Wine & Music Lover Thursdays are BACK!

After a brief hiatus for the Thursday night NFL games, Wine & Music Lover Thursdays are back this week!

Each Thursday, Cork's will host a local music talent and offer 50% off any of our great bottles of wine! Best of all, there's no cover charge and we validate parking with any purchase. (Who else downtown can say that?!) Music starts at 7pm, so you have plenty of time to grab dinner first.

This week, we're hosting Dan Israel on Thursday, January 19, for our inaugural 2012 Wine & Music Lover Thursday. Dan's on at 7, so come on down, grab a seat, and score a bottle of wine (half off)!

Then, the line up for the next few weekends includes:

1/26 - The Teddy Holidays

The Teddy Holidays, who are a pub favorite, play every fourth Thursday. On the Thursdays they play, we offer all Crispin Hard Ciders and Crispin Hard Cider drinks for just $3.

2/2 - Locklin Road

Locklin Road, another pub favorite, is a celtic, folk, and original music trio. 

This week (or next week, or the week after that), join us for the return of Wine & Music Lover Thursdays! S'lainte!

Red Bull Crashed Ice 2012

This weekend, St. Paul is being invaded by the Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championship 2012. Cork's has heard from friends and fans alike that this FREE spectator event promises to deliver.

Dubbed ice cross, this extreme sport essentially combines downhill skiing with speedskating and boardercross, taking place on a gigantic downhill obstacle course made of sheer ice. Athletes on ice skates, who won their spots at a tryout session, skate down the icy course in a race to the finish. 

For more information, please visit the Red Bull Crashed Ice Website for the St. Paul event. 

Gates open at 4pm on Saturday, January 14, and the first race begins at 7pm. Hopefully these balmy temps we've been having don't hold up the show; otherwise, we'll see you all there! 

New Year, New Menu, New You!

We've kicked off 2012 in style with a redux of our menu. We've got some new features and kept the old favorites. Here is lowdown on some of the highlights, so you can stop in and try something this week!

WHISKEY GLAZED SALMON
Grilled salmon steak basted with an Orange whiskey glaze with thin slices of red onion and arugula on a whole wheat bun.

GUINNESS POT ROASTTender pot roast served with a rich Guinness infused sauce with a parsnip puree.

HUMMUS PLATTER
Traditional hummus served with market fresh vegetables and seasoned pita chips.

CORK'S STYLE JAMBALAYA
Celtic meets cajun in this rich stew made with shrimp, chicken and pork bangers, simmered with peppers, tomatoes, onions and Bushmills whiskey. Served over rice and topped with a crawfish.

SHEPHERD'S PIE
Classic country stew with seasonal vegetables, lamb and beef in a rich Jameson gravy finished with Yukon horseradish potatoes.

PETITE STEAK BURGERS

NEW YORK STRIP STEAK
NY Strip topped with an Irish Stout steak sauce and served with smashed fingerling potatoes and market fresh vegetables.

PAN SEARED SALMON
Filet of salmon cooked to perfection and lightly topped with Bushmills whiskey cream sauce and served with rosemary infused lentils and grilled vegetable du jour.

SCOTTISH EGGS

Three hard boiled eggs wrapped in sausage and  bread crumbs. Deep fried golden brown. Served with stone-ground, Dijon mustard. 

Happy New Year, folks!

S'lainte!

Cork's Does New Year's Weekend

As we start the nice slide into another long holiday weekend, Cork's wanted to let you in on our plans. That way, you can be all set in the event you wanted to meet up, or even stay the weekend with your favorite leprechaun and his crew.

Friday Night - December 30th

Happy Hour from 4 - 6pm

Half off all appetizers, rail, call, martinis, specialty drinks and whiskeys. $3 house wine. $2 standard bottles and taps. $3 premium bottles and taps. 

Date Night Friday

Two 12 oz Prime Rib Specials and a bottle of house wine 

for only $50.

Jameson drinks are just $5 all Day.

Saturday night - New Year's Eve - December 31st

2012 Mixed Grill 

Lightly Grilled Salmon topped with fresh fruit salsa paired with Beef Tenderloin in an Irish Stout steak sauce to make the perfect "surf and turf" to ring in the new year! Comes with your choice of soup or salad, choice of potato or rice pilaf, and grilled mixed vegetables. 

$25 per person

Complimentary Champagne Toast at Midnight

Sunday - New Year's Day - January 1st

Brunch 

Cure that New Year's Eve 'too much party' feeling and start the New Year off right with brunch (featuring $5 mimosas)! Served from 10am to 2pm.

Sunday Bloody Sunday

$5 Bloody Mary's all day + Cork's Build your own Bloody Mary Bar from 11am-4pm

This New Year's, we know there's no where you'd rather be, even if you can't celebrate with us! 

S'lainte and Happy New Year!  

Happy New Year!

Often, we don't give proper thanks when it's due. We wait until after the fact, and then think, "Oh man! Did I say, 'Thank you.'?"

As 2011 draws to a close and we look forward to another great year at Cork's, we want to reflect on all of the fun we've had, because we're so thankful to be surrounded by the best friends, guests, and employees a pub could ask for. 

Therefore, we decided to take a look back at where we've been this year, so we can appreciate what a fun ride it's been! 

