1. Write@253 is a free kid's summer writing camp. Children 5-12 are invited to explore creativity and writing techniques. Snacks and a light lunch provided. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. today through Thursday,  1310 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Tacoma, 253.460.4474.

2. Open Mic at the Westside Tavern in Oly lets locals take the stage. The bar with the neighborhood feel and urban edge invites one and all to a night of free-range music. 1815 Harrison Ave, Olympia, 360.915.7839.

3. Glorious Mono plays the Eastside Tavern in Olympia. Ryan Hansmann aka Glorious Mono aka DJ Monotropic spinning Breaks, Dub, Funk, Jungle/DnB, Electro, House, Indie Dance, Chill, MoomBahton, Disco, Dubstep, and all forms of Future Music. Good tunes and tons of beer on tap -  Monday night never sounded so fun. 9 p.m., 410 4th Ave E, Olympia, 360.357.9985.

4. If you are looking for something special for your home or loved one, look at this show. There is art for every home and everyone! Flowers are great, but art is the best gift yet. Gibson Gallery, 5001 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma.

5. Casting call for Tacoma Little Theater's production of "Nightwatch," a suspense thriller set to run Oct 19 - Nov 11. A 1-2 minute monologue is requested for auditions. Call TLT's box office to verify dates and to make an appointment! 253.272.2281.

Rock Tiki wants to make sure young men are never bored, so each day Rock Tiki will publish his list of nightlife suggestions. Mondays may seem slow. Maybe you think Tacoma has nothing to offer you on Mondays. Rock Tiki say "Bulls**t!" Monday is Man Day, so reach down the front of your pants and tell the little fella everything will be okay.

                The first stop on the man tour is Malarkey's Pool and Brew at 6^th and Tacoma. Malarkey's offers 21 seven and nine foot pool tables, beer, food, and a stage featuring stand-up comedy. Every Monday, Burgers are half off, drinks are 25% off, and pool is free on all nine foot tables. Additionally, Monday's on the Grit City Comedy stage are Open Mic and free admission. For more information visit http://malarkeysonline.com/index.html.

                Rock the Dock Pub on Dock Street also celebrates men with Micro Man Mondays. Every Monday micro brews are $3 and well drinks are set at happy hour prices for men all day long. On the Tacoma waterfront, Rock the Dock Pub offers food, drinks, pool tables, and darts. For more weekly specials and menus visit http://www.rockthedockpub.com/index.html.

                Finally, if you're looking for a more conventional way to celebrate your manhood, Rock Tiki suggests Charley's Pub on 19^th street. Texas hold ‘em tournaments every night, no buy in, with cash and bar prizes. Monday night tournaments begin at 6 PM. For directions and more visit http://www.facebook.com/CharleysPub.

                Rock Tiki Understands that young women don't want to be cooped up on a Monday night either, so Rock Tiki suggests Bull's Eye indoor range on Puyallup Ave. Ladies shoot free on Mondays, and with over 120 rental weapons, it's hard to resist taking your Monday anger out on an innocent piece of paper. Check Bull's eye website for rules and authorized weapons. http://www.bullseyeshooter.com/rangemain.htm.

Downtown Olympia’s first parklet is under construction.

In front of Darby’s café, a crew has worked for two days laying the foundation for the space.

An interview with Brian Wilson, city liaison, clues us in on the project.

“I'd love to see a downtown full of parklets,” he says. “They provide a lighter, quicker, cheaper solution to placemaking.”

There are currently two parklets planned for downtown Olympia (one in front of Darby's and the other in front of Jake's).  These parklets were made possible by a matching grant from the Parking & Business Improvement Area (PBIA).

Both parklets will have unique features.

“Darby's tried to use as many reclaimed materials as possible,” says Wilson, “They are using old paver bricks that were previously in downtown alleyways, refinished church pews and recycled sails for the awning.  There will also be covered bike parking and a community herb garden. The parklet at Jake's will have a more modern feel.  Rob Cameron (the owner) plans on using decking material that will include plenty of bench seating.  There will also be a number of tree and flower planters.  It will bring color to a block that faces a variety of challenges at the moment.”

Wilson says the idea came from San Francisco, a city teeming with urban creativity.

“It's an idea that is sweeping the country through the efforts of the non-profit organization Project for Public Spaces.”

Darby’s parklet should be usable by the end of the week, and completed within two.

Darby's is located at 211 5th Ave Se.

1. Geeks who drink is fast becoming a trend for all the quirky, thirsty smarty pants out there. Rounds of trivia played by gamers with names like "Anal Fishers" and "Vangaurdian" are played every Tuesday at 8 p.m. at the Fish Tale Brewpub in Olympia. Newcomers welcome. 515 Jefferson Street SE, 360.943.3650.

2. Another fun thing to do while drinking! Barstool Bingo captures everything you love about the classic game, just minus the bluehairs and slow pace. Mama Glo calls the shