Drivin around for free or cheap food
Fresh from yesterday's free Ben & Jerry's (strawberry shortcake) cone, which, by the grace of God, I got JUST before a line of literally about 20 schoolchildren stormed in, this evening was all about taking advantage of Starbuck's and Baskin Robbins. My good Hungarian friend was kind enough to give me this card she got in her Sunday NY Times (another one hypnotized by the commercials?) for a free "tall" cup of Pike Place Roast every Wednesday through May 28. So in I went to the Nutley, NJ branch. This is quite a pleasant, all-American town to saunter through on a clear spring evening, I must say. I couldn't decide if its wholesome vibe infuriated or comforted me -- my forever mixed feelings on the suburban issue. Well, its downtown is ideal...there's no denying it, but i'm getting off point.
The atmosphere in this Starbuck's was beyond grating, though. It was crammed with irritating high schoolers, most seemingly there to cheer on the guitar-strumming young singer honing his craft by the front door. I struggled to look pleasant; it was just all too peppy for me. But I got my free coffee, and the whole experience wasn't nearly as awful as I'm sure i'm making it. By the way, "EH" to the Pike Place Roast. Yet again, i'm left unfulfilled by coffee. The best part of all of it was walking at dusk through a lush, verdant, blooming suburban oasis to and from my car on the last evening of April.
Then it was onto Baskin Robbins, where it was "31 cents for a scoop from 5-10pm" night. So I got THREE scoops...strawberry, butter pecan, and sherbet. I brought them to the car and began eating as I drove home. Mind you, it was 50 degrees out with a stiff wind. Not exactly ice cream weather. More like Thanksgiving. And yet, I opened the windows to complete the Summer Drive Theme I insisted on. Oh, yeah, and to manipulatively promote the best moments of Madonna's HARD CANDY to young thugs on street corners as I waited at lights. Damn, i'm all about promotion. The fact that I was freezing the entire time is the price I paid for my summer illusion and hopefully spurring some kind of "yo, dude, did you hear that SICK beat that guy was blasting...was that Madonna?!" youthful dialogue.
Once home, I finished my 3 cups of ice cream and coffee and was soon enjoying Madonna's Roseland concert streamed live on the internet. Quite a delightful evening. Now I'm pretty sure there's ANOTHER free ice cream thing TOMORROW...YES...for Carvel!
The atmosphere in this Starbuck's was beyond grating, though. It was crammed with irritating high schoolers, most seemingly there to cheer on the guitar-strumming young singer honing his craft by the front door. I struggled to look pleasant; it was just all too peppy for me. But I got my free coffee, and the whole experience wasn't nearly as awful as I'm sure i'm making it. By the way, "EH" to the Pike Place Roast. Yet again, i'm left unfulfilled by coffee. The best part of all of it was walking at dusk through a lush, verdant, blooming suburban oasis to and from my car on the last evening of April.
Then it was onto Baskin Robbins, where it was "31 cents for a scoop from 5-10pm" night. So I got THREE scoops...strawberry, butter pecan, and sherbet. I brought them to the car and began eating as I drove home. Mind you, it was 50 degrees out with a stiff wind. Not exactly ice cream weather. More like Thanksgiving. And yet, I opened the windows to complete the Summer Drive Theme I insisted on. Oh, yeah, and to manipulatively promote the best moments of Madonna's HARD CANDY to young thugs on street corners as I waited at lights. Damn, i'm all about promotion. The fact that I was freezing the entire time is the price I paid for my summer illusion and hopefully spurring some kind of "yo, dude, did you hear that SICK beat that guy was blasting...was that Madonna?!" youthful dialogue.
Once home, I finished my 3 cups of ice cream and coffee and was soon enjoying Madonna's Roseland concert streamed live on the internet. Quite a delightful evening. Now I'm pretty sure there's ANOTHER free ice cream thing TOMORROW...YES...for Carvel!
posted by Gregoire at 10:51 PM
1 Comments:
Madonna sux.
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