Friends! Readers! Ex-lovers!! JK I am confident when I say I think none of them want anything to do with me or this newsletter.
Do you, like me, love a diner? It’s probably one of the biggest reasons I moved to New York!! Land of the true diner! Growing up in Northern California of course there were diners available. Mel’s Drive-In was the iconic one. But you had to go all the way to San Francisco to get to it! The only real diner in Sonoma was called chain restaurant Lyon’s but then they went bankrupt in 2001.
(I know there’s Denny’s everywhere and as much as I do do love and appreciate them as an American institution I’m not sure I really… how do you say… count them? Is this really controversial???)
Then when I lived in Los Angeles, a place I thought would be filled with way more diners, I never had access to one that wasn’t a full like 45 minute traffic drive away. Shout out to Cindy’s in Eagle Rock.
Cut to New York. Diners. Everywhere. Accessible. Open 24 hours. Endless menus. Grilled cheeses for all! And so much space on that counter to… DRAW!!!!!! Of course I famously love to draw in bars but diners are tied for first place is the most ideal location.
The bright lights. The unending coffee (and Diet Coke). The tables. The either really friendly or really unfriendly waiters. And the amount of inspiration all around you. You can draw the lamps. You can draw the kitchen. You can draw a BLT.
But even more… you can listen. What are people talking about? What are their problems of the day? Or their excitements? My god I love eavesdropping. Half of my cartoons are the result of listening to conversations that I “shouldn't” have been listening to.
My favorite local diner is Triple Decker on Manhattan Ave in Greenpoint. I drew a lot of it in my book The Joy of Snacking—literally in the book, and also, I worked on my book while sitting in their booths. The buzz of New Yorkers around me is so calming. It’s that kind of noise that allows me to think.
But there’s so many great diners to love in New York. Court Square Diner. Johny’s Luncheonette. Oh my GOD Johny’s Luncheonette. Waverly Diner. Skylight Diner. Ellen’s Stardust Diner!!!! I used to have a therapist across the street from the Lexington Candy Shop, and I would go there after every session and it was always a completely wonderful experience. One time I sat next to The Strokes and that was ya know, entertaining. There are so many other great diners in New York. Do you have a favorite one?
That is why I’m so excited to share that I’ll be hosting a sketchbook club at the completely wonderful SoHo Diner on June 2nd from 7-10 PM! The diner invited me in a couple months ago to chat about creating a space for art and community, and this is the result :) I’m really excited!!!
Tickets are $30! HOWEVER! That $30 gets you a cocktail and a burger, and it includes tax and tip. I don’t want you to think that cash is going anywhere else. If you are a paid subscriber to this newsletter, I will give you $5 off! Please message me for a discount code. The idea is that this will become a recurring event and we can continue to meet, draw together, and have a great time. Please contact me if you have any questions and in the meantime—go doodle somewhere!!
Riding on the high of: Last night’s Cartoon Strips ohmygod
On repeat: Skinny Dipping by the L.A. Exes
Currently Listening to: Season 2 of Bad Women
Recently Watched: end of Survivor 50!!
Buy shit from me on Etsy!
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