Diners are nifty-fifty-two-skidoo eateries and meeting places. Pennsylvania diners tend to have a Populuxe feel, like dining-cars-on-a train greeting 1950s car culture. Diners as restaurants persist in the present but they also inspire a clear glimpse at the American rhythm of the last century. Diners also now stand in for five and dime and drug store grills that have been largely superseded in the last fifty years by fast food chains such as McDonald's and its rivals. (Let's face it: today's drive-through windows are not a sociable environment by any stretch of the imagination -- they inspire wasting gas and are for hurried, harried lifestyles. But that's for another post).
Diners are places where you can take the time to unwind a little from the stresses of modern life, yet still feel connected. Stackpole Books recently released Diners of Pennsylvania: 2nd Edition (2011) by
Today's Rune: Partnership.
3 comments:
I remember when I was in Boston stopping in at some little diners that were in street cars, or railroad cars parked along the road. Such character, and good food.
Erik, growing up we used to go to S.S. Kresge's for the best grilled cheese sandwiches and cokes. Now I just hit the Greek Coneys for Hani sandwiches!
There are some amazing diners in this state. My sister likes to go diner hopping.
Unfortunately, many aren't vegetarian friendly. Do you remember that scene in Five Easy Pieces? I often feel that way when I go to a lot of them, particularly in remote areas.
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