TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2011 >>>

1. Sweet mother of Minnie Pearl! The Gruv Lounge and Nightclub passes over the usual Tuesday night trivia/goldfish races high jinks in favor of some swinging live rockabilly, pin-up girls, and cheap booze. The music is a little bit country and a little bit rock 'n' roll. Classic cars ride the sidewalk. Sailor Jerry rum is in the house. There's more go-cat-go than you can shake a stick at. We dare you to even try to shake a stick at it. It begins at 8 p.m. And the Gritty City Sirens burlesque show will drop by for a twirl. Click here to see photos from last week's Booze and Tattoos night.

2. Mexican Labor Minister Carlos Abascal claimed Carlos Fuentes's gothic novella Aura, first published in 1962, corrupted young women. Sounds like a read right up the Banned Book Club's alley. The club meets at 7 p.m. inside the Tempest Lounge to discuss said book and pound $3.75 wells.

3. Riki Ott, marine biologist and co-founder of Move to Amend, Craig Salins, director of Washington Public Campaigns, and Sen. Adam Kline, 37th District, lead the community forum "Democracy Hijacked - and How to Fix It" beginning at 7 p.m. inside The Evergreen State College Longhouse in Olympia.

4. Join Elmo, Zoe, Abby Cadabby, Teddy Monster, Zoe's pet rock Rocco and thousands of kids just losing it when Sesame Street Live hits the Tacoma Dome at 7 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Catch a movie!