Two Moxie writers visited Luke’s Diner pop-ups across the country – and got a little taste of Stars Hollow in Washington, DC and Overland Park, Kansas.
Article by Taylor Kuether – Washington, DC
Photos by Alisa Morse – Overland Park, KS
October 5, 2000 – The date which “Gilmore Girls” made its quick-witted (and even more quick-talking) debut, sparking seven beloved seasons, millions of devoted fans and the age-old debate: Dean, Jess or Logan?
Exactly 16 years later, 20- and 30-something women lined up around the block at 250 coffee shops across the U.S. to experience a little slice of Star’s Hollow, the quaint town the show takes place.
In what is realistically a PR stunt (but shush, let us enjoy the magic) to promote the upcoming Netflix Original™ four-episode epilogue to the series, independent coffee shops in major cities across America were transformed into Luke’s Diner, home to one of the show’s love interests and the most popular coffee joint in town, offering free coffee and a heaping portion of nostalgia.
My roommate and I boarded the bus at 6:15 a.m. and headed to Three Fifty Bakery and Coffee Bar, one of the three D.C. locations Luke-ifying themselves for the morning. We arrived at 6:50 a.m. and found the line already stretched around the block.
Gilmore fans, some clad in Chilton-esque uniforms and others (largely, supportive boyfriends) in Luke’s signature flannel and baseball cap, waited about an hour on the cool fall morning to get inside the small cafe, grab a cup of coffee and take a selfie with the “Luke’s” sign out front. It was worth it—the camaraderie alone was enough to warrant the trip.
Nostalgia is a powerful tool. Not only did it bring about the return of Rory and Lorelai, the fast-talking mother-daughter duo and leading ladies of “Gilmore Girls,” but it drew block-circling crowds to local coffee shops all over the country. It united people who grew up watching “Gilmore Girls” with the important women in their lives.
I left the event with coffee in-hand and a smile on my face. For a fleeting moment, my walk to work on this sunny fall morning in downtown Washington, D.C. felt like a stroll through Star’s Hollow.
The four new 90-minute episodes, titled, “Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life,” land on Netflix Friday, November 25. Get your coffee brewing, your Red Vines at the ready and have Al’s Pancake World ready on speed-dial to order Chinese food and pizza. The girls are back.
Moxie 
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