BIGGBY -- More chalk

More chalk
Originally uploaded by niccimae

Tell me this isn't cool.....I luv the stuff I find on Flickr......I'm guessn' at the store....Daman, is this yours? I've seen it there before....on my last visit....SUPER!

What the? ....700 plus cups on day 2, whew!!!

I checked in today with the Corp-Ops folks to see how the Detroit Receiving Hospital opening was going...I stopped in yesterday, Sunday (opening day)and they were doing well....but that was Sunday in a Hospital, ya,know? see the video on this store

Anyway they are crankin' (700 cups today...so far) and I found out the secret ingredient...they got a bunch of the folks from the Grosse Pointe store...those guys are unbelievably good!

Ya'see we give away free drip coffee on Opening Day...but all I saw comin' out of the store was the 'big stuff', you know, the with the whipped cream and such...and everybody had a big smile...it made me smile.

Nick...you got it goin' on....it's a dynamite location, and you knew it! CONGRATS!

Spent the day in kazoo....

So I had a meeting at the Kalamazoo College Library with all the owner operators in Kalamazoo (I love that name!)....what a great crowd! Those operators in Kazoo are spot on! It took us about three hours (time flies when yer havin' fun) Afterwards I took a drive further down Stadium Drive past our location in Bronco Mall and went to our drive thu....across from Sweetwater Donuts....and I bumped into Rebbecca....an awesome BIGGBY barista! She taught me a lot....and made a great recommendation for hours of operation....I gotta say it a again...."I Love Kalamazoo!"....watch the video!

New Location ....Detroit Receiving Hospital

Oh my was I ever impressed! I went to Detroit Receiving Hospital to go visit a new location opening this Sunday....that set of Detroit Hospitals is simply unbelievably impressive (it's a whole city onto itself), 'course I am not sure what I was expecting but take a visit link to the hospital

I was coming from the GM-RenCen....where I was a panelist for the Michigan Works Annual conference...What a great conference!

I had a great time at the Ren Cen...and at Detroit Receiving....as a matter of fact I gonna go back on Sunday and hit the DIA go to DIA ...course that's 'Detroit Institute of Art' not 'Defense Intelligence Agency' :)....I haven't been in a while!

Take a look at this store under construction....it's the third two story BIGGBY! Has anybody ever been to the Children's Hospital or Detroit Receiving or the Karmanos Cancer Center?

Where is this?

Anne Hood
Originally uploaded by B-Happy Lounge

We get so many awesome photos on flickr.....this is one!

If you would like to post a photo go to the B-Happy Lounge .... and click on 'Where do you B?'

Check it out!

So I've been given a little beef...

...apparently when I ran the Short, Tall, Grande poll I didn't give the argument to go to small, medium, strong enough. Now let me tell you "I have no opinion on this" .....so don't give me a hard time because you think this is somethin' I want to do. It's just that I think these kinds of discussions deserve their due course....and worth a dialogue. So read what Twitchy McGee said ....his comment and then give this video a watch (it's funny as all get out) 'course I apologize in advance for the SB logo....but you'll get the idea.

So when yer done with these two things 'the video' and 'Twitchy's comments' .....leave a comment for me....it can be anonymous, I don't care :) ...then take the poll again and let's see what happens! Make sure while your doin' this to have fun and B-happy!

Bill gives us an update on the new music list!

Thanks Bill! Go to Bill's Blog! (and see videos)


Order up! Your coffee shop playlist is readyPosted by Bill Chapin September 02, 2008 10:54AM
Categories: Musical snobbery
Well, it's time to reveal the 10-song playlist that I'm going to pass along to the folks at Biggby Coffee after they asked little old me to suggest some titles to add to the new music selection that plays in their stores.


Myspace
French-Israeli chanteuse Yael Naim seems like a good fit musically for a coffee shop.As promised, I've reserved five spots on the list for suggestions sent in by readers. I heard from three of you. Two sent in a full list of five song, and in the interest of spreading the wealth, I used the first two tunes on both their lists. A suggestion also came in from, I believe, Biggby Coffee CEO and co-founder Bob Fish, whom I'm assuming could get any song he wanted played in his stores, but I enjoyed his suggestion and had room for one more reader-submitted song.
In choosing my personal picks, I tried to go with artists whom I love but that are still relatively unknown. I already tend to plug them fairly regularly on this blog, but I figure they can use all the exposure they can get. It was hard narrowing my options down to just five songs.

As a result of all the different input, this list is all over the map, from '80s jazz-pop to traditional folk to indie rock. I'm also not sure how closely it adheres to the "standards for energy and fun" that I was told the songs would have to meet in order to be considered.

Here are the songs coming (pending approval) to a coffee shop near you:

1. "New Soul," Yael Naim (suggested by "brklynjxn")

2. "Tessellate," Tokyo Police Club (suggested by "brklynjxn")

3. "Promises," Basia (suggested by Shelly from Grass Lake)

4. "One Night in Bangkok" from "Chess," Murray Head (suggested by Shelly from Grass Lake)

5. "Atlas," The Wood Brothers (suggested by "BiggbyBob")

Hear the song at the band's official site.

