WHAT FOOTBALL? >>>

It's more than possible in these parts to spend winter having a whole lot of creative fun. And to that end, a frenzy of community art classes isn't the norm. You just need to know where to look.  Like here.  On this blog.  Tacoma Art Place hosts two community art classes tomorrow centered around unusual ideas.

Shrinky Dink Buttons

Sunday, Jan. 15
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
$20 plus a $10 Day Pass if you are not a member
Personalize your shirts, jackets and other projects with buttons you decorate as large pictures, then shrink to the size of a button. You don't have to just use them for sewing projects, either. Modify your design to make necklaces or glue a pin on the back for a fun accessory to add to any outfit.

Tattoo Tights

Sunday, Jan. 15
2-4 p.m.
$20 plus a $10 Day Pass if you are not a member
Keep your New Year's resolution to be more creative by drawing quirky designs on tights that look like tattoos when you put them on. Bring your own panty hose or take your chances with what we have available.

[Tacoma Art Place, 1116 S. 11th St., Tacoma, RSVP at 253.238.1006 or rsvp@TacomaArtPlace.org]

Oh, and the Tacoma Art Museum has a Sunday class, too.

SUNDAY, JAN. 15, 2012 >>>

1. You know what I like? Movies. You know what I like even more? Classic movies, preferably from the '80s (my formative years, aka a prehistoric era which ended years before our average reader was conceived). You know what I like even more than that? Classic movies and drinking! Brace yourself for the grueling week ahead by taking in a flick, a cold beer, and all the free popcorn you can stuff down your gullet at the Brotherhood Lounge's Sunday Movie Night. You'll be treated to such dubious cultural milestones as RoboCop and They Live, all on the Brotherhood's nine-foot-screen with surprisingly intense sound. Then hang around after the movie to jam along with DJ James and discuss the finer nuances of Roddy Piper's performance till it's officially Monday.

2. The Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam comes to a destructive conclusion today at the Tacoma Dome - meaning you've only got one more chance to see Grave Digger and the rest of the touring monster trucks in Tacoma until next year.

2. Rich Wetzel's Groovin' Higher Orchestra will chain up and fill Stonegate Pizza with big band music tonight.

3.Get in on the "Super Rock Trivia Night" and a bit of karaoke at Westgate Bar and Grill in Tacoma.

4. It's Service Industry Night at Rock the Dock Pub & Grill - meaning Lena with Songbird Karaoke will be in the house along with drink specials, games, contests and giveaways.

5. It's another Sexy Sunday in Puyallup (really, every day is sexy in Puyallup), with DJ El Guapo breaking out the hip-hop and R&B at O'Henry's Sports Bar.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

FREE EVENTS JAN. 16-22 IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Snow prompts Bobble Tiki to think that the All Mighty, while he may not shoot craps with the universe as Albert Einstein said, at least has a sense of humor. She makes existence uncertain by conjuring up sea-level snow every now and then, but at no apparently regular interval, and throws in a few earthquakes, ice storms, floods and the like now and then just to let us know who is boss.

The trouble is Bobble Tiki never sees it coming.  Skier/ Kayaker/Mountain Explorer Jeff Renner and other weather suits can barely tell us which way the wind is blowing. Yet, they still get the coin. Thursday, Bobble Tiki thought is was a brilliant idea to create a list of free outdoor activities for this coming week. Today, it seems like a ridiculous list.

Anyway, here it is - a list of free things to do outdoors this week in the South Sound.

