With such a welcoming attitude and accepting character, Jackhammer could well change its eponymous logo to a pair of outstretched (albeit hairy) arms. Favored not just by so-called "bears," but boys and girls of any stripe, Jackhammer claims to be a melting pot of clientele.

Those who may have stayed away from its previously dodgy incarnation should warm to the tidy simplicity of the bar's dark, basement-meets-nightclub design, dotted with the occasional beefcake poster and several TVs playing eye-popping skin flicks. The front portion is sports-bar dim but houses the requisite disco ball for the dance floor, though there is a larger, snazzier space to cut a rug in the back. Off the rear dance floor, Jackhammer keeps an outdoor patio that fills to capacity in the summer months.

Retro arcade games and pool table provide light entertainment for evenings when there isn't an event, which in Jackhammer's case is not often. Daily specials (like $3 imported beers and $1 well drinks on Thursdays) along with Tuesday night karaoke keep seats filled till 4 a.m. during the week. Every third Saturday of the month is an underwear party, but being one of the few 5 a.m. bars in town keeps the place packed even on non-skivvies nights. For those looking for a place to sport their best pair of chaps and harnesses, Jackhammer's basement-level Leather Room has special events—only available to those dressed accordingly.

After nursing the Saturday hangover for a few hours, Jackhammer opens for inexpensive Sunday brunches and buffets. Throughout the week, cheapie buffets draw in the sports crowd, providing opportunities for guys to meet prospective teammates for one of Jackhammer's sponsored athletic teams.

Though it couldn't be any further from the prototypical Boystown bar, Jackhammer's cheap drinks and packed date book still make it a place where the boys (and girls) want to be.

Centerstage Reviewer: Kim Bellware