Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2010>>>

1. If you don't like eating you're a communist. There's no need to beat around the bush. If you do like eating, and even cooking, chances are you might get a kick out of the Food For Thought Book Club, which meets on the last Wednesday of every month at Garfield Book Company. Recipes. Good times. Cooking demonstrations. And even some actual eating. What more could you ask for. The action starts at 6:30 p.m. and it's free. For more info check out the blog.

2. Have you ever seen a grown man draw? It's not always pretty. Sometimes, it's beautiful. Tacoma's CLAW - or Cartoonists League of Absurd Washingtonians - meets every fourth Wednesday of the month at the Mandolin Café. While the CLAW meets often and mysteriously, this one is "open to the public" - when "non members can be brought and introduced to the group." Sound intriguing? Show up at 7:30 p.m. and see it live. Here's a website.

3. Tacoma Art Museum and Centro Latino partner again for the sixth time to offer a celebration of Dia de los Muertos. According to hype, "(t)here will be a traditional tapete (sand painting) by artist Fulgencio Lazio and his team that fills the lobby and more than a dozen altars crafted by a variety of local community members, schools, and organizations." The exhibit/celebration at TAM continues through Nov. 7.

4. Who needs to bring sexy back when you've got group knitting? Every Wednesday a group of dedicated knitters, led by "master knitter" Megan Peters, meets at Tacoma Art Place from 1-4 p.m. There is a membership fee, but first timers can check out the hot group knitting action for free with a day pass. Get your knit on.

5. REI on South Steele Street will host a GPS Basics course, so if you're SUV ever careens off the road and the OnStar stops working and all you have is your tech vest and Nalgene water bottle, you'll be able to get back home in time of Desperate Housewives. Awesome.