Ristretto: July 17, 2008

-No Milwaukee-area Starbucks locations are closing.  Here's the complete list (PDF).

-I'm at Barnes & Noble Bayshore.  Alterra is just not an option today--the blenders. . .and it's too hot to sit outside.  Obviously, the blender here is also seeing a lot of action, but the space is large enough to swallow it a little better.  An irritating phenomenon I often witness at B&N is that people grab a stack of books or magazines, then leave them wherever for the staff to pick up.  Here, some folks did that in the cafe.  One even left her dirty plate on top of the book.  Yeah, common courtesy is pretty much a thing of the past.  By the way, if you really, really like Billy Joel's The Stranger album, you want to come here.  They're playing it start to finish on a regular basis nowadays.  (I respect the album, but good grief, why?)

-I succumbed and went to a Starbucks to check out the Vivanno today.  I must say I found it very good, but can't see myself having many more considering the $4.50 pricetag (with the espresso shot option).  I mean, even if I have a hankering for that particular taste sensation, Kopp's will blend a banana into a chocolate malt for less money.