Author Topic: Coupon For A Free Cappuccino At Barnes and Noble Starsucks  (Read 6775 times)

Offline Mayo

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Coupon For A Free Cappuccino At Barnes and Noble Starsucks
« Reply #15 on: October 28, 2008, 01:18:39 PM »
Chris, one of my fav travel activities is discovering local coffee cafes treasured by locals.

A few years ago my wife and I were stopping-over in Seattle en route to Amsterdam. (Prior to the new direct flight from Portland we used to fly to Seattle, stay the night and take a non-stop flight to Amsterdam the following day.) We stayed the night at the downtown Red Lion. In the morning we set-out for an espresso and Wouldn't You Know It?  There were Starsucks literally on every corner in the neighborhood...

As my dislike for Starsucks is equal only to my aversion to Wal-Mart, we wandered around until we stumbled upon a walk-up window with a short queue of folks. Eureka! Excellent espresso and we had a wonderful conversation with a man who counsels juvenile offenders. I don't recall the name of the café but I do have it written down if anyone is interested... (Or we may luck-out and hear from someone who knows the place!)

We have found delightful and quirky espresso shops in towns and cities in the U.S. and abroad. Some of the best travel tips we have had bestowed on us have come from our fellow espresso sippers in these cafes. An added benefit is that we have actively supported small businesses that are being squeezed out by the huge chains. (Espresso cafes and independent book stores seem to be particularly vulnerable.)

When we travel we want different, not the Same Old Thing. I have never understood the attraction of chain restaurants/coffeehouses that offer the same thing at every location, no matter where one happens to be... But chains sure are popular in our neck of the woods; when Olive Garden finally opened a restaurant here you would think that it was the Second Coming! (The crowded McDonalds in Paris was a definite Cognitive Disconnect for me. And why was I even in a McDonalds in Paris, you might ask?  To use the toilette, bien entendu!)
« Last Edit: October 28, 2008, 03:28:22 PM by Mayo »

Offline Gregg

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Coupon For A Free Cappuccino At Barnes and Noble Starsucks
« Reply #16 on: October 28, 2008, 06:27:38 PM »
QUOTE(Mayo @ Oct 28 2008, 01:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
The crowded McDonalds in Paris was a definite Cognitive Disconnect for me. And why was I even in a McDonalds in Paris, you might ask?


Reminds me of my visit to Paris. I was at a McDonalds on the Champs Elysee because I had been having trouble with my digestive system, and wanted... yep, the same old same old food to settle my stomach. laugh.gif
Ya gotta applaud those bunnies for sacrificing their hearing just so some guy in Cupertino can have better TV reception.

Offline chriskleeman

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« Reply #17 on: October 28, 2008, 06:29:02 PM »
QUOTE
MAYO

Chris, one of my fav travel activities is discovering local coffee cafes treasured by locals.

A few years ago my wife and I were stopping-over in Seattle en route to Amsterdam. (Prior to the new direct flight from Portland we used to fly to Seattle, stay the night and take a non-stop flight to Amsterdam the following day.) We stayed the night at the downtown Red Lion. In the morning we set-out for an espresso and Wouldn't You Know It? There were Starsucks literally on every corner in the neighborhood...

As my dislike for Starsucks is equal only to my aversion to Wal-Mart, we wandered around until we stumbled upon a walk-up window with a short queue of folks. Eureka! Excellent espresso and we had a wonderful conversation with a man who counsels juvenile offenders. I don't recall the name of the café but I do have it written down if anyone is interested... (Or we may luck-out and hear from someone who knows the place!)

We have found delightful and quirky espresso shops in towns and cities in the U.S. and abroad. Some of the best travel tips we have had bestowed on us have come from our fellow espresso sippers in these cafes. An added benefit is that we have actively supported small businesses that are being squeezed out by the huge chains. (Espresso cafes and independent book stores seem to be particularly vulnerable.)

When we travel we want different, not the Same Old Thing. I have never understood the attraction of chain restaurants/coffeehouses that offer the same thing at every location, no matter where one happens to be... But chains sure are popular in our neck of the woods; when Olive Garden finally opened a restaurant here you would think that it was the Second Coming! (The crowded McDonalds in Paris was a definite Cognitive Disconnect for me. And why was I even in a McDonalds in Paris, you might ask? To use the toilette, bien entendu!)


clap.gif thumbup.gif  

And Gregg, I hear you, I've been in Ireland for six tours (playing music) and there was a time or two... but thankfully I didn't have to resort to Mickey D's!

CK
« Last Edit: October 28, 2008, 06:32:41 PM by chriskleeman »
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Offline Mayo

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« Reply #18 on: October 28, 2008, 10:48:11 PM »
Oh Man, eating at a McDonalds in Paris just seems wrong!  blink.gif

Offline Gregg

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« Reply #19 on: October 29, 2008, 06:34:12 AM »
QUOTE(Mayo @ Oct 28 2008, 10:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Oh Man, eating at a McDonalds in Paris just seems wrong!  blink.gif


Like eating at La Madeleine in D.C.? wink.gif
Ya gotta applaud those bunnies for sacrificing their hearing just so some guy in Cupertino can have better TV reception.

