Milwaukee Specialty Food and Coffee

East Side/Riverwest: Snapshots: Starbucks (N. Downer Ave.)

This morning at the N. Downer Ave. Starbucks location, the staff unpacked the Valentine's Day-themed hot cups that will mark the holiday, featuring a heart design and the word "Love". The barista informed the rest of the staff: "We're supposed to push these until Valentine's Day." I was upset enough when Starbucks began selling the emotion of "bliss" in its cranberry bars; now it seems to claiming to peddle "love." Love seems like an overwhelming concept somtimes, but I would argue that even the non-romantically inclined such as I can readily experience and express love. To me, love is nothing so much as an attitude towards life. It's one that runs counter to the prevailing ethos in our society.

To me, it's consistently making the difficult choice, even when we can hear the noise of the gears grinding and belts scraping in our heads and hearts. I'm happy to be out of touch with the only slightly younger people I overhear in hipster coffeehouses and pizza joints. I don't need a repertoire of snarky pop cultural references. It's much more gratifying to be moving into a stage of life where I can realize and nurture my store of expertise so that others may take it and grow it. I'm not in a relationship right now, but it's fun to be at an age where I know I can feel things on a deeper level. When it does happen, I know it will be a whopper!

Snapshots: Feast of Burden

I had an interaction tonight that I'm not sure what to make of, so I thought I would throw it out there. I placed a delivery order from Mona's Restaurant on N. Farwell Ave. via GrubHub. The online ordering system apparently defaults to the option for leaving a cash tip, even when paying via a stored credit card. After placing the order, I had the sinking realization that I had forgotten to add the tip. Shortly thereafter, I received a call from the annoyed-sounding delivery driver. "So, you're at 123 West Fairview? Is that a house, apartment or what?" OK, well, not everyone has a GPS unit or similar feature on their cell phone, right?

I waited and the door and welcomed the driver with a warm smile. I explained that I had forgotten to add the tip, but would be ordering again soon and would make it up to him then. "This said that you were paying in cash. . .for the tip," he said, waving the printout that I had to sign. "I don't get a delivery fee, so that kind of sucks."  OK, well, hmmm--I didn't have any cash on me. After the driver left, I felt pretty bad and resolved to drop off a large tip (i.e. $10 or even more) for the driver on Monday night, after I had a chance to get cash.

A few minutes later, someone else from the restaurant called to ask whether I was enjoying my food. I promptly explained the situation and said that I intended to drop off a tip, and the representative gave me the driver's name. So far, so good. Considering that my ticket total was about $15, a 20% tip would be $3. Three bucks. I guess I think $3 doesn't really warrant any bad feelings on either side, especially when I gave my word to make it up next time. (I know I look pretty shady now with the goatee and all.) 

Not sure if it warrants a phone call from the restaurant either. I know it's standard procedure for the manager to intervene if a waitperson gets stiffed, but there must be some distinction between waiting on diners who stay an hour or more and driving 7 minutes each way to drop off food. I can certainly sympathize with the need for fair tipping, as I've had friends and family who worked for tips (mind you, not those kind of tips!) 

What say you?

East Side/Riverwest: Snapshots: Starbucks (E. Ogden Ave.)

It occurred to me this weekend that I feel genuinely sorry for those who are directly engaged in attracting the U.S.--particularly Milwaukee-area--consumer spending dollar. (Incidentally, I include politics and religion in consumer "spending," even if it is largely mindshare that is being spent.) There seems to be a lack of even side salad-sized solutions to our big, beefy basic problems. There also seems to be a lack of wisdom informed by empirical observation. For example, I'm now being reminded that the "killer app" of the coffeehouse is what I would call the "woman conversation." There's a certain volume and tone of voice used in these dyads that I feel like I've witnessed a million times. A chain like Starbucks could probably survive on the woman conversation alone. Obviously, the implication is that for your coffeehouse to succeed, you want the music to be right and not too loud. (I note that the coffeehouse I frequent that seems to be struggling the most plays loud, jarring music.)  

This only goes to show how dependent businesses like coffeehouses are on certain groups and certain modes of behavior. They have to catch lightning in a bottle, it seems, over and over again. It's evident to me that you've got your little base of eligible spenders, who are constantly preoccupied because the Packers are playing or it's the World Series or whatevertheheck. Add to that the challenge of putting forth a message that will "cut through" and attract the 15-second attention span of a population that, by and large, spends most of its time driving and watching television. It's hard not to be scared of what lows the political scene will stoop to before the Presidential election cycle is through. Indeed, as I saw Saturday night, it's hard not to be scared of the lows that have already been reached.  

Current Affairs: Snapshots: Apollo Cafe

When I arrived at Apollo Cafe, the television was tuned to the Republican Presidential debate, where the candidates jockeyed to position themselves as the most anti-gay rights and anti-abortion. My stance on these social issues has tended to waver over the years, but I've always felt that these issues have a primarily symbolic character. They're proxies for deep, substantial conversations about the nature of life and sexuality that, for whatever reason, we refuse to have. In some cases, institutions such as the Roman Catholic church do have those substantial conversations, but reach a conclusion that I consider incorrect. 

