#also wait for it from hamilton just started playing on my phone randomly
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not saying anything to not jinx BUT BEAUTIFULLL BEAUTIFULLLL BEAUTIFUL BOYYYYYYYYY
#carlitos#carlos sainz jr#also.....#give me a beautiful podium#with *******#formula 1#mexico gp 2024#also wait for it from hamilton just started playing on my phone randomly
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yanna & johnny react to hamilton plss
this took me 3 days and i’m not even confident abt it bc it turned out more of a yanna, johnny, mark and hyuck reaction but i hope you like it 🥺
[2:21 pm]
“stay asleep.” yanna commanded as she pushed hyuck’s head face down into his pillow, climbing on his back to sit comfortably on his butt.
“yeah, good morning to you too, yanna.” he replied almost incoherent bc of his face being smushed.
“me and johnny-hyung are gonna watch hamilton and i don’t think you’ll be interested so STAY ASLEEP.” she said once again.
“okay, popcorn’s here. we’ve got drinks, let’s do this.” johnny said, arriving from the kitchen carrying two bowls of popcorn and a plastic full of sodas.
“didn’t you guys already watch that live?” hyuck asked.
“...your point?” the girl asked, hyuck pushing her off his butt and comfortably sitting on the bed.
“we’re not forcing you to watch so just watch if you want to, but don’t ask me anything because 100% of my focus will be on the musical.” she said, excitedly hitting johnny to play the movie already.
“lies, she’ll be singing the whole thing. bet.” johnny said, while yanna could only smile widely.
yanna could only shake johnny when the logo came out. and as he predicted, yanna was already ready to sing. or rap, rather.
“how does a bastard-“
“language!” he scolded the girl who didn’t care and only continued singing.
the girl calmed down a bit and could only bounce front and back at the next two songs. mark arrived and also sat with them while hyuck played on his phone.
“is it just me who thinks leslie odom jr. is hot?” she mumbled out of nowhere, making mark giggle and johnny smile, their first time hearing yanna call someone “hot”.
“no, we totally find him hot too.” johnny replied as mark laughed harder, thinking of how renjun would’ve reacted if he was there listening to her.
“WAIT THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES.” she said, standing up to sing “story of tonight” while holding up the can of soda she had as mark laughed even more.
“you think THAT’S funny? watch her dance to the next song.” johnny said, nudging him. hyuck understood as well and got ready to put his phone up and record yanna to send to either renjun or their group chat, but most probably the latter.
“hyung, i know you know this one!” yanna whined, pulling johnny to stand up and do burr’s rap during “the schuyler sisters” and the boy could only laugh at her persistence. as the two imitated the scene, mark clapped and laughed while hyuck held in his chuckles while recording yanna dancing and singing, enjoying it very much.
as yanna calmed herself down once again, sitting in between the two and giggling occasionally at king george, the room got more serious. they all focused on the musical, even hyuck who now was leaning on his hands as he lay on his stomach behind them asking what was going on while mark explained.
“satisfied’s my favorite, i take back what i said earlier.” she mumbled as the song was about to start. again, but sitting down now, she managed to sing and rap the whole song while mark chuckled. while johnny would miss a few lines but would still rap like his life depended on it.
“hoksi, our rapper.” hyuck said, ruffling her hair as she rolled her eyes playfully.
the four watched quietly as the events unfolded, slowly finishing the popcorn. hyuck was surprised hearing yanna sniffle, slowly comforting her by patting her shoulder.
as act 2 started, yanna was bopping her head to “what’d i miss” but still a bit teary-eyed. they were all calm until the girl groaned, making them all look at her as “say no to this” started.
“he’s such a dick.” she said under his breath in straight english, making johnny spit out his drink.
“good thing we didn’t invite taeyong-hyung.” mark said, also shocked at the girl’s sudden comment. the smile on her face appeared once again as the next song started, making hyuck even more confused.
“IN THE ROOOOOOOOOOM” the four yelled out, finding it familiar from yanna’s phone whenever she plays it.
“that’s that little guy who spoke to me!” yanna and mark said in their fake british accents as johnny laughed along with hyuck.
the door opened to reveal doyoung asking if they wanted food but no one answered him, the 4 focused on the scene of the reynolds pamphlet being spread. yanna’s head was on mark’s shoulder, hyuck’s on hers while johnny was hugging the popcorn bowl.
“YES, ANGELICA! TELL HIM!” the girl said full of conviction, making johnny chuckle but also agree.
“oh no oh no oh no i’m gonna cry” yanna said, slightly covering her eyes when “burn” was about to start.
“honestly, me too.” johnny truthfully said, making hyuck pat his shoulder this time.
“if i ever join king of masked singer, i’m singing this.” yanna randomly said after the song finished, sniffling while snuggling into mark’s chest.
“that’s so random” mark chuckled as johnny agreed. hyuck then decided to call renjun, in an attempt to cheer the girl up but paused when philip got shot and they all yelled.
taeyong immediately opened the door, thinking something happened but was only welcomed with three men shocked and a crying yanna.
“aren’t you four watching this too seriously?” he asked, but yanna could only shake her head saying they’re fine. he was about to leave when yanna cried harder during “stay alive”, hugging johnny’s side in the process.
“where’s my boyfriend? i’m sad!” the girl said with a pout still crying, making them laugh instead of getting sad.
“do you want me to call injunie, yanna?” taeyong asked, still at the doorstep. the girl only sniffled and threw a popcorn at the screen, directly at alexander.
“alright, don’t cry too much.” he could only say as he left the room. the four continued watching, getting engrossed as it slowly reaches the ending. yanna’s eyes twinkled as the last song started, sighing as she was overwhelmed with emotions.
“nooooo.” she said in tears as eliza said “i can’t wait to see you again, it’s only a matter of time.” making johnny tear up as well.
“wah” mark said while clapping, making hyuck follow him while yanna tries to calm herself down.
“wow, i hate myself for crying this much. stupid men.” she mumbled but johnny could only laugh.
“we’re men.” mark reminded her but she only brushed him off.
the four turned to the door as they heard a knock, not used to people knocking on johnny’s door.
“it’s open!” hyuck replied only to snort when he saw renjun. yanna jumped up and immediately hugged the boy upset while telling him about the film, failing to remember how many times she’s told the boy about it. as renjun still listened attentively, hyuck smirked while nudging mark.
“whipped.” he coughed out, making mark laugh and johnny throw a popcorn at him. renjun continued listening to the girl who was in the middle of ranting, he flashed a middle finger at hyuck who kept coughing and saying “whipped”, “whipped culture technology” and “renwhip” as he hugged the girl who was upset at a musical she already watched before.
#huang yanna#yanna huang#nct dream 8th member#nct yanna#nct 22nd member#kpop female addition#female kpop addition
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WonderCon weekend has officially closed and while I’m totally exhausted and my feet still hurt and I’m probably still a little dehydrated and I may feel a con cold coming on, I’m sad that its over. I count down the minutes to the con each year and I always have a blast and I’m sad to see it end for 2018. This year was a good one though, full of both familiar and new experiences.
Friday was a short day for me. I ended up having to work in the morning so we didn’t get to WonderCon until about 230 pm, but Fridays are usually slow so it worked out nicely. We figured out a way to park nearby and take Lyfts in, instead of having to deal with the INSANE parking that apparently people had to go through. We did that all weekend and found that to be WAY less of a hassle and WAY worth the money we paid (which was basically next to nothing because we parked so close). We were also doing Week of Logic last week, which is a week long celebration for the anniversary of one of my favorite breweries (which is NERD themed), Bottle Logic.
Friday ended up being SUCH a fun day, even though we only had a few hours there to stay but we made it totally worth it. I really wanted to meet both EK Johnston (author of many novels, but in this case, author of the novel, Ahsoka) and Ashley Eckstein, who does the voice acting for Ahsoka in Clone Wars, Rebels and much more. They were only signing on the Friday and I’ve met them both before, but I wanted to try and snag a paperback cover of Ahsoka in order to do a giveaway soon (so keep an eye out!).
They were SO nice to meet again. Ashley actually recognized me, which was nice, since I’ve done my best to try and meet her every year at WonderCon for the past couple of years. My boyfriend, Daniel, gave her a compliment on her audiobook reading of Ahsoka and I think she really appreciated that; she said she was avoiding it since she felt like she did an awful job at the voices for Darth Maul and Bail Organa haha.
We ended up staying in the autograph area immediately after since an author Daniel really likes, Patrick Rothfuss, was signing as well. He was a super cool guy and I even snagged a copy of his first book for my friend, Alyssa, who is a big fan and could not go. I love watching my boyfriend meet people he admires, especially since he doesn’t get to do so often and he really only started to once he started dating me haha. I’ve met a lot of people so its fun to see someone else do it, especially someone who isn’t so used to meeting famous people. I definitely enjoyed that.
Mostly on Friday, we wandered Artist Alley, where I get the most in trouble with my wallet. I love seeing all the artwork and I always have a couple goals when looking for art. Last year it was Mei from Overwatch and any Hamilton art, and this year I was all about Wonder Woman and Ahsoka!
Saturday, we ended up in SO many panels, which I super loved because that almost never happens for me. I always end up spending so much time on the con floor that I barely make any panels, but not on Saturday and that was so great!
We went to a panel called the Science of Pacific Rim, with the host Kyle Hill, who works for Nerdist, amongst other things, to discuss the science-y stuff behind the cult movie, Pacific Rim. This just so happens to be Daniel’s favorite movie and the panel was SO much fun. I’ve only seen the movie once but honestly it was a bunch of science nerds, geeking out and discussing the finer points of a movie and I LOVE and LIVE for that stuff. Truly it was such a fun panel and I would’ve never thought to go to it if it hadn’t been for Daniel.
That night, we ended up in three back-to-back fantastic panels. One of them we stumbled to on accident, waiting for the panel after it. It was about Latinx in Comics, and had three woman who run the podcast Comadres y Comics (which I’ve now started listening to and LOVE) and an author Sebastian Kadlecik, who wrote the comic Quince, about a girl who gets super powers at her quinceanera. It was such a fun panel and I’m so glad we got to the room early for the following panel because I would have missed out. I’m sad I didn’t get a picture but it was nice to see woman who look like me, talking about comics and stories like that. One of them even owns a comic book store in Santa Monica with her husband and that’s just the coolest.
We also did the Dark Side of Women, a panel that talked about exploring the darker side of women in fiction, which was incredibly enjoyable and incredibly inspiring. I’m not really nice to my characters and its nice to know that I am most definitely not the only one. We also ended up randomly in a Dungeons and Dragons panel as well. Daniel is HUGE fan and has been playing for a few years now and dedicates a lot of time and energy into it and he’s even gotten me to play and I actually ended up liking it a lot. I love to watch more than anything and get inspired for my own world building and story telling but I truly love playing too. Its really a chance for adults to play make believe and the panel was full of people who’ve been playing for decades and had a lot of cool advice and experienced insight to share, even for someone who has been playing for a bit, like Daniel.
Sunday, I think, was my favorite day though and I may be a little biased when I say so. I was lucky enough to be a moderator at my very first WonderCon panel ever and it was basically a dream come true. WonderCon is my favorite convention and its been a bucket list item for quite some time to be on panel and my dear friend, Alexandra Monir, asked me to moderate the Women Writers in YA Science Fiction and Fantasy panel with Alexandra, along with Robyn Schneider, Kiersten White and Livia Blackburne. Its a subject that is SO near and dear to my heart and it didn’t take me more than a few seconds to say YES.
I was definitely nervous for it, especially when I discovered our panel was in such a BIG room, but the turn out was so great, and the authors were amazing. I felt confident up there and we had great discussions about being women in male-dominated genres and being aware of our own personal brand of feminism in writing and so much more. It felt awesome to be up there and I couldn’t have asked for better authors, a better audience or a better time. It was SUCH a great experience for sure.
