As if Kieran's and O'Donovan's weren't enough in downtown Minneapolis, the owners of the Melting Pot finally will open their version of a big Irish pub this summer. Located one block from Target Field in that giant vacant space next to Epic, Ahern's Irish Pub hopes to be a major draw before and after Twins games. Ahern is owner Kelly Jaedike's maiden name. "Our family heritage is from County Cork, Ireland," she said. The 14,000-square-foot space features soaring ceilings and a large mezzanine. Like Kieran's, the bar is being built in Ireland and will be shipped here. Ahern's will have live music and Irish cuisine, Jaedike said. The pub also has a great rooftop, which Epic has used in the past.

Krave returns In 2006, Karma introduced Krave, one of downtown's only gay dance nights to gain popularity outside of the traditional gay bar scene. Eventually, it lost a bit of its gusto before re-emerging as a string of summertime events. It's back this Friday, with music by DJ David Knapp (of Atlanta), plus DJ Shiek and DJ Rich B. Also: a performance by Sole to Soul Dance Conversion. This will be the first of several Krave parties in 2010.

10 p.m. Fri. 315 1st Av. N., Mpls. $10 for 21-plus/$15 for 18-20. 612-333-3200 www.karmampls.com.

The baddest DJ Consistently placed at the top of the list when it comes to U.S. house DJs, Bad Boy Bill returns to Minneapolis with a show at Epic. The Chicago veteran finally released his first full-length album last year, simply called "The Album." The show also will feature a showcase of winners from this year's Twin Cities Night Club DJ Awards -- Jack Trash, Tyler Hampton and EJthaDJ.

10 p.m. Fri. 110 N. 5th St., Mpls. $20. 18 and older. 612-332-3742. www.epicmpls.com.

R.I.P., Picosa After three years, Picosa, the Latino restaurant and weekend dance club, has closed. While the Riverplace spot has been dark for a few weeks, the owners recently confirmed the closing on the restaurant's website (www.picosarestaurant.com). Early on, Picosa's weekend salsa nights were popular among both young and old dancers.

TOM HORGEN