THURSDAY, JULY 29, 2010 >>>

1. If you followed Weekly Volcano Editor Matt Driscoll's lead last night at the Best of Tacoma 2010 party, chances are you're in desperate need of an effective hangover remedy this morning/afternoon. Since the main culprit of a nasty hangover is dehydration, you should have been drinking plenty of water with your booze last night at Masa. If not, only time is going to make the hairy, ugly pounding go away. These morning-after drink recipes from legendary restaurateur Trader Vic Bergeron, however, may help.

The Banana Cow

1 crushed ripe banana (a good source of hangover-fighting potassium), 2 level tablespoons of powdered sugar, 3 ounces of whole milk, 1-1/2 ounces of Puerto Rican rum, and (cough! ouch!) cracked ice; blend well.

The Prairie Oyster

1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce, 1 dash of Tabasco, 1 raw egg, a few drops lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste in a shot glass.

Bloody Mary

4 ounces of tomato juice, 1-1/2 ounces of vodka, 1/4 ounce of lemon juice, 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce, dash of Tabasco, and celery salt and ground pepper to taste; stir well over ice cubes in a Collins glass, garnish with a celery stalk and serve (cough!  ouch!).

Failing any of these "cures," a well-placed ball-peen hammer to the forehead can work wonders.

2. Celebrate artists and arts organizations using their creativity to liven up vacant spaces in downtown Tacoma from 5-8 p.m. at the Spaceworks Tacoma Block Party bubbling over at Ninth and Broadway. The party will include guided walking tours, theatrical performances, live dance performances, an ongoing screening of short films and a season preview for the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts.

3. The beloved Paula Tutmarc Johnson, former owner of Two Vaults Gallery in Tacoma, curates a new show at The Robert Daniel Gallery. She's brought in a new collection by Karl Krogstad, some "barely dry" original oils by Ethan Jack Harrington, works by J. Neils Harvey (her premiere show) and artwork from The Robert Daniel Gallery's artists. The opening reception is tonight from 5-9 p.m.

4. The Lakewood Playhouse offers a "Pay What You Can" performance of Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead paired with Stoppard's Fifteen Minute Hamlet at 8 p.m. This is collaboration with the new dynamic acting company The Outfit Theatre Project.

5. The Loft on Cherry in downtown Olympia hosts The Pasties CD all-ages release show that also features The Solvents and Invisible River beginning at 8:30 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound