Some kid from L.A. is going to bike to Seattle for a cup of coffee @ Starbucks’ headquarters. (An aside: The tiny coffeeshop in the lobby of Starbucks HQ makes great coffee. Better than any other Starbucks, fyi.)

The inexplicable twist to this stunt? He’s an internget it? an intern fetching coffee? ha!for “Venice-based brand communications agency 86 the onions.” And the trip has something to do with “daily rituals” as studied at the branding agency. And of course he will be filming it.

[Steve] Ounanian has been inspired to make the journey while interning at 86 the onions and watching himself become part of a ritual, one he calls “Design Ritual.” During the past 3 months, in order to better create emotional connections between brands and their consumers, he has been able to study human insight by observing why people do they things they do.

So he’s going to bike to Seattle… I still don’t get it. Anyway, read the rest yourself, if you want.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUGUST 30, 2005

INTERN RIDES BIKE FROM LA TO SEATTLE FOR COFFEE

LA design intern takes orders seriously and takes off for Seattle in search of coffeeon his bike. 21 year-old Steve Ounanian leaves town Sept. 5 and heads north on his bike using the search for coffee to document daily ritual, his own and those he encounters.

Los Angeles, CA: Intern at Venice-based brand communications agency 86 the onions is not above getting coffee. In fact, Steve Ounanian, a student at UCLA, is taking the task a step further and will leave Los Angeles on September 5th and head north to Starbucks Headquarters on his bike in search of the perfect cuppa joe--and more.

Ounanian has been inspired to make the journey while interning at 86 the onions and watching himself become part of a ritual, one he calls "Design Ritual.” During the past 3 months, in order to better create emotional connections between brands and their consumers, he has been able to study human insight by observing why people do they things they do. He hopes to make the trek using his own daily ritual, bike riding, to further discover the daily rituals and routines of others. In observing culture and uncovering other's customs, Ounanian will learn more about himself and ultimately why humans rely on and perform daily rituals. Along with his friend Chris Jahn, an LA bike messenger, he will document the quest with film, photography and daily updates at .

Armed with little more than energy bars and beer money, the pair will ride roughly 80 to100 miles per day, stopping in over 15 cities. Total they will travel over 1400 miles and intend on making it to Seattle in 25 days. To sleep, they plan on camping and showing up unannounced at houses of friends and acquaintances.

Using his experience at 86 the onions as a catalyst to make this trip, Ounanian seeks to get the heart of what it means to have and to live a daily ritual: "By sustaining my own ritual, and interviewing the people I meet along the way about theirs, I hope to understand what the daily ritual is at it's core.”

Ounanian will make a short film showcasing and expanding on the daily rituals he discovers utilizing film footage shot with his digital camera and mini-disk recorder. Additionally, he will compile the images and interviews into a book that chronicles the journey and his findings.

"The hypothesis is, ritual equals comfort, but it also equals, ironically, both freedom and confinement. There is something about the repetitive task of riding my bike, the machine aspect of it that is alluring. When everything is uncertain, stressful, or even wonderfulyou can have control over it by just executing your daily ritual.”

The start of the daily ritual for many, the quest for coffee ties the components of the trip together, and gives Ounanian a fitting destination end point---Starbucks HQ. Sponsors and fans alike will be able to track Steve and send him much needed bike supplies, food and money at designated stop points along the way.

Leg 1: September 5th-15th
September 5: Venice Beach to Santa Barbara (94 miles)
September 6: Santa Barbara to Lompac (53 miles)
September 7: Lampac to Morro Bay (80 miles)
September 8: Morro Bay to Limekiln State Park (80 miles)
September 9: Limekiln State Park to Monterey (80 miles)
September 10: Monterey to Half Moon Bay (100 miles)
September 11: Half Moon Bay to San Francisco (30 miles)
September 12: Day off (0 miles)
September 13: San Francisco to Ukiah (110 miles)
September 14: Ukiah to Stanish-Hickey State Park (110 miles)
September 15: Stanish-Hickey State Park to Sinkyone Wilderness State Park (80 miles)

Leg 2: September 16th-23rd
Schedule TBA

Visit for further details on Steve's whereabouts as well as updates on his travels and documented discoveries. For more information, please contact 86 the onionswhere we'll be waiting patiently for our coffeeat 310.401.0178, or email Britt Curtis at britt@86theonions.com.

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