Project 2 Rough Draft

Chipotle 

Chipotle is a Mexican food restaurant based originally from Denver, Colorado. Chipotle offers healthy Mexican food choices at reasonably low prices. Customers are served in a buffet style and are able to create their own kid of burrito, taco, or taco salad which is assembled for the customer by the staff in a sort of Subway fashion. Customers are greeted with a full experience from a very helpful and personable staff and the relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. 

Popularity/ Appeal

• Tends to be an extremely popular food choice and gathering place especially for college students
• Family oriented restaurant 
• Customers generally between the age 15-28

Calories/ Healthy Options

• Average 1015 calories for a meal serving
• Menu option can accommodate vegan and vegetarian diets
• Specifically made to help accommodate any healthy lifestyle
• All food products are organic
• Burritos
• Salads
• Tacos

Cost

• Meals generally cost between $5-$12
• Good option for college students on a low budget trying to keep that luck girl/ guy happy 

Atmosphere

• Buffet style eatery
• Workers tend to be very personable and accommodating
• Mexican style restaurant 
• Very "hip"and laid back feel perfect for any date

Zoyo

Zoyo Neighborhood Yogurt is a frozen yogurt self-service restaurant. Customers walk in and are greeted by the friendly staff and are able to choose from a variety of flavors of frozen yogurt such as Apple Pie, Blueberry Blast, Chocolate, Hawaiian Pineapple, Vanilla etc. Then, customers can choose from a variety of delicious toppings to toss onto their yogurt. Zoyo is specifically intended to be a community oriented establishment and provide a safe and comfortable hangout for young people and families.

Popularity/Appeal

• Self service frozen yogurt restaurants have become very popular in the last decade
• Customers generally between the ages of 12-22

Calories/ Healthy Options

• Serving of frozen yogurt generally are 100 calories
• Frozen yogurt
• Fruit toppings

Cost

• Servings are weighed out and prices vary depending on the amount of frozen yogurt
• Generally $5-$10
• Low cost tasty treat

Atmosphere

• Frozen Yogurt is a healthy and nice treat after a night of hanging out
• A relaxed and comfortable environment to hang out with your date
• Friendly Staff

Rita's Italian Ice

Rita's is a Ice Cream parlor style establishment similar to Cold Stone Creamery. Rita's specializes in flavored ice and their popular Ice custard which is similar to ice cream but with egg based product giving a richer consistency. The establishment is presented in a ice cream parlor style with a ready and able staff cheerfully serving costumers in an orderly and helpful manner.

Popularity/ Appeal

• Italian Ice/ Ice Cream (Custard)
• Dessert
• Popular Establishment along Mill Ave.
• Generally customers around 18-28

Calories/ Healthy Options

• Servings are generally around 400 Calories 
• Ice Cream
• Custard
• Italian Flavored Ice

Cost

• Generally around $4-$10

Atmosphere

• Fun and Active environment
• Hip dessert stop along Mill Ave. after a fun night on the strip
• Ice Cream is always a great treat and an excellent element to a fun night

Green

Green also self named "The New American Vegetarian", is an all vegan- vegetarian restaurant offering choices without meat or diary products. Most of the menu is organic unless the choice absolutely makes it necessary to provide non-organic ingredients. The establishment has a very hip vibe and youthful vibe to it and the food is delicious. A must go for any college student to pull of a fun filled date.

Popularity/ Appeal

• All vegan-vegetarian restaurant
• Popular among the young scene
• Customers range from ages 18-32

Calories/ Healthy Options

• Mainly organic choices
• All vegan menu 
• Food ranges in calories to about 950 calories per meal

Cost

• On average costs about $10-$20 for a meal
• A little pricey but affordable date

Atmosphere

• Hip youthful atmoshere
• Popular among the "hipster scene

Fun First Date Spots Near Campus

Every man wants to pull off the perfect first date. Behind the canisters of axe, the Gucci bags, those $200 pairs of pants, one of the most important parts of the date is the setting and what better thing to do than get food? Everybody loves to eat! The scenery can always make a great date even better. You want a place that is familiar and comfortable for your date and service should be complementary and and personable. It can be hard to choose a place that for both daters provides a nice comfortable atmosphere and choices that cater to different preferences and diets. I'm here to provide some fun and healthy choices for anyone trying to pull off that awesome first date.

