ktoddstorch @ business thoughts

Fuse: Ubercool Restaurant in Dallas

I had a great lunch with my brother Terry this week.  He chose to go to Fuse, a new restaurant in downtown Dallas.  I knew he liked the food, because he raved about it in his restaurant review.

Bottom line, the food is great and it's definitely a trendy/hip place to eat.

Some photos for you with captions below:

• Terry is a happy man
• Good shot from our table looking down the restaurant
• Lots of decorations and lighting effects throughout
• Terry looking busy for effect
• The bathroom sink.  Polished stones topped with ice.
• The unisex "lobby" in the bathroom.  Still not used to these...
• Fuse sign outside the entrance

Ok, the bathroom is a total trip because you enter through a "M/W" glass door.  Then you are in the "lobby" which has a plush couch and smoked glass doors for the stalls.  Down a ways, hidden around the corner are the urinals.  Very "New York", but I'm still not used to these set ups...

Michael Tchong would be pleased.

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tags:  dallas restaurants | restaurant reviews | terry storch

Starbucks stole my kids' books!

I love Starbucks.  Love the personalization (Venti Soy Chai, Extra Hot, No Foam).  Love that you can hang out.  Love that the employees always seem to be one step ahead of my order.  They get it.

However, there's a price to this luxury.  I figure that my habit is going to/has cost me over $1,000 a year.

$1,000 a year.  Wow.  I can get some pretty cool stuff with that grand.  In fact, if I just invested the $85 a month that I probably spend (not counting my wife's occasional Grande Carmel Macchiato or the occasional kid's hot chocolate) in my kids college fund, I'd have an additional $12,500 by the time my oldest went off to college.

What's my opportunity cost of not "enjoying" this treat?  This got me thinking...

What are all of the small $2 - $10 weekly purchases that add up?  I used to be a micromanaging Money software "machine".  I would track every single purchase, including my cash "wallet" purchases.

I think its time to get back to the basics and make sure my kids will have enough for books in college.

I'll do that, right after I finish my Venti Soy Chai, Extra Hot, No Foam. 

Is there an outpatient clinic to break this addiction?

Starbucks expands to XM Radio

Another great lifestyle move by Starbucks. This company "gets it". Look for CD burning kiosks in stores as well.

All companies should learn from their consumer lifestyle marketing.

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