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No More Perks: Coffee Shops Pull the Plug on Laptop Users – WSJ.com

A sign at Naidre’s, a small neighborhood coffee shop in Brooklyn, N.Y., begins warmly: “Dear customers, we are absolutely thrilled that you like us so much that you want to spend the day…”

But, it continues, “…people gotta eat, and to eat they gotta sit.” At Naidre’s in Park Slope and its second location in nearby Carroll Gardens, Wi-Fi is free. But since the spring of 2008, no laptops have been allowed between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. weekends, unless the customer is eating and typing at the same time.

Amid the economic downturn, there are fewer places in New York to plug in computers. As idle workers fill coffee-shop tables — nursing a single cup, if that, and surfing the Web for hours — and as shop owners struggle to stay in business, a decade-old love affair between coffee shops and laptop-wielding customers is fading. In some places, customers just get cold looks, but in a growing number of small coffee shops, firm restrictions on laptop use have been imposed and electric outlets have been locked. The laptop backlash may predate the recession, but the recession clearly has accelerated it.

Read more …

I’ve often wondered about this trend and how many cafes manage to stay in business when it appears that most of their customer base is people sitting alone, on their laptop, nursing a cup of regular coffee (not even a cappumacchilatteccino!)

Well … now I know. They are finding it difficult and are trying to find different ways to discourage laptop loitering, from encouraged table sharing, to outright bans.

I think it’s fine for laptops users to hang out in a coffee shop … just make them stand or sit on the floor, and reserve seats for paying customers … or rent the chair by the hour, reduced by the amount of food and/or drink that is being purchased.

There are lots of places that offer free wi-fi … many of which are actually designed for loitering, like the public library, for example. The Salt Lake City Main is a perfect example of this … not only is there free wi-fi in the library, but there are a number of cafes in and around Library Square where you can get your caffeine fix; and surprisingly, food and drink are both allowed IN the library itself.

Sure, there are a few stinky people in the library as well, but it’s quiet, and best of all, it allows you to actually make use of your tax dollars rather than having a negative impact on a local small business owner (obviously, I’m not talking about Starbucks, but the smaller, local independent shops and chains).

If you are going to go to a cafe, at least be considerate, and make sure the business owner knows that you appreciate the amenities that they offer by spending some real money, not just a $2.00 cup of coffee, especially if you’re going to be there for any length of time. Don’t be a freeloader.

I’ve never understood people who take their own food/beverage into an establishment that’s in the business of selling same. The one exception is taking a special bottle of wine that a restaurant doesn’t serve, but even in that case, the restaurant will charge a corkage fee … so it’s more about drinking what you like, instead of taking money out of their pockets.

When I lived in San Francisco, I frequented a bar called the Hi-Ball Lounge. On Monday nights, there was DJ’ed swing dancing … and many of the dancers would show up carting gym bags filled not only with changes of clothes, but with energy bars and water bottles; essentially turning the bar into a gym. Since the really small cover charge on Monday nights went entirely to pay the DJ, if patrons didn’t spend any money at the bar, then the bar didn’t make any money that night.

Luckily, there were a few of us who did what we could to keep the Hi-Ball in business, but eventually it, like all good things, came to an end … all due to the freeloaders.

So the next time you go somewhere because they offer a free amenity, think about why they’re offering it … it’s not for people to come and take advantage, but to encourage people to come and spend. If you want to keep the economy moving, it’s the only way.

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Friday – Airport, then Citris Grill for yummy miso beef salad.

Saturday – Museum of Natural History at the University of Utah, then Oasis Cafe … then a homecooked meal of chicken, sautéed in olive oil and garam masala spice, with feta, hazelnut and butternut squash ravioli, accompanied by spring greens salad with a homemade vinaigrette.

Sunday – Red Butte Gardens, then and egg, prosciutto and fontina cheese brunch at Caffe Niche, followed by more Red Butte Gardens, then brats and beer and tequila and good company at the A-Train’s.

Monday – Worked in the morning until 12:30, then lunch at Lone Star Tacqueria, home for mid-afternoon digestion, then a tour of the Temple Grounds and the LDS Conference Center (fascinating, even for us heathens). Then a little couch time with Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron.

Tuesday – Slept in, then a drive up Little Cottonwood Canyon for an attempted hike to Cecret Lake, walked a couple miles from the resort to the campgrounds, but couldn’t find the trail to the lake itself under the snow, a mountainside luncheon of prosciutto and provolone on crusty La Brea whole grain bread … then Porcupine Pub & Grill for a couple of beers and ahi tuna spring rolls, then home for a nap. Planning honey and ginger soy chicken (not sure if grilled or sautéed), with wild rice and spring greens for dinner.

