MANY ART SHOWS OPEN TONIGHT >>>

"Here's another!" I shouted at Weekly Volcano editor Matt Driscoll. "And another" I said waving a press release from a Tacoma gallery that announced an exhibit opening during Third Thursday ArtWalk.

It's common for galleries to open shows during the monthly Tacoma ArtWalk for obvious reasons. This month, the openings appeared to be greater than normal. And as I plotted my ArtWalk path, I noticed it would be impossible to hit my desired galleries during the allotted ArtWalk time - 5 to 8 p.m. The path required a full tank of gas.

The hamster hit the wheel, the ideas came rolling in - turn my ArtWalk preview into a "ArtDrive," complete with sightseeing suggestions, tips on car safety, pitch ideas on how to "do" a gallery quick and jet to the next one. Brilliant. The gallery openings were spread all over town. It could be a fun piece.

Then City Arts Tacoma posted an "Art Drive" Itinerary yesterday. Shit. (Backspace, backspace, backspacebackspacebackspacebackspace)

As City Arts eloquently explained, tonight's ArtWalk is a worthy night of gallery viewing.

COLLINS MEMORIAL LIBRARY: Artist and writer Shereen LaPlantz (1947-2003) created unique, colorful handmade books in the early 1990s. Some had secret compartments. And hidden messages. Cover to Cover: The Art of Shereen LaPlantz opens today at the Collins Memorial Library featuring the Tacoma Book Arts Group folding paper for your enjoyment. Tonight 4:30-6 p.m., through March 13, University of Puget Sound, 1500 N. Warner St., Tacoma, 253.879.3100.

THE ART STOP: Mix it up in style. Batter's Up! is "a celebration of form, function, comfort and creativity" according to the hype. It's batter bowls created by Puget Sound ceramists. Yup, fancy ceramics for your Krusteaz Waffle Mix. Tonight's opening sadly won't include pancakes. Pappi Swarner has the Batter scoop here. Tonight 5-8 p.m., through Feb. 27, 940 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.272.3377.

THE SPEAKEASY ARTS COOPERATIVE: New abstract junk collage gestural paintings by the scavenging scoundrel Aaron Trotter-Voronoff. He says his performance art is on, too. Pappi interviewed Trotter-Voronoff here. With 16 other artists, 5-8 p.m., 746 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.426.5704.

BRICK HOUSE GALLERY: Northwest artist Nancy Johnson has been putting brush to canvas since the 1950s. The Brick House Gallery grabbed her works between 1968 (ethereal landscapes) through 2002 (realist) for a retrospective show. Artist reception 5-9 p.m., 1123 S. Fawcett St., Tacoma, 253.627.0426.

MINERAL: Although TINY: New Works by Chris Sharp opened last month, the official celebration for Sharp's figurative paintings and abstract compositions is tonight at the Dome District gallery. 6-9 p.m., 301 Puyallup Ave., Suite A, Tacoma, 253.250.7745.

TAHOMA CENTER GALLERY: Also a delayed reception, The Follies Return, photographer Jim Oliver's 40-piece collection of works, will be celebrated featuring percussionist Dean Tsapralis and a drawing for an Oliver print. 5:30-7:30 p.m., 1323 S Yakima St., on the second floor of Catholic Community Services, Tacoma.

MAD HAT TEA COMPANY: The fabulous talented Smiraldos take center stage at the downtown teashop tonight. Mario, the father, showcases his playful abstracts. Lucas, the son, performs spoken word. Love to be a fly on the wall during Smiraldo family dinners. 7-10 p.m., 1130 Commerce St., Tacoma, 253.441.2111.

OH, AND A SNEAK PEEK: Giants in the Mountains: The Search for Sasquatch opens at the Washington State History Museum Saturday. A special "sneak peek" of the exhibit will happen during Third Thursday ArtWalk. Beginning at 6:30 p.m., co-curators Gwen Perkins and Susan Rohrer will lead a tour through the hairy show.