Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant

Tired of sitting around on the couch watching baseball all night, thinking, “Where are my pants?” Now wait a minute, mister, you’re not too old to cut the mustard yet, are you?

Now that we have that settled, I bet you are probably starvin’ like Marvin too. Here’s a possible: Make James Carter proud and head down to the Dakota for what I like to call the trifecta perfecta. It goes like this: On Saturday and Sunday nights from 10:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., a mere $3 will get you into the überstylish confines of one of the hottest jazz clubs in America to hear some serious local talent. Three dollars more at 11:30 will get you a tap beer, a well drink, or a glass of house wine; and another three pops will get you some seriously good food from the club menu that chef extraordinaire Jack Riebel and his fine crew of fresh young musicians have assembled. I mean, this cat is good. The club menu is all about things like a classic burger, fries with béarnaise, or peel ’n’ eat shrimp. Are you pickin’ up what I’m layin’ down? Beer, burger, bebop, 3+3+3. That’s nine bucks, Chuck. And that beats Sportscenter and cold Domino’s like Art Blakey hitting the high hat.

As for smiling at the lovely-lovely next to you and saying in proper reverential tone, “That Ornette Coleman is something else,” there, my brother, you are on your own.  —Steven Brown

1010 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., 612-332-1010, dakotacooks.com