MONDAY, JAN. 16: Washington State Parks says its cool to visit a state park for free Jan. 16. Yes, you don't need a Discover Pass, which is normally required to access lands managed by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

TUESDAY, JAN. 17: When was the last time you hung out with a pack of wolves? If you're anything like Bobble Tiki, the closest you generally get to wildlife is when you're forced to smoke outside. Helen Thayer traveled to the virtually untouched Canadian Yukon Territory, above the Arctic Circle, to live within 100 feet of a wild wolf den. She spent a summer observing and documenting the daily lives and behaviors of the pack and returned in the winter to study the wolves' interaction with the polar bears on the northern sea ice. Come hear stories and view photos detailing the remarkable story of wolves at 7 p.m. inside the Olympia REI. You must RSVP here for the free event.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 18: The Tacoma REI offers a free introductory Avalanche Awareness class at 7 p.m. The Friends of the Northwest Avalanche Center will provide information on where to find avalanche reports, how to interpret the reports, assess avalanche risks and learn about the gear needed for avalanche terrain. RSVP here.

THURSDAY, JAN. 19: The Tahoma Audubon will lead a free walk through the Adriana Hess Wetland Park in University Place from noon to 1:30 p.m. No registration is needed.

FRIDAY, JAN. 20: Soon you will be able to spend time outside during the day without risk of hospitalization. You should join the Tacoma Mountaineers right now, just to celebrate.  Right now.  Riiiiggght now.  OK, fine, you want to know something about them? They hike, they bike, they climb, and yes - they mountaineer, too. (And rockin'?  Hah! - parties, too.) In short, indoors is out. Outdoors is in. So get out by getting in. Or something like that. The Mountaineers Tacoma Branch hosts an Open House with special guest speaker Washington state guidebook author Craig Romano Friday from 7-9 p.m. Drawing from his new release, Day Hiking Columbia River Gorge, Craig will be sharing tales from the trails from Ridgefield, Wash. to Boardman, Ore. Oh, because of a clubhouse renovation, the open house will be held at the Pierce County Library Processing Administration Center at 3005 112^th St. E. in Tacoma.

SATURDAY, JAN. 21: Go Get It Gal, a website aimed at adventurous women, will hosts a party from 3-6 p.m. at Joy Ride Bicycles in Lacey.This event, obviously aimed at women, will include comedic live music, food, community vendors, prize giveaways and a sale on women's bicycle gear and products. The keynote will be an interview with Olympia cycling legend and nine-time Hawaii Ironman finisher, Louise Taylor, who will share her secrets of longevity in athletic pursuits.

SUNDAY, JAN. 22: You need to join the Swiss Sportmen's Club of Tacoma right now. Sunday morning the club will host a free shotgun shoot in Bonney Lake. Shooting shotguns with the Swiss. Yo ho-lee ho-o-lee hol-la-lee-ho!

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

WE SCENE IT >>>

From the backward spelling of its name to the tree-studded front patio, to the upper reaches of the "Swiss Building" that seems to spread its arms into many different worlds at once, it is evident that the Amocat Cafe occupies a space all its own. The building, a merger of a Swiss chalet style and gothic Tudor, is an amalgamation that sets the eye at odd angles and comforts with charm. The Webster Apartments above exist harmoniously with AMOCAT and neighboring businesses, The Mix and Puget Sound Pizza

While the atmosphere isn't comfy, it's comfortable. The laid back, inviting three-room café sports hardwood floors, funky artwork, local goods, Valhalla coffee, tasty grilled panini sandwiches, Northwest craft beer and wine, and a wall of windows to the outside world.

But ambiance isn't all that's offered at Amocat Cafe. Once a month owner Morgan Alexander hosts a live music night anchored by the house band, the Collaborators, with performers Jessica Reid, Leslie Young, Kirk Parker John Dolge, Brian Neufeld, Donna Dolge, Karen Miller, Gen Obata and others rotating in and out of the makeshift stage in front of the northern-most window.

Weekly Volcano photographer Steve Dunkelberger dropped in on Amocat's January live music night, which was Friday. What he heard and photographed were many of the folks listed above singing and strumming acoustic folk-rock, bluegrass and country with the occasional venture into pop music and covers.

Alexander's birthday was also celebrated Friday night.

