Ever think about your favorite hangouts? I mean those good places where, over the years, you’ve gotten a good meal, a cold beer, or a cup of joe? I was talking to a friend and fellow writer recently, about such places. And how, as we get older, good ones are getting harder to find and hold on to. Like friends, when you think about it.

Back when my friends and I were at Chico State, we had a few hangouts like that. I remember a small bar – possibly called Joe’s – with sawdust on the floor, Anchor Steam on tap, and peanuts. I used to like peanuts and cold beer. I don’t drink anymore; it’s antithetical to my quest for transpersonal and introspective clarity. Or something. It’s also expensive and fattening. But I digress.

My favorite hangout in Chico was a cool place in an old building right on the edge of campus, called the Madison Bear Garden. It was decorated – maybe slathered is a better word – with fun junk, and the food was great. Imagine my surprise when a friend’s blog post about our alma mater lead me to wonder if the joint is still there. It is, and they even have a Web site.