I nearly went back to bed this morning after reading that a Chicagoist tipster wrote in that the Diner Grill was closed. But instead I hobbled over there to check it out for myself, hoping the boys at the 24-hour home of the slinger had just vacated for some late August fishin'. It's true--the lights are on but the joint is locked and empty--though perhaps not permanently. There was a fire--there's a hole in the ceiling above the disarticulated grill, but the damage, at least to my untrained eye, doesn't look devastating. And then there's a scribbled scrap of paper in the window stating "Closed for remodeling," which in restaurantese can translate as "We emptied the register, stiffed our creditors, and ran for the border." But given the circumstances, I'll hold out hope.