Events: '80s night at the Walker and more

'80s Night at the Walker

Inspired by the continuing "This Will Have Been: Art, Love and Politics in the 1980s" exhibition, this week's Free Thursdays at the Walker Art Center gets an '80s infusion. The night kicks off with an '80s-themed edition of Conversationalist's Caf, a roundtable of speakers including music writer Jim Walsh and Patrick's Cabaret founder Patrick Scully (6 to 8 p.m.), followed by a curator-led gallery tour of the exhibition (7 to 8 p.m.). Then it's time for Mad Ripple Hootenanny, a round-robin music and story session led by Walsh with guests including Suicide Commandos' Chris Osgood and the Suburbs' Chan Poling (8 to 10 p.m.). Museum-goers can also try their hand at Drawing Club, a game of telephone in drawing form (4 to 8 p.m.), shop the '80s Collection at the Walker Shop and enjoy drink specials on the Garden Grill's outdoor patio. (4-10 p.m. Thu. Free. Open Field at the Walker Art Center, 1750 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls. 612-375-7600 or www.walkerart.org.) JAHNA PELOQUIN

SATURDAY

Twin Cities Beer Fest

As new breweries and taprooms bloom across the Twin Cities like hoppy meadows, it only makes sense to celebrate the beer saturation with yet another festival. Now in its second year, the Twin Cities Beer Fest offers all your standard sudsy attractions: unlimited samples from more than 100 breweries, food trucks, live music and competitive eating. Badger Hill, Fulton, Lucid and Summit are among the local participants. If you hate lines and/or standards, the Big Three (Budweiser, Miller and Coors) will also be on hand. Entrance and bathroom logistics plagued last year's inaugural run downtown, so here's hoping those issues were smoothed out as the fest moved to the Mall of America. (3-7 p.m. Sat. $10-$55. 21 & older. Old Met Stadium at Mall of America, 24th Av. S. & Lindau Ln., Bloomington. www.twincitiesbeerfest.com.)JAY BOLLER