All in all, it was another banner year at WonderCon and I’m sad to see it go once more. I always have such a great time, meet great people, see friends I haven’t seen in a long time, and buy too much fan art…if that is even such a thing. This year was even better than usual; I got to discover new podcasts and cross a bucket list item off the list. I am always counting down the days until the next year because, again, I always have such a great time. I can’t wait for next year!
I was in a search for some good Wonder Woman fan art and I saw a lot of it but this is the one that honestly made me the happiest and I had to get it. Irene also had a ton of awesome buttons and some other fabulous fan art as well and you can check her out as beanclam on instagram.
I bought a ton of Hamilton fan art from a sunnydisposish last year and I knew I needed this fan art in my life, especially after Kelly Marie Tran, who plays Rose in The Last Jedi, shared it on International Womens Day!
I had been looking EVERYWHERE for Ahsoka art work and I found a few but none that really jumped out or spoke to me until suddenly, out of nowhere, I spotted this one from Albert Nguyen (albertnguyenart) and immediately purchased it without a second thought. I love Ahsoka and Sabine and was immediately sold on this artwork.
I knew the moment I saw Chrissie Zullo’s booth that I was going to get something from her, it was just so hard to decide. She had an excellent Wonder Woman art piece (which she actually uses as her business card, so I have that in my clear phone case now haha) and an incredibly Leia one as well but I’m a sucker for snow bunny aka Hoth Leia and got my hands on this one. Make sure to follow her on her instagram here.
FREAKING LUNAR CHRONICLES FAN ART! CINDER, SCARLET, CRESS, WINTER AND IKO! I told myself that I was cut off from buying more fan art but how often do you see YA fan art at a con? I had to buy them. HAD TO! Follow the artist here and beg her to do more YA fan art because I’m truly in love.
I didn’t even realize Karen Hallion was going to be at WonderCon again and so I was pleasantly surprised to see her, and I immediately got my hands on her calendar, because I’m totally super in love with her original character. She’s well known for doing her Disney-Doctor Who crossovers but she honestly is my fave in fan art and always draws ALL the badass ladies in fiction.
My last little guilty pleasure purchase is from a vendor called Pixel That. I saw them last year on the last day, after my wallet was tapped out so I was determined to get something from them this year. I definitely want to buy more of them because they’re cute, sassy and insanely comfortable and now they have leggings too! They said the magic words. You can follow them here.
Event Recap - WonderCon Anaheim 2018! #WonderCon #WCA2018 @wondercon WonderCon weekend has officially closed and while I'm totally exhausted and my feet still hurt and I'm probably still a little dehydrated and I may feel a con cold coming on, I'm sad that its over.
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10 Things I Hate About You AU Chapter 1
Fandom: Be More Chill, Dear Evan Hansen Characters: Michael, Jeremy, Evan, Connor, Rich, Jake, Alana, Zoe, Chloe, Brooke, Jenna, Jared Ships: Boyf riends, treebros, richjake, Zolana, Pink Berry Word count: 4.2k Summary: Evan and Jeremy both get their fair share of love, romance, lies, and ploys by the end of the year.
Feel free to read this on ao3 instead!
Jeremy Heere was sitting in the guidance counselor’s office at his new high school. He had walked in several minutes ago but the counselor, Mr. Reyes, was busy tapping away at his computer.
“Come in! Come in!” Mr. Reyes had called in a strange, theatrical vibrato from his desk when Jeremy had knocked on his door.
“Sit down, please, Jeremy, I’ve been expecting you.” Mr. Reyes had said with an almost sinister looking smile.
“Uuuuuh…okay,” Jeremy had said, doing as he was told and took a seat on the chair in front of the desk.
10 minutes later and Mr. Reyes was still tapping away at his computer and Jeremy was glancing around, taking in the office, not really sure what else to do.
Mr. Reyes office was small and cluttered. It was decorated from floor to ceiling with posters of musical theater shows like Cats, The Phantom of the Opera, My Fair Lady, Cabaret, A Chorus Line, Hamilton, and many, many more. A microwave sat precariously on a stool in the corner, something inside it being heated. Jeremy hadn’t seen what it was when Mr. Reyes shoved it in a few minutes ago. The timer only had about 2:00 minutes on it now.
“Now, let’s see.” The guidance counselor said, finally closing his computer and opening up what Jeremy could only assume was his school file. He started skimming over it and making interested humming noises that made Jeremy nervous.
“My, my…changing schools in the middle of high school? I certainly hope nothing went wrong at your last school.” Mr. Reyes smirked at Jeremy and peered at him over the top of his glasses.
Jeremy glanced around the room. This was uncomfortable, to say the least.
He cleared his throat. ��Oh no, actually my dad-”
“That’s enough.” Mr. Reyes said, putting his hand up to stop Jeremy, “I'm sure you won't find Middleborough any different than your old school.”
Jeremy raised his eyebrows and nodded.
It had all happened so fast. Jeremy’s dad had met someone when he was in the middle of his freshman year. Jeremy was just glad that his dad was able to get over his deadbeat mom and find someone new. She had left a few years ago and his dad hadn’t seemed okay for a long time after that.
His dad’s girlfriend was Heidi Hansen and she was really nice. A part-time nurse, part-time law student and she made his dad happy. She had long blonde hair, kind blue eyes, and Jeremy liked her smile and the way she spoke.
Heidi also had a kid, Evan. He was 1 year older than Jeremy but was nothing Jeremy had really expected in a big brother. Jeremy always pictured himself with a super cool older brother who played on the football team and was super smooth with the girls. He’d be tall with good hair and always have the best clothes and everyone would like him. And Jeremy would be just like him and his cool older brother would invite Jeremy to all the cool parties in town and everyone would be all “Dude, that’s your brother, he’s so cool. And you’re so cool too!”
When Jeremy first met Evan, after his dad insisted that things with Heidi were getting serious enough for their kids to meet, Evan was kind of the opposite of all of that. Evan didn’t play any sports or go to parties or had never dated anyone. He was shorter than Jeremy with okayish hair and nervous eyes. He wore the same weird combo of a blue polo and khakis every day and he stuttered and he spoke way too fast at times. He played with his hands and was hunched over a lot, and he was never able to stop moving. Always pulling at the bottom of his shirt or picking at his cast or wiping at his face. Evan had never dated a popular girl or date anyone…he didn’t even really have any friends. Jeremy was disappointed, to say the least.
But Evan was nice and Jeremy liked him enough.
Just before Jeremy’s summer break between sophomore and junior year, Heidi and Paul had bought a house together and the Hansen’s and the Heere’s moved in together. It was still pretty close to Jeremy’s old house and much bigger so he wasn’t complaining. In fact, Jeremy was pretty excited because the new house was within a different schools districts limits and Jeremy was going to get to transfer schools. He was extremely lucky because it just so happened that Jeremy’s best friend was going to be at his new school.
His name was Michael and he was the coolest dude Jeremy had ever known. They had become friends back in preschool. At the time, the town was a bit smaller with only one preschool nearby. 4-year-old Jeremy had randomly sat down next to 4-year-old Michael on the first day and talked about how fast they could run on the playground and what Gameboy games they liked. They made sure to sit next to each other every day after that and had been inseparable ever since.
…Until elementary school hit and they were each carted off to their respective schools. They had wound up in the same summer camps and Jeremy had begged his dad to let him join the Boy Scout troop that Michael was in when they were in 4th grade. When they were both old enough, they played video games online together and spent a majority of their free time texting once they both got cell phones in middle school.
Michael had freaked out when Jeremy had told him he’d be switching schools. They stayed up all night talking on the phone about what it was going to be like being in classes together and living closer to each other.
A new school with Michael sounded amazing, but a new school meant new everything. Jeremy dreaded thinking about how this school was going to be just like his last school; there were the popular kids and then there were the non-popular kids and then there was Jeremy. Jeremy wasn’t even considered a non-popular kid. He was sort of just invisible to everyone. He wanted to be noticed and popular and cool, but he really had no way of knowing how to do that.
But at least he had Michael and Michael was his favorite person, so the next 2 years were going to be totally fine.
Jeremy was pulled from his thoughts when Mr. Reyes turned his head and stared out the window, a longing look in his eyes, murmuring, “Same little asswipe shit-for-brains everywhere,” under his breath.
Jeremy blinked rapidly, not knowing how else to respond to the off colored comment.
The microwave beeped, and it shook Mr. Reyes from his weird trance. He stood up and walked over to it.
“Well, I’ve got deviants to see and a hot pocket to eat. I have a student who’s going to meet you by the school entrance to show you around, so go find him. Good day, Mr. Heere.” Jeremy didn’t move a muscle.
“Good day!” Mr. Reyes said and Jeremy jolted from his chair.
“Okay. Thanks.” Jeremy said, slightly dumbfounded at everything that had happened in the office.
He turned and saw someone standing in the doorway. A guy with long hair and dark clothes. He was intimidating, to say the least. Jeremy squeezed past him and headed towards the school entrance, trying to understand how that man was supposed to be a guidance counselor.
-
Connor watched a wiry kid leave the office before his eyes slid over to where Reyes was standing. He was eating a hot pocket and some of the filling was dripping down into his beard. Connor’s top lip curled up slightly in disgust.
“Connor Murphy. I see we're going to be making our visits a weekly ritual, just like when you were a sophomore.” Reyes gestured to the chair in front of his desk.
Connor didn’t respond to his invitation to talk or sit, just stared at him from the doorway arms crossed.
How was he already in trouble? He hadn’t even done anything yet, he had literally just shown up to the first day.
“Your mother called earlier, wanting me to just…check up on you, make sure everything was going well.”
“I’ve been back for about 20 minutes now so, yeah it’s been great,” Connor replied with a sarcastic smile.
It was obviously already a disaster. Kids parted like the red sea when they saw that everyone’s favorite freak had returned. Connor had just glued his eyes to the floor and let his hair fall around his face while whispers followed him everywhere.
“Well, this year, we’ll get it right, won’t we Mr. Murphy?”
“Can’t wait,” Connor muttered, leaving without a second glance toward Reyes.
-
Evan was extremely nervous to have a sibling. He had hung out with Jeremy a lot after their parents had started going steady but he was worried about spending a lot of time with another teen boy. What if Jeremy didn’t actually like him or what if he thought Evan was lame? What if he was just being nice while his dad was around but was actually really violent and would go berserk on him?
After meeting him, Evan knew Jeremy wasn’t like that at all, but Evan couldn’t help but feel that way at first. He had never had a brother or a stepbrother before and he didn’t really know what it was going to be like.
Jeremy was funny and nice and asked Evan to play video games with him all the time. Evan really wasn’t good – his hands trembled too much – but he liked spending time with his new little stepbrother. Plus it made his mom happy to see Evan interacting with someone around his own age.
When Evan had heard that their family was all going to be moving in together, he had only freaked out a little. He liked Mr. Heere and Jeremy but spending some time with them was totally different than living with them.
Moving in had gone better than expected. Heidi and Paul had picked a 2 story house within driving distance of the school and Jeremy and Evan each got their own bedrooms. (Evan’s bedroom was painted a soft blue color, while Jeremy had each wall a different color; red, dark blue, light blue, and green.)
They had all worked for several weeks at the end of August; painting, installing, and moving furniture into the house before they were finally able to move in themselves.
The boys had helped carry in each other’s stuff up to their rooms and unpack. Evan had handed thumbtacks to Jeremy when he was putting up his video game posters while Jeremy helped try to fit Evan’s extensive book collection on trees and plants into just one bookcase (it hadn’t worked, there was still a few piles sitting on the floor next to Evan’s bed).
