From Burgeon

Recession can be tough, but it also drives businesses to innovate. Good ideas are oftentimes born at harsh times. Some try to find good but cheaper ways to promote their products/service instead of throwing big bucks at ineffective marketing campaigns. Some re-sort their product lines–cutting small margin product lines and adding those with bigger profit margin. Some simply start off their business with a very lean model.

I want to capture how businesses find new ways to grow in this recession. How recession not only changed biz owner’s way of spending, but also motivated them to generate smarter ideas, which they will benefit even after the recession!

As of now I am thinking of making a trilogy—

The first video will focus on a national sports team manager (the NETS manager, perhaps)—how he finds new ways to promote game tickets.

The second one will feature a tea shop owner (on W 3 St.)—how and why she cuts down the less profitable tea biz and adds more profitable wine biz.

The third one can be an architect or and artist (an Afghanistan architect and artist, perhaps)—how he thinks of new ways to cut budget (in raw materials, for example) but still creates great works, if not better.

No, not the kind that you put in your mouth, though we are finally approaching the time when we can renew our acquaintance with them here in the up-until-now rainy and cold northeast.  Last week, on a day when I thought summer might actually be coming because it hardly rained at all and I didn’t have to put on a sweater until after the sun went down, I visited my favorite truck farmer, Jake. When I took my corn and tomatoes to his till to settle up, he was at pains to tell me–apologetically–that those were his tomatoes, but they were hothouse tomatoes. “We won’t have real dirt tomatoes until August,” he sighed.

I can wait. And this will help to tide me over.

My Floating Ink blog has been honored with a Ripe Tomato for Blogging Excellence award.  I was surprised and tickled.  Fellow blogger and comrade in the (increasingly deep) trenches of freelance writing Ron Doyle gave this little honor to 15 blogs he admires and loves to visit, and–whee!–yours truly was in a prime spot on the list. Thanks, Ron!

First, go to Ron’s Blog Salad to check out the other blogs he loves–great ones about bicycling, humor, writing, parenting, food, travel, and all the rest of life.

Then check out the blogs below. Part of Ron’s plan is a sort of “pay it forward” approach–he’s asked each of us on his list to create our own lists of our 15 go-to blogs.

Here are mine:

whipup:  The hub of the crafting blogiverse, inspiring crafters and artists all over the world, showcasing clever and creative people of all stripes, and providing inspiration even on those days when you’re sure you’ve seen it all before and you could never make that yourself–you haven’t, and you can.

Sandi Kahn Shelton: A writing and life blog not just for writers;  this author of wonderful, wonderful, wonderful books (a 4th wonderful is in the pipeline) will make you laugh so hard that tea comes out your nose, and cry over characters that you wish were your best friends.

The Panopticon:  The incomparable Franklin Habit.  Funny, wise, snarky, erudite, and adorable. Ostensibly a knitting blog, but even if you’ve never knitted a stitch, reading Franklin’s posts will make you wish that you, too, were a cute, multi-talented, artistic, Buddhist, creative gay man whose alter-ego is a boozing, politicking, philandering, rabble-rousing sheep named Dolores.

Spirit Cloth: To call Jude a textile artist is like saying e. e. cummings dabbled in poetry. Astonishng, soul-feeding work. I visit there regularly but don’t comment as often as I should because there are only so many ways of saying “oh, my god.”

Whiskey River:  Disseminator of wisdom via an electronic chapbook.  Poets, zen masters, lovers, and fools.

Green Chair Press:  For lovers of books, makers of books, font fans, letterpress and type geeks, and appreciators of all sorts of typographic and literary beauty.

Woolgathering: Artist Elizabeth Perry’s daily sketch journal. She inspires me to see the beauty in the everyday–under her skillful eye a tossed-0ff sketch of a candy wrapper, a lighted lamp, a few cherries, even a pair of flip flops shows us the essence of the thing. And makes me think it’s not silly to subject you fine readers to sketches of staplers and jars of peppercorns.

Nichobella:  Healing through art. Acey’s journals, textile arts, and explorations of what makes us who we are take us beyond the level of “crafting.”

Contemplating the Moon:  Ah, if only. This blog introduced me to encaustics. Which I will never, never master. But I will always, always try.

