TBW Daily Diary

Several people including a representative of a center-city law firm responded with a "thumbs up" for Cartridge World and the services they offer. The prices cited run about $10 below the box store price. One reader does caution that using anything other than the manufacturer's recommendation could invalidate your printer warranty. I think mine now falls outside those perimeters, however . . . The Summer of Solutions fund raiser mentioned yesterday will be held at Isaac's Deli near Bass Pro Shops, 421 Friendship Road, on Monday, June 21, from 5-9 p.m. More info by e-mailing hbgsummerofsolutions@gmail.com . . .

Java, 3 a.m.

A young man working late on a project complained on FaceBook recently that there is nowhere in downtown Harrisburg to get a cup of coffee at 3 a.m. I couldn’t think of any place either, not even a vending machine. (Are those still around, by the way? I haven’t noticed one in years.) . . . Back in the ‘60s he would have had a couple of options. There was the Davenport chain with locations near the train station, on Market Street and on North Second. All were open late, and the Market Street one was open all night. It provided a “home” for the street people on cold nights. (There were a lot fewer of them back then) . . . and of course there was the original Spot that was demolished for the new city hall on Market Square. It was a popular after-hours eatery despite the greasiness of the food . . . the all-night Commerce Diner (somewhat seedy, as I recall) was wedged in sideways on a small plot on North Second near State Street—part of the lot cleared for the now-defunct luxury hotel plan and soon (hopefully) to house an office building. It was across the street from the gay-friendly Clock Bar (now Egypt, unless the name has been changed again) and young men old enough for companionship but too young to drink would gather there in the wee small hours to meet those men coming out of the bar at closing. It was almost “cosmopolitan” to see such a lively place in the middle of the night; it gave little Harrisburg a big-city aura . . . The Toddle House stood near the intersection of North Third and Forster (now a little parking lot across from One Stop). It served coffee and tiny hamburgers similar to those at White Castle. I don’t recall the hours there; maybe a reader does . . . Before my time there was also a diner at North Third and Liberty (now a parking lot) . . . Perhaps it should be noted that in the ‘60s one could safely walk the streets in search of coffee at that hour without encountering roving gangs of armed muggers—or is my memory playing tricks on me? . . . So where does the 4 a.m. shift get its coffee downtown? If anyone knows, please e-mail me; address to the left . . .