Okay, I'm not actually suggesting anything like THAT, but if someone official-ish could contact the convention center or the Hilton or the Starbucks itself and basically say - "hey, look, we're having a con with a few thousand people who stay up all night, drink lots of stuff to stay awake and seem to be fond of Starbucks- could you stay open PAST two pm?" that would be GREAT.
Seriously, there's almost nothing as sad as watching about 15 people get literally locked out of a Starbucks while standing in line simply because the 2-o'clock hour has come up. I thought that was stupid in '04, but I figured since hardly anyone was around that area (the con wasn't on that side just yet, and there weren't a whole lot of people at the Hilton, I guess) that that was why they still closed so early- but there were a huge amount of people around it constantly this year, and they still closed early. I think if someone in charge of that stand was aware of how much revenue they could make just by staying open to, oh, some half-way sensible hour like FIVE, at the very friggin' least, they'd probably be willing to do it for a mere weekend.
Hell. I'll admit it. One of my biggest motivators for staying at the Hilton instead of the Marriot? It's steps away from the Starbucks. But what good is that when the place closes at two? -_-;;;
My thought is that Starbucks does that because of Memorial Day weekend and/or just weekend hours. I'm also pretty sure it's up to the SJCC, because it's in the con itself and barely outside the Hilton.
But I see what you're meaning...every time I tried to go to the Starbucks, it was closed. I needed a buzz for the evening, and I had no room. ::eyetwitch::
We can tell and tell, but our thoughts usually fall on deaf ears. We've submitted it to the SJCC, but we'll find out if they agree no earlier than next year.
Alternatively, if Starbucks is closed, the Marriott has Pete's Coffee in their lobby.
Quote from: "Zain"We can tell and tell, but our thoughts usually fall on deaf ears. We've submitted it to the SJCC, but we'll find out if they agree no earlier than next year.
Alternatively, if Starbucks is closed, the Marriott has Pete's Coffee in their lobby.
Kinda interesting....starbucks gets all the negative crap for being, well Starbucks...cause they're the Coffee Empire equivalent of Wall Mart. and how no one likes to go there....and now people are upset that the SJCC Starbucks Kiosk kept banker's hours over the weekend. :?
To me, it's still coffee, though. <3 Though I have heard of Starbucks being evil due to it assimilating all mom-and-pop coffee companies, being controlled by The Man, etc., like you said, Dieter.
Now that you mentioned that Peet's place, I might give that a shot next year. But nothing can stand up to Starbucks' hot chocolate. Their hot chocolate is love, but it's also expensiiiiive~~~;.;
Quote from: "Mach5Motorsport"Kinda interesting....starbucks gets all the negative crap for being, well Starbucks...cause they're the Coffee Empire equivalent of Wall Mart. and how no one likes to go there....and now people are upset that the SJCC Starbucks Kiosk kept banker's hours over the weekend. :?
I can't speak for the rest of us of the legion of caffeine-dependency, but IMHO, coffee is coffee is coffee is coffee. If it tastes good and gives you a buzz, GIMME GIMME GIMME. *cough* Now, if I heard something about slave labor and the like with Starbucks, I might feel otherwise, but I haven't. And besides- if people don't want to go there because of the CE equivalent of Walmart, so be it. Smaller lines. Workers get great pay and great benefits, and possibly due to such, they don't try to devour my brain the second I show up to buy something. I dig it.
In other response- I didn't know about the Peet's either. Now I must check it out... I don't think I've ever even been in the Marriott lobby. :shock: Must... get... coffee... rrrrrr...
Also, thanks, Zain. I had a feeling that they might just not be listening, but one can always hope.
IMHO, Peet's Coffee is alot better than Starbucks...
I tried Peet's on Sat. of the con, and found their coffee to be quite good, but I didn't notice if they were open 24/7, or even late. Does anyone know? :?
Quote from: "G.I.R"I tried Peet's on Sat. of the con, and found their coffee to be quite good, but I didn't notice if they were open 24/7, or even late. Does anyone know? :?
Peet's is not open 24/7. I don't know of any coffee place that would keep such hours of operation. I do know that there is a Starbucks just down the road a bit from the SJCC that has longer hours. This whole coffee topic is a bit odd. I don't recall any outrage over the lack of coffee outlets when Fanime was at the SCCC? What gives?
Quote from: "Mach5Motorsport"I don't recall any outrage over the lack of coffee outlets when Fanime was at the SCCC? What gives?
