tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8825055425170299721.post2899438048304366612..comments2024-03-20T16:34:04.414-04:00Comments on Alex Zorach's Tea Blog: A Dream About Tea in an Asian Supermarket, Keurig K-cups, And An InterpretationAlex Zorachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08335878680429494039noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8825055425170299721.post-50938481319547487462012-09-23T18:22:29.258-04:002012-09-23T18:22:29.258-04:00I think there are 2 kinds of coffee shops (actuall...I think there are 2 kinds of coffee shops (actually three if you count the smokey kind in my country, for which we actually use the English "coffee shop". But I never enter those). <br /><br />1) The kins where you can sit with friends (or other people) and talk about everything and nothing.<br />2) The quick cuppa type. Usually a takeaway, though some have some chairs where people can drink and eat something without talking to others.<br /><br />Of course they need to have tea to be interesting at all.bramhttp://cultea.teatra.denoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8825055425170299721.post-57729003647793431282012-08-24T10:55:01.546-04:002012-08-24T10:55:01.546-04:00I definitely think it's a lot about my feeling...I definitely think it's a lot about my feelings about a lot of different things.<br /><br />I think a lot about globalization and the relationship between China and the U.S., particularly with respect to consumerism. I see China as being somewhat of an extreme and paradoxical sister to the U.S., in that it has this ancient culture that dates back much earlier than most of the traditions in the U.S., and is less broken-up...but then it seems to also be this powerhouse of consumerism, something which I think is sadly destroying both Chinese culture and what little genuine U.S. culture there was to begin with. And I think about this sort of thing on a daily basis, so I am pretty sure this is also a subtext here.Alex Zorachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08335878680429494039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8825055425170299721.post-37773768169499313522012-08-24T10:51:44.790-04:002012-08-24T10:51:44.790-04:00Yeah...stuff like that is sad. I've seen a lo...Yeah...stuff like that is sad. I've seen a lot of businesses that were much better-planned than that still fail within their first year or two.<br /><br />On the other hand, there's a random positive story, which you reminded me of by your remark about the sign "coffee shop upstairs".<br /><br />I know one guy, a very friendly Puerto-Rican Jew named Abraham (I know it sounds too silly to be true but I swear, I am not making this up!), who lived in Cleveland who was living in a space that had formerly been a storefront, in an economically depressed area. It was right in front of a bus transfer point and there were usually people waiting for the bus. He also knew how to brew up a good espresso...so he put a sign in the window, Espresso, 25 cents. He'd sell them in the little mini cups...they were delicious. He also played a mean game of chess, which was fun when I was waiting for the bus, and we used to talk about philosophy too. All the important things you would want in a coffee shop, right?Alex Zorachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08335878680429494039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8825055425170299721.post-60150198279100815862012-08-23T23:42:24.738-04:002012-08-23T23:42:24.738-04:00But yes, my original point in replying was to ment...But yes, my original point in replying was to mention that I had a couple meetings with a guy who was interested in a partner for starting a tea bar/coffee shop. And boy, what a nightmare--he was already paying rent on a storefront for which he hadn't yet made buildout plans, which was mid-block in a low traffic residential area near a school and no other commercial activity, with a hugely popular coffeehouse three blocks around the corner. And this guy wanted to use Keurig machines. In a commercial coffee shop. He should have just put a sign outside his apartment, "coffee shop upstairs"!Evanhttp://plucktea.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8825055425170299721.post-25044708857975683992012-08-23T19:05:52.707-04:002012-08-23T19:05:52.707-04:00I think your recent thoughts about longjing and k-...I think your recent thoughts about longjing and k-cups provided the content of the dream, but I think your emotions provided the context. That is, you are feeling unsure of your expertise, or betrayed by your abilities of discrimination. Which is all too common for Anglo students of Chinese tea.Evanhttp://plucktea.comnoreply@blogger.com