Independent at Fifty: April 2011

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Starbucks - Medford, New Jersey

This is my local Starbucks Coffee Shop, which actually only occupies the tall part of the building on the left hand side of the photo. I think that Starbucks should hang a logo sign in the tall window/ but then maybe the aesthetic balance would be off. I'm sure that Starbucks paid someone big bucks to make that decision.

Over the years I've spent some pretty good times in this Starbucks. My daughters have had "girl gatherings" here, picked out their favorite "reward" drinks here and I have spent many an hour chatting with a special friend here. And over the last three years I've brought a new friend to this shop for our own chats. On this day, however, I came alone for I had a soldier's letter to write.

It seems that Starbucks is in s state of renewal. As most Starbucks' fans know the logo has been tweaked. The book Onward by Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks, coffee beans in special tribute bags and lots of other special tribute items seem to be everywhere. In this store even the furniture inside was new and a wall bench had been added. I like the new furniture and I don't have a problem with the new logo, however it seems that many people do. While I was enjoying my coffee and writing my letter, I heard some customers talking with the staff about the new logo and how much they don't like it. I find it funny that they care that much. Guess some people care about logos and some care about cleanliness.

New kind of comfy chair

COMFORT COMMENTS: I just loved these new chairs. The size was perfect for me, very comfortable. There were four of these chairs with two small tables. There was a new wall bench with tables and chairs. There were about 4-5 other tables with chairs.   Unfortunately, the sun was in my eyes and there were no blinds to pull down. But I was able to move the chair around, one of the perks at Starbucks. I like adjusting my chairs when I need to find a more comfortable spot.

SHOP CRITIQUE: The floor was very dirty and some of the tables were also dirty.  In the photo above you can see a cup wrapper is on the floor and some of the crumbs on the floor and table near my coffee. There were straws and papers and crumbs on the floor under the condiments table. After I had been in the shop for just over an hour, one of the employees came around and wiped some of the table tops.

EMPLOYEE COMMENTS: I could hear the employees talking, talking, talking behind me, mostly about family matters, which is probably why it took so long for them to get around to wiping the tables. Once I was in the Starbucks with a friend on a very cold and snowy night in February of this year. We had decided to stop in to get a coffee and chat before going home. We really wanted to sit in the over-stuffed leather chairs, but an employee on her break was in one of the chairs, so we had to wait until she went back to work. Neither of us was happy about that and neither should Starbucks be happy about that.

PICK OF THE WEEK: "Beautiful Trash feat, Megan Washington" - Lanu

INTERESTING/ENTERTAINING WEBSITES:
http://www.lanu.com.au/index.htm
http://www.starbucks.com/
http://www.medfordnj.com/
http://www.soldiersangels.org/

Friday, April 22, 2011

Starbucks - Center City, Philadelphia (200 South Broad Street)

The Bellevue-Stratford Hotel Building
starbuckseverywhere.net

Sometimes you head off with clear plans then events happen that push you in a different direction. Sometimes the different direction gives you a jewel. That is exactly what happened to me when I headed to Center City to hear the Curtis Institute Orchestra perform Messiaen's Turangalila-Syphonie at the Kimmel Center. (I have put a link to the concert at the bottom of the page.) My plans were to catch the High Speedline into Center City, walk to the Starbucks on the south side of the Kimmel Center, write my soldier's letter then go to the Center.

I had timed my trip pretty tightly, so when the volunteers from Samaritan Hospice tried to talk with me in the train station I was a bit short. I did however open my bag and let them stuff fliers and brochures inside. I promised to read them, which I'm sorry to say that I have yet to do. I will though, I promise. As I walked through the rain from my train stop in Center City towards the Starbucks, I decided that I would stop in The Bellevue-Stratford Building to eat the sandwich, dried apricots and walnuts that I had carried in with me for dinner. The building, built in 1904 and costing over $8,000,000 (in 1904 dollars), is just beautiful. The ceiling and iron work are magnificent. As I entered the building I was so focused on getting out of the rain and folding my umbrella that I barely noticed the lobby. After finishing my dinner in the downstairs dining court, I headed back through the lobby to walk over to the Starbucks. Now, here is the point in my story when a jewel dropped into my life. There on my left at the front revolving door was a Starbucks! I wondered over, looked around and decided to stay. It was a wonderful shop and Starbucks had made good use of the space. I settled into one of the four velvet chairs and began my letter.

