5 reasons to bring your teen to The Office Experience
5 reasons to bring your teen to The Office Experience by Angelyn Kwek In the immortal words of Michael Scott: “Oh my God, it's happening! Everybody, stay calm. Stay f**king calm!” That’s right, The Office Experience has landed in Toronto. Following its successful staging in Chicago and Washington D.C, the widely-acclaimed sitcom brings its immersive fan experience to our shores where you can make like a Dunder Mifflin employee and re-live your favourite moments from the show. Between its iconic one-liners and pride of place in pop culture, everyone from Boomers to Gen Z can certainly relate despite the series having ended its run over a decade ago. In fact, the enduring hilarity of the show is such that we couldn’t resist a visit ourselves. So we moseyed on down to Yorkdale mall, dutifully scrawled our names on our complementary staff badges, and became employees for the day at Scranton’s most renowned paper company. It’s from personal experience when we say you’ll want to bring your teen (and other assorted household members) to The Office Experience to level up family sitcom night. We give you five reasons why you ought to go ASAP as possible: The Memory Lane You start off reminiscing the finest displays of tomfoolery this century has ever seen, courtesy of Jim Halpert. See the original props and costumes right after stepping foot into Scranton Business Park, from the infamous ‘Stapler in Jello’ to a display case dedicated to achievement certifications—Creed’s fancy plaque declaring him a genuine survivor of the 1960s, anyone?—and the all-important Dundie Awards. Facilities Review Take a minute (or ten) at Dwight’s Caffeine Corner before entering the Dunder Mifflin office where the entire set has been recreated, right down to the industrial grey carpeting. Try your hand at being a receptionist at Pam’s desk, or gun straight for branch manager by claiming Michael’s seat so you can issue orders while waving around your ‘World’s Best Boss’ mug. And if you’re invested in WUPHF.com, be sure to pop into Ryan’s closet. Picture Day There are photo ops aplenty, with a handful of designated spots where you can commemorate iconic scenes with your picture taken by the pros. You’ll be given a card with a handy QR code to capture your re-imagining of Kevin’s Chili Spill, the Office Olympics, and even your dance moves as you shimmy down the aisle at Jim and Pam’s wedding ceremony. After which you can revisit your antics whenever you like and download them
Spencer MacPherson on ghosts and growing pains in Paramount+’s new teen drama, School Spirits
Spencer MacPherson on ghosts and growing pains in Paramount+’s new teen drama, School Spirits by Angelyn Kwek Landing the bad boy character in a high school drama might be the breakout role for many a young actor, but Spencer MacPherson isn’t your run-of-the-mill rookie. The 25-year-old has been in front of the camera from a tender age, starring in shows that run the gamut from young adult dramas and comedies such as Reign and Degrassi Next Generation to emotionally heavier and grittier titles including American Gothic, Northern Rescue and American Gods. Indeed, that would be why his steely blue eyes look so familiar — odds are you’ve caught the young lad on your TV screen at one point or another, seeing as MacPherson has been on the scene since he was 14. No stranger to the entertainment industry, it’s only natural the Toronto native is now conquering the streaming platforms for his next big project, starring as ‘Xavier Baxter’ on Paramount+’s latest mystery drama School Spirits. Acting alongside an ensemble cast comprised of Peyton List, Kristian Flores, Milo Manheim, Kiara Pichardo, Sarah Yarkin, Nick Pugliese, and Rainbow Wedell, the show follows ‘Maddie’ (portrayed by List) who is stuck in the afterlife with a group of other students and decides to investigate how she disappeared. Despite the familiar trappings of high school as the backdrop of the series, the show is more nuanced and layered than your typical teen drama. With creators Megan Trinrud and Nate Trinrud at the helm, elements across drama, comedy, mystery, and the supernatural are woven into an intriguing narrative that casts a new light on high school life and being a teenager. In a similar vein, ‘Xavier’ isn’t just the bad boy but also boyfriend to ‘Maddie’, who has to confront his own demons—as well as being a suspect in her disappearance—as the series progresses to reveal that there’s more than meets the eye to his character. Without spoiling the plot (much), we got talking with MacPherson on playing a ghostly ‘bad boy’, his personal experiences at high school, and what it means to tackle stereotypes and be your most authentic self. School Spirits is described as a young adult drama-mystery series with a supernatural twist. What are some of the themes the show explores when it comes to being a teenager and navigating high school? The feeling of being unseen and unheard is something I know I felt as a highschooler and a common feeling at
