The K Experience

It's always nice to get a little company while chilling out at the cafe on a warm summers day... 

While doing the summer project at Cooper Union in 2001, I would often chill out at the Starbucks next to the lab, which was conveniently located across the street from my apartment, on 3rd Avenue and 8th Street. I'm not a huge Starbucks fan, as I don't really drink tea or coffee, and I'm not big on consumerism as a whole. But it was a nice place to sit and watch the Manhattenites dash by, a place to listen to the street saxophonist play his smooth, jazzy tunes and occasionally be hassled by the quarter guy.

The quarter guy was an interesting fellow, and he was always polite, so I shouldn't have said "hassled", but I guess that's open to interpretation. The first time he came up to me and asked for a quarter (25¢) I thought, "sure", dived into my wallet and handed him one. "Probably was just a bit short for a coffee, or the bus or something." He continued along asking a few others for quarters, but I didn't think much of it. But a few days later I saw him again, and again he asked for a quarter. I thought "Hmm, interesting. caught short again" but handed him a quarter anyway. Then day after day I would see him, asking the same question. The people that were used to it would just dismiss him, but he would often get a few dollars from others before he went on his way. I guess he was a homeless guy or something, but his tactics intrigued me. He didn't ask for "some change", as homeless people or beggars usually do, his request was specific, so not giving the impression of begging. He also didn't ask for a dollar or even 50¢. It was always a quarter, which made it easy for people to give, as a quarter isn't much. But it adds up, a quarter here, and quarter there, soon he'd have a few dollars, and then move on. He had a plan and it seemed to suit his purpose, so I gave him a little respect.

The nicest thing about the Starbucks was the birds (the flying kind), which would sometimes come down and share my food. It was nice getting so close to nature. It didn't happen often, only about twice while I was there, but it was pretty cool, watching the bird peck at my muffin. It was a welcome break from reading about Labview, and G programming.

[Source: Pictures of Quarter from coinfacts.com]

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