Blog 8 Great Places to Get Food for a First Date Near Campus

  . Places: Zoyo(frozen yogurt), Green, Chipotle, Rita's Italian Ice and Custard

Evaluative Criteria and Research Ideas
  . Popularity 
    -Yelp.com
    -facebook.com (page likes and people's reviews)
    -Interviews(primary/secondary sources)
  . Serving Sizes/ Calories/ Options
    -Zoyogurt.com/yougurt
    -http://www.chipotle.com/en-US/menu/nutrition_calculator/nutrition_calculator.aspx
    -http://www.ritasice.com
    -http://greenvegetarian.com
  . Demographic/ General Feel
    -Primary Sources
    -Interviews
    -Personal Visits
  . Appeal
    -http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/bestof/2009/award/best-vegan-restaurant-1454135/ (Green was rated Phoenix's best vegan restaurant)
    -Interviews opinions
    -http://www.fastcompany.com/most-innovative-companies/2012/chipotle (top 50 most innovative companies)

Blog 7 Evaluating Opinions

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/Chipotle_Mexican_Grill.jpg

I had been discussing with some friends different places that they enjoy eating or hanging out at. So, after discussing I went on to Yelp's website and looked up reviews for the Chipotle in Tempe since it seems to be a very popular place to eat. At the top the eatery got four star, which was of no surprise to me because people generally peak highly of its food and service so generally I would expect to see a positive response. When reading over reviews i did see a general trend in responses from reviewers. Mainly people spoke highly of the fast service, good quality, atmosphere, and the quick staff. But, their were people that would provide their own differing views. For example, a Caitlin C. who humorously described her idea of Chipotle as "...a love affair since I bit into my first burrito", had a rather unpleasant experience concerning the staff at Chipotle. Caitlin felt that the staff was not personable, and was more concerned with quick service that with actually helping and being friendly with customers looking for a comfortable and friendly atmosphere. Where as some may see quick delivery as a very important part to the experience it is understandable why she would think this way. Some people may like quick service but others may also place importance on factors such as customer service or being made to feel welcome while being served. Her observation did show that while there is a general consensus, there is still personal preference for people and what they like or don't like about certain things. Another girl Christine T. said that she did not like that she was charged $1.80 for guacamole and the portions that customers were served even though she liked the food. There are different factors to how people observe different things. Everybody has a bias and it is important in my opinion, to be able to know that these different views exist so that you can make your own logical and educated decisions about things without simply taking other peoples thoughts and ideas. Chipotle is definitely a very popular eatery and it is important for people to really know about it and try it so they can develop their own opinion about the quality of service and taste of the food. People develop their own opinions through personal experience, values, and somewhat from other people's perceptions. I think this will definitely help me to find some popular places people like to go on dates at.

Brick (Blog 6)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/73/Brickmovieposter.jpg

This week I had the pleasure of viewing the film Brick starring rising young actor Joseph Gordon Levitt well known for his role as Thomas Hanson in the quarky, hipster hit (500) Days of Summer. The film centers around the troubled, angsty, and brilliant-minded Brendan Fyre and his involvement in a dangerous drug deal involving his ex-girlfriend Emily. Brendan tries to help Emily and protect her from the dangerous dealings; realizing she is in over her head. Yet, Emily shuns Brendan and meets her fate at the hands of an unknown culprit. Happening upon the dead body of his lover, an angry and devastated Brendan sets on a quest to find the people responsible for Emily's death and, "break a couple teeth" along the way.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/96/BrickScreenshot.jpg

The film takes on a gritty neo-noir style and takes place in a suburban, high school setting. Director Rian Johnson takes on an interesting scene by throwing high schoolers into a dark and gritty underworld filled with sex, drugs, violence, and greed. The main character is staged as the stage detective film hero. He is smart, cunning, charming, confident, and always is one step ahead. Yet there is a vulnerability and even relatable weakness to Brendan that gives a certain twist to the character and and some of the events of the movie. Brendan's character is definitely the most likable and gives alot of edge to the film but the supporting cast is also very interesting and every character is always throwing a new twist into the plot. Most characters are fillers but Brendan and the main cast do go through a lot of development and keep the viewer posted. At times characters seem one dimensional or unnecessary but at times the viewer has to ask themselves what different characters motives are or what they'll do next. The plot is very engaging as well. Mainly the plot is character driven since it is a detective story but the viewer is always asking what will happen next. There are lots of twists and turns, and in an somewhat ironic manner the movie tends to make fun of itself. The setting of course is in a suburban high school which in many ways helps to fuel the irony and provide a subtle sort of comic relief amongst the otherwise dark and high intensity plot.
Altogether the film highly succeeds where it needs to and then some. The main characters are very interesting and engaging especially considering the neo-noir setting. Any lover of old cheesy detective films will appreciate the clever twist on the memorable genre. Cinematography and filming style are great and really establish the tone and familiar feel that the film presents. Plus the plot is engaging and all the twists and turns ultimately leave you with a satisfying ending that leave your mind rattling with questions. Brick is definitely a must see for any movie goer.