5 Egg-cellent Ideas to Celebrate Easter with the Family
5 Egg-cellent Ideas for this Long Easter Weekend By Rachel Naud Want to have an egg-cellent Easter? Whether you’re hosting family and friends or just hanging with the fam, we have some ideas you and yours will surely want to hop to! Choco-licious Easter Treats Easter just isn't Easter without a chocolate bunny! Who doesn't love starting their day with a sweet treat? Lindt's chocolates are the perfect way to make your Easter celebrations even more magical and fun. Lindt's GOLD BUNNY is a must-have for any Easter basket or as a prize for the ultimate egg hunt champion. This charming chocolate bunny is sure to put a smile on the faces of everyone in your family. You can also use chocolate as décor for your Easter Brunch place settings and the Floral Edition of the Lindt GOLD BUNNY look stunning adorned with colourful flowers and accented with a red ribbon and gold bell! And, for an extra special touch, you can even visit select Lindt Chocolate Shops to customize your Lindt GOLD BUNNY’s with a name or special Easter greeting. Visit a Lindt Chocolate shop near you or shop online at lindt.ca for all of your Easter chocolate needs! Hoppy Treats for Everyone Who says bunnies have to have all the fun at Easter? This year, let's throw some hippos into the mix with Healthy Hippo candy! This candy is not only delicious but it's also sweetened with Monk Fruit, making it a healthier choice for you and your family. This candy also won't stick to your mouth, so you can enjoy every bite without any funky aftertaste. Plus, Healthy Hippo candy doesn't contain sugar alcohol or stevia, which can sometimes upset your stomach. There’s also a flavour for everyone’s taste whether you like sweet, sour or even fizzy! Check them out at healthyhippo.ca Easter Gift Hunt Made Easy When it's time to hop into Easter gift shopping for the little ones in your family, the Toys R Us Easter Shop is where it's at! They've got all the fun gift ideas you need, from basket builders to outdoor toys that will keep them entertained all long weekend. Get ready for some outdoor fun in the sun with the Unicorn Horns Sidewalk Chalk or The Primo Foldable Scooter, complete with colourful LED light-up wheels. And for some indoor excitement, the Smashers Mega Light Up Surprise Egg by ZURU has over 25 surprises, including slime and fizz volcano explosions! Don't miss out on the
5 ways to make your Easter weekend more colourful
5 ways to make your Easter weekend more colourful This Easter weekend, planning for a fun and festive holiday is surely on the agenda for many a parent. While coming up with a new twist to Easter classics like the requisite egg hunt can be challenging—especially if you have a brood that looks forward to something different and/or exciting each year—going the route of ‘big and bold’ isn’t the only option when it comes to the day’s activities. Here, we present five creative and budget-friendly ideas that’ll help you pull off a fun-filled Easter weekend chock-full of colour your loved ones will appreciate. Colourful Egg Hunt Upgrade your basic egg hunt by giving the colours extra meaning. Assign one colour to one team and make sure to do the colouring well before the start of the race so that your teams can bond once they’ve been designated their shade. When the competition starts, sit back and watch how colourful the team-based competition can be! Sweet Treats Add some sweets that taste as good as they look. With HopScotch the Bunny Cake from Baskin-Robbins, you can be sure your guests will smile when you call them to the table. The adorable bunny-shaped cake will be a fan favourite for family and friends of all ages with its charming design and customizable flavours. Paint Night Tap into your artistic side with a paint night (or day) for the kids. Invite an artist via video or call in a favour from the artsy one among your friends who can offer you step-by-step instructions to create your own canvas. A fun and colourful activity, you’ll have the added bonus of sending everyone home with their own work of art. Aspiring adults looking to channel their inner van Gogh are equally welcomed to paint alongside their mini-mes. Family YES Day A family ‘YES day’ is key to blending quality time and limitless fun. Whether it’s an activity, meal request, or a trip outside, spend the day giving each family member one request to which all must say “yes”. Add to this the caveat that the request must include colour, be it an activity outdoors, food or clothing, and the creative and crazy ideas will be rolling in! Rainbow of Fun Play around with food colouring and turn simple meals and snacks into a rainbow of fun! From pancakes to muffins and colourful pasta, adding a little colour to jazz up the menu will go a