Tonight, all of the debate's participants except perhaps Mitt Romney--who has always been the most palatable Republican to me and tonight seemed to be on the defensive--just absolutely gave me the willies. I guess I just find it hard to believe that with all of the possibilities of globalization and the Internet, we've regressed to such an extent. I can only hope that more individuals start thinking outside the constraints on the political conversation imposed by the Republicans and put forward something truly groundbreaking and positive.

Snapshots: Well-Dressed Man vs. Fat Elvis

This afternoon, I had the pleasure of being served a mug of freshly brewed coffee by a well-dressed young man. Having lived through more Wisconsin winters than I care to admit, I've long abandoned any attempt at fashion, especially in winter. The chief reason is that one is constantly going from a too-cold environment to a too-hot one. Most of our indoor spaces are older (kind of like yours truly) and have moody (kind of like yours truly) heating systems. To me, layers seem like the only way to go, especially because I spend a lot of time walking outside.

East Side: Snapshots: When We're Together, Part 2 (Brewed Cafe)

I'm at Brewed Cafe enjoying my dinner and cappuccino and digesting the day's experiences. In my usual hyperimaginative way, I'm always tempted to draw connections where there are few or none. The challenge for me is to think inside the box. As has happened on so many a Friday morning this year, on my way into the clinic, I passed the delivery driver handling pallets of packaging materials and single-serve drinks to be wheeled into Starbucks. The customers, in turn--occasionally including me--will carry them into their little bubbles of reality. Going up to the second floor offices, I was treated for what I'd argue are the consequences of that lifestyle. 

Tonight, I sit in a cramped, crustypunk-alicious coffeehouse where the odd fruit fly buzzes my table. After half an hour or so of attempting to tolerate it, I had to move to the drafty side room because I could barely breathe with the general amount of body odor in the air (no doubt including my own contribution). And I have to admit to wondering why I'm paying to be here. Still, I wouldn't be anywhere else at this moment.  Why?  Because I'm not stipulating the terms of this experience with my consumer choices. Because the Decemberists are playing on the stereo and I'm getting past the lead singer's nasal voice. Hey, this song I haven't head ten million times is actually pretty good...

Holidays: Snapshots: Starbucks (Third Ward)

Unusually, a couple with small children is here at the Third Ward Starbucks, of all places. I hope to spend more time in family-friendly places in the near future, and hopefully have kids of my own in the not-too-distant future. The Bonnie Raitt Christmas music is getting a little old :-) Nonetheless, I find myself getting into the Christmas spirit for the first time in a few years. It promises to be a good one!

East Side/Riverwest: Snapshots: E=Bagel, Sliced

I have to relate a cute-ish story from my breakfast this morning. I'd awakened uncharacteristically early and gone to the Einstein Bros. Bagels location on E. Ogden Ave. As happens regularly at competitor Brueggers, they sliced the half-dozen bagels manually using a knife. If that was too much lean manufacturing. . .jujitsu. . .ninja-Toyota-whatever for comfort, the counter person also forgot to cut the bagels until after he'd handed them off to me, so he had to ask for them back. So, um, does Einstein Bros.--part of a larger bagel conglomerate called Einstein Noah--pay someone to, like, model that workflow in a sim program or something?  Sheer genius. Thankfully, they make a darn good power bagel, thus making my recollection of this morning's stop cute-ish.

Snapshots: On A Clear Day...

One of the most pleasant aspects of my lifestyle recently has been the ability to take a walk randomly around Downtown Milwaukee. I'm at once reminded of all the things I loved and saddened by what has become of them. For example, tonight I noticed the top of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel building, where there seems to be a newsroom crowned by a couple floors of corporate offices. Imagine having worked there in 1949 or even 1979: "I'm king of the world!" Now, working for a newspaper must feel a lot like being on the Titanic. The claim--and the promise--of the view from those upper floors was the same as that made by our cities: on a clear day, you can see forever from here. This is where human achievement and aspiration reside. The view summed up in this statement was generous enough to see all the way to Lambeau Field and County Stadium, always in proportion to other areas of life--OK, maybe except for 1982...and 1987...and...

Snapshots: Bay View Breezes: Wild Flour Bakery

My next stop is Wild Flour Bakery in Bay View. I'm enjoying a perfectly serviceable cappuccino ($2.50 for a small that's as big as a medium) and bran muffin. The atmosphere is a little rough-n-ready. There's kind of a unidentifiable funky smell in the air and a couple of fruit flies are buzzing my table. Still, given the prospect of yet another rubber-stamp Alterra cafe under construction across the street, I'll take this hands down. Moreover, the counter person is extremely friendly and helpful in her interactions with customers.