In Dialogue at Small Hours is series of intimate, live conversations with music lovers about records they cherish. Join us for this special edition as we welcome our friend Peter Pisano in for a chat with Sam about Jeff Buckley’s one and only studio album, “Grace”. Additionally, Peter will be performing songs from this iconic record throughout the event .

After moving from Los Angeles to New York City in 1991, Jeff Buckley built a sizable following by playing gigs at Sin-e, a tiny cafe on St. Marks Place, with crowds often spilling onto the street. Released in 1994, Grace was recorded in upstate New York after a major label bidding war and a fraught six months in the studio. Initially received with mixed critical reception. Buckley’s stunning vocal range and delivery along with his impressive guitar prowess and captivating stage presence have solidified this record over the years as one of the best of the 90’s. After years of heavy touring, Buckley tragically passed during an impromptu swim in the river the day his band was arriving to meet him in Memphis to start recording his second album. While there are plenty of live recordings and collections of his work that have been released posthumously, Grace remains his shining achievement and has only grown in stature as time has passed.

Peter Pisano is a songwriter and singer best known as the voice and guitarist of the indie folk duo Peter Wolf Crier. He released three albums on Jagjaguwar Records, appeared on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series, and had songs featured on shows including Shameless and Fear the Walking Dead, as well as on BBC Radio 6 Music. After years of recording and touring, he stepped away from music and moved to Toronto, where he taught college prep English. Since returning to the Twin Cities in 2016, he has co-founded Mafic Ocean, an artist-led spatial design studio that creates installations and environments, while also developing a new body of music shaped by folk songwriting, choral music, Gregorian chant, and Romantic poetry.

Grace is a bit of an outlier from what normally gets played in Small Hours. That said, it’s such an impressive and special piece of work with so much legend to dig into, it’s a great candidate for In Dialogue. Peter has recently put together a band to cover all of Grace, and it sounds incredible. Together we’ll explore what makes this record so impactful and time tested. Peter will play some of Jeff’s songs solo- a nod to Jeff’s early days at Sin-e- and we’ll talk a bit about Peter’s career as well and how Grace impacts his work. Price of admission includes a glass of wine and a reserved seat in the dining room during the chat.

Wines of Italy kicks off with Piedmont, in Italy’s northwest, a region known for the famous Barolo and Barbarseco. With structure, perfume, and some of the country’s most iconic wines, this benchmark region is one to know!

Through four wines, we’ll explore the range of the region, from bright, and textured whites to the more structured, tannic reds it’s best known for. Along the way, we’ll talk about what gives these wines their identity: grape variety, climate, and tradition, and how those elements show up in the glass.

This class is about learning how to approach wines that can feel serious or intimidating, and finding a way into them that feels personal.

We’re joining forces with HiFi Wine Bar in McMinnville, OR for a one night takeover of the decks and glass list. Jason Romero, partner in HiFi Wine Bar and Martin Woods, will be curating the night’s sound and wine selection from 7-10. We’ll be pouring the wines all night!

Wines of Italy kicks off with Piedmont, in Italy’s northwest, a region known for the famous Barolo and Barbarseco. With structure, perfume, and some of the country’s most iconic wines, this benchmark region is one to know!

Through four wines, we’ll explore the range of the region, from bright, and textured whites to the more structured, tannic reds it’s best known for. Along the way, we’ll talk about what gives these wines their identity: grape variety, climate, and tradition, and how those elements show up in the glass.

This class is about learning how to approach wines that can feel serious or intimidating, and finding a way into them that feels personal.

Raised in a big Italian-Irish family in New Jersey, Darren’s always seen wine as a way to bring people together. He left a career in finance to help open Red Hook Winery, went on to work harvests out west, and now represents Sandhi, Evening Land Vineyards, Domaine de la Côte, and Piedrasassi.

We’ll be pouring special bottles by the glass all night as well as flights to illustrate site and style, but if you want to catch Darren, show up between 5-8

Juleana Enright (Bleak Roses) (Lower Brule Lakota) is a queer writer, curator, and DJ based in Minneapolis. They have performed at local haunts Nightingale, Muddy Waters and Darkhorse, as well the Walker Art Center and Mia. Inspired by frisson, transient soundscapes and esoteric obsession, Bleak Roses’ Small Hours set strives to blend ebullient avant-pop, enigmatic gothic folk, bittersweet retro-soul, psychedelic and sunshine pop with electric roots, exploring counterculture and rebellious love.

With DJs Jeff Wepplo and Mark Butcher

Celebrate Valentine's Day at Small Hours! Join us for a romantic evening for two (or four) at 5:00-7:00 or 7:30-9:30. Let us handle all the details: decorations, music, a three course dinner, and optional wine pairings!

Add a carnation for your date, a friend, or a stranger! Order a dozen carnations and make a bouquet! All carnation proceeds will be donated to support our Northeast neighbors with housing and rent assistance.

This is a set menu. We are not able to provide modifiers or substitutions. GF friendly.

$60 per person + tax and gratuity.

Join us at Small Hours as Nom and Salome come together for a hands-on cake decorating experience centered on creativity, community, and care.

Guests will arrive to a welcome beverage and light snacks before sitting down to decorate a 4” double-layer cake with everything you need provided. Tickets are sold by table, meaning supplies are shared between couples or groups of four for a collaborative experience.

Each table will choose from:

• Cake base:
  Vanilla buttermilk or chocolate olive oil

• Frosting options:
  Vanilla mascarpone whipped cream
  Pistachio buttercream
  Raspberry cream cheese
  Dark chocolate cream cheese
  Toasted sesame buttercream

• Fillings:
  Passionfruit curd
  Raspberry jam
  Pistachio butter
  Espresso pastry cream

You’ll also have access to an array of edible decorations such as fresh fruit, sprinkles, edible flowers, and more. Everything you need to make it your own.

Your ticket includes light snacks and your first beverage. Gluten-free accommodations are available; we’re unable to accommodate celiac or dairy-free needs at this time—thank you for understanding.

Two seatings are available: 3–5 PM and 5:30–7:30 PM.

100% of Nom & Salome’s proceeds after expenses from this evening will be donated to Minneapolis community mutual aid efforts, including rent assistance and legal funds.

Come make a unique cake for your valentine!

Lily Belle is a Minneapolis-based musician, member of the local band Seven Pines, and a restless creative driven by sound and connection. Raised on everything from roots rock and bluegrass to bossa nova and funk, she weaves genres together naturally, inviting love and inspiration into the room through music.  At Small Hours you’ll hear a collection of female-fronted folk, jazz, and French pop, plus plenty of soul and R&B in the mix.

Eli is a Milwaukee transplant to Minneapolis of over two decades, during which time he has actively collected records of all kinds. He currently fronts the indiepop group Real Numbers, releasing music on Slumberland Records. Beloved Radio featured his monthly "Burning Blue" program and he ran the near-mythical KAKE 87.9 "The Cake" from 2018 - 2022.

Introducing In Dialogue at Small Hours. A new series of intimate, live conversations with music lovers about records they cherish. For our inaugural edition, we’re going long on the Blue Nile’s second album, “Hats” from 1989. Join us as we welcome our friends James Diers and Dave King from the band Halloween, Alaska in for a chat with Sam about this classic record.

The Blue Nile was a Scottish band, active from 1981-2004. Their seminal record “Hats” was release in 1989 after a long period of studio time fraught with starts and stops, inter-band tension, and even a ceremonial burning of the tapes of an abandoned set of songs. Despite these difficulties, the results are immaculate. Hats has stood the test of time and continues to find dedicated devotees to this day. A gem of a record.

Halloween, Alaska was co-founded in the early 00s by Dave King and James Diers. Initially started as a true side project, an outlet for indulging electronic tones and an almost meditative restraint. Over the last two decades, the group has adapted and endured with a collaborative, experimental spirit. Five albums and more than two decades later, the band has announced their final perfomances at the Dakota on January 23rd. Their legacy is sure to live on as one of Minneapolis’ finest musical projects.

Hats has been a go to album at the bar since we opened. It also had a hand in the architecture of Halloween, Alaska. On the heels of Halloween, Alaska’s final show we’ll talk about the history of that project, the history of the Blue Nile,  and how one informs the other. We’ll listen to a song or two during the conversation, and even give away a record to a couple attendees. Price of admission includes a glass of wine and a reserved seat in the dining room during the chat.

Don’t fight for a last minute reservation, join us for one of two dinner seatings from 5:00-7:00 or 7:30-9:30. Your ticket includes a table reservation for two or four, a glass of sparkling wine to get the evening started and a decadent family style Ossobuco with a side of broccolini.

A la carte additions will be available, including starters and dessert.

Family style vegetarian dish available. Non-alcoholic beverages available.

$75 + tax and gratuity

PART III — PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER: LIVING WITH WINE

The final session is the capstone of the series, tying together everything from the previous classes. Four wines and snacks from the kitchen guide a conversation about how structure, style, and place interact in a glass. We’ll focus on reading wine labels and lists with confidence, trusting your palate, and understanding why your preferences matter more than rules. You’ll also gain tools for stocking a small but versatile home collection and a perspective on how climate and wine-growing regions influence flavor.

By the end of this class, you’ll walk away with confidence in tasting, describing, and choosing wine at home or in a restaurant, practical skills for navigating labels and lists, and a reflective, confidence-building perspective to carry into the new year.

An evening of Sophisti-pop, bossa nova, cool & west coast jazz

Join us for our first ever Holiday Market! We’ve selected some of our favorite small, local businesses to fill the dining room for a curated and intimate shopping experience. Little Jazz Bar will be spinning vinyl all evening, setting the tone for a warm and lively gathering. We’ll have seasonal snacks and wine available for purchase throughout the evening.

Your ticket includes:

• Entry to the market to shop ceramics, jewelry, prints, vinyl, textiles, florals, and more!

• One beverage of your choice

• Seasonal snacks

Additional wines will be available by the glass, and any bottles you’d like gift this holiday season can be ordered through our retail partner.

A limited number of tickets are available for each time slot to facilitate a comfortable shopping experience in our intimate space. Please choose the 1-hour time slot that works for you and arrive at any time during that hour.

A cozy, celebratory way to shop small, sip something delicious, and ease into the holiday season.

PART III — PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER: LIVING WITH WINE

The final session is the capstone of the series, tying together everything from the previous classes. Four wines and snacks from the kitchen guide a conversation about how structure, style, and place interact in a glass. We’ll focus on reading wine labels and lists with confidence, trusting your palate, and understanding why your preferences matter more than rules. You’ll also gain tools for stocking a small but versatile home collection and a perspective on how climate and wine-growing regions influence flavor.

By the end of this class, you’ll walk away with confidence in tasting, describing, and choosing wine at home or in a restaurant, practical skills for navigating labels and lists, and a reflective, confidence-building perspective to carry into the new year.

PART II — BEYOND THE BASICS: STRUCTURE, STYLE, AND PLACE

This session builds on the foundations from Wine 101. With a flight of four wines and snacks from the kitchen, we’ll explore what gives wine its character — structure, balance, and style — and how climate, soil, and winemaking choices shape flavor. You’ll also spend time recognizing your own palate preferences and why they matter, as well as learning to articulate more nuanced qualities in wine.

After this class, you’ll have a deeper understanding of how wines differ and why, more confidence exploring new wines on your own, and a foundation to bring into the final, capstone session.

Grady (Not Grady) has been collecting and playing records for over two decades. After growing up in Tucson, AZ, he learned to DJ in the early 2000's while running a live/work/performance space in Chicago known as Texas Ballroom. He later spent 7 years in Honolulu where he was a resident at the now defunct thirtyninehotel - playing alongside DJs like James Murphy, Prins Thomas, and fellow resident DJ Harvey.  Since moving to Minneapolis, he's DJ'd sets at The Lowry, Steady Pour, Beast Barbeque for Housewerk, Dusty's Bar for The Nitty Gritty, and moto-i for Hi-Fi Pop-Up. Grady thrives on discovery, seeking out overlooked gems, strange hybrids, and forgotten grooves that lie at the intersections of disco, jazz, punk, ambient and global dance experiments. He'll be bringing a selection of some of his favorite records for an evening of warm, spacy, cosmic sounds with a few surprises. 

PART II — BEYOND THE BASICS: STRUCTURE, STYLE, AND PLACE

This session builds on the foundations from Wine 101. With a flight of four wines and snacks from the kitchen, we’ll explore what gives wine its character — structure, balance, and style — and how climate, soil, and winemaking choices shape flavor. You’ll also spend time recognizing your own palate preferences and why they matter, as well as learning to articulate more nuanced qualities in wine.

After this class, you’ll have a deeper understanding of how wines differ and why, more confidence exploring new wines on your own, and a foundation to bring into the final, capstone session.

Vogue Memory is a selector/DJ based in Minneapolis. Cutting his teeth as the electronic music show host at Radio K before spending some years in the Northeast, his selections are driven by his belief that listeners are willing to explore more eclectic sounds with the right guidance. His quieter sets span experimental, ambient, DIY pop, folk, and anything else that catches his ear. His sets in more dance-like settings oscillate between menace, mania, and melancholy, featuring industrial-leaning techno, mutant electro, and percussive tracks that don’t neatly fit into genres. True to his range, he’s played in dive bars, dance spaces in Brooklyn, DIY venues, and cafes/wine bars