Not a perfect drink, but Starbucks’ new Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew is definitely a complete drink. You don’t have to do anything to it. The vanilla sweet cream adds the right amount of sweetness and creaminess to the basic cold brew iced coffee. Don’t expect super sweet ala Frappuccinos or something latte-like, just a cold brew that’s balanced overall and at a good price point.
I can’t quite place my finger on it, but personally, I felt a sense of chaos while touring the new Nordstrom in the Ewa Wing of Ala Moana. It was just weird and different from the vibe of the original Nordstrom.
While the store is nice and new, the layout just felt chaotic for me. Like the recently-added Bloomingdale’s, distinguishing each department means decorating it differently. There are no walls or exceptionally tall partitions to separate floor space and departments. Multi-storied, the new location is essentially different floors of empty, flat space, not rooms or sections. I guess the original location was similary built, so maybe it’s the high ceilings with all that extra space that exacerbates that bad vibe.
Then I hit the men’s shoe department. Usually, I enjoy the great finds here, enjoying some unique kicks. But I could hardly make my way through this “department.” It just felt so confusing like I was going the wrong way, and it was like I couldn’t get a good look at the shoes. Do I walk clockwise, counterclockwise, straight through? Even with the variety of shoes there, I just couldn’t bring myself to enjoy or even look at them with the chaotic layout too distracting.
And you know what I think the cause is? Again, it’s weird, but I think it’s the right side of the all the pairs of shoes on display. Thinking about it, I think most stores display the left shoe. Why? I don’t know, but I’m sure there’s some reason. So browsing amongst all the right pairs was just so disconcerting. The shoes were pointing one way, but I felt like I had to walk against this natural direction. Or maybe it’s because I’m right handed and picking up the right shoe in the displayed orientation, I would see the inner, medial side of it. But really, the outer side of the shoe is where it’s at.
I have to go back one day and see if that sense of confusion is still with me, but man that new Nordstrom just feels too chaotic.
The end of Sports Authority is nearing as stores are clearing out their inventory. Even though the clearance has only recently begun, the stores are emptying out quickly. The Waikele location, the first on Oahu, makes no secret about the discounts.
Although I didn’t take pictures inside the store, it was very empty. Items are still available, but I’m guessing all the “good stuff” is gone. And the discounts aren’t that good yet. There were Air Max running shoes in various sizes but still at $140 (before the discount which in general is 10%).
No, I haven’t tried them yet and didn’t see any promotional materials this morning when I got my fallback Caramel Macchiato. But the Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew sounds overall awesome and the Nitro Cold Brew sounds intriguing. I think I’d try the Nitro first only because of its uniqueness, but it’s also not available everywhere, starting its rollout at Seattle, Portland, New York, Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
So next time I’m visiting the coffee siren, I’ll order up a Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew and give a quick review. I wonder which Hawaii location (if any) would get the Nitro?
Oh eBar, you were my coffee oasis when queues were long at Starbucks. With two locations, a caffeinated drink was readily available after a short walk. But with your new single location in the Ewa Wing, I am saddened.
Sure, the new eBar location looks great. The interior is bright and modern and the outside seating is plentiful and shaded by huge umbrellas. But the coffee. And the wait. That’s not what I remember about the foregone eBar.
Yes, I had to wait in line. There were two people ahead of me to order my drink and three patrons already waiting to get their drink. Then when my Orange Iced Coffee came out, disappointment hit. How much coffee do you see? And how much orange foam do you see?
That’s not my idea of a worthwhile drink. Not having this drink before, I gave eBar the benefit of the doubt. But really, I shouldn’t have. And my goto drink, the Mexican Mocha, wasn’t on the menu anymore. I’ll give them another shot but with lowered expectations.
Did my Yelp duty and reviewed Timmy T’s Gourmet Grinders and Japanese Restaurant Aki. Definitely liked the sub sandwiches at Timmy T’s over the Japanese dishes of Aki. Doubt I’ll go back to Aki but will give Timmy T’s One More Try.
I gotta admit that Starbucks has done a good job of finetuning its Starbucks Rewards program to its advantage. Of course, we all should have expected it over the years. As more and more of the public got caffeine-addicted, Starbucks gradually tightened their loyalty program. Now the siren has your credit card number stored (probably set to auto reload your gold card), and you making mobile orders without thinking of the (unseen) money being transacted.
In the early Rewards days, bonus stars were easy to accumulate. Remember the days when even loading up your rewards card using your credit card gave you a star? Of course that led to the abuse where large orders were split into many individual orders resulting in a bunch of stars.
And now we’re here where stars are based on amount spent. While seemingly fair for those spending a lot per transaction, it really has limited my personal star collection. Since the new Rewards program started on April 12, 2016, I have yet to accumulate enough stars for one free drink. I’m pretty sure I would have had a freebie by now with the former Rewards program.
Oh well. That’s how economical Starbucks Rewards has become.
I just saw this (old) confirmation that Starbucks only allows four days to redeem your Birthday Treat for registered Starbucks Rewards members. While I didn’t miss out, four days isn’t a whole lot of time so don’t celebrate too much on you birthday and overlook this gift.
Just more random thoughts about the Game of Thrones. Now-Maester Samwell Tarly figures out how to produce Dragonglass in quantities. Heck, maybe Sam’s hometown has Obsidian deposits from which weapons can be forged.
And guess who comes to the rescue when Jon Show and company are cornered by the White Walkers? Yup, Sam the Slayer. Well, he just provides Dragonglass tipped arrows to archers who lay down an escape route for Jon.
Just a random thought about Game of Thrones. Ramsay Bolton (eventually) gets taken out by the remaining direwolves. Seems like Ramsay uses his dogs and hounds to do some of his dirty work. So why not turn the tides and show the real alpha dogs, the direwolves? That would be an appropriate reunion of Ghost (Jon Snow), Summer (Bran), Nymeria (Arya), and hopefully Shaggydog (Rickon).
While my general experience with my Amazon Dot and Alexa has been good, someone needs to educate Alexa about the format series of the NBA playoffs. When I asked for my sports update, this is how Alexa replied.
Did you catch that Spurs and Thunder report? Yes, OKC took the Western Conference Semifinal series from San Antonio, 4 games to 2. Unfortunately, Alexa is saying the next game of the (finished) series is Sunday at San Antonio.
