Looking for something to do this weekend? Here are five choice dining and drinking events going on around the Twin Cities:
1) American Swedish Institute Winter Solstice Celebration
When: Saturday, 3 to 8 p.m.
Where: American Swedish Institute
What: ASI celebrates winter's longest night with extended hours, bonfires in the Enchanted Forest, self-guided tours of the Turnblad Mansion's holiday exhibit, and more. FIKA will be open late for a festive dinner and glögg (Swedish mulled wine). For details of the event, check out ASI's website.
2) Nomad World Pub Festivus Party
When: Saturday, 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Where: Nomad World Pub
What: A Festivus for the rest of us! Come to Nomad and air your grievances, show your feats of strength, and in awe of the Festivus Pole's beauty. There will be live music starting at 8 p.m., tons of beer on tap, and most importantly, Nomad owner Todd Smith's favorite Holiday dish: hamloaf (a Smith family recipe). For more information, click here.
3) Smalley's Caribbean Barbeque X-Mas in Hell
When: Monday, 7 p.m.
Where: Smalley's Caribbean Barbeque
What: Smalley's is hosting a wing eating challenge to see who really has an iron stomach. The wing eating contest promises a super hot wing sauce jammed so full of Bhut Jolokia and Trinidad Scorpion peppers, it might melt your face off. No, seriously, you have to sign a waiver. Beer from Lagunitas is featured during the night's festivities. Space is limited if you dare to be a contestant. Find more information and how to enter here.
4) Market Bar-B-Que Lucid Duce Party
When: Saturday, 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Where: Market Bar-B-Que
What: Lucid Brewing invites you to Market Bar-B-Que for a Duce BBQ Party. Meet and greet the guys from Lucid Brewing and pair Market Bar B Que's dishes with the seasonal Lucid's Duce (pronounced "doo-chay"), an imperial red ale. For more information about the event, click here or visit the Lucid Brewing Facebook page.
5) Red Cow Toy Drive & Ugly Sweater Party
When: Thursday, 3 p.m.
Where: Red Cow
What: Bring a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots and Red Cow will buy you an appetizer. There's an secret extra bonus if you wear an ugly sweater or any fun holiday gear. Red Cow is also tapping a cask of Surly Brewing's Ash Wood Aged Cynic and offering that up for $3 a glass. Fore more information about the ugly sweater toy drive, click here.
Also of Note: Bad Weather Brewing is tapping a cask of vanilla infused Ominous at Republic 7 Corners (Thursday, 3 p.m.). Sea Change is now offering Omakase-style dinners (10 courses + pairings for $100) if you email Jamie to reserve a spot (Fridays and Saturdays in January). Flat Earth Brewing Company is having a holiday growler extravaganza with special infusions, samplings, and extended hours (Friday and Saturday). If you missed out on the two Santa-y pub crawls last weekend, fear not, there's an Ugly Sweater Crawl going on in Minneapolis (Saturday, 6:30 p.m.). Stop by Makenzie Pub for a Long Dark Night, their yearly dark beer extravaganza (Saturday). Put on your Summit gear and head over to Sweeney's for a special Rebellion Stout tapping and meet the brewer event (Friday, 6 p.m.). Speaking of Summit, they just announced that starting in January, their beer hall/taproom will be open both Fridays and Saturdays (4 to 9 p.m.). A couple reminders while we're at it: Winter Beer Dabbler and Winterfest tickets are still on sale so get them while you can, and this Saturday is the last day of the season to check out the Holidazzle Parade.