LINK: More photos of Amocat Cafe's January Live Music Night

LINK: Amocat grabbed a Super Best of Tacoma award

MONDAY, JAN. 16, 2012 >>>

1. Morning, all! For those of you who are off and wondering what to do with yourselves, We have the rundown on some of today's local MLK Day events, which includes the big celebration at the Tacoma Dome. Let us know what you're getting up to today down in the comments.

2. Meet the adorable new southern sea otter, Libby, and the rest of the crew at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium from from9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

3. Something about the driving guitars and the rough female vocals make Big Eyes something more than just a run of the mill, good garage rock act. Elements of the Breeders and even the Ramones run through the music of Big Eyes, but the band somehow manages to sound quintessentially like itself. Catch the band with Si Si Si, Up All Night and the Wild Ones at 7 p.m. inside Tahoma Tea and Co., where The Den @ urbanXchnage use to sit.

4. Before the Greta Jane Quartet begins its Monday jazz nights next week at The 4th Avenue Tavern it will help The Brotherhood Lounge in downtown Olympia celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's life at 8 p.m.

POSTPONED! 5. Magoo's Annex's Micro Mondays with DJ Melodica has become a habit for many, specifically those who enjoy punk, post punk, New Wave, early electronica and garage tunes while waiting for that one damn pool table. Tonight at 8:30 p.m. the "Micro" is shelved for something Melodica calls "Showcase Monday." DJ Darren Selector will be in the house, as well as the band Battersea and a TV theme trivia contest with prizes.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs tonight

LINK: This week's freebies

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Where to honor the great man locally. (Weekly Volcano)

Weather: More snow is on the way. (Seattle Times)

Mount Rainier Snowshoer Still Missing: search resumes today. (News Tribune)

Native Quest: New center for "urban Natives." (News Tribune)

Outta Here: Jon Huntsman finished third in last week's primary in New Hampshire, a state in which he had staked his entire campaign, behind Mitt Romney and Ron Paul. So he's quitting. (CNN)

The 2012 Golden Globes: The best unscripted moments. (Flavorwire)

Date Set: Game of Thrones returns April 1. (Coming Soon)

Gene Hackman: He's OK after being hit by a truck while riding his bike. (USA Today)

The Simpsons: Portlandia invades. (TV Line)

Keep Dreaming

MUSICAL CHAIRS >>>

We dropped by Club Kokonut Friday night. The new old dance club on Pacific Avenue was dead.

We're talkin' crickets.

Apparently, what was the gay-friendly On The Rocks dance club then Club Kokonut then Surreal Ultra Lounge then back to Club Kokonut will soon be the INNightclub. The INN has created Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Stay tuned.

WHEN WEATHER REPORTS SCARE >>>

AccuWeather just dropped this on the Weekly Volcano World Headquarters:

January 16, 2012 – State College, PA – After a modest round of wintry weather over the weekend, more snow, including a potentially historic winter storm will target the Pacific Northwest this week, with heavy accumulations expected, even in Seattle.

In the Cascades of Washington and Oregon, snow will be measured in feet and along some western-facing slopes, it could take multiple yard sticks to total up the powder!

Read more...

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THIS JUST IN >>>

The University of Puget Sound just sent this to the Weekly Volcano World Headquarters:

Due to  inclement weather, we regret that the Martin Luther King Jnr. 7 p.m. evening celebration in Kilworth Memorial Chapel and 5 p.m. afternoon reception in the Rotunda at University of Puget Sound have been postponed. We will work to reschedule these for a future date.

The evening event was to feature Lyle Quasim as speaker. The afternoon reception was for volunteers who took part in community work today.

LUCKY STEVE >>>

Weekly Volcano photographer Steve Dunkelberger brings back these photos from Encore Boutique Nightclub on the night of Friday the 13th. In honor of the unlucky day, the downtown Tacoma nightclub discounted its VIP lounges to help put everyone at ease.

It also happened to be ladies night.

While Dunkelberger bounced around the VIP lounges, he did spend a majority of his time photographing one party of eight women. We had to delete most of theme because it bordered on stalking.

LINK: More photos from Encore Friday