The Other Scene!
Finding the shiny objects where some people just see rocks
By The Other Jeannie Retelle
This Sunday, September 29, The Saloon is hosting their annual Employee Variety Show (formerly known as the Employee Drag Show).
September 25, 2024
This year, we decided to open up the opportunity for non-drag performances to maximize our fundraising efforts in the name of The Aliveness Project.
The Aliveness Project is a local nonprofit, whose goal is to spread education, raise awareness and end stigmatization of those living with HIV & AIDS. In past couple of years, we’ve raised over $4000 on average. But this year, our local queer community was deeply affected by the unexpected closure of Rainbow Health, ravaging a lifeline in mental/physical health. Overnight, thousands of individuals were left without their major (if not, primary) support system, and The Aliveness Project immediately stepped up to fill the void left in their stead. All of this is to say, The Saloon has committed to making this the biggest Employee Variety Show yet.
Everyone from barbacks to security to kitchen staff will be getting all gussied up and raising money in the name of this fabulous non-profit. I will be hosting it alongside Shia Vaughn and Betty Bang, and we cannot wait to show off the hidden talents of your favorite gay bar’s staff. Show starts at 6 pm with the shower contest happening afterward!
But before you do that, treat yourself to Small Hours, the new wine bar that just popped up in Northeast by Hai Hai. Mark my words, it is going to be the next go-to spot for first dates and quiet moments of self-care. My boyfriend and I were lucky enough to be invited to the soft opening last week, and we both felt inspired. The minimalist approach to the space’s design is complimented by the thoughtful wine menu. As a non-drinker, there were quality beverage options (sparkling tea and amaro-vibe soda).
And that simplicity is a through-line of the experience, with the kitchen featuring elevated-but-homey small bites, and an entire page of the food menu devoted to tinned fish. I was not expecting to enjoy tuna fillets in fennel and olive oil, because as a Midwesterner, seafood and aluminum has been classically reserved for your grandmother’s tuna salad. But it was incredible.
Small Hours has taken familiar concepts like wine bars & tapas-style offerings, but creates something greater than its parts. I had a coach once call it “the symphony effect”, when a team comes together and the resulting outcome is bigger than itself, and that’s what Small Hours is. Despite its humble exterior, there is an aspect of it that feels revolutionary, in the landscape of Minneapolis dining.
Oh, and I would be remiss to not mention the bathroom. It is the most selfie-friendly bathroom I have snapped a picture of myself in a minute. Maybe it was because I forgot to turn on the light at first, but I highly recommend stopping in for a snap alongside your glass and bite. (Small Hours is located 2201 NE 2nd St, and is open Wednesday & Thursday, 4:00-11:00 pm, and Friday& Saturday 5:00 pm - 12:00 am).
Introducing "The Other Scene" with The Other Jeannie Retelle!
September 11, 2024
Good day readers!
Every month, I’ll be hitting the streets of these beautiful cities and finding something that shines. Whether it be unexpected, unusual, or simply contrarian, I look forward to standing witness and reporting back all of the beautiful, weird, and strange things that the twin cities queer creative scene has to offer. Like a geode, I can’t wait to find the shiny objects where some people just see rocks. But that’s a lot of words, so you can just call it The Other Scene.
Now back to the Scene, with the weather!
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