Change coming to Christian nightclub The downtown nightclub scene can sometimes be a drunken, raunchy place. But amid this whirling kaleidoscope of debauchery is Club 3 Degrees, often called the nation's largest Christian nightclub. For years it's been a home for sold-out Christian concerts and weekly services (and a spot where the larger nightlife crowd could once get pancakes after bar closing).

Now the club's co-founder, Nancy Aleksuk, says she is looking for a smaller space downtown. The three-level club had been an extension of the Brooklyn Park megachurch the Living Word up until January 2008, when the two amicably split, Aleksuk said.

The Living Word, which still makes lease payments on the space, is looking to move on. In the meantime, the club is still operating as an event center and church. Brian Sullivan, associate pastor at Living Word, said, "The economy has caused us to re-evaluate" the church's financial stake in the space.

Aleksuk said 3 Degrees will live on. "The priority will be finding a facility that accommodates church first and concerts second," she said. "We absolutely want to stay in downtown."

Beer + monk = big deal Beer fans are pretty spoiled in the Twin Cities. Every month there are beer festivals, beer dinners and numerous other chances to hang out with brewmasters in our fine beer bars. Later this month, beer lovers will have a whole new reason to geek out when a Trappist monk comes to the Muddy Pig.

Beer connoisseurs go ga-ga for the strong, rich flavors of Belgian Trappist beers, and love the peculiar fact that they come from breweries run by monks. Father Isaac -- from Koningshoeven in the Netherlands -- will make this rare visit to the Muddy Pig for two seminars on June 27. About 40 tickets are available for each session. They go on sale today at the St. Paul bar. Attendees will have a chance to sample all of Koningshoeven's beers, plus get a sneak peek at the brewery's 125th-anniversary beer, La Trappe Isid'or.

Event organizer Lanny Hoff (of Artisanal Imports) said he's heard of only one other time when beer fans had the opportunity to meet a Trappist monk this way.

1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. June 27.

162 Dale St., St. Paul. $30. 651-254-1030.

www.muddypig.com.

Barrio 2 set to open If the second Barrio is a success in St. Paul's Lowertown -- and how can it not be? -- the once sleepy downtown could become a viable bar scene. The tequila bar will open Tuesday next to the Bulldog. Solid Gold will play Thursday as part of the Twin Cities Jazz Festival's "Jazz Night Out."

235 E. 6th St., St. Paul. 651-222-3250.

www.barriotequila.com

TOM HORGEN