Point of View

Scene Setter Assignment

C Anthony
Assignment 11



Ray Oldenburg's, Ph.D. of sociology, third place theory is that everyone has some other location besides work or home to gather. The Starbucks at 16th Street and Camelback Rd in Phoenix is the après-event gathering spot for the upwardly mobile yet maintains a neighborhood atmosphere for young and old to enjoy. Nestled off a heavily traveled road this location provides a sense of style all its own and you soon forget you are in a chain-store.
The front patio accommodates the coffee-junkies as they enjoy friendly conversations with friends, have business meetings or simply watch the world pass them by. Once inside, the sights and sounds of the coffee-going experience come alive as you pass through the double glass doors. Just remember to make note of the little sign alerting you to "pull" and avoid the embarrassing thud of your head hitting the door as you enter, a common occurrence here.
For the new-comer, ordering a coffee can be somewhat intimidating and learning the coffee-lingo can take practice. Jessica, one of the barista's responsible for delivering the coffee beverages, is a transplant from New Jersey and is a colorful addition to the coffee shop team. Known simply as "Jersey" by her co-workers, she greets each customer with a friendly smile and just the right amount of New Jersey-like banter. John, her co-worker and die-hard Green Bay Packers fan peeks from over the espresso machine long enough to go into his routine from the movie You've Got Mail.  "The whole purpose of place's like Starbucks is for people with no decision making ability whatsoever to make six decisions just to buy one cup of coffee. Short, tall, light, dark, café, decafé, low-fat, non-fat, etc. So, people who don't know what the hell they're doing or who on earth they are can, for only $3.95, get not just a cup of coffee but an absolutely defining sense of self. TALL, DECAFE, CAPPUCCINO!"
Finding a place to sit can be a challenge in this coffee-oasis from time-to-time especially if there are large groups gathering as was the case this night. Kenton Twidt, a deaf student from San Diego, is here visiting his family and enjoying the pleasant Phoenix evening on the front patio with his brother Kelly, who is also deaf. "We are here for deaf-coffee night, a social gathering of friends and sign language students from Phoenix Community College, Glendale Community College and ASU," Kenton signed.

The group takes over the outside patio sitting in small groups signing and laughing with each other in their animated language. Fast moving fingers form the letters of the alphabet and gestures are used to form words. The students are here to sharpen their sign language skills and learn from their hearing impaired counter-parts. Melissa Lemaster, a hearing sign language student at Phoenix College will receive her certificate of interpretership next year and would like to transfer to ASU west for a bachelor's in an undecided study. "When I was young our church had a sign language interpreter that fascinated me and I knew that is what I wanted to do," Lemaster said verbally.

Soon the others in the group became curious and joined our conversation, pulling up chairs or just standing around signing to each other. Their bright smiles adding to the silent exchange of words of excitement as they graciously accepted this "outsider."  Shay Veno, also a Phoenix College student, will receive his certificate in deaf studies next month. Veno is an accomplished musician and performs locally sharing his Irish heritage through music on his guitar. "My grandfather shortened our last name when he came to America so that he would be more accepted while doing business at his small auto repair shop, which was located in an all Italian neighborhood," Veno shared.

The night passed quickly and soon deaf coffee night was coming to an end. They hugged and signed their goodbye's sharing in last minute details of school and spontaneous laugher, probably completely unaware that they added to the unique style which continually blossoms at this "third place."