{"id":2665,"date":"2016-01-10T23:21:05","date_gmt":"2016-01-10T14:21:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/2016-01-10\/2665"},"modified":"2016-01-10T23:21:05","modified_gmt":"2016-01-10T14:21:05","slug":"great-excitement-in-small-pleasures-a-starbucks-opens-nearby","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/2016-01-10\/2665","title":{"rendered":"Great Excitement in Small Pleasures: A Starbucks Opens Nearby"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/1.7, ISO 1600 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nROHM Theater Kyoto<\/span>\n\u30ed\u30fc\u30e0\u30b7\u30a2\u30bf\u30fc\u4eac\u90fd\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

The old Kyoto Theater Hall near my house reopened today after some years of renovation,\nemerging as “<\/span>ROHM Theater Kyoto”<\/span>\n\n (\u30ed\u30fc\u30e0\u30b7\u30a2\u30bf\u30fc\u4eac\u90fd<\/a>).<\/span>\n\nROHM is a semiconductor<\/span> company based here in Kyoto, last mentioned on my blog more than 10 years ago,\nbefore I got<\/span> into photography or even blogging that much, on this post<\/a>\nabout their annual Christmas lights at their company headquarters. They must have paid a boatload<\/span> of money to someone\nto get branding rights for this renovated concert\/theater complex.<\/p>\n\n

I have a vague recollection of seeing some kind of performance at the original theater 25 years ago,\nwhen trekking this deep into Kyoto was a rare<\/span> thing for me.\n(I lived<\/span> in Takatsuki City at the time).<\/p>\n\n

More recently, the old hall was the site of the Presidential visit seen 10 years ago in\n“<\/span>Presidential Visit means REALLY BIG hubbub<\/a>”<\/span>,\nand since we live nearby, it's been in the background of numerous shots, such as this<\/a>\nand this<\/a>\nand this<\/a>\nand this<\/a>\nand this<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

Anyway, we don't really care about the theater itself, but the BIG BIG BIG excitement of the reopening is that it now\nincludes a combined<\/span> TSUTAYA Bookstore \uff0b Starbucks Coffee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/7.1, ISO 2500 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

The theater had grand-opening events all day, but we were interested only in the 4:30pm grand opening of the Starbucks.\nWe didn't know whether thousands might be waiting in line<\/a> or no one, but we wanted to check things out so we headed over there a bit<\/span> before.<\/p>\n\n

It was bustling but not crazy. We showed up to find that they had taken pity on all those waiting in line and opened early, so\nthe line was moving along briskly by the time we entered, and the wait was 20 minutes.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>40 sec, f<\/span>\/7.1, ISO 1600 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nKyoto Starbucks Coffee Cup<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>80 sec, f<\/span>\/4.5, ISO 3200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n10 Staff<\/span>\nwhere presumably two or three would normally be\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>30 sec, f<\/span>\/5.6, ISO 3200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nOur Order<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 40mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>50 sec, f<\/span>\/5.6, ISO 1600 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nWe Sat<\/span>\naway from the hubbub and it was quiet and nice\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>20 sec, f<\/span>\/5.6, ISO 3200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nSecond Floor Restaurant & Bar<\/span>\nnot part of Starbucks, but somehow integrated\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 38mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>30 sec, f<\/span>\/5, ISO 1600 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nRestaurant's Menu<\/span>\non the pricey side\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/2, ISO 1250 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nThird Floor<\/span>\nsome kind of lounge \/ book area\nI guess you can bring your Starbucks order here to chill\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

We like Starbucks coffee and even if it were a normal<\/span> Starbucks we'd be pleased that it's close\n(but not within sight \ud83d\ude09 ). The real attraction<\/span> for us, though, is the combination with the bookstore\nand the lounge-like areas; we envision that we can retreat there for some quiet “<\/span>quality time”<\/span>\nwith a book<\/span> (or, in my case, with the free Wifi).<\/p>\n\n\n

