Go back and ask him where you can find the nearest comic book store. Or if you already go to one, tell him you're looking for a new store. Say you remembered that he likes Marvel comics and figured he knew where the best stores are. That seems like a natural continuation of your previous conversation.
If you have time, ask him what comics he's reading now. Ask his opinion of X-Men Origins: Wolverine or the new fantastic, oh-my-God-is-it-May-yet Iron Man 2 trailer. (Every nerd has an opinion on these topics.) Work the comic book angle, and then try to steer the conversation towards other topics. You both have an interest in comics, so it's safe to say there is probably some other common ground (movies, video games, TV shows) to chat about.
The customer/barista relationship is an interesting one. The casual coffee shop atmosphere lends itself to camaraderie, and we often feel a certain fondness for our purveyor of caffeine. And also, there's the tip aspect, which makes you wonder how much of their friendly banter is genuine. Though I know from my days working retail that friendly, interesting customers are always a welcome respite from the daily drudgery.
I go to a lot of coffee shops, and have made friends with plenty of baristas over the years. It can be difficult to break past that customer/barista relationship and take the friendship outside of the store. And it might not happen-- he might be wary of dating or hanging out with customers for job security reasons. That said, I would suggest stopping by the shop during slow times, or towards closing, to see if you can strike up another conversation. Be friendly, but try not to take up too much of his time. (You don't want to get him in trouble with his boss.) Let him talk to you. Hopefully he'll remember you and be happy to see you the next time you come in.
This advice could of course be applied to any customer/clerk situation. (Quite a few of you have asked for advice on how to ask out the cute guy at the Apple store, which is apparently where all the chic geeks work these days.)
What do you guys think? Any advice for getting to know the cute guy/gal barista, bookstore clerk, etc.?
If you have time, ask him what comics he's reading now. Ask his opinion of X-Men Origins: Wolverine or the new fantastic, oh-my-God-is-it-May-yet Iron Man 2 trailer. (Every nerd has an opinion on these topics.) Work the comic book angle, and then try to steer the conversation towards other topics. You both have an interest in comics, so it's safe to say there is probably some other common ground (movies, video games, TV shows) to chat about.
The customer/barista relationship is an interesting one. The casual coffee shop atmosphere lends itself to camaraderie, and we often feel a certain fondness for our purveyor of caffeine. And also, there's the tip aspect, which makes you wonder how much of their friendly banter is genuine. Though I know from my days working retail that friendly, interesting customers are always a welcome respite from the daily drudgery.
I go to a lot of coffee shops, and have made friends with plenty of baristas over the years. It can be difficult to break past that customer/barista relationship and take the friendship outside of the store. And it might not happen-- he might be wary of dating or hanging out with customers for job security reasons. That said, I would suggest stopping by the shop during slow times, or towards closing, to see if you can strike up another conversation. Be friendly, but try not to take up too much of his time. (You don't want to get him in trouble with his boss.) Let him talk to you. Hopefully he'll remember you and be happy to see you the next time you come in.
This advice could of course be applied to any customer/clerk situation. (Quite a few of you have asked for advice on how to ask out the cute guy at the Apple store, which is apparently where all the chic geeks work these days.)
What do you guys think? Any advice for getting to know the cute guy/gal barista, bookstore clerk, etc.?
There are drive through coffee shops? Really? I find that funny, and I live in a country with a whole "quiky coffee at the counter" culture. I love how anything can be drive through these days.
I spend a week of vaccation in LA last september, and I kept wondering if some of the waiters were flirting or just being friendly because of the tips. In France, waiters are polite and you can joke with them, but they won't ask you about your trip and the stuff you are planning on doing or anything simillar.
I guess in the end, except for the one that asked me if the guy I was having lunch with was my boyfriend as an opener, they were just being friendly with a tourist.
Unless the accent is still working wonders, haha!
I have noticed that about Apple stores! It seems that Apple has a very strict policy about the minimum level of hotness their clerks must reach before being allowed to work with customers.
And as for the question at hand, getting to spend more time with him is great advice! At worst, you ask him out, he says no, you are very embarassed about it, so you just find another coffee shop and move on :)
As a barista for 2+ years I have certainly encountered this! A cute guy would come in and I'd have a good chat or flirt a little, I find out we have similar interests and then I can't wait till he come in again! I usually perk up when they walk in the door the next time.
If your barista seems really happy to see you the next time, I thinks it a save bet they at least think you are interesting/attractive. If you talk more and they keep the conversation going as they are having to get back to work, you are in!
Keep going back! If the drive through has a store front you can sit in. Go in! Take a book or a lap top. There are many reasons for a barista to go into the seating area and if they want to talk they will go bus table or check trash cans.
Then to break the store/reality barrier, invite him to something! A movie night you and your friends are having, video games, music show or what not.Or like Nick suggested ask about his interests around town.
hahaha um i'm working on the SAME thing right now and had the same question!! this gorgeous barista always seems to smile at me and i swear i catch him staring at me when i'm sitting inside (althought that sounds funny when i say it outloud)
so i wanna get a friendly vibe going... i was thinking of asking him if he went to the university i graduated from..and acting like he looked familiar to strike up a convo.. any other advice barista?
haha i'm excited to see where it goes :)
sing him Taylor The Latte Boy