No costume yet? No worries!

For October, our blogging has focused on helping you have an awesome Halloween. With Halloween tomorrow, we want to make sure that you're totally ready to round out this year's festivities. That means, last minute costume ideas, just in case you didn't have the foresight to plan ahead.

Our friends at Patch, compiled the following ideas if your kids are left without suitable Trick-or-Treat attire.

• A Little Bearded Garden Gnome - Your kids may already have the clothes. You'll just need to make a simple hat and beard.
• Bag of Jelly Beans - You'll need a clear trash bag and set of strong lungs to make this sweet costume
• Quarterback - This punny costume is quick and easy to make.
• Spaghetti and Meatballs - Use a red and white tablecloth and a pot to make this saucy costume.
• Lego - This costume is easy to build using a cardboard box, paper bowls and spray paint.
• Baby Octopus - A great way to use those mismatched socks left in the dryer.

If you're ready to get in on the action, some of our favorite (read: quick and easy) last minute costume ideas for adults include: 

• Wrapping yourself in wrapping paper with a tag: "From: God, To: Women". What are you? God's gift to women.
• Attaching suger-cubes (or candy) all over yourself. What are you? Sugar-Daddy or Sugar-Momma.
• Donning an old Ivy League college sweatshirt found at the Goodwill, and when asked, "What are you," you respond, "Smarter than you."
• Wrapping yourself in aluminum foil to become a baked potato!

And last, but certainly not least, male or female, we're pretty sure that a leprechaun would make the best Halloween costume of all! 

Happy Haunting!

How to Throw a KILLER Halloween Party

Around here, we like Halloween, and we like parties. It's only natural that we would love a good Halloween party. Therefore, we've compiled a top ten list of must-haves to make your Halloween party just downright SPOOK-tacular!

1. Costumes - Costumes should be a non-negotiable requirement for guest attire. What fun is a Halloween party if no one dresses up? 
2. Decor - You have to at least go with some of the faux-spider webs! Themes are also good. We've been loving all the fun owl options. 
3. Food - Your guests aren't going to want to stick around if you're not feeding them. Try to incorporate salty and sweet options, and remember, if you're hosting your party over a prime meal time, you should probably be serving a more substantial snack or even some entree worthy items. 
4. Drinks - Don't assume your guests will know to BYOB unless you've specifically outlined that requirement on the invitations. If you're going to be hosting, you should probably also be serving some community refreshments. Think along the lines of fun punches that can be housed in big bowls. Bonus points for Dry Ice usage! If you need help thinking up some fun, fall cocktails, check out last week's post: Favorite Fall Drink Recipes. 
5. Entertainment - While food and drink will suffice as the entertainment for a short while, it you want your guests to stay the course, plan ahead for other fun ways to occupy their time. Games, a scary movie, a scavenger hunt, etc. will all help to pass the time and help keep the party rolling. 
6. Mood Lighting - Black lights. Corny for everyday use, perfect for a Halloween!
7. Music - We're so not beneath using one of those Halloween mix CD's with the spooky sound effects for great background music.
8. Bonfire - If weather and local regulations permit, a bonfire is a great addition to your All Hallows Eve event! Not only does it look positively medieval, but the addition of toasted marshmallows and s'mores to your buffet seals the deal.  
9. Candy - Even grown-ups miss the candy-laden bounty of trick-or-treating! Why not send your guests home with a grab bag of their very own candy swag! 
10. Safety First - A good host(ess) always figures in the safety of his/her guests. Don't ever let your pals drink and drive! 

Hope your Halloween party is a massive success! Feel free to share your own tips in the comments section below! 

Autumn Imbibements

While the weather we've been having certainly doesn't feel very fall-esque, we're ready to confirm the change of seasons with some decidedly fall beverages. Filled with richer flavors and bolder, spicier notes, these autumn refreshments will give you a reason to get that raking done and help calm your nerves during Vikings games.

Spiked Apple Pie Punch
Ingredients
• 1 gallon apple juice
• 1 gallon apple cider
• 3 cups white sugar
• 8 cinnamon sticks
• 1 bottle 190 proof grain alcohol (750 ml)
Directions
1. In a large pot, combine juice, cidar, sugar and cinnamon sticks. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat and let cool completely.
2. When cool, stir in grain alcohol.
3. Transfer to large serving dish and let guests ladle into cups. Garnish with additional cinnamon sticks or apple slices, if desired.

Pear Brandy Sidecar

Ingredients
• 1 shot (1.5 oz.) pear brandy
• 1/2 oz. lemon juice
• 1/2 oz. simple syrup
• 1 oz. pear nectar
• Ice
Directions
1. Pour the brandy, lemon juice, pear nectar, and syrup into a cocktail shaker with ice. Cover, and shake until the outside of the shaker has frosted.
2. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Serves one.