That night they had ordered pizza and sat around their new IKEA dining room table, Heidi and Paul discussing what they should do for curtains and if they should get a mirror for the upstairs hallway.
-
Evan wasn’t looking forward to going back to school at all. It was his senior year and he hated being here. Most people just sort of pretended that Evan didn’t exist, which for the most part, he was happy about. He was so awkward and weird and shaky that it was probably better than people just looked right through him. But…he did kind of wish that he was less like that and maybe someone would see him…if only a little. But that hadn’t happened in the past 3 years, and it wasn’t going to start now.
Jeremy had seemed like a great first step. Evan could show him around the school and they’d sit together at lunch and work on homework in the library. But that all fell apart when Evan learned that Jeremy already had a friend at school. Evan didn’t want to get in the way of them so he resigned himself to keeping his distance so Michael wouldn’t have to deal with Jeremy’s weird older stepbrother.
Evan would just go to school with his head down and try not to draw any attention to himself and hopefully, this last year would go by quickly.
-
It was the morning of the first day of school. Mom called up to Evan, who was sitting on his bed, fiddling up the cast that was wrapped around his left arm and scrolling through his Facebook feed.
“Evan, the counselor wants to see Jeremy before school starts today, would you show him where to go?” Heidi asked.
“Y-Yeah, sure, sounds great,” Evan responded, his mind suddenly deciding to forget where the counselor’s office was in the school.
“Hey, champ, your mom and I were talking and we think should let the other kids sign your cast today at school,” Mr. Heere said from down the hall.
“Okay, Mr. Heere,” Evan laughed awkwardly, a sinking feeling in his gut when he thought about the rejections he was going to face if he tried that.
“Don’t forget about those letters, sweetie! You need to be writing those letter!” Evan’s mom reminded him.
“I know, I’m gonna finish one at school,” Evan replied.
Jeremy appeared at his door.
“You ready to go, dude?” He asked
“Ye-Yeah let’s do it,” Evan said.
Evan and Jeremy agreed on walking since it was better than riding the bus or having one of their parents drop them off. Evan couldn’t drive yet. Or rather he could be, but driving sent Evan into a panic, so he tried to avoid it as much as possible. It was embarrassing, being the only senior at school who didn’t drive in.
Jeremy and Evan had talked for a bit while walking to school, but both of them were too nervous to really hold a coherent conversation.
Once they go to the biggest building on campus, Evan led him down a few hallways until they headed into an office that had a handful of smaller offices inside it.
Evan turned to him and gave an awkward half-smile, before sputtering out, “O-Okay, so, here’s the guidance counseling center. Mr. Reyes is in –uh yeah he’s in that room.”
Evan pointed to a room that said 439, the door was wide open, “He’s really nice but kind of –kinda weird but everything should be all good. You can text me later if you want…or you don’t have to.”
“Okay, thanks, Evan.” Jeremy said, “See you later?”
“Yeah, see you later.” Evan nodded and waved, looking at the ground, before turning around and leaving the office.
Evan walked out into the hallway and kept his eyes locked on the ground until he saw a pair of brown boots stop in front of him. Evan looked up and saw Alana Beck, the overachieving Harvard bound student, standing in front of him.
“Hey! How was your summer?” She asked with a bright smile.
Evan looked behind him for a second, making sure she wasn’t talking to someone else.
“Mine was-” He started but Alana cut him off. Evan’s summer wasn’t that interesting so it was okay.
“Mine was productive. I did 3 internships and 90 hours of community service. I know, wow.”
“Wow, that’s really-” Evan tried again.
“Even though I was so busy I still made some great friends, or acquaintances, and even started dating someone.”
Evan pressed his lips together. Alana had started dating Zoe Murphy, Evan’s long-time crush. Well, ex-crush. Ever since he had found out about Zoe and Alana, his feelings had fallen away and he accepted that Zoe would have never wanted him, even if Alana hadn’t swooped in.
Evan tried to clear his head of the thoughts and suddenly remembered what Mr. Heere had said this morning.
“Do you maybe wanna – that’s um – I’m sorry I don’t know what you’re um if you have to – do you wanna just sign my cast?” Evan pulled a marker out of his pocket and stuck out his injured arm out in front of him.
“Oh my god,” Alana exclaimed, very concerned, “What happened to your arm?”
“Oh well, I broke it. I was climbing a tree –” Evan started to explain.
“Oh really?” Alana interrupted him again, “Zoe, my girlfriend, told me that she broke her 3 of her fingers while playing lacrosse a few years ago.”
Evan stood there awkwardly, not really sure what to say. He already knew that, but he didn’t want to let Alana know then have her tell Zoe then Zoe think he was a freak. Evan if he didn’t like her like that anymore…he didn’t want her to think that.
“Happy first day!” Alana’s smile returned to her face and she walked away. Evan waved as she went but he was pretty sure she didn’t see him.
Evan blinked and Jared was in her place, poking his chest.
“Is it weird to be the first person in history to break their arm from jerking off too much or do you consider that an honor?” Jared asked.
Evan blushed and recoiled slightly from Jared’s touch.
“No, stop, no, I wasn’t-I wasn’t doing that.” Evan’s words stumbled awkwardly out.
“Paint me the picture, you’re in your bedroom, you got Zoe Murphy’s Instagram pulled up on your weird off brand cell phone...”
Evan shushed him, “That’s not what happened. Obviously, I was just well, I was-”
“That’s a great story Evan, but I actually gotta go. Some new kid needs me to hold his hand around campus and last time I skipped my detention work, Mrs. Mooney called my mom.” Jared rolled his eyes.
“Oh, must be Jeremy…how’d you have detention?” Evan asked
“You mean your new little brother your mom adopted cuz she needed a son that doesn’t jerk off to younger girls?” Jared asked with a toothy grin, ignoring Evan’s question.
“I don’t even like Zoe anymore” Evan blushed, “Besides she’s with Alana now and there’s no way I could compete with someone like her anyway…she did 90 hours of community service.”
Jared snorted and rolled his eyes.
“Great well, while you have a meltdown, I’m gotta piss like a racehorse.” Jared started to walk away.
“Do-Do you wanna sign my cast?” Evan asked, pulling the marker back out of his pocket.
“Why are you asking me?” Jared said, his face looked almost disgusted.
“Well, I just thought cuz we’re friends.” Evan’s voice broke a little on the last two words.
“We’re family friends. That’s a whole different thing and you know it.” Jared explained to him for about the millionth time.
Evan hated when Jared said that. If he didn’t, at least Evan could pretend they were actually friends. Jared said something else but Evan didn’t even really catch it, mind still harping on “family friends”. He slipped the marker back into his pocket, resigned to the fact that no one was going to sign his cast and he’d have to explain it to his mom and Mr. Heere.
“Cool. I’m gonna go now.” Jared said and Evan gave a small wave as he watched him leave.
-
Jeremy finally made his way to the main entrance of the school. It was hard getting through the crowded hallways. Jeremy looked around for a second, realizing he had no idea what this person looked like that he was supposed to meet. Maybe he should go back up and ask Mr. Reyes who he was looking for?
Jeremy shuddered at the thought and shook his head. He’d just wait over by the wall with the trophy cases and hope that the person would find him. Maybe it’d be a cute girl and she’d show him around and maybe she’d think he was cute and ask him to sit with her at lunch or maybe –
He felt a tap on his shoulder and he jumped.
Jeremy spun around to find a guy wearing a purple button up with a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles shirt on underneath. He wore large-framed glasses, blue headphone around his neck, and a smug smile.
He stuck out his hand and Jeremy almost jumped at the quick movement.
“Jared Kleinman. Hi. I’m supposed to show you around.”
Jeremy shook his hand and nodded. “I’m Jeremy.”
“Great. Well, Jeremy here’s the breakdown.” Jared rubbed his hands together and led Jeremy down the hall.
“To the left, we have the overachievers. Get a 4.0 and join the chess club and you can be a loser just like them.” Jared laughed, gesturing towards a group of kids, waiting anxiously in front of the library, the librarian looking like he was taking forever to unlock the door. They were all carrying textbooks, handfuls of flashcards, and oversized Starbucks coffee cups.
“Over here we have the theater kids.” Jared pointed at a group of people animatedly talking over each other.
“Who uses On My Own as an audition song anymore? Like God, can you be any more basic?!” A boy from the group asked loudly and the group roared with laughter.
“One-way ticket to getting called gay.” Jared snorted and led him further down the hallway.
“Let’s see, who else do we have?” Jared said glancing around before leading them out a side door that led to an open courtyard of sorts.
Jared led him over to a table full of kids on laptops, “This is the hyperintelligent, insanely cool computer and graphics club.”
The group seemed to glare at Jared, but he only responded with a half-smile and a, “Hey guys. How ya doin’?”
No one responded and Jared’s smile dropped as they walked away.
“Yesterday I was their God,” Jared muttered
“What happened?” Jeremy asked.
“One of those assholes started a rumor that I…use Artweaver instead of PhotoShop,” Jared grumbled.
Jeremy raised his eyebrows, “So they kicked you out?”
“Hostile takeover. But don’t worry. They’ll pay. Now over here...” Jared pointed to a group of teens clad in dark clothes, “Are your basic burn-outs. Skip class, bully others, sell drugs, but mostly…”
“Smoke a lot of weed?” Jeremy asked with a laugh.
Jared stopped walking and his eyes widened. Jeremy stopped as well and tried to find what Jared was fixated on.
“Hey, Connor! Loving the new hair length. Very school shooter chic.” Jared called to a kid walking across the courtyard in front of them.
The kid stopped and turned to look at Jared. Jeremy recognized him as the guy he almost ran into when leaving the guidance counselor's office. The kid, Connor, didn’t respond to Jared, just fixed him with a frightening glare.
“I was just…kidding,” Jared said, with a smile, trying to play it cool, but Jeremy could tell he was at least a little freaked out, “It’s a joke.”
Connor just glared at Jared then turned away.
“You such a…freak,” Jared called after him with a smirk before grabbing Jeremy’s arm and pulling him back towards the building.
“That’s the school’s resident sociopath, Connor. Stay away from him at all costs or he’ll probably murder you.”
Jeremy nodded, honestly believing him. That dude seemed like he had serious issues.
“I guess there’s really only one important group I haven’t gotten to yet,” Jared said gesturing towards a group of people standing around a water fountain, all talking and looking beautiful and popular.
A pretty girl on the taller side with long brown hair was talking to a cute girl with blonde hair and a large yellow sweater hanging off her arms. Next to them was another girl with long brown hair furiously texting on her phone and looking like she was going crazy not getting to talk in the conversation that was going on between the first two girls.
“So Jenna said Madeline was all “I’ll only have sex with you if you beat me at pool.” And then she lost at pool. Deliberately.” The tall brunette explained
“That is so cool” The short blonde replied in a dreamy voice.
“Brooke!” The other girl scoffed.
“I mean slutty!” Brooke, apparently, corrected herself.
The girl who stood off to the side quickly interjected with an “and then Madeline was all –” but she was quickly cut off by the first girl.
“I’m telling this story, Jenna!”
Jared snickered at the interaction that was playing out in front of them.
“Over there you’ve got your basic beautiful people. Now listen. Unless they talk to you first, don’t bother.”
“That your rule or theirs?” Jeremy said, trying to joke.
“Cute,” Jared said, giving an unamused smile.
Jeremy stopped in his tracks. Jeremy couldn’t tear his eyes away from a guy that had turned the corner and was making his way down the hallway. He was tall, his hair was styled perfectly, and he dressed in a sporty red jacket and tattered jeans. He swaggered and exuded confidence and it was obvious every single person was watching him. Jeremy felt his face heat up just from looking at someone so attractive.
