Re-greening Dan Kelly's
Dan Kelly's Bar & Grill has officially entered the O'Reilly era. After acquiring the downtown Minneapolis Irish bar from its retiring owner last year, Republic owner Matty O'Reilly and his partner Richard Guntzel reopened the 4,800-square-foot tavern— now going by Dan Kelly's Pub, 212 S. 7th St., Minneapolis— in the WCCO Radio building this week. A mini-makeover/restoration project involved stripping jerseys and macro beer banners off the walls, fresh paint (no more kelly green) and kitchen upgrades. The beer-bar vets upped the tap list to 24 unique drafts, including three nitro stouts and four ciders. Expect Irish-inspired food from Republic chef Kevin Kvalsten and 40-plus Irish whiskeys, although Guinness and Harp are the only beers from the Emerald Isle offered due to a dearth of available Irish craft beer in Minnesota, O'Reilly said. The bigger surprise is the two remaining TVs above the 47-foot bar. "It'll be my first place that we're not taking out all the TVs," O'Reilly said, laughing. Just don't expect them to be on all the time.
Winter Dabbler at State Fairgrounds
For the sixth consecutive year, thousands of barleywine-seeking beer fiends will descend upon the Beer Dabbler Winter Carnival on Jan. 24. Now at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds' midway, the winter dabbler features more than 150 local and national breweries, food trucks, a silent disco, live music and, for the first time, a heated warm-up station in the Warner Coliseum. V.I.D. tickets (very important dabbler, $99) include access to a separate heated tent with a handful of special brews, bottomless stew, a stocking cap and other perks.
3:30-7:30 p.m., Jan. 24, 21-plus, $40-$50 general admission ($10 designated driver), www.beerdabbler.com
Get 'Loud' at First Ave
A new year means a rebirth for dance night Loud Your Kids. After first sprouting up as a weekly at Marquee/Rev Ultra Lounge in 2013, the sub-pounding party moves into First Avenue's Record Room on Saturday. The now-monthly event from promoter Hydrive Shows and resident DJ duo Wyld Lyf promises to run the gamut from bass music to techno every third Saturday, with local and touring artists. The kickoff bash features local EDM duo World Class Art Thieves, Mr. Gat, Thangster, Wyld Lyf and Alterboy.
10 p.m., Sat., 18-plus, $5-$10,
701 1st Av. N., Mpls., 612-332-1775, www.first-avenue.com
MICHAEL RIETMULDER
