Archive | January, 2013

NYC Starbucks: 47th & 9th

13 Jan

47thand9th

My first week in the city was spent apartment hunting with a ferocity that can only be described as turbulent.

While on the hunt, I was speaking to a potential roommate who gave me the urban-layout of the typical NYC gay boy. He said that the West Village belonged to the “Older Gays”, the “Hipster Gays” lived in East Village or Williamsburg, the “Rich Gays” were all over Chelsea, and the “Young Gays” lived in Hell’s Kitchen. How fascinating, I thought.

So after 3 short months of apartment hopping, I conceded to the stereotype and moved to Hell’s Kitchen. No longer the neighborhood of a West Side Story, HK is now brimming with restaurants, gay bars, and you guessed it — Starbucks. I walk out of my apartment building and need only walk one block in any direction to get my daily caffeine fix.

The Starbucks on 47th and 9th is not my “go-to” Starbucks, but it will do in a pinch. Although it’s small size seems to work against it, the environment is very quiet and most patrons adorn laptops or books. The woman in front of me in line even commented today: “It’s like a library in here.” And she called it.

A crowded library… Only offering up 20 seats — give or take — getting one seat can be a challenge. Getting a  seat with a friend would be sheer luck. But aesthetically, it’s a nice looking seating area, with a long-cushioned bench and high bar seating. Today, I was fortunate enough to get a seat and was even able to spend some time with a good book: More Tales of the City, by Armistead Maupin.

So come check it out but be prepared to get your coffee to-go if you can’t find a seat.

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NYC Starbucks: John & Water

11 Jan

johnandwater

What can I say, the street name just called out to me.

I decided my next Starbucks would be in the Financial District — home of the 9-to-5. Although this wasn’t my first trip to the Financial District – or FiDi as some have taken to calling it — it was my first opportunity to walk around and really take it in. The biggest distinction is the narrow streets and sidewalks, which are much smaller than anywhere else in the city. Not to mention the office buildings are some of the tallest in the city, making the slender streets seem even more confining. And although I wasn’t there during the early morning rush, I could just imagine the scanty streets cramped with suits & ties trying to get to and fro.

This Starbucks is not in the heart of FiDi, but actually closer to the South Street Seaport, where some travel in and out of the city by means of ferry. When I first walked in I was under the impression that this must be one of Starbucks’s smaller locations – equipped only to get you your coffee then get you on your way. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find a stairwell leading to an entirely new level equipped with plenty of seating.

There was just one problem… I couldn’t connect to the internet. When I asked one of the baristas, he explained that they don’t have the AT&T WiFi and that this is common for most locations in the area. He also told me that this location just recently reopened after being flooded with 4-ft of water from Hurricane Sandy. I’ve yet to visit any other locations in the area to test for this lack-of-WiFi, but either way the good folks at Starbucks should probably update their App and remove “Wireless Hotspot” from the list of amenities.

Overall, the decor was nice — especially the high wall with a dozen or so different clocks on it — so come with friends, office buddies, or a good book because a laptop won’t serve you much good.

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NYC Starbucks: 15th & 9th

10 Jan

15thand9th

Chelsea, oh Chelsea.

I look at Chelsea and I see it as a neighborhood of perfectionists. Art studios, dance studios, designer boutiques, corporate offices, beautiful architecture, distinctive restaurants, and upscale lounges — all filled with perfect looking people. Yes, this is New York and looks are always deceiving, but if you were willing to judge a book by its cover — Chelsea gives you a beautiful cover to look at.

This particular Starbucks on 15th St and 9th Ave sits directly across from the Chelsea Market. Once a Nabisco factory, now a concourse of foods, drinks, retail shops, and art studios, the market attracts quite the crowd. The Starbucks is also nestled into Google’s NYC outpost. And in case you haven’t heard, Google just made news for providing free WiFi to the Chelsea neighborhood. Yay for fiber-optics!

But despite Google’s generosity, I sit using Starbucks WiFi staring out onto 9th Ave watching the beautiful Chelsea-ians walk by. It’s hard to say if this Starbucks is truly representative of Chelsea, because the market scene seems to dominate the room — people coming and going. In fact, if I had to make flash-judgement, I’d say this is a Starbucks of Lines.

You walk in and are immediately confronted with the bathroom line — which a friend and I actually stood in and chatted for 3-5 minutes until we realized where it led. Then you sneak around the corner to the drink line. A high bar lines the window, and there is a line of tables on the far wall. After lining up to order, patrons seem to line up to wait for a seat. Oh the lines, lines, lines!

Okay — once you manage to work your way through the lines and manage to find a seat, you may want to put on a sweater, because it seems to run a bit cold in here. In my experience, this can actually be said about most Starbucks I go to. Several times when doing work at Starbucks, I’ve found myself rubbing my hands together for warmth. Am I alone in this one?

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NYC Starbucks: 125th & Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd

9 Jan

125thand7th

Here I sit in Harlem.

As I approached the Starbucks on 125th and 7th–Martin Luther King Jr blvd and Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd– the first thing that caught my eye was the famous Apollo Theater just steps away. “How cool!” I exclaimed aloud to no one in particular.

When I first declared that I was moving to the big city and was possibly seeking a place in Harlem, because of its comparatively inexpensive ad listings, I got a lot of people saying “Be careful,” and “Are you sure?” Dismissing these as knee-jerk ignorant reactions, I knew I had to see Harlem for myself.

