Dining Guide 2019

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DINING GUIDE

Cover by Eli Savage contributing editor

EXCLUSIVE ONLINE CONTENT AT PITTNEWS.COM Dining Guide:

Today’s stories:

Pitt pledges to cut food-related emissions

Jewish students face pushback around High Holy Days

5 things to know before working in the restaurant industry Beto O’Rourke holds rally in Schenley Plaza Staff picks: Where to find the best coffee on campus

Tyler, The Creator at Stage AE

Sports:

Video coverage of Millie’s Ice Cream and Beto O’Rourke

Prediction: Panthers to feast on Blue Hens

can be found on YouTube or pittnews.com

No. 4 Panthers sweep UVA in ACC opener Boissonneault, Pitt lacrosse prepare for 2021 debut

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September 26, 2019

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Millie’s

is now on the meal plan Sarah Berg

For The Pitt News The students in the line outside the window of the University Store in the quad aren’t waiting for textbooks, backpacks or a “Best Pitt Dad” coffee mug. They’re buying ice cream.

For the first time, Pitt students can get dessert from the Pittsburgh-based ice cream shop Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream on campus — and pay with Dining Dollars. The new Millie’s location, which had its grand opening Wednesday, is Pitt Dining’s first partnership with a small local business.

Many merchants around campus with which Pitt has a relationship — such as Panera, Dunkin’, and Chipotle — are large franchises that accept Panther Funds. But Millie’s, which has locations in Market Square, Shadyside and Bakery Square, has a new location built into Pitt’s dining pro-

gram that accepts both Panther Funds and Dining Dollars. Additionally, it is the only part of Pitt’s dining program that is not managed by Sodexo.

Millie’s serves 12 flavors at the Pitt location, including four dairy-free ice cream options, and a single scoop cone at the location costs $4.50. It operates from within the University Store, but is also accessible through the window into the quad.

The shop window is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. all week, even after the University Store is closed.

According to Joe Beaman, Pitt’s director of dining services, putting Millie’s in the University Store solved several problems at once.

The location now occupied by Millie’s previously held a low-performing coffee shop. And Pitt didn’t have an ice cream store See Millie’s on page 9

The engineering school’s Sustainability Capstone course worked with Millie’s cofounder Lauren Townsend to help design a green Millie’s kiosk.

Wu Caiyi staff photographer

+tax

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More Asian, Asian American restaurants arrive in Oakland

Five Asian food businesses have opened or re-opened in Oakland since the start of the summer.

Joy Cao staff photographer

Emily Wen Staff Writer

Students on the search for bubble tea or poke bowls may find themselves suddenly overwhelmed with options.

Since the start of summer, five Asian food businesses have opened or reopened in Oakland — the KungFu Tea truck, T-Swirl Crepe in Schenley Plaza and Love Tea, Night Market Gourmet and JJ Poke Bowl on Atwood Street — adding to the options already present.

Ting Yen, owner of Sushi Fuku, said that the opening of these new businesses is good for the rising Asian and Asian-American population, but also have made it more difficult for his business, which has been open on Oakland Avenue since 2012.

“This year is a little bit of a challenge,” Yen said. “There’s too many new restaurants opened up.”

Oakland’s Asian business owners take a variety of approaches to setting up their businesses. Since many of the businesses sell the same food items, each has to find its own niche.

Some value authenticity — like Hunan Bar,

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Night Market Gourmet, Sichuan Gourmet and Love Tea — while some, like T-Swirl, Fuku Tea and Sushi Fuku, are more Westernized.

Yen, who is also a board member on the Oakland Business Improvement District, said that despite there being many different types of Asian cuisines, there’s a lack of diversity in the new Asian businesses.

“I think more Asian restaurants is good,” Yen said. “But it has to be a different type of Asian restaurant.”

More Asian restaurants in Oakland means there are more businesses that sell the same product. Both the KungFu Tea truck and Love Tea sell bubble tea, for example, competing with other Oakland bubble tea business including Fuku Tea and Chick’n Bubbly.

Albert Tanjaya, a Pitt computer science senior and vice president of external affairs of the Pitt Asian Students Alliance, thinks that there are more benefits of having restaurants that serve the same type of food.

“Multiple restaurants allow diversification of flavors that allow people to have preferences and prevent monopolies of bubble tea or fried chicken,” Tanjaya said in an email.

Love Tea, which reopened in the middle of September, took over the old location of Love Ramen, which relocated to a place next to the Thirsty Scholar on Fifth. Before being Love Ramen, which shares an owner with Love Tea, that location was known as Love Yogurt.

Amy Zhang, a senior philosophy and communications major and Chinese international student, said she prefers Love Tea over Fuku Tea because of the different flavors of bubble tea, such as cheese tea — cold tea with milk and cream cheese foam on top that originated in Taiwan — that Love Tea offers.

“The cheese tea is a really new thing in China and people don’t have [that] here, but many people are really crazy for that,” Zhang said. “I love that they have that kind of bubble tea.”

