Tidbits for travelers: “Receipt treats” at airport Starbucks; Taste of Chicago mini-fest
I’m not a big fan of spending a lot of money while traveling and certainly not a big fan of overpaying for things just because I’m away from home. So it’s always bugged me that any deals offered by “real-world” Starbucks never seem to be available in airports, where prices for even a cup of drip coffee can be quite a bit higher than out on the street.
So I’m pleased to see that from now through September 29th, 2009 airport Starbucks branches (which are operated by HMS Host) will be offering what they say is an airport-only deal:
If you buy a Starbucks drink at one airport in the morning – keep your receipt. When you arrive at another airport, you can use that receipt after 2 PM to buy any iced Grande drink for $2.
The offer is geared at promoting the Vivanno smoothies Starbucks is rolling out mid-July that will surely cost way more than $2, but you can use that receipt to knock down the price of other iced Grande drinks as well.
(I saved quite a few bucks when they were offering a similar deal last summer at neighborhood Starbucks by channeling the Five Easy Pieces Jack Nicholson and asking for an iced coffee, “but just hold the ice. And use hot coffee. Please.”
Now, what would go well with an afternoon coffee at an airport? The Chicago Airports have an idea:
The Taste of Chicago is in full swing now at Grant Park and runs through July 5th. If you don’t have the time or the inclination to join the crowds there, you can still get a taste of both the food and the music at Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway airports.
From now through Sunday, July 5, restaurants at both airports are offering specially-priced “Taste” portions. Both airports will also have live music in the terminals on July 2 and 5 from 2pm until 5 pm.
Performances at O’Hare will take place beyond the security checkpoints in each domestic terminal and in the Arrivals Level of International Terminal 5. Live music at Midway will take place in the Baggage Claim area.
I was also in search of a souvenir to feature for Souvenir Sunday (Rules: under $10, no generic shot glasses.) So I stopped to chat with Hector Diaz, who was patiently waiting for customers.
His family runs the airport’s five shoe shine stands and this full-service Shoe Hospital, which has been open for just nine months. He says with the downturn in the economy and the shop’s inability to advertise in the airport, business has been slow. His best customers: pilots and flight attendants who have discovered how convenient it is to have a shoe repair shop at the airport that not only repairs shoes, but can also fix broken zippers and bags.
(JUPITER - 
The exhibit, which is put together by NASA, also makes use of Microsoft’s new mobile phone technology, 
