Cafe Culture

I've been at the U-Village Starbucks almost every night this week (and it'll probably remain that way through Thursday when the project is due...you know, if you feel like gazing upon an internet celebrity). It's because with all of the libraries closing early during the summer, it's the only place open 24 hours. Starbucks is RIDICULOUS. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy being at the place. It's like the undergraduate library except with fewer computers, an inverted white-to-Asian ratio and with coffee.

I could do without the incomprehensible shouts from the baristas (Is there a more pretentious word in use today?) repeating orders of venti decaf double soy caramel macchiato chai with light whipped cream and God there are about 577,460 ways to better spend your $4.35. Oh, and don't forget to drop your 65 cents change in the tip jar. I do like the fashion show aspect, though. I've made record of a few simple clothing styles I want to adopt from the hip people walking around here. There's the suit jacket with jeans and a t-shirt. There's the all-white sneakers plus jeans plus a striped short-sleeve collared shirt over a gray long-sleeved. The jeans in that last one can be substituted with khaki shorts. Whoa, I need to be writing about science education!

Before that, did you know that this Starbucks is the largest in the world? And it's only about a mile from my apartment! There are several different atmospheres a Starbucks can have. There are the Downtown style cafes located in the financial districts of a Seattle or San Francisco or maybe along Wall Street. Downtowns open early, close on weekends and are characterized by ties, blazers and briefcases...or so I imagine.

Then there's your suburban hangout-style Starbucks with a wide range of teenagers and seniors and people walking their dogs. And the local-type is the closest thing to an independent cafe. Lots of people studying and just using it as something of a free space; there's no pressure to be in and out within 20 minutes. If not for it's massive size, that's what this place would be. It's pretty decent, nonetheless.