What is it with Starbucks? (After my second cup tonight I'm prepared to tell you.) I admit it, I love Starbucks. But the initial luster, the huge love affair with the entire concept -lifestyle even- has dropped from a loud roar to a audible hum, but it's still very much alive. Some of my favorites shops: Newport, Rhode Island; Santa Fe, New Mexico; Prague, Czech Republic; Vienna, Austria; Paris, France; and even Savannah, Georgia ('cause I really like Savannah). Some of you are rolling your eyes and figuring I've gone off the deep end over an expensive, over-popularized, overly romanticized coffee. But, for those of you who have never experienced the world of Starbucks, the friendly coffee shops, convivial conversation, then you can't know what it is to enjoy Starbucks. Even the familiarity in faraway cities Comforting. For some, the price alone is grossly prohibitive. And the bitter taste is how I've heard some describe the coffee. But I've known more than a few regular Maxwell House-types who got hooked, literally and figuratively. When this Starbucks opened a few years ago, a couple blocks from my home, I practically lived there. (I'm sure there's a brass plaque on a chair out under that oak tree.) Every noon hour I'd grab a Vente-size Verona or Sumatra and settle in with my newspaper. I don't go as often, but I do drink my Starbucks morning, noon and night ... at home. Got to get my fix. Hooked. Their mission statement reads: To inspire and nurture the human spirit— one person, one cup, and one neighbourhood at a time. Sounds benign enough but tread carefully. It's addictive. From a coffee shop in Seattle in the 1970s, they sure have grown. 15,000 locations and still growing. I wouldn't mind discovering a few more in fascinating and even unexpected places on our globe. It's a sweet thing to enjoy a bit of home so far from home. Gotta go. The coffeemaker just beeped. Ah-h-h-h.
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Healthy dose of Java at Starbucks on Howard Avenue
What is it with Starbucks? (After my second cup tonight I'm prepared to tell you.) I admit it, I love Starbucks. But the initial luster, the huge love affair with the entire concept -lifestyle even- has dropped from a loud roar to a audible hum, but it's still very much alive. Some of my favorites shops: Newport, Rhode Island; Santa Fe, New Mexico; Prague, Czech Republic; Vienna, Austria; Paris, France; and even Savannah, Georgia ('cause I really like Savannah). Some of you are rolling your eyes and figuring I've gone off the deep end over an expensive, over-popularized, overly romanticized coffee. But, for those of you who have never experienced the world of Starbucks, the friendly coffee shops, convivial conversation, then you can't know what it is to enjoy Starbucks. Even the familiarity in faraway cities Comforting. For some, the price alone is grossly prohibitive. And the bitter taste is how I've heard some describe the coffee. But I've known more than a few regular Maxwell House-types who got hooked, literally and figuratively. When this Starbucks opened a few years ago, a couple blocks from my home, I practically lived there. (I'm sure there's a brass plaque on a chair out under that oak tree.) Every noon hour I'd grab a Vente-size Verona or Sumatra and settle in with my newspaper. I don't go as often, but I do drink my Starbucks morning, noon and night ... at home. Got to get my fix. Hooked. Their mission statement reads: To inspire and nurture the human spirit— one person, one cup, and one neighbourhood at a time. Sounds benign enough but tread carefully. It's addictive. From a coffee shop in Seattle in the 1970s, they sure have grown. 15,000 locations and still growing. I wouldn't mind discovering a few more in fascinating and even unexpected places on our globe. It's a sweet thing to enjoy a bit of home so far from home. Gotta go. The coffeemaker just beeped. Ah-h-h-h.
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9 comments:
If you ever come to Manila, you'll feel right at home — they're all over the place! I'd rather have Figaro (a local shop) or Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (an international franchise) myself :)
One of life's simple pleasures.
Hello Frank! First, I'd want to thank you for visiting Arradon DP and taking the time to write nice comments. When I see your photos, it's difficult to me to imagine the rain is lacking... I need to come back to read all your texts, my English is quite laborious! I wish you a nice weekend!
Love your blog! Nice. Pictures not bad either. The GIANT has awakened!
Toy Camera - Am I the awakening GIANT or are you referring to Pink Gorilla Babe? (See my APRIL 23rd post] She is a honey.
You are the GIANT. Love the whole thing ... Writing, photos and all!
Thanks big Toy Camera!!
Hello Frank. First I would like to Thank you for visiting my Blog and commenting on it. It was greatly appreciated.
That Starbucks Building is real nice, but I don't really see the big deal about Starbucks coffee. I've stopped in one or two of their places while in NYC and found their coffee about the same as anything else. It's a nice atmosphere to sit around and have a cup of coffee, but I just don't see how people can get to additive to it. I'm not much of a coffee drinker. Maybe have 1 or 2 cups a day.
Maybe it's just me.
Corker2 - Nice to hear from you, too. Starbucks coffee is so different from most beans and is certainly an acquired taste. But so many people, even in this slowed economy, are still paying good money to have a cup. I know you've traveled a alot and it is fun to find a familiar place, a slice of the USA when you're far from home. Stepping out of a museum in Paris is a Sarrbucks. And just beside a used watch store in Prague is another. And in Vienna. Except for the language difference, they are the same. Kind of nice. I like your blog and will keep visiting. Return soon to TDF.
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