“Who is that?” Jeremy whispered in awe
“Dude, that’s Jake Dillinger, he’s pretty cool,” Jared explained with yet another smirk.
“What group is he in?” Jeremy asked
“The “don’t even think about it cuz it’s never gonna happen” group.” Jared laughed and slapped his hand against Jeremy’s shoulder.
Jeremy blushed and watched Jake strut down the hallway. He thought he heard Jared say something under his breath about everyone at the school being gay, but he couldn’t be sure.
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tag games galore
heyo! i’ve been tagged in a shitload of tag games recently, but i haven’t had time for them. well, i’ve got some time on my hands now, so let’s go!
NUMBER ONE: we rowed out across the hudson at dawn - shut up, sandhya
anyways, tagged by the lovely @gabrielledelacour; thanks, love!
5 things you’ll find in my bag (wait what kind of bag is this)
my phone, and its accessories (adapter, earbuds etc)
a book (i dunno how large this bag is but)
lip balm
a pencil (or probably way too much stationary)
um shit i dunno i don’t usually carry handbags and stuff
5 things in my bedroom
books
books
MORE BOOKS
posters and shit
just school related stuff
5 things I’ve always wanted to do in my life
WRITE A NOVEL
discover something new!
make people proud
literally just have an unproblematic group of friends
find something to be passionate about :)
5 things that make me happy
amazing additions to tumblr posts in the tags
being with my friends
debating
listening to music (atm, preferably hamilton)
writing and reading incredible things!
5 things that I’m currently into
hamilton
harry potter
tumblr
actually studying for the amc 10 (kinda)
playing the viola!
5 things on my to-do list
learn html and/or calligraphy
study for literature
make new friends!
write up this fic i’ve had running through my mind for god knows how long
stay away from toxic people tbh
5 things you may not know about me
i type abnormally quickly
i can raise one eyebrow at a time
i will take algebra over geometry and chem/physics over bio any day of the week
my favorite youtube channels are vlogbrothers and lssc!
i do my a’s like “a”, rather that the more typical one that’s an oval with the line by it
that was fun! next one: tagged by @ginnweasley, @gentleginny, @oblviqte, @pomonasprowt, @ohremvs, and @peterpettiness; thanks!
RULES: you can tell a lot about a person by the music they listen to. put your music on shuffle, and list the first 10 songs and tag 10 people.
right off the bat: for the most part, i listen to hamilton these days, but i’ll be shuffling it from my personal playlist.
1. Lock Me Up - The Cab
2. Centuries - Fall Out Boy
3. I’m So Sorry - Imagine Dragons
4. Sweater Weather - The Neighbourhood
5. All I Want - Kodaline
6. Absolutely Final Goodbye - Christina Grimmie
7. This Ain’t A Scene, It’s An Arms Race - Fall Out Boy
8. Politiclash - PAINT (Jon Cozart)
9. Young and Beautiful - Lana Del Rey
10. Riptide - Vance Joy
and also, some song recs! all the ones listed, and the following: literally everything by fall out boy, american money (BØRNS), electric love (also BØRNS), gasoline (halsey), cities (nat and alex wolff), in your pocket (maroon 5), maps (maroon 5), angel in blue jeans (train), boulevard of broken dreams (green day, of course), cake by the ocean (DNCE)
next! tagged by my favorite person in the universe, @bauqelaire - too good for this world, too pure.
1) last song you listened to: shit i don’t remember, probably something from hamilton
2) three shows on your watch list: sherlock, the late show with stephen colbert, maybe supernatural or supergirl or friends or something (i don’t watch much tv)
3) best concert you’ve ever been to: i mean i’ve only ever been to one, a katy perry concert in 5th grade with @hearing-from-my-lawyers and another friend. and while we’re being mainstream, it was pretty lit!
4) last person you hugged: probably my mom
5) favorite flower: orchid!
6) least favorite type of jewelry: anklets, i can’t stand them!
7) favorite band/singer: the cast of hamilton, fall out boy, BØRNS
8) if you could dye your hair any colour what would it be: my hair is black, so probably a shade of blue, or maybe green - any ideas? i probably won’t tho
9) greatest compliment you have ever received: i really don’t recall, sorry
10) if you had to choose 2 of your friends to live on an island with, who would they be: @hearing-from-my-lawyers and either the 1st speaker on my debate team, a certain rock (not dwayne lol), or @leonine13
11) you’re at a candle shop, what scented candle do you buy: prob vanilla cuz i’m basic
my questions: just do these, i don’t have time to think of more and they’re really good questions
here’s a long one! tagged by the amazing @boat-face-mcgee
rules: Copy this post into a new text post, remove my answers and put in yours, and when you are done tag up to 10 people and also tag the person who tagged you… and most importantly, have fun!
a - age: 14
b - biggest fear: being unimportant, and bees
c - current time: 7:51 pm
d - drink you last had: water
e - every day starts with: waking up and wishing i could sleep longer
f - favourite song: wait for it, from hamilton (i think??? there are loads of songs that i love tbh)
g - ghosts, are they real: in a metaphorical sense, absolutely; in a real sense, i’ve seen no real proof for either side of the argument so i can’t judge
h - hometown: i’d rather not say, but it’s in Silicon Valley!
i - in love with: my family and friends :)
j - jealous of: basically everyone tbh, but esp people who seem to succeed at life and school easily; i mean, they put in effort, but it always works out for them!
k - killed someone: my innocence
l - last time you cried: this morning bc i’m pathetic
m - middle name: don’t have one
n - number of siblings: zero
o - one wish: to get into a good high school; alternatively, for lin-manuel miranda to randomly decide to reprise his role of alexander hamilton for the 8 pm performance of hamilton in sfo in late march (i can’t recall the date rip)
p - person you last called/texted: the best friend!
q - questions you’re always asked: are you in *insert some grade 2-3 grades higher than what i actually am*? bc i’m tall
r - reasons to smile: friends! sunshine! pandas! fluffy fanfics!
s - song last sang: idk
t - time you woke up: around 10:10 am
u - underwear color: ...blue...
w - worst habit: i bite my nails! it’s really bad but i just can’t stop!
x - x-rays you’ve had: 2, once when i broke my finger and once when i broke my toe
y - your favourite quote: “It is a far, far better thing I do, than I have ever done ; it is a far, far better rest I go to than I have ever known.” -Sydney Carton (my problematic fave), A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens (that quote was listed by @boat-face-mcgee, but i love it too! i don’t really have a favorite, though, since are so many i love)
z - zodiac sign (but also myers-briggs) : Sagittarius, ENFP
next one: also tagged by @bauqelaire!
rules: tag nine people you want to get to know better
relationship status: single, thankfully
favorite color: turquoise or navy blue!
lipstick or chapstick: chapstick
last song i listened to: i dunno, sorry
last movie i watched: part of the first indiana jones movie, i think
top 3 tv shows: atla, lssc, basically anything on the food network
top 3 characters: (just three??? what???) sirius black, remus lupin, aaron burr, and since i can’t follow rules, finnick odair, june iparis, and hermione granger
top 3 ships: j i l y, odesta, blackinnon
books i’m currently reading: hamlet for school, and the fbawtft screenplay!
for this next one, i was tagged by @pickettandnewt
1 Song : the room where it happens, from hamilton
2 Movies : fbawtft, and moana!
3 Shows : the late show with stephen colbert, atla, friends
4 People : i’ll just tag 4 of my fave tumblr users: @peppermintparvati, @fjrebolt, @emmelinevvance, @nargles (feat. @lumox!) (oh and also my irl friends: @hearing-from-my-lawyers, @emofandomgirl, @leonine13 and @aweami543)
5 Foods : boba, mozzarella sticks, asian eggplant, malai kofta (i could swim in the stuff tbh), paneer paratha
there are a few more that i’ve been tagged in, but i’ve tried not do anything that i’ve done before.
tagging: @chodear, @nargles, @grriphook, @mxrcusflint, @emmelinevvance, @bauqelaire, @fjrebolt, @snuffls, @hearing-from-my-lawyers, @lumox, @padampatil, @cedricdiggory, @dailyprophet, @jilys, @hogsmecd, @gxnnyweasley, @pctter, @pcnsypcrkinson, @winterblackburned, @jamespottuh, @softprongs, @tragedys, and anyone else who wants to do them! you can do as many or as few as you want; i love you all!
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Dr. Phillips Center: Hamilton Ticket Update
The EXTREMELY popular Broadway Musical Hamilton is coming to the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts for 24 performances from January 22 – February 10, 2019.
I had the opportunity, as a partner of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, to find out more about the ticket purchasing process.
Before we get into it let’s go ahead and get this out of the way…I DO NOT have an on-sale date or pricing for the upcoming run of Hamilton at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. But I CAN tell you that the information is coming soon!
I am just as anxious as you are for this information thanks to my twelve year old daughter who is asking almost every day!!!
However there are some important tidbits I CAN share about the Hamilto ticket buying process at the Dr. Phillips Center to **hopefully** make the endeavor more successful for you.
Hamilton Joseph Morales and Nik Walker will lead the second national tour of Hamilton as Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, respectively. Other principal roles in Hamilton will be played by Ta’Rea Campbell as Angelica Schuyler; Marcus Choi as George Washington; Elijah Malcomb as John Laurens/Phillip Schuyler; Shoba Narayan as Eliza Hamilton; Fergie L. Philippe as Hercules Mulligan/James Madison; Kyle Scatliffe as Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson; Danielle Sostre as Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds and Jon Patrick Walker as King George. The second national tour also includes Tia Altinay, Amber Ardolino, Conroe Brooks, Cameron Burke, Evan S. Cochran, Phil Colgan, Desmond Sean Eillington, Hope Endrenyi, Lili Froehlich, Daniel Gaymon, Camden Gonzales, Jennie Harney, Stephen Hernandez, Kristen Hoagland, Abby Jaros, Emily Jenda, Wonza Johnson, King David Jones, Carina-Kay Louchiey, Brandt Martinez, Taeko McCarroll, Tyler McKenzie, Justice Moore, Antuan Magic Raimone, Julian Ramos, Jen Sese, Willie Smith III, and Julius Thomas III.
Understanding the number of Hamilton tickets that will be available for the show’s run at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
The tickets that will be going on sale for Hamilton are for the seats left over after subscribers have chosen their show, and unfortunately is is too late to become a subscriber for the season.
While we didn’t get any official number of seats available, we were told that the first week of the show’s run is subscriber heavy. So that’s something to definitely keep in mind (more on this in a few paragraphs).
Where to purchase tickets for Hamilton at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
A vast majority (they’re aiming for as close to 100% as possible) of the ticket sales for Hamilton will be online.
Please take note that there will be NO ticket sales over the phone for this show.
You could also queue up outside of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, but there are no tickets designated for sale at the venue. So if you choose this option, you’ll be waiting in line to walk up to the ticket window already behind everyone who is in the virtual purchasing waiting room. Not your best option.
The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts has instituted a variety of technological checks and balances to help ensure that bots won’t get in & buy all the tickets.
Also, to take things a step further the facility will be monitoring the process in real time flagging any suspicious sales.
But please be aware of scams!!! You will want to ONLY purchase tickets from drphillipscenter.org to ensure that they are legitimate tickets.
The fine print on Hamilton tickets at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
Here are a few things you’ll definitely want to keep in mind when you are planning your Hamilton ticket purchase:
Ticket transactions are limited to one per person,
The ticket limit per purchase is 4 per person, there are no exceptions for larger groups or families,
There will be no ticket discounts,
There will be no ticket presales,
There will be no Student Rush ticket sales,
Tickets will be mailed to home or sent digitally to your phone with a text message, and
If you are using Will Call to pick up your tickets you will be required to show a photo ID (such as a Florida Drivers License).
