I drop a bunch of names in this one

I recently had occasion to attend a big party/reunion of people who used to work at or patronize Deux Gros Nez. If you aren't familiar with the Nez, or are new to Reno, I tell you now that it was a funky little coffeehouse/diner that went out of business a year ago, after I think 22 years of operation. Its atmosphere was a little cliqueish and its food walked that fine line between "pretty good" and "fucking horrible"*, in my opinion. But the place made good beverages, was colorful and interesting, had a really progressive recycling program, and hosted a big bike race. It had a loyal group of regulars and was locally owned, which goes a long way with my hippie Wal Mart-hating self.

Thinking about Deux Gros Nez food (see above!) made me think of Pneumatic Diner food. The Pneumatic Diner is a similar type of place--tiny second-floor location with "eclectic" decor, oversized cookies at the cash register, bike-loving clientele, etc.--with worse food. Some of it is vegan, but the gross kind of vegan**, and almost all of it is made in a microwave. Which is cool if you maybe aren't too familiar with cooking, or eating, or food, or being human, and look at it like "wow, this is pretty good for being made in a microwave." But it's decidedly less cool if you've actually eaten food before and you look at it like "wow, this is really awful, I don't give two craps how it was cooked, and I can't believe I'm paying real money for this bullshit."

Again, the Pneumatic is locally owned, and it makes a lot of people who aren't me happy, so, you know, I recommend it if you already ate (perhaps real food you made at your own house way better for way less money) and just want to share a cheap pitcher of Fat Tire with some friends. I also recommend it if you're me in high school and are tired of going to the Lyons on McHenry, trying to while away the endless minutes before you get to go to college. In addition to food best not spoken of ever again, the Pneumatic Diner has a fun-to-read bulletin board all full of flyers for reiki and rolfing and hippies looking for housemates and stuff.

And THAT made me think about something else (do you like this journey we're taking together? Me too.). If I lived in a world where a) I had a house and needed housemates and b) craigslist didn't exist, where would I post a flyer for housemates? Which Reno establishment best represents me, and would be the most likely to attract similar people with whom I could peaceably cohabitate in a house-type living situation (of life)? This is a fun exercise. You should do it too.

My first instinct was of course Pho 777, because I eat there so much. But it's downtown, and all kinds of people eat there, many of whom would probably leave messes in the bathroom. So, no. As for the Honey Bakery, I don't think I want to live with a 70-year-old Chinese grandmother, even if she does know when the tunafish buns are fresh. They're always out of them when I go! Tell me the secret codes!

Next stop: the Nevada Historical Society. Pretty much everyone there is 90 years old and they all take forever to do anything. No. The Polo Lounge? Too many smokers. Video Maniacs is too judgey of my crappy movie tastes, La Bussola is a hoarder, and El Pescadore is obsessed with keyboards.

So I finally decided on Sundance Bookstore: nice nerdy people, good book selection, McSweeneys everywhere, flattering lighting, and no cell phones allowed. Of course, Sundance doesn't actually have a bulletin board where you can post random shit so it's a good thing I don't really need a housemate. THE END!

*The first time I went there, on a house-hunting trip to Reno at the turn of the century, I was served a piece of stale foccacia with a half-melted, cooled piece of cheddar, some marinara sauce from a jar, and a lonely slice of tomato on top of it. It was really bad. I didn't go back for a couple of years.

**For actually really good vegan food without the hippier-than-thou attitude, I highly recommend the Dandelion Deli, especially its brownies and cupcakes.