To the one-star reviewers... Go find yer fun in the San Francisco Bay Area - stay in your safety bubble and launch some more iPhone apps, a'ight?
Here's the deal: during the middle of a 9,000 mile six-month cross-country booktour in the Summer and Fall of 2015, my ride (aka the www.Follow.us Bus) broke down in Winnemucca, leaving me "stuck" for three days. The community I discovered in and around "Mike's Mine Shaft" created friendships that I'll keep for LIFE. Here's my take on Mike's place -- this joint is a 24-hour community center and emergency walk-in therapy clinic, disguised as a hard-drinking (clothing optional!) pool-hall. During ANY hour of any day you can come in for coffee, liquor, conversation or compassion. In the space of a few minutes you can find new friends, pick a fight, or get a fuck if you treat him/her right. Come in for an hour or stay all night (and into the morning and afternoon if you like.)
ALL are welcome at Mike's place -- lonely old Cowgirls rub elbows with star-gazing burners; diesel-mechanic cage fighters cross pool cues with Mexican truck-drivers, and hard-working miners brave the light of day for the short time it takes to come up from the darkness of the earth's bowels to come hide themselves away from the sun for a 48-hour shift of time off to drink and howl and prowl and converse in the dark cave that is "Mike's Mineshaft."
Bring attitude and a bad vibe and get a double dose in return. Come in as YOU are, with a spirit of respect and appreciation for the people of this community and the fight against life's hardships that we all battle every day, and I'll lay a gamble that--just like me--you'll leave Winnemucca counting down the days to the time you'll be lucky enough to return to get "stuck" again, and reconnect with all your old friends at Mike's! When you go, tell `em Anker sent ya, and dole out some great big hugs to Mike, Robbie, KaSarah, Chad, Franklin, Jackie, Eli, Jack... etc., etc.!
[FULL DISCLOSURE (again to the 1-star naysayers): I'm an abstaining alcoholic -- wasn't drunk OR on drugs during one moment of the many hours I spent at Mike's. This clear-headed review comes from the heart of my sober experience there; I can only pity those who had a bad time at Mike's... maybe you brought too many of your preconceived judgments in with you.] read more