The Hippest Diner On Earth…

The Empire Diner lost their lease and closed last weekend after 34 years in business at their location in Chelsea. We managed to get there Friday before the last ring of the cash register. It was a short bus ride down 9th Avenue on the M6. If it looks familiar to you it may be because it has been used as the setting for many of the opening segments on Saturday Night Live over the years. The place is very photogenic. We both opted for the Blue Plate Special, which was served on a blue plate. Grilled chicken with green salad, broccoli and a huge serving of macaroni and cheese. It was all great and had that made at home taste. We were eating at the sidewalk tables and had just finished when we got a little late evening pop up shower and we scurried inside to pay the bill. The place is all gleaming chrome and stainless steel and looks like it just opened rather than its final day.

We thought from there we would head east on 23rd Street, one of the major cross streets, pop in for an adult beverage somewhere, and catch another bus back north on 6th Avenue to get home. The sky had cleared leaving us with a beautiful night for a walk. For some reason the major cross streets seem to have retained more of the old character than the north/south avenues and it is easier imagine them as they might have looked in earlier eras. Along this way we saw some of the old movie houses that are still operating with first run movies. We also came upon the famous Chelsea Hotel. You can hardly go more than a block or two here without stumbling upon some iconic landmark like this.

We reached 6th Avenue, made the turn, and we started to look for a watering hole in earnest. Suddenly we started getting particular as one place was deemed too busy, another was too fancy, and so on. Before too long we found ourselves at Bryant Park at 42nd Street. It was now dark but the park was bustling. We wound our way around to the outdoor restaurant next to the library and a small table and settled in with a couple of glasses of wine. I was glad that we were picky about where to stop. This is one of my favorite spots in the city and perhaps one of the reasons I moved here.

From this point it no longer made sense to get a bus or taxi to get home as we now within striking distance.

Here is a short slide show I put together. All of these photos were taken by me and most of them are from this one evening walk. I know it is very corny and a bit embarrassing but I couldn’t help myself and Toni was a good sport in allowing me to use her photo. Don't put off watching this as she may have a change of heart.