it's a whole lot colder in brooklyn than it is in taichung. i've been back for about a week now, and am wishing for those sunny 70-degree days, especially now that it's getting dark at 4:30 here. ugh. to comfort myself, i'm revisiting photos from my trip! here are some that i took at fantasy story, which i first checked out last year (although i didn't get around to posting about it until september).
i spent a bit longer there this time around - it was a weekday and things were slow, but there seemed to be more shops associated with the fantasy story brand. in fact, they were all strangely marked by strings of halloween pumpkin lanterns, which you can see in some of the photos. since my visit was in late november, i'm not sure if it was leftover from some halloween event, or a year-round thing the way christmas decorations tend to be. (i can still remember how my favorite restaurant in middle school had a "merry xmas" banner on its door in the middle of summer. tangentially, it's strange how so many american holidays have migrated to taiwan. my mom mentioned thanksgiving to me and i was like: "why do taiwanese celebrate the survival of pilgrims and squanto's good will?" these holidays were definitely not on any local's radar when i lived there in the 1990s....) but i digress. back to fantasy story: it's definitely very cute. but hey, i like this kind of thing.
the spaces are available for events and exhibits, and it looked like a crew was scoping out the space for a future event while i was there. there were also more restaurants than last time - a tea shop and a japanese restaurant on the second floor, as well as a large western restaurant called isabella.
it was so peaceful just wandering around and exploring alone. on the weekends though, it's probably packed with friends and family having tea and brunch and running around the courtyards.
this is the "bookshop for beginners" - an introductory point to fantasy story.
a list of the shops and restaurants on zhongxing first lane 「中興一巷」.
the second floor of one of the buildings. love the way they've restored the rooflines and shingles.
the current photo exhibit.
one of the dining options.
the adorable outdoor seating at one of the second floor restaurants.
a window to the teashop.
this place serves noodles, i think.
a view down to one of the interior courtyards.
fantasy story featured blooming bougainvillea too, like everywhere else in taichung. how have i never noticed these flowers before?!
the second story of the complex. i hear it used to be dormitories.
an enchantingly green corner.
a shop with curios and plants.
this shop bears signage for an architect's office, but seems to also sell other goods.
the second complex on zhongxing road.
isabella's lush courtyard.
these plants are amazing! i would live here.
a gift shop on the second floor of the second building.
looking down into isabella's courtyard.
a glimpse into the eating area at isabella.
the entry area to isabella.
each building had two to three small courtyards. this was taken from the street into the last.
more plants! i wished that i could bring them all home.
a map of the different locations associated with fantasy story.
ps. check out my last visit here.
