There’s a famous painting by American artist Edward Hopper of four people sitting in a diner on a dark corner. That theme, in many of Hopper’s works, of people inside looking out, longing for something beyond their walls captured the attention of many at the beginning of the pandemic. Diners have become associated with the place to go for those on their own and wanting connections. This week, we hear from artists, curators, writers and a civil rights scholar about the role diners have played in our culture. So grab a cup of joe and pass the ketchup. Let’s meet at the local diner. 

Major Sources Include:
1. Interview with Michael Tisserand
2. Interview with Richard Gutman
3. Edward Hopper: An Intimate Biography by Gail Levin
4. Interview with John Baeder
5. NYT Archives: Design Notebook
6. Across That Bridge: Life Lessons and a Vision for Change by John Lewis 
7. NPR: The Woolworth Sit-In That Launched A Movement
8. Interview with Will Harris, scholar