Thursday, September 23, 2010

Pit Stop

I know it doesn't have the coolness factor of Kaldi or Busters. I know the boho-chic interior is cookiecutter and chosen by a bunch of guys in suits. I know some coffee snob bloggers have said the arabica beans are not as well roasted as Peets. But still ... the Starbucks on Fair Oaks across from OSH is a great place to grab some good java, chill out to whatever mellow music is playing and utilize the WiFi. Plus, the light is so pretty there in the afternoons, I just can't help but reach for my camera. (It's nice outside, too.)

13 comments:

Mister Earl said...

This used to be my Starbucks of choice, but that was when I was eating donuts and I'd stop off at Winchell's. Now I stop off at the "Wells Fargo" Starbucks. Things change. I'm just thinking of some of the people I'd see at both Starbucks that I don't see any more. Interesting shot.

Judy Williams said...

I would almost think you edited it to create those colors, but I know you didn't. Did you use your camera phone and an app in the lomo mode? Whatever you did, I really like it. I can almost hear a smooth jazz song playing and hear the espresso machine creating foam to put atop someone's cappuccino. Very nice.

Do you have Seattle's Best there? I prefer their coffee to Starbucks but I always have mine doctored up so much. I'm hardly a coffee connoisseur.

GratefulTwinMom said...

Love that Starbucks. Once I was in there with my kids (twins about 2 1/2 at the time) and a man was working, I guess. He had books, a notebook; he was taking notes, you know, studying. He took one look at my active twins and packed up his stuff and said, "This is not a playground!" Wow. I knew that, but I didn't think it was a library either. I love to use Starbucks as a library; just have to be conscious of the fact that others may not feel that way. Love your photo. The light IS fantastic in there.

Jean Spitzer said...

Great colors, dramatic perspective.

Skrip said...

What a coincidence, just drove passed fair oaks by this particular Starbucks this morning on my way in to Pasadena and don't know why I stopped and looked at it as some lady was walking out very happy with her coffee. Strange, but now I see the inside, thanks!

dbdubya said...

I hope that wasn't Mr. Earl who packed up and left when Twin Mom showed up. Are you sure it was a change in diet Mr. E?

San Diego Farmgirl said...

Who goes to Starbucks seeking peace and quiet? I would have told that curmudgeon to go back to his smelly man cave and stay there. His mom should be finished "entertaining" by now.

(No, no, no ... think first, THEN speak)

Say what you want about those guys in suits, but they took coffee shops to a whole new level. And now everyplace offers free wi-fi, which was driven by Starbucks doing it first.

I'm a big supporter of local businesses, being a local biz owner myself, but I must admit I have quite a few Starbucks compilation CDs in my library. And who can resist a peppermint mocha or pumpkin latte during the Holidays? Even if it gives me tiny blisters on my fingers from all the MSG or whatever makes them so yummy.

Trish said...

time was you stopped into Winchell's for the coffee and picked up a donut too...then filled up your car in the location that Starbucks is now. Chevron, if I recall correctly---Mr Earl, do you remember?

But unless the coffee is doctored up at Starbucks, I think it tends to taste a little like an oil slick anyway, that location or any other.

I like the colors you captured---a local one to me is similarly laid out and decorated. I also like that you got their "A" rating card in the window---nice to know they don't let things run amok in there!

Fryewerk said...

Kaldi is cool, but most of the employees think they're too cool for the customers. I can do without the attitude-I got to Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf for the jasmine dragon green tea lattes.

Joe Ryan said...

Boho-chic? I thought I was up on my chics. Not sure what this one means. I guess I could google it but, hey, does everything have to answered by the click of a mouse?? :)

Anonymous said...

Boho chic is a term for bohemian inspired design that tends to be overpriced versions of thrift store inspired finds.

Mister Earl said...

Not me DB. I don't use Starbucks as a workplace. All my political treatises are composed in a bunker 20 feet underground.

WV: "databl"
1. Are you using all of datable or can I sit here.
2. By the way, are you databl?

Laurie Allee said...

Thanks, everyone! And Farmgirl, I'm still laughing.