Little Gems

The new disaster of a Starbucks is open.
Hang back before you go out there, and make believe you’re not going to Wal-Mart and then wait in line. The ten-minute wait in line (God knows why anyone waits like that for bitter coffee) is the least of it. The place is full of flies. Get your six dollar Frappa-whateveritis, and get the hell out of there. The big parking lot is the best part of the experience. The place is louder than grand central station when a train comes in, so don’t expect to have a quiet cup of coffee and get on the computer. They have free Wi-Fi, but it doesn’t work. The worst part of the experience was having nobody give a damn. Not one tinker’s damn. The staff run around with these modems in their ears, and little wire microphones leading down to their talking mouths. Who are these supposed employees talking to? The world is changing and Starbucks has come here to remind us that the changes do not have to be nice, quiet, clean or well-mannered. There were plenty of customers, though, so go figure.

Non Paying Customers

Flies on Table at Lake Geneva coffee shop

You are looking at flies all over a commercial table in a commercial coffee shop of some renown. Not good, even it this is the season. There are things to be done that are not being done here.

 

 

The quiet “secret” Starbuck’s at the Grand Geneva.
Yes, there’s a coffee shop right as you enter the main lobby of the Grand Geneva Resort. It’s called Café Gelato, but it serves mostly Starbucks products. The tables are empty. No flies. Very little noise and the Grand Geneva’s free Wi-Fi works fine (10 Megs, but it is free). Same bitter coffee, but at least the gelato is fresh and sweet. The employees also don’t have electronic antennae running in and out of their ears and are pretty nice.

Business of the Week

Heart & Sol Lake Geneva

Jeff and Michelle, have poured their Heart & Sol, hence the name, into this wonderful cafe. The smoothies are bursting with flavor, the food is fresh and artfully displayed on your plate. If you’re looking for a light and healthier option, stop by at 264 Center Street. We think you will find it pleasing to your appetite.

 

Oktoberfest came and went like in a heated rush.
Actually, it wasn’t that hot. The weather was perfect on the second day. The first day was all bluster and a bit of rain. Not too much, but enough to put a kibosh on the celebration. The brats were the best. Huge, with plenty of condiments, and only four bucks. Who can argue with that? Southern Wisconsin at its best. The beer tents were there, one deliberately set up right in front of Thumbs Up so as to assure that local businesses are left in a lonely closet when it comes to being fully included in downtown celebrations of any kind.

How to change that? Well, put a tent over the entrance to Thumbs up and the other bars. It’s what they do, serve booze. But no, it’s not about that. The money did not go to local businesses other than Sprecher’s, which is about as local as a Milwaukee business can be. There wasn’t much to Oktoberfest this year, or at least that’s how it seemed. The children’s blow up play pens were relocated to the intersection of Main and Broad, thereby denying everyone the view of the downtown extending right down to the lake. It was ugly and dumb. The Flat Iron Park part of the special celebration was also cut off from any view by this move. Nobody knew that there was anything down there. Lake Geneva can do better, and the GSR is looking forward to the new leadership of the “Visit Lake Geneva” outfit to begin changing things so that local businesses are treated as the number one entities to support, and not the poor step-sisters of the dominating resorts surrounding the town. Finally, and this was a big one, the apple cider donuts were simply not that good this year. Come on!

Oktoberfest 2017 Lake Geneva

 

Sign up for Updates