Overheard at Uncommon Grounds

Bagels-thumb-240x240.jpgA UAlbany student ordering a bagel sandwich at Uncommon Grounds.

Student: "Do you have chicken? You know, like chicken breast?"

UG Employee: "No. We have turkey."

Student: "Do you have pepper turkey?"

UG Employee: " Well, we have pepper. And we have turkey."

Comments

Is it true what they say-- that you shouldn't eat the bagels at the Albany UG? I've heard bad things, but nothing verified. I love those bagels so I like to think it's not true. In any case, I chug the coffee every morning!

I LOVE their bagels - especially seseme...toasted with a schmear.

Ok... I'll be that guy...

These are UPSTATE bagels. That means round bread.

The bagels DOWNstate are....(insert string of positive adjectives)

I love the Bagels at Uncommon Grounds in Albany, it's just the employees that make me crazy.

1. They have the dirtiest work stations in the world! Sorry, wiping the cutting board with a dry dirty rag doesn't help.

2. They NEVER-EVER clean their knives between orders. I have had a peanut butter bagel with leftover mayo on it and a olive pimento bagel with some chicken salad thrown in for good measure.

3. Their employees have consistent colds, allergies, or whatever, because they are constantly wiping their noses with their upturned wrists. CONSTANTLY

4. I am in no way a homphobe but those boys behind the counter need to turn down their flame.

5. When packaging a bakers dozen--do not throw in onion, garlic, and everything bagels into the bags. That way little Jimmy's cinnamon raisin bagel isn't covered with minced garlic. USE A SEPERATE BAG!

6. Hungover? fine-but throw in a shower for good measure. These days, you can still be "hip" and be clean!

Turn down their "flame"?

I like how homophobic statements usually start with I'm not a homophobe. hahahaha.

If you have to say "I'm not a bigot but..." no, you actually are.

Turning down their flame is hardly a homophobic statement-in fact a friend (gay) taught me that one! There are gay men (that I am friends with) that are in a discreet multi-year relationships-they don't feel the need to swish, shriek or talk with a lisp. They are successful and articulate men--who as a side note are also gay.

You know the EXACT types I'm talking about YOU'RE GAY-WE GET IT!! Now turn down your flame and get me my bagel Biotch!

P.S. I thought this was about bagels?

Lola/B,

Talking about dirty work stations and employees wiping their noses is bigotry? Asking the gay employees to tone it down while granny gets her morning coffee is homophobic?

Did your mother drop you as a baby or did you respond to the wrong blog?

Like I said--Uncommon Grounds employees are hip, cool, Bohemian,openly gay-we get it--loud and clear! Would you take issue with 10 hungover frat boys behind the counter, talking about last night's hook up, holding their junk, and making cat calls at the customers?. Wouldn't that make you a fraternityphobe? Now thats pretty deep Bro!

Hmmm, I have the feeling 4. and 5. are somehow connected. Aww, poor little Jimmy, so much flamboyance to deal with, so little time.

I love Uncommon Grounds. They have good bagel and good coffee but mostly I go for the atmosphere...which includes the employees. Those that have a problem with it should go to Bruggers or Dunkin Donuts. People are who they are and asking them to be anything else or turn down any type of personality trait they have is just stupid...whether it be flamboyance or something else. As long as they take care of the customer and do it in a friendly way I see no problem. Deal with it or go elsewhere.

Oh wait, you have gay friends? Then there's no way you can be a homophobe.

So, all you're saying is that these homos should just act less homo to suit your own delicate sensibilities. And that's not homophobic. Got it.

Second point to all homophobic rants - Oh I have gay friends so it's okay cause they said it was okay.

You're just helping make it easier for people to find it "acceptable" to be randomly homophobic. Props to you.

@B: nuh nuh nuh, what Pico D. Gayo is saying is that discreet, articulate, successful (and apparently homophobic-friendly) gay people should *not* be confused with openly, flaming (and apparently tuberculosis-friendly) gay kids. Who knew it was a simple as 5.: "USE A SEPERATE BAG!"

(Pico: props for digging a deeper hole, I didn't think it was do-able).

-S, would you please stop openly flaunting your Frenchniess so much? The accent, the beret, the pencil moustache, the Salvador Dali artwork everywhere, YOU'RE FRENCH - WE GET IT! I have plenty of quietly French friends who are investment bankers and doctors, you know, RESPECTABLE professions, which is why it's okay for me to call you a speedo-wearing briemonkey.

OK, I think it's a bit unfair here: the guy is clearly germophobic too, and I don't see anybody caring. So for what it's worth: germs are your friends too. Give the gift of germs. Thank you.

Be as flaming and gay as you wanna be. Who the hell cares? No no, the only problem I have with gay men is the fact that Madonna has been able to keep her insufferable music career going for so long, thanks in large part to her loyal fan base of gay dudes. Every time she releases a new song, a little part of me dies inside. I wish, for once, somebody would consider my right to happiness.

S - You assume that Pico is a guy - that is so very sexist.

The board is getting ridiculous. First the French start taking over, then the homophobic kids who really think they're not being homophobic, then of course Pantaloons. I've had about enough of this utter ridiculousness. I'm moving back to Kristi's blog for more edited commentary.

I think we're way too quick these days to label each other homophobic/racist/sexist. I know everyone just wants to do & say the politically correct thing, but when we are so quick to label each other "bigot", all it does is breed resentment, and nothing is actually accomplished. Just throwing that out there.

Lola, yes, you should take everything I say totally seriously. Because my name is Pantaloons and that obviously commands respect.

We appreciate that everyone is so passionate about, you know, bagels, but things have kind of gone off the tracks here. So we're going to close comments on this post.

Issues, complaints, exasperations? Email us: editors |at| alloveralbany |dot| com.

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