You know what's perplexing me this Fresh Forkin' Friday? The "left-over candy" recipes. Are there really households in this world that have left-over Halloween candy, I mean besides the sad collection of Almond Joys or hard candies left at the bottom of the bowl? Some of these recipes call for chopped up candy bars like Snickers or Butterfinger! Really? In what world are there Snickers left after November 1st?

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OPEN

Manitou Station is finally open up White Bear Lake way. The restaurant, which has been in the works for almost two years, is going for a pub vibe with both British and American comfort food.

Has anybody even heard of the R. Burger Bar? The build-your-own joint opened this summer in the MOA attached to the House of Comedy on level four. Besides an annoying and habitual use of the letter R as a substitution for "are" and "our," the mall joint offers a full bar (with spiked milkshakes), snacky starters, build-to-suit burgers, and specialties such as a Blue Lucy, a Kobe burger, and a sea burger made of battered walleye. Shoppers, on your mark ... 

CLOSING

This is the last weekend in the long life of the Uptown Bar and Cafe. While many people will wax rhapsodic over fuzzy memories of great music shows, I will be toasting the bar's memory with my collection of scratched and faded Uptown pint glasses which once held the bloody marys that sustained my 20s.

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Wild fans may have a reason to be happy after all. If you dine at Meritage before the game, and purchase at least two entrees, you can score free valet parking! Not only do you get hassle free car service, you get seriously great pre-game sustenance (you know those club-level nachos always disappoint).

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I know you have to get through this weekend before thinking about the next holiday, but you should be aware that you can order Wild Acres turkeys from the Mill City Farmers Market. But don't dawdle, supplies are limited and the deadline is Nov. 13.

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Doing something good for your city while noshing on treats from Barrio, Masa, Solera, and others sounds like a hot way to spend the evening, no? The Starlight Gala on November 14, benefits People Serving People and focuses on homeless children in our towns. The evening starts with tapas and ends with a dinner and Latin-influenced dancing. Jason DeRusha is hosting and I'll be there to sass about.

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