Cranberry Martini

Ingredients
• 1 shot (1.5 oz.) vodka
• 1/2 oz. orange liqueur
• 1/2 oz. dry vermouth
• 2 shots (3 oz.) cranberry juice
• 1 cups ice
• Cranberries (optional)
Directions
1. Combine vodka, orange liqueur, vermouth, cranberry juice and ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously to chill.
2. Pour into martini glasses and serve. Garnish with a few cranberries, if desired. Serves two.

Other great options for fall drinks include hot mulled wine, a fall spiced sangria with cranberries and oranges, a Bailey's Caramel Appletini, or anything with ginger (Ginger Ale, Canton Ginger Liqueur, etc.). 

Happy Fall! 

Holiday Parties - Going, going...

It sure doesn't feel like it weather-wise, but now's the time to plan your holiday party at Cork's. With a full banquet room and plenty of private and semi-private dining options to choose from, Cork's is a one-stop shop for your holiday party. To sweeten the deal even more, our catering department is running specials for those that plan ahead!

Book your holiday party now and receive one of the following add-ons:

• Free Domestic Keg, 
• Free House Wine Pour with Dinner, or 
• Free Centerpieces (some exclusions apply) 

(Note: The event food and beverage value must reach at least $3000, and the event must occur between November 1, 2011 and February 28, 2012). 

Book any event to take place before January 1, 2012 and receive a dinner catered to you in your home by Executive Chef Peter Christenson!

(Note: The event food and beverage value must reach at least $6000. Not applicable to events booked before Sept 21, 2011). 

For more information and to book your holiday party, contact our Sales Manager Cate Griffin at 651-379-5061 or cate.griffin@hilton.com today!

On the Run

This Sunday marks the 30th running of the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon. One of the biggest sporting events in our community, the Twin Cities Marathon is dubbed, "The Most Beautiful Urban Marathon in America."

The 26.2 mile course begins at Mall of America Field, winding down around the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes before heading up Summit Ave to the finish on the state capitol grounds in St. Paul. In addition to soaking up the natural beauty, runners get to bask in the cheers of 300,000 fans and more than 12 entertainment acts along the way.

Located less than a mile from the finish line, Cork's can't help but get a little excited about all the action!

If you're not running, feel free to stop in for some brunch before you head over to the capitol grounds to cheer on not only the elite runners, but everyone else who took steps to complete such an amazing journey!

Good luck runners!

We ♥ Sports!

Let Cork's be your favorite sport spot! Our Vikings and Wild specials are ramping up again, as we prepare to bleed purple and go wild! Don your favorite jersey and swing on in!

Vikings Games 
5-6-7-8 Specials (Valid for every NFL Game)
$5 - Order of Wings
$6- Pitchers of Coors Lite
$7 - Pizza (With up to 3 toppings)
$8 - Pitchers of All Other Tap Beers

...and for Sunday games, we have our Sunday Bloody Sunday special going on in conjunction with the game specials - $5 Bloody Marys ALL DAY + our Build Your Own Bloody Mary Bar from 11am - 4pm. 

Wild Games

If you were lucky enough to score tickets, beat the traffic and park in our lot. Parking is validated with any purchase, and ride our shuttle to the game for just $5. Then, you get a $5 Cork's Cash voucher (good on your next visit)!
25% Off Food and Beverage with a Same-Day ticket (or stub) - Valid before or after the game.

Plus, you still get to take part in the usual daily specials, depending on which day of the week the game falls! 

Skol Vikings, Go Wild, & S'lainte!

Help Fight Leukemia & Lymphoma

Cork's is proud to shed some light on a wonderful event for a great cause. This Friday, September 16, two of our regulars, (who just so happen to be three-year Lymphoma and five-year Leukemia survivors respectively), will be hosting a fundraiser cocktail party in The Pointe's party room (4th floor) from 5pm to 10pm. There is a suggested donation of $10 with all proceeds going to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Expect to be entertained if you drop by! The evening includes:

• Celebrity Bartenders (Tim Fort, #12 from America's Got Talent for one!)
• Downtown St Paul Political Storytellers (City Council member candidates)
• Belly Dancers
• Silent Auction - This baby's HUGE!
• Kissing Booth (Get a kiss from a cancer survivor!)
• Complimentary Refreshments 
• Great Drink Selection 
• And more!

Everyone who's 21 or older is welcome, regardless of amount able to pay! For a fabulous evening, benefiting a great cause, make sure to swing by on Friday night!