Chris Trashcan, owner of The Red Hot, will get hitched this New Year's Eve.  Tonight he'll see how the other half lives. Trashcan will sit on the other side of his bar to whoop it up before the big day.  Ahhhh, nice.

Join him, won't you?

Check out the lovely couple here. â€" Suzy Stump

THE FESTIVAL
Model Train Festival
There are some hobbies better kept to yourself. You know, the ones you do alone in your basement late at night. And then there are some truly cool hobbies, like model railroads. These should be celebrated and dragged out in the open for all to admire. Which is why the 12th Annual Model Train Festival, downtown Tacoma’s biggest model railroad exposition (taking into account, of course, the relatively small size of the subjects at hand because they are, of course, models), is being held through Jan. 1, instead of like, a half-hour. This gives you plenty of time to enjoy every floor of the Washington State History Museum filled with operating modular layouts.  But remember to look both ways before crossing, and keep your pennies to yourself.  â€" Ron Swarner

[Washington State History Museum, noon to 5 p.m. $6-$8, 1911 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.272. 9747]

MORE EVENTS: Get off the couch.

FILM
“Juno”
Very smart, very funny and then very touching; “Juno” begins with the pacing of a screwball comedy and ends as a portrait of characters we have come to love.  Ellen Page in an Oscar-worthy performance as a pregnant 16-year-old who decides to keep the child.  With J.K. Simmons and Allison Janney wonderful as her parents, older and wiser than most parents in teenage comedies.  And Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman as the would-be adoptive parents, and Michael Cera, shyly winning as Juno’s boyfriend.  Screenplay by Diablo Cody, directed by Jason Reitman; the best movie of 2007. Rated PG-13. ★★★★ â€" Roger Ebert

[Grand Cinema, noon, 2:10, 4:20, 6:35 and 8:50 p.m., $4.50-$8, 606 Fawcett Ave., Tacoma, 253.593.4474]

MORE FILM: On local screens today.

THE LIGHTS
Fantasy Lights
Although the holidays are a time for joy and light, you’ll drive by Bobble Tiki’s hut, point and laugh at his light display. Don’t risk driving by after Bobble Tiki’s third eggnog â€" head to Fantasy Lights. Billed as the largest holiday drive-through display in the Northwest, it features nearly 300 elaborate displays and thousands of sparkling lights. While enjoying the sparkly two-mile drive along Spanaway Lake, be thankful you’re not in charge of this holiday light display. â€" Bobble Tiki

[Spanaway Park, 5:30-9 p.m., $13 per vehicle, just west of 152nd Street and Pacific Avenue., Spanaway, 253.798.4177

JAZZ
Maia Santell and House Blend
Maia Santell and House Blend perform their traditional holiday jazz and blues show at Jazzbones tonight. They play an upbeat brand of R&B with a little jump blues and big band jazz thrown in for a party second to none. Santell has been called the Northwest’s queen of swing for her high-energy shows and boisterous vocals. Yet, unlike so many female singers, she is not a screamer but rather possesses exceptional vocal control that is rich and warm. â€" Tony Engelhart

[Johnny’s Dock, 6 p.m., no cover, 1900 E. D St., Tacoma, 253.627.3186]

MORE MUSIC: In the clubs tonight.

Lately it seems that we’re dodging puddles in downtown Olympia of whatever it was you ingested last night. Honestly, kids. If you can’t handle it, don’t drink it. Or at the very least, don’t make us look at it in reruns.

We hit the puddles square because our attention is on the graffiti.  It's everywhere in downtown Olympia.  For a quick tour, puddle free, check out dreamsjung's Flickr site. â€" Brad Allen

Tacoma has a new catch phrase for downtown development, and its "Whoa, Nelly!"

Check out John Gillie's status check in today's Trib. â€" Michael Swan

Admittedly, I haven't always been a full-fledged supporter of Tacoma's alcohol lacking New Years Eve Party â€" First Night. However, in its absence, I must also admit I kind of missed the annual event. Since it's back this year and a number of noteworthy performers will help make it memorable, here's a peek at a few musical acts not to miss tomorrow night:

Alex Duncan will play the First Night Main Stage at 10:30 p.m., and his set will lead the party right into '08. Having seen Duncan unleash his impressive reggae styling on Jazzbones a number of times, one can only assume his presence at First Night will be nothing short of infectious â€" in a good way, not like the flu. If there's one thing about reggae crowds it's that they know how to have a good time. The music is designed for it. On New Years Eve (even though we're nowhere near the tropics) Duncan's groove should hit the spot like a spliff the size of a baby's arm.

Oftentimes, there's a serious rift between intellects and rockers. Usually they're separate crowds, and commingling is frowned upon. A handful of bands (Seattle's Bloodhag comes to mind) bridge that gap and prove that rockers can be intellects, and vise versa. Another band bringing the two worlds together is Seattle's Sugarcane Mutiny, who will play First Night's Theatre on the Square Stage (901 Broadway) at 7:30 p.m. According to the band's press release, "Sugarcane Mutiny takes two shots of single-malt rock, adds a dash of twang, and muddles the mix with fresh lime. The band’s lyric-driven songwriting and power-pop beats recall the pub rock of Elvis Costello and Graham Parker, blending the dark humor of a Cracker or Wilco with the loud jangly pop of the Smithereens and Fastball." All I know is that a band that knows the value of a well written verse, even after half a bottle of Jack, is a band I want to become acquainted with. First Night will provide that opportunity.