All and all … a good week thus far.

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Never again will I pour out a bottle of bad wine!

R81-2-2. Liquor Returns, Refunds and Exchanges.

(1) Purpose. This rule establishes guidelines for accepting liquor returns, refunds and exchanges.

(2) Application of Rule.

(a) Unsaleable Product. Unsaleable product includes product that is spoiled, leaking, contains foreign matter, or is otherwise defective. The department will accept for refund or exchange liquor merchandise that is unsaleable subject to the following conditions and restrictions:

(i) Returns of unsaleable merchandise are subject to approval by the store manager to verify that the product is indeed defective.

(ii) The product must be returned within a reasonable time of the date of purchase. Discontinued products may not be returned. Vintages of wine that are not currently being retailed by the department may not be returned.

(iii) All returned product must have the state stamp attached to each bottle.

(iv) No refunds shall be given for wines returned due to spoilage such as corkiness, oxidation, and secondary fermentation, or due to the customer’s unfamiliarity with the characteristics of the product. Such wines may only be exchanged for another bottle of the same product. Wine will not be accepted for refund or exchange if the return is a result of improper extraction of the cork.

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: November 1, 2005
Notice of Continuation: September 6, 2006
Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 32A-1-107; 32A-1-301 to 32A-1-305

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Stella Artois – The Race

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I hate my espresso machine. For the past year-plus, I’ve been using a Krups XP4030 pump espresso machine, which is perfectly fine for occasional use (like Sunday morning lattes to be sipped whilst reading the New York Times), but really doesn’t hold up to daily use. After 10 months of daily use, I had to replace my original machine a couple months back.

I don’t know if it’s me, and the way that I’m grinding my beans, or if it’s the machine itself, but my coffee is either watery, or stupid-bitter strong (could be ground too fine, clogging the basket). No matter what I try, I just can’t seem to get it right anymore, and I used to be the master at this stuff, getting the perfect crema to top off the shot.

It’s not the beans, for the Caffe Ibis Moon Shot espresso roast is one of the better beans I’ve had the extreme pleasure of brewing into not only the perfect espresso shot, but also as a regular drip coffee.

I’d kill for something like the Saeco Primea Touch, but who has $1800 to drop on a coffee-maker for home use, especially these days, considering the state of the economy.

So for now, I’ll keep dealing with my morning frustration, trying on a daily basis to make that perfect shot once again, and creating that perfect froth on my somewhat less than adequate machine … I know it can be done; I’ve done it before, I can do it again. And I’ll continue to browse and explore and research sites like CoffeeGeek.

I refuse to knuckle under and start spending $4.00 a day at Starbucks.

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I definitely overindulged in pretty much everything except riding this weekend; especially meat and heat.

From Nancy’s 4th of July BBQ on, well … the 4th, to The Reverend’s “America, Fuck Yeah” BBQ on Saturday night. Brats, burgers, chicken and beef skewers. Jennie’s lemon tart cookie things. Beer. Vodka. Couch-time watching the Tour.

Not the absinthe, though … that was some serious nastiness, so after a few sips, I ditched my glass, and returned to my nice, refreshing Grey Goose and tonic.

Going back to work tomorrow morning is going to feel like a vacation. It will definitely be a de-tox day.

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So after yesterday’s ride, I was pretty much wiped out in the evening … was thinking about going to bed about 9:00, when I get a tweet from the Reverend Big Ring, who was at the Bayou quaffing Chimay with his lovely fiancée Rachel, the Husla (who of course was not drinking), and a few other people.

The theme of the evening was to bring the bike. So I threw the fixie in the back of the Trooper and headed downtown … found parking a block or so away from the Bayou, and headed in for a couple Anchor Steams.

Eventually, a decision was made to head over to The Hotel Bar & Nightclub on 2nd South … so, hopped on two wheels, and rolled the few blocks north and west, and was confronted with one of the most insane situations I’ve seen in years … especially after The Rev and Rachel headed home.

At 42, I’m not used to the nightclub scene anymore … loud thumping beats, people trying to dress and look years younger than they actually are and just trying to get as trashed as they possibly can (and laid in the process).

On the other hand, I put myself into a situation that would normally having me freaking out with anxiety, by hanging out with a bunch of people I don’t know, especially once the the Husla and Rev both left. And I survived, albeit with very little sleep.

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