Like the bubble tea shops, there are many shops that now sell poke bowls. JJ Poke Bowl’s opening makes it the third restaurant on campus to sell poke bowls — the other two are Mt. Everest Sushi and Sushi Fuku.

According to The Washington Post, poke bowls are a Hawaiian “marinated raw Ahi tuna” dish with Japanese influences. Despite being from China and Taiwan, Joe Wu and Jenny Lin,

September 26, 2019

owners of JJ Poke Bowl, said that they decided on selling the “healthy” poke bowls because they thought bringing this native Hawaiian dish would be a creative food item on campus.

“I think the poke bowl is very new — not everyone know about poke,” Lin said. “When we knew about poke, we think it’s very good for everyone, not any age.”

Recently, it’s more common to see Asian business owners, such as the owners of JJ Poke Bowl and T-Swirl Crepe, selling products that are not typically associated with their culture, but rather from another Asian culture. Tanjaya said since Asian cultural food history overlaps in many areas, it’s common to see many similarities.

“Asian history when you look at it offers such a complex and intricate dynamic,” Tanjaya said. “Thus when we discuss food and ask the question ‘Who owns what?’ it’s fairly complicated.”

While there are many Asian business owners eager to provide creative Asian-American food to Oakland, Ren Jiang, the owner of Night Market Gourmet, said his business wanted to focus more on traditional cooking to teach Oaklanders about this type of Taiwanese food.

Jiang, who is Chinese, said Night Market Gourmet’s food resembles the quick night market stir fry food that people in China would eat when they go to a night market, which are local street stands that sell quick regional food at night. Jiang said that his restaurant’s style food is more Chinese in style, but Taiwanese in flavor, which tastes “lighter” than typical Chinese food found in Beijing or in the northern parts of China.

“When we bring traditional cooking, Taiwanese-style, we want the people learning different stuff besides lo mein, General Tso’s chicken and broccoli and fried rice,” Jiang said.

Tanjaya believes that the “interesting dynamic of Asian/Asian-American students from Pitt and CMU” leads to a competition to diversify tastes.

“The growing Asian/Asian-American student population definitely fuels competition and diversity,” Tanjaya said.

While Tanjaya prefers authentic Asian food, he said that both authentic and AsianAmerican cuisine are equally important because it reminds some of home and for others is a way to celebrate their Asian-American identity.

“One side shows the roots of the food from where they came, and the other shows the adaptation and push of assimilation of immigrants into American Society,” Tanjaya said.

6

NIGHTMARE ON FORBES STREET: A HORROR BAR POPS UP DOWNTOWN

Delilah Bourque Culture Editor

A low, slow fog creeps out the door of 268 Forbes Avenue downtown, where chains hang in the window and highpitched screaming resonates from behind the massive, blacked out doors.

Most people’s first instinct would be to run far, far away from a place like this. But inside, groups laugh and stroll — horror is part of the fun at Nightmare on Forbes Street pop-up bar.

Just in time for the coming Halloween spirit, Nightmare on Forbes Street follows six other themed pop-up bars in the same space, including the Game of Thrones themed Bar of Thrones, owned by restaurateur Bob Wolfinger. Wolfinger, who also owns Market Square restaurants NOLA on the Square, Ill Pizzaiolo, Metropolitan Club and Molinaro, got the idea to make this space a pop-up location from

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the popularity of other pop-up bars.

“Because of the success of some popup bars in Pittsburgh and nationally, the space was empty, and the more I thought about it I said ‘let’s give pop-up bars a chance at this space that we have set up already to accommodate people for a restaurant,’” Wolfinger said.

The bar offers horror-themed cocktails and snacks, as well as selections of beer and wine. The food, made by neighboring restaurant Wolfie’s Pub, ranges from typical bar fare, such as cheese fries, to more elaborate offerings like fried mushrooms with chipotle aioli.

Nightmare on Forbes Street serves standard mixed drinks, along with a menu of six specialty cocktails. Bar Manager Shane Wilps, 34, of Mount Washington, points to the most popular drink on the list in front of him — The Babadook, a vodka cocktail mixed with apple, caramel

and ginger beer.

“Definitely the most popular is this one, number three,” Wilps said.

No small detail has been overlooked in creating the bar. Terrifying, realisticlooking skeletons hang from the ceiling, and the lanterns lighting the space are draped with black gauze, dimming the lights.

The patron with a strong bladder would miss one of the most stand-out details of the bar. The hallway to the bathroom is lit entirely with black lights, reflecting neon paint splatter on the walls.

Any white clothing glows magnificently in the room, making certain customers part of the decor. All of the elaborate decor follows completely gutting the space after the last concept, Tiki 268, closed in late August.

According to Wilps, after six different pop-up concepts, his team of creators had

September 26, 2019

the execution of this concept down pat.

The entire bar space is customizable, so with each concept, everything must be redesigned. From the drinks, to the decor, to the food, the bar completely changes every couple of months. Though this can be challenging, Wilps says the ability to have complete creative control over a space is also incredibly rewarding.

“A lot of times restaurants change their menu or their stuff like seasonally,” Wilps said. “We do it a little bit more than that.

