James Lileks' The Diner

Even the worst places can have good memories.

Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises,Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not.Sometimes a thousand twangling instrumentsWill hum about mine ears; and sometime voices,That, if I then had waked after long sleep,Will make me sleep again: and then, in dreaming,The clouds methought would open, and show richesReady to drop upon me; that, when I waked,I cried to dream again.William Shakespeare (The Tempest, Act III, Scene II)

Sometimes you just have to play the cards you're dealt - even if that card is a one-eyed Jack.

The banalities of "Bob's" and a trip to Boston to clarify the mind. And stay in your lane!

It's the Tiffany lamps that really class up the Hut. That and the red plastic cups.

Take a snapshot with your Brownie. It won't last forever.

Soulless architecture with a decent cup of coffee.

Looking for coffee in all the wrong places...

Ignore them at your peril.

You can eat an entire meal for free at the supermarket... Believe It Or Not!

This episode has a lot of things to unpack... which is what happens when you pack a lot of things.

Sit down, Old Chap, and celebrate the Great American Cheeseburger! 

Working under the influence... of the teachers you had in your youth.

It's autumn. There's work to be done and you have to know how to handle the pressure of any situation.

Sometimes you just have to "immerse" yourself into another world.

Today's lesson: Don't let your wife go to the big box store or you'll be eating the same thing for a week. 

The most gratuitous show to date. And if you tip your waitress, make sure you help her get back up on her feet.

Sidewalk cafes and gracious living for all.

An episode that's steaming hot and will get you going. Dare we say it? It's good to the last drop (and that's good, too!) 

An episode that was hermetically sealed and kept in a mayonnaise jar on the front porch of Funk & Wagnalls since noon today

Retirement lets you do all the things you've ever wanted... provided you can get past the paperwork.

Have you heard the news? No? Have a seat...

Plenty of seats available in the Diner today because, well, you know why. Let's get ready for the big holiday weekend next.

The cash is in the cloud - if you can get to it. Buddy, can you spare a five?

Good health to all... from the Diner! And we may stop in at the drug store on the way home, that is, if we have enough spare change.

All the flags... fluttering in the wind... a day of remembrance.

Back it up, baby... that is, if you can. What do you mean "The drive is inaccessible?" You can always get what you want at The Diner.

Welly, welly, welly, welly, welly, welly, well. To what do we owe the extreme pleasure of this surprising visit? But of course, it's the release of a new episode of "The Diner."

There's few places outside of home that a man can claim as his own. One is his desk and the other is his spot at "The Diner."

It's dark, the road is unfamiliar and that gas gauge is creeping towards empty... Maybe you should stop at the The Diner.

Is Fred dead?!? Not in The Diner, where some things are eternal...

A pair of glasses, a ten dollar bill, two shotguns and a Boston Bull Terrier...

It's the surest sign of Spring when a young man's fancy turns to... corned beef and sauerkraut.

Processing new information about old events.

It's that time of year again. Yep, time to delve into the troubles of your favorite cereal mascots. They have no insurance? It's okay... we have trading stamps! 

Al Jolson and other horrors are playing at the local movie palace. Wanna go?

It's not just the room on the road, it's the amenities.

From the glaze and the sprinkles to the last crumb on a subatomic level, behold the American donut.

Some space to work and a good view. What more could one ask for?

Have you seen the price of eggs? It's a crime I say, a crime. A real mystery...

Forget your lame Pong, man. We've got a pocketful of quarters and we're heading to the Arcade at the mall!

Every generation finds its own groove... and learns to appreciate the grooves of others.

New cars and old trains and infinite waitresses all the way down... say, did you just hear that?

Your car can be sporty, it can be practical, it can be new or used, but whatever it is - if you're driving it to The Diner - it has to have style.

Christmas traditions come and go just like the people in your life. But they don't really go, do they?

The Mercury plunges and we wrap our hands around a hot bowl of soup and contemplate what lies beyond our chicken and stars...

It's a trip to a romantic, exotic locale... you know, the Diner. Have a seat and a cup of Joe, por favor. 

Holiday thoughts from a celeried employee on a cold morning in November. 

Comrade! Sit down and join us! Crack open a bottle of Jubal!

A reduced fat podcast.Best if used by November 2028.**Refrigerate after opening.