THURSDAY, FEB. 16, 2012 >>>

1. The Weekly Volcano Best of Olympia 2012 issue is on the street. Now it's time to party. We feel more than comfortable saying tonight's Best of Olympia 2012 Party at the 4th Avenue Tavern is going to be, for all intents and purposes, "off da hook." Music from Scott Taylor and the Fond Farewells and headliners Glass Elevator, $2 Oly draft all night long, a huge raffle, Olympia trivia, a large percentage of the Volcano's esteemed staff in one spot (and available for mass ridicule), and the debut of the Volcano's Best of Olympia 2012. What else could you want? Probably nothing we can deliver. What we can deliver is all the aforementioned goodness for free beginning at 6 p.m.

2. When The Second City, scheduled to hit Tacoma tonight as part of its "Laugh Out Loud" tour, bills itself as the "world's premier comedy club and school of improvisation," it's a no shit statement. The Second City REALLY IS the world's premiere comedy troupe and school of improvisation, with 50-plus years of service since its 1959 inception in Chicago, and an alumni roster that includes the likes of John Belushi, John Candy, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray and Gilda Radner. That's hard to top. At 7:30 p.m., the Second City returns to the Pantages Theater. According to promotion the show is "by popular demand." That's also a no shit statement.

3. Half the Hapa Hillbillies - steel guitar master Ben Bonham, mandolinist Kerry Williams and uke and guitar specialist Rick Hulett -will join vocalist/violinist Jessica Blinn and jazz guitarist Vince Brown for an impromptu swing jam from 9-11 p.m. at Adesso, 109 Legion Way SW in Olympia.

4. Here at the Volcano we absolutely love anything described as "an entirely indie horror/cheese fest." Since that's just such the description event organizers for tonight's 9 p.m. debut of the locally made horror flick Unsound chose for the film, we feel entirely comfortable recommending it. Worst-case scenario you'll just find yourself at The New Frontier forced to enjoy the tunes of Sleepy Pilot and Smoking Bill - which is no sad fate. With raffle prizes and drink specials also planned, as well as other shorts from Greater Wealth Productions - the local movie crafters behind Unsound - this is likely one of the more entertaining options tonight in Grit City.

5. The Deltan Club's Thursday night Beat Fetish! bass music explosion will be a special "Wright Night" birthday bash featuring DJs Omarvelous, DJ Flave, Jess E Bomb, Cyphers and guests, beginning at 10 p.m. We have no idea what that means, but exciting!

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs tonight

LINK: South Sound happy hours