About every eight weeks or so it’s brand new menu from top to bottom — drinks, beer, food, wine, the whole workup is brand new.”

Bartender John Rodriguez, 32 of Southside, said that although this is the first time he’s worked with this pop-up space, he was initially drawn to the idea by visiting Bar of Thrones in April. He See Pop-Up on page 10

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September 26, 2019

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Millie’s, pg. 4

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Pint-sized Indian restaurant established in 1995, offering a large menu of favorites such as chicken tikka masala, plus an all-you-can-eat buffet.

on campus. Beaman said putting Millie’s in the University Store killed those two birds with one stone. It also helped the school work towards a larger plan to involve local businesses in Pitt’s dining program, Beaman said.

“What we’ve kind of looked at is how can we incorporate more local partnerships within our program,” Beaman said.

“This was one of those situations where we were like, ‘How can we engage a good, responsible family-owned company within the community to be a part of our dining program?’”

The Sustainability Office at Pitt originally brought the idea of partnering with Millie’s to Beaman’s attention. Millie’s cofounder Lauren Townsend said the shop is working to become as sustainable as possible. Last year, the engineering school’s sustainability capstone course worked with Townsend to help design a green Millie’s kiosk. This served as a transition to opening the new location on campus.

“They were interested in actually putting it on campus somewhere, and so the students approached the University as well as Sodexo … and all of that kind of morphed into the bookstore kiosk that you see today,” Townsend said.

For upperclassmen like Breanna Donaghy, who may have meal plans with higher amounts of Dining Dollars, the ability to pay with Dining Dollars is a huge bonus.

“We wish Pitt could partner with more businesses, especially on Forbes,” Donaghy, a sophomore neuroscience major, said. “It would be so convenient to be able to use your Dining Dollars at places like Roots or Panera.”

Junior biology major Brooke Marshall, who lived in the quad during her first year, also emphasized the importance of Millie’s accepting Dining Dollars.

“If there was a Millie’s here when I was a freshman I definitely would have been there,” Marshall said. “I didn’t always want to spend my Dining Dollars on the options

I had.”

Donaghy had been to other Millie’s locations before visiting the one on Pitt’s campus and said she liked the shop enough to try this one. In addition to this and the aspect of Dining Dollars, Marshall said she was drawn to Millie’s because of a long line at the Milkshake Factory on Forbes Avenue and the accessible service window at Millie’s.

Millie’s was founded after Townsend and her husband wanted to start a French restaurant and bought a piece of equipment which turned out to be well-suited for making ice cream. They then decided to turn their aspirations toward an ice cream shop with a focus on sustainable production.

Townsend interprets sustainability as being multifaceted and has worked to integrate these parts into Millie’s operations.

Millie’s uses compostable spoons and cups, and while they do not have compostable straws yet, employ a policy of asking customers if they want straws in order to avoid giving them out unnecessarily. They also try to source ingredients locally.

“The less distance the product that we buy has to get to us, the better for the overall environment,” Townsend said, adding that she thinks Pitt shares the goal of sustainability. “They’ve really shown that sustainability is important to them.”

Donaghy said she also appreciated Millie’s commitment to sustainability.

“I think sustainability is a very good thing to focus on. When you shop at a sustainable business, you’re also furthering their mission,” Donaghy said. “Maybe if Pitt partnered with some other restaurants, that would be a catalyst for them to use more sustainable practices.”

According to Beaman, it is likely that this partnership represents the direction that Pitt will be heading in the future.

“Not long ago Pittsburgh was looked at as kind of a non-food town,” Beaman said. “but if you look in the last 10 years, it’s become one of the great American food cities, and Pitt really wants to be a trendsetter and make sure that we are doing our part and growing in the same methodology that the City is.”

PREPARE FOR MINISTRY IN THE WAY OF JESUS Explore our Master’s and Certificate programs.

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September 26, 2019

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Pop-Up, pg. 7 experienced the efficiency of the pop-up team firsthand.

“This is actually my first time working with these guys,” Rodriguez said. “It’s one of the best organized pop-ups I’ve ever worked.”

When it comes to drinks, Rodriguez is quick to name his personal favorite, The Krueger, made with Tanqueray gin, lemon, agave and sparkling cider.

“I’m a big fan of the Krueger,” Rodriguez said, “but I’m a Freddy Krueger fan,

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so I’m a bit biased.”

Much like past pop-ups, portions of the proceeds from Nightmare on Forbes Street will benefit a local charity. In the past, charitable donations from the bar have exceeded $5,000 and have benefited charities such as the Alzheimer’s Foundation and I Carry My Sister’s Heart, which provides support for families dealing with cancer. Sales from two of the drinks from Nightmare on Forbes Street will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pittsburgh. Wilps is eager to give back to the organization, as a previous partnership

didn’t work out.

“We partnered up with Big Brothers Big Sisters for a concept we did in the summertime, and we didn’t have as much success as we would’ve liked to,” Wilps said. “We’re revisiting Big Brothers Big Sisters simply because we want to help them out. They’re a great organization.”

