New Jersey Diners At Paterson Museum
The Paterson Museum invites you to join us on Saturday, August 5th at 1pm, as we host New Jersey author Michael Gabriele for A Roadmap to the Diner Capital of the World. This presentation will examine how diners have played an important role in New Jersey’s history, spirit, culture and mythology.
Golden-age diners, with their streamlined architecture, terrazzo floors and neon lights, are iconic symbols of American culture, nostalgia and manufacturing ingenuity. Here in New Jersey, diners are the hubs of their respective communities; the beloved gathering places, where generations of memories are formed and renewed. As the saying goes: “A diner is more than just a place to eat, and food is only half the meal.”
Dana Schaeffer, a journalist in New York, and a graduate of William Paterson University, will be a guest speaker during the program. Schaeffer will discuss her efforts to rebuild and preserve the long-shuttered Little Falls Diner, and provide insights on the real-world challenges of saving a vintage modular, prefabricated, factory built diner from the 20th century.
The event is part of the museum’s current exhibition, “Order’s Up!” Paterson and the Rise of the New Jersey Diner, which is open now through Saturday, September 23rd, and focuses on Paterson’s contributions to New Jersey’s diner legacy, including Silk City Diners and the Hot Texas Weiner. This program is in-person. Admission to both the program and the exhibit is free, and the public is cordially invited to attend. Open to all ages.
Gabriele co-curatored the Museum’s exhibit. A lifelong Garden State resident, Gabriele is a 1975 graduate of Montclair State University and has worked as an author, journalist, and freelance writer for more than 40 years. He’s penned two books, published by The History Press, which chronicle the Garden State’s 130-year diner enterprise. Following the presentation, copies of both of Gabriele’s books will be available for purchase and signing. The Paterson Museum, located at 2 Market Street (on the corner of Market and Spruce Streets) is in the heart of the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park.
For more information about this event, or to learn more about the Paterson Museum, visit our website https://patersonmuseum.com/, like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram!
