FILM
"Atonement"
An event on the lawn of an English country house is misinterpreted by a 13-year-old girl, and leads her to a wicked lie that destroys all possibility of happiness her herself, hr older sister (Keira Knightley) and her sister's lover (James McAvoy). Begins in sheer happiness, ventures through the horror of the war in France and London, ends in darkest irony. One of the year's best films. Rated R. Four Stars. â€" Roger Ebert

[Century Olympia: 1:05, 4, 6:55, 9:50; The Grand Cinema: 6, 8:40; Longston Place 14: 12:40, 3:30, 7:25, 10:15; Regal Martin Village 16: 12:30, 4, 7:10, 10:10]

MORE FILM: On local screens today.

THE GAME
Knowledge Night
If somewhere in the deep, dark recesses of your noggin there lurks the knowledge that actor Abe Vigoda is six-foot-four and grew up on New York’s Lower East Side, then this listing is for you. Every Wednesday Doyle’s Public House in Tacoma hosts Knowledge Night where individuals or teams answer two pages of brain teasers, trivia and current events for shirts, tickets and gift certificates. It’s a challenging, fun night. â€" Brad Allen

[Doyle’s Public House, 7 p.m. every Wednesday, no cover, 208 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.7468]

EVENT
100th Monkey Party
It's certainly easy to get caught up in a midweek routine: another Wednesday night, another Jenny Craig in the microwave, another night of boob tube in a wife beater. But the 100th Monkey art party wants to help you break the cycle (oh for crick's sake, just TiVo "Wife Swap"). Tonight at 7:30 p.m., 100th Monkey Danielle McClenahan has organized a party featuring singer Deborah Page. Susan Christian has created the 100th monkey “tiles” in cast glass.  The one who draws the magic number 100 tile wins the opportunity to plan the next Monkey party’s entertainment. â€" Suzy Stump

[Jazzbones, 7:30-9:30 p.m., no cover, $4 to purchase tile, but bring finger food and soft drinks to share, 2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.396.9169]

DJ
Salsa Night
So you were born with two left feet â€" so what? Down some liquid courage and head to 21 Commerce for one of the most happening Latin nights in the city. DJ Benny Rivas â€" originally from Puerto Rico and played AAA baseball there before relocating to Tacoma â€" will spin classic salsa and merengue as well as music-of-the-moment reggaeton, leaving little choice but to dance. You won’t need lessons (although they are available) â€" just a little rhythm and a lot of energy. With the help of a few mojitos, you’ll be pulling moves Shakira would envy. ¡Baila morena! â€" Suzy Stump

[21 Commerce, 10 p.m., 9 p.m. lessons, $3, 21st and Commerce, downtown Tacoma, 253.272.6278]

MORE MUSIC: In the clubs tonight.

If there’s any Dockyard Derby Dames roller derby team to run in fear from it’s the Irish Instigators, the Femme Fianna. By “run in fear” I mean that in a skating sense, and a “meet you in a dark alley” sense. No, they’re not mean and ruthless â€" just if they had to beat you up, they’re definitely tough enough.

The toughness and passion for what they believe is grown in their hearts, and it shows in the long practices, hardcore skating, and willingness to get up and go again after they’ve been knocked down. Ever hear that saying, “What doesn’t kill you will only make you stronger”? That’s what’s happened to these Irish ladies, and boy oh boy, are they stronger than ever.

Last year they went through some challenging times finding the right skaters for the team, and for most of the season the Fianna’s skated without a coach. Yet through all of this they were able to shake the Irish curse, strap on those skates, show heavenly cleavage, and kick some roller derby ass.

Sometime near the middle of the 2007 season the Femme Fianna’s acquired an amazing coach by the name of Veronica Vicious. If the name sounds familiar, it’s because she is a Rat City alumni, and she’s graced the Fianna’s with all of her talented experience. In her back pocket she held a priceless gem by the name of Chuck Hollywood Bury. Hollywood has been an asset to the Dockyard Derby Dames as a whole, helping with all-league practices and strengthening clinics. Both Hollywood and Veronica have been blessings to the Femme Fianna and the Dockyard Derby Dames.

Fianna’s to look out for

T’Erin Traxx: She is a trained and experienced ice hockey diva. Fast? Yes. Knock her down? No way.

Diva State, Rat City retiree: She’s one of the best skaters in the league and knows all the right moves. I personally think she has 12 eyes strategically located all around her head. She can see anything coming or going.

Slim Finnegan: Fast, dangerous, talented, and hot. She can jump and bounce those skates around any obstacle. Did I mention she’s fast? â€" Steph DeRosa

Buy your tickets now for the first bout Feb. 24, or for the season here.

Past Derby Diairies

LINK: The Marauding Mollys.

LINK: Hellbound Homewreckers.

I’ve been collecting concert posters, signed pictures of musicians, carefully salvaged Beautiful Angle poster art, and grudgingly buying art prints when I can’t afford the original painting (not to say that I’m not thrilled that this option exists, but rather that I wish I had more dinero to buy art) for quite some time. I have them stashed in a not-so-careful pile in a closet. Early (compulsive) spring cleaning made me realize this practice is one of neglect.

I need frames, matting, and glass to protect and preserve these treasures. After measuring the items, I took a quick trip over to Michaels The Arts & Crafts Store on 38th Street near the Tacoma Mall. The framing department at the back of the store is pretty much its own entity. Friendly staff there good-naturedly laughed as I explained my dilemma but assured me they could take care of my needs. The frame selection alone was impressive as was the array of matting in many colors and textures. Soon I’ll have more professionally turned out works of art than wall space â€" and then I’ll have an excuse to move.

Cost of framing and matting depends on size and desired outcome.

