Here it is, the last week of December. I know we’re all busy planning and prepping for the new year, but before we talk resolutions and new beginnings, I always like to take a moment to reflect back on the year: The good, the bad, the hilarious and even the cringe-worthy moments that shaped 2015. For me, it was a great year to be a Pony, so I thought I would share my top Fast Horse moments of 2015.
The Return to 240 9th N Ave: Call it an extreme home makeover — this time last year we were just getting ready to return to our North Loop neighborhood. We were more than ready for our remodeled digs. The 2014 summer spent in Open Book was a trip for sure, but by the end, we were fighting over everything from chairs to conference rooms! The move back was a great way to kick off 2015.
The Sprite Corner: The summer of 2015 should be called the summer of Sprite. The brand’s “Obey Your Thirst” campaign was brought to life on the corner of Spring and Bowery in NYC with a pop-up experience called The Sprite Corner. A bodega-style corner store, the space hosted concerts, art workshops, freestyle battles and more to inspire young people to be true to themselves. Working summer weekends wasn’t all bad as I met some of hip-hop’s greatest. Wale hit on me, Chantelle “Winnie” Harlow used my cell phone for an interview with VOGUE and I saw Vince Staples crush it on stage. #Blessed.
#FHFarmDay: This summer tradition is bonding at its finest. For 2015, we made a big move as we graduated from last year’s party school bus. The ponies filled a coach-bus chariot named “The Big D” (really) to the Pierach family farm. We spent the day grilling, playing yard games and avoiding work in general. 2015 highlights include a searing set from DJ Deadly Blaze and my self-given title of “best football throw in the office” holding strong.
Pauly Shore & All of Your ’90s Dreams: 2014 saw the return of SURGE via e-commerce, but 2015 was a whole new beginning for the nostalgic beverage. SURGE returned to select convenience stores in the Mid- and Southwest. But that’s not all. Since the ’90s won’t stop, SURGE and Burger King teamed up with Pauly Shore to launch a whole new way to enjoy the drink with Frozen SURGE. Through December, Frozen SURGE is in Burger King restaurants nationwide. To kick off the promotion, we were on-site to see the making of this hilarity:
Diet Coke Showing The Love: This fall, Diet Coke was surprising fans in a big way with their “Retweets of Love” campaign. To truly show fans how much Diet Coke loved them back, the brand brought fan tweets of Diet Coke love into being as bespoke pieces of art in very unexpected ways, from Times Square billboards, full-page magazine advertisements, murals and more. The finale was a 1,200-Diet-Coke-tweet sculpture for a fan in Alexandria, VA. Built in her hometown at Waterfront Park, we ran into more love than we bargained for when a bride and groom, fresh off their “I Do’s,” stopped by for photos. The adorable couple (and hardcore Diet Coke fans) captured one-of-a-kind wedding photos in the local city park. Talk about a day-maker.
This year has been full of surprises, awesome work and countless learning opportunities. The best part? 2016 will be even better. Here’s to a new year, loving your job and Pony pride!