THURSDAY, DEC. 8, 2011 >>>

1. Underneath this respectable, suburban veneer lies a seething hotbed of decadence; behind a curtain of boring hides an orgiastic cacophony of richness. It's called jazz. Radio station KPLU 88.5FM is the number one local pusher of this drug. It will prove it, once again, with its 15th annual KPLU Christmas Jam, a free holiday concert featuring jazz vocalist Gail Pettis and the University Jazz Ensemble and hosted by KPLU's Nick Morrison on the live broadcast. Best of all, it's during your noon lunch in Pacific Lutheran University Lagerquist Concert Hall.

2. "Das Wunder Forst" is a monolith of eye candy. This contemporary glass installation hosted by Tacoma's Fulcrum Gallery embodies all of the iconic configurations of glass that are associated with the contemporary Seattle Glass movement. This especially blingy installation also pays tribute to the tradition of over the top holiday window displays. See the splendor from noon to 6 p.m.

3. The quarterly Ancient Victorys Open Mike, brings back some of the 3,000 acoustic music performers from open mikes run by Chris Lunn in this state and California from the 1965 through 1990, will be held from 7-11 p.m. at the Antique Sandwich Company.

4. Beginning at 8 p.m., the Backstage Bar & Grill will host an All Star Acoustic Jam and Comedy Show Benefit featuring members of Pretty Enemy, Black Diamond, Dreams Jaded, Corson Swift, and others. Proceeds will help a contributing member of the music community who is recovering from brain surgery.

5. Featuring members of Future Fossils, Radio-Flyer and Omni, the Mothership has some seriously gloomy cred. True to form, on the band's terminally grunge-leaning new LP, Ten Miles Wide, there is rarely a moment not dominated by huskily shouted vocals or an onslaught of guitars and drums having a shoving match with your eardrums. The band rocks Hell's Kitchen tonight at 9 p.m. with Keeping the Gates, Vera Solaris and Halcion Halo.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: This week's freebies

LINK: 2011 South Sound holiday happenings