On Thursday, August 27th, from 5 – 8 pm, Solera will be hosting a rooftop event (Raise on the Rooftop) benefiting Children’s Home Society & Family Services.

Tickets are $75 and include a complimentary wine tasting and cigar.

Grab your tickets before they sell out.

If you do order a shot, be sure to keep a “compadre” alongside—it’s a small shot of juice, soda, cola or beer to sip while you’re also sipping your tequila. My favorite? The Blood Orange Soda, crossed with the more-reasonably-priced Don Julio.

If you’re not a shot person, never fear: the margaritas are also dynamite. Seriously, the simple, straight-up margarita at Barrio may be my favorite drink found in Minneapolis Saint Paul.

And, of course, great food comes along with the drinks. Tableside guacamole topped with radish and served with spiced-for-the-gods tortilla chips, plus a large collection of tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas and soups all present the occasion for stomach celebration.

The drinks, the food, the location (nestled next to The Local on Nicollet Mall) and the ambiance (Candelabras! Old western movies! Giant tequila ladders!) really do make this one of the city’s brightest gems. Try it out for yourself.

According to the dictionary, “sea change” is: “a striking change, as in appearance, often for the better.” I couldn’t sum it up uh, any better. The new digs, and the new dishes, for that matter, are nothing short of astounding.

When you walk in to Sea Change, you’ll be greeted by an enormous bar and accompanying chalk boards, reminiscent of what you’d expect to see in a market—a fish market, perhaps—that relay drink offerings. Like any normal red-blooded American female above the age of 21 and under the age of 29, I went straight for the drinkies. The white-haired, tan-suited man on my left at the bar was esteemed Guthrie player (and Father of the Bride star) Peter Michael Goetz. Fun, eh?

After landing our champagne, my date and I embarked on Mission: Try Every Single Thing on the Menu. I am proud to say we accomplished this goal, without sacrificing (that much) self respect.

Let’s talk food. Oh my god, the food. You know those people who say they don’t like seafood? Well, first of all, they are wrong. Second, Tim’s goods will make undergo a… that’s right! Sea change.

Hands-down favorite of the night was the grilled octopus. Cooks were manning grills on the space’s outdoor patio, serving up the delight. My date overheard that it was “smoked for 8 hours” or something of that nature. I can’t confirm or deny this because I was too busy eating/preoccupied with the fact that I had discovered some sort of magical portal to Flavortown. Cured and seasoned with salsa verde and Spanish peppers, it wasn’t the least bit rubbery—it was perfection, and it looked pretty, too.

Next, we hit the jackpot and wedged ourselves into the seafood bar, where tens of chefs prepared delicacies for the crowd. We stuck around and tried: scallops (raw and cooked), oysters, bouillabaisse, king crab, albacore with watermelon, warm roasted beet salad, clam croquettes, roasted chicken with beech mushrooms, seared yellowfin tuna, chocolate cake and blueberry cheesecake.

Whew! Everything was delicious, with special honors to the raw scallop, the clam croquettes and the warm roasted beet salad. While we were at the bar, a special guest—yup, Tim McKee—was plating a variety of delicacies himself.

The atmosphere was lively, and I would anticipate the trend to keep. As opposed to the old décor and design of the place—formally “Cue”—Sea Change has a very open layout and an inviting feel. The place is decked out with greens and you know, other sea-like colors (who would have thought?). Plus, with the view of the Mississippi River outside, the historic Mill City Museum to the side and the Stonearch Bridge across the way, Sea Change will become a destination unto itself—not just a place for Guthrie visitors to grab some grub.

I’ll admit it: I’ve already made reservations for Friday night. You probably should, too.

Here’s the deal: every Monday from 5:30 – 8 pm in the W’s floor-level lounge, The Living Room, pay just $17 and receive a martini and a manicure from Denny Kemp Salon.

Call 612-597-2413 to book yours.

Chambers Kitchen will continue operation until July 20, when D’amico & Partners will move in, serving—what else—Italian specialties. Although Cucina closed after a 22-year run, the partners have many other operating restaurants in Minneapolis, including Café Lurcat, Campiello, Masa, D’Amico & Sons.

What do the boys have to say? “[chambers] is without a doubt, the most exciting hotel property in the Twin Cities,” said Richard D’Amico, president of D’Amico & Partners, in a news release. “We are confident that we can develop restaurant, bar and catering concepts that complement [its] quality and creativity.”