Today I was strolling around the business district at the end of Bole Rd (by the Bole-Mini burger joint), trying to decide what I wanted for lunch, if anything. While dodging the lake-sized mud puddles I saw an empty table at Red Bean coffee shop and sat down and ordered a latte. While I was there I noticed someone with chocolate cake that looked good, so I had some. Then I saw someone at another table who had some nice crispy fries, so I had some of those, too. Isn't it nice being an adult? Nobody can tell you that you can't have junk food for lunch.
While I was there I noticed an example of a funny practice that I see everywhere around the city: people sitting in their cars, and the wait staff bringing them coffee on a tray. In front of every cafe, especially Kaldi's, Antica, Paradise, and the like, there will be empty tables yet people in the parking lot, four or more to a car, getting car-side service. This immediately took me back to going to A&W as a kid and getting car-side service. I had a high school girlfriend who worked there. Their official job title was "curb hostess."
What I can't figure is why people would prefer to sit in their cars than at a nice table on a sunny verandah. They're in plain site, so it's not like they're making out in there (the drive-in movie motivation). People must really like their cars.
paranoid about theft? In Kenya we'd always sit at a table with a good view of the car.
Posted by: Robert | August 30, 2007 at 11:27 AM
It's been like that since the 60's and 70's when I was growing up. I guess back then people might have been trying to be discreet (specially teenage girls didn't want to be seen by parents or relatives etc..). Now? who knows? Definitely not about safety of the car. Young kids trying to empress their friends with daddy's new BMW? Maybe.
Posted by: mike | August 30, 2007 at 01:24 PM
I agree with Mike. That way they can hide their boyfriends or girlfriends. :)
Posted by: anonymous | August 30, 2007 at 11:15 PM
I agree with Mike. That way they can hide their boyfriends or girlfriends. :)
Posted by: anonymous | August 30, 2007 at 11:15 PM
I talked to a couple of friends last night about this and they agreed: whether with pals or GF/BF, it's hard to get any privacy when you live with your parents. The car makes a private environment where one can talk about private or controversial issues. Now I get it.
Posted by: Marc | August 31, 2007 at 01:10 AM
But I have seen middle-aged men in cars in front of cafes. Are they on the d/l?
They really need a sonic in this town...
Posted by: alex | September 03, 2007 at 02:03 PM
Maybe the middle-aged guys hang out in their cars alone for the same reason my Uncles always went fishing in the US: to get away from their wives and kids for an hour or two?
Posted by: Marc | September 04, 2007 at 01:11 AM