Thanks Linh, another gem on life in a big American city. Sometimes they make me laugh, sometimes they're depressing but none of them have ever given me the inclination to visit as island life just seems so much more sane. You wrote this 12 years ago - hard to fathom how it must be there now.
I had similar thoughts, Jon... aside from Linh's usual great story-telling, this article is so valuable because it is 12 years old. Great to have the perspective.
The all you can eat stripmall buffets are a poor man's oasis. Anymore, I have a difficult time going into establishments where I'm served, especially after Covid. Corporate options still exist but I was avoiding those places before Covid. The non corporate American eateries have suffered and many no longer exist or are struggling.
My first "real" job was washing dishes for $4.25 an hour at a hometown buffet called Miller's Home Cafe. The "Homo" changed my life. A cast of true, addled characters came and went through that place. Homemade noodles and sausage, fried chicken, chicken livers and onions, a bar of old school mayonnaise based "salads", bacon bits, croutons and pudding based deserts. I still dream about the place sometimes. The "Home" part of the sign painted on the brick side of the building was exposed after George sold the place. It was exposed after the old siding was removed, but was painted over within the last year or two. The last vestige of the place. There used to be lines around the block before the advent of chain dining.
The newer Asian and "International" type buffets have been a haunt of mine ever since. If one wants to enjoy the American underclasses which I can't help but love, these are the places to fill up. One of the few places where I can enjoy humanity anymore, usually for less than fifteen bucks.
There was an anthropologist who hypothesized some years ago that in order for civilization to be sustained humans needed alcohol to reduce the levels of stress that living in a civilized society imposed on the individual (honestly, I'm not making this up although I can't recall the anthropologist's name). https://academic.oup.com/book/40545
Joe moved to Kentucky. When Lee was way late paying rent, his landlord came by to find him dead. Laura got married. Alia quit McGlinchey's. Busier than most bars, it wears you down. That dump became famous thanks to the photos of Sarah Stolfa:
P.S. As for Tumi, the last time I saw him, we got into a fight in McGlinchey's, but since this wasn't Hollywood, no one could land a punch. With Latinos working much harder for much less, there's no way Tumi can be hired to paint houses. Plus, he's at least 60 years old. If not back in Germany, Tumi's homeless or dead. In the 90's, he lived in a depressing group home filled with weirdos.
It's a miracle how either one of us managed not to fall off a ladder ten times over. Drunk for years, we hardly knew what day it was, only how much time was left before 5PM.
Going to work, midget Mack was hit by a car, yet got back up to show up on time. Now, that's a man, albeit half! If you're reading this from the beyond, I send you a fist bump!
Not that Mack would care to work with us, but even Joe would not have hired him.
I have to paint my bathroom. That'll bring back memories too. I watched that video you posted of an interview with a young teen. It was great to hear your voice. I use it in class as an American accent example!
Thanks Linh, another gem on life in a big American city. Sometimes they make me laugh, sometimes they're depressing but none of them have ever given me the inclination to visit as island life just seems so much more sane. You wrote this 12 years ago - hard to fathom how it must be there now.
I had similar thoughts, Jon... aside from Linh's usual great story-telling, this article is so valuable because it is 12 years old. Great to have the perspective.
The all you can eat stripmall buffets are a poor man's oasis. Anymore, I have a difficult time going into establishments where I'm served, especially after Covid. Corporate options still exist but I was avoiding those places before Covid. The non corporate American eateries have suffered and many no longer exist or are struggling.
My first "real" job was washing dishes for $4.25 an hour at a hometown buffet called Miller's Home Cafe. The "Homo" changed my life. A cast of true, addled characters came and went through that place. Homemade noodles and sausage, fried chicken, chicken livers and onions, a bar of old school mayonnaise based "salads", bacon bits, croutons and pudding based deserts. I still dream about the place sometimes. The "Home" part of the sign painted on the brick side of the building was exposed after George sold the place. It was exposed after the old siding was removed, but was painted over within the last year or two. The last vestige of the place. There used to be lines around the block before the advent of chain dining.
The newer Asian and "International" type buffets have been a haunt of mine ever since. If one wants to enjoy the American underclasses which I can't help but love, these are the places to fill up. One of the few places where I can enjoy humanity anymore, usually for less than fifteen bucks.
There was an anthropologist who hypothesized some years ago that in order for civilization to be sustained humans needed alcohol to reduce the levels of stress that living in a civilized society imposed on the individual (honestly, I'm not making this up although I can't recall the anthropologist's name). https://academic.oup.com/book/40545
Nice one. I wonder where they all are now, and how they survived the scamdemic?
Hi Peggy,
Joe moved to Kentucky. When Lee was way late paying rent, his landlord came by to find him dead. Laura got married. Alia quit McGlinchey's. Busier than most bars, it wears you down. That dump became famous thanks to the photos of Sarah Stolfa:
https://www.amazon.com/Regulars-Jonathan-Franzen/dp/1579653928
Linh
P.S. As for Tumi, the last time I saw him, we got into a fight in McGlinchey's, but since this wasn't Hollywood, no one could land a punch. With Latinos working much harder for much less, there's no way Tumi can be hired to paint houses. Plus, he's at least 60 years old. If not back in Germany, Tumi's homeless or dead. In the 90's, he lived in a depressing group home filled with weirdos.
P.P.S. Here's a photo of Alia from 9/8/12:
https://linhdinhphotos.blogspot.com/2012/09/alia-center-city-2-by-linhdinh99-on.html
You make me laugh till I cry ! Adore you ! All the best to you Linh Dinh !
Brings back the memories
Yo Jay,
It's a miracle how either one of us managed not to fall off a ladder ten times over. Drunk for years, we hardly knew what day it was, only how much time was left before 5PM.
Going to work, midget Mack was hit by a car, yet got back up to show up on time. Now, that's a man, albeit half! If you're reading this from the beyond, I send you a fist bump!
Not that Mack would care to work with us, but even Joe would not have hired him.
Linh
Shoot me again I ain't dead yet!
I have to paint my bathroom. That'll bring back memories too. I watched that video you posted of an interview with a young teen. It was great to hear your voice. I use it in class as an American accent example!
This story reminds me of this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1a3gY_AAsOY