Just saying. â€" Jennifer Johnson

[Michaels The Arts & Crafts Store, 2941 S. 38th St., Tacoma, 253.473.0114]

THE DAILY WORD
Learn it, use it, spell it

Egress \EE-gress\, noun:
1. The act of going out or leaving, or the right or freedom to leave; departure.
2. A means of going out or leaving; an exit; an outlet.
\ee-GRESS\, intransitive verb:
1. To go out; to depart; to leave.

USAGE EXAMPLE: Rudy Giuliani, the “President of 9-11,” chose Tuesday as the day he would egress from the 2008 presidential campaign. The whole world breathed a sigh of relief.

THE MORNING NEWS

TACOMA: Tacoma School Board gets a D+.

STATE: Bad breath tests.

FLORIDA: Puking girls pulled over by cops.

MAINE: Watch out for Rubber Face.

HUSTLER OF CULTURE
You can stand atop the mountain and scream your naked desires to the universe or shed that synapse epilepsy and hug the South Sound today with your fellow man:

MUSIC: Sixth Avenue is a place of possibilities.  Bobble Tiki thinks those looking for proof need look no further than tonight. At Masa, known for delicious and upscale Mexican comida, Jason Webley and Handful of Luvin’ will kick off the restaurant’s revamped “House Blend Thursdays,” which will feature a rotating lineup of top notch local talent every Thursday of the month. Up the street, at Hell’s Kitchen, for those with slightly different (or less) taste, Tana the Tattooed Lady’s Big Bad Burlesque and Variety Show will be happening, with the Glam-O-Rama Girly Show. See, possibilities. Sixth Avenue has plenty of them.

MORE MUSIC: What's on tonight.

SUPER BOWL: Where to watch the game. 

THREATS AND PROMISES COLUMN
Given Bobble Tiki’s affinity for reggae, and the fact that Winston Jarrett’s place in the annals of reggae history is secure, it seemed only natural for Bobble Tiki to use his column to focus on Jarrett’s show at Jazzbones this week. The difficulties with this idea became apparent once Bobble Tiki dove in head first. See why here.

Breakfast with Bobble Tiki runs every day now.  Deal with it.

ART

This Is a Time Machine

There are only two works in The Helm's current installation. In the front room is an enclosure that looks like a Quonset hut made of colorful sheets of cardboard. It fills the entire room, leaving barely enough space for viewers to walk around it. It is the title piece, “Time Machine.” In the back room is a piece called “Affinity” that consists of 20-something found afghans draped around a corner of the room and taking up two walls.

What these two works have in common is brilliant color and a mishmash of patterns that are so wild you would think they would clash like striped pants and a plaid shirt. There are bright pink, yellow, blue, green, orange, and violet stripes, bands, checks, zigzags, circles, squares, and various squiggly marks that all fit together amazingly well. â€" Alec Clayton

[The Helm, “This is Time Machine” by Ellen Ito and Nicholas Nyland, Thursday-Saturday noon to 6 p.m., through Feb. 13, 760 Broadway, Tacoma]

MORE ART: In local galleries and museums.

THE STAGE
"Under a Mantle of Stars"
An odd show that keeps audiences guess on what they have just seen is continuing its run at Harlequin Productions in Olympia. "Under a Mantle of Stars" is a play about sanity and insanity as well as a bit about making sure your getaway car has a full tank of gas before using it to flee the scene of a jewel theft. The show is a mix between a really good acid trip, a bran muffin and an episode of "The Twilight Zone." It is filled with weird scenes that just seem to make sense by not making sense. â€" Steve Dunkelberger

[State Theater, through Feb. 9, 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, $24-$33, 202 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia, 360.786.0151, www.harlequinproductions.org]

MORE THEATER: On local stages today.

ROCK
Jason Webley and Handful of Luvin’
“House Blend Thursdays” will bring big name music to Masa’s cozy confines beginning tonight with a performance by Jason Webley and Handful of Luvin’.

Colorful Seattleite Webley leans toward wacky theater while dangling an appendage or three in Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen and the Pogues.  Armed with guitar, piano, accordion and shovel, he channels Johnny Depp before breaking into a polka fest. â€" Tony Engelhart

[Masa, Jason Webley and Handful of Luvin’, Thursday, Jan. 31, 8:45 p.m., no cover, donations to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital will be accepted, 2811 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.473.3510]

MORE MUSIC: In local clubs tonight.

AMY ALKON: MORE LOST SOULS >>>

She drags people, kicking, screaming, and laughing, out of their misery with her advice column Advice Goddess, which runs in the Weekly Volcano. 

A man on the meek
I'm a guy and need directions! For a month, I've been flirting with this woman at work, and I think she's flirting back. I now have a week's vacation, but I'm not leaving town. Before I left, she said, "You know, if you're bored, you can drop by work and see us." She said it again before I went down the elevator. Do you think she's hinting that she's interested? I'd ask her out, but if she said no, it'd be weird because we work together. What should I do? â€" Between A Rock And A Workplace

AMY: Guys these days will find any excuse to avoid asking women out: It's too hot, it's too cold, the moon's in Aquarius, or isn't in Aquarius, or making a move could cause a woman to have an epileptic seizure, go into diabetic shock or start speaking in tongues.

Click here for the rest of Amy's response.

News she'll never use
When I talk to a woman and give her my business card, I never hear from her again. Do I have to get a woman's e-mail or phone number or ask where she hangs out to have better luck?  â€" Zero Messages

AMY: That card you give a woman may come in handy â€" if she gets bits of food stuck in her teeth, drops an earring backing in a tight place, or if some other guy asks for her number and she has nothing else to write it on.

Click here for the rest of Amy's response.