Rodriguez expects business to pick up as the holiday approaches, especially after witnessing large crowds during the bar’s opening night, which was — appropriately enough — Friday the 13th.

“Thursday through Saturday it’s really

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packed. I was here opening night and the night after, it was crazy.”

In addition to serving up drinks and bar fare, Nightmare on Forbes Street will also play host to a variety of different events to help people get into the Halloween spirit, like trivia nights and giveaways.

“We’re going to be having trivia — horror movie trivia — starting on Oct. 9th, and then every Wednesday,” Wilps said.

“Just little stuff like that, it’ll be kind of cool.”

Nightmare on Forbes Street will remain open in Market Square until Nov. 2.

10

AN ODE TO MY ONE AND ONLY TRUE LOVE:

Cumin

Leah Mensch

Assistant Opinions Editor In between the Tigris and Euphrates valleys, fertile with rich soil, sunshine and fresh air, aromatic plants sprouted from the ground. On Sumerian clay tablets, the ancient Mesoptomians recorded their revolutionary spice and herb use. Thyme, sesame, cardamom, turmeric, saffron, poppy, garlic, cumin, anise, coriander, silphium, dill and myrrh — they used it all in abundance.

In the summer of 720 B.C. — approximately — Babylonian King Merodach-baladan II grew the spices and herbs in his royal garden, taking careful note of how to perfect the art of harvesting. Since then, these spices have become staples in cuisine internationally.

King Merodach-baladan II never made specific note of his favorite spice on his stone tablet, as far as historians are aware. He had other business to attend to. Besides, the best spice was as evident back then as it is now — cumin.

My love affair with the golden yellow powder started in grade school. Unlike many other romantic relationships in my life, my love for it has only grown stronger over time. Cumin is dedicated and faithful. It’s been around since 700 B.C. and adapts to most circumstances — the spice isn’t going anywhere.

Cumin graces our taste buds today in a plethora of Mexican dishes. Some of its most frequent appearances are in chile con carne and hot tamales. But its slightly bitter, beautifully warm flavors actually come from a land far from Mexico, contrary to popular belief.

Leah Mensch really likes cumin. Hannah Heisler senior staff photographer The spice is native to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and the gardens within Egypt, Iran and India. Its essence originated in many Middle Eastern foods and is still a staple in these cultures today.

But the seed of the Cuminum cyminum — a small herb in the parsley family — can adapt to almost any climate, which is yet another reason why this versatile spice is so fabulous.

For lovers of cumin, it can be difficult not to resent those who think cumin to be only a Mexican spice, ignoring its origins and deep, rich history. But the increasing popularity of Mexian influenced foods, including cumin, has increased the sale of cumin. It has introduced more people to the spice, and thus, I have nothing but thanks to give those who only eat cumin in Mexican food.

In terms of its greatness, one must not forget the many health benefits of the delicious spice. Consumption of cumin is linked to improved digestion.

See Mensch on page 13

Judy (PG-13) Fri: 2:20, 4:35, 7:10, 9:35 Sat & Sun: 11:55 am, 2:20, 4:45, 7:10, 9:35 Mon & Tue: 2:20, 4:45, 7:10, 9:35 Wed: 2:20, 4:45, 7:10, 9:35 Thu: 2:20, 4:45, 7:10, 9:35 Downton Abbey (PG) Fri: 2:10, 4:35, 6:30, 7:00, 9:25 Sat & Sun: 11:45 am, 2:10, 4:35, 6:30, 7:00, 9:25 Mon & Tue: 2:10, 4:35, 6:30, 7:00, 9:25 Wed: 2:10, 4:35, 6:30, 7:00, 9:25 Thu: 2:10, 4:35, 6:30, 7:00, 9:25 Hustlers (R) Fri: 3:00, 5:15, 7:30, 9:45 Sat & Sun: 12:45, 3:00, 5:15, 7:30, 9:45 Mon & Tue: 3:00, 5:15, 7:30, 9:45 Wed: 3:00, 5:15, 7:30, 9:45 Thu: 3:00, 5:15, 7:30, 9:45 Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice (PG-13) Fri: 3:20, 5:20, 7:20, 9:20 Sat & Sun: 1:20, 3:20, 5:20, 7:20, 9:20 Mon & Tue: 3:20, 5:20, 7:20, 9:20 Wed: 3:30, 5:20, 7:20, 9:20 Thu: 3:20, 5:20, 7:20, 9:20

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PSA: Beware of the Market moochers

Grace McGinness Staff Columnist

What would you do if you saw a hungry child standing right in front of you, a child whose life should be carefree and filled with dino nuggets but who is instead begging you for some spare fries?

Would you help them? Do you have the compassion in your heart to feed them?

Now imagine that child a decade later.

They’ve gotten into a university, they’ve found a friend group that loves them, they’re excelling in their stats class and maybe they’ve even managed to get a little friends-with-benefits situation going on. Yet there they are, still begging for dino nuggets. The sight pulls on your heart strings, and you want to give them the world. It wouldn’t be too hard to extend your hand and feed these young, struggling adults.

