To say I am a regular at Piccolo Bar is an understatement. It is not the closest bar to our place. They don’t play the best music, though I have heard one Deep Purple song and an entire side of an R.E.M. disc once. They don’t serve food, save the €1 bags of chips or nuts. But, the people here treat me well. It is a comfortable room for me. I have written about Piccolo Bar a couple of times before and here I am again talking up my favorite watering hole. I have now become a regular here. I usually come here in the evenings when El is training online and I want to be out of the house so as not to distract. It is a place I can come and stand at the bar, drinking a cheap draft beer and journaling between conversations with other locals who call this their regular spot. There are some people I see here almost every time and some I see occasionally. It's becoming the place where everyone knows my name and the shout of “ciao, Sim!'' has been heard when I arrive, when I leave, when I am just walking by, and even when people see me walking about town in a context completely unrelated to drinking, journaling, or socializing. I have been here when there are only a couple people in the room, and I have been here when there is a line for the bathroom because so many people are here that the crowd spills into the street. One of my favorite key players is Alessio, one of the bartenders. He is a really nice guy who recently confided in me his 24 year age. He is working most of the times I come in.
The other night I was doing my thing: standing, journaling, drinking a beer, and looking around the room trying to come up with the words I wanted to put down. It occurred to me at that moment, many bars have a sample or two of t-shirts hanging on the wall for sale to interested customers. I also started to think about the fact that I have seen them in local bars in Albany. Ones I patronize regularly but never once thought to need a t-shirt from. I'd then think "who would buy a shirt from Wolff's Biergarten" not giving it much more thought than that. Now I sit in Piccolo Bar thinking "you know, if they had a shirt for sale, I just might buy one." So I suppose the common answer to my initial question regarding Wolff's- out of towners- that's who.
It is close to 8:00pm and my bartender is getting ready to leave. Benny, the replacement has arrived and starts his pre-shift prep. Also present is the owner who I am just meeting for the first time. Alessio wears his Piccolo Bar down vest over his Piccolo Bar sweatshirt. I know I am in no market for a down vest, but a dark blue sweatshirt with an understated Piccolo Bar logo in the upper left- now I could see myself wearing that- a fun reminder of one aspect of my life in Bari. I lean to him over the bar and ask, "hey, where can I buy one of those shirts?" He confirms, "you want one like this?" I affirm and since I don't see any on display, I am really just on a fact finding mission- to purchase before I head home in a couple of weeks. The owner interrupts and Alessio moves onto his next chore. Meanwhile Benny and the owner speak and he leaves the room heading back to the storage closet. However, instead of returning with a case of napkins or sugar packets to restock the condiment carrier near the espresso machine, he brings out a brand new pull over hoodie with the Piccolo Bar logo on the left side. I ask how much? Obviously, it is more substantial than a t-shirt and they surely don't just give these away. Nonetheless, Alessio, Benny, and the owner, all encourage me to try it on for size. I feel like it is my birthday and everyone at the party is encouraging a fashion show. I oblige, the fit is actually quite comfortable. I ask again how much and Alessio leans in and says, "gift."
Oh what a delightful story! Maybe I'll get to see that shirt on you someday - but only if I visit in winter! I remember well you wearing shorts to work outside in January, even though it was in Texas
ReplyDeleteThat is a great story.
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