Most don’t need to be told that Harlem is known to be the most culturally African American neighborhood in Manhattan. From the Harlem Renaissance of the 20s and 30s to today, this remains the absolute truth. Unfortunately Harlem is also known for high poverty and crime levels. Although the general consensus seems to be that Harlem is a much cleaner and safer neighborhood than before, the stigma it earned has obviously stuck. Spanning across the island of Manhattan, Harlem is divided into West, Central, and East Harlem, each with their own cultural identities and differences (or so I’m told). 125th and 7th is Central Harlem, or just plain Harlem.

So did this little white boy enjoy his trip to the Harlem Starbucks? Yes, immensely.

Once I entered, I was greeted by Nate the Barista, offering free samples of coffee. I introduced myself to Nate and explained my “quixotic mission” to him. He filled me in on Starbucks’s Coffee Master program, where they take eager baristas such as Nate and train them to demonstrate a mastery of coffee (from brewing to tasting). He also explained that this location was most definitely the best in the city. Well let’s see.

From appearance alone, I’d describe this as a bare-bones Starbucks. It has the essentials (coffee, stools, small tables…) but that’s it. However, what it lacks in furnishings it makes up for in character. The local residents wave to each other as they come in, and many patrons are engaged in lively conversation over coffee. The genuine friendliness of the baristas and the communal nature of those around me, gave me a slight case of the warm-tinglies.

All in all, if you bring your laptop you may not find an outlet, but bring your friend and you’ll find a sense of community.

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NYC Starbucks: 69th & 1st

6 Jan

69thand1st

If the Starbucks of NYC truly do reflect their respective neighborhoods, then this Starbucks wants you to know that the Upper East Side is clean, calm, and collected. It is without a doubt one of the most affluent neighborhoods in the city, and with that comes a certain reservedness that the rest of NYC seems to lack. So don’t go acting a fool in the Upper East Side.

In my (limited BUT growing) experience, the further East you go from Central Park the less prudish the area becomes. The park exudes abundance, so way over here on 1st Avenue you can still grab a cup of coffee without your pearls.

Speaking of coffee…

This is the type Starbucks you bring a book to. Leave that friend or significant other at home; you’ve earned some time to yourself.

The lounge is partitioned away from the coffee-bar and is equipped with bar seating, a long study table, and a cushioned bench and tables for two. Although the space is not that big, it never seems to fill up. Those who occupy the seats are reading the New York Times, glued to laptops (like yours truly), or cracking open a textbook. A library-esque quietness resides here which, suffocating to some, can also provide the perfect work environment to others. The brewing of coffee and the light clitter-clatter of dishes provide the perfect amount of aroma and background noise for reading that trashy magazine or writing the greatest thesis the world has ever seen.

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NYC Starbucks: Spring & Crosby

4 Jan

SpringandCrosby

Oh no, it’s SoHo!

For those less familiar with the neighborhoods of Manhattan, SoHo is the neighborhood of expensive boutiques, expensive lofts, and expensive retailers in general. A good friend once referred to NYC as “a black hole of expenses,” and if that is true, SoHo is the deep-dark center. The name SoHo is actually an acronym, meaning SOuth of HOuston street. And now that you know that, PLEASE do not let any self-respecting Manhattanite hear you pronounce Houston wrong. They’ll either read you to filth, or turn up their nose. It’s Houston like “house-ten”. We’re a long way from Texas, ya’ll.

Anyway, onto the Starbucks on the corner of Spring and Crosby.

I must admit, that when I selected this to be the 3rd location I would visit, I expected to find a small corner-cafe, a large crowd of constantly shuffling tourists loaded up with shopping bags, and exhausted looking baristas. And this Starbucks has totally proved me wrong. Not only is this one of the biggest locations I’ve yet to see in the city, it is also the most inviting.

Yes, it gets hit with a hefty crowd of tourists and shoppers alike, but this location brews them up and spits them out, leaving plenty of room for singles or groups to come enjoy a cup of coffee in one of the most picturesque parts of the city. The location itself begs you to look around and gaze. Besides the usual Starbucks advertisements, art hangs on the walls from artist Peter Tunney (captured above), as well as black-and-white images of the coffee-roasting process. Comfy chairs and cushioned benches are everywhere to be seen, and a long-wooden table to seat ~14 stands in the back.

And did I mention power outlets are everywhere? Not just on the walls, but on the floor as well. So go on, charge that phone! Bring that laptop! This Starbucks has got a seat for you.

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NYC Starbucks: Greenwich & Bank

3 Jan

GreenwichandBank

Tucked away between 7th and 8th avenue, this Greenwich Village Starbucks has become one of my favorites in Manhattan. Whereas most locations in the city seem to sweep you in then urge you out, this little gem almost begs you to stay.

Location is key here. Not being on a main avenue and not directly in the path of any trains, you almost have to go looking for this one to find it. Surrounded by neighboring restaurants that boast brunch specials and an Equinox to get your fitness-fix, this Starbucks offers a treat for all. It’s larger-than-most sitting area features a window bar, tables-for-two, a large group table, and… YES!..  even some comfy chairs that most Starbucks seem to have excommunicated from their premises.

So whether you’re bringing a great read, a good friend, or a tireless assignment this Starbucks has a seat for you.

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NYC Starbucks: 52nd & 8th

1 Jan

52ndand8th

The first thing that attracts me is the charming exterior on the north-west corner of 52nd and 8th. Even though I assuredly passed by 4-5 other Starbucks locations on my stroll up 8th ave, this one seems to shout: “Pick me, pick me!” So I do.

This Theatre District Starbucks is surprisingly spacious and offers both large table seating and intimate tables lining a cushioned bench. You may need to wait-it-out a bit for a seat though. Placed right on the boarder of the Hell’s Kitchen scene and Broadway shows galore, it definitely pulls a lot of foot-traffic.  Continue reading →

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