StraitsTimes Online – STARBUCKS Corp next week will open a new neighbourhood cafe pilot store that will feature beer and wine, night-time hours and live entertainment such as music and poetry readings.

That Seattle cafe, called 15th Avenue Coffee and Tea, takes its name from its street address and borrows heavily from neighbourhood coffee shops.

A Starbucks spokeswoman said the cafe and any others that follow, would return to making espresso drinks by hand and sell products without the Starbucks logo.

The coffee chain, which has been slashing costs and closing hundreds of poorly performing Starbucks outlets amid a long recession, said the first pilot store is a renovated Seattle Starbucks that was slated to be shuttered by year end.

Starbucks stores around the world currently do not serve alcohol.

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The article in TheStar online, or you click here to read it, mention readers of The New York Times have chosen Penang as the second best destination among “44 Places To Go in 2009”. So how do Penang attract more tourist? One of my suggestion is to have more places that sell beer. Ok, some of you may not agree with me with this, but I think Penang beach should open up roll of pubs that cater to tourist, as it’s an attraction to enjoy the sea breeze while drinking beer.

This is from our own experience that we think selling alcohol can boost more tourism into the state. Beside drinking in the beach, the state government should also held some beach party for the tourist to enjoy the night scene with theme of local flavour. Another place that I would like to suggest, is to open pubs in Penang Hill. As tourist can enjoy beer at the same time a night scene of the Penang island. With the chill air, this will sure help to boost the tourist to go up the hill at night to enjoy the night scene. They can open some Starbucks or coffee bean but pubs and bar will cater more tourist from local to international.

Lastly, hope Penang will keep on dazzle us with their food. If you guys don’t know where is Penang, they are situated in Malaysia, northern side, not too far from Thailand. An island that full of people and many interesting food that can trigger your taste bud. Visit Malaysia. Cheers!

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