Diner

Most diners serve milkshakes. Only a few, like Ralphie's Diner, also serve Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay.But then Ralphie's is not a true diner. It doesn't have wisecracking veteran waitresses or specials that include everything from a cup of soup to a piece of pie. It does have a nursery upstairs for crying babies, a $2 extra-plate charge and friendly, competent service.Face the facts: Ralphie's is a restaurant masquerading as a diner, all dressed up with stainless steel and cool neon clocks.

D. Kenneth "Pappy" Grimes, a World War II combat veteran who formerly operated a diner in Carroll County and served as a New Windsor town councilman, died of heart failure and emphysema Wednesday at his home there. He was 89. A Carroll native, Mr. Grimes was born in Union Bridge and raised on a farm. He was 4 when his father died in an accident while working at the local Lehigh Cement plant. Mr. Grimes often rode a horse to school but attended to only the seventh or eighth grade, said his daughter, Ruth Lease of New Windsor.

Leonard "Boogie" Weinglass, a former Baltimorean, businessman and a model for a character in the movie "Diner," is exploring the possibility of buying the Orioles.Weinglass revealed his interest last night on a sports talk show on WCAO-AM radio hosted by Stan "The Fan" Charles.Weinglass was unavailable for comment this morning, but an assistant in his Joppa office said, "This is very much in the preliminary stages. He's interested, but he's got a lot of research to do."New York investor Eli S. Jacobs, who owns the controlling share of the Orioles, is considering selling the baseball team he bought in 1989.

When a man who claimed to have a gun learned a Jessup motel had no cash Tuesday, he ran to a nearby diner and robbed it, Howard County police said.No one was injured in either of the incidents, which occurred within 10 minutes, police said.According to police, the attempted robbery occurred at 2: 50 p.m. at the Suisse Chalet in the 7300 block of Cresmount Road. A man entered the motel, told employees he had a gun and demanded cash. But he ran from the business when they told him they had none, police said.

An owner named Boogie.Dig it.What would we call him?The Boogster? The Boogmeister? Sir Boogaloo?It doesn't matter.Leonard "Boogie" Weinglass, 49, is trying to buy the Orioles, and all self-respecting fans are hereby advised to head to one of his Merry-Go-Round stores and clear out the racks.Boogie's Baltimore.Boogie's our man.Just think: Director Barry Levinson could be general manager -- the payback for using Boogie as a model for one of his characters in the movie "Diner."Don't laugh. Levinson said yesterday he's interested in being a part-owner with his old friend (but not -- repeat, not -- the GM)

The jukebox plays oldies but goodies, as waitresses in bright turquoise uniforms race across a black-and-white tile floor to customers seated in red leather booths.K. C.'s Cafe in Eldersburg invites its customers back to the 1950s -- "a time that was just fun," said owner Kevin F. Candrilli.The facade, with its neon 1957 Chevy, beckons motorists along Route 26 into a diner, a replica of many once prevalent along major highways.The nostalgic and colorful decor is designed to take customers back to an era that had a slower pace, said Mr. Candrilli, a 39-year-old child of the '50s.

There have been lots of diners -- the retro and nouveau sorts of diner -- popping up around the country over the past few years. They've got the soda fountain all right, the jukebox, stools that swivel and booths that enclose, but sometimes something's missing.But here at Tamber's -- owned, run and doted over by various members of the Tamberino family -- they've put together a place that has something more than justthe right look, the right mixture of chrome and neon.They've somehow gotten the spirit of an old-time diner, the place where everybody, blue collar and white collar, old and young, sits down elbow to elbow at the counter to eat.On this spring afternoon, a little past regular lunchtime, the restaurant is still almost full.

Baltimore County's liquor board yesterday denied a liquor license application for a proposed diner in Perry Hall, ruling that the owners did not prove the community needs another outlet selling alcohol.In announcing his ruling against owners of a proposed Double-T diner, board Chairman Philip R. Leyhe Jr. said that while supporters and opponents had presented petitions with more than 200 signatures, more than 40 opponents attended the hearing -- outnumbering diner supporters there more than 10-to-1.

Paul G. Stamas, the engaging, longtime Baltimore restaurateur whose Hilltop Diner was depicted in the 1982 film "Diner," died Friday of complications from a stroke at St. Joseph Medical Center. He was 76 and lived in Towson.Known for his easy smile, congenial personality and zest for Greek dancing, Mr. Stamas owned and operated several restaurants before retiring in 1986, including the Old Court Inn and Restaurant 3900.But it was the Hilltop at Reisterstown Road and Rogers Avenue, which he owned with his brothers, for which he is best-known.

It sparkles from the midday sun, a 1950s gem reborn on a once vacant lot in Jessup.Formerly a New Jersey cafe, now it's Frank's Diner. And it'll be one of just two authentic '50s diners in Howard County.Workers drove the old 65-by-16-foot building 90 miles aboard a flatbed from its original home in Carneys Point, N.J., this week. During the past two days, they spent about 12 hours lifting the 75-ton diner onto its new site off U.S. 1 at Cedar Avenue."It's the fulfillment of the American dream," said owner Franklin Davis, 56, as he watched workers unload the diner.