tables all filled and people were standing around with numbers. Then they tried calling out names but then it became a constant yelling out of names. Eventually, they settled into a groove and the ordering system worked and kept the flow.

The formula worked and customers were requesting locations outside of the U.S. A key communication tool for the eatery is consistency in maintaining engagement and keeping a close relationship with their customers. Social media has played an important part as they had anticipated. “I’m all about direct messaging and having open and honest conversations,” said Wasser. They’ve been active in taking note of where people are requesting them to open up and Canada kept popping up. They did their homework and felt the city would be a great addition. So, when the opportunity came up at Yorkdale, Wasser felt it was the right time to bring by Chloe north of the border. “In Toronto, we were seeing not only the restaurant scene being incredible but the vegan scene is growing and pushing beyond anywhere else we were seeing in Canada. When the Yorkdale property came about it just check so many boxes for us. We thought if we didn’t take it, then we might not get that opportunity again.”

This is not just their first location in Canada but it’s also the first indoor mall location for by Chloe which Wasser tells us is a different approach for the brand. They had to rethink the space in keeping with their desire for light and the ability to keep the feel of the brand. The facade was important to keep the consistency of the brand. Yorkdale property management was in agreement. The beauty of this mall is that they encourage the brand to make the space their own and we are already witnessing that with such spaces as TORA, Restoration Hardware, IQ Foods, and Laduree. by Chloe has that feel and charm of the original West Village shop with the black and white awning, brownstone and even a “second floor” that looks like an apartment. The iconic woven swing chairs are in the windows and comfy banquette seating line the side as well as the inviting communal table. The space is bright and airy with a tall ceiling. The brand is meant to be fun and each location also includes a nod to the locales with neon spin-off sayings on the walls and — well, make sure you visit the washrooms.

The menu itself is “plant-based” and 100 per cent vegan. But the approach is refreshing. Wasser tells us there are so many misinterpretations of what vegan food is. She recalls when they first launched and one of the first questions they were asked was “is it raw?”

“People assumed it was going to be tasteless and not filling,” said Wasser. “Vegan food at that time when we started was so serious and to be honest, a little judgy for people that didn’t understand what it was.” For her, being approachable and fun is very much part of the brand.

The team just wanted a delicious fast meal option that people wouldn’t feel bad about or be educated on. The tone is light and kitchy. “I remember when investors were telling me it seems so childish but I was telling them it was intentionally so. We did that on purpose. It was because people were taking it too seriously. We just wanted people to think its fun and delicious, oh, and by the way, it just so happens to be vegan instead of trying to change the world.”

It’s also about love, compassion and being an inviting brand instead of saying you can’t eat here because say, you’re wearing leather. It’s one step at a time. “Who am I to say who can or cannot eat here?” said Wasser. “Why would I want to serve just one type of person? Instead, I want to get that fur or leather wearing person to try a different meal and perhaps think differently. We know that even having someone just change their meal once a week, month or a year does add up. If you’re single-minded about who you’re serving then you’re not really thinking about creating change. For me, it’s come as you are whoever you are and we’re here for you. You don’t have to sign on some dotted line to say you’re 100% vegan.”

The menu is pretty much their core “tried and true” customer favourites including the Guac Burger and the Quinoa Taco Salad – both highly recommended. There are a few additions that are fun takes on Canadian favourites including a Poutine and a Maple Bacon Burger. Wasser also mentioned they are also working on Nanaimo bars. “Everyone was telling me it was a childhood favourite so it’s fun for an outsider like me to play on nostalgia and that emotional attachment of what we grew up with.” By the way, their desserts are ridiculously good (go for the Cinnamon Espresso Cookie that’s the size of your face).

Wasser tells us they always think about flavours and ingredients first but like to push further. Plating is important. For example, salads are presented in layers rather than tossed. “There are so many textures and colours and we want people to see their food.” Just check their @eatbychloe Instagram page and you’ll see.

And where did the by Chloe name come from? To her, it was always about the flexibility of the name and giving it space to be open-ended and fun. The name also gives the brand the ability to collaborate with others. Recently they did a limited collaboration with a CBD brand. They also did a successful Carrot Dog collab with a brother and sister team who were creating smoked vegetables that was highly successful – they actually managed to work with Kobayashk aka the King of Hot Dogs to be the face of the campaign who was blown away with the taste and texture.

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