Bar Review - Manly men at Jocks & Jills

World War II movie buffs should make a point of visiting Jocks & Jills in Midtown. The bar itself isn’t particularly war zoney, but the parking lot behind the place has a Stalag 17-ness that the history B.A. in me finds quaint. It’s a pit, surrounded on three sides, and lit by eerie sodium lights. The real Dubya-Dubya-Two touch is the voice from the loud speaker telling you that parking isn’t free. It’s a courtesy installed to make sure that customers don’t get booted or towed by the parking Nazis, but its martial tone makes me wanna goosestep. (Note to self: Pick up a copy of The Greatest Generation.)

Jocks & Jills isn’t about campy war nostalgia though, it’s about watching sports. When men gather in bars, it’s very often to watch people with great physiques jumping around in a manner that gets us worked up. On weekend afternoons and Monday nights, we watch men playing sports on TV. On weekend nights, we watch women in strip bars.

For the “looking at men and cheering” times, Jocks & Jills is ideal. TVs are visible nearly everywhere in the bar. It’s heaven for sports fans and pranksters with universal remotes. J&J Midtown’s unique attribute is its deck. It’s the only place I can think of where you can watch a big-screen TV outside. And because the deck faces Peachtree Street, the place has an urban feeling (if you’re into that sort of thing).

There’s a stellar selection of beers, Champagne for when your team wins the big game, and for those of you who entirely miss the point of sports bars, White Zinfandel. The food selection ranges from sports bar staples like burgers and wings to lighter, more frou-frou fare like the Vermont Harvest Salad (garnished with raisins and toasted walnuts). Other than my own couch surrounded by beer and Doritos, there’s no better place to watch sports.

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Jocks & Jills Midtown. 112 10th St. 404-873-5405. Hours: Mon.-Tues. 11 a.m.- 1 a.m.; Wed.-Sat. 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-midnight. Specials: Mon.-$6.95 Coors Light pitchers, Sat.-Corona Buckets $11.95 (four), Sun.-Pizza and a pitcher of Sam Adams Lager or Seasonal $15.95.??