“American Dining: A Working Woman’s Moment was an offsite installation in accompaniment with a public program performance at the New Museum. The installation at Gefen’s Dairy Restaurant explored the theme of American labor in the 1980s from a uniquely feminist and satirical point of view. The installation was composed of several components: diners playing the jukebox were treated to musical monologues by Allyn; and the regular place-mats were replaced with new ones, created by the artist with content devoted to famous working women. Based on the traditional fun-and·games format, the place-mat diversions included examples such as "Name That Dame: Who Are These Famous Food Women?”

Allyn also gave a live performance of “American Dining” at the Museum on January 12. Her humorous monologue with songs complimented the jukebox recordings.

Gefen'sns Dairy Restaurant was located at 297 Seventh Avenue at 27th Street.

Restaurant hours were Monday through Thursday: 7AM to 8PM; Friday: 7AM to 2:30PM and Sunday: 11AM to 7PM. “American Diner” is sponsored, in part, by the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.