RON SWARNER: HERE COMES THE MONKEY >>>

What's more fun than a barrel of monkeys? Well, not as much as people would have you believe, because it's hard to find a higher percentage of fun per unit than with monkeys. But fret not, gentle reader, because we still carry a pretty high fun percentage on this nifty blog. And we're working on the technology to add some monkey to the mix so we can give you the most fun you can have without a special wildlife license!

In the meantime â€" you’re it Susan Connolly. You’re the monkey. The 100th monkey to be exact. Yup, they’re back. The 100th Monkey party swings into The Robert Daniel Gallery Wednesday, Jan. 21. Connolly, a member of Tacoma's creative community, will preside over a public gathering of creative people in an effort to continue the cultural change in Tacoma.

For those reading in Walla Walla (hi Fred!), The 100th Monkey concept comes from a bunch of Japanese monkeys living on the island of Koshima in the ’50s digging sweet potatoes, in all the senses of the word. On day, one of the monkeys had it with the added dirt taste and gave the spud a wash. Yum!  Each year, a few more monkeys pulled their spuds out of the water until about 100 had adopted the practice. It became a way of life. The 100th monkey, then, symbolized that tipping point, that critical mass, when an idea saturates a culture.

Connolly, who by purchasing the 100th tile at the last 100th Monkey event, will serve as master of ceremonies on Jan. 21. She’s responsible for the entertainment, which will be the rock band Band of Waxx, plus art by Michelle Merrtit, Mary K Johnson, Val Lord, Cara J. Hennings and Bill Silvey. 

Participants are responsible for bring food and drinks to share, as well as a piece of art if they desire. Everyone is also responsible to meet someone new â€" to build community. Oh, and to have fun.

[The Robert Daniel Gallery, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 7:30-9:30 p.m., no cover, monkey tiles $3-$4, 2501 S. Fawcett, Tacoma, 100thmonkeytacoma.com]

LINK: ViVA South Sound arts and entertainment calendar

LINK: Auditions and opportunities