Buy this on Etsy

So, this Fresh Forkin’ Friday brings a lot of turmoil. Way beyond doping and fake girlfriends, we’ve got some local identity issues. The CC Club is being bought by the French Meadow gang, DMG has a good telling of their future plans. All I can say is that yesterday on the twitter, people who haven’t been there for YEARS were freaking out that things were going to change, lamenting the distillation of an organically cool icon. Things have already changed, chums. This is no longer the city of the Replacements and you are likely not having three day drinking binges. I’d go as far as saying the majority of people wouldn’t be able to recognize the city that plays backdrop to Purple Rain, beyond the outside of First Ave. This is now the city of Nice Rides and light rail, where a bagel shop known for ethical farming lives on one side and an expanding powerhouse of hippie food lives on the other. It’s true the bar has been around for a lot longer than GenXers, but we made it famous, so we own it, right? There were no cool points for ordering a PBR and you used to be able to smoke at your table. Does the next drinking generation really have room for a punk rock dive bar as was CC Club? Shouldn’t we just let it go and let it become whatever it is destined to be, keeping in our hearts and minds the memories of the floor that tasted like Marlboro Reds and disinfectant? I know I will.

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CLOSES

Pardon My French, the nice little bakery cafe in Eagan with an outpost at the Mall of America, has suddenly closed. Their Facebook mentioned circumstances beyond their control and that they were just as surprised as us. Too bad.

COMING SOON

Early rumors last week had Mill Valley Kitchen replacing the D’Amico Kitchen in the Chambers, which is partly true. Apparently MVK’s owner will be installing a new restaurant called Marin, fashioned in the same Cali-healthy vein as his first endeavor. Will it sell to the downtown crowd? Will it be a refreshing alternative to the Union/Crave/Seven dens of cocktailing and the Fogo/Capital Grill/B&B meat corridor? Will it aim high as is expected for a Chambers location or will it aim middle to go for more mass? I have all these queries and more.

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Beer fiends … it’s time for tickets. Don’t delay, because you gotta sync it to drink it if you want to be on the PLUS side of the sellout beer events in these here towns. Ready, set, ….

Happy Gnome’s Firkin Fest is happening on March 30th, but tickets are already on sale for $50 and all the firkins you can cuddle up to.

Advance tickets for the Spring Ale Fest have already SOLD OUT! But you can still aspire to sample local ales at either session (noon-4pm or 5-9pm) because there will be a limited number of door tix available. Form your lines now, please.

There’s still time for tix for next weekend’s Beer Dabbler at the Winter Carnival! Get on it, though … this one sells out every year too.

This awesome sounding class at the Four Firkins, Inspired Brewing in Belgium and America, is already SOLD OUT but I thought you should know about it so you can keep your eye out for future educational opportunities from these guys.

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Let’s not complain about January, let’s embrace it, shall we? Go frolic in the snow up at Grandview Lodge next weekend while the Winter Culinary & Wine Experience is happening. There’s special lodging rates, wine dinners, food demos, a Champagne brunch not to mention ice fishing, skiing, snow shoeing, and spa activities.

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Do you feel like rubbing elbows with a culinary legend? Lidia Bastianich will be in town to help support your local TPT station with a fundraising dinner on Jan. 30. Pony up $500 for a dinner for two with Lidia in the studios, and you’ll also get an autographed copy of her Lidia’s Favorite Recipes book.

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Have we talked abut National Pie Day at the Grand Cafe? On Jan. 23 the cafe will host two seatings for a special dinner that starts with duroc pork and ends with pie. What could be better? Here you go, the pie is actually a flight of pies that include flavors such as honey bourbon apple with rosemary whip and salty honey among others crafted by pie lady Christine Hoffman. Get your spot for $25, and get it now.

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