RON SWARNER: WINE AND TANGO BENEFIT CONCERT >>>

Traffic congestion in Old Town Tacoma after quitting time is no fun â�" especially when a train is added. Instead of the road rage you're bound to encounter, wouldn't you rather just tango? The folks behind Classical Tuesdays in Old Town are betting you would, which are why they're hosting the TangoHeart Quartet as the main attraction for their benefit concert Tuesday. Led by Bertram Lecy, the quartet dedicates their lives to performing the music of Astor Piazzolla and the classic orchestrations of the golden age of tango.

I caught up with Pamela Ryker, the mastermind behind Classical Tuesdays in Old Town, for the scoop.

WEEKLY VOLCANO: Why did you choose TangoHeart Quartet for the Classical Tuesdays benefit concert?

PAMELA RYKER: Tango is festive and a little out of the ordinary for a holiday event. And TangoHeart Quartet is one of the best. The quartet's leader, Bertram Levy, is a terrific raconteur and musician who divides his time between Argentina and the Puget Sound region. We like to create a convivial atmosphere at our gatherings and Bertram is great at that. The quartet is the perfect size group for the intimacy of this gathering.

VOLCANO: Do the Old Town Tacoma merchants rally behind your events?

RYKER: Absolutely. The reception for Tuesday�s concert will showcase Old Town gems. The Spar and Cafe Divino are donating the wines. Proprietress Nancy Oltman of Pampeana will provide the empanadas. The coffee will be donated by Old Town Starbucks.

VOLCANO: Will folks be able to dance?

RYKER: I have something up my sleeve.

VOLCANO: Why did you choose Old Town Tacoma to host Classical Tuesdays?

RYKER: Old Town Business & Professional Association approached me some five years ago asking that I start up a chamber music series for the Old Town District, to provide cultural balance with the Wine & Jazz Festival and the Blues Fest the district was already sponsoring. From the get-go the idea was to present a series of free chamber music concerts to be held on a regular basis in an Old Town venue. The series has generated strong community support, both in the in-kind and financial support of the Business Association members and North End neighbors, and also in the large core audience constituency and the Puget Sound musicians eager to perform on the series.

There you go. Throw a rose between your teeth and support classical music in Old Town. Upcoming Classical Tuesdays concerts can be found here.

[Connelly Law Offices, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 7 p.m., $25, 2301 N. 30th St., Old Town Tacoma, 253.752.2135]