At all times of the day, an upperclassman is asking every student with a working ID card to spare a few meal swipes into the dining halls. They’ve been standing there for 15 whole minutes pleading with both those who are going in and going out — often the same exact person both ways — just hoping to catch a break.

Never mind that they moved out of the dorms without looking back, spitting upon Market’s failed health inspection report as they left. Never mind that they posted a photo of their new, clean kitchen with the “Adulting.”

Never mind that they have a kind of Stockholm syndrome-type gleam in their eyes as they gaze towards Market Central’s own Flying Star Diner.

If you do decide to take pity on these poor souls, do so with a grain of salt. Do not stand there with a polite smile on your face expecting a thank you. Once these senior moochers pass through Market’s gates, they will look straight through you as if you were just another stranger in the cafeteria. Which you are, but you’re a stranger that gave them the gift of food, so the sudden coldness in this new, fragile relationship will sting a bit.

But, if you have the time, you should

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follow the ungrateful soul to their table where you will get to observe the moocher in their natural habitat and see what exactly they had planned for your free meal swipe. They will probably scurry to some dark corner of Market Central to a table that is easily guarded and far from the prying eyes of the dining hall staff.

Once there they’ll unload their entire kitchen.

A whole cabinet’s worth of tupperware containers will come out of that Jansport backpack somehow, and a whole

sleeve of stale bagels will be jammed into every one. After the proteinguzzling student athletes are beaten back, chicken breast after chicken breast will be smashed on top of one another.

Sometimes, the poor, hungry senior will stake out these hunting grounds for hours in order to collect sufficient stores.

Quickly, all evidence of the heist will be packed away, and the vagrant will escape with their digestive track al-

Eli Savage contributing editor

September 26, 2019

ready gurgling in protest against the upcoming torture of high-cholesterol, fried food. Half of it will go bad by the time they unlock their front door, but every piece of smuggled contraband is going to waste away in the back of their fridge anyway.

Now you might be asking yourself, “Isn’t that the same kid I just watched crate out half the liquor store into the back of their friend’s pickup truck?”

And you’d be right, it is that same kid.

But they’re not thirsty right now. They’re hungry, and only you can save them from a slow death from stubborn denial of their budgeting skills.

It is possible to deny these creatures your precious, hard-earned swipes even though you probably won’t get through them all by the end of the year. Most of the prowling upperclassmen will accept your refusal graciously and definitely won’t imagine setting your backpack on fire. However, once denied too many times, a select minority of these students will go absolutely feral, and they will attempt the jump over the glass wall by the dessert section. Many have tried, though very few have stuck the landing, so make sure to bring over a plate of stale popcorn in case someone falls on their face.

But the danger does not end at the exit of the dining halls. Some moochers are more crafty, and they will infiltrate your social circles just to latch onto your meal plan. Classmates, sports teams, student group leaders and Greek life brothers and sisters may try to hit you up at 11 p.m. for a pass into a barren dining hall. Yes, even the stoic mentorships of bigs and littles in academic fraternities can become strained under the heavy expectation of free food.

So what should you do? Run. Run far away as fast as possible, because they’ll be hunting when you try to enter Market and will still be there when you try to leave.

They’ll be in your inbox, DMs, group chats, Snapchat and LinkedIn messages asking for a swipe.

And they’ll be there the next day and the next and the next …

12

Mensch, pg. 11 In a 2013 Journal of Digestive Diseases study, 57 patients with irritable bowel syndrome reported improved symptoms after taking concentrated cumin for two weeks. It’s also an incredibly rich source of iron, even in small amounts. Ten million adults in the United States are iron deficient, and just one teaspoon contains almost a fourth of the recommended daily iron intake for adults.

Some studies even suggest that cumin may also help with diabetes, improve blood cholesterol, prevent food borne illness and fight drug dependence. It’s highly likely that none of these things are actually true, but who knows? It’s a beautiful thing to imagine and just another reason this spice is magical.

Part of this magic is cumin’s versatility. It complements more than just Indian, Middle Eastern and Mexican cuisine. Cumin has been adapted to enhance a wide range of recipes.

Cumin cookies, for example, made it onto the New York Times cooking page, and have accumulated an impressive rating — more than four stars. To name a few of the many dishes, people glaze ribs in cumin, use the spice in salad dressing and broiled shrimp.

It also serves as my cooking Band-Aid, which is to say that when I mess up a recipe, I just dump cumin into it until it tastes decent again. The strength of the spice is quite powerful and can make almost any bad dish at least moderately edible. Really, though, this spice is just delicious.

Both the smell and the taste are unmatched — which is why there are retailers of cumin-scented candles. Even Jesus enjoyed it. Cumin is mentioned in both the Old Testament and the New Testament of the Bible.

There is no substitute for cumin, no spice that shares all of its unique and beautiful qualities. It is not Old Bay Seasoning, which has only been around for 75 years and is not a rich source of iron. It is not “taco seasoning,” as someone once dared say to me. It is a delicious ingredient in taco seasoning, potentially, but it is not to be confused with a packet of Old El Paso from Target. It is its own entity. And that’s why it’s timeless, versatile and unbeatable.