\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>40 sec, f<\/span>\/2, ISO 1600 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nRediscovering the Second-Floor Restaurant<\/span>\nwe didn't realize it was connected from the lounge\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>100 sec, f<\/span>\/2, ISO 3200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/2, ISO 640 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nFloor<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

On the way out of the restaurant \/ cafe \/ book building, I noticed<\/span> that the floor was\nsome very nice lightly-sculpted woodwork. I wonder<\/span> how long the protruding ridges will last.<\/p>\n\n

We took a look at the theater building as well. The main theater<\/span> was completely rebuilt, but the\nsub-theater and the rest of the building were merely remodeled. Sadly, we weren't allowed to see the\nnew main theater.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>60 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 1600 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nAs Far as We Got<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

The gates barring the way, rather than some kind of impersonal security gate, were made\nof nicely-stained wood with a nice<\/span>\nmodern Japanese aesthetic....<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/1.7, ISO 640 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

The whole area is getting a makeover. This past autumn the final leg of Jingu Street (“<\/span>Shrine Street”<\/span>),\nwhich dead-ended into the Heian Shrine, was closed off and turned into a pedestrian<\/span> mall.<\/p>\n\n\n

\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>20 sec, f<\/span>\/1.7, ISO 3200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nIn Front of the Heian Shrine<\/span>\n\u5e73\u5b89\u795e\u5bae\u306e\u524d\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Compare with this photo from about the same place eight years ago,\nas seen on “<\/span>Snowy Round Trip to the Heian Shrine<\/a>”<\/span>...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f\/2.8 @ 55 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>500 sec, f\/4.5, ISO 400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span><\/span>\nEight Years Ago<\/span>\n\u516b\u5e74\u524d\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 70mm — 0.5 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 3200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

The small playground that Anthony used to play in was also remodeled, with the location of things shuffled around...<\/p>\n\n

\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>25 sec, f<\/span>\/1.7, ISO 3200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nSwinging with Mommy<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

The apparatus*<\/sup> are the same, but if you use the “<\/span>nearby photos”<\/span> link to compare to the many prior\nphotos from the area, it becomes apparent that the locations are all different.<\/p>\n\n\n
*<\/b><\/td>Note to my mom: I realize<\/span> that the plural of “<\/span>apparatus”<\/span> is “<\/span>apparatuses”<\/span>, but I invoke<\/span> artistic license to use “<\/span>apparatus”<\/span> as singular and plural, 'cause it sounds better to me.<\/span><\/td><\/tr><\/table>\n\n

The reshuffling was apparently done to make space for a tourist<\/span>-information center (for Japanese tourists; I saw<\/span> no information\nin any other language) housed in an old streetcar, which you can see in the background of the photo above.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/1.7, ISO 1250 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

The very first electrical-power generation plant in all Japan was nearby, and as such the nearby\nNiomon Street was the first in Japan to have streetlights and streetcars, so the old streetcar here\nis apropos.<\/p>\n\n

\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>60 sec, f<\/span>\/1.7, ISO 640 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nOld Photos of the Area<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>40 sec, f<\/span>\/1.7, ISO 1600 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nReady to Drive Home<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

All in all it was a nice family outing. <\/p>\n\n

\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>25 sec, f<\/span>\/1.7, ISO 3200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The old Kyoto Theater Hall near my house reopened today after some years of renovation, emerging as \"ROHM Theater Kyoto\" (\u30ed\u30fc\u30e0\u30b7\u30a2\u30bf\u30fc\u4eac\u90fd). ROHM is a semiconductor company based here in Kyoto, last mentioned on my blog more than 10 years ago, before I got into photography or even blogging that much, on this post about their annual Christmas lights at their company headquarters. They must have paid a boatload of money to someone to get branding rights for this renovated concert\/theater complex.<\/p>

I have a vague recollection of seeing some kind of performance at the original theater 25 years ago, when [...]","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,2,10],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2665"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2665"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2665\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2665"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2665"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2665"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}