<p>It burned down last night. Big bummer. That was a nice diner.</p>
<p>Of course, the real tragedy here is that O’Rourkes, for years, has anchored the traditionally sketchy part of town. Now, it’s basically up to the Green Street Art Center to bring foot traffic to the North End. Really, too bad. </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-diner-fire-0831,0,1646369.story?coll=hc-headlines-home[/url]”>http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-diner-fire-0831,0,1646369.story?coll=hc-headlines-home</a></p>
<p>Do you think they’ll rebuild it?</p>
<p>Hard to say. The O’Rourkes don’t need the money. I’m not even sure any of them still live in Middletown. I’m sure it’s partially going to be a lifestyle decision. Do they really want to keep their hand in the old neighborhood?</p>
<p>Are they a political family?</p>
<p>I’m fairy devestated by the news. O’Rourkes was an amazing institution - just… a real treasure. If they don’t rebuild, it will be a huge loss to the community.</p>
<p>I have wonderful memories of going there when it opens at 5 am, and then Brian gave us all dough batter to lick off the beater, from the soda bread they had just baked. Brian always asked us if we were sober enough to drive (we always were 
) but he just wanted to make sure. And then, once, we put a quarter into the jukebox, and it started playing some weird song we didn’t know. We had a confused look on our faces, and our waiter came over a bit later and asked if the jukebox didn’t play us a song - we’d get a refund.</p>
<p>We answered that the jukebox did play A song, but not the RIGHT song. The waiter told us that was just part of the charm, no refund for that ;)</p>
<p>Poster X asks:</p>
<br>
<br>
<p>Middletown’s Irish are a quiet presence behind the scenes. As you know, Connecticut is a small, quirky, intensely tribal state and no family of any stature escapes politics entirely. There are stories of Middletown politics that would make your hair stand on end.</p>
<p>I am well familiar with a few of them.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.wesleyanargus.com/article.php?article_id=3734[/url]”>http://www.wesleyanargus.com/article.php?article_id=3734</a></p>
<p>And here’s a website with information about how to send donations:
<a href=“http://www.orourkesdiner.com%5B/url%5D”>www.orourkesdiner.com</a></p>
<p>February 11th, according to this article:</p>
<p>[Diner’s</a> New Start – Courant.com](<a href=“http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-ctorourkes0123.artjan23,0,1893867.story?coll=hc_news_specials_util]Diner’s”>http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-ctorourkes0123.artjan23,0,1893867.story?coll=hc_news_specials_util)</p>
<p>How far a walk from campus to the diner? I don’t remember seeing it when I visited Middletown.</p>
<p>it’s on the north end of main street by the entrance to rt. 9, so it depends where you’re coming from on campus. maybe a 10 minute walk from a central point on campus.</p>
<p>i would say maybe a little bit longer of a walk than that. but still very doable. especially if it’s 4:30 am and you’ve just stayed up all night talking with friends and now it’s just the right time to go eat some breakfast and watch the sunrise :D</p>
<p>Mad, I can almost taste that stay-up-all-night breakfast. Thanks!!</p>
<p>Thank god it’s about to open again, I have heard legends about the omelets and muffins. Main Street is really pretty cool… this will be a great addition. And there’s a new building going up across from the diner that’s supposed to hold a new, expanded organic market.</p>
<p>I was always partial to Brian’s fruit crepes. Come to think of it, O’Rourke’s was where I tasted my <em>first</em> fruit crepe. mmmm. don’t get me started. :p</p>