My love for cumin knows no bounds and recognizes no limits. I would fight to the end for this spice and its top spot on the spice hierarchy, though of course I don’t need to. It exemplifies its excellence all on its own.

OVERNIGHT IN STARBUCKS

Allison Dantinne

Senior Staff Columnist The Starbucks inside Amos Hall is now open 24 hours, open to the night and all its splendors, offering a PSL deep into the Oakland void. But what really happens during these previously clandestine hours? What has Starbucks been hiding from us between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., besides worn-out employees? It’s time for me to find out so you don’t have to. It’s time for me to enter the Starbucks Zone.

11:00 p.m. I went home to eat pasta after my meeting, missing the first two hours of Starbucks investigating. I was hungry. I ate leftover ravioli.

I will not buy a Protein Box. I am not sorry.

11:03 p.m. The man next to me cracks open a can. I glance over at my own Dunkin’ iced coffee, wondering if there are other dissenters sitting in this storefront.

11:04 p.m. It is a Starbucks Doubleshot canned beverage, best known from all-nighters on the fourth floor of the library. I sigh, attempt-

Leah Mensch is the assistant opinions editor at The Pitt News. She writes mostly about mental health, books and the spices of the world. Write to Leah at LEM140@pitt.edu.

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September 26, 2019

ing to avoid eye contact. I am the only member of the resistance.

11:11 p.m. Make a wish. I wish not to be taken by the ghost of Captain Starbuck. If I am pulled into the spiritual realm, I wish for there to be no witnesses. No one else should suffer at my hand.

11:38 p.m. I just saw a person wrap their hands around another person’s neck and yet felt there was no tension between the two.

See Starbucks on page 14

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Starbucks, pg. 13 11:39 p.m. They just kissed, so there truly is no tension. That’s the power of this Starbucks at work.

11:49 p.m. Freshly ground coffee beans is the only pure scent in the world — I cannot be convinced otherwise.

12:07 a.m. I moved from the long, wooden counter in the front to the padded seats in the back. The man next to me drinks from a Camelbak backpack. On his small table he has a large laptop, a gaming controller plugged into said laptop and is charging his portable charger while simultaneously using the portable

pittnews.com

charger to charge his phone. He wears a visor indoors at night. He fascinates me.

12:09 a.m. A barista calls out “Chris Angel,” as though there is no magic to that name.

12:27 a.m. I finish my Dunkin’ Donuts iced coffee and order my first Starbucks iced coffee of the night.

12:35 a.m. “You’re more dramatic than me.”

“Nuh-uh.” “When someone tells you to mop, you cry.” I understand.

12:58 a.m. I cross in front of a chalkboard with a picture of SpongeBob SquarePants, who holds a cup of coffee, claiming that you can now order coffee at night. One step ahead of you, my little porous friend.

1:07 a.m. The music of the Starbucks seems to have lyrics, but I cannot figure them out. I imagine if I worked here, I would have ample time to understand what this establishment sings to me.

1:08 a.m. I imagine if I worked here, I would also understand why whenever I try to make a chai latte at home, it ends up gritty, all the chai syrup sinking to the bottom, leaving me drinking almost-spicy milk in my modernism lecture.

1:15 a.m. After two hours of alternating between classroom readings and hard-hitting journalism, I allow myself to watch an episode of “Parks and Recreation.” More specifically,

September 26, 2019

“The Comeback Kid.” 1:38 a.m. I now sing “get on your feet … get up, and make it happen,” quietly, to myself and the man across from me, who I believe has been asleep for at least the past couple hours, while I attempt to read. I am an excellent multi-tasker.

1:43 a.m. I continue to stare at the same line in “The Casual Vacancy,” unable to continue reading. My brain feels highly flammable.

1:50 a.m. Various Google searches, such as “are brains flammable” and “can you set your brain on fire” bring up only scientific articles about inflammation and what looks to be an indie film from 2012. I now think scientists should light a brain on fire, just to see if it’ll catch flame and burn up.

1:55 a.m. I allow myself to watch another episode of “Parks and Recreation.”

3:09 a.m. I watched three episodes. I can hardly hear my laughter anymore. I think the tiled walls and neutral tones of the Starbucks absorbed my voice.

3:10 a.m. I wonder if anyone can hear you scream in the Starbucks. I dare not try it.

3:14 a.m. My back is stiff against the wooden bench. The man with the Camelbak and the gaming controller doesn’t seem to mind the stiffness.

3:38 a.m. I, for the first time in my 21 years of life, crave a pumpkin spice latte.

3:40 a.m. No, I do not want it.

3:40 a.m. I don’t even like pumpkin.

3:42 a.m. After much reasoning, I realize that I do, however, like spice.

3:47 a.m. I order the pumpkin spice latte.

3:48 a.m. The pumpkin spice latte is just fine.

4:12 a.m. A brownie may not be a real breakfast, but it feels like the most real thing in this store right now.