Lobby
The Bellevue-Stratford Building

In the picture above (taken 12-2010), you can see the iron work on the stairway behind my daughter and some of the ceiling work. This is the area that I walked through to get to the stairs to go down to the food court. The Starbucks in just on the other side of the stairway.

COMFORT COMMENTS: The comfort of this shop for me was all in the aesthetics. Starbucks had made full use of the grand lobby by leaving the front wall open at the top so that you could see the ceiling work. That same front wall had a beautiful stain glass window above the condiments table and the wall itself was made of mostly glass so that you never felt that you had left the lobby. Although there was a separate seating area that offered more choices, I preferred to sit in one of the velvet chairs so that I could watch the people coming and going in the Starbucks and through the revolving door of the building. I realized after a bit of time that I could see out a window to the building across the street which was being illuminated by lights that were changing in color and where a ballet rehearsal was taking place. Even the floor of the Starbucks competed for space in my mind with its mosaic flower design.

SHOP CRITIQUE: The only choice of creamer was half and half. A customer had to ask for the staff to refill the half and half. The store was very clean. This store did not have restrooms.

EMPLOYEE COMMENTS: The employees were very friendly. And because of that I do feel badly for repeating the following incident, but it struck me the wrong way at the time. I had ordered my coffee and forgot to say that I wanted decaf, which is a must for me after 2 PM. I got the barista's attention and asked if I could make it a decaf. Luckily she had not made the espresso yet and it was not a problem. However, when I apologized for forgetting, she replied, "Don't worry about it. When you pay $20 for a cup of coffee I think that you should get what you want." I don't really think Starbucks wants customers to walk away feeling that they are being overcharged.

INTERESTING AND INFORMATIONAL WEB-SITES:
*http://instantencore.com/music/player.aspx?ListItemId=1958473&webkitkey=140da1305820429f92ec3037551aaced
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellevue-Stratford_Hotel
*http://www.starbucks.com/
*http://www.soldiersangels.org/
*http://www.samaritanhospice.org/

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Starbucks - Mount Laurel, New Jersey

10 Centerton Road
Centerton Plaza

Even though I did have a letter to a soldier to write while I sat in one of my local Starbucks, it wasn't a letter for a soldier that had been nominated to and selected by Soldier's Angels. On this occasion I wrote to a friend's son who had just started his training at the Army's Officer Candidate School in Georgia at Fort Benning. I wanted to write to him because I am so proud of his decision to enter the military and because many years ago I had learned to cuss at the very same fort. I just knew that I had a story that needed to be shared. I was hoping that it might bring a smile to his face for I felt certain that he might be having a few homesick moments. Just as I expect many of our youth in uniform experience.

One Christmas while living at Fort Benning, my parents had purchased a tricycle for me. Before giving it to me, they had hidden it in a closet.  As my father loves to tell me, one evening they heard me complaining and fussing about something. When they entered the room where I was making the fuss, they heard me say, "Summa   _ _ _ _ _ !"   They found me pulling on the bike and cussing about not being able to get it out of the closet. Now, I have no memory of that event, but I can tell you without a doubt just where I learned that Kentucky cussin'. No place like home!!!

I have visited this Starbucks Coffee Shop many times since it opened about five years ago. The outside has never felt very "local" to me, basically because of the look of the building. Just another urban development, although a nice one. However at one time this Starbucks hosted a talent night once a week. Customers were invited to bring their talents and perform. I always wondered how those talent nights turned out. At the time the girls were still home and I just didn't have the time to go watch.

COMFORT COMMENTS: Although, this shop only has two comfy over-stuffed leather chairs, I have never sat in any other chair except for the times that I sat outside. There are many tables with plenty of outlets.  One feature that I really like besides the outside seating is the bar and stools at the service area. People seem to like to sit at the bar.

