In Which A Winter Hideaway Approaches Heaven But Never Arrives

In Which A Winter Hideaway Approaches Heaven But Never Arrives by alexcarnevale

January 7, 2008, 3:00 pm
Filed under: Uncategorized

The Usual Snow-Related Pleasures

by Molly Young

Nothing starts the day off like a Severe Weather Alert. Being foreign to the east coast, a snowfall tickles me the way that a surprise package or unexpected Facebook poke does. During winter, the heat in my apartment only switches on in the bathroom, so I spend the coldest days at a nearby Starbucks.

Now, I do not feel guilty for this. The bathrooms are sparkling, the employees are friendly (they figured out my nickname from a personalized gift card and now they call me ‘Mollusk’), there is a fake fire blazing in the hearth, and I feel enough of a sense of ownership to adjust the window shades. The light is not fluorescent, the Fruit and Cheese platter is tasty, and I can percolate there for hours.

the author, percolating

On snow days the routine is to assemble my books and trot to Starbucks early enough to get a table. When I arrive my favorite barista, Elizabeth, waves hello over the espresso machine. The usual snow-related pleasures are heightened because they can be repeated over and over again: stamping boots, exchanging weather comments in line, and watching pink-cheeked men stare at the pastry case like so many Oliver Twists.

Best of all, this particular store breeds devious employees. Sometimes they slip me a free broken cookie, or offer to break a cookie of my choice so that I can have it free.

They’ve also launched an aggressive sample initiative; more aggressive, I suspect, than is encouraged by upper management. Twice an hour a barista makes the rounds with a tray of mini drinks and cut-up pastries. When they circulate with Holiday Gingerbread, I request the piece with the most icing. When they bring around chunklets of Cranberry Bliss Bar, they are happy to hand over six of them so that I can assemble a full-sized bar.

I’ve never been refused an extra two or five samples when I ask. Having worked spottily as a caterer, I can testify that it is always a relief when people accept your offerings – every ‘no’ is a tiny prick, if not a stab. Over the course of a morning and afternoon I will spend $2.00 on coffee while consuming at least $15 worth of samples. The sample drinks become more elaborate as baristas idle during mid-morning slow spells – at this time, you might score an eggnog latte or caramel apple cider with whip (as they say) and sprinkles.

You are probably thinking that this does not sound like any Starbucks you’ve ever patronized. And you are right; this one is inexplicably wonderful. It is difficult to guess what makes a certain outpost so aberrantly charismatic. Good neighbors? Foul weather? High ceilings? “A magician never reveals his secrets,” I’m afraid the manager, Nate, would tell me if I asked. No matter. My Starbucks will remain exceptional, as it should, in both senses of the word. There is nothing else like it, and thank God for that.

Molly Young is a contributor to This Recording.

FIVE SONGS TO GET BEHIND

“No One Would Riot For Less” – Bright Eyes (mp3)

“When I Was a Young Girl” – Feist (mp3)

“Ring Ring” – Mika (mp3)

“Eternal Life” – Jeff Buckley (mp3)

“Love Is Not Enough” – Nine Inch Nails (mp3)

PREVIOUSLY ON THIS RECORDING

Movies we were anticipating.

Six movies that stuck to Andy.

Take away all our sadness.

Lorine’s Life by Water.

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