Joe Pastry:  Want to know how to make your own pasta on your kitchen table?  Why you should make jelly rolls?  What kind of flour makes the best pizza in your back yard bread oven (because we know you have one of those)?  How to make Cornish pasties, an Alsatian onion tart, two kinds of fruitcake and your own homemade caramel? Course you do.

Tea Spot:  My friends and family know me as someone whose blood type is Earl Grey, so I was delighted to find Ana’s tea blog. Besides taking the best food photographs around, Ana gives you the scoop (get it? little matcha joke there) on all kinds of teas and how to brew them. Best of all, she shares info on where to find (and, often, how to make) yummy comestibles to go with them.   Japanese Hiking Donuts, anyone? Or tea-poached pears?  Put the kettle on–I’m on my way!

elsewhere: He takes you there.

3191: That’s the number of miles that separate photo-bloggers Stephanie and Mav in their respective Portlands. Their cameras are our windows on the quotidian beauty in their worlds that let us see the same in ours.

maya*made:  I read many, many, many art and craft blogs and would love to be able to list them all here. But since Ron says that 15 is the magic number, I have to pick one, and this is my pick.  Beautiful, simple, creative things made with love and shared with us.

the worst horse:  Had enough of those boots of Chinese plastic?

Now, each of these bloggers has to think of their list of 15–tag, you’re it.

And thanks again, Ron–hope it’s a beautiful day for a bike ride where you are.

And it was right downtown the whole time.  It’s been there for about a year now.  Ku Cha House of Tea is on 13th between Pearl and Spruce and get this — IT DOESN’T HAVE WIRELESS!!!  Ok, some might consider this sacrilegious in Boulder, but I know many of you are going to consider it a godsend antidote to the laptop libraries sprouting up all over town in otherwise fine shops such as Folsom St., The Cup and Saxy’s.

Ku Cha is a combo retail tea shop — selling around a hundred different loose-leaf teas and steepware — and a ‘traditional’ tea house with a sublimely relaxing atmosphere.  No laptops in sight, just a soothing lounge where you can write in your little notebook, read the newspaper, or just stare at the ceiling without being bombarded by the obnoxiously loud noise music of the Goat.  The quiet, laptop-free atmosphere also means the Ku Cha is generally empty.  Good for people seeking refuge, bad for the shop.  Helpfully they are doing well enough to stay in business because Boulder certainly needs some quiet spots, especially since the demise of Tea Spot.

The venerable Tea Spot has a sign up on the cash register announcing their demise.  Sad.  The location is a bit awkward.  You’d think the ice rink plaza would get more foot traffic but it’s just enough out of the way to be relatively unvisited.  The Tea Spot sign says that the owners are doing well in their wholesaling business so that’s where they’ll focus their efforts from here forward, the end of the lease being a good time for them to pull away from the retail shop.   New owners could jump in on favorable lease terms (seems like business leases are going ridiculously cheap in Boulder right now) and an already-completed buildout.

So where does that leave the Boulder coffee shop scene?

• Amante for sale
• Playgrounds for sale (and closed until somebody buys it)
• Organica folded about 6-9 months ago
• Sidney’s just sold
• Tea Spot closing

Who is doing well?  The obvious ones (meaning they’re always full):

• Amante NoBo
• Folsom St. Coffee
• Laughing Goat
• Logan’s (full all day though?)
• The Cup
• Saxy’s (but see recent post decrying the “success“)
• Starbucks (hahaha) … actually, only the Hill location seems to be consistently busy
• Vic’s (Ideal)

alright, so clearly tea ain’t that hard, right?  insert leaves, add hot water. done.

this is how 98% of the shops in Boulder serve tea and how close to 100% of them outside of Boulder do it.

but this reviewer drinks more tea than coffee and is tired of being discriminated against for it.  Boulder coffee shops, hear me: TURN DOWN YOUR DAMN HOT WATER DISPENSERS!!

