BEER
Christmas in July
Chestnuts roasting outdoors in the sun,
Jack Frost nipping at the brew;
Yuletide carols being slurred by the crowd,
And folks dressed up like  J. Crew.
Me read in Mel Torme's autobiography how Mel and a buddy banged out "The Christmas Song" in 45 minutes one sweltering July afterrrnoon.  Ye have to admirrre that.  Ye also have to admire Parrrkway Tavern's Christmas in July celebration tonight. 

Dem be serving Hair of the Dog Barleywine, Full Sail's Cask Conditioned Wreck the Halls (Yo ho ho), and Deschutes Nitro Jubelale among many more grog.- Milt Grimm
[Parrrkway Tavern, 5 p.m., 313 N. I St., Tacoma, 253.383.8748]

VIDEO ART
The Tollbooth Gallery
No secret that ye Tollbooth Gallery met Davy Jones' Locker last yearrr when Artrod and Critical Line gallery made lily-livered getaways. I yearned for its return. It was far superior to me Salty Technical College video arrrt project. Yo-ho-ho th' video kiosk is back! Tacoma Contemporarrry grabbed ye kiosk at 11th and Broadway in Tacoma's T'eater District. Justin Colt Beckman put a video and mixed media show called Honky Tonkin' in it. Beckman plays a hillbilly music singer juxtapo-something with TVÃ' Hee Haw show. Me thinks its worthy of the Humanistic Order of Oceanic Knavery award. -" Pirate Diego the Pink
[Tollbooth Gallery, 24 hours, seven days a week, 11th and Broadway, Tacoma, www.tollboothgallery.org]

BLUES
Teddy Lee Hooker
Teddy Lee Hooker would likely have followed a different path had it ne'er been fer t' influence of John Lee Hooker. Teddy Lee Hooker has placed second in t'Southern California Blues Society's International Blues Talent Show, and he's been crowned "Best Blues Artist of the Year" by t' South Bay Music Awards. If things be different, those could be Bobble Blackbeard's accomplishments.

On t' other hook, Bobble Blackbeard's pillaged more booty than most bobble souvenirs see in der lifetime, and swilled more grog than Kelsey Grammar. If things be different, that could be Teddy Lee Hooker's resumé

Luckily fer both of thems, things be how de be. Bobble Blackbeard loves bein' a gentleman o' fortune, and something tells Bobble Blackbeard that Teddy Lee Hooker loves bein' a blues guitarist.

Judgin' by his tunes, anyway. See fer yerself.- Bobble Blackbeard
[Jazzbones, Randy Oxford's Blues Theater jam starring Teddy Lee Hooker, 7 p.m., no cover, 2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma 253.396.9169]

LINK: 206 Degrees & Rising Tour and more in the clubs tonight.
LINK: The new Hancock flick be in theaters.
LINK: Let's eat Italian today.