January

We partnered with our friends the Minnesota Swarm, cooked up omelet breakfasts for local condo and apartment residents, and enjoyed hanging with team members and Swarm Performance team dancers throughout the month!

February

We threw an awesome Super Bowl XLV party complete with super bowls of chili and continued our BFF status with the Minnesota Swarm. We even got to provide the seat stuffer for a Swarm home game. 

March

Love was in the air as we hung out with our two loves for the month: ST. PADDY'S DAY (just about the best holiday under the sun) and the Minnesota Swarm! From a rockin' St. Paddy's Day, complete with parade participation, our full-on leprechaun taking to the streets, Jell-O shots, and a party with live music to helping out the Randy Shaver Cancer and Community Fund at the Hive Cares event, March was one fabulous month!

April

In April, we Lit It Up Blue for Autism Speaks, donated proceeds from the sales of our Creme Brulee dessert to the Randy Shaver Cancer and Community Fund, hosted a fabulous Easter Brunch, and partnered with our friends at Twin Cities Originals to provide the food for the 7th Annual Memorial Blood Centers' What's Your Type? Benefit Event.

May

In May, not only did we celebrate the arrival of warmer weather, but we also celebrated mothers at our Mothers' Day Brunch and the launch of a brand-new menu!

June

June welcomed summer as well as a Guinness & Crispin passport program that rewarded folks who inbibed on those delectable beverages.

July

In July, we started our new brunch service and had a great time at the Taste of the Twin Cities Originals event at the new TCF Bank Stadium. 

August

August was another great month! We had a blast with our neighbors for National Night Out, celebrated the 2011 Visa Championships (and the Taste of the Visa Championships), and totally won the Irish Fair of Minnesota's Battle of the Pubs Cook-Off. 

September

In September, we got to celebrate the halfway point to our favorite holiday (please see March above) with a rockin' party, and we kicked off our Minnesota Wild and NFL specials. (Then, we proceeded to bleed purple, and bleed, and bleed, and bleed).

October

October was pretty quiet. We settled into autumn and had several great Wine & Music Lover Thursdays. 

November

In November, we put our Wine & Music Lover Thursdays on hold to watch the Thursday night NFL games. We also had a super Thanksgiving Day Champagne Brunch. 

December

December brings us current. We had a wonderful Teddy Holidays holiday weekend kick-off with $3 Crispin drinks, a great Christmas Day Brunch today, and some time to reflect and be thankful for such a great year. 

We hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas, because we're so thankful for all of you. 

Christmas Day Champagne Brunch

Has your family outgrown your home? A lot of out-of-town guests and nowhere to meet? Don't feel like spending your whole holiday cooking and cleaning? Never fear, Cork's has the solution!

From 10am to 2pm on Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25, Cork's will be hosting a warm, inviting, and undoubtedly festive Champagne Christmas Brunch. Served in our beautiful Garden Atrium and Emerald Room, dine in style as you enjoy the company of family and friends.

MENU

Chef Carved Prime Rib and Turkey

Swedish Meatballs and Red Cabbage

Herb-Crusted Salmon with Sambuca Beurre Blanc

Chicken Roulade with Wild Rice Stuffing

Shrimp and Crab Claw Display

Smoked White Fish and Salmon Platter

Traditional Eggs Benedict

Chef Prepared Omelets

Bacon, Sausage and O'Brien Potatoes

Scrambled Eggs

Waffles and French Toast with all the accompaniments

Whipped Yukon Potatoes and Gravy

Traditional Stuffing

Cranberry Compote

Assorted Pastries and Quick Breads

Yogurt and Granola Parfait Bar

Pasta Salad, Caesar Salad, Mixed Green Salad and Jell-O Salad

Spinach Salad with Strawberries, Toasted Almonds and Poppy Seed Dressing

Grilled and Raw Vegetable Platter

Cheese and Fruit Platter

Build -Your-Own Sundae Bar

Fresh Baked Pies, Cakes and Yule Logs

Chocolate Fountain with assorted dipping items

So this Christmas, experience brunch the Cork's way. Once the presents and stockings are devoured, you can come feast and still have plenty of time for an additional gathering, football, or even just some relaxing. Who knows? You may even befriend a duck! 

Brunch pricing is as follows, $28.95 for adults, $14.95 for children aged 3-12, and free for children under 3. To make your party's reservation, contact Cork's at 651.224.5111.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good brunch! 

Rock Around That X-Mas Tree!

Back by popular demand, The Teddy Holidays are gonna rock their way into your hearts just in time for Christmas. Last year's Holiday Christmas Eve Eve Spectacular was just so darn jolly that we had to do it all over again this year! (Technically, we could call this The Teddy Holidays' Holiday Christmas Eve Eve Eve Spectacular, but that's just too much...)



Plus, not only do you get to bask in the glow of The Teddy Holidays' sweet musical styling, but you also get to take advantage of Cork's exclusive Teddy Holidays' Crispin special. $3 Crispin Cider drinks during the show! (Too good to be true, right?! Well, believe it!)

So, mark your calendars for Thursday, December 22. Music starts at 7pm! Get here early and grab a Snakebite, a regular Crispin, or even a pint of your favorite brew and let's rock on in to the holiday weekend!