SHOP CRITIQUE:  I hate the way the doors open in this shop. I nearly froze every time someone came in or went out. My tea cooled off way too soon because of that. The shop and restroom were clean.

EMPLOYEE COMMENTS: The employees always seem happy in this shop.  I've even seen a couple of reviews on-line of this Starbucks giving the staff high ratings for their friendliness.

INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINING WEB-SITES:
http://www.starbucks.com/
http://www.soldiersangels.org/
http://www.npr.org/ (why kids cuss...do we really need psychologists to tell us why?)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_L._Benning
(THIS may be worth cussing about, an American Army base named after "an ardent secessionist, bitterly opposing abolition or emancipation of slaves"* who served as general for the Confederates during the Civil War. WOW!!) *quote from wikipedia.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Starbucks - Center City Philadelphia (15th and Latimer Street)

I was so excited to finally be making my way into Center City to a Starbucks there. I guess I could have visited a Center City Starbucks on any of the previous Starbucks' visits because I am independent after all. But I saved my visit to combine it with some other event. I just had to wait for that event to come along. And it did! While I was visiting Starbucks in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Curtis Institute of Music offered their "friends" $5 tickets to attend the performance of Messiaen's Turangalila Symphonie at the Kimmel Center in Center City. And, of course, being the "friend" that I am, I snatched up a ticket. In hindsight I should have taken all my Jersey buddies with me. AMAZING concert, but more about that later. Along with my $5 ticket came the invitation to attend the Dean's lecture, Olivier Messiaen’s Turangalîla Symphonie: A Love Song, at the Curtis Institute on Locust Street in the Rittenhouse Square area of Center City.
I hopped on the "high speed line", the mass transit train between Southern New Jersey and Center City on April 5th around 5PM. I love the trains of the Northeast. The high speed line trip from Jersey to Center City is especially enjoyable for me because the trains use one of my all time favorite bridges to cross the Delaware River, The Ben Franklin Bridge. The trains run along either side of the bridge. As a passenger, you have two great choices for viewing entertainment, either the auto traffic on the bridge or the cities on either side of the river. Both fascinate me. I always get a nice smug feeling when I am able to gaze at the drivers while we pass them, knowing that their progress will soon be hampered by traffic and lights while I move freely towards my destination. Before my trips into Center City, I always double check the traffic flow of the streets around my train stop. I hate to admit it, but I'm spatially challenged in cities. I carry a compass and usually written directions, which never seem to help me when I first enter the street from the below street level stations. Knowing the directional flow of the traffic is my key to heading the right direction.
Feel familiar?

I knew when I saw this Starbucks that I was going to like it. What a perfect location! A corner spot with lots of big windows. People watching! I settled in at one of the small round tables next to the windows. Writing my soldier's letter was going to be a breeze today, the inspiration and material was just outside my window. Being a cold day, most people were still wearing the dark colored heavy coats of winter. It seemed to me that our scarves have become our color fashion statement when we are forced by nature to cover up. Even men seem to not mind sporting some brightly colored or patterned scarf. Once however, a woman appeared on the corner wearing a bright pink spring jacket, a crocus among the still brown blades of grass.

I hesitantly left my street entertainment and made my way over to Curtis just in time for the lecture.

COMFORT COMMENTS: I found this Starbucks Coffee Shop to be a bit tight. There was barely room to move between the tables along the windows, especially when both rows of tables were occupied. There was only one or two comfy chairs near the front of the store. If it had not been for the large windows bringing the outside in to me, I would have felt uneasy in the small space.

SHOP CRITIQUE: Bathroom and shop were both clean.

EMPLOYEE COMMENTS: Very quiet group of employees. It seem to me that they went about their jobs with full attention to what they were doing at the moment. The condiments table was clean, which tells me someone was paying attention to details. Nice!

