Bar Review - Whistlin' Dixie

It's Wednesday — two days till payday. You want to get loaded without dropping into the red, maybe even meet some decent folks. Well, just mosey on over to the Dixie Tavern in Marietta for $2 drink night.

Inside, one is immediately struck by the joint's charming simplicity — maximum woodiness, sparsely decorated. There's a stage in the center of the bar with pool tables to the left and some token seating areas to the right. However, this is not a sit-down kind of bar. That would keep you from the best part of the bar: the people.

Though the name "Dixie Tavern" might insinuate something bordering on redneck, the crowd is nothing of the sort. A mix of mid-20s to early-40s folks, mostly working types, make no pretense about having a good time and sharing a laugh or two. This might be a reflection of the staff, which is just as mellow as the soft lighting. Hell, you might find yourself saddled up next to a blond bombshell who turns out to be the owner!

The drinks were so minimally priced that the temptation to conduct a full-fledged symphony of alcoholism was too tempting to resist. It started with a Maker's and Coke that was so nice I had to try it twice; then we dive-bombed a couple rounds of Kamikazes. The drinks were still coming out silky smooth, so we had to get wild. The Tequila Sunrise was perfect, and the Greyhound was a sure bet. I began to get unhinged with a Screwdriver and we acted like kings with our Crown and gingers. Finishing it all off was some Sex on the Beach, then the curtain went down on this ode to joy.

The Dixie Tavern. 2319 Windy Hill Road, Marietta. 770-690-0090. Beer $3-$4.50; wine $4; mixed drinks $4-$6.50.