I feel bad for people who think this is what a cocktail lounge should be like. I used to go to Blue Velvet when it first opened. I was a lot younger and impressionable then. I understand it must be hard to do what other places are doing given the location of Blue Velvet. I'm guessing their usual customers are college kids who are used to drinking cheap liquor just like I was when I used to go there.
Now I realize they don't use very high end booze but charge the same prices as any other cocktail lounge would. The harsh lighting and metal decor makes the place look like a strip club (Don't get me wrong I'm down with strip clubs but I want to see some naked ladies if I'm going to be at one). Anyone who thinks their cocktails are good or creative really needs to check out some of the other places in town. You don't need to go to Chicago to find a nice cocktail lounge but you do need to skip the Blue Velvet.