TBW Daily Diary

Well, we certainly had fun with yesterday's post: in search of coffee downtown at 3 a.m. Judy Robinson e-mailed to tell me that I forgot to mention the Alva Restaurant on South Fourth Street. Indeed, in its heyday the place was open at all hours and was a hangout for men working on the railroad; they may even have rented some of the upstairs rooms for their lay-overs. At that time the police department was in Old City Hall, and the Alva was the officers' eating place; there was a section of tables always kept open just for them . . . spoke with Ned Hofner who works at the hospital and learned that the lobby coffee shop closes once visiting hours are over. There does happen to be a vending machine for the staff on the eleventh floor outside the restaurant there, but, of course, it would not do our man any good since at 3 a.m. outsiders are not admitted . . . Since we have uncovered this oversight, it is time for an entrepreneur to step forward; despite the fact that we could use the income The Bare Wall has no intention of filling this void . . . but maybe there is a market for designer thermoses? . . .