FRIDAY, DEC. 23, 2011 >>>

1. You have traversed every last garland-lined escalator, scurried around every strategically placed bit of mistletoe and made out with the marketing guy at the office holiday party. You and your ugly holiday sweater need some you time. Head over to TWOKOI or Pacific Grill, pound a couple peppermint drinks then hit the ice at the Franciscan Polar Plaza. Don't worry about the sweater. It's Ugly Sweater Night at the downtown Tacoma ice rink. You'll be in good company. And you will score a dollar off admission price with gem of a sweater. The rink will be open 4-10 p.m.

2. The Waterstreet Café in downtown Olympia will warm up the winter solstice with the Caribbean sounds of Pony Boy Recording artists Ocho Pies. Join Connie Bunyer vocals, Steve Luceno guitar, Paul Hjelm guitar and Michael Olson percussion as they blend the music of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti, and Mexico with Waterstreet's awesome food from 7-10 p.m.

3. Maia Santell and House Blend will deck the hell out of Jazzbones' halls beginning at 7:30 p.m. The band's holiday jazz and blues show is a tradition at Jazzbones.

4. Sure, children's Christmas pageants are cute, but sometimes more grownup entertainment is necessary to get into the holiday spirit. Fortunately, the Gritty City Sirens burlesque troupe will be jingling bells and making spirits bright at their one-year anniversary vaudeville shows at 8 and 10 p.m. inside the Grit City Comedy Club. The Tacoma hotties will be dancing and stripping down to their skivvies, even though it's cold outside.

5. O'Malley's Irish Pub on Sixth Avenue hosts a hip-hop show featuring City Hall, Don't Talk To The Cops, Bruce Leroy, Noony and OC Notes beginning at 9 p.m. A can of food for the food bank eliminates the $3 cover.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: This week's freebies

LINK: Santa Says Blog