Nightlife notebook: First Avenue gets a new neighbor

After months of delays, First Avenue's next-door bar/restaurant is finally ready to take center stage.

Barring any hiccups with the last of its city inspections, the Depot Tavern will open the week of June 7, said the club's general manager, Nate Kranz. (No definite date yet.)

"It's been a long process, man," he said. "I'm really excited."

First Ave has been hard at work on delivering a comfort-food menu of burgers and hot dogs. Kranz said the new bar will also feature a "significant" upgrade in the craft-beer department. One of the coolest features: Monitors behind the bar will display a live feed to the club's Main Room and 7th Street Entry stages.

The bar, located in the old Unbank on N. 7th Street, will have a doorway connecting it to the Entry. Kranz said the club decided it was a good time to add some upgrades to the Entry, including new sound equipment. But here's the big news: Women will no longer have to use that grotesque unisex bathroom that looked like it came straight out of "Trainspotting." They've built an entire new one for the ladies. Guys: You're stuck with the old one.

"It seems so crazy that there is going to be an extra bathroom," Kranz said.

Kranz said his vision for the Depot was to simply create the place where music fans will want to hang out before a concert. We'll finally get to see what he's been talking about.

What would Carrie do? The red-carpet viewing parties for Friday's "Sex and the City 2" premiere at the Mall of America might be sold out, but that doesn't mean you can't glam out like Carrie and company. On Saturday, Crave at the West End and party promoter Richard Moody are teaming for a "SATC 2"-themed night with specials on -- what else? -- cosmos (9-10 p.m.). The St. Louis Park location is perfect, with the swanky Showplace Icon theater next door. Crave will be auctioning off a handbag from OPM boutique (that must be one expensive handbag) with proceeds benefiting Dress for Success, a nonprofit that gives disadvantaged women professional career support.

9 p.m. Sat. 1603 West End Blvd., St. Louis Park. 952-933-6500. www.iammoody.com.

Memorial mix The GLBT-friendly Sunday night party, MiX, returns to Chambers for a big Memorial Day weekend bash. DJ Paris will provide the beats. The boutique hotel's rooftop lounge will be open, and drink specials will be offered on a happy-hour budget.

5 p.m. Sun. 901 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls. 21 and older. 612-767-6900. www.lemeridienchambers.com.

Attention: Comedians! In March, a group of aspiring Twin Cities comedians took a gamble and paid $400 for an intensive three-day class with our very own Louie Anderson and stand-up favorite Kyle Cease. The workshop, dubbed Stand Up Boot Camp, returns June 18-21 at Acme for a new class called "Creative License." The original boot camp went beyond teaching jokes. Some moments felt more like a psychotherapy session, with Anderson and Cease asking students to dig deep into their personal problems for more authentic sources of comedy. For this class, the duo has stretched the workshop out to four days (and hiked up the price, too). (June 18-21. 708 N. 1st St., Mpls. $999. Tickets: 1-310-993-3869. www.standup bootcamp.com.)