I love diners. I have done a lot of work in them, met clients in them and met people in diners who became clients.  I could take you to a coffee shop on 27^th Street and show you the table where I outlined the book How To Be Old.  When I first moved to the South Side, I was aware of only one diner—and it wasn’t very good.  The food was average and the service was less than average.  There are now about ten South Side places where one can have a great breakfast, catch up with friends, make new friends, advance some writing projects, or catch up on reading.

A few years ago, WQED produced a show about diners in Pennsylvania.  My friend (who owns a well-known restaurant in the city) and I did a road trip to Atlantic City.  On the way back, we stopped at some of the diners featured in the show.  We made it to the world-famous Melrose Diner in South Philly (which I’ve visited about five times since) and others.  We didn’t make it to the Downingtown Diner, though.  That diner is famous as the site used in the 1957 Steve McQueen movie, The Blob.  

This year I’ve been to two diners that Anthony Bourdain used in his TV show Parts Unknown: Grandma B’s in the Hill District and the Galley Diner in South Boston.  I was in the Galley three mornings straight.  My love of Boston and good breakfast spots resulted in an invitation to write in the Galley’s guest book.  What did I write?  “If you leave here hungry, it’s your own fault.”  It’s the sentiment I have for many spots in my city and in other cities.

 If you love diners also, why don’t we meet at my client’s spot in the South Side for breakfast?  I’m an early morning person so we need to meet early.  Find my contact information and let’s set up a day to meet.  

One caveat: no discussion of how we are—or are not—ready for Christmas.

Note:  This blog may be the first blog in history to reference The Blob.  So, it may be the first Blob Blog.