I take it black

The woman who owns the newly opened Internet cafe down the street from me is continually surprised that I want my coffee black. It’s true that I don’t go in there that often, but it’s also not an odd way to drink it. There’s usually an inch and a half of unfilled space at the top of my cup, presumably for cream. When I start to put the lid on she breaks in — “You don’t want any cream?” — “No sugar?”. Then she tells me that I’m very brave.

Across from the counter there was a portable TV set up that I watched as my coffee was being prepared. It was some sort of exposé about Moby being attacked outside of a nightclub. They played the same clip over and over again, focusing in on certain people with play-by-play technology. I hadn’t heard of this before, so I looked it up when I got home. For those that don’t know, it seems that in December Moby was attacked outside of a Boston nightclub by 3 guys for still unknown reasons. I enjoy Moby’s speculation as to why:

“Maybe they don’t like skinny bald guys who play cover songs. I’m sure that’s it. It’s my fault. I should’ve posted a warning on the entrance to the club: ‘Warning: Tonight’s show will at times be comprised of cover songs poorly played by Moby, a skinny bald musician.’”

View Comments (11)

# January 30, 2003 06:55 PM

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yeah- some say it was Eminem fans, and I would tend to remove myself from any of that drama- but then I’m shocked to hear otherwise sensible people talk as if Moby had it coming for criticizing Eminem’s gay-hating, women-hating raps. It makes me want to become very highschool and suggest that Moby is way cooler than Eminem and that Eminem totally sucks. Anyway, my friend Chad who was working near by when the event happen says that Moby was being abnoxious to the bar staff at the club and someone was offended enough to attack. Whatever!!!!!!!!!!!! =)

Posted by: bil on January 31, 2003 10:41 AM

you mentioned it’s an interent cafe … what’s it like? is it worth going to? or outrageous prices like the new one here in kzoo?

Posted by: miguel on February 1, 2003 12:08 PM

I truthfully don’t remember the exact prices, but it think they’re reasonable. Something like $3.00 an hour. They have a couple of iMacs set up, but I’m not really interested since I live about a block away and have high speed internet access and giant monitors at home. What is interesting is a new company, FaceFive that is offering wireless Internet access at various cafes around Wicker Park. You get an account with them and you can use your minutes at any of the locations. Nice idea.

Posted by: simon on February 1, 2003 1:32 PM

Your coffee experience there reminds me of when I would try to order a veggie sub at the deli in Gobles. For a long time they thought I was kidding when I told them I didn’t want any meat on my sandwhich. It’s no joke.

Posted by: meredith on February 1, 2003 2:41 PM

i don’t understand why more places don’t just have free wireless. it’s not expensive, but it’d bring in clientelle. at least i think so. i love free wireless.

Posted by: miguel on February 1, 2003 7:18 PM

they say, “once you go black, you never go back…”

Posted by: eric on February 1, 2003 7:44 PM

Because they can charge for it, and people will pay for it. I think it’d be cool if it was free with purchase.

Posted by: simon on February 1, 2003 8:02 PM

at least they’re not charging an insane $8/hr like at imagineinet.

Posted by: Miguel on February 2, 2003 12:21 AM

I love the idea of telling someone that they are brave for consuming the product that youare selling. Not good business practice there. And I thought Moby knew Kung-Fu. Didn’t he like invent Wing Chun style? Or maybe that was Bruce Lee, either way…wierd.

Posted by: josh on February 2, 2003 6:01 AM

Other businesses that might have similar advice usually make you sign a waiver form ahead of time — like bungee jumping. I wish I had to sign a waiver to drink my coffee black.

Posted by: simon on February 2, 2003 11:13 AM

There’s a new internet cafe going up in Andersonville, about 5300 N. Clark street, just north of Foster. It hasn’t opened yet, but it’s going to be called Screenz (obnoxious name). Once it does I’ll report on the prices. Also, there’s a new building going up- condos, i think- and it’s a really neat looking building (at least in it’s construction phase). It’s just south of Foster on Clark.

Posted by: Vanessa on February 2, 2003 9:56 PM

As Far As I Can Tell

I take it black

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