INTERESTING AND INFORMATIONAL WEB-SITES:
*http://www.starbucks.com
*www.soldiersangels.org
*http://www.curtis.edu (you, too, can become a friend. just sign-up for emailings of events)
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Franklin_Bridge
*http://www.ridepatco.org/about/history.html (The USA needs more trains!)
*http://www.visitphilly.com/
*http://www.fashionscarvesandshawls.com/winterscarves.html (soooo many choices)

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Starbucks - New Hope, Pennsylvania

New Hope, Pennsylvania
East Bridge Street

As I sit here thinking about the blog for this Starbucks, I'm struggling. If you look at the Photo Review of the Starbucks that I have visited this year, I think that you will agree with me that the most interesting ones from the street are the Starbucks located in interesting or older buildings. I can even say that the Moorestown building is growing on me since I've started this project. I do like it better than the Cherry Hill or Marlton or Commack buildings even though I do believe that the Cherry Hill and the Commack buildings were also buildings or spaces that Starbucks rescued. And I do give kudos to Starbucks for not simply tearing down a perfectly good building to build a new one. But the building that this Starbucks is located in is just one ugly building on the outside. It is probably a great location for Starbucks though since it is located at one of the busiest intersections and at the bridge to New Jersey. It does have a nice covered porch with plenty of tables.

New Hope is a great little artsy town on the Delaware River north of Trenton, New Jersey. It is full of wonderful art studios, craft shops, cafes and restaurants. Unfortunately, bikers have decided that this makes the ideal destination for the weekend joy ride. Now I have no problem with motocycles, I actually like the thrill of a good ride, but the noise can be very unpleasant. I have even sworn in the past that I will never go to New Hope again due to the noise level of the motorcycles. I find no joy or relaxation in having to shout to talk with the person next to me or to feel the need to cover my ears. So, personally I don't put a lot of value on the front porch at this Starbucks. I feel that the bikers should be forced to quiet their cycles before they enter the town or to park their bikes at some location and walk into town.

Nice tables

Arsty

I really liked these tables. You could adjust them to suit your space needs. I thought that they were special to this Starbucks, but my daughter told me that her Starbucks, wherever "her" Starbucks is, has the same tables.

Strange comfy chair
At first glance, I thought no way this chair is going to be comfortable for the next couple of hours while I write my soldier's letter. How wrong I was, I really enjoyed this chair without arms. Although I did feel a little exposed.

COMFORT COMMENTS: There were limited "comfortable" seats in this Starbucks. There were two like the one above and limited comfortable seating in the back room of the shop. Between the entrance room, the back room and the front porch there seemed to plenty of seating. Never were all of the seats taken at one time. I think because New Hope is more of a tourist, shopping town, few people come to this Starbucks to work on their computers and to sit for long periods of time. There was at least one round table with a game top for checkers.

SHOP CRITIQUE: The traffic flow in this Starbucks Coffee is very poor. It is confusing for customers to know where to order and where to wait. The condiments area was right in the middle of all of that causing customers to have to squeeze around others tweaking their coffee. Starbucks should have knocked out the dividing wall between the service area and the back room, which I found depressing. The back room was just a large room with seating. It had little connection to the main Starbucks Coffee shop and two paintings were missing from the wall. Why when the paintings were removed Starbucks didn't bother to take the hanging hardware down is beyond me. To be excellent, details matter! Details should matter to Starbucks, especially since they are selling more than coffee. The restrooms and shop were clean. However, the restroom had one of the soap dispensers on the wall, which drips soap onto the floor.

EMPLOYEE COMMENTS: The employees were busy and friendly. They were attentive to the condiments table, which is always nice.

PET PEEVE: Why do parents feel that allowing their children to roam a store unattended is okay? I watched a little girl play with all of the yogurt/fruit parfaits in the refrigerated case. So who do you glare at the little girl or the parents?

HELPFUL/INFORMATIONAL WEB-SITES:
http://www.starbucks.com/
http://www.soldiersangels.org/
http://www.newhopepa.com/

*http://waaaaaay-to-loud.blogspot.com/ and *http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090304054036AAtrmDb Just to prove I'm not alone on the noise issue