How the process will work for purchasing Hamilton tickets at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
First things first please know that some of the process to purchase tickets for Hamilton at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts is random, so don’t feel like you have to wake up at 3am to log into the online system.
With that in mind, here is an overview of the how the process will go:
First you will log onto to drphillipscenter.org between 15-30 minutes in advance of the sale’s start time,
After logging on you will be placed in a Virtual Waiting room, and
Once the Virtual Waiting room has reached a certain capacity a select number of people will be randomly chosen to be placed into the purchase queue to complete the transaction.
Three things to best position yourself to get Hamilton tickets for the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
Create an account online (including storing payment information) on drphillipscenter.org
Follow the Dr. Phillips Center on social (here are their links for Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram) & sign up for their email newsletter
Know the best dates that work for you before you go to buy tickets with back-up dates in mind just in case shows are sold out when you get into the purchase queue.
Didn’t score tickets? Don’t fret!
There will be a digital lottery through the show directly & last minute sales, but only for social media followers.
I hope that all of this helps make your adventure to purchase Hamilton tickets for its run at the Dr. Phillips Center more successful, and I’ll be sharing more information as it becomes available.
Follow us for more updates:
The post Dr. Phillips Center: Hamilton Ticket Update appeared first on On the Go in MCO.
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Canada 150: Meet Tim Hortons’ Biggest Fan
Tim Hortons has officially expanded in the UK, just opening its first location in Glasgow, Scotland to crowds and accolades from locals who may have encountered the brand on trips to Canada.
My 1st trip to @timhortonsuk & won't be the last. Excellent service & lovely staff, the cappuccino was spot on!Delighted to get a mug too pic.twitter.com/fZ0x0waRhS
— Mandy M (@mandydoll1983) July 6, 2017
Ironically, it’s not the first Tim Hortons in the UK—or Scotland, for that matter. Pining for his favorite brand from home, a Canadian exchange student at Glasgow University opened an unofficial Tim’s outpost 15 years ago—much to the delight of the company, which donated supplies and featured the story in an ad campaign.
We spoke with that uber-Tims fan, David Mole (right), to get his reaction to the company finally catching up with his big idea some 15 years later—and how he sees Tim Hortons today in the pantheon of iconic Canadian brands.
David, how did you come to open an unofficial Tim Horton’s at Glasgow University 15 years ago?
As an international exchange student from Queen’s University, it became abundantly clear to me within the first few weeks “on Campus” in Glasgow (University of Glasgow) that the “Canadian” student delegation was far outnumbered by our American cousins to the south. Canadians have an uncanny way of finding other Canadians when traveling, so after about 10 days I had found representation from coast to coast to coast – our 30-odd Canucks to their 120-odd Yanks. Sitting at a pub one night with my housemate James Allen and a few loud-mouthed and patriotic Americans it became clear that our US friends simply saw Canada as the 51st state—which we desperately argued!
That night, a light went off in my head—a perfect plan to demonstrate just how awesome Canada is, unique in both identity and character. It really started as a joke, to open an “unofficial Canadian embassy” on campus—to not only be there for homesick Canadians, but to invite everyone over to showcase our ‘true patriot love‘ and shining light.
We decided to call it “Caribou House” as a bit of a play on Canada House in London. So we had an awesome plan to transform our dingy five-room flat into some great tribute to Canada, but… we needed help. So I pledged to my fellow Canadians to write at least one letter a night to high-ranking Canadians and Canadian companies back home, imploring support.
I sketched out a page full of iconic Canadian brands and set to it. Within two weeks of my first salvo of this epic letter campaign. I had received amazing responses from across the country, including but not limited to: the Prime Minister (Jean Chretien), Molson Canada, Bauer Hockey, Canadian Tire, West Beach, and of course, Tim Hortons.
Tim’s and Molsons truly went out of their way to show their support… both of whose leadership had direct ties to Scotland. I had directed my letter to Tim’s co-founder Ron Joyce, a renowned philanthropist and all-around Canadian titan. His personal response was outstanding, as was Tim’s contribution.
I’ll never forget the day boxes upon boxes of coffee, trinkets and a brand new Tim Hortons-branded coffee machine showed up. So, with a little help from my ‘Embassy’ cohorts we set to it. It was time to show everyone in Glasgow just how awesome Canada is!
We went all around the University telling the story of ‘Tim’s’ and inviting people back to Caribou House to have a cup of the world-famous coffee through a sequence of parties. With a little help from our Australian friends, the parties got quite lively thanks to the fine folks at Bailey’s and the local Scottish contribution of a few “nips of Scotch.”
We were even successful in getting most of the American troupe out to celebrate Canadian identity with some delicious coffee. The whole thing was a thrilling “experience-of-a-lifetime” thanks in large part to Tim’s, Molson’s and the PMO.
Founding “Caribou House” led to a late night radio show with a friend from Ecuador and shooting an international student exchange documentary with a friend from Australia. Could it get any more Canadian, eh?
What was the reaction to the brand on-campus?
The reaction to Tim’s on campus was electric. It was an easy sell to locals for a number of reasons. As Tim Horton’s is sewn within the Canadian fabric, so too is IRN-BRU sewn within the Scottish fabric. I would often said, “This is our IRN-BRU,” this is who we are.
Also, many Scots have Canadian ties and anyone who��s been to Canada can’t deny the dominance of the Tim’s brand. The final way we won over the locals—other than having parties, supplying free coffee and just being Canadian—was to say, “You have your local pub, we have our local Tim’s. You have pints, we have the double-double.”
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How did the 2003 TV commercial by Tim Hortons featuring Caribou House (featuring Charles Rennie Mackintosh‘s font, no less) come about?
Sadly saying bye to Glasgow in May of 2002, I returned home to Niagara-on-the-Lake. That fall I headed back to Kingston to complete my final year at Queen’s. One day, rather randomly, I received a letter from Enterprise Marketing in Toronto asking if I would be OK if our story could be used in an advertisement for Tim Horton’s. I said yes, and thought nothing of it.
A short while later I received another random phone call from an Enterprise executive asking me to be at the airport in a few days and that I was being taken back to Glasgow to film a “True Stories” commercial called “Missing Home.” The entire experience was amazing.
The commercial came out that winter and aired from coast to coast to coast in Canada for a few months. People would randomly come up to me on the street and say, “What a great story, I always miss Tim’s when I’m away from home. It’s the first stop I make when I get back.”
So what was your reaction when you heard that Tim’s was finally opening in Glasgow—and at Glasgow University—as their UK launch site last month?
The UK launch and, the fact that the first location was opening in Glasgow, was brought to my attention via social media by a dear old friend who I met on campus back in 2001/2002, Sarah McGee.
Sarah, and so many other amazing local Scottish friends who were part of the “Caribou House” pop-up, have been terribly excited about the news and that now, 15 years later, “Tim’s” has arrived. For me, as someone who follows Tim’s continual growth and success, I was really excited to hear of this latest and bold move into the UK market.
We’ve brought the spirit of Canada to Glasgow. We’ve brought some tasty treats with us too. pic.twitter.com/cly6TenqrB
— Tim Hortons UK (@timhortonsuk) June 21, 2017
Knowing the people both of Glasgow and the broader Scottish thumbprint, I really do believe they’re going to embrace the brand and high quality product. I vividly recall having conversations with top Tim’s executives while shooting the commercial about bringing Tim’s to the UK simply because there is a great cultural fit. Although Brits are known for a piping hot cup of tea, the model’s been there for centuries to sit down and enjoy each other’s company over a caffeinated beverage or two.
I was told then that the greater American market was first on the agenda. I do love traveling over to Buffalo or Niagara Falls, New York, and seeing Tim’s everywhere. I hope they keep on growing and building into many more American and global communities.
I honestly think it’s all of those great Canadian backpackers and exchange students, and those living in the UK, who really made this happen after decades of proudly extolling the Canadian virtues of hockey, Canadian beer, snowmobiling and the undeniable greatness of a Tim’s coffee.
Hands up, who's visiting our Glasgow store today? #CanadaDay #TimHortonsUK pic.twitter.com/2BZlrpj69j
— Tim Hortons UK (@timhortonsuk) July 1, 2017
What is it about the Tim Hortons brand that you love?
This is a great question. I was actually thinking about this the other day heading into work. It was early, 6:30 am-ish. I was in downtown Hamilton, on Barton Street. This particular Tim’s is smack dab between Hamilton General Hospital (one of Canada’s largest hospitals), Hamilton Wentworth Detention Centre (again, a big prison) and a handful of emergency homeless shelters, food banks, and addiction/recovery facilities… not to mention a large urban community.
As someone who now works in the social work/health field, I stood there in line and thought to myself, “Only in Canada, and only at Tim’s” would this happen. The cross-section of society and the demographic of those waiting in line (which was out the door by the way) was simply amazing. You had doctors and nurses going into work, recently-released inmates, city workers, two pastors, construction guys, those who had just been kicked out of (homeless) shelters and a few (drug) users coming off their night highs.
Looking around the store, I saw a pocket of old Italian men sitting at one of the long tables, righting all of the wrongs of the world (no doubt their daily tradition), an older lady reading a book with a muffin and a coffee, and a young couple—headphones in, on their laptops.
That to me is what Tim’s is all about… accepting of all, a place to come that makes everything just a little bit better even if just for the moment… in every cup. Tim’s, for me, is Canada. It’s what makes us great—no matter your race, religion, creed or calling. Still to this day, when friends or family are visiting Canada for the first time, I either meet them at the airport with a Tim’s or it’s our first stop. This is what we’re all about, and that I love.
We're in London for one day only at Trafalgar Square's #Canada150 celebrations visit us for brewed coffee, Timbits & Iced Capps! pic.twitter.com/IXvjnJkvLV
— Tim Hortons UK (@timhortonsuk) July 1, 2017
As you think about iconic Canadian brands, is Tim’s still top of your list?
Absolutely, hands down, Tim’s, in my opinion, is still top five with the big boys of Canadian brands like Molson/Labatts, Loblaws, Maple Leaf Sports, Canadian Tire, Bombardier, Blue Jays, Air Canada/WestJet, Bauer etc.
I bet if you were to take a tour across Canada, gauging the “pulse” of Tim’s in vastly different communities—from the far north to the prairies, from east to west—I bet you would see a similar thing I saw in Hamilton that early morning. For instance, two months ago I was doing some work on Six Nations, Ohsweken (reserve) and forgot to bring my lunch. Popping into the local Tim’s was fascinating. Again, a wide cross section of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people were there, enjoying the coffee, food and atmosphere.
As someone who has lived and traveled overseas throughout your career, what do you feel makes an iconic Canadian brand in general — especially as we celebrate Canada 150 and reflect on what makes Canada great, at home and abroad?
Some of my favourite brands all share a few core elements in common. First and foremost, they’re built on an imagination-captivating story. Look at Land Rover Jaguar — started in 1947 when a “Rover” engineer decided to rip about an old WWII US Army jeep on a beach in Wales in order to “build a better, more British all-terrain vehicle, the ultimate-all-terrain- vehicle,” Now look at the powerhouse that Range Rover is today all over the globe. To this day, they still celebrate that origin story and the countless adventures it led to—they challenge their customers to adventure “above and beyond.”
To me, what makes a Canadian brand “iconic,” like Tim’s, is the fact that they hit the nail on the head when it comes to “identity marketing.” That’s another core value of successful brands to me—winning the confidence of customers by letting them know “you get it,” i.e. it sucks being up at 5am for work, but, hell here’s a great cup of coffee.
Just look at the Toronto Blue Jays, another one of my most cherished Canadian brands. Having one of, if not the largest, fan bases in the MLB, I believe, can be attributed to the fact that they tap into the core of our identity: a small fish in a big ocean — and an “American Ocean” — fighting forward every game and actually winning… sometimes!
