Day 41—Tuesday, February 19th
Merchants NY
I’ve had a really shitty night tonight at work and I’m not prepared for this at all. Usually during my lunch break I’ll pick out the bar on the internet and take it from there. Tonight it was so crazy and busy and machines were breaking down and people were yelling at me and I have a whomping-stomping headache and I have no idea of where to go. I’m going to keep it close to home, so I think I’ll just wander around close to my home base and pick a bar at random and see what happens. So let’s go commit an act of random taverness. Got any aspirin?
Here we go down Sixth Avenue in search of a bar.
After my night tonight I kind of feel like putting in an application here.
I pass by this deli every day and I always find their sign proclaiming them to be the "finest deli" rather boastful, so I never buy anything here.
I thougt about going in here, but it was too much like last night's bar. All corporate and yuppie stuffy. Plus the name made me think of Sarah Palin's book and intensified my headache.
Well, I can't drink at a bar called Elmo, that's just against the rules.
This place was packed and was a yuppie wine bar. I'll pass. Hey down the block is a French Vietnamese place that has a cool little bar in the front. Let's try that,it might be perfect.
Motherfucker, it's closed. I can't win tonight.
Okay, this place isn't packed and looks like a decent little bar.
Here's Terri the bartender serving me up a Budweiser. She was cute and really nice, but when I told her about the 365 bars idea she looked at me like I was nuts and seemed to be a little afraid of me.
Here's the bar at Merchants NY.
Here's a booze case, after I took this Terri nicely asked if I would stop taking pictures. She was nice about it and had posed for one, so I'm not going to fly into my usual rant about it. Plus I'm not really in the mood for this anyway. And besides, what am I doing here when I have pussy waiting for me at home?
That's right, I'm cat-sitting for my friends John and Luna. Here's Q sitting on top of a copy of fishwrap.
And here's M enjoying a late-night snack. Say goodnight M. Goodnight everybody!
Review
A nice quiet bar in the Chelsea area of Manhattan. Techno music plays low and you can enjoy a drink at the front semi-horseshoe bar or at the tables in the back. No gimmicks or gadgets here, just a low-key hang with a decent drink and food menu to be had.
Merchants has an extensive wine and cocktail list and the beer list includes domestic and imported beer such as Boddingtons, Chimay Grand Reserve (Belgium) and Fisher Alsace (France).The dinner menu offers such treats as
Lobster Ravioli Gratin, Trout in Truffle Oil, Linguine Al Pesto and Jerk Chicken. Brunch is served on Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 am till 4 pm. Have fun in here, just don’t bring a camera.
Merchants NY
112 Seventh Ave. Between 16th & 17th St.
212-366-7267