City Diner
Richmond, Virginia
Scene: April morning, 7 o’clock. Richmond, Virginia. It’s sunny, but the early hour means there’s still a bit of a chill in the air. The streets are mostly empty; rush hour has not yet begun. Birds are chirping. You’re yawning. It’s a quiet, peaceful morning, and you’re in search of some grub to soothe your crack- of-dawn wake-up call pain.
Fast forward to the moment you enter City Diner. The streets outside may have been hushed and sleepy, but inside, it’s like a party. Upbeat pop music blares from the speakers. Two blond waitresses hustle about, refilling coffees, shouting orders and laughing with the customers. They acknowledge you immediately when you walk in, yelling “Hi, honey! Sit where you like!” Suddenly, you’re awake, your spirits lifted by the music and the action and the smiles you see in every booth (not to mention the mouthwatering smells emanating from the kitchen). You rub the sleep from your eyes and grab a table, one of the only empty ones in the place. “Coffee, please!”
