Peet’s Coffee July 12, 2007
Posted by zenandjuice in : Boston, Coffee , add a commentWhile in Cambridge, I went to Peet’s Coffee, and purchased 3 offerings:
Aged Sumatra
A very rich coffee with a slight hint of a tropical wood flavor, a concentrated dried fruit sweetness, herbal notes, and ample body.
Good aged coffees are very hard to find, due to the lengthy aging process and the fact that coffee exporters usually want to convert their coffee to cash as soon as possible. But there are a few who are willing to wait, knowing that the fine aged coffee can be worth quite a bit more. The challenge is to find the coffee that was good enough in the first place to become the aged coffee worthy of Peet’s customers.
Aging must take place in a tropical environment, where beans take on moisture at the height of the monsoon season, and give it back during the drier season, without ever drying completely. This process deepens the flavor and makes it mellower, while accentuating certain taste components over others.
Sulawesi-Kalosi
A rare coffee with unusual depth and complexity. Rich, full body with a hint of nutty earthiness.
Sulawesi is another island in the Indonesian archipelago. The best quality coffees from Sulawesi are grown and processed in the area called Torajaland, near the upcountry town of Rantepao. The Toraja people have an interesting cultural history that carries over to their methods of producing coffee in very traditional ways. The coffee trees are grown on small plots around the villagers’ houses, and the entire family takes part in the picking and processing. We’ve even seen coffee trees growing on the edges of the rice paddies that provide the diet staple. Coffee is a cash crop that supplements the family income.
There is something about these age-old traditional methods that give Sulawesi Kalosi coffee its unique flavor. It exhibits a rich, full body; moderate, well-balanced acidity; and a multidimensional aromatic character with prominent herbal, nutty, and pleasantly sweet woody notes. This is a rare coffee and somewhat expensive, but it is one of the finest in the world.
Arabian Mocha Sanani
Distinctive, pungent, winy flavor; full-bodied and exceedingly complex aromatic character.
Grown in Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula, these small, rounded beans are irregular in form, size, and color. Despite this abnormality (or perhaps because of it), they yield one of the finest cups of coffee on Earth. Arabian Mocha Sanani has a distinctive, pungent, winy flavor that is very full-bodied and that is accompanied by an exceedingly complex aromatic character. This coffee is excellent either straight or blended, as in the classic blend with Java. Its singular flavor can complement nearly any other coffee.
The mocha variety of coffee grows on barely cultivated land on low bushes that develop under very dry conditions. When the majority of coffee cherries are ripe, the farmers pick all the cherries at once and spread them out to dry on hardened earth patios. The dried cherries are passed through millstones to remove the hulls and to release the two coffee beans inside.
This rather primitive method of producing coffee goes back centuries and accounts for the classic flavor that this wonderful coffee displays. It’s worth noting that this coffee is grown organically. It is not something the farmers set out to do, but there is probably no more primitive coffee-growing area on Earth. The region is very remote, and the dried coffee must be carried out of the steep valleys by donkeys.
Luggage ! July 10, 2007
Posted by zenandjuice in : Boston , add a commentMy luggage JUST arrived.
i’ve never been this excited about socks and underwear and deodorant before !
On the Road to Boston July 9, 2007
Posted by zenandjuice in : Boston , add a commentFlight: XNA to Memphis to Boston (NorthWest Airline – NWA, yo)
Leaving XNA at 12:34pm to Memphis (Arriving 1:45pm).
Departing Memphis at 2:15pm, landing in Boston at 6:25pm.
In theory.
We start off on time, then there’s a “10 minute delay” due to “micro-bursts” over Memphis, shutting down that airport.
How will this affect my 2:15 flight to Boston? I only had a 30 minute gap between flights !
An aside: I started reading my book…. The Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall, recommended by Lisa Sharp at Nightbird Books. She loved it – a cross between Fight Club and Memento.
Now the release time will be 1:05pm. A 20 minute delay. Great. Super-duper.
At least I had a whole row (2 seats) to myself.
We finally lifted off at 1:22pm. Almost 50 minutes late.
The drink cart rolled down the aisle. I asked for Tomato Juice. Mott’s was handed to me. (It wasn’t bad).
We finally landed in Memphis at 2:26pm. I get on the phone to find out which gate I need to run to. B002D25. I landed at A-11.
The flight to Boston was delayed, but not enough. It was leaving at 2:29pm. I had 3 minutes to boogie.