I'm not seeing outrage here. I'm just seeing a few people nicely and politely wishing for more coffee. It sounds like people accept that Fanime tried, but it's not Fanime's decision. And, I agree that there might be something about walking past a closed Starbucks that reminds people that they miss their daily dose of warm caffeine. As fans, we know that Fanime can't fix everything, but it's still somehow comforting to talk about it, and we do get useful information about potential solutions (like there's a Peet's too) if we mention our wish lists on the board. Please don't take it as a criticism of Fanime or anything -- I'm sure it wasn't meant like that. It looks like just wishing, not "outrage".
Quote from: "tenba"Quote from: "Mach5Motorsport"I don't recall any outrage over the lack of coffee outlets when Fanime was at the SCCC? What gives?
I'm not seeing outrage here.......... I'm sure it wasn't meant like that. It looks like just wishing, not "outrage".
It isn't literal Tenba...(sigh)
Quote from: "Mach5Motorsport"Quote from: "tenba"Quote from: "Mach5Motorsport"I don't recall any outrage over the lack of coffee outlets when Fanime was at the SCCC? What gives?
I'm not seeing outrage here.......... I'm sure it wasn't meant like that. It looks like just wishing, not "outrage".
It isn't literal Tenba...(sigh)
Oh... Sorry. :oops:
Well, actually, the Santa Clara Con Center had a little coffee stand in '03... I didn't notice anything in '02, but I wasn't looking in '02.
Truth be told- the cold coffee, at least, at the stand was terrible in '03. XD There were ground beans at the bottom and everything... but it was open until late evening, and I wasn't gonna be picky when I was in need of java. *nod*
Anyway... I dunno about all con-goers, but to this con-goer, caffeine is as necessary as bathing. Just that it needs to be done about 5x more times a day, at least. *nodnodnod* XD
Quote from: "Mach5Motorsport"Peet's is not open 24/7. I don't know of any coffee place that would keep such hours of operation. I do know that there is a Starbucks just down the road a bit from the SJCC that has longer hours. This whole coffee topic is a bit odd. I don't recall any outrage over the lack of coffee outlets when Fanime was at the SCCC? What gives?
There's a Starbucks in San Leandro (someone correct me if I'm wrong on the location; it's next to the Target) that's open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and that place is always packed. =)
That's the only location I know of though.
Quote from: "MPLe"There's a Starbucks in San Leandro (someone correct me if I'm wrong on the location; it's next to the Target) that's open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and that place is always packed. =)
That's the only location I know of though.
The success of Starbucks is with their endless locations always within reach. The bay area is littered with them. San Jose is no exception. There are lots of them in downtown SJ.
W.Santa Clara & San Pedro Sq. 145 West Santa Clara Street
Pavillion Downtown 150 S. First Street
101 Park Center Plaza 125 Park Center Plaza
SJCC Location (Fanime) 408 Almaden Blvd.
There are more to the West of Highway 87 and to the north. Enjoy!
Quote from: "Mach5Motorsport"Quote from: "MPLe"There's a Starbucks in San Leandro (someone correct me if I'm wrong on the location; it's next to the Target) that's open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and that place is always packed. =)
That's the only location I know of though.
The success of Starbucks is with their endless locations always within reach. The bay area is littered with them. San Jose is no exception. There are lots of them in downtown SJ.
W.Santa Clara & San Pedro Sq. 145 West Santa Clara Street
Pavillion Downtown 150 S. First Street
101 Park Center Plaza 125 Park Center Plaza
SJCC Location (Fanime) 408 Almaden Blvd.
There are more to the West of Highway 87 and to the north. Enjoy!
But are those open 24/7??? I know of 2 locations in San Francisco that's open 24/7:
-Union Square - Powell/Masonic
-Howard/7th Street? (i think i have the cross streets wrong)
Quote from: "frumpy"But are those open 24/7??? I know of 2 locations in San Francisco that's open 24/7:
-Union Square - Powell/Masonic
-Howard/7th Street? (i think i have the cross streets wrong)
... uh, yeah. I think we're looking for a location that's in the less than fourty-five mile range from the convention center.
IMHO, Starbucks is the beverage equiveant of a cheap cigar, it smell like someone is working with roofing tar, and tastes about the same as tar. :x
Hey folks,
Just so you know, the Starbucks in SJCC is not officially operated by Starbucks. It is operated by Centerplate (the Food and Beverage company at SJCC) and is a licensee of Starbucks. That's it looks, tastes and smells like a Starbucks but the prices and hours are different.
