General Announcements
Documentary to Debut at Culinary Museum
"New England Portrait", (2008 Emmy nominee) is a Rhode Island PBS production hosted and produced by Mary Lou Palumbo and features stories that focus on the historical and nostalgic prospective of people, places and special events in the New England area.
The upcoming new season will kick off with "The History of New England Diners" which is already creating a "sizzle" with people who have heard about the production. Richard Gutman, Director & Curator of the Culinary Arts Museum at Johnson and Wales University's Harborside Campus provides the historical background as owners and patrons of area diners entertain the viewers with local color and humor. The diners featured include the Miss Worcester in Worcester, MA; Shawmut's Diner in New Bedford, MA; The Hope Diner in Bristol, RI; Champs Diner in Woonsocket, RI; and Bishop's Diner in Newport, RI. The history of many New England diners including Haven Brothers in Providence, RI is also included. Broadcast musical composer, Jon Marable wrote the original theme song, "Let's Go Down to the Diner" for the program.
"New England Portrait: the History of New England Diners", will premiere at the Culinary Arts Museum with a special viewing in the museum's theatre on May 14th at 6PM. Tickets are $25 and will support the production of the program. Checks should be made out to the Rhode Island PBS Foundation. Please RSVP to Mary Lou Palumbo at 401-286-3478 if you are interested in attending.
The program is scheduled to air on Monday June 2nd at 7 PM and will repeat on Sunday, June 8th at 11:30 AM.
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Review: The Leisure Architecture of Wayne McAllister
Wayne McAllister was arguably among the most influential architects of 20th century roadside culture. If you're not familiar with McAllister's name, think "Rat Pack" - Sammy Davis Jr., Frank, Dean, and the others - posing by McAllister's iconic 50-foot high Sands Hotel sign - a paramount example of the streamlined modern flair that he brought to the western roadside.
Wayne McAllister started innocuously enough in San Diego, drawing up $10 plans sent out with house designs from lumber companies in the 1920s. His reliable work habits and affable manner soon led to hob-knobbing with big shots in the business, gaining him his first big contract: a luxury gaming hotel just across the border in Tijuana, Mexico. After viewing the building site, McAllister, then a teenager, stayed up all night drawing plans; the owners could not have been more pleased. He got the job, and in 1927 McAllister, with his wife Corrine, finished planning the 400-room $10 million Aqua Caliente hotel, which soon became a magnet for wealthy partiers in the late-1920's heart of prohibition. With mission-style adobe-and-brick on the outside and opulent Moorish ornamentation on the inside, McAllister's work here gives few clues about his later modern directions, with one exception: the hotel's main ballroom was replete with metallic ornamentation that McAllister called "Zigzag Moderne" -- using devices his decorator had picked up at a moderne exposition in Paris a few years' earlier.
Chris Nichols' book - The Leisure Architecture of Wayne McAllister - conveys the story of McAllister's growth as one of California modern's preeminent practitioners via the accompanying graphics; and this book is indeed a feast of graphic and architectural design.
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Eat in Diners
Manhattan's Diner Graveyard
Gripped by rampant redevelopment brought on by exponentially escalating real estate values, the island seems to be unloading its diners like rotten fish. On the occasion of John Baeder's latest opening at O.K. Harris in Soho, we decided to take a tour of Manhattan's remaining lot.
Cheyenne Diner: This diner has received a great deal of attention since its recent closing. It does indeed look like a new owner Mike McConnell has or will soon purchase this extra-long structure to install in a development planned for the Red Hook section of Brooklyn. Roadside sends its thanks to Michael Perlman, who acted as the point man on this rescue. Michael sent out the S.O.S. notices to the local media and to us. We, in turn, notified Steve Harwin of Diversified Diners, who almost immediately flew out to New York to take a look. Long story short, Steve exercised his right of first refusal, giving up the diner to McConnell in exchange for a role as a paid consultant on the restoration. No word yet on when the diner will move, but signs point to a happy ending here.
