****

OPEN:

Barrio in St. Paul opened this week in the Lowertown neighborhood, right by the Bulldog. Reports are of a swell build-out with much more space than its Minneapolis sibling, but the same Day of the Dead vibe and benchmarking cocktails.

Another Minneapolis-to-St. Paul expat opened up this week, Brasa on Grand Avenue in the old Italian Pie Shoppe building. Again, bigger digs at this location means you can finally grab your pals and gather for a large-scale braised beef party.

A reverse crossing of the river was done by Red's Savoy, which opened its first westerly location in Uptown. Lovers of the spicy sauce and square-cut pizza legend will be saying, "Galooneys, who?"

Jason's Deli has opened its first local location in Eden Prairie. The menu aims to be a break for burger-weary moms, featuring organic and healthy wraps, sandwiches, salads, pastas, panini and the like.

Admiral D's (651-330-3101) has kinda opened in the White Bear Lake docks. It's just serving burgers and tuna sandwiches until it can get its total act together. Brian McGoldrick's optimism is awesome.

Do you know what's NOT open? The Butcher Block, despite some reports, won't be open to the public until next Friday. Just so you're not standing in line waiting for the onslaught of wings.

****

Call for reservations now for Monday's Best of the Patio dinner at Azia because it's a brilliant idea. The four-course party pairs each patio drink with a patio snack: watermelon mojito with cranberry puffs, caipirinha with orange beef tenderoin satay, you get the idea. Cost is $45, and you'll also be grooved into the sweet summer night by a Cuban two-piece band.

****

If you're kicking yourself for missing the FRESH movie, you should be nicer to yourself. In fact, you should treat yourself to dinner + a movie at Corner Table, where $55 will get you a three-course, locally sourced dinner followed by an outdoor screening of FRESH. If you're just looking for the movie, that'll run you $15, and they'll be selling beer and popcorn from local farms (a popcorn farm, hee hee). June 30 and July 1 and 2, dinner at 6:30 and movie at 9:30; seats are limited to 40 people.

****

Shrooooooooms on the waaaater. Sorry. Jim Kyndberg is like a walking morel fest! He's now bringing his dinner to a cruise on the St. Croix aboard the Afton House Inn's Grand Duchess. The June 25th evening cruise will feature those tasty mushrooms in Kyndberg's creative dishes, a wine and scotch tasting, and the gorgeous river scenery.