U2 ruins summer; postpones Bank concert to 2011

He has tackled world poverty and launched the biggest rock tour in the world, but even Bono can't escape the need for a good chiropractor. U2 has postponed its June 27 concert at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis along with its entire North American summer tour so its superstar frontman can recuperate from emergency back surgery. Makeup dates are not expected until 2011.

U2 kicked off its mega-sized "360 Degree Tour" last summer to mostly rave reviews and fast sellouts. The 50,000 tickets for the TCF Bank Stadium concert sold out in two hours last November and have been in high demand in the secondary ticket-sales market ever since.

"It was the biggest show of the summer for sure," said Brian Obert, co-founder of Twin Cities broker company Ticket King, which is telling customers to sit tight and hold onto tickets for the 2011 makeup date. "This tour was so expensive to put together, there's too much money that stands to be lost if they don't make up the shows."

  • Chris Riemenschneider

Lt. Gov. Robyne Robinson?

Ex-news anchor, jewelry designer ... lieutenant governor? Robyne Robinson, who bid farewell to her longtime post at Fox 9 on Wednesday, said Monday that she is considering signing on to be DFLer Matt Entenza's running mate in the race for Minnesota governor. The Entenza campaign was expected to make an announcement on Thursday morning.

"I'm not saying yes or no to anything yet," Robinson said Monday, confirming that she had been invited to be on the ticket. "When you're approached with an offer like this, something very serious, very humbling, you can't just give a frivolous answer."

Entenza campaign manager Dave Colling said Monday that the campaign asked a number of people if they would be interested and that the list of possible lieutenant governor candidates still has multiple names on it.

Margaret Andrews
Sarah Jessica Parker in "Sex and the City 2"

"We haven't made any decisions," Colling said. "I'm not going to say anybody that's on it or not on it. The way we go about it is we've just been asking folks if they're interested and moving on from there."

  • Rachel E. Stassen-Berger and Neal Justin

A date for the Depot

After months of delays, First Avenue's next-door bar 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 Mainroom and 7th Street Entry stages.

The bar, located in the old Unbank on N. 7th St., 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 looks 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 a place where music fans will want to hang out before a concert. We'll finally get to see what he's been talking about.

  • Tom Horgen

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 with all proceeds benefiting Dress for Success (a nonprofit that gives disadvantaged women professional career support).

  • Tom Horgen