If you haven’t noticed by now, I’m all for brand love, and not just because it’s what we generate here at Javelin. There are more than a few with a special place in my heart: Lego, Barbie, Converse, and Peeps all spring immediately to mind.

However, even I draw the line waking up with the Burger King. Apparently, not everyone agrees. Burger King is selling (for $6) a pillowcase featuring their breakfast menu on one side, and the actual Burger King on the other.

Picture yourself waking up rested and maybe a bit dozy from a night of deep slumber. You yawn, roll over on your side, and as your eyes gradually focus you realize you’re sharing a pillow with the Burger King. Talk about a nightmare!

Despite a commercial (see below) and a handful of articles about the promotion, I’ve been unable to locate a verifiable, authentic Burger King reference to it. There are several listings for the pillowcase on eBay ranging from a few dollars to a “Buy It Now” price of $74.99. Real or not? You tell me.

The next one is definitely real. Multiple news sources including CNN and CBS have reported that in January 2011, McDonald’s Hong Kong will begin offering wedding packages for those who wish to tie the knot under the golden arches. Yes, you read that correctly – there are people who want to get married at McDonald’s. Apparently.

The wedding party at McDonald's Hong Kong

McDonald’s Hong Kong’s director of corporate communications and relations said about ten couples per month inquire about having their wedding ceremony and/or reception at the restaurant. Think about the word of mouth publicity…of course they’re going to roll with it!

So, the scoop is this: if you can tolerate the possibility of having a clown at your wedding, the bill for your McDonald’s ceremony and reception will come to a measly $1000 (more or less) including the custom menu and apple pie wedding cake.

The first kiss.

The wedding cake - apple pies.

Oh yeah, there’s no booze allowed, so go ahead and invite your pesky Uncle Bert. After all, how much trouble can he get into with a Coca-Cola toast?

Cheers! Toasting with soda.

Organic social media presence kick-started the WeLikeBike42 experiential brand activation. 42BELOW Vodka’s native New Zealand is known for its sense of adventure and environmental conscience.  In that spirit, the brand selected 42 cyclists to ride from NYC to LA in a massive celebration of biking culture.  After training, a kickoff party, and an appearance on The Today Show, the riders parted ways to conquer a northern route and a southern route.

This video features photos taken by a variety of the riders as well as a couple by Javelin crew members. It’s a stunning display of appreciation for beauty in nature, adventure, and the sheer joy of living.

In major markets along the way, consumers cheered the riders on at parties hosted by 42BELOW Vodka, complete with the brand’s signature Caipiroska 42. Fans could join the journey by reading the individual riders’ blogs and Twitter accounts, and by following the tour at @WeLikeBike42.

Over 58 days riders witnessed some of the most beautiful scenery the country has to offer, pedaled a combined 8,549 miles, and exceeded their goal of getting 20,000 followers on Twitter.  In turn, 42BELOW made a $42K donation to the Alliance for Biking & Walking at the finish line event.

With more than 125K WeLikeBike42.com page views, 4.9 million blog views, radio reach of 2 million, 1.45 million over-the-road impressions, and more, 42 Below’s We Like Bike had an experiential program reach of more than 72 million. This extensive reach would not have been possible without the robust social media presence the riders brought to the experience through their blogs, Twitter, Facebook, and Flickr accounts.  Cycling enthusiasts, adventure devotees, and lovers of the vast beauty found across the United States all found something compelling to participate in, over and over.