Quote from: "Tech 13"Hey folks,
Just so you know, the Starbucks in SJCC is not officially operated by Starbucks. It is operated by Centerplate (the Food and Beverage company at SJCC) and is a licensee of Starbucks. That's it looks, tastes and smells like a Starbucks but the prices and hours are different.
In the technical sense, the Starbucks kiosk is staffed by the SJCC. Anything that appears inside at the SJCC does so at their discretion. That is why you saw finally had sushi at Fanime this year. Its like selling food at a stadium. Someone owns the food contract, so to get a piece of the action you have to see the big boss man. This is standard oeprating procedure at colleges too.
The unfortunate truth is that pretty much every reputable establishment in Santa Clara County closes at about 9:30PM :p
Quote from: "Leishu"The unfortunate truth is that pretty much every reputable establishment in Santa Clara County closes at about 9:30PM :p
I don't know what you consider "reputable", but we usually do TGI Friday's during late nights.
They don't count! Shush! >_<
On the subject of caffiene...
How about caffiene pills? Would those work just as well as coffee in a pinch? Mayhap Fanime could get someone to sell song LOL.
I recall ordering coffee at Peet's pretty late during the con, something like 10 PM or so.
It is at the other end of the convention center from Starbucks, but it also has a good, if small, seating area.
Quote from: "Mach5Motorsport"The success of Starbucks is with their endless locations always within reach. The bay area is littered with them. San Jose is no exception. There are lots of them in downtown SJ.
W.Santa Clara & San Pedro Sq. 145 West Santa Clara Street
Pavillion Downtown 150 S. First Street
101 Park Center Plaza 125 Park Center Plaza
SJCC Location (Fanime) 408 Almaden Blvd.
There are more to the West of Highway 87 and to the north. Enjoy!
Thanks kindly. Though they're not 24/7, anything's better than operating 'til two. >_<
Quote from: "frumpy"
-Union Square - Powell/Masonic
-Howard/7th Street? (i think i have the cross streets wrong)
Ah. Though unrelated to Fanime, thanks for this. Now I know where to get my 24/7 student coffee hit when I start going to school in the city...
As for caffeine pills... Ah, I had caffeine supplements. They're good, and can keep you going 'in a pinch', but... there's a diff between a nice hot coffee and a pill/chew/energy drink/whatever.
Quote from: "cowpunk"I recall ordering coffee at Peet's pretty late during the con, something like 10 PM or so.
It is at the other end of the convention center from Starbucks, but it also has a good, if small, seating area.
Also thanks. Very good stuff to know...
Quote from: "G.I.R."IMHO, Starbucks is the beverage equiveant of a cheap cigar, it smell like someone is working with roofing tar, and tastes about the same as tar.
I've actually heard people say things like that before... as far as the taste's concerned. I dunno. I guess the crack (or whatever addictive substance it is they put in the stuff) has gotten to me or something... though the smell, I gotta say, I love. But I always love the smell of coffee and usually can't stand the coffee's flavor. I'm a weird one. 8)
Quote from: "Tuplica"Quote from: "G.I.R."]IMHO, Starbucks is the beverage equiveant of a cheap cigar, it smell like someone is working with roofing tar, and tastes about the same as tar.
I've actually heard people say things like that before... as far as the taste's concerned. I dunno. I guess the crack (or whatever addictive substance it is they put in the stuff) has gotten to me or something... though the smell, I gotta say, I love. But I always love the smell of coffee and usually can't stand the coffee's flavor. I'm a weird one. 8)
ah, we're talking about coffee.....didn't know a beverage could taste like a cigar. Never had the pleasure of eating a cigar. Guess those types of things happen to people when they stay awake and mistake a cigar for a beverage. :?
As an avid coffee drinker...I can honestly say there IS a difference in taste.
One time, I drank regular coffee from a nearby cafe. My friend had a cup from Starbucks. I drank from his cup by accident, then drank out of my cup - I swear, my coffee tasted like dirt compared to Starbucks! There's only 3 places I'm willing to drink from: Tully's, Peets, or Starbucks.
Ah, but I too am an avid worshiper of the "cup o' java" :o
I was raised on press box coffee. Coffee so strong you could almost see it dissolve the plastic spoon the media members used to mix in the sugar and cream. :shock:
Starbucks is better than some Denny's I've been to. And I'm sure that a few of you out there aren't so picky about a good hot pick-me-up-when-I've-hit-the-wall drink and Starbuck is all there is. :?
