Friday, June 18th, 2010—Bar 159
Day 159—Thursday, June 17th, 2010
Bar Veloce
First off I want to thank someone for sending in a photo he took of me in action on the 365 Crawl. I met Handel the night I went to the Mug Lounge. He snapped a photo of me doing my bar crawl thing and here it is:
Thanks for sending it in and following the crawl, Handel!
Okay, I’m not going to lie, there are nights I just don’t feel like doing this and tonight’s one of them. I don’t know if it was something I ate or what, but my stomach feels a little shaky and I’m really tired. But there’s no way I’m missing a night now, I really don’t want to start all over again. So it’s onward and barward, whatever the fuck that means! I didn’t even have the energy to find a place for tonight, so it’ll be a totally random choice. I’ve decided I’ll walk to the corner of 25th and 8th Avenue and walk eastward till I hit someplace I want to go to. Maybe a bar with nurses in it. Okay, time to crawl, and tonight, the way I feel I may literally end up crawling!
Okay, here we are at 25th and 8th, I need to find a bar soon, in addition to my stomach feeling shaky, I've got a major-league headache.
And so off we go.
Must be a donut factory.
...the Chainsaw! (Look closely.)
Okay, this is the last time I do a random crawl. There's not shit around here. Fuck, I just want to go to sleep.
Goddamn, it's fucking desolate around here!
I'm going to hang a left here and see if I can find something.
Every bar I pass has the fucking Laker's game on with people staring at it like zombies. I can't do a bar crawl thing in that kind of environment.
This is going to be me in about twenty minutes if I don't find a bar to sit down and relax at. I've been wandering around for 45 minutes and my dogs are barking.
HATE the Trader Joe's! Fuck, I just want to find a bar!
HATE the Laker's! What the fuck is wrong with everyone? I can't do my bar crawl thing in this kind of crowd. Fuck!
This place looks promising.
They've got a Vespa out front which is a nice touch.
Okay, it looks nice and relaxing in here, and what's that on the TV?
Why? Why not, it's not the Laker's, so I've decided this is the bar of the night and none too soon!
Bartender Thomas is a real pro of a bartender and a nice guy to chat with.
Cheers! (Nice shirt, huh?)
While there is bottled beer, spirits and sake available, Bar Veloce is a wine bar with an extensive selection. This is just a small sampling on the wall.
Some of the night's offerings are shown on this board.
A wooden candle lit wooden table and chairs line the wall opposite the bar.
Postcards can be had for free, hey, that's Thomas!
Obligatory overhead bar mirror shot.
I wasn't going to do any meet and greet photos, but what the hell, I've got a second wind now, let's go say hi to this couple.
Pamela and Chris were enjoying a quiet moment at the bar. Till I burst in with my 365 chatter. Hey, it's what I do!
Thomas pours the last beer of the evening. Hooray, I made it!
Almost. Goodnight everybody!
Review
Bar Veloce is an elegant, long narrow bar and the emphasis here is on wine, tasty food and professional service. Owner Frederick E. Twomey has modeled the bar in the fashion of Europe’s “fast bars” where people stop by for a quick and enjoyable drink while on their way to other venues. The bar is sleek and long and there’s a long candle lit wooden bar with chairs opposite to sit at. A TV screen in the back of the bar shows foreign movies with subtitles and the sound off. Jazz music plays in the background at a low level, allowing easy conversation to flow.
This is a wine bar, so the wine list is extensive and impressive. In addition to the wine there’s classic spirits, sake and three bottled beers available. They also have a food menu featuring eight olive plates, twelve panini choices and six Piatti composed plates to choose from.
Bar Veloce is a nice, relaxing place to hang, especially when there’s a Laker’s game going on. Sometimes a subtitled film on the tube is a nice choice when you’re tired and just want a drink or three. Or four.
