Sunday January 17, 2010—Bar 7
Day Seven—Saturday, January 16th—La Vela (I originally was headed for Bourbon St.)
Alright, the seventh day! And they said I couldn’t do this. Actually I can’t wait until I get further into this because people I meet keep asking me how many bars I’ve been to and then they scoff when I tell them the low number. And I don’t like to be scoffed at!
On a non-scoff note, if you happened to notice I put up a “Donate” button over there on the right-hand side. I figured if you’re having a good time reading this, maybe you’d like to buy me a beer. Consider it a cover charge for the online bar crawl I’m providing. Well, already someone has donated, a fellow named Rich “Happy Cappy” Caposino! I used to work with Rich and he generously sent in 20 bucks today! Holy Fucking Moley! He must’ve hit the lottery, the last thing this guy bought for me was this shitty, motherfucking, piece of shit sandwich from Blimpie’s...well, I won’t go into that, because it’ll take the rest of the post and if you work with me, no doubt you’ve heard the story. But anyway, mucho thanks to Happy Cappy for tonight’s donation! Get here to the city some night, Cappy and join me on the bar crawl!
Speaking of the bar crawl, tonight I’m going to that Mardi Gras themed bar I was going to go to last night. It’s called Bourbon St. and it’s located on the Upper West Side. So let’s grab a subway car and hit the fucking road! (Oh, I got the picture below from their website, hopefully she’ll be bartending tonight!)
Here we are the 14th St. station headed towards the Upper West Side.
It's a little bit of a hike, but it's cheaper than a cab and probably quicker too.
This is our stop and how kind of the mitten woman to point it out. Thank you mitten woman! And they say New Yorkers are unfriendly. Peeeshaw!
Okay, here we are down in the bowels of the Manhattan Subway System. At least it's winter, in the summer there's always a humid urine stench in the air.
We're waiting for the express train which is just three stops to the Upper West Side, as opposed to...
The local train, which makes about 15 stops. I was half tempted to get on though, as sometimes you can wait forever for the express.
I was glad I resisted temptation because seconds later the express train showed up. Huzzah!
My brand new Doc Marten boots, resting casually on the subway car.
Crazy-guy self portrait on a subway car.
And before you know it, here we are at 72nd Street. I love the express train!
The Upper West Side is my old stomping ground, I lived here for four years when I moved here in 1993. I lived in the Beacon Hotel right next to the Beacon Theater. And thanks for the warning Beacon Theater!
And here's my old apartment. It's a hotel room now. I drank lots of Meister Brau in my economically challenged first year here in New York City.
Bill Maher once gave me the evil eye in this deli when I did a double take at him. Bill, you're a funny guy, but don't be such an asshole. If you don't want to get the double takes, get off the TV!
Apples!
This is a poster in a barber's window. Seriously, who in the fuck is going to say, "You know what, give me the number 24 look."
Okay, we're almost there.
Okay, here we are, the Bourbon St. bar. Hey, I'm a poet and don't know it. Okay, full disclosure here, I HATE going out on Saturday night's. It's the New Year's Eve night of the week and this place is packed and it'll be tough to try and talk to people. Fuck it, I passed a little Italian restaurant a few blocks earlier with a little bar up front and I'm going there instead. I'll try this place on a weeknight when it's not so crazy.
Here we are, the La Vela restaurant. An old school Italian joint, right down to the red checked table cloths.
However I'm here for beer and bartender Cris serves up an ice cold Peroni at the small bar in the front of the restaurant. Cris is also an accomplished DJ and you can reach him and find his facebook page through his email here: Cris_booking@hotmail.com
And dutifully I drink my first beer of the night. It was delicious!
The front bar is small, but well stocked. I think this will start a tradition of going to small, quiet, out of the way bars on Saturday nights.
Here's Cris and his co-worker, Mariya.
Balloons!
Cris' lovely girlfriend, Natalia showed up. The two of them were going to a party later where Cris was the DJ for the evening.
After the third Peroni it was time for a bathroom break.
So far the toilet's have been spotless everywhere I go. It makes me feel ashamed about the state of my own toilet at home. I need to bust out the Scrubbing Bubbles.
Obligatory bathroom mirror shot.
Beer number four and my work here is done. Thanks to Cris, Nataiie and Mariya for being great sports and good company on a quiet Saturday night.
And the best thing about the eveing? Right across from the subway station is the Upper West Side's Gray's Papaya hot dog stand.
Hot dog! And goodnight everybody! And mucho thanks again to Rich "Happy Cappy" Caposino for buying the drinks tonight!
Review
Okay, while I spent my time at the bar here, this is officially an old school Italian restaurant on the Upper West Side. I can’t comment on the food, because I didn’t eat there, but what I saw being served looked great. La Vela is a quiet place, perfect for a family dinner or a first date. They’ve got a full bar, a great selection of vino to compliment your Italian dinner and take out is also offered.
La Vela also serves a great lunch and hours are 12 pm to 11 pm Sunday through Thursday and Friday and Saturday they’re open till midnight. Outdoor dining is available when weather permits. And it’s a great place for a quiet quartet of Peroni’s on a Saturday night. Ciao!
La Vela
373 Amsterdam Ave
(212) 877-7818
11 References
Reader Comments (7)
Beautiful lady bartender who dances on tables for you? Always a plus!
I am LOVING your bar adventures, and photos, and these blog posts. And, yes, I would LOVE to buy you a beer in the near future! [Check your paypal account AFTER Friday] Hope you are having as much fun doing all of this as I am reading about it!
I too will buy you a beer or six after i pay for my number24 stylin skidoo haircut! Like the bar......seems like a good place to relax, drink, go to the washroom, get a gun out from behind the toilet tank and go blast some motherfucker in the head!
You are one funny motherf@#&er!
The mustache is just as bad as the haircut in #24.
Cappy? Stop makibg us cheap fuckers look bad.
I hope your 20.00 donation bounces.
I love the old school Italian joints with checkered tablecloths, and they're few and far between these days! If you don't mind, Marty, I'd like to go there for dinner next time I'm in town. And I'm even going to order a soda in hopes that they serve it in one of those "frosted" red plastic cups!
On a side-note, what's a poster of Stalin doing in a New York City subway car?
You're absolutely right about Saturday nights! They're for amateurs.