photos by Caitlin Abrams
As if to prove the point I made last week, that a chunk of Northeast Minneapolis is turning into a garden of delights, the neighborhood is now getting a lovely little wine bar: Small Hours opens on Saturday, Sept. 21.
A self-described hi-fi wine bar, Small Hours marks the collaboration between wine pro Sarina Garibović of Ženska Glava, and Sam Cassidy, a singer-songwriter who also builds a mean cabinet. Each had thoughts of opening a space on their own when a mutual friend brought them together, at a post-wedding brunch, and said: "You two should talk."
Sam Cassidy and Sarina Garibovic standing at the bar
As the name indicates, the space is small, with only about 40 seats. And while the building may seem a little off the beaten path (tucked into the neighborhood two blocks west of Hai Hai on NE. 2nd St.), it is somehow important.
"It's weird, but we both have a long history with this space," Sarina told me. "It was the first place I hung out when I came to Minneapolis, there was a half-pipe in the back, and a lot of my boyfriend's friends hung out here and rode BMX. Both of us have had friends living in the apartment above at one time or another. I almost signed a lease on the space for a ZG shop, before it was Moth Oddities. Thank god that didn't work out, we had no idea what we were doing back then, we thought we'd sell wine and flowers."
tables and chairs along the wall
The one room operation has tables and chairs, bench seating along one wall, and high tops along the other. There's a small bar where four people can sit at the isthmus. The back of the room is anchored by cabinetry that Sam built himself, it holds albums and glassware. It's a warmly stylish and minimalist room, which should allow the music and the bottles to center the guest experience.
It's not just friends, space, and time that have brought the two together, it really is a like-minded mission. One that speaks of sharing your gifts. I happened to ask each of them, "Why quit the day jobs to do this?" while the other was off grabbing something and out of the room. They spoke in parallels:
Sarina: "I just really want to talk to people about wine. We have about 11 rieslings on the list, because I'm very into riesling right now. I know not everyone is going to be down for that, and we have to account for that, but if I'm going to do this, I have to share what I know. There are so many great wines out there."
Sam: "Honestly, I'm most excited about talking to people about music. We'll let an album play a whole side, because it's kind of like a bottle of wine, you have to let it tell the story as it goes on. You can't really get an understanding with one sip or one song."
It's key to realize something about Small Hours, it's not a something-for-everyone kind of spot. It challenges you to re-think hospitality: Instead of walking into a place to Get What You Want, it's more akin to walking into someone's home and being available for what they have created to share with you. If you come open and ready to explore and expand your world, you won't be disappointed.
bottles and plates
There are about 100 bottles on the list, but only a few by the glass. Their hope is that you opt in for experiencing that wine change a bit from the first glass to the second as you listen from one album to the next. For food, they're offering snacks and small bites that work well with wine: butter radishes, chicken liver toast, lots of tinned fish options.
A thing that makes both Sarina and I crazy, is when you ask a question like, "What should I drink with clams?" and the person answers, "Whatever you want!" Yes, we know we can drink whatever we want. We are not asking for permission, we are asking for guidance, for an opinion, for expertise.
Sam and Sarina both promise, they've got answers for you here.
Small Hours opens Saturday, September 21. It will be open W-Th from 4–11 p.m., and F-Sa from 5 p.m.–12 a.m.