6. "The Weight of Lies," The Avett Brothers

7. "Stump Speech," Great Lakes Myth Society (suggested by me)

stump speech - Great Lakes Myth Society

8. "Journey of the Featherless," Cloud Cult (suggested by me)

Hear the song at Hypem.com

9. "I'm Holding Out," The Reigning Sound (suggested by me)

Hear the song at Last.fm

10. "Oceans," The Format (suggested by me)

A Perfect Blog Post

A nice post by Lynne Crandall... Click here to go to Lynne's BLOG Thanks for sharing :)

Saturday, August 30, 2008
Biggby Coffee on Marsh Road - An Okemos' Hot Spot

I have been going to Biggby Coffee on Marsh Road in Okemos for about 9 years since I live close by. I had always noticed it is a bit of a hot spot for everyone, single or otherwise, to run in a grab a coffee and look over the other coffee drinkers - a bit of a singles hot spot.

And even when I'm traveling incognito and trying not to meet someone, I enjoy being able to go there and chat with friends getting coffee. It has improved a number of my holidays since on several Memorial Days, Labor Days, July 4, or any other holidays when it has been open, I appreciate having part of my daily routine in the midst of the hustle and bustle. Being a creature of habit, a quick trip to grab a cuppa java and a short chat with a friend I run into improves the whole holiday for me.

Today as I stepped in, I had to stop a minute before going up to the counter while one of the baristas asked me if I could wait until he took the picture of a small group of merry travelers who had stopped in. Actually it was two couples who looked to be around mid 40's to 50 somethings and a few friends. They looked like they may have just dropped off children to start at MSU, they were that happy, beaming and laughing.

"Just a minute... photo op," he said, and I stepped to the side while he clicked away at the giggling group who posed as he said "Cheese".

It is owned by Jane and Joseph O'Connor, who must have a terrific in-house hospitality training program. I called one day and got her on the phone for something else. Since I had a golden opportunity, I asked Jane what she was doing to train her staff so well. She laughed and said she didn't know. I told her whenever I come into get my iced soy latte, from the moment I hit the door, the staff practically stands at attention ready to execute my every desire. The first couple times it happened, starting last January or February, I was startled, then I caught on to the fact that someone over there really stepped up the hospitality training. I must admit, it feels great to have someone who actually cares what I want, other than my cat, who takes me with a grain of salt.

I usually just stop in for a moment and grab an iced soy latte, but it has become a moment in my day I look forward to. Before the gas and economic crisis and the demise of the auto industry made their mark on Michigan, it seemed that it was the hot spot for singles to meet, or at least get a chance to buzz in and grab a quick look around at who else is there. Maybe I just don't get there at the same time I used to, but it seems that may have calmed down.

Its been a busy place since it has become a popular spot for friends and groups to meet and talk from early in the morning until the late afternoon. The coffee is always good and the service is getting even better. The tins of tea always intrigue me, especially the one with Lavender in the tea, or the hot cinnamon and spice. I occasionally buy a travel cup or a mug or some unique tea. In the cooler weather, the fireplace has given me hours of warmth when I sit in front of it and drift off into my my thoughts while watching the flames.

The outdoor tables are under one of my favorite pine trees in the area, although it told me today, when I was practicing my Celtic art of talking to trees (I'm Irish, Scottish, and Welsh) that it might like to be pruned of a few dead branches. I won't say it answers all my questions right away, but I stop back regularly to see if it gives me anymore insights. It has a different take on things than the old Willow trees at Ferguson Park that were there from the time when Chief Okemos held pow wow's with area war chiefs. The Native Americans have a lot of good things to say about the energy of trees and from what I can tell, they're all true. Even the poet Rilke gave the trees a starring role in one of his poems with the line,"and I, whispering away above you like a Linden bough."

Ah, I digress, but I did warn you that I'm Irish, so that bardic tradition is to be expected and anyway, Biggby's Coffee shop gives me hours of pleasure when I take my laptop and wax eloquent and get lost in my writing in front of the fireplace or out on the table under the pine tree. May its coffee shop tradition continue and may it ever be so.

Biggby Coffee (formerly Beaners Coffee) located at 4756 Marsh Rd
517- 853-9918

An Evening at Biggby

An Evening at Biggby
Originally uploaded by periwinklepenguins

Stockton makes his debut...another plushie that has been following the adventures of Nigel. Well I guess it looks like Nigel is just having too much fun...and it's true...I have a cousin of Nigel called Digby and he often joins me on the road and helps me with interviews!

The B Happy Truck !

The B Happy Truck !
Originally uploaded by A2 Lebowsky

Another siting of the B-Happy truck...this time in Ann Arbor on Washtenaw (a coupla blocks off of US -23.) I love this truck!