Wednesday, February 13, 2008

STARBUCKS...THE FINAL FRONTIER?

Looking back over the last 10 years or so, I can say I've lead a rather colorful life, especially after the sun goes down.

There was that one magical night I spent smoking hash in a coffee bar in Amsterdam with 2 dudes from Tampa, another night spent kayaking across the Stevens Passage in Alaska. Or that hazy night in Vancouver that culminated with me hanging out with Gutter Punks (in a gutter no less); also that one totally random night I found myself drinking cans of Bud Light with low level Gangsta wannabes on a hill outside Phoenix (some dude produced a gun at one point - it's kind of a long story).

But I have never, ever, in my short life spent any time hanging out...in a Starbucks. That is until tonight. Yes, you read that right, your eyes have not betrayed you...I popped my Starbucks cherry! No shit!

There have been other, brief forays in a handful of locations of the ubiquitous chain; example - the Starbucks kiosk in the United Terminal at O'Hare where I have bought a bottle of water once or twice.

And I remember once accompanying a friend into one somewhere in Chicago to grab some coffee ("no, nothing for me, thank you Mr. Barista"). But never have I spent more than a few moments in one...and you know what? It wasn't so bad!

No one produced a gun, a pod of killer whales did not encircle me nor did I have to endure a grueling "chat" session with any 40 year old stoners from Florida. Also, I had no worries about members of Vancouver's finest arresting me for smoking a joint in their presence.

Despite the incessant loop of John Legend and Bob Dylan (both of which I don't mind hearing, but at my own time of choosing, thank you, again Mr. Barista) it was pleasant, if not slightly strange.

Don't get me wrong, I had FINE company at my side and enjoyed the people watching...but being in a large room with dozens of people all pecking away at laptops, term papers and iPods, was, well...just something I somehow managed to avoid until tonight, and somehow this amuses me.

But really, seeing as I've dropped acid more often than have drank coffee, perhaps it should not surprise me...that being said, I would not be opposed to going into another one for more green tea, provided I have FINE company to accompany me.

9 comments:

S.B. said...

Hahaha. I am giving up Starbucks and you are embracing it.

Frontier Psychiatrist said...

Wait, FINE company or FINE company?

And as a former barista, I can assure you Mr. Barista has no control over the music.

Anonymous said...

Tazo Green Tea wins over any coffee anyday of the week... mm mmmm good

james said...

so, are we going to hear anymore about the fine company? hmmmm?

redgalaxoid said...

Well I think staying away from the "Starbucks culture" is a good thing. Just because most people seem to think that life without a daily espresso isn't really a life woth living, it doesn't mean everybody should blindly do the same thing.
Plus, I'm colombian, and I can say that Starbucks regular coffee is really low quality...too bad there isn't a Juan Valdez Cafe in Chicago so you could tell the difference.

Soul Seared Dreamer said...

I had my first proper Starbucks cherry popping last week.

Its strangely alluring.. with specific company. Define this FINE?

I give you a month more and you'll be a Starbucks addict.

Anonymous said...

It's a pity you lived this long and you just tried starbucks, it's not a healthy place but if you have a fine company, many places can be fine going :-D
Happy V day, btw.

MEETING NEIL IS EASY said...

Pestilence-infested wasteland.

B said...

Starbucks...see my blog for today