"Growing up in Seattle, we had coffee in our baby bottles, and to this day I relish an afternoon iced venti black from the epicenter of the garment district: the Starbucks at 39th Street and Eighth Avenue. It might as well be considered an afternoon event — an affair resplendent with flocks of local interns juggling four-drink trays and hobo bags, the guessing-game of what drink you will actually end up enjoying, and a queue that rivals that of Magnolia Bakery on a Saturday night. One would think Starbucks is cartelling Algerian hash from this outpost." - Chris Benz on The Moment.
Mar 07, 2008 @ 2:12pm
posted by guest
Mar 07, 2008 2:44PM
I agree. I could do with less of him whoever he is. Any American saying "queue" is really working my nerve.
posted by guest
Mar 07, 2008 2:50PM
I agree with RayBay. He is over-hyped on so many levels. It is very annoying how he says he is from Seattle in every other sentence. Nobody from Seattle who actually cared about coffee would drink Starbucks unless they were stuck in an airport...oh wait--he is technically from Bainbridge Island, a rich white kid suburb of Seattle, NOT Seattle.
posted by guest
Mar 07, 2008 3:30PM
I think he's wonderful - his stoop blog is hilarious - I used to live around the corner from him - I wish I still did... wa wa
posted by Miss Elle
Mar 07, 2008 3:59PM
While "coffee in our baby bottles" is a little much (I was born & raised in Seattle and didn't drink coffee until I was in college), I think you guys are being a little harsh on the kid.
You're expecting a designer to be able to entertain like Mae West's tongue? Come on.
xoxo.
posted by guest
Mar 07, 2008 4:56PM
Clearly angry jealous people have way too much time on their hands......... perhaps the jealousy stems from unemployment?
posted by narcissa_bell
Mar 07, 2008 5:07PM
Im typing from my desk in Seattle on fifth ave right now (please don't tell on me!) And in reaction to one of the guests: LOTS of Seattle-ites drink Starbucks, theres 2 on every corner so obviously we are drinking enough to keep them in business. I do not prefer Starbucks (a bit bitter if you ask me) but if I need a quick fix I know 6 different places less than 5 mintues walking distance...
posted by guest
Mar 07, 2008 6:00PM
I have to agree with the first bunch of commenters, Chris Benz is pretty dull, and I predict his Moment is over soon.
posted by Jac
Mar 07, 2008 7:22PM
Yeah, I go to college in Seattle and plenty of people drink starbucks. I hate when people act like once something goes mainstream it's no longer ok to use (drink in this case). I like Mcdonalds coffee best lol. Yeah, Bainbridge is a rich white kid suburb, much like any suburb of seattle or even seattle itself.
posted by guest
Mar 07, 2008 8:25PM
^^^Notice the comment wasn't that nobody in Seattle drinks Starbucks, but rather that nobody FROM Seattle who CARES ABOUT COFFEE drinks Starbucks. It has nothing to do with Starbucks being mainstream, it has to do with quality. If you like McDonalds coffee best then you obviously do not care about quality when it comes to coffee.
posted by Jac
Mar 07, 2008 10:13PM
That's not true either, I know plenty of people BORN IN SEATTLE who CARE ABOUT COFFEE, who enjoy the different blends starbucks carries. You sound like a spoiled brat, give it up. "Oh I don't know quality coffee, poor me". It's about what tastes best to you--never said Mcdonalds was the highest quality. Some of the people on here are royal bitches.
posted by Rose Tyler
Mar 08, 2008 9:36AM
Well I don't live in Seattle but I prefer the Seattle's Best coffee they sell at Borders. Also my husband grew up in Chicago and though I don't think his mother put coffee in his bottle, he did start drinking coffee at six months. He's perfectly normal and no, he's not short either.
posted by guest
Mar 08, 2008 3:16PM
I love it when people comment like "oh this isn't interesting" like they are the editors or something.
posted by guest
Mar 09, 2008 9:04PM
I just think it is ironic that a designer with a carefully cultivated aesthetic, who sells niche luxury clothing at obscene prices, would brag about being from Seattle and then mention Starbucks in the same sentence. It is out of character from the whole persona he has created for himself and his brand.
I stand by my comment that nobody from Seattle with taste drinks Starbucks. There are plenty of people who think they have taste in fashion who wear uggs and I am sure they appreciate the different styles just as much as your friends appreciate the different coffee blends that Starbucks has.
posted by guest
Mar 10, 2008 12:51AM
I don't like arguing, but honestly... clothing aesthetic has absolutely nothing to do with your taste in coffee..
Maybe he likes starbucks, not really for the coffee, but maybe it reminds him of home.. Because even Bainbridge Island is stuffed full of them.
posted by guest
Mar 10, 2008 1:22PM
This topic has really been discussed to death and I agree with the above guest that clothing aesthetic is probably unrelated to coffee.
But saying that you are from Seattle and have been drinking coffee since baby bottles and that you fetishize Starbucks is the equivalent of saying you are from France and have been drinking wine since baby bottles and that you fetishize two buck chuck.
posted by RayBay
Mar 07, 2008 2:21PM
Why do you guys keep excerpting Chris Benz?
He's not nearly as clever or witty or fresh as he (and you) seems to think he is.