Smoke licks dense girders dark
chestnut, mahogany accents.
Red velvet elevates the décor.
Lighting is provided
bare and hanging
repurposed thick ropes run
with electric. Such current,
the unadorned metal stools
space made industrial
or give it a funky vibe (in the words
of the official Sofia City
Guide by Bulgaria Guides LTD.,
which happens
to be where the stunt
double of Sylvester
Stallone first happened
upon the bar’s listing—
how interesting, he was
struck by the name, striking:
“The Bulgar Vulgarian”.

Originally published in White Wall Review 40 (2016)