WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 2011 >>>

1. An inspirational, real-life-story about a British royal overcoming a disability during wartime? Of course The King's Speech won top honors at the big Oscar shindig. Tom Hooper's film is a handsomely made, well-acted story that, for the most part, wins hearts by transforming a potentially mega-watt historical story into a low-key dramedy and mismatched buddy movie. The film hits the big screen again for a 9 p.m. showing at the Capitol Theater in Olympia. En-en-en-en-enjoy it.

2. A pile of Tootsie Rolls. Sliced bread and some bottles. A porcelain pig holding a lasso. Anything can be the subject of poetry if you just turn your head and point your ear at it. Poet Tim McNulty chooses natural history as his subject, and he's damn good at it. The Olympia Poetry Network welcomes McNulty to Traditions Café at 6:30 p.m. to share his words. And open mic will follow.

3. Sci-fi/fantasy author Robin Hobb is a lot like Sci-fi/fantasy author Megan Lindholm in that she. ... Now wait a minute ... Hobb is Lindholm! What the hell is up with both names on the novel The Inheritance & Other Stories?! "This is a story collection by both of my writing names," HobbLindholm write on her website. "I wrote as Megan Lindholm long before I became Robin Hobb, and to this day, I continue to write as Megan Lindholm. The short stories in this book are old and new, previously published and never before seen, and include a couple of Nebula finalists and a Hugo finalist." Oh. Well someone is showing up at 7 p.m. inside Garfield Books in Parkland to discuss and sign the damn thing. Drop by and discover which one shows up. Wait. What?

4. The Gruv Lounge hosts the Jerry Miller Band in a dinner show setting beginning at 8 p.m.

5. Jazzbones continues its Wednesday Sessions free shows with the righteous reggae band Northwest Sons beginning at 8:30 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music tonight