The first time I went to Bar WILLS, it was an early winter evening, map on my phone guiding me on a zigzag walking route from Montréal’s Parc de la Petite-Italie. Reconnaissance mission. One of my favourite collectives that puts on events for listening to music on vinyl was going to be on deck at WILLS for New Year’s Eve and I wanted to check out the space in advance.
I have described my reconnaissance missions before: when I arrive, I choose a spot that let’s me see the room and what’s going on in it, I order a glass of something and a small plate, then see what I think of the place and ask myself, do I want to come back here? In a city like Montréal, where there is so much on offer, I have noticed that the places that I go back to again and again seem to have some kind of secret ingredient in the mix.
For WILLS, the glass of beer and the small plate that I had, nice, yes. The room itself has been described as “sleek and elegant” and I would agree. What decided it for me, though, was the bartender. She was funny, interesting, welcoming (and of course, on point behind the bar). Someone like that is secret ingredient one.
Since that first visit, I’ve discovered other secret ingredients at WILLS. The expansive space holding the fermentation tanks, usually behind closed doors, occasionally opens up for events, such as a recent exhibit of beautiful work by Bastik. In the summer, the large patio (where I took the photo above) is home to regular block parties, often with my favourite music selectors from MIMS (referenced above) or Ferias (and guests) on the turntables.
Secret ingredients. For starting off an afternoon or grooving into the evening. A thank you to the WILLS crew-in-residence and to those they bring into the mix for events. A good time, every time.
a few words ... from Montréal 