Reno/Tahoe/Sparks tiki

Spent my holiday week in my old stomping grounds of the Nevada/California border. (You haven't truly seen the best and worst of humanity until you've lived in Reno for 2 years...) I was glad to see it all through new eyes because I missed a lot those years I was there. Reno has a WEALTH of great vintage signs on old motels (some still quite tidy) and old dive bars off the beaten path. Even the strip downtown has some adorable motel signs.

We hit Trader Dick's at the Nugget in Sparks, which was unfortunately closed for the day, only open at night.
Their gift shop had some drink bowls with painted on hula gals and raised lettering that said "Trader Dick's" so I was glad to fork over the $8.95. Antique malls on South Virginia had typical prices for mugs, but I couldn't resist a large black Moai for $25 (my max ever for a mug.) Lot's of Sneaky Tiki mugs, most in the $25 range...

Thrifting regularly in the Carson Valley is probably still pretty bountiful. I found one coconut mug for $3.00 and a giant carved fork and spoon pair for $5.00. Our fork and spoon collection is up to 10 sets now.

Also saw the giant Moai mini golf course off the 395 in Reno, didn't have time to stop and play.

Finally, the drive from L.A. to Tahoe on 395 was a fascinating time warp. Those of you who love roadside stuff like wagon wheel motels should definitely take the trip.
Towns like Lone Pine, Big Pine, and Independence seem almost untouched.

I used to live in Garnerville Nevada. We used to go to Reno all the time. I've driven the 395 to San Diego and back over a dozen times in the last 9 years. A very cool trek. I remember one time I stopped at Manzinar, where they intered all the Japanese during world war two. The wind was blowing and the sky was stormy, the sun was going down. It was the most spooky, haunting, desolate place on the planet Earth, real creepy. On a more positive note we had very good luck in the thrift stores in Carson Valley. I got about 100 mugs and a bunch of hawaiian stuff on 4th street in Reno and the F.I.S.H. stores in the valley. Trader Dick's rules, I liked to order the Volcano. If you're ever in Northern Nevada, Trader Dick's is a must see. This post made me nostalgic for my old home. Good post.
Mahalo,
Al

Good old Trader Dick's


Notice the "Volcano" in the upper right?

My own "Volcano"

From the Ormsby House in Carson City.
Mahalo,
Al

[ Edited by: Alnshely on 2002-12-05 18:23 ]

Al,
Is it true that you can still get their drinks in souvenir mugs to keep?

On a more positive note we had very good luck in the thrift stores in Carson Valley. I got about 100 mugs and a bunch of hawaiian stuff on 4th street in Reno and the F.I.S.H. stores in the valley.

Hula Hula tells me the same thing about Vegas. He said he leaves stuff all the time.

Out here in vegas you can usually pick up stuff for a decent price,though now it seems things are getting slighty harder to find. A few weeks back when johnnievelour and his wahine were here we pick up the black maoi's for $5 or something like that, I got a Aku AKu tiki for $4 and we found A set of Aku Aku barrels for $25, and some trader vis coconuts mugs for $5.Those black maois are still there and are the easiest to find. I think the dealer are getting hip cuz the regular guy I hit is pretty well cleaned out.There a guy on ebay out here who sell a lot of mugs, so I know I have some competetion.

They still serve in mugs at Trader Dick's. They charge a few more dollars if you want to keep the mug. they get the mugs in in the spring and use them until they're out. They use different mugs all the time. In the past 8 years they have served in mugs like these

[ Edited by: Alnshely on 2002-12-06 08:57 ]

I think the dealer are getting hip cuz the regular guy I hit is pretty well cleaned out.There a guy on ebay out here who sell a lot of mugs, so I know I have some competetion.

Hula Hula,
Do you hit the "Red Rooster(?) and that book store way down the same street? I am hip to that guy, bought something there on my last trip to Vegas. I expected lots of Aku Aku stuff, ended up getting a Tonga Room mug. Go to Vegas, get mugs from places in my town! Funny.

I am thinking the entire Southwest must be vintage mug heaven. So many old-timers spending the Golden Years in the desert. Gajillions of great mugs just sitting out there in old boxes, garages, and such.

Cheers!
midnite

Al, you showed us a menu of tropical drinks from the Ormsby House in Carson City. What's that about? Can you still get such drinks there?

The Ormsby House is a very traditional cowboy casino. One arm bandits and whiskey, YeeHaw!!!. I got that menu in an antique mall 4 years ago. The Ormsby house had long since stopped serving tropical drinks.
Mahalo, Al

Where do you shop in Vegas? I haven't seem such cheap prices in years!