If you went online in the last week to buy tickets to some of this summer's hottest concerts, you might have noticed something big missing: Ticketmaster. The long-dominant ticketing giant, infamous for making a $30 concert turn into $47 with the blink of its fees, is facing new competitors, especially in the independent-streaked Twin Cities.

As of last Friday, First Avenue, was selling tickets online exclusively through a rising company called eTix. The Cabooze, Varsity Theater and Triple Rock all recently started using another alternative site, Ticketfly. These companies offer lower fees along with new promotional technology for the venues.

"It's definitely a win-win," said First Ave general manager Nate Kranz, who estimates fees will be 20 to 40 percent lower for his club's ticket buyers.

"It's clear that concertgoers everywhere are fed up with Ticketmaster's fees," said Andrew Dreskin, co-founder and CEO of Ticketfly. Dreskin said Ticketmaster's vast database and promotional capabilities have become less important to concert promoters thanks to Twitter, Facebook, iPhone apps and other social-media platforms that Ticketfly uses to connect with fans.

"We offer a one-stop shop where promoters and club owners can get the word out to all those social-media avenues through us," he said. "The playing field has been leveled."

Not every club owner or promoter in town is jumping ship from Ticketmaster. Rose Presents founder Randy Levy, who oversees Canterbury Park's two major festivals, Soundset and the Warped Tour, as well as other festivals and theater shows, just renewed his contract with Ticketmaster in January. He pointed to the trouble that the Minnesota Twins have encountered using in-house ticket sales for why he is skeptical of the competition.

"I don't want my customers to have to sit in a virtual waiting room for half a day," said Levy, who often negotiates cheaper fees with Ticketmaster (something he said other promoters could do, but don't). "At least with Ticketmaster, I know the system isn't going to crash."

Varsity Theater manager Josh Lacey believes there will be an adjustment period, but the competitors are here to stay: "Ticketmaster is certainly looking at a greatly changed landscape, at least in the Minnesota market."

Wilde Roast Cafe is moving. The seven-year-old, all-day cafe is staying in its Old St. Anthony neighborhood, but taking a much more glamorous address: 65 SE. Main St. in Riverplace. The roomy spot has been home to Picosa, Sophia and Yvette. Co-owner Dean Schlaak said that a larger kitchen will translate into more menu options (a warm-weather burger bar, for starters), and riverfront walkers and bikers will be pleased to learn about the addition of house-made ice creams. Dessert hounds, not to worry: The famous flourless chocolate cake will be making the move. "We'll never be able to take it out of our case; people would be too angry," Schlaak said with a laugh, adding that he is planning on closing the cafe's current location during the last week of May and reopening on Main Street the following week.

With their takeover of the old Spin space now official, John Barlow and Ned Abdul have chosen a name -- Pearl -- for the club that will replace the downtown Minneapolis staple at 5th and Hennepin. The duo, who also own Karma and Epic, are obtaining a liquor license, Barlow said. He plans to take his time with the remodeling, which he described as "a full facelift." Expect an opening date in late summer or early fall.

Barlow described Pearl as a mix between an ultra lounge and a dance club. The two-level spot will serve sushi and other light appetizers during the evening and then transform into a high-energy nightclub later. Barlow compared the concept to the Living Room bar inside the W hotel, or Seven. While he admitted that the VIP bottle service crowd has diminished in recent years, he wants Pearl to be as upscale as possible.

"There's definitely been a change in the amount of money that people are spending in downtown," Barlow said. "We just have to find creative ways to give them more bang for their buck."

Wally McNeil (known to everyone as Wally the Beer Man) was acquitted last month on charges that he sold alcohol to minors at Target Field in 2010. In spite of that reprieve, however, you won't be buying a cold one at Target Field in 2011 from Minnesota's most famous beer vendor. He confirmed Monday that he won't be selling at the ballpark this year. Instead, he's "moving on to a new adventure," in his words -- working as a "celebrity beertender" at nearby Sneaky Pete's before and after every Twins home game. "When it's 95 degrees out, I know it's air-conditioned," Wally said of his new beer-selling spot. "No hard feelings. I'm just 76 years old. Maybe it's time to slow down." McNeil said he probably still will wander over to Target Field during games to watch a few innings and catch up with folks. "I'm going to miss the guys I work with and the guys I've built up a following and friendship with over the years," he said. "But I'm sure I'll run into them. ... I'm everywhere." Everywhere, of course, except pouring beers for thirsty patrons at Target Field.

When one thinks of Minnesota fashion, avant-garde men's knitwear is probably the last thing to come to mind. But the innovative work of local designer Kevin Kramp has caught the attention of the highly influential Vogue Italia, which recently featured the designer in a "New Talent" profile on its website. The recognition comes after a string of successes for Kramp, who was featured at Paris Fashion Week this year and is included in a continuing knitwear exhibition at the Antwerp, Belgium, fashion museum MoMu, alongside names like Margiela, Missoni and Chanel. Despite being a St. Paul native, Kramp is a relatively fresh face in the local fashion scene, having returned to the Twin Cities two years ago after spending much of the past decade in London and New York. He currently works between his home in St. Paul and London. Not one to ignore his hometown in favor of more worldly aspirations, Kramp will debut his fall 2011 collection next Thursday during MNfashion Week before taking it to Paris in June and Singapore in September. "The Twin Cities community has been so enthusiastically supportive of me and my work," Kramp explains. "I am very happy to show a collection here that may excite local contemporary culture and hopefully inspire open minds and new thoughts." For more on Kramp's show and MNfashion Week, see page 42.

After performing with Damon Albarn (of Blur and Gorillaz) last year in Europe, Minneapolis rapper M.anifest hoped the two might one day record together. Last week, the stars aligned as M.anifest flew to London to record on Albarn's latest supergroup project with Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. M.anifest said his vocals will appear on several songs on the group's debut album. The all-star studio session also included time with Erykah Badu, an experience M.anifest described as "surreal." The star wattage in the studio spiked when none other than Jude Law stopped by. The rapper snapped a few photos of his famous friends and put them on Twitter (follow at @manifestive).

Those ever-clever dudes at Daytrotter.com will finally bring one of their popular Barnstormer tours to our fine state. In fact, we're getting the kickoff date on the upcoming tour: Sondre Lerche, Guards, the Roman Rye and Hellogoodbye will perform amid hay bales on April 26, in Wrenshall, Minn., about 20 minutes south of Duluth. Tickets to these events ($15-$20) are very limited. Daytrotter is in Rock Island, Ill., which has become a regular stopover for touring indie bands that record live sessions there for the world to hear. Recent postings include Fitz & the Tantrums, Best Coast and Los Lobos.

Don't call it a sequel. It's more of a cousin, said Mark van Wie. The owner of St. Paul's Muddy Pig is opening a restaurant, Pig & Fiddle, in half of the old Pearson's near 50th & France in Minneapolis. While the new spot will be more food-focused, beer fans are salivating to see what Van Wie will do with the brews. While the tap list will be slightly smaller than the St. Paul Pig, the owner still plans a hefty 36 or so draft lines. While Van Wie loves his Belgian beers, he's not sure if that will be his focus here. He simply said he'll offer good beer: "I don't really care where it comes from."