4:30 a.m. Nothing happens at the Starbucks at night. It’s just my brain thinking of more ways to distract itself from its lonely existence up there in my skull.

4:33 a.m. Is consciousness nothing more than your brain entertaining itself?

4:48 a.m. I reach out for the glass window beside me, fully understanding that it is glass and yet also hoping I have the power to reach through it, to touch the air brushing past the Starbucks, slipping into the night like blackened silk between my fingers.

5:00 a.m. I leave the Starbucks with the intention of buying a bagel and taking a nap, longing for the whirling of my box fan to lull me into a fitful and likely very sweaty sleep.

Allison Dantinne primarily writes satire and humor for The Pitt News. Write to Allison at and163@pitt.edu

14

I N D E X

Rentals & Sublet • NORTH OAKLAND • SOUTH OAKLAND • SHADYSIDE • SQUIRREL HILL • SOUTHSIDE • NORTHSIDE • BLOOMFIELD • ROOMMATES • OTHER

For Rent North Oakland 4BR, 2 bath house.

Newly remodeled, wall‑to‑wall carpet­ ing, equipped kitchen, deck, onsite laundry available. On busline, 15 minute walk to cam­pus. Available imme­diately. $990/ mo +gas/electric. Call 412‑548‑2214.

South Oakland 2‑3‑4‑5‑6‑7 bedroom apartments and houses available in May and August 2020. Nice, clean, free laundry, in­ cludes exterior main‑ tenance, new appli‑ ances, spa­cious, and located on Semple, Oak­land Ave., Mey‑ ran Ave., Welsford, Bates, Dawson, and Mckee 412‑414‑9629. douridaboud­ propertymanage­ ment.com 3408 Parkview Ave. 2 BD for $950 & 3 BD for $1,295.

Available immedi­ ately. Pet Friendly & Parking. CALL NOW! 412‑455‑5600 Before signing a

pittnews.com

Employment • CHILDCARE • FOOD SERVICES • UNIVERSITY • INTERNSHIPS • RESEARCH • VOLUNTEERING • OTHER

lease, be aware that no more than 3 unre­lated people can share a single unit. Check property’s compliance with codes. Call City’s Per­mits, Licensing & In­spections.

412‑255‑2175.

South Oakland Houses and Apart­ ments with Laundry and Central Air Call or Text 412‑38‑Lease Stay ahead of the housing search.

Rooms & 1‑4 bed­ rooms available from January, May, June, July, and August.

Call/Text Ron NOW at 412‑881‑1881 or email jarcon3@ya­ hoo.com. Reserve & Relax. Small deposit required.

Employment Research Studies Alcohol & Smoking Research Lab at The University of Pitts­ burgh is looking for males to participate in a research project.

Must be between 21 and 28 years old and be a social drinker.

Must be willing to drink alcohol. Earn $90 for participating in 2 session study.

For more information call 412‑624‑8975 or email asrl@pitt.edu

Classifieds

For sale

• AUTO • BIKES • BOOKS • MERCHANDISE • FURNITURE • REAL ESTATE • PETS

notices

services

• EDUCATIONAL • TRAVEL • HEALTH • PARKING • INSURANCE

Employment Other Drummer and guitar player needed for a punk rock band. We play original music, no covers. Must have equipment.

Serious inquiries only.

Con­tact Marty at 412‑400‑5067 HIRING IMMEDI­ ATELY! Middle‑East‑ ern restaurant in Shadyside looking for positive, ener­getic and experienced people to join our team! Excel‑ lent cus­tomer service, good character, and strong work ethic.

Call (412) 683‑4757 In‑home tutor wanted for 12th grade stu­dent studying elemen­tary statistics. Must have strong mathe­matics background. Sessions once a week, with additional sessions as needed for test prep.

Com­pensation nego‑ tiable. If interested, please call or text 412‑849‑4209 South Fayette Twp. School District HIGH SCHOOL AS­ SISTANT PRINCI­ PAL Complete job descrip­ tion is available at: www.southfayette.org South Fayette Twp.

• ADOPTION • EVENTS • LOST AND FOUND • STUDENT GROUPS • WANTED • OTHER

School District 3680 Old Oakdale Road McDonald, PA 15057 Deadline: September 27, 2019 or Until Po­ sition is Filled EOE South Fayette Twp. School District High School Substi­ tute Spanish Teacher Complete job descrip­ tion is available at: www.southfayette.org South Fayette Twp. School District 3680 Old Oakdale Road McDonald, PA 15057 Deadline: October 4, 2019 or Until Posi­tion is Filled EOE

R A T E S

Insertions

1-15 Words

16-30 Words

1X

2X

3X

4X

$6.30

$11.90

$17.30

$22.00

$7.50

$14.20

$20.00

$25.00

5X $27.00 $29.10

6X $30.20 $32.30

Add. + $5.00 + $5.40

(Each Additional Word: $0.10)

Deadline:

Two business days prior by 3pm | Email: advertising@pittnews.com | Phone: 412.648.7978

Looking for Christian support? UCO Mis­ sions offers prayer meetings, Bible stud­ies & fellowship for college students.

