Forbidden Store
I read this morning in the Seattle Times that the Starbucks store inside the Forbidden City closed on Friday. How funny, considering I was there on Saturday last week and found lots of sweaty tourists outside the store, which didn't have any signs.
The store came under controversy after a TV news host started bitching about it on his blog, saying that it was imperialistic and embarrassing to have a Starbucks in the Imperial Palace (aka the Forbidden City). He seems to forget that it's much more embarrassing that the place is loaded with "art students" who want to sell you art and rip you off. I'd say that's more embarrassing, but the nationalistic bloggers that are legion in China often conveniently forget such things...
The store did have some really cool receipts, one of which is lingering on my desk.
For the record, the store was packed, tiny and busier than any other Starbucks I've ever seen.