WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2012 >>>

1. Imagine our surprise when we found out that there's controversy at Meconi's Tacoma Pub & Eatery's Wednesday trivia night. Go ahead, imagine it. Our mouth was all "O," Home Alone-style. Yup, apparently host Rev. Colin wants to oust a team because the four dudes are too good. Dave Graham, John Kephart, Joe Taylor and another guy named Joe win Wednesday after Wednesday. Your team should show up at 8 p.m. and try to knock them off their barstools. Rumor is Cheryl Gorsuch's team of ladies is going to give it a shot.

2. Happy National Walking Day! It's the perfect day to kick off the Downtown On the Go Walk Tacoma series of guided walks. In celebration of the national holiday, three notable folks will lead today's walk. Held in Wright Park, the kick-off event includes a power walk led by fitness trainer Paige Van Der Vliet of Tacoma Living Fit, and a historical walk led by Melissa McGinnis AND Erik Hanberg of Metro Parks. The 1.5-mile walk will begin at noon on the south side of Wright Park by the lion sculptures. If you're into knowledge, check out the booths from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. No registration is necessary, so if you change your mind and hit the office candy box instead, you'll be the only one who feels bad.

3. Big brain Carlos Fuentes - an award-winning novelist, diplomat, activist and scholar - will chat up "magic realism" at 8 p.m. inside Schneebeck Concert Hall on the University of Puget Sound campus. Nope, magic realism has nothing to do with a bunny. According to hype, "Fuentes is known for deploying ‘magic realism' in his fiction to express the often indeterminate mixture of myth, fantasy, and reality in the political dynamics that shape salient historical issues such as the pursuit of Mexican national identity, Latin American revolutions, and the enduring mark left by Spanish imperialism on modern South America." Sometimes going with the hype quote is a must.

4. It's the first Wednesday of the month, which means Weekly Volcano hip-hop columnist Josh Rizeberg is hosting an open mic at Jazzbones at 8 p.m. Spoken word? Of course. Hip-hop? Serious. Acoustic? You bet. Comedy? Josh likes comedy and says it's cool too.

Last year, readers of this fine rag voted the Top of Tacoma Bar and Cafe the best bar in Tacoma. This was due in no small part to its well drink Wednesdays. $1.50 well drinks after 7 p.m. Are you kidding? That's, like, riding the train to funkytown for only eight bucks. Yes, please.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: South Sound happy hours