Learn more about us at ucoweb.org. Come check us out!

Services Educational The Phlebotomy Training Center www. justphlebotomy.org 2 evening classes weekly, 5 weeks + excellent Clinicals.

Call 412‑521‑7334.

Notices Student Groups Notices – Student Groups

September 26, 2019

15

I N D E X

Rentals & Sublet • NORTH OAKLAND • SOUTH OAKLAND • SHADYSIDE • SQUIRREL HILL • SOUTHSIDE • NORTHSIDE • BLOOMFIELD • ROOMMATES • OTHER

For Rent North Oakland 4BR, 2 bath house.

Newly remodeled, wall‑to‑wall carpet­ ing, equipped kitchen, deck, onsite laundry available. On busline, 15 minute walk to cam­pus. Available imme­diately. $990/ mo +gas/electric. Call 412‑548‑2214.

South Oakland 2‑3‑4‑5‑6‑7 bedroom apartments and houses available in May and August 2020. Nice, clean, free laundry, in­ cludes exterior main‑ tenance, new appli‑ ances, spa­cious, and located on Semple, Oak­land Ave., Mey‑ ran Ave., Welsford, Bates, Dawson, and Mckee 412‑414‑9629. douridaboud­ propertymanage­ ment.com 3408 Parkview Ave. 2 BD for $950 & 3 BD for $1,295.

Available immedi­ ately. Pet Friendly & Parking. CALL NOW! 412‑455‑5600 Before signing a

pittnews.com

Employment • CHILDCARE • FOOD SERVICES • UNIVERSITY • INTERNSHIPS • RESEARCH • VOLUNTEERING • OTHER

lease, be aware that no more than 3 unre­lated people can share a single unit. Check property’s compliance with codes. Call City’s Per­mits, Licensing & In­spections.

412‑255‑2175.

South Oakland Houses and Apart­ ments with Laundry and Central Air Call or Text 412‑38‑Lease Stay ahead of the housing search.

Rooms & 1‑4 bed­ rooms available from January, May, June, July, and August.

Call/Text Ron NOW at 412‑881‑1881 or email jarcon3@ya­ hoo.com. Reserve & Relax. Small deposit required.

Employment Research Studies Alcohol & Smoking Research Lab at The University of Pitts­ burgh is looking for males to participate in a research project.

Must be between 21 and 28 years old and be a social drinker.

Must be willing to drink alcohol. Earn $90 for participating in 2 session study.

For more information call 412‑624‑8975 or email asrl@pitt.edu

Classifieds

For sale

• AUTO • BIKES • BOOKS • MERCHANDISE • FURNITURE • REAL ESTATE • PETS

notices

services

• EDUCATIONAL • TRAVEL • HEALTH • PARKING • INSURANCE

Employment Other Drummer and guitar player needed for a punk rock band. We play original music, no covers. Must have equipment.

Serious inquiries only.

Con­tact Marty at 412‑400‑5067 HIRING IMMEDI­ ATELY! Middle‑East‑ ern restaurant in Shadyside looking for positive, ener­getic and experienced people to join our team! Excel‑ lent cus­tomer service, good character, and strong work ethic.

Call (412) 683‑4757 In‑home tutor wanted for 12th grade stu­dent studying elemen­tary statistics. Must have strong mathe­matics background. Sessions once a week, with additional sessions as needed for test prep.

Com­pensation nego‑ tiable. If interested, please call or text 412‑849‑4209 South Fayette Twp. School District HIGH SCHOOL AS­ SISTANT PRINCI­ PAL Complete job descrip­ tion is available at: www.southfayette.org South Fayette Twp.

• ADOPTION • EVENTS • LOST AND FOUND • STUDENT GROUPS • WANTED • OTHER

School District 3680 Old Oakdale Road McDonald, PA 15057 Deadline: September 27, 2019 or Until Po­ sition is Filled EOE South Fayette Twp. School District High School Substi­ tute Spanish Teacher Complete job descrip­ tion is available at: www.southfayette.org South Fayette Twp. School District 3680 Old Oakdale Road McDonald, PA 15057 Deadline: October 4, 2019 or Until Posi­tion is Filled EOE

R A T E S

Insertions

1-15 Words

16-30 Words

1X

2X

3X

4X

$6.30

$11.90

$17.30

$22.00

$7.50

$14.20

$20.00

$25.00

5X $27.00 $29.10

6X $30.20 $32.30

Add. + $5.00 + $5.40

(Each Additional Word: $0.10)

Deadline:

Two business days prior by 3pm | Email: advertising@pittnews.com | Phone: 412.648.7978

Looking for Christian support? UCO Mis­ sions offers prayer meetings, Bible stud­ies & fellowship for college students.

Learn more about us at ucoweb.org. Come check us out!

Services Educational The Phlebotomy Training Center www. justphlebotomy.org 2 evening classes weekly, 5 weeks + excellent Clinicals.

Call 412‑521‑7334.

Notices Student Groups Notices – Student Groups

September 26, 2019

15

pittnews.com

September 26, 2019

16