Is Tim’s any less Canadian to you since it’s been owned by Burger King?
Not in the slightest. I think if there was a dramatic drop in quality then there would be reason for alarm. Maybe it’s because I grew up only about five kilometres from the US boarder in Niagara-on-the-Lake or going to Buffalo regularly, or the fact a lot of Canadian brands like Molsons/Labatts are owned by foreign operators. I think the purchase of Tim’s by a much larger company is both a compliment to Canadians for helping build such a successful economic titan and provides an opportunity for us to share the Canadian story around the world.
I honestly can envision Tim’s being in every airport globally in the future, not to mention Australia, Scandinavia and broader parts of eastern Europe and Russia. The brand potential is really there. Watch out, McDonald’s!
Get more branding insights in our Q&A series. Suggest a Q&A: [email protected].
The post Canada 150: Meet Tim Hortons’ Biggest Fan appeared first on brandchannel:.
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Text
Canada 150: Meet Tim Hortons’ Biggest Fan
Tim Hortons has officially expanded in the UK, just opening its first location in Glasgow, Scotland to crowds and accolades from locals who may have encountered the brand on trips to Canada.
My 1st trip to @timhortonsuk & won't be the last. Excellent service & lovely staff, the cappuccino was spot on!Delighted to get a mug too http://pic.twitter.com/fZ0x0waRhS
— Mandy M (@mandydoll1983) July 6, 2017
Ironically, it’s not the first Tim Hortons in the UK—or Scotland, for that matter. Pining for his favorite brand from home, a Canadian exchange student at Glasgow University opened an unofficial Tim’s outpost 15 years ago—much to the delight of the company, which donated supplies and featured the story in an ad campaign.
We spoke with that uber-Tims fan, David Mole (right), to get his reaction to the company finally catching up with his big idea some 15 years later—and how he sees Tim Hortons today in the pantheon of iconic Canadian brands.
David, how did you come to open an unofficial Tim Horton’s at Glasgow University 15 years ago?
As an international exchange student from Queen’s University, it became abundantly clear to me within the first few weeks “on Campus” in Glasgow (University of Glasgow) that the “Canadian” student delegation was far outnumbered by our American cousins to the south. Canadians have an uncanny way of finding other Canadians when traveling, so after about 10 days I had found representation from coast to coast to coast – our 30-odd Canucks to their 120-odd Yanks. Sitting at a pub one night with my housemate James Allen and a few loud-mouthed and patriotic Americans it became clear that our US friends simply saw Canada as the 51st state—which we desperately argued!
That night, a light went off in my head—a perfect plan to demonstrate just how awesome Canada is, unique in both identity and character. It really started as a joke, to open an “unofficial Canadian embassy” on campus—to not only be there for homesick Canadians, but to invite everyone over to showcase our ‘true patriot love‘ and shining light.
We decided to call it “Caribou House” as a bit of a play on Canada House in London. So we had an awesome plan to transform our dingy five-room flat into some great tribute to Canada, but… we needed help. So I pledged to my fellow Canadians to write at least one letter a night to high-ranking Canadians and Canadian companies back home, imploring support.
I sketched out a page full of iconic Canadian brands and set to it. Within two weeks of my first salvo of this epic letter campaign. I had received amazing responses from across the country, including but not limited to: the Prime Minister (Jean Chretien), Molson Canada, Bauer Hockey, Canadian Tire, West Beach, and of course, Tim Hortons.
Tim’s and Molsons truly went out of their way to show their support… both of whose leadership had direct ties to Scotland. I had directed my letter to Tim’s co-founder Ron Joyce, a renowned philanthropist and all-around Canadian titan. His personal response was outstanding, as was Tim’s contribution.
I’ll never forget the day boxes upon boxes of coffee, trinkets and a brand new Tim Hortons-branded coffee machine showed up. So, with a little help from my ‘Embassy’ cohorts we set to it. It was time to show everyone in Glasgow just how awesome Canada is!
We went all around the University telling the story of ‘Tim’s’ and inviting people back to Caribou House to have a cup of the world-famous coffee through a sequence of parties. With a little help from our Australian friends, the parties got quite lively thanks to the fine folks at Bailey’s and the local Scottish contribution of a few “nips of Scotch.”
We were even successful in getting most of the American troupe out to celebrate Canadian identity with some delicious coffee. The whole thing was a thrilling “experience-of-a-lifetime” thanks in large part to Tim’s, Molson’s and the PMO.
Founding “Caribou House” led to a late night radio show with a friend from Ecuador and shooting an international student exchange documentary with a friend from Australia. Could it get any more Canadian, eh?
What was the reaction to the brand on-campus?
The reaction to Tim’s on campus was electric. It was an easy sell to locals for a number of reasons. As Tim Horton’s is sewn within the Canadian fabric, so too is IRN-BRU sewn within the Scottish fabric. I would often said, “This is our IRN-BRU,” this is who we are.
Also, many Scots have Canadian ties and anyone who’s been to Canada can’t deny the dominance of the Tim’s brand. The final way we won over the locals—other than having parties, supplying free coffee and just being Canadian—was to say, “You have your local pub, we have our local Tim’s. You have pints, we have the double-double.”
youtube
How did the 2003 TV commercial by Tim Hortons featuring Caribou House (featuring Charles Rennie Mackintosh‘s font, no less) come about?
Sadly saying bye to Glasgow in May of 2002, I returned home to Niagara-on-the-Lake. That fall I headed back to Kingston to complete my final year at Queen’s. One day, rather randomly, I received a letter from Enterprise Marketing in Toronto asking if I would be OK if our story could be used in an advertisement for Tim Horton’s. I said yes, and thought nothing of it.
A short while later I received another random phone call from an Enterprise executive asking me to be at the airport in a few days and that I was being taken back to Glasgow to film a “True Stories” commercial called “Missing Home.” The entire experience was amazing.
The commercial came out that winter and aired from coast to coast to coast in Canada for a few months. People would randomly come up to me on the street and say, “What a great story, I always miss Tim’s when I’m away from home. It’s the first stop I make when I get back.”
So what was your reaction when you heard that Tim’s was finally opening in Glasgow—and at Glasgow University—as their UK launch site last month?
The UK launch and, the fact that the first location was opening in Glasgow, was brought to my attention via social media by a dear old friend who I met on campus back in 2001/2002, Sarah McGee.
Sarah, and so many other amazing local Scottish friends who were part of the “Caribou House” pop-up, have been terribly excited about the news and that now, 15 years later, “Tim’s” has arrived. For me, as someone who follows Tim’s continual growth and success, I was really excited to hear of this latest and bold move into the UK market.
We’ve brought the spirit of Canada to Glasgow. We’ve brought some tasty treats with us too. http://pic.twitter.com/cly6TenqrB
— Tim Hortons UK (@timhortonsuk) June 21, 2017
Knowing the people both of Glasgow and the broader Scottish thumbprint, I really do believe they’re going to embrace the brand and high quality product. I vividly recall having conversations with top Tim’s executives while shooting the commercial about bringing Tim’s to the UK simply because there is a great cultural fit. Although Brits are known for a piping hot cup of tea, the model’s been there for centuries to sit down and enjoy each other’s company over a caffeinated beverage or two.
I was told then that the greater American market was first on the agenda. I do love traveling over to Buffalo or Niagara Falls, New York, and seeing Tim’s everywhere. I hope they keep on growing and building into many more American and global communities.
I honestly think it’s all of those great Canadian backpackers and exchange students, and those living in the UK, who really made this happen after decades of proudly extolling the Canadian virtues of hockey, Canadian beer, snowmobiling and the undeniable greatness of a Tim’s coffee.
Hands up, who's visiting our Glasgow store today? #CanadaDay #TimHortonsUK http://pic.twitter.com/2BZlrpj69j
— Tim Hortons UK (@timhortonsuk) July 1, 2017
What is it about the Tim Hortons brand that you love?
This is a great question. I was actually thinking about this the other day heading into work. It was early, 6:30 am-ish. I was in downtown Hamilton, on Barton Street. This particular Tim’s is smack dab between Hamilton General Hospital (one of Canada’s largest hospitals), Hamilton Wentworth Detention Centre (again, a big prison) and a handful of emergency homeless shelters, food banks, and addiction/recovery facilities… not to mention a large urban community.
As someone who now works in the social work/health field, I stood there in line and thought to myself, “Only in Canada, and only at Tim’s” would this happen. The cross-section of society and the demographic of those waiting in line (which was out the door by the way) was simply amazing. You had doctors and nurses going into work, recently-released inmates, city workers, two pastors, construction guys, those who had just been kicked out of (homeless) shelters and a few (drug) users coming off their night highs.
Looking around the store, I saw a pocket of old Italian men sitting at one of the long tables, righting all of the wrongs of the world (no doubt their daily tradition), an older lady reading a book with a muffin and a coffee, and a young couple—headphones in, on their laptops.
That to me is what Tim’s is all about… accepting of all, a place to come that makes everything just a little bit better even if just for the moment… in every cup. Tim’s, for me, is Canada. It’s what makes us great—no matter your race, religion, creed or calling. Still to this day, when friends or family are visiting Canada for the first time, I either meet them at the airport with a Tim’s or it’s our first stop. This is what we’re all about, and that I love.
We're in London for one day only at Trafalgar Square's #Canada150 celebrations visit us for brewed coffee, Timbits & Iced Capps! http://pic.twitter.com/IXvjnJkvLV
— Tim Hortons UK (@timhortonsuk) July 1, 2017
As you think about iconic Canadian brands, is Tim’s still top of your list?
Absolutely, hands down, Tim’s, in my opinion, is still top five with the big boys of Canadian brands like Molson/Labatts, Loblaws, Maple Leaf Sports, Canadian Tire, Bombardier, Blue Jays, Air Canada/WestJet, Bauer etc.
I bet if you were to take a tour across Canada, gauging the “pulse” of Tim’s in vastly different communities—from the far north to the prairies, from east to west—I bet you would see a similar thing I saw in Hamilton that early morning. For instance, two months ago I was doing some work on Six Nations, Ohsweken (reserve) and forgot to bring my lunch. Popping into the local Tim’s was fascinating. Again, a wide cross section of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people were there, enjoying the coffee, food and atmosphere.
As someone who has lived and traveled overseas throughout your career, what do you feel makes an iconic Canadian brand in general — especially as we celebrate Canada 150 and reflect on what makes Canada great, at home and abroad?
Some of my favourite brands all share a few core elements in common. First and foremost, they’re built on an imagination-captivating story. Look at Land Rover Jaguar — started in 1947 when a “Rover” engineer decided to rip about an old WWII US Army jeep on a beach in Wales in order to “build a better, more British all-terrain vehicle, the ultimate-all-terrain- vehicle,” Now look at the powerhouse that Range Rover is today all over the globe. To this day, they still celebrate that origin story and the countless adventures it led to—they challenge their customers to adventure “above and beyond.”
To me, what makes a Canadian brand “iconic,” like Tim’s, is the fact that they hit the nail on the head when it comes to “identity marketing.” That’s another core value of successful brands to me—winning the confidence of customers by letting them know “you get it,” i.e. it sucks being up at 5am for work, but, hell here’s a great cup of coffee.
Just look at the Toronto Blue Jays, another one of my most cherished Canadian brands. Having one of, if not the largest, fan bases in the MLB, I believe, can be attributed to the fact that they tap into the core of our identity: a small fish in a big ocean — and an “American Ocean” — fighting forward every game and actually winning… sometimes!
Is Tim’s any less Canadian to you since it’s been owned by Burger King?
