HIGH ALTITUDE STARBUCKS

My fifth Starbucks sits about 6,750 ft above sea level in Big Bear, CA. We spent last weekend at Crestline, CA with some friends. My daughter needed a nap and I figured the hum of the car would lull her to sleep. Sure enough, it worked. So we drove to Big Bear and she napped the whole way.

The Starbucks is wedged between a pizza place and a liquor store. One stop shopping, really, for a weekend in the mountains. The place was pretty crowded with tourists (my daughter and I being two of them). Very slow service. But it was the weekend. It's probably better service during the week when it's not so crowded.

It's a great place to grab a drink and then walk 2 blocks to the lake or stroll through town.

Village and Paine

40568 Village Drive

Big Bear Lake, CA 92315 US

909-878-5094

EMPIRICAL STARBUCKS

Starbucks #4 is nestled in a shopping center in Burbank, CA. The Victory and Empire store. From the outside it sort of looks like a storage shed on 'roids. But inside - oh the inside is glorious. Plenty of room, the best air-conditioned Starbucks ever, and free of hipsters. This is where I was on July 19, 2005 at 10:17am when my wife called to tell me we had been matched with a baby in China.

I could spend all day at this Starbucks. The shopping center has Target, Lowe's, Michaels, Nordstrom Rack, Krispy Kreme, Sports Authority (to work off those Krispy Kremes) and oh so much more.

And just down the road is a Costco, a firing range and an animal shelter. Talk about the ingredients for some tasteless jokes.

1711 North Victory Place
Burbank, CA 91502
818-843-3979

How to Pay With Your iPhone at Starbucks

As you may know, you can now pay for your mega-Trenta Starbucks drink with your iPhone. How, you may ask? Here's a great site that explains it for those of us who are iPhone-challenged.