Nightlife notebook: Toast St. Paddy's Day early

The Imbibes of March

When I think of St. Patrick's Day, I typically have hazy visions of green beer and Jameson shots. The Northstar Bartenders Guild wants to give bargoers a pre-St. Paddy's Day party with a little more craft. The cocktail crew's latest soirée, "The Imbibes of March," takes place Sunday at the ultra-cool XYandZ Gallery in south Minneapolis. The party will feature Irish food, plus "reggae-style Celtic music" by the band Sound System Sabotage. The real stars, of course, are the nine Irish-inspired cocktails crafted by the likes of Jourdan Gomez, Jesse Held, Robert Jones and more. The $50 ticket covers all your food and drink. Proceeds benefit the Minneapolis charity People Serving People.

As the guild continues to find its legs, Held said his group is struggling with one misconception. He'd like to dispel the notion that only hard-core mixologists (they hate that word) are accepted into the guild's ranks. In fact, anyone is welcome, even non-bartenders. As Held put it: "We're not a bunch of mustachioed, vested-up, stuffy bartenders who sit around all day talking about Amaros." Wait, what's an Amaro? (Just kidding.) Beyond the parties, the guild is now hosting bimonthly chats where liquor reps and bartenders are invited to talk about specific brands and techniques. The talks are free and open to anyone. Check the guild website for details.

Mux-master

Minnesota-bred, Brooklyn-based electro-hop producer Mux Mool is returning home for a show at the 7th Street Entry on Sunday. After leaving the Twin Cities a few years ago, Brian Lindgren saw his career take off in New York, where his all-encompassing brand of dance music (often layered with hip-hop drums) caught the ear of many a blogger. Nowadays, he's playing with the likes of Bassnectar and MSTRKRFT. His new album, "Planet High School," narrows his focus, adding a bit of funk and pop to his repertoire.

Imperialism at the Blue Nile

You'll need a strong gut for this beer party. On Saturday, the Blue Nile is turning over all its 12 taps to big beers, such as Imperial Stouts, double IPAs and barley-wine ales. Thus the name: "Imperial March 2012." The tap takeover will feature beers from such breweries as Founders, Surly, Left Hand, Avery and more. The best way to taste is to order a flight: three 4-ounce pours for $7.