I have to admit, best coffee I've EVER had....was at Bellagio's Cafe in Las Vegas! Coffee so smooth, you don't even need to add sugar or cream. Yum....
Quote from: "frumpy"I have to admit, best coffee I've EVER had....was at Bellagio's Cafe in Las Vegas! Coffee so smooth, you don't even need to add sugar or cream. Yum....
Y'all are making me want coffee, but it's 5 am and I've already been up all night. Aw, screw it, time to make a pot. Now I know what to do when I go to Vegas... 8)
Bellagio...friggin expensive, but if you got the dough....why not?
i just eat at the local dennys HAHA.
Quote from: "Mach5Motorsport"
ah, we're talking about coffee.....didn't know a beverage could taste like a cigar. Never had the pleasure of eating a cigar. Guess those types of things happen to people when they stay awake and mistake a cigar for a beverage. :?
Uh, yeah. That's supposed to be an analogy. :roll:
I'm not trying to say it tastes like a "Cheap Cigar", it's just the coffee equivalent of it. Acctualy, Peets smelled pretty strong, but at least the taste was good. Starbucks, on the other hand tastes about like it smells. :x
Quote from: "frumpy"I have to admit, best coffee I've EVER had....was at Bellagio's Cafe in Las Vegas! Coffee so smooth, you don't even need to add sugar or cream. Yum....
That sounds like my ideal coffee: good strait up! :D
Quote from: "G.I.R"Quote from: "Mach5Motorsport"
ah, we're talking about coffee.....didn't know a beverage could taste like a cigar. Never had the pleasure of eating a cigar. Guess those types of things happen to people when they stay awake and mistake a cigar for a beverage. :?
Uh, yeah. That's supposed to be an analogy. :roll:
I'm not trying to say it tastes like a "Cheap Cigar", it's just the coffee equivalent of it. Acctualy, Peets smelled pretty strong, but at least the taste was good. Starbucks, on the other hand tastes about like it smells. :x
yeah, which is why I was being sarcastic with my response. :) Which Starbucks blend tastes as good as it smells???? Denny's coffee ain't setting the coffee world abuzz either, ya know. they only have one blend...and it tastes like you're at Denny's. :cry:
Oh man, don't even get me started on Denny's! :x I could tell you a real horror story from A-Kon 98!
Funny story: About five, or six years ago when Starbucks was just getting big, KNBC 4 L.A. did an on the street blind tast test with coffee from Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts, 7-Eleven, and MacDonalds coffee. Guess which got the most picks as best? 7-Eleven!!! :shock:
Quote from: "G.I.R"Oh man, don't even get me started on Denny's! :x I could tell you a real horror story from A-Kon 98!
OOOOhHH Storytime!!!! Storytime!!!!! Hee-hee :D
Quote
Funny story: About five, or six years ago when Starbucks was just getting big, KNBC 4 L.A. did an on the street blind tast test with coffee from Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts, 7-Eleven, and MacDonalds coffee. Guess which got the most picks as best? 7-Eleven!!! :shock:
Actually, I remember a few years ago that 7-Eleven had a fairly big commercial campaign based on their coffee winning a taste test.
Quote from: "Mach5Motorsport"Quote from: "G.I.R"Oh man, don't even get me started on Denny's! :x I could tell you a real horror story from A-Kon 98!
OOOOhHH Storytime!!!! Storytime!!!!! Hee-hee :D
Okay, here's the "in a nutshell" version. That year, A-kon was held at a hotel just outside of DFW Airport (this was the first time I went). The only places to eat were a cafe in the hotel lobby (that was only open from about 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.), and a Denny's accross the street. Nothing else near by.
I get to the hotel about 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, check in, get my badge, and get together with a bunch of freinds. about 10:30, we decide to get something to eat, with Denny's being our only option.
There were ten people in our group, but Denny's had maybe 12 people in the place when we got there. We place our orders. I'm not that hungry, so I order a milk shake. Slowly, more people start comeing over from the hotel. About fourty minutes later, the first of our orders start coming to our table. It takes about another fifty minutes for everyone to get their order. Guess who got served almost last? Me! Almost nintey F@$#%^G minutes for a milk shake!!! :x Thank God I had the forthought to bring some food with me.
To this day, me and my freinds have this joke about Denny's: Denny's isn't racist, they treat all their coustomers that way. :lol:
Someone should consider selling coffee out of their hotel room. *ponders* Buy some good Starbucks beans and maybe 1 or 2 other brands and then just...set up shop in a hotel room. *nodnods*
Sounds good, but how do you let people know which room (or hotel for that matter...) to go to? :roll:
Post it on this board, let it spread by word of mouth? Flyers? A sign? The list goes on and on and on...