I finally arrived at B-25 at 2:32pm. Everyone was boarded, and they wouldn’t let me on.
Now I’m booked for a 6:35pm flight (Gate B-33), arriving in Boston at 10:30pm. I lose 4 hours in Boston, but gain 4 hours sitting in the Memphis airport. No Legal Seafood for dinner this evening.
Now it’s time to find some food, and a beverage.
An aside: The platypus collapsible bottle works GREAT. I had it empty in my carry-on bag, and filled it with water from the fountain after going through security. It holds 1 Liter of fluid.
Corky’s BBQ for lunch. Nothing like pulled pork, baked beans and coleslaw. I remember when Corky’s used to be in Fayetteville… location by the Mall, on Joyce, and a location on Dickson. Was that in the Bakery Building?
I asked the woman at the NWA gate about my luggage. She said there wasn’t time to check the status of my luggage, since she was getting ready to board the plan. However, “we can only assume that it will arrive with you”.
6:35pm flight to Boston (from Memphis)
Now we’re sitting around waiting for people from late connecting flights. I wish that occurred when I was supposed to leave Memphis HOURS ago.
6:55pm. Finally departing.
The plane wasn’t booked completely, so I had a whole row (3 seats) to myself.
At 7:21pm, they announced a 20 minute delay on leaving Memphis due to one-mile visibility in Boston.
I believe there’s a conspiracy to stop me from getting to Boston.
Take-off (FINALLY) at 7:35pm.
The drink cart rolled down the aisle. I asked for Tomato Juice. Mott’s was handed to me. (It wasn’t bad).
Airplane coffee is a step or three below bad convenience store coffee. But it really smelled divine in that enclosed space.
Flying at night was great. I was watching the lights of the cities from above. Outlined coastlines, bays, and rivers. Baseball parks, landing strips, shopping malls. Spider webs of light. I close my eyes and the lights turn off. Luckily, they re-appear when I open my eyes.
Landed in Boston at 11pm. 4 ½ hours late.
Waiting at the luggage carousel. I don’t see mine.
I go talk to the luggage claim people. Apparently, it’s STILL in Memphis.
(I asked about the security issues that arise when one does not travel with their luggage. I thought it wasn’t allowed. I’m informed that’s only on INTERNATIONAL flights. Oh, and please don’t tell anyone.)
My luggage will be delivered to the hotel tomorrow. I leave the luggage claim office with a cute little blue case containing toothpaste, a toothbrush, generic deodorant, a razor, and a plastic comb.
I took a cab to the hotel from the airport. It cost $27.30 but was well worth it. No way in hell was I going to attempt the subways (the “T”) after all of that.
I get to the hotel (The Lenox Hotel, on Exeter at Boylston) around midnight and check-in.
I go to the room, and it’s REALLY cute and nice, with Aveda products. And free wireless (the way it should be).
All I have with me is my laptop, my camera and lenses, and whatever else happened to be in my carry-on luggage. (Oh, my phone battery is dead, and the charger is in my luggage, which should arrive tomorrow.)
Shortly after midnight, I decide to go looking around. I’m too wound up to go to sleep.
There’s a Restoration Hardware across the street. I’ll have to see if Jill needs anything.
There’s also a nice little Irish pub in the basement of the hotel called Solas, which happens to have one of the BEST pours of Guinness that I’ve ever had.
Now I’m going to bed. Conference at 8am in the morning.
P.S. Last time I was in Boston, it was Summer 2002. I lost my driver’s license in the airport on the way back home. Then I was frisked and searched BOTH in Boston and Chicago going home. “Random selection” my ass. When I finally arrived at XNA, they lost my luggage. I don’t think I’m meant to be in Boston.
Boston Bound July 5, 2007
Posted by zenandjuice in : Boston , 3commentsI’ll be in Boston, MA next week. Anything exciting going on (Other than the Travis concert)?
Any recommendations on places to see ?
official trip report July 28, 2002
Posted by zenandjuice in : Boston , comments closedThis is what I submitted to the officials at work:
The flight to the conference went well, even though there was lots of potential storm activity Tuesday morning.
The conference as a whole was good, very informative, and I got to talk to our rep in person about the legal department’s license agreement issues. He’s going to get me a fully functional eval license key early this week so that I can actually test out and get the system working while those things are (hopefully) ironed out.
So Friday I flew back.
I get to Boston’s Logan airport with plenty of time to spare. I get in line for my boarding pass, and there’s only around 10 people in line. But unfortunately, there’s only 1 person dealing with coach tickets for planes going to chicago and st. louis. Everyone else is assisting people who were bumped from an earlier flight. So I FINALLY get my boarding pass, with only a few minutes to spare before the cut-off point. It’s pretty much lunch time, I’m starving, and I was hoping to grab something to eat before boarding….Oh well.
I get to the gate to go through security, and I can’t find my driver’s license - it disappeared between the ticket counter and gate. GRRRRRR.
I showed the nice lady at the gate my UA Staff ID, and told her what happened, and she said “Oh, this ID is fine,” and sent me through.
Carry-on stuff got scanned, all was good, and I made my way to the boarding area.
Well, with no driver’s license, they wouldn’t believe that my staff ID was a valid photo ID, they escorted me to an area where they proceeded to search all of my carry-on luggage, and scan me, my shoes, and everything else. I offer them some candy that was in my luggage, and they were actually really friendly and jovial. I knew that if I was annoying, they would make my life a living hell. And then they sent me to the plane.
As we’re nearing Chicago, they call off a list of connecting flights and their gates. The one for XNA is different than what’s on my boarding pass. I get off the plane, go to that gate, and find no XNA flight. I finally find the NEW gate for the flight, and then am told that the flight is delayed 40 minutes or so. I finally get some food…McDonald’s never tasted so good.
I’m boarding the plane, and since I have no driver’s license I am told that I have been “randomly selected” to participate in a security check. I mention that I’ve been “randomly selected” twice already, and they say “Well, it’s your lucky day !”.
So, I get searched AGAIN, get my carry-on stuff picked through AGAIN, and still trying to keep a jovial attitude. At least I’m still smiling, the guard noted.
I get on the plane, and we land in XNA. Thank God.
I go to get my baggage. And wait. And wait. And wait.
I go to the ticket counter, and they tell me that it should be coming in the NEXT flight in from chicago in 45 minutes. Don’t worry, they’ll deliver it to me.
I go home mentally and physically exhausted.
I wait. No luggage.
I call. No luggage.
BUT it’s coming in Saturday morning on the 10:45 flight. They’ll deliver it to me.
Saturday morning….I sleep in, wake up and wait around for my luggage.
And wait.
And wait.
I finally call American Airlines again, am put on hold, and then finally asked to call back in 20 minutes.
I call them 30 minutes later, and am told that my luggage should be coming in this afternoon from HOUSTON.
This time, I tell them to please call me and if it comes in late, I’ll just drive up there to get my bag so I won’t have to wait another day.
About an hour or so later, I get a call from a guy saying my bag was in, and where do I live. I give him directions, and I finally got my bag around 7pm on Saturday.
Now, I need to go get a replacement driver’s license first thing Monday morning.
Things I learned from this experience:
No drivers license = “randomly selected” to get searched
Driver’s license = once you get through the main security checkpoint, go to the gift shops, buy nail clippers, files, scissors, and other things to make shivs. You’ll be allowed on the plane, and can do whatever.
Last time I flew, they made me turn on my cell phones and electronic devices to prove that they were real, and not devices of destruction. This time, they didn’t. As long as I put them in a bag, and sent it through the x-ray, it was all good.
-chris
Chris Bray (cbray@uark.edu, Website: zenandjuice.com/)
WebCT & Multimedia Support, MultiMedia Resource Center, University of Arkansas
Message Me: ICQ: 6830763 / AOL/Yahoo: zenandjuice / MSN: chris@zenandjuice.com
luggage July 27, 2002
Posted by zenandjuice in : Boston , comments closedSerenity now.
They just delivered my luggage to me (7pm, Saturday)….apparently, it made it’s way down to houston, dallas, and maybe some other places before making it’s way to me.
I need a drink. Who’s buying?
Oh, one of the souveniers that I returned with…
Remember that episode of Seinfeld where Mr. Pitt was having a merger of two bottled water companies? Poland Springs and one other (starts with an “M”), and they were going to call it Molland Springs….
Well, I bought a bottle of “Poland Springs” Water…haha
- chris
i’m on the phone with July 26, 2002
Posted by zenandjuice in : Boston , comments closedi’m on the phone with the baggage people now…it is scheduled to arrive at XNA tomorrow morning at 10:45…..I should have it delivered to me by mid-afternoon.