Terminal Diner/Lunch Box Diner: This remotely located late 1950s Kullman last operated as the Lunch Box Diner in what looked like a hopeful development. New people with fresh ideas sought to bring the diner into the twenty-first century. Alas, the concept didn't fly, and the diner closed up yet again. Since first publishing Roadside, the diner has endured several ownerships and names, including the Lost Diner and the Reel Diner, which had a dubious gimmick of allowing patrons to rent movies and watch them in their booths. Sadly, we found the diner's interior trashed and its counter completely removed and destroyed, with pieces of terrazzo laying in a pile outside the structure. In fact, it looked like someone had a destruction party inside, with shattered glass and dishes strewn all about. The future looks grim for this beauty, especially since its 17-foot-plus width would preclude movement through too many states.
Market Diner: This diner represents one of the happier bits of news on this front. Originally slated for removal to make way for still more luxury condos (we've never seen so much condo construction!), the diner instead has literally a new lease on life. We saw workmen in the diner, and Michael Perlman tells us that building permits call for the construction of a new wheelchair ramp. We hope to see this fabulous DeRaffele reopen before this summer.
West Market Diner: A rarity in any locale, this small Mountain View Diner sits cocooned within a brick encasement. Though we didn't get inside, peering through the windows reveals an amazingly intact 1940s vintage diner all ready for service. Currently owned by Columbia University, in the past three years both Richard Gutman and Steve Harwin have consulted on its possible restoration. Though the university maintains publicly that it plans to revive the diner for the neighborhood, the grapevine tells us that they'd rather just see it quietly go away. The neighborhood, which now features a Dinosaur Barbecue right across the street, is gentrifying, and a little diner such as this one would likely just end up as a wine bar anyway. Gutman revealed to us at the Baeder opening that this diner uses an older Tierney car for its kitchen.
Star on 18: Formerly the Corfu Diner (and painted by Baeder), the 1940s vintage DeRaffele got the Lou Roc treatment several years ago. You will see the only indication of its pedigree right at the diner's entrance. Look down, and about five square inches of the original tile work peek up through a hole in the new tile.
Empire Diner: Possibly the city's most famous diner, the Empire buzzed with activity this weekend. After nearly three decades under the operation of Jack Doneius, the diner has found new owners and new lease taking it well into the twenty-first century. We spoke with one of them, Renatta Gonzalez, who told us all about plans for the diner's future while we dined on a dinner of the diner's famous burgers. Nothing but good news here.
Not visited: The Pearl Street Diner and the Square Diner -- both we believe are still open.
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Eat in Diners
Cheyenne Diner to Get New Home
NEW YORK, NY -- The architecturally & culturally significant Cheyenne Diner (411 9th Ave at 33rd St) has been purchased, and will gain a new lease on life when transported to Red Hook, Brooklyn. A contract has been signed between property owner George Papas and its new owner, Mike O'Connell of O'C Construction, son of influential Red Hook developer, Greg O'Connell.
Preservationist Michael Perlman of Queens, who founded the Committee To Save The Moondance Diner in spring 2007, along with fellow Preservationist Kyle Supley of Brooklyn, have spared the Cheyenne Diner from oblivion, after sparing the Moondance last summer. Michael Perlman of the Committee To Save The Cheyenne Diner presented a proposal to property owner George Papas (owner of nearby Skylight Diner, 402 W 34th St, & developer for Cheyenne property) on closing day, Sun, Apr 6th, and effectively convinced him to work together. A 9-story condo is slated to rise on premise, which marked the end of the diner's 68-year run for its Manhattan site.
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Preservation
Historic Cheyenne Diner for Sale
NEW YORK, NY (Apr 9, 2008) -- Citywide Patrons, preservationists, & community groups are disheartened that the architecturally & culturally significant Cheyenne Diner (411 9th Ave at 33rd St) has officially closed its doors on Sun, Apr 6th. A 9-story condo is slated to rise on premise, marking the end of the diner's 68-year run, but a movement is underway which may grant the Cheyenne a new lease on life. The asking price is $7,900 and the buyer is responsible for rigging and lot acquisition costs.
Preservationist Michael Perlman of Queens, who founded the Committee To Save The Moondance Diner in spring 2007, along with fellow Preservationist Kyle Supley of Brooklyn, are now campaigning to spare the Cheyenne Diner from oblivion, after sparing the Moondance last summer. Michael Perlman of the Committee To Save The Cheyenne Diner further discussed the proposal with property owner George Papas (owner of nearby Skylight Diner, 402 W 34th St, & developer for Cheyenne property) on Sun, Apr 6th, and effectively convinced him to work together. It will be a win-win scenario for all parties when Papas sells the Cheyenne Diner, and it is relocated.
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