No, I am not paranoid. It’s just that I’ve made no secret of my love of Starbucks. I’ve made it clear that my blog is available for advertising Starbucks. I give it free plugs all the time, such as here and here and here and here and here and here and …
I even offer constructive, loving criticism when warranted, when I’m worried that Starbucks is wandering down an unproductive path (which very seldom happens, of course).
Yet today, on the anniversary of my getting laid off (a day on which one might expect me to be a bit fragile), the fancy-schmantzy New York Times is just flaunting its relationship with Starbucks — just strutting up and down the sidewalk along the Information Superhighway, with Starbucks on its arm, saying look who advertises with me… Just look at that huge banner ad promoting Yukon Blend! Why, I happen to have an open pound of Yukon Blend beans at home myself at this very minute (plus a couple of pounds of other varieties in reserve in my pantry), because I have to have Starbucks even when I can’t get to the actual shop. Don’t talk to me about Yukon Blend…
And I’ve gotta say, it hurts.
Why does Starbucks forsake me?
You don’t suppose Starbucks thinks I’m, you know, a… stalker?…
You want them too bad; play hard to get . . .
Hey, I can play hard to get. I can. Just now, when I went out for a late lunch, I thought about stopping at the Gervais shop and using my red card, but went on and got a Coke at McDonald’s instead. We’ll see how Starbucks likes THAT…
I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I didn’t mean it! I don’t know what came over me …
Maybe it was that snide comment about people who order anything other than regular coffee in one of your posts …
Since Adriana’s closed, Starbucks has gotten too cocky. You need to go to Immaculate Consumption or Cool Beans, dude. They might actually advertise, too….
Drink local, blog local.
Let them make me an offer, say I, and I’ll check out their coffee …
But Starbucks… it’s like being Catholic. Wherever you go, there’s a Starbucks, and it has that wonderful smell and the same menu — although there’s some pretty neat architectural diversity in their settings. Same with the Church: Wherever you go, you’re participating in the same communion through the same liturgy. If only it were still in Latin…
When I go to New York, there’s another Starbucks on every corner! But I still stop at one of those shops in Little Italy for an espresso….
I get really, really caffeinated when I go to New York…
Dude, you gotta spend money to make money. Starbucks is the New York Times. You are just lil ole Brad Warthen who used to be sort of somebody. The little people are your friends now.
Maybe you could get the Catholic Church to advertise?
I love the scene in Best In Show where the yuppies with the Weimaraner tell how they were supposed to have their first date at a Starbucks, but they were at opposing corners’ Starbucks.
I guess I don’t know what the hype about Starbucks is… I’ve never stepped foot inside one. But that may be because I find the smell and taste of coffee sickening.
@Walter–ya think?
Kathryn – That and I don’t pay $7.00 for any drink that doesn’t have alcohol in it… and even then I have to think about it.
Who pays $7? It’s less than $2 — unless you’re one of those people who think it’s a soda fountain, and not a coffee shop. And, as someone noted above, I have little patience with such folk.
I try hard not to pay $7 even if it has alcohol in it. Sometimes you just have to go with the flow socially, but $7 for a shot of scotch kills me.
I figure $2 for a great cup of coffee that someone had to grind and brew for me, in a nice shop is quite reasonable. Bob Green erstwhile Chicago Tribune columnist wrote back in the 80s that he figured you get $1 tip minimum just for bringing something to his table–the $2.22 breakfast at Denny’s still merited a buck tip. Unless the service is terrible, I figure inflation brings it to $2. At Starbucks, they don’t bring it to your table, but factoring in the labor and overhead involved in making a fresh well-brewed cup of coffee, I figure $2 all in is quite reasonable.
—and I try really hard to drink only those calories found in milk and liquor—a Triple Caramel Mocha Macchiatto Frappuccino is right out.
Brad, given how often you mention Starbucks–well, why should they by the cow when milk’s so cheap?
You probably know about this, but in case you don’t, thought you’d be interested: Buy the $1.50 bold offering for next 8 weeks (get the card for it this week), and get a free pound of beans. Perfect for the Starbucks-addicted unemployed! http://www.starbucksbold.com/coffee/organic-yukon-blend.aspx