Not in the slightest. I think if there was a dramatic drop in quality then there would be reason for alarm. Maybe it’s because I grew up only about five kilometres from the US boarder in Niagara-on-the-Lake or going to Buffalo regularly, or the fact a lot of Canadian brands like Molsons/Labatts are owned by foreign operators. I think the purchase of Tim’s by a much larger company is both a compliment to Canadians for helping build such a successful economic titan and provides an opportunity for us to share the Canadian story around the world.
I honestly can envision Tim’s being in every airport globally in the future, not to mention Australia, Scandinavia and broader parts of eastern Europe and Russia. The brand potential is really there. Watch out, McDonald’s!
Get more branding insights in our Q&A series. Suggest a Q&A: [email protected].
The post Canada 150: Meet Tim Hortons’ Biggest Fan appeared first on brandchannel:.
0 notes
Text
Canada 150: Meet Tim Hortons’ Biggest Fan
Tim Hortons has officially expanded in the UK, just opening its first location in Glasgow, Scotland to crowds and accolades from locals who may have encountered the brand on trips to Canada.
My 1st trip to @timhortonsuk & won't be the last. Excellent service & lovely staff, the cappuccino was spot on!Delighted to get a mug too http://pic.twitter.com/fZ0x0waRhS
— Mandy M (@mandydoll1983) July 6, 2017
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Ironically, it’s not the first Tim Hortons in the UK—or Scotland, for that matter. Pining for his favorite brand from home, a Canadian exchange student at Glasgow University opened an unofficial Tim’s outpost 15 years ago—much to the delight of the company, which donated supplies and featured the story in an ad campaign.
We spoke with that uber-Tims fan, David Mole (right), to get his reaction to the company finally catching up with his big idea some 15 years later—and how he sees Tim Hortons today in the pantheon of iconic Canadian brands.
David, how did you come to open an unofficial Tim Horton’s at Glasgow University 15 years ago?
As an international exchange student from Queen’s University, it became abundantly clear to me within the first few weeks “on Campus” in Glasgow (University of Glasgow) that the “Canadian” student delegation was far outnumbered by our American cousins to the south. Canadians have an uncanny way of finding other Canadians when traveling, so after about 10 days I had found representation from coast to coast to coast – our 30-odd Canucks to their 120-odd Yanks. Sitting at a pub one night with my housemate James Allen and a few loud-mouthed and patriotic Americans it became clear that our US friends simply saw Canada as the 51st state—which we desperately argued!
That night, a light went off in my head—a perfect plan to demonstrate just how awesome Canada is, unique in both identity and character. It really started as a joke, to open an “unofficial Canadian embassy” on campus—to not only be there for homesick Canadians, but to invite everyone over to showcase our ‘true patriot love‘ and shining light.
We decided to call it “Caribou House” as a bit of a play on Canada House in London. So we had an awesome plan to transform our dingy five-room flat into some great tribute to Canada, but… we needed help. So I pledged to my fellow Canadians to write at least one letter a night to high-ranking Canadians and Canadian companies back home, imploring support.
I sketched out a page full of iconic Canadian brands and set to it. Within two weeks of my first salvo of this epic letter campaign. I had received amazing responses from across the country, including but not limited to: the Prime Minister (Jean Chretien), Molson Canada, Bauer Hockey, Canadian Tire, West Beach, and of course, Tim Hortons.
Tim’s and Molsons truly went out of their way to show their support… both of whose leadership had direct ties to Scotland. I had directed my letter to Tim’s co-founder Ron Joyce, a renowned philanthropist and all-around Canadian titan. His personal response was outstanding, as was Tim’s contribution.
I’ll never forget the day boxes upon boxes of coffee, trinkets and a brand new Tim Hortons-branded coffee machine showed up. So, with a little help from my ‘Embassy’ cohorts we set to it. It was time to show everyone in Glasgow just how awesome Canada is!
We went all around the University telling the story of ‘Tim’s’ and inviting people back to Caribou House to have a cup of the world-famous coffee through a sequence of parties. With a little help from our Australian friends, the parties got quite lively thanks to the fine folks at Bailey’s and the local Scottish contribution of a few “nips of Scotch.”
We were even successful in getting most of the American troupe out to celebrate Canadian identity with some delicious coffee. The whole thing was a thrilling “experience-of-a-lifetime” thanks in large part to Tim’s, Molson’s and the PMO.
Founding “Caribou House” led to a late night radio show with a friend from Ecuador and shooting an international student exchange documentary with a friend from Australia. Could it get any more Canadian, eh?
What was the reaction to the brand on-campus?
The reaction to Tim’s on campus was electric. It was an easy sell to locals for a number of reasons. As Tim Horton’s is sewn within the Canadian fabric, so too is IRN-BRU sewn within the Scottish fabric. I would often said, “This is our IRN-BRU,” this is who we are.
Also, many Scots have Canadian ties and anyone who’s been to Canada can’t deny the dominance of the Tim’s brand. The final way we won over the locals—other than having parties, supplying free coffee and just being Canadian—was to say, “You have your local pub, we have our local Tim’s. You have pints, we have the double-double.”
youtube
How did the 2003 TV commercial by Tim Hortons featuring Caribou House (featuring Charles Rennie Mackintosh‘s font, no less) come about?
Sadly saying bye to Glasgow in May of 2002, I returned home to Niagara-on-the-Lake. That fall I headed back to Kingston to complete my final year at Queen’s. One day, rather randomly, I received a letter from Enterprise Marketing in Toronto asking if I would be OK if our story could be used in an advertisement for Tim Horton’s. I said yes, and thought nothing of it.
A short while later I received another random phone call from an Enterprise executive asking me to be at the airport in a few days and that I was being taken back to Glasgow to film a “True Stories” commercial called “Missing Home.” The entire experience was amazing.
The commercial came out that winter and aired from coast to coast to coast in Canada for a few months. People would randomly come up to me on the street and say, “What a great story, I always miss Tim’s when I’m away from home. It’s the first stop I make when I get back.”
So what was your reaction when you heard that Tim’s was finally opening in Glasgow—and at Glasgow University—as their UK launch site last month?
The UK launch and, the fact that the first location was opening in Glasgow, was brought to my attention via social media by a dear old friend who I met on campus back in 2001/2002, Sarah McGee.
Sarah, and so many other amazing local Scottish friends who were part of the “Caribou House” pop-up, have been terribly excited about the news and that now, 15 years later, “Tim’s” has arrived. For me, as someone who follows Tim’s continual growth and success, I was really excited to hear of this latest and bold move into the UK market.
We’ve brought the spirit of Canada to Glasgow. We’ve brought some tasty treats with us too. http://pic.twitter.com/cly6TenqrB
— Tim Hortons UK (@timhortonsuk) June 21, 2017
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Knowing the people both of Glasgow and the broader Scottish thumbprint, I really do believe they’re going to embrace the brand and high quality product. I vividly recall having conversations with top Tim’s executives while shooting the commercial about bringing Tim’s to the UK simply because there is a great cultural fit. Although Brits are known for a piping hot cup of tea, the model’s been there for centuries to sit down and enjoy each other’s company over a caffeinated beverage or two.
I was told then that the greater American market was first on the agenda. I do love traveling over to Buffalo or Niagara Falls, New York, and seeing Tim’s everywhere. I hope they keep on growing and building into many more American and global communities.
I honestly think it’s all of those great Canadian backpackers and exchange students, and those living in the UK, who really made this happen after decades of proudly extolling the Canadian virtues of hockey, Canadian beer, snowmobiling and the undeniable greatness of a Tim’s coffee.
Hands up, who's visiting our Glasgow store today? #CanadaDay #TimHortonsUK http://pic.twitter.com/2BZlrpj69j
— Tim Hortons UK (@timhortonsuk) July 1, 2017
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
What is it about the Tim Hortons brand that you love?
This is a great question. I was actually thinking about this the other day heading into work. It was early, 6:30 am-ish. I was in downtown Hamilton, on Barton Street. This particular Tim’s is smack dab between Hamilton General Hospital (one of Canada’s largest hospitals), Hamilton Wentworth Detention Centre (again, a big prison) and a handful of emergency homeless shelters, food banks, and addiction/recovery facilities… not to mention a large urban community.
As someone who now works in the social work/health field, I stood there in line and thought to myself, “Only in Canada, and only at Tim’s” would this happen. The cross-section of society and the demographic of those waiting in line (which was out the door by the way) was simply amazing. You had doctors and nurses going into work, recently-released inmates, city workers, two pastors, construction guys, those who had just been kicked out of (homeless) shelters and a few (drug) users coming off their night highs.
Looking around the store, I saw a pocket of old Italian men sitting at one of the long tables, righting all of the wrongs of the world (no doubt their daily tradition), an older lady reading a book with a muffin and a coffee, and a young couple—headphones in, on their laptops.
That to me is what Tim’s is all about… accepting of all, a place to come that makes everything just a little bit better even if just for the moment… in every cup. Tim’s, for me, is Canada. It’s what makes us great—no matter your race, religion, creed or calling. Still to this day, when friends or family are visiting Canada for the first time, I either meet them at the airport with a Tim’s or it’s our first stop. This is what we’re all about, and that I love.
We're in London for one day only at Trafalgar Square's #Canada150 celebrations visit us for brewed coffee, Timbits & Iced Capps! http://pic.twitter.com/IXvjnJkvLV
— Tim Hortons UK (@timhortonsuk) July 1, 2017
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
As you think about iconic Canadian brands, is Tim’s still top of your list?
Absolutely, hands down, Tim’s, in my opinion, is still top five with the big boys of Canadian brands like Molson/Labatts, Loblaws, Maple Leaf Sports, Canadian Tire, Bombardier, Blue Jays, Air Canada/WestJet, Bauer etc.
I bet if you were to take a tour across Canada, gauging the “pulse” of Tim’s in vastly different communities—from the far north to the prairies, from east to west—I bet you would see a similar thing I saw in Hamilton that early morning. For instance, two months ago I was doing some work on Six Nations, Ohsweken (reserve) and forgot to bring my lunch. Popping into the local Tim’s was fascinating. Again, a wide cross section of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people were there, enjoying the coffee, food and atmosphere.
As someone who has lived and traveled overseas throughout your career, what do you feel makes an iconic Canadian brand in general — especially as we celebrate Canada 150 and reflect on what makes Canada great, at home and abroad?
Some of my favourite brands all share a few core elements in common. First and foremost, they’re built on an imagination-captivating story. Look at Land Rover Jaguar — started in 1947 when a “Rover” engineer decided to rip about an old WWII US Army jeep on a beach in Wales in order to “build a better, more British all-terrain vehicle, the ultimate-all-terrain- vehicle,” Now look at the powerhouse that Range Rover is today all over the globe. To this day, they still celebrate that origin story and the countless adventures it led to—they challenge their customers to adventure “above and beyond.”
To me, what makes a Canadian brand “iconic,” like Tim’s, is the fact that they hit the nail on the head when it comes to “identity marketing.” That’s another core value of successful brands to me—winning the confidence of customers by letting them know “you get it,” i.e. it sucks being up at 5am for work, but, hell here’s a great cup of coffee.
Just look at the Toronto Blue Jays, another one of my most cherished Canadian brands. Having one of, if not the largest, fan bases in the MLB, I believe, can be attributed to the fact that they tap into the core of our identity: a small fish in a big ocean — and an “American Ocean” — fighting forward every game and actually winning… sometimes!
Is Tim’s any less Canadian to you since it’s been owned by Burger King?
Not in the slightest. I think if there was a dramatic drop in quality then there would be reason for alarm. Maybe it’s because I grew up only about five kilometres from the US boarder in Niagara-on-the-Lake or going to Buffalo regularly, or the fact a lot of Canadian brands like Molsons/Labatts are owned by foreign operators. I think the purchase of Tim’s by a much larger company is both a compliment to Canadians for helping build such a successful economic titan and provides an opportunity for us to share the Canadian story around the world.
