Events: Cocktails at the Castle

FRIDAY

Cocktails at the Castle

The American Swedish Institute kicks off spring with a bang with its first Cocktails at the Castle event of the season. Inspired by Alfred Nobel's invention of dynamite, the night celebrates the institute's Nobel Prize-themed exhibition, "Nobel Creations," with live music by Dosh, DJ sets by Jake Rudh, food and drinks, a bonfire (with s'mores!) and fire dancers. The centerpiece is a fashion show produced by Tim and Thom Navarro — a remix of their Black Hearts Ball held at the institute earlier this year featuring avant-garde looks by local designers including Danielle Everine, ArielSimone and Claire Ward. (7-11 p.m. Fri. $12-$45. 21 & older. American Swedish Institute, 2600 Park Av. S., Mpls. 612-871-4907 or www.asimn.org.) Jahna Peloquin

SATURDAY

Stanley's Beer and Bacon Fest

With the 20th annual Art-a-Whirl taking over northeast Minneapolis (see pages 38-40), Stanley's Northeast Bar Room returns its ancillary Beer and Bacon Fest. Besides limitless samples of more than 100 beers and porky breakfast meat that people are overly enthusiastic about, the Saturday block party features live music, hand-rolled cigars and hammerschlagen. (2-5 p.m. Sat. $45-$60. 2500 University Av. NE., Mpls. 612-788-2529 or www.stanleysbarroom.com.) Michael Rietmulder

SATURDAY-SUNDAY

Last year, local geekdom was up in arms over Wizard World Comic Con placing its stake in Minneapolis — only two weeks before the Midwest Comic Book Association's long-running, volunteer-run SpringCon. Possibly in response, MCBA rebranded its event as MSP ComicCon for this year. MSP ComicCon is a decidedly more creator-focused event compared with Wizard World's focus on celebrity actors. The 27th annual event features more than 250 comic book creators, including DC and Marvel artists Aaron Lopresti, Doug Mahnke, Christopher Jones and Dan Jurgens, plus a 100,000-square-foot marketplace with hundreds of dealers from all over the country. (10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat.-Sun. $12. State Fair grandstand, 1265 N. Snelling Av., Falcon Heights. www.mcbacomicons.com.) J.p.

MONDAY

Goth Prom XII: Mystery