Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Etiquette: Is It OK To Bring A Gigantic Computer Setup To Starbucks?
Serious business at this Los Feliz Starbucks (Photo courtesy of Terence Deutsch)
()
There are some general unspoken rules of etiquette when you plan on hunkering down at Starbucks, like buying a drink if you're planning on working there or not blasting music on your speakers. But, how about making Starbucks your own personal office?
A couple of weeks ago, I spotted a man in a hoodie just before 9 a.m. at the Starbucks on Hollywood and Western. I had to do a double-take because he took up a whole table with his entire computer setup, with a huge monitor, keyboards and equipment sitting in USPS boxes. There was bubble-wrap everywhere. There appeared to be another monitor wrapped in a protective sheet, sitting on another chair he commandeered as part of his new home office. My thought was that he just really needed to hack, like a character out of the so-bad-it's-good 1995 movie Hackers.
While I've seen some people take up an entire table to themselves, this was overdoing it to say the least. I had so many questions. Did he get kicked out of his apartment? Was this part of a Nathan Fielder prank?
However, yesterday user dmizz posted on Reddit a photo a friend took of the same guy at a Starbucks in Los Feliz on Monday. Terence Deutsch, who took the photo and describes himself as "just a sound designer that was in the right place at the right time," told LAist he saw the man on Monday at the coffee shop on Vermont and Prospect avenues. He quickly snapped a photo of the man with his setup from a window outside and quickly scampered away after the man noticed. A closer look at the photo shows that the mystery man was working on audio/music software.
Support for LAist comes from
Setting up your office at Starbucks might be a growing trend. "I was at the same location a few days earlier for the same reason and at that time noticed about 2-4 people with fairly elaborate mobile viewing setups (Blu-ray players packed in luggage bags, monitors hard-wired to suitcases, etc.)," Deutsch says. "I don't know what it is about that location."
About the man with his whole computer setup, user innajunglestyle wrote on Reddit, "It's kind of dickish but I also sort of admire his chutzpah." SAME.
EZ_does_it expressed what was on all of our minds though: "I'd be sooo paranoid to go to the bathroom and leave that un attended [sic]."
()
Same guy with a whole setup at the Starbucks in Hollywood (Photo by Jean Trinh/LAist)
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs. -
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
Best of LAist