It's been a few weeks since I returned from Taiwan, and I'm already again craving all the delicious food that we ate there. One of the new-to-me spots for tasty treats was Maji Square, an outdoor food court/flea market that occupies the former site of the international flower expo a few years back. There are clothing and tchotchkes, wine and Taiwanese tea-flavored ice creams, and a long line of savory food stands with all different types of food (Taiwanese, of course, but also Middle Eastern, Indian, Thai, American, etc.). The Maji Food and Deli is also pretty cool! There are lots of locally made and produced dry goods, but also a deli where you can get bento lunches, and more ice cream. There are also some nice kitchen wares.

Soups, teas, and all manner of pantry goods.

Some additional restaurants around a courtyard.

Our visit was pretty short, but I'm definitely looking forward to going back next time around!

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.

one of the dining options. — one of the dining options.

the adorable outdoor seating at one of the second floor restaurants.

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.

this shop bears signage for an architect's office, but seems to also sell other goods.

these plants are amazing! i would live here.

a gift shop on the second floor of the second building.

a glimpse into the eating area at 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.

this & that

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