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  2. On the Road or On Foot

"Yesterday's cafes" Comfort Diner exhibit -2008

These were for a small exhibit at a great diner in New York - The Comfort Diner on 23rd street in Manhattan. The exhibit was up for viewing in 2008 . (note: the 23rd street location of the diner is gone - but the 45th street location is definitely still there. Sepia applied in photo shop (note: the images here may have an uneven amount of toning that was standardized in the files used for printing... The actual prints at the diner will not be for sale (they are the property of the Diner's owner, but prints can be ordered here or directly from me by sending me email at annsan@nyc.rr.com. All of the photos were taken with film over a period of 35 years and scanned into photo shop.

No manipulation has been done on the computer except for the sepia toning and cleaning up dust and scratches as one would do in a darkroom. Some of these eating places still exist - others have been long gone. The captions on each of the photos here indicate which are which are which.

The photos selected for the 2012 calendar have been moved to WOrks in prints, new 2012 calendars

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Lester's Diner - Bryan, Ohio - October 1993. Don't think I ate here, had to take the photo for a friend of the same name whose wife is a fabulous cook.
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Lester's Diner - Bryan, Ohio - October 1993. Don't think I ate here, had to take the photo for a friend of the same name whose wife is a fabulous cook.

lestersdinersepiasmugLester's DinerBryanOhio

  • Cora's Cafe, Tucson Arizona -2002. Cora's is a terrific breakfast and lunch place for Mexican-American food. I've learned that in February of 2008 it was sold by the family that owned it for years, but is still a cafe.
  • C & E Diner - Harrisonburg, Virginia - 1987. I have just learned<br /> from a local (Thanks, Sandy!) that this diner has been gone for many years.
  • Maggy and Jiggs Dinners - Providence, Rhode Island 1981.
  • (Rudy’s) The Weenie Wagon – Whitehorse, Yukon – 1989. Had a nice dog there. Was amused to see the variety of cuisine offered - chili, bratwurst, pirogi, tacos - I think there were even some Chinese items . Pretty sure this is still in operation ,judging from a few references I found on the web. It is near the old rail station. Rudy also has a restaurant. same Rudy? One thinks so.
  • Keeping with the gas station theme, this is the Gasoline Alley, Flying A café in Dayton, Washington. Took this in 1993 and was disappointed it wasn’t open. There is a lot to read on the web about Flying A brand of petroleum. The café was built around a remnant of a gas station. Couldn’t confirm whether this is gone or not.
  • Outside the famous Tuba City Truck stop in Tuba City, Az . Taken in 1990. We did get our Navajo Taco fix. The fry bread was wonderful. The claim “where the stars come to eat” was surely true, as it was in an area where many films were shot about the old west (not to mention a ton of commercials).
  • Lester's Diner - Bryan, Ohio - October 1993. Don't think I ate here, had to take the photo for a friend of the same name whose wife is a fabulous cook.
  • Aguilera’s Mexican Restaurant – Holbrook, Az – 1990. I remember yummy baked goods. A phone call to another spot in Holbrook confirmed my fears it was no longer around. Holbrook is another Route 66 / I-40 town and often visited by tourists and truckers.
  • Cafe with truck clock art (yeah, the lights on the truck glow.) Near Brawley, California - 1982. <p> Apparently gone, but may not be. The name of the cafe is "The Gate Way" - try searching <i>that</i> on google :-)
  • Helen's Restaurant - Machias, Maine - 2004. It's been there forever... a down east institution. I've chowdered down there for over 30 years.
  • Curley's Diner - Stamford, Connecticut - 2002. This diner fended off the long arm of Target Stores to keep itself open and in this very spot. There is a lot of stuff on the web about it. So glad it is still alive.
  • Fiesta City Cafe - Greenfield, California - 1987. Still there, mentioned on the web recently. I had notes in my journal that we loved the food, ambiance and price. I noted the decor was "wonderfully tacky".
  • Betsy's Diner - Falmouth, Massachusetts - 1997. Most definitely still there.
  • Another bank turned café is this one in Lewiston, Id. Photo taken in<br /> August of 1988. But unlike Evett’s in New Mexico, the Fergus is no more.
  • The Diner - Tres Piedras, New Mexico - 1990.<br /> Apparently still there in 2002 (from a web mention) but not there now. Called a motel in town to ask if it was still there. The response was “I don’t think so”. I find no notes on food for it.. I think I just liked the look of the place.
  • Palace Car - St Louis,Missouri - 1983, It's gone, but I don't know<br /> how long ago it closed. This was a diner in the true tradition of diners - an actual railroad dining car. My St. Louis friends told me it has been gone a long time.
  • U Drop In Café – Shamrock, Tx – 1987. If the building’s structure looks familiar it may be because it was next to a FINA gas station. Both buildings are now part of a Route 66 historical preservation project so these days at least the funky architecture can still be admired. As I recall, the food at the U Drop Inn was not so good.
  • Craig's Bar-B-Q - De Valls Bluff, Arkansas - 1987. We stumbled on it int the Spring of 1987 by staying off the highway when driving through Arkansas east of Little Rock. Great pulled pork sandwiches. Turns out it was and is a famous place. After congratulating ourselves on the find and savouring our BBQ we looked around the place to see the walls adorned with commendations from food critics.
  • The Oasis Diner - Burlington, Vt. June, 1978. Took this shot early in the morning. Quite recently I was assured the diner is still there and functioning.
  • Cora's cafe in Tucson
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