Oh the Elephants. I love them so. I saw Cody from the band at Stadium Video the other night, but like a school girl with a crush, shyly turned my eyes to the ground. Too bad for this piece, because had I not been such an anti-social chickenshit (or had I not been so stoned), I could have asked him about the band's scheduled gig on the First Night Theatre on the Square Stage at 8:30 p.m. First Night is giving the Elephants 45 minutes, which (at a typical Elephants show) is just about the time their psychedelic gluco-pop gets interesting. At First Night Trevor and Cody will have to speed things up a bit, but know that they're up to it. The Elephants may just be the best thing First Night has going for it â€" besides, of course, the fact that it exists again this year. Enjoy First Night this year, and get your button now! â€" Matt Driscoll

I found the perfect cupcake.  Not too dry, not too much fluffy frosting, it’s all perfect.  These perfected mini-mounds of cake batter are made at Indulge Cupcakes, located on Meridian and Stewart in downtown Puyallup.  Jen and Darrin Quaschnik own it, and they are a raging ball of fire & steam (read: they kick ass).  The customer service was amazing from the minute I walked in the door.  I knew immediately that Jen was going to be sitting at my dinner table this week.  Well, along with her fantastic cupcakes, of course.

I think just about every person who rides an elliptical at the Tacoma Center YMCA in downtown Tacoma will agree with me on this next dinner guest:  Annette Novak.  What?  No, she’s not the one who wipes off your nasty-ass sweat from the treadmill.  No, she’s not the lady who takes 3-hour showers and stands there naked watching everyone else, as they get dressed.  And NO, she’s not one of the hot guys who play Noon Hoops.  She’s the one who has a banana ready for me after my workout.  She’s Annette, the lady who runs the coffee stand.  What a perfect topping to my after-workout high: Annette and her bubbly protein-shake-makin’ ways. 

Two of the most down to earth and kind individuals you could ever want to know are Ron Heathman and his friend, Amy Nelson.  I look forward to sitting down with them at my dinner table and picking their brains.  I want to hear what they’re about, I want to know the story of their lives.  The ability to engage and intrigue my brain would be so easy for them.  Now don’t go making fun of me, I know my mind can be engaged by something shiny on the ground, there’s no doubt about that.  But I also get bored pretty damn easily.  I think they would ‘have me at hello’.  (Do we have to pay royalties for printing that tagline?) (And why the F am I using some lame-ass quote from some lame-ass overrated Tom Cruise movie?)

In case you didn’t know, Ron is a guitar player for the Supersuckers AND he co-owns Satellite Coffee with Pat Brown and Kevin Dolliff.  He also had a cat named Lee-Lee for three years that was given to him by Amy Nelson.  Who?  Oh, that would be Willie Nelson’s daughter, Amy Nelson. 

Lastly, I’m inviting Michael Cera.  You might know him from "Arrested Development," "Superbad," and "Juno."  One of my very best friends, Jeff, who lives in Chicago has introduced me to www.clarkandmichael.com.  Go there.  Watch the webisodes.  You’ll fall in love.  And if you haven’t seen Juno, stop reading this blog and get out of your damn house.  Loser.  (I mean seriously, who hasn’t seen Juno?)

Mangiamo! â€" Steph DeRosa

THE PARTY
First Night
It’s been two years since teetotaler Tacomans had something to do on New Year’s Eve. Well, this year, dry or sauced, there will be more than enough for everybody thanks to the return of First Night, which is back full force to celebrate the arrival of 2008. If you’re into rock ‘n’ roll, First Night has it. If you’re into polka, it has that too. Canadian folk fans are covered as are dancehall and reggae devotees. Event organizers have even packed in some hip-hop, performing pigs and a New Year’s fashion blowout at Junior Bizarre. Not at the same time, unfortunately.
What: First Night is Tacoma’s New Year’s Eve celebration. It’s a family-friendly, alcohol-free celebration. This year’s theme is “The Year of the Pirate.”

• When: Monday, Dec. 31, 5 p.m. until past midnight.
• Where: Downtown Tacoma
• Cost: $7 before the event at www.brownpapertickets.com, Museum of Glass, Leroy Jewelers, Glenna’s Clothing and Sanford & Son. Buttons are $8 day of event at the Broadway Center. Children 7 and younger are free.

For the full story, check it here. â€" Paul Schrag

FIRST NIGHT MUSIC: Matt Driscoll's picks.

THE PARTY
Broho’s ’80s bash
If you’re in Olympia tonight, let me recommend the Brotherhood’s New Years Eve Party with DJ DeadAir. If you’re a seasoned Oly vet, you likely recognize DJ DeadAir from past parties at the Broho, not to mention many storied performances at Thekla back in the day. DJ DeadAir’s mastery at spinning and mixing ’80s hits is unmatched. Period. There’s no way his New Years Eve performance at the Broho will be topped anywhere in the Capitol City.

Even better, it’s cheap and for a good cause. Just two bucks at the door will get you in, and half of all proceeds will go to Safeplace. There’ll be party favors for the first 100 folks in the door, and Absolut drink specials will keep Oly’s finest groovin’ all night long â€" or at least into the wee hours of ’08. â€" Matt Driscoll

[The Brotherhood Lounge, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., $2, 119 Capitol Way N. Olympia, 360.352.4153]

MORE PARTIES: In the clubs tonight.

Jake’s Bar and Bistro in Steilacoom hosts jazz every Saturday night beginning Jan. 5.

Award winning saxophonist Jim Pribbenow, as known as King Greasy, will be the first to hit Jake’s stage. Joining Pribbenow will be pianist Craig Hoyer.

I climbed the stairs to Jake’s on its opening night Friday, Dec. 21.  I hope they have the plywood seats covered and the missing beers back on its list.

The joint has promise. â€" Brad Allen

[Jake’s Bar and Bistro, Saturday, Jan. 5, 7 p.m., all ages, 215 Wilkes St., Steilacoom, 253.581.3300]