Offline Xairbusdriver

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Coupon For A Free Cappuccino At Barnes and Noble Starsucks
« Reply #20 on: October 29, 2008, 05:03:46 PM »
BREAKING NEWS! sorta...

Starbucks is again offering free WiFi to iPhones! Wonder if you have to order anything? Maybe I can just park outside...Thinking.gif rofl.gif
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Offline kimmer

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« Reply #21 on: October 29, 2008, 06:14:20 PM »
QUOTE(Mayo @ Oct 28 2008, 11:18 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Chris, one of my fav travel activities is discovering local coffee cafes treasured by locals.

Oh boy howdy. On our travels, we made a point of visiting local spots. We'd ask for tips on where to go and the motel folks kept saying, "There's an XYZ franchise down the road." So we finally started asking folks in stores and such. We visited some super places, enjoyed great food, met some delightful folks, got leads on great places to visit -- and drank some of the best coffee I've had (short of what we get around here).

QUOTE
As my dislike for Starsucks is equal only to my aversion to Wal-Mart

HAHAHA! I wanted some of the beautiful fall mums for my porch steps, but they were only being sold at Wally-World and so I did without the mums.

QUOTE
(Espresso cafes and independent book stores seem to be particularly vulnerable.)

I visited 3 independent book stores on our trip -- and came home one happy book reader. smile.gif

Offline krissel

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« Reply #22 on: October 30, 2008, 11:47:11 PM »
OK, all the talk about donuts made me take a nostalgia trip to my youth.  

Dad would come home from work every once in a while with two waxed bags of sheer delight. Inside were warm, crispy, gnarly shaped and heavily dusted donuts. They came from "The Doughnut Man", that is the name we gave him anyway. His 'store' was an old bus that he parked along a busy major roadway. In the bus was a complete setup for mixing dough, rolling out the donuts into wildly uneven shaped circles and cooking them in fresh oil, changed daily.  After they were well done, he plucked them out to drain, then put them into the waxed bags and added a large scoop of confectioners' sugar while they were still warm into the bag. Some of the sugar would melt into the donuts and some would just cling in heavy clusters to the crisp exterior.

Sometimes Dad would take us kids with him to get the donuts. It was about a half hour drive but it was worth it. We knew that if we were standing with Dad while he was at the bus window giving his order we would get a free doughnut, warm and coated with sugar. It was impossible to eat one without getting the dust all over your face and clothes but oohh, it was soooo good.


We were all very upset when the Doughnut Man decided to retire and take his secrets with him. No one ever took his place in that area or in our hearts or stomach.  We still talk about him today and our mouths water just thinking about those delicious tastes of heaven.

yum.gif


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Offline krissel

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« Reply #23 on: October 31, 2008, 12:09:14 AM »
Did a little Googling and found a few other people who remembered him. They all agree...best donuts ever. smile.gif

http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showto...7927&st=151

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/251798#1338167


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Offline Gregg

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« Reply #24 on: October 31, 2008, 06:39:45 AM »
How'd you do that??? It jumped to the middle of the page where the topic of interest was discussed! cool.gif

Interesting that "The Doughnut Man" made the best "donuts". wink.gif

Where does one get dontnuts?
Ya gotta applaud those bunnies for sacrificing their hearing just so some guy in Cupertino can have better TV reception.

Offline krissel

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« Reply #25 on: November 01, 2008, 02:41:58 AM »
QUOTE(Gregg @ Oct 31 2008, 07:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
How'd you do that??? It jumped to the middle of the page where the topic of interest was discussed! cool.gif


In the first case you use the post number and add it to the main thread. In this instance though the numbering was one off and I had to adjust it.

The second thread has "permalink" which gives you a direct link to that particular post.

TS has something like the first example at the far right of each post. You will see the post #, click on it and a window drops down with a direct link to that particular post.


Funny thing is that at first when I tried to type donut, it was automatically corrected to doughnut. But after a while it stopped doing that and let me use the abbreviated version. Thinking.gif
« Last Edit: November 01, 2008, 02:43:53 AM by krissel »


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Offline Gregg

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« Reply #26 on: November 01, 2008, 06:39:38 PM »
QUOTE(krissel @ Nov 1 2008, 02:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
TS has something like the first example at the far right of each post. You will see the post #, click on it and a window drops down with a direct link to that particular post.

Funny thing is that at first when I tried to type donut, it was automatically corrected to doughnut.

Never noticed that number before. I'm very focused. Yeah, that's it.

All I've got to say about the spelling of a certain pastry... ugh!
Ya gotta applaud those bunnies for sacrificing their hearing just so some guy in Cupertino can have better TV reception.