Not that it needed the validation, but congrats to Bradstreet Craftshouse, which was named one of the country's "Top Ten Best New Cocktail Bars" in the August issue of Bon Appetit. The esteemed food magazine declared Bradstreet to be the place "where the city's best mixologists work." Bon Appetit's favorite cocktail: the refreshingly tart Juliet & Romeo (gin, lime, mint, cucumber and rose water).
601 1st Av. N., Mpls. 612-312-1821.
Azia closing party Thom Pham is going out with a bang on Eat Street. He announced this week that Azia will close on Aug. 8 with an open-bar party (tickets are $50 a person). DJs will spin in the Caterpillar Lounge, A25 and Azia's main room. Pham's downtown venture, Wondrous Azian Kitchen (he's dropped "Wanderers" from the name), is tentatively scheduled to open Aug. 12. The Azia ticket will also get you into Wondrous' opening-night party.
6 p.m. Aug. 8. 2550 Nicollet Av. S., Mpls. $50.
612-813-1200. www.aziarestaurant.com.
Hip-hop and Honey Honey, the sleek below-street-level lounge in northeast Minneapolis, has been getting a healthy dose of hip-hop lately. That trend continues with Friday's "Turnt Up 2.0." The guys behind Radio K's Beat Box show (rapper Franzdiego.com and DJ Noam the Drummer) are calling their night a "rap dance party." Straightforward and to-the-point. I like it.
10 p.m. Fri. 205 E. Hennepin Av., Mpls. Free. 612-746-0306. www.honeympls.com.
