[lbo-talk] Sexpresso coffee shops take Seattle by storm

[Sean Andrews]

I can't remember who mentioned "Idiocracy" on the list last week, and
I don't mean for this mention of it to appear as an endorsement as it
really is a bad movie, but this post reminds me of it.  In the film,
which takes place 500 years in the future, Starbucks is still around,
but it has evolved into some weird convenience sex-shop, where a
"latte" is actually a handjob.  It's supposed to make a statement
about the current trajectory of US culture, but until now I didn't
think it made any sense.

I guess it's just another version of what people in Dallas used to
call "Juice Bars" before there were a lot of Jamba Juice franchises
around to create confusion (i.e. Blue laws in the area make it
unlawful to have fully nude dancers in places that serve alcohol.  I
haven't been to one so I'm unsure of whether they actually serve any
juice but I doubt the patrons care one way or the other.)

s

On 2/4/07, mike larkin <mike_larkin2001 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article2237661.ece
>
> By Andrew Gumbel in Los Angeles
> Published: 05 February 2007
>
> At the Sweet Spot Cafe in the northern suburbs of
> Seattle, you get more than a foam topping on your
> cappucino. You get a waitress in a bikini, or maybe a
> tight-fitting T-shirt, and a choice of drinks with
> names such as Wet Dream (with caramel and white
> chocolate), Sexual Mix (a caramel macchiato) or Erotic
> Pleasure.
>