Quote from: "toXicSadism"Post it on this board, let it spread by word of mouth? Flyers? A sign? The list goes on and on and on...
Agreed, not a horrible idea, but you'd probably have to bring your own extra coffee pots (Since the in-room coffee makers are only capable of so much) and at least as far as the Hilton is concerned, you don't know what your room number is until you actually check in, and most people are already at the convention center by that time so they wouldn't see the board... and printing out flyers after you get there? Pricey and rushed.
Though what might not hurt is making the coffee ahead of time in your room, throwing it into some of those giant thermoses and going downstairs and selling it. Providing you could get a permit/find a legal place to do it/get permission/whatever it is you need to and people'd actually be willing to buy it without being paranoid that it contained some kind of icky thing...
Personally? I'm just breaking open that baby coffee maker next year, throwing it all in a giant thermos and carrying it around with me. I'll strap the mother to my back. You'll see me from a mile away. TUPLICA THE CAFFEINE JUNKIE! Who needs a sign? I've got a thermos.
Quote from: "Tuplica"printing out flyers after you get there? Pricey and rushed.
Rushed, maybe, but the convention center is very close to some college campus. There's got to be student-priced copy centers somewhere nearby.
Quote from: "Nyxyin"Quote from: "Tuplica"printing out flyers after you get there? Pricey and rushed.
Rushed, maybe, but the convention center is very close to some college campus. There's got to be student-priced copy centers somewhere nearby.
yes there is a little college. It just happens to be the oldest public univeristy west of the mississippi called Sam Jose State Univeristy aka State or CSU San Jose. Although it would be quite a walk (five blocks) and no there isn't a student priced copy center near. Kinko's is not student priced.
btw, you can always pick up a large industrial coffee maker from Smart & Final.
Okay, all said, I think Foamy has the best view on Starbucks...
http://www.lookatentertainment.com/nneu231nd1zd823/vids/v-1294.swf
Quote from: "Leishu"The unfortunate truth is that pretty much every reputable establishment in Santa Clara County closes at about 9:30PM :p
Hydration cafe is out the front door of the convention center, and to
the right by 3 blocks; a little walk, to be sure, but they're open until
midnight, and server pearl drinks, coconut toast, coffee, and other
delectable snacks well past the 9:30pm hour. ^_^
http://www.jatbar.com/detail.asp?num=549
I ate dinner there every day of the con last year. Their bento is reallly good.
And, in case there's ANY questionability about the Starbuckses in San Jose, there's THREE over here in li'l Scotts Valley. And there's MORE general cafés:
Coffee Cat
Abouché (Reccomended)
Joe To Go
Surf City
That makes SEVEN.
Any uuber-coffee freaks would do well to make a pilgrimage to Scotts Valley. ('course, the same applies to Real Estate enthusiasts too... AND cell-phreaks.)
Oh, there's definitely no need to go to Scotts Valley for your share of coffeehouse propaganda, I mean, Starbucks. There are probably two dozen of them within the city limits. Not to mention local coffeehouses (Willow Glen Coffee Roasting ain't bad), and so forth. I mean, we are the heart of Silicon Valley, home of plenty of both coffee-loving computer geeks and other trendy coffee-drinking types.
Quote from: "Mach5Motorsport"Quote from: "Nyxyin"Quote from: "Tuplica"printing out flyers after you get there? Pricey and rushed.
Rushed, maybe, but the convention center is very close to some college campus. There's got to be student-priced copy centers somewhere nearby.
yes there is a little college. It just happens to be the oldest public univeristy west of the mississippi called Sam Jose State Univeristy aka State or CSU San Jose. Although it would be quite a walk (five blocks) and no there isn't a student priced copy center near. Kinko's is not student priced.
And, had you tried to use Kinko's this year, you would have discovered that the copy machines were *very* busy dealing with Fanime publications already. Fluffy, we curse thee! ^_^;
On a different note, I have a new favorite for late, late night Fanime food; Pita Pit! Open until 3am, and the cooks at the grill know their anime series! Was cool watching them chat with cosplayers about their characters while grilling up the pitas. Plus, they had $1 off coupons in the Fanime registration area, and they're only 2 blocks from the convention center, so it's an easy trip to grab food you can bring back to eat. :)