Happy Festivus

Happy Festivus
Originally uploaded by /k.

Merry Christmas and a Happy Festivus everyone.

Peet's Folsom

Peet's Folsom
Originally uploaded by /k.

Reinforcing my blog's never-ending central themes of coffee, beer and cycling, I thought I should at least mention that the Bay Area's finest coffeehouse, Peet's Coffee & Tea, has set up shop in Folsom.

Urban legend has it that back in the day, three younger Peetniks argued and argued with the owner to expand his Berkeley coffeeshop with outlets state and nation wide. The owner was happy with his four or five shops in the Bay Area and refused. Finally the younger Peetniks broke off, moved to Seattle and bought a struggling little company called Starbucks. Don't know if this is true, but it should be on the urban legend page.

Yes, Peet's has better coffee than Starbucks.

O'Hare After Dark

O'Hare After Dark
Originally uploaded by /k.

On my 11 hour journey home from Columbus, Ohio, I learned three things:

1. The bars at O'Hare actually do close.
2. Even very little dogs get pretty vicious when they've been made to wait on the tarmac for two hours. People get pretty vicious after about 30 minutes.
   
3. There are are suprising amount of people at the Sacto airport at 1:30 AM.

Home Again

Home Again
Originally uploaded by /k.

As you can tell from the location column, I've travelled to artic Ohio this week on my yearly Christmas voyage. Not much to report - cold, but decent coffee at my Its A Grind away from home, Cup O Joe.

Scottish Invasion

Scottish Invasion
Originally uploaded by /k.

Just sitting in Gordon Biersch in Palo Alto, minding my own business when we were invaded by a Scottish marching band. Bagpipes, drums, kilts, the whole nine yards.

And just as suddenly, they were gone.

Apparently, it was some crazy guys birthday and he does this every year.

James Squire @ BevMo

John Squire @ BevMo
Originally uploaded by /k.

Spotted this at the BevMo grand opening in Folsom last week. They are now importing Australia's finest James Squire Amber Ale to the U.S. !

Amber Ale is a key component of my Australia working environment and sure way to keep away from VB.

Juan Valdez

Juan Valdez Coffee
Originally uploaded by /k.

Yes, there is a Juan Valdez (I think he's passed away though).
Yes, they do sell his coffee (actually Juan Valdez cafe are the Colombian equivalent of Starbucks).
And, oh yes, I am that big of a sucker to actually buy it (one each of Vulcan, Sierra and Cumbre 8.8 oz. whole bean bags for about USD$11 total).

Yes, it does smell muy bueno.

And no, I did not get strip-searched coming back through Miami.

FFF Bogota

Bogota McDonalds
Originally uploaded by /k.

I am actually kinda disappointed with my FFF hunt in Bogota. Although the McDonald's menus were strange and colorful, they really just had the same stuff as the United States (Desayuno Completo ? Si !).

There was one jewel though: McQerta for 7200 peso (2200 peso = $1 USD).

Not sure what this actually is, but it appears to be a burger with some sauces and possibly eggs.

Brava vs Club

Brava vs Club
Originally uploaded by /k.

In the Colombian beer wars, after much sampling and reflective thought, I have come down squarely in the Brava camp.

Ningun gracias Club Colombia.