The Cockpit

The Cockpit glows neon yellow from a lonely strip mall off Marsh Lane, drawing a middle-aged crowd with wood paneling and a bartender's promise to know everyone's name. The beer is cold, the liquor "bring your own" and the wine list offers a choice of red, white and pink. Preserving the bar's roots--pilots originally owned the bar when it opened in 1986--airplane models hang from the ceiling, reflecting from glass-framed pictures of planes covering the walls. On Sunday, the bartenders cook whatever they feel like and it's free to boot.