I judge a movie joint on the quality and selection in their documentary section. It's not an easy genre to keep current and well-rounded, and it takes the diligence and passion of a doco fan to catch my eye and keep me coming back--Bird Dog has this poodle always panting for more.
I have also decided to start judging movie joints by the quality and freshness of the jumbo sour keys--and here again Bird Dog has a hammer lock on the competition.
If you like a movie place run and staffed by film fans you can relate to, who all keep a ready eye out for both the hot and new, and cool and under-rated, then stop wasting your time at a chain and go enjoy the personalized service at Bird Dog. The place is also frequently home to art shows and silent auctions that help keep the arts community busy, and one can usually score tickets to cool film events and festivals around town from the folks at behind the counter.
Two last words on this place: Pop Shoppe.