In the Spotlight at Starbucks
(Appeared as a column in the Fairfield-Citizen News 11/12)
ã 2010. All Rights Reserved.
11/8/10
First light on a recent Monday brought a wake-up call from Mother Nature, who lashed the area with wicked winds and a sloppy freezing rain and snow mix. At times, it was blowing sideways and managed to settle and stick to car windshields, porch steps and rooftops. Kids, who hoped for a quick-decision school closing, and commuters alike, sighed a collective sigh, hitched up their gear and slogged out.
While the wind hadn’t subsided by late morning, the sun was doing its best to peek out, and any leftover ice crystals quickly melted. It was a tease for the season to follow. Though an uncomfortable commuting day, it was a perfect café and coffee day, and the popular Starbucks on Black Rock Turnpike beckoned to passersby.
Barristas Katie and Shirlean were manning the counter, operating the java-making machinery that makes that wonderful shushing sound as it pumps out exotic coffees while sending into the air great smells that themselves alone can stimulate the senses.
“Nice and bundled up today?” inquired Shirlean of an elder man draped in multiple layers, a cap and droopy trousers that were just hanging on.
“You need to wake up!” she good-naturedly said to another man in corporate casual attire who sleepily placed his order. “I was just in a meeting and it was so boring!” he remarked.
A mom, in pink t-shirt with a Hello Kitty image emblazoned on the front pushed a stroller containing her young son. “I’m five at heart,” she joked when asked about her top.
Along with the lattes, mochas, Americanos, cappuccinos, espressos, roasts and caramel coffees available in the trademark tall, grande, venti and magilla-scale 31oz. trenta sizes, customers had a bevy of other purchase choices here. On the top deck of a well-lit glass display case for example, muffins, scones, bagels, buns, doughnuts and English muffin sandwiches perched. In the bay below, towering waters, all-natural drinks, pre-packaged paninis and cans of frappuccino stood at attention. Nearby, baskets contained snack packs. And for the early holiday shopper, a bookcase featured tiers of thermoses, tins of tea, mega mugs and packs of instant coffee.
A blonde woman strolled in, walking stiffly and favoring one leg, with sheepskin-lined suede boots on her feet and black Spandex tights. “Two grande lattes, please,” she requested of a counterman that had joined his female counterparts and was carrying on a chat with an old friend that had dropped in. As the hobbling arrival was wearing a North Face windbreaker, I suspected she may have suffered an early season ski injury. In fact, she had run the New York City Marathon the day before. “It was a pretty awesome experience,” she exclaimed. As to how she goes about recovering, she replied, “I keep moving and drink lots of coffee.”
Her sheepskin boots were a popular choice among patrons, who tromped in with all makes and varieties. Also noted were separate sheepskin cuffs that serve to seal off any air that may try to invade the space between shoe top and pants hem, colorful rubber boots, hiking shoes and waterproof moccasins. No doubt these had all been hastily broken out from storage bins and winter gear repositories for today’s surprising weather condition and now warmed feet that had before now enjoyed less structured footwear.
Toasty feet. Roasty libations. Warm, busy café. It was all good on this wild wintry week-start.
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