After I left the West End's new restaurant earlier this week, I had one thing on my mind: bacon. But more on that later. Just opened, Ringo is the latest addition to the burgeoning nightlife scene at this St. Louis Park lifestyle center (it joins Cooper, Crave and the soon-to-open Toby Keith joint). Owner Jim Ringo says his large, stylish restaurant will be a chef-driven endeavor (a different ethnic cuisine will be spotlighted each month). He is paying particular attention to the bar, where crafted cocktails and an international beer list dominate. The cocktail on everyone's mind: The $14 Bacon Old Fashioned. It's made with bacon-infused bourbon, maple syrup, whiskey barrel bitters, flaming orange zest and garnished with -- what else? -- bacon. Bacon lovers will relish its smoky flavors. Bacon haters will want to run for the hills (or come back during the twice-daily happy hour for something else).
5331 W. 16th St., St. Louis Park. 952-303-5574. www.ringorestaurant.com.
Miss Richfield goes back to the future The fabulous Miss Richfield 1981 is back with another wild night of bingo. This time, her twice-a-year Bingo A Go Go party is sci-fi-themed. So dust off your Spock ears. Of course, it's all for a good cause: Proceeds benefit Clare Housing and Park House, which provide housing and health services to the HIV/AIDS community.
6 p.m. Sat. Hyatt Regency, 1300 Nicollet Mall, Mpls. $35 advance/$40 door. 612-863-7168. www.bingoagogo.com.
Test your Air-ness You might suck at playing real guitar, you might even suck at "Guitar Hero," but that doesn't mean you can't be an air-guitar champion. The goofy competition that just won't die is back for another showdown at the Varsity Theater. Started in 2003, the U.S. Air Guitar Championships hosts several regional competitions nationwide. The undisputed U.S. champ is then flown to Finland to compete for the world title. Here's a tip: To win it all you're going to need more than an invisible guitar.
8 p.m. Sat. 1308 4th St. SE., Mpls. $14. 18 and older. 612-604-0222. www.varsitytheater.org.
TOM HORGEN