I honestly can envision Tim’s being in every airport globally in the future, not to mention Australia, Scandinavia and broader parts of eastern Europe and Russia. The brand potential is really there. Watch out, McDonald’s!
Get more branding insights in our Q&A series. Suggest a Q&A: [email protected].
The post Canada 150: Meet Tim Hortons’ Biggest Fan appeared first on brandchannel:.
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0 notes
Text
Canada 150: Meet Tim Hortons’ Biggest Fan
Tim Hortons has officially expanded in the UK, just opening its first location in Glasgow, Scotland to crowds and accolades from locals who may have encountered the brand on trips to Canada.
My 1st trip to @timhortonsuk & won't be the last. Excellent service & lovely staff, the cappuccino was spot on!Delighted to get a mug too pic.twitter.com/fZ0x0waRhS
— Mandy M (@mandydoll1983) July 6, 2017
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Ironically, it’s not the first Tim Hortons in the UK—or Scotland, for that matter. Pining for his favorite brand from home, a Canadian exchange student at Glasgow University opened an unofficial Tim’s outpost 15 years ago—much to the delight of the company, which donated supplies and featured the story in an ad campaign.
We spoke with that uber-Tims fan, David Mole (right), to get his reaction to the company finally catching up with his big idea some 15 years later—and how he sees Tim Hortons today in the pantheon of iconic Canadian brands.
David, how did you come to open an unofficial Tim Horton’s at Glasgow University 15 years ago?
As an international exchange student from Queen’s University, it became abundantly clear to me within the first few weeks “on Campus” in Glasgow (University of Glasgow) that the “Canadian” student delegation was far outnumbered by our American cousins to the south. Canadians have an uncanny way of finding other Canadians when traveling, so after about 10 days I had found representation from coast to coast to coast – our 30-odd Canucks to their 120-odd Yanks. Sitting at a pub one night with my housemate James Allen and a few loud-mouthed and patriotic Americans it became clear that our US friends simply saw Canada as the 51st state—which we desperately argued!
That night, a light went off in my head—a perfect plan to demonstrate just how awesome Canada is, unique in both identity and character. It really started as a joke, to open an “unofficial Canadian embassy” on campus—to not only be there for homesick Canadians, but to invite everyone over to showcase our ‘true patriot love‘ and shining light.
We decided to call it “Caribou House” as a bit of a play on Canada House in London. So we had an awesome plan to transform our dingy five-room flat into some great tribute to Canada, but… we needed help. So I pledged to my fellow Canadians to write at least one letter a night to high-ranking Canadians and Canadian companies back home, imploring support.
I sketched out a page full of iconic Canadian brands and set to it. Within two weeks of my first salvo of this epic letter campaign. I had received amazing responses from across the country, including but not limited to: the Prime Minister (Jean Chretien), Molson Canada, Bauer Hockey, Canadian Tire, West Beach, and of course, Tim Hortons.
Tim’s and Molsons truly went out of their way to show their support… both of whose leadership had direct ties to Scotland. I had directed my letter to Tim’s co-founder Ron Joyce, a renowned philanthropist and all-around Canadian titan. His personal response was outstanding, as was Tim’s contribution.
I’ll never forget the day boxes upon boxes of coffee, trinkets and a brand new Tim Hortons-branded coffee machine showed up. So, with a little help from my ‘Embassy’ cohorts we set to it. It was time to show everyone in Glasgow just how awesome Canada is!
We went all around the University telling the story of ‘Tim’s’ and inviting people back to Caribou House to have a cup of the world-famous coffee through a sequence of parties. With a little help from our Australian friends, the parties got quite lively thanks to the fine folks at Bailey’s and the local Scottish contribution of a few “nips of Scotch.”
We were even successful in getting most of the American troupe out to celebrate Canadian identity with some delicious coffee. The whole thing was a thrilling “experience-of-a-lifetime” thanks in large part to Tim’s, Molson’s and the PMO.
Founding “Caribou House” led to a late night radio show with a friend from Ecuador and shooting an international student exchange documentary with a friend from Australia. Could it get any more Canadian, eh?
What was the reaction to the brand on-campus?
The reaction to Tim’s on campus was electric. It was an easy sell to locals for a number of reasons. As Tim Horton’s is sewn within the Canadian fabric, so too is IRN-BRU sewn within the Scottish fabric. I would often said, “This is our IRN-BRU,” this is who we are.
Also, many Scots have Canadian ties and anyone who’s been to Canada can’t deny the dominance of the Tim’s brand. The final way we won over the locals—other than having parties, supplying free coffee and just being Canadian—was to say, “You have your local pub, we have our local Tim’s. You have pints, we have the double-double.”
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How did the 2003 TV commercial by Tim Hortons featuring Caribou House (featuring Charles Rennie Mackintosh‘s font, no less) come about?
Sadly saying bye to Glasgow in May of 2002, I returned home to Niagara-on-the-Lake. That fall I headed back to Kingston to complete my final year at Queen’s. One day, rather randomly, I received a letter from Enterprise Marketing in Toronto asking if I would be OK if our story could be used in an advertisement for Tim Horton’s. I said yes, and thought nothing of it.
A short while later I received another random phone call from an Enterprise executive asking me to be at the airport in a few days and that I was being taken back to Glasgow to film a “True Stories” commercial called “Missing Home.” The entire experience was amazing.
The commercial came out that winter and aired from coast to coast to coast in Canada for a few months. People would randomly come up to me on the street and say, “What a great story, I always miss Tim’s when I’m away from home. It’s the first stop I make when I get back.”
So what was your reaction when you heard that Tim’s was finally opening in Glasgow—and at Glasgow University—as their UK launch site last month?
The UK launch and, the fact that the first location was opening in Glasgow, was brought to my attention via social media by a dear old friend who I met on campus back in 2001/2002, Sarah McGee.
Sarah, and so many other amazing local Scottish friends who were part of the “Caribou House” pop-up, have been terribly excited about the news and that now, 15 years later, “Tim’s” has arrived. For me, as someone who follows Tim’s continual growth and success, I was really excited to hear of this latest and bold move into the UK market.
We’ve brought the spirit of Canada to Glasgow. We’ve brought some tasty treats with us too. pic.twitter.com/cly6TenqrB
— Tim Hortons UK (@timhortonsuk) June 21, 2017
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Knowing the people both of Glasgow and the broader Scottish thumbprint, I really do believe they’re going to embrace the brand and high quality product. I vividly recall having conversations with top Tim’s executives while shooting the commercial about bringing Tim’s to the UK simply because there is a great cultural fit. Although Brits are known for a piping hot cup of tea, the model’s been there for centuries to sit down and enjoy each other’s company over a caffeinated beverage or two.
I was told then that the greater American market was first on the agenda. I do love traveling over to Buffalo or Niagara Falls, New York, and seeing Tim’s everywhere. I hope they keep on growing and building into many more American and global communities.
I honestly think it’s all of those great Canadian backpackers and exchange students, and those living in the UK, who really made this happen after decades of proudly extolling the Canadian virtues of hockey, Canadian beer, snowmobiling and the undeniable greatness of a Tim’s coffee.
Hands up, who's visiting our Glasgow store today? #CanadaDay #TimHortonsUK pic.twitter.com/2BZlrpj69j
— Tim Hortons UK (@timhortonsuk) July 1, 2017
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What is it about the Tim Hortons brand that you love?
This is a great question. I was actually thinking about this the other day heading into work. It was early, 6:30 am-ish. I was in downtown Hamilton, on Barton Street. This particular Tim’s is smack dab between Hamilton General Hospital (one of Canada’s largest hospitals), Hamilton Wentworth Detention Centre (again, a big prison) and a handful of emergency homeless shelters, food banks, and addiction/recovery facilities… not to mention a large urban community.
As someone who now works in the social work/health field, I stood there in line and thought to myself, “Only in Canada, and only at Tim’s” would this happen. The cross-section of society and the demographic of those waiting in line (which was out the door by the way) was simply amazing. You had doctors and nurses going into work, recently-released inmates, city workers, two pastors, construction guys, those who had just been kicked out of (homeless) shelters and a few (drug) users coming off their night highs.
Looking around the store, I saw a pocket of old Italian men sitting at one of the long tables, righting all of the wrongs of the world (no doubt their daily tradition), an older lady reading a book with a muffin and a coffee, and a young couple—headphones in, on their laptops.
That to me is what Tim’s is all about… accepting of all, a place to come that makes everything just a little bit better even if just for the moment… in every cup. Tim’s, for me, is Canada. It’s what makes us great—no matter your race, religion, creed or calling. Still to this day, when friends or family are visiting Canada for the first time, I either meet them at the airport with a Tim’s or it’s our first stop. This is what we’re all about, and that I love.
We're in London for one day only at Trafalgar Square's #Canada150 celebrations visit us for brewed coffee, Timbits & Iced Capps! pic.twitter.com/IXvjnJkvLV
— Tim Hortons UK (@timhortonsuk) July 1, 2017
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As you think about iconic Canadian brands, is Tim’s still top of your list?
Absolutely, hands down, Tim’s, in my opinion, is still top five with the big boys of Canadian brands like Molson/Labatts, Loblaws, Maple Leaf Sports, Canadian Tire, Bombardier, Blue Jays, Air Canada/WestJet, Bauer etc.
I bet if you were to take a tour across Canada, gauging the “pulse” of Tim’s in vastly different communities—from the far north to the prairies, from east to west—I bet you would see a similar thing I saw in Hamilton that early morning. For instance, two months ago I was doing some work on Six Nations, Ohsweken (reserve) and forgot to bring my lunch. Popping into the local Tim’s was fascinating. Again, a wide cross section of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people were there, enjoying the coffee, food and atmosphere.
As someone who has lived and traveled overseas throughout your career, what do you feel makes an iconic Canadian brand in general — especially as we celebrate Canada 150 and reflect on what makes Canada great, at home and abroad?
Some of my favourite brands all share a few core elements in common. First and foremost, they’re built on an imagination-captivating story. Look at Land Rover Jaguar — started in 1947 when a “Rover” engineer decided to rip about an old WWII US Army jeep on a beach in Wales in order to “build a better, more British all-terrain vehicle, the ultimate-all-terrain- vehicle,” Now look at the powerhouse that Range Rover is today all over the globe. To this day, they still celebrate that origin story and the countless adventures it led to—they challenge their customers to adventure “above and beyond.”
To me, what makes a Canadian brand “iconic,” like Tim’s, is the fact that they hit the nail on the head when it comes to “identity marketing.” That’s another core value of successful brands to me—winning the confidence of customers by letting them know “you get it,” i.e. it sucks being up at 5am for work, but, hell here’s a great cup of coffee.
Just look at the Toronto Blue Jays, another one of my most cherished Canadian brands. Having one of, if not the largest, fan bases in the MLB, I believe, can be attributed to the fact that they tap into the core of our identity: a small fish in a big ocean — and an “American Ocean” — fighting forward every game and actually winning… sometimes!
Is Tim’s any less Canadian to you since it’s been owned by Burger King?
Not in the slightest. I think if there was a dramatic drop in quality then there would be reason for alarm. Maybe it’s because I grew up only about five kilometres from the US boarder in Niagara-on-the-Lake or going to Buffalo regularly, or the fact a lot of Canadian brands like Molsons/Labatts are owned by foreign operators. I think the purchase of Tim’s by a much larger company is both a compliment to Canadians for helping build such a successful economic titan and provides an opportunity for us to share the Canadian story around the world.
I honestly can envision Tim’s being in every airport globally in the future, not to mention Australia, Scandinavia and broader parts of eastern Europe and Russia. The brand potential is really there. Watch out, McDonald’s!
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