Just when you'll most need a drink ...

... Every last bar in town is already booked. Well, fine, not quite. But when elephants come to town, they take up a lot of room, and a lot of booze.

Sez the Strib, a year and a half before the show arrives in town:

Many top venues -- and a few lesser ones -- will be locked down, rented out to private events for more than 30,000 delegates, journalists and lobbyists. Most venues aren't booked yet, but are being held open for parties, often sponsored by corporations and lobbyists, to entertain conventiongoers and nurture the party's bonds to its movers and shakers.

Regulars at Brits on Tuesday were bemused and surprised to learn that their local haunt would be off limits during the convention, which runs Aug. 31 to Sept. 4 next year.

Luckily, the Irish have some sense.

The Local [a popular pub in downtown Minneapolis] "shies away from blocking off space, said general manager Josh Petzel. 'We always want to make sure there is some area of our place where people can walk in off the street and enjoy a pint.' "

I'll drink to that.