Bar Veloce
175 Second Ave. (Near 11th St.)
212-260-3200
26 Comments
Reader Comments (26)
Bartender Thomas looks like a real pro. Nice suit and fancy moustache. Kinda reminds me of the old time bartenders of NY,,,they all dressed up. Veloce means speed,,,right? I think you need a good nites sleep and those strong Chimay Ales will help out. I know you dont want to hear this but,,,,im so glad the Lakers beat Boston,,,,I grew up just down the street from where the Lakers played in the sixites and you either love them or hate them,,,,,I love them. Oh,,,,I hope you feel better by tomorrow,,,this crawl is going ALL THE WAY.
@Al: It's not that I hate the Lakers, I don't really follow sports, I just hated the fact that that game was on in every bar and people were watching it like zombies. Don't they realize I've got a bar crawl going on here where I need to interact with people! Thanks for the nice wishes! 365 is going all the way!
Have a good night's sleep Marty, youve earned it. Don't know where I'd find the energy to hold down a job and do this crawl thing as well as you do.
zoom zoom! LMFAO! good job since you were so tired! thomas looks like a real pro!
Ditto on the Zoom Zoom shot! Took me a second to get it, I'm a little slow today (and everyday.) Cheers to you for forging on the crawl while being beat, a nice bar and a cool atmosphere.
P.S. HATE THE TRADER JOES!
I like this place. Nice break from the typical teevee land bars. I will have to visit sometime to see for myself how there can be EIGHT different olive plates! Of course, I'll have to drink martinis while I test them. Hey, nice photo of the "Nightly Offerings Board." Even though I can't read any of the specials, it's a totally fab, well-composed shot. Makes me relaxed and tired and thirsty all at the same time. Who could ask for anything more?
To 365 going all the way
luved tha "Zoom Zoom" shot, the chainsaw will be proud!!!!...& what is the go with so many New Yorkers interested in the LA Lakers????....excuse my downunder ignorance.....
Your determination and perseverance continues.
Must... crawl.
No turning back now!
Glad you found an "Out of the NBA Finals" place.
Nice to know Phil Jackson now has more Championship Rings than fingers and thumbs.
@B R: Hell yeah!
@fitzy: It's not just you, I don't get it either.
@everyone: HATE the Trader Joe's!
Marty I know how you feel , & I didn't want to check out your crawl today since I didn't get enough sleep & been working late all week , so I scrolled all the way down as fast as I can , but did noticed the word zoom on a photo , but didn't stop there & went straight to comments just to write this , Cheers
It's good to see that Tony Levin found work after King Crimson.
Trader Joe's is neither a trader nor a Joe. Discuss.
@Linda Richtman: You speak my language! Trader Joe is the Art Vandelay of chain stores, a fraud and a liar! Do not buy your wine there!
@"Boris": I admit I had to Google Tony Levin and goddamn! He and Thomas are a 365 Separated at Birth moment! Good call!
I found out that Aldis's europe owns Trader Joe's.. So I can get the same crappy generic crap cheaper at Aldi's.
I only go to Joe's for the candy anyway...
As a nurse, I'm just going to say- you totally should've found a bar with some nurses. It would've been a much more rip roaring time- that's for sure!
ps. screw the stupid lakers
@SuzRocks: Let me know some nurse friendly bars and I'll put them in the file!
damn man sorry to read about the stomach feeling a little shaky...hope it isn't the stomach bug that was making the rounds recently in this neck of the woods...it only lasted 2 or 3 days but those 2 or 3 days were not only miserable but very painful...dealt with my 2 days with patron and colt 16's...is it just me but is thomas one of the first male bartenders that doesn't appear like a deer caught in the headlights?...KOC
rr
Thomas scares me. Too bad you haven't won that lotto to split with me yet. Might up your mood a bit. But would I still get my half if I told you I'd want to buy a Trader Joes with it?
Hmmm.. I think we pretty much consider every bar to be nurse friendly. If I hear any of in the Manhattan area- I'll let you know!
@kari: Thomas is a good guy, don't let him scare you. What scares me is that you'd buy a Trader Joes! Aaaah!