June 8th, 2012. Toronto, Canada. What would you do if you saw a couple of teens and pre-teen's camping out in the middle of the afternoon on a sidewalk? If you were curious enough you might walk up to one of them and ask them what they’re doing, why they're doing and find out for how long? Now imagine it isn’t a couple but hundreds, maybe thousands instead. You think you might get a little curious? I remember I was walking down Richmond Street to ScotiaBank Theater when I saw hundreds of Canadian teenagers, and pre-teens camped out on Richmond & John. “Why is everyone waiting on line?” I asked one of the guards here for crowd control what all this was about. “It’s for the MMVA awards?”
“The MMVA what?”
She looked at me funny. “Are you kidding me?”
“I’m American.” I answered, the default answer whenever you encounter any kind of culture shock while traveling. “Oh,” she replied. “MMVA Awards stands for MuchMusic Video Awards.”
“Is it like MTV?”
“Similar.”
“And these kids are waiting on line to do what?”
“Go to the award show.”
“Really?”
"Yep."
“How long have they been waiting here?”
“I don't know. Some people have been waiting since Monday morning.”
“Monday morning?” It was Friday.
“Yep.”
“Will they be waiting another day?”
“No,” she answered. “They’re handing them out today.”
“Handing what out?”
“The wristbands.”
“What wristbands?”
She seemed a little annoyed by my question. However, she must have reminded herself that I was American and clearly ignorant of one of Canada’s most important cultural institutions because she answered, “Well we’re giving out these wristbands which if they have them will let them go to the MMVA awards. Justin Bieber’s going to be here as well as Katy Perry.”
“And it’s free?”
“Yep.”
“And it’s going to be on television?”
“Yep.”
“So how many kids are here today?”
“I don’t know.”
“How many wristbands are you guys distributing in all?”
“Six hundred.”
I took a look at the long line in front of me again and did a mental calculation of some kind and came to the following conclusion. There was more than six-hundred on line…easily. “Is everyone here waiting on line going to get a wristband?”
“Probably,” she said. I thanked her for her time and shortly after approached another security guard down the road ( wouldn’t have seen me talking to her). I asked him the same questions I asked her. His answers mirrored hers except in one respect. “We’re giving these kids a number so once they have it; they know they’re going to get a wristband and can come back later.”
“But if they don’t have a number they shouldn’t bother getting in line?”
“Well they’re not going to get a wristband?”
“So they shouldn’t get in line if they don’t get a number?”
“Well they’re not getting a wristband if they don’t get a number.”
“So anyone entering the line shouldn’t bother?”
“Well they’re not going to get a wristband if they don’t have a number.” I thanked him for his time and excused myself when this conversation would likely degrade into a frustrating loop of same-question rejoindered with same-answer. Eventually, I asked a kid who looked no older than fourteen. “Dragged here by someone?” He laughed but probably realized he shouldn’t have because his arms immediately crossed defensively. I figured due to his age and looks, it was his girlfriend who did. “Well, I mean it’s the MMVA Awards. Who wouldn’t go? I mean I just got here but…yeah, I mean. It’s the MMVA’s so yeah I’m standing here.” And then he got quiet. “Thank you for your time.”
“Yeah sure,” he said, “No problem.”
Here’s what I’ve learned since. The MuchMusic Video Awards are a two-hour awards ceremony held in a large street party which includes the headquarters of MuchMusic World Headquarters parking lot, and parts of Queens Street West. The MuchMusic Video Awards are comparable to America’s MTV Video Music Awards but differ in the following respects. The MuchMusic Video Awards don’t have a central host or announcer and not held in a conventional theater. I saw a flyer announcing that the recipient of a wristband was permitted to attend the MMVA’s and see the following free acts. In the parking lot, Carly Rae Jepsen, Flo Rida, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, LMFAO and Nelly Furtado. Also, performing in John St. the acts Hedley and Mariana’s Trench would perform. All for the small price of waiting on-line for five days. You can always shower later.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Ginger Molasses and Tim Horton's by Gary Hainsworth
[note: this was written June 2012]
I was in a Tim Horton's in Toronto when I wrote this. I wrote it shortly after eating a ginger molasses cookie. A type of cookie I have never had before. I just bought a cookie and ate it. I'll tell what I thought of it later. Some people compare Tim Horton's to Starbucks Coffee. Often saying along the lines of "It's kind of like of like a Starbucks" or Canada's Starbucks equivalent. In fact, many people have told me this, h drawn comparisons to the two franchises. Well, I'm going on the record to say, declare; I disagree. Yes, yours truly is officially announcing that he doesn't think the analogy applies. That the comparison is apt. No sir. It is not. Tim Horton' is in design and so on more like a Dunkin' Donuts. However, it's a really, really nice one (or at least the five or six I've seen so far). I can see why so many drew comparisons to Starbucks which is famous for its ascetics and how much it as has permeated Canadian culture in what I'm only assuming is a very short amount of time. I suppose comparing Tim Horton's to Starbucks is meant as the highest possible form of complement but not necessarily as an accurate assessment of their business reality. Its store functions outside the superficial resemblance it has with Starbucks as both places are home to coffee, cookie's pastries and so on. However, it is good. I enjoyed my brief time there. And since many of these Tim Horton's are coupled with Cold Stone Creamery's. I'm sure the average Canadian has all the more reason to love it...or hate it. I guess it all depends on how you feel about ice cream. So how was the Ginger Molasses cookie? Delicious. "Tojours Frais."
I was in a Tim Horton's in Toronto when I wrote this. I wrote it shortly after eating a ginger molasses cookie. A type of cookie I have never had before. I just bought a cookie and ate it. I'll tell what I thought of it later. Some people compare Tim Horton's to Starbucks Coffee. Often saying along the lines of "It's kind of like of like a Starbucks" or Canada's Starbucks equivalent. In fact, many people have told me this, h drawn comparisons to the two franchises. Well, I'm going on the record to say, declare; I disagree. Yes, yours truly is officially announcing that he doesn't think the analogy applies. That the comparison is apt. No sir. It is not. Tim Horton' is in design and so on more like a Dunkin' Donuts. However, it's a really, really nice one (or at least the five or six I've seen so far). I can see why so many drew comparisons to Starbucks which is famous for its ascetics and how much it as has permeated Canadian culture in what I'm only assuming is a very short amount of time. I suppose comparing Tim Horton's to Starbucks is meant as the highest possible form of complement but not necessarily as an accurate assessment of their business reality. Its store functions outside the superficial resemblance it has with Starbucks as both places are home to coffee, cookie's pastries and so on. However, it is good. I enjoyed my brief time there. And since many of these Tim Horton's are coupled with Cold Stone Creamery's. I'm sure the average Canadian has all the more reason to love it...or hate it. I guess it all depends on how you feel about ice cream. So how was the Ginger Molasses cookie? Delicious. "Tojours Frais."
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