When Deepak Nath, the owner of Envy, decided he wanted his birthday party to be the "Ultimate Freakshow," he knew only one celebrity could host it. On Friday night, Dennis Rodman will play ringleader for a party that will include fire eaters, contortionists, stilt walkers and more. The NBA-great-turned-reality-TV-veteran ("The Apprentice," "Celebrity Rehab") has been on a tear lately, hosting club nights nationwide. Apparently, he's also started a new career as a "celebrity DJ" (his words). Nath said the rebounding machine will definitely get inside the DJ booth on Friday. The night will also feature a ridiculous $2 special on shots of the hot new tequila from a company, Ambhar, whose ownership has a Twin Cities connection.

10 p.m. Fri. 400 1st Av. N., Mpls. $8. 21 and older. 612-673-9694. www.envympls.com.

Meritage enters bar business Any fan of the acclaimed French restaurant Meritage knows that its four-seat bar might be the smallest in downtown St. Paul. That's about to change. The restaurant is expanding into the storefront next door, where it will build a bar with seating for 40. Chef/co-owner Russell Klein said he has watched St. Paul perk up over the past three years and wants Meritage to be an even larger part of its late-night scene.

"The bar is the fun thing, the sexy thing," he said. It will "fulfill the vision of what we've wanted to do since Meritage first opened."

Klein hopes to open the addition by mid-November. The bar will have an emphasis on creative cocktails, as well as an expanded beer and champagne list. Klein expects to stay open later (1 a.m. on weekends) and add a couple of happy hours, too. He seemed most excited about the expansion's ambitious new oyster bar, which he said will be the first of its kind in St. Paul.

410 St. Peter St., St. Paul. 651-222-5670. www.meritage-stpaul.com.

Craft beer at Canterbury Beer and horse racing seem like a logical pair to me. Canterbury Park is catching on by hosting this Friday's mini-beer fest called Hops & Horses. The track will section off the Longshots party area for an all-you-can-taste event featuring more than 40 varieties of craft beers from Goose Island, Summit, Weyerbacher and other breweries. Races will run throughout the evening.

6:30-10 p.m. Fri. 1100 Canterbury Road., Shakopee. $20 advance (952-445-7224). $25 door. www.canterburypark.com.

TOM HORGEN