Issue date: 8/20/05 Section: opinion

Versus Magazine Online [Image based format]

If you are looking for a place of respite where urban sophistication collides with secluded relaxation, look no further than J.J.'s Market. Tucked away on 21st avenue, behind the famous Noshville Dinner, J.J.'s Market has long been a place where Vandy students, along with those some would refer to as the "indie-crowds", gather for coffee, brews, baked goods, or late-evening study sessions. Hours of operation are 7:00am-midnight Monday through Friday, 9:00am-midnight on Saturday, and 12:00pm-9:00pm on Sunday. One of the most unique markets in Nashville, it boasts an offering of distinctive fine chocolates, myriad flavors and brands of cigars, both domestic and imported beers, a wide variety of coffee and tea drinks made fresh at the counter, and it also has one of-if not the very best-magazine selections around, with such titles ranging from Vanity Fair to Skeptical Inquirer to Biblical Archaeology.

J.J.'s, as I affectionately refer to it, is probably best known for its mellow ambience, making it one of the best places for a collegiate to study academics or read for leisure. In the center of the store, you'll find a large sofa and coffee table, scattered with various types of newspapers and magazines for early a.m. patrons. With soft, incandescent lighting and music playing almost imperceptibly in the background, I find it to be a rather tranquil, inviting environment-the calm eye in the hurricane of fast paced city life and academic stresses and pressures ever present on campus. The décor also contributes to the peaceful aura of the store-burgundy velveteen curtains adorn the rear wall, and antique yellow paint, cherry veneer, and brick grace the rest. Though the atmosphere is cozy and chill, it is extremely conducive to academia, should you choose to study there. You'll find many old-fashioned wooden tables on which you can spread out your books, your papers, and your laptop-J.J.'s has free Wi-Fi wireless internet access. But, don't bring in any outside food or beverage, as it is not allowed. Besides, it pays to sample some of their delicious import chocolates that are such rare finds, as well as their café style sandwiches and organic selection of chips (if you need a jolt of caffeine, I highly recommend the German Chocolate or El Salvador Dali coffees). The market is smoke-free as well, so if you do wish to enjoy a cigar, you must do so outside.

For me, J.J's has been the perfect place for me to relax with either a good read or my Kaplan LSAT book. It is a place that feels like home, whether you happen to hail from a bustling metropolis or a small rural community. It is the subtle nuances, like the tinkling bell that sounds when customers enter and exit, the steam of the espresso machine, or the chipping paint on the ceiling, that remind me that I have escaped (at least temporarily) from the hectic realm of the Vanderbubble and that with some peace and quiet-and a good cup of java-I can refuel, refocus, and recharge my inner scholar.

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