THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011 >>>

1. The Weekly Volcano's Super Best of Tacoma issue is on the street. In celebration, and to honor the winners, we are throwing a huge bash at the Varsity Grill beginning at 6 p.m. At this premier event, you'll enjoy a combination of ‘80s dance music spun by the famous DJ dAb, food and drink specials, a special Super Hero Drink, tests of strength orchestrated by Elev8 Fitness, super hero movies and cartoons, raffle prizes, trivia contests - all presented in a timely, theatrical way by emcee John Munn. The Weekly Volcano highly encourage everyone to dress as his or her favorite super hero or villain. Get creative, as we'll be handing our awards for Best Super Hero and Best Villain as well as Best Local Super Hero and Best Local Villain.

2. The Barleywine Revue will fill the Tacoma Farmers Market at Ninth and Broadway with fiddle music beginning around 11 a.m.

3. The Thursday Beer runners will meet at 6:30 p.m. in front of the Parkway Tavern for an easy 3-mile run. Upon returning to the Parkway, they'll discuss their run - and why the hell they're not at the Super Best of Tacoma Party - over beers.

4. Your popcorn buckets will fill with tears as your sit in the dark Century Theatre watching the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra live from Jerusalem featuring soprano Renée Fleming and tenor Joseph Calleja instead of pouding the special Superhero Drink and dancing to 80s tunes at the Super Best of Tacoma Party. Look what your life has become.

5. After the Super Best of Tacoma Party, get on your bad motor scooter and catch L.A. Lungs, Derek M Johnson and KnotPineBox at the all-ages venue Northern. L.A. Lungs' music is bracingly unique, unfiltered and hard to categorize. The show begins at 8 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Happy hours!