Look, everybody has a different opinion of the proper water temperatures for various teas, but in general this list of proper temperatures will do.  Only the pu’erhs need be boiled and I’d be willing to bet the number of dedicated pu’erh drinkers in Boulder is fewer than 5.  The black teas come in under boiling and the greens and whites significantly so, all the way down to 160°F for some.  But when I can’t drink my tea for 10 minutes because it still hasn’t cooled enough to not strip the paint off my tongue then there’s a problem.  The water is too hot for the tea, and too hot for me.

The only shop that I have come across so far that does it right is Tea Spot.  Tea Spot not only dails down the temperature for their more delicate teas, they have three different pots set to three different temperatures to match what each individual tea needs.  Not even erstwhile Pekoe, also specializing in tea, does right by temperature control.  Everybody else gladly ignores the issue, happily dispensing scalding, sizzling water in every cup.   Boulder shops, next time your machine guy comes around, please ask him to at least dial you down to 180°F? Nice compromise for all the different temperatures required for your teas?

And this isn’t even getting into steep times.  Again, Tea Spot has it wired, everybody else (including Pekoe) is clueless.  Tea Spot holds your tea back while timing your steep, making sure they get it right.  Everybody else hands it to you right away and you’re on your own.  Only the most dedicated tea drinkers know that many green teas should only get 2-3 minutes in the water.  Two minutes?  That time is gone between the initial request and the final transaction, the details of the steep forgotten in the blur of the moment.  Who can know how long the tea has been steeping?  Not the baristas of these coffee-oriented shops who couldn’t care less about the bitters that arise in oversteeped green tea.

I can’t fathom why a shop (and this includes many in Boulder) would spend the time and energy to gather a pantry of fine loose leafs and a cupboard of personal steeping equipment, only to potentially ruin the tea each time by ignoring the water temperature and steep time.  Maybe the time will come yet….

Wise words from Simpsons Sideshow Mel.

I remember the first time I tried it. Slimy balls of black goo at the bottom of my too-sweet bevarage in some dingy cafe in Sydney’s chinatown. Literally chewing my tea. I could sense my Persian ancestors rolling in their graves with every tea-filled bite.

So I put the bubble tea down, declared I didn’t like it, and wrote it off as a gastronomic abomination never to be consumed again. But, after getting back on the horse, I realized it’s because I had never had good bubble tea before. And, living in New York City, I’m happy to say that the opportunity for a decent cup presents itself quite frequently, especially with Chinatown being its biggest purveyor.

What began as abject horror has now sneakily transformed into a legitimate addiction, and my mouth couldn’t be happier.

So from Harlem, NYC, I present you the bible of my favorite bubble tea joints (as well as some places to stay away from). May your adventures be as hydratingly chewy as mine!

SAINTS ALP 39 3rd Ave, @ 9th st.
I’m going to cut to the chase here-
This is singlehandedly the best place to get bubble tea in Manhattan. With reasonably priced drinks, speedy service, and a fabulously large menu, Saints Alp has never disappointed. Not only are their tapioca pearls firm and chewy, but the bubbles themselves are boiled in sweetened water- a rare step that gives Saints Alp an edge over its blander-bubbled competitors. This added kick gives the drink a nice base layer for sweetened milk flavors, or plainer versions . I personally prefer my tea black and unsweetened (like my men), but the hint of sugar in the boba is just right. $3.50

TEA KETTLE 26 St. Mark’s Place
No. No no no no. Everytime I go there, they mess up my order. Maybe I have just had bad luck, but I feel as if my request for Black tapioca pearls goes unnoticed nearly every time. Don’t be fooled by their special offer of colored bubbles- they have absolutely no taste, and their varying sizes confuse the mouth. While their black tea (when created properly) is pretty good, their more interesting flavors like Salted Plum are too-sweet and fall flat.

I understand what it’s like to have the craving hit hard, and the convenience of Saint Marks is all-too enticing. However, I beseech you to walk up three blocks to Saints Alp and get more bang for your buck. Tea Kettle is frustratingly average, and its mac-store decor is enough to fool any newcomer. So go ahead, take this gateway drug if need be- but know that there are much better substances throughout the city, waiting to be consumed.

TEA-RIFFIC- 51 Mott St.
I have only had their almond bubble tea, and it seemed, well, pretty good. I’m sensitive to sweet drinks, and while this drink was predictably too sugary, I think it should be alright for those with more conventional taste buds. My only critique is that the bubbles were too small, about the size of a pea. This is an odd feeling, as most bubble tea straws are large, accommodating the normal size pearls (about the size of a nickel). I found myself packing the baby boba in my cheeks as I tried to compensate, chewing more but not getting that satisfactory huge chomp I’ve come to crave, like a heroin addict who needs the feeling of the needle. Shucks.

Green Tea Cafe-45 Mott St.
I ordered a hot, unsweetened black bubble tea here once and am never ordering hot bubble tea again. On top of not enjoying the temperature as much as the iced drinks, the boba were undercooked and starchy in the center, making my jaws ache and my eyes twitch. The pearls were flavorless, the tea bland, and and the whole drink just poorly brewed over all. While I’m only judging the bubble tea here, my friend ordered an apricot icecream and received a green scoop of flavorless, frozen dairy. I think this place is best left skipped.

Tea Spot-127 MacDougal St.
Not only is this bubble tea over-priced ($4.50), it is overcooked and nearly disintegrated by the time it hits my teeth. I ordered a black-peach tea and received a milky lavender concoction. Leaving the store, I took one sip, then marched right back in.
“Excuse me?” I asked the barista, “Does this have dairy?”

Faking lactose intolerance, I asked for a different flavor since the first one tasted so awful. The barista was very generous and quickly prepared me the same drink, this time without milk (and purple coloring?), no charge. The plain black and peach tea itself was good, so I recommend just sticking to the store’s excellent selection of loose teas instead. Hopefully their boba drinks are just a phase.

While I know I am still missing a few key places (such as Ten-Ren), I feel this is a comprehensive enough guide for those wishing to dip their toes into the hard world of drugs, prostitutes, and bubble tea cravings. Good luck, and remember, always get what you want. If they don’t do your order right, don’t be afraid to fake a disease in search of your true craving quencher.

and so much eating in the interim. rare, seared tuna in a crunchy salad and my favorite “squeaky” fried cheese curds (but the name lies! THEY DO NOT SQUEAK) at half-pint (also trusted purveyor of the delicious leffe blanc – don’t know how to say it’s name, but it’s a yummy, light, fruity beer that they always have at half-pint).

pistachio macarons at tisserie that were spring-time in cookie form (so much pistachio-ness! the prettiest green color, the perfect flavor, so rich and chewy-crispy with squishy middle). what else? i can’t even remember all the yummy food. chinese take-out from friend house (love the name!) – definitely beats suzie’s, and it’s pretty much the same price. cheese fries at yola’s and greek yogurt salad at oasis.

hosting my first passover seder (the ugliest matzoh balls ever, but they were fluffy and delicious! along with my first savory kugel – adding an almond and parmesan crust was a stroke of genius).

giant bubble teas from tea spot, gelato from yolato (but they never have their incredibly refreshing aloe flavor! sad times) and the newly opened grom (i think my school is located in the most ice-cream heavy district in the city). sushi at the new sushi place in the village, gen sushi (far surpasses doo zo, and for the same price – i’m sold).

trips to the union square farmer’s market for the biggest carrots and apples in the world (husband had fun playing with the parsnips – they’re such weird-looking vegetables!). and just this moment, ending the passover celebration with a trip to mighty diamond, which has redeemed itself since our first visit with hot curry “goat” (seitan), “creamed” corn, garlicky collard greens and chili-lime quinoa, among other tasty dishes.

so much good eating. but so much studying for finals that i’ve been remiss. one day this will be fixed. for now, you just got the highlights, so what more do you want from me? my brain is mush after spending too many hours on judicial review, so i’m sure i’ve left out something delicious, but i’ll add that when i remember again. yay.

I’ve really been stoked on afternoons at the Tea Spot recently. Not only does it limit the amount of night bike riding I have to do (very unsafe, by the way) but the holiday ice skating rink makes for some entertaining viewing, and interesting attire?! I can always find a good table and to be quite honest, the staff is some of the best around. Maybe the location keeps it a little less busy, but whatever the reason, I dig it.

Try the Genmaicha – good caffeine and a good honest earthy flavor. Oh yeah, they totally welcome a “re-steep” and go as so far as to bring it out to you every time!