@caffetto encomium!

It’s Sunday and these days are packed now. The goal is to fit in the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, creative and family requirements all together. I’m currently at @caffetto with @guthrie and it’s making me think about the history of this place and relevance of a small Minneapolis coffee shop in my life. I’ve raised him here. We’ve met and lost friends. My highest highs and lowest lows have been experienced within the confines of these brick walls. @mada even introduced me to Hive here, which was a paradigm shift in my life. I wanted to take one night to give @caffetto the respect it deserves with a written homage to the last decade as a patron and community member.

@caffetto has been there through so many chapters of my life. It’s seen the best times and the absolute worst. In fact, Brent, the owner has introduced me to many of my favorite bands and musicians just sitting in the booth. It’s been there for over 20 years. Timber Timbre, one of the many that has become fully integrated with my soul and even as I write this I’m reminded of the lyrics of, “Woman”. “Do you forget what you try to remember, and you remember what you try to forget.” Also, I’d be remised if I didn’t mention that this was where I first heard Matt Elliott. “If Anyone Tells Me “It’s Better to Have Loved and Lost Than to Never Have Loved at All” I Will Stab Them in the Face”, captured me as the most beautiful piece of music I’d ever heard. I tried to Shazam it and after three attempts, I approached the bar and he told me everything about him. For over a decade every dark pinup shoot I’d done from that day on, I listened to him during each session. He’s has a deep influence on my work as a photographer.

@guthrie grew up at @caffetto. Right after he was born, that was the first place I’d taken him. He was in a small basket. I would later get custody of him and we’d sit together. I’d rock his car seat while editing photos as an infant and as a toddler, he’s camp to my side on his iPad building worlds in Minecraft. He met friends there like Abel and Iver. The threshold to the back door, all of the parent’s have been recording the kid’s heights since they were just little. @guthrie has four marks over the years with his most recent, inches taller than me at 5’8”. Our lives are quite literally recorded on the hallowed walls of a cafe in Minnesota.

Some of my most memorable dark pinup shoots have happened at @caffetto. The basement is filled with pinball machines and the light emanated from the displays is the perfect atmosphere for dramatic portraits. From fetish to hip hop, I’ve had several clients commemorated within the graffiti’ed surroundings. @mada even did an RStory token pitch video in the same space. During COVID, we almost lost this community. Our friend Krista published a Go Fund Me and we raised over $12K to keep the space open. It was enough to get Brent to the government business loans so @caffetto could survive.

There’s so much more to include. I’m realizing that as I’m writing this. From the Magic: The Gathering games with @tarotbyfergus to the daily EUC rides from my house to uptown, it was always the destination that brought me comfort. I feel a little guilty because I haven’t been spending near as much time there since Qamaria opened. I’m definitely in a few chapter of my life but @caffetto will forever have a place in my heart. It has seen me at my happiest, most broken and most authentic, for better or for worse. Thanks for reading!