Bin opening in St. Paul Here's more good news for Lowertown's burgeoning nightlife scene. Just a couple of doors down from Barrio and the Bulldog, Bin Wine Bar will finally open on Saturday night. Bin is billing itself as a dedicated wine bar, with an extensive selection, plus $1-an-ounce and $2-an-ounce flights (full bottles range from $18 to $200). The bar also will serve beer and cocktails, as well as a light food menu. Once again, Mayor Chris Coleman will welcome downtown St. Paul's latest nightlife spot by jumping behind the bar on opening night (opens to the public at 9 p.m.).

400 Sibley St., Suite 150, St. Paul, 651-224-9463. www.binwinebar.com

Scotch: the new wine I can't even imagine what a $750 shot of 55-year-old scotch would taste like. (Gold, I'd hope.) You can find out yourself by joining the new scotch club at the St. Paul Grill. The classic bar has found a new way to showcase its large single-malt scotch selection (73 in all) by offering tastings, talks and membership perks. When you join (it's free), you'll be given a plastic membership card. The bar will track all the scotch you buy and taste at the Grill. As you reach different levels of tasting, you'll be rewarded with a free 1.5-ounce pour from one of the bar's more vintage bottles (such as: Laphroaig 30-year -- a $42 value). Once you've tasted every single-malt, you'll be presented with a coveted pour of that $750 scotch -- the Macallan 55. Wednesday's inaugural gathering will feature a Balviny tasting (three scotches for $20). For future monthly events, general manager Randall Kahn plans to bring in brand ambassadors from Scotland's various distilleries.

6-7 p.m. Wed. 350 Market St., St. Paul.

651-224-7455. www.stpaulgrill.com.

'The Next Episode' Dr. Dre, right, hasn't released a proper album in more than a decade. But for the past eight years, a group of Twin Cities party gurus have kept the gangsta-rap godfather's spirit alive with an all-out bash. As usual, Dre Day 2010 will land on the good doctor's birthday (Thursday), as they celebrate everything that makes the man a hip-hop icon. This year's festivities, held at the Triple Rock, will include the Twin Cities Chronic Mothership Band (members of the New Congress and Felipe from Los Nativos) performing Dre's classic songs. Rappers Trama and Carnage will join them. DJs Jimmy 2 Times and King Otto will spin Dre's hits. And DJ Espada will host the "$20 Sack Pyramid" (if you don't know, don't ask). The night is masterminded by the guys behind Burlesque of North America, who will have the usual assortment of Dre Day stickers and other merchandise available.

9 p.m. Thu. 629 Cedar Av. S., Mpls. $8 advance/$10 door. 21 and older. 612-333-7399.

www.triplerocksocialclub.com.

TOM HORGEN