Spoon and Stable — Gavin Kaysen's coming-soon culinary den formerly known as Merchant — has pegged an opening date. The feverishly anticipated North Loop restaurant is slated for a Nov. 16 debut, with online reservations scheduled to begin Monday. The Minnesota native-turned-stud New York City chef has recruited a bunch of local talent (cocktail virtuoso Robb Jones and La Belle Vie vets Bill Summerville and Diane Yang) to help with his homecoming endeavor.

211 N. 5th St., Mpls., www.spoonandstable.com

Surly anniversary at Dakota

Surly beers rarely conform to style guidelines, so it shouldn't be too surprising that the metal-blasting beer-makers have tapped upscale music joint the Dakota Jazz Club to host their eighth anniversary party Sunday. The Brooklyn Center brewery, which has a bigger, badder Minneapolis site in the works, will release Surly Eight — a hearty anniversary oat wine aged in High West rye whiskey barrels — and announce details for the vaguely tipped Doomtree/Surly event on Dec. 7. Doomtree DJ Paper Tiger and special guests perform.

5-10 p.m., Sun., Dakota, 1010 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., 612-332-1010, free,

www.dakotacooks.com

What's brewing in Waconia

The suburban brewery/distillery sprawl has pushed its way into Waconia in recent weeks. The Carver County exurb got its first taproom with the newly opened Waconia Brewing Co. — which launched last month with four mainstay beers, including an amber ale, kolsch, IPA and its WacTown wheat beer. The separately owned J. Carver Distillery rolled out its wheat vodka and gin in stores last week. The start-up distillery operates in a renovated Waconia car dealership.

MICHAEL RIETMULDER