February 16
...serving up your daily dish.
Jon Markman has some interesting theories on why Starbucks can mark up coffee a gazillion times and we still go there.
If Starbucks were just selling water, or a blast of air, we would still want to start or take a break from our day there. It's the white-collar equivalent of the tavern next to the auto plant, where Frankie behind the counter hits us with a shot of Wild Turkey and a Bud draft on sight.
And if Baristanet were to offer nothing but, say, retread stories culled from other blogs and news sites a blast of air.. you would still love us, wouldn't you?
Out here, citizens can get a free blast of air just by attending one of our fine town council meetings. You spoiled city folks with your spoiled city folk ways... Next thing you know, you'll be paying someone to pour water in a bottle and sell it to you!
Posted by: The Prop | Feb 16, 2005 11:54:29 AM
Clearly for some of us it's more than love, it's obsession.
We need a twelve-step program for people who post too much to Barista. Baristiacs Psuedonymous.
Posted by: Lex | Feb 16, 2005 4:23:41 PM
I've been in, and worked in, lots of equivalents to the "tavern next to the auto plant," and I thus assure thee, blue-collar guys do NOT order a shot of Wild Turkey to go with their draft Bud. (Jack Daniels or Jim Beam maybe, but then they have to be 35 or younger.) And "Frankie" behind the bar (well, it was indeed Frank at the Raven Lounge and then the Raven II for many years) never pours anything for you without asking first. Honest, if only because customers can be so fickle (especially on karaoke nights) and waste is expensive. That noted, the Raven (first in East Rutherford, then in Wallington) always gave much better value for your money than any Starbucks I've ever been in, and that's really what counts.
Posted by: cathar | Feb 16, 2005 7:37:52 PM
By Ray Oldenburg ...
The Great Good Place: Cafes, Coffee Shops, Bookstores, Bars, Hair Salons, and Other Hangouts at the Heart of a Community
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1569246815/ref=pd_sbs_b_1/104-6874311-8521504?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance
Celebrating the Third Place: Inspiring Stories About the "Great Good Places" at the Heart of Our Communities
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1569246122/104-6874311-8521504?v=glance
Posted by: Chris | Feb 17, 2005 1:00:52 AM
Had lunch at Raymond's yesterday for the first time. Danged if that wasn't the greatest good place I've been around here. Between there and Depot Station, or whatever they call it (when it's not too cold out--the place isn't too well insulated) I'm feeling pretty homely if you know what I mean.
Now how can anyone who's ever been to a place like that even contemplate Starbucks?
Posted by: Lex | Feb 18, 2005 9:52:27 AM
