When Doug Ross decided to leave the landscaping business to start his own bar, he came prepared. Ross had the proper papers filled out, the location and the money to fix it up. One key ingredient, however, was missing when he went for approval: a name for the bar.

"When we went to the Health and Liquor Committee they asked us our name and we didn't have one," says Ross. "We said 'what do you think?' and that's how we came up with it."

The committee cannot be given too much credit though as Six Points Bar and Grille (6200 W. Greenfield Ave.) is one of the more aptly named bars in the Milwaukee area. Situated at the crossroads of National Avenue, Greenfield Avenue and 62nd Street, this junction is not only the marking of a civil engineer gone awry, but also the six-way intersection that provides this local bar with its namesake.

While the moniker may lack originality, the bar itself is a valuable addition to the surrounding area known to have a bar on every block. There's a blues open jam on Mondays and plenty of live music on the weekends, as Ross spends a significant amount of time booking up-and-coming local bands. When live music is not present, the atmosphere is enlightened by a mix of rock that includes the likes of Led Zeppelin and the Black Crowes. A number of brews (Guinness, Bass Ale, Budweiser, Bud Light, Miller Lite, Miller High Life and Blue Moon) are available on tap providing ample resolve to stop in for a drink.

The local bar feel of Six Points is intensified by the fact that it is almost always staffed by Ross, who calls the bar his "24-7 job" and lives upstairs in the house whose first floor had long ago been turned into a bar. Also not to be forgotten is Ross's dog, Molly, a bar regular who is more apt to give you a quick lick than bring you a drink, only increasing the amiable appeal of the place.

The 15-month-old bar features many of the bar standards with a pool table, dartboards, several televisions and, of course, a Golden Tee video game all inside the wood-and-green trimmed interior of Six Points. A lunch and dinner menu is also available, the highlight of which is the steak sandwich, says Ross.

While you're there, check out the small signed photograph of Frank Sinatra. It's easily overlooked because of its high perch on a wooden cross beam close to the ceiling. It's a donation from one of Ross's friends and is a gift that was originally intended for said friend's mother.

Patrons of the place come from many walks of life. Ross says he sees blue collar and white collar visitors from the suburbs, as well as the East Side.

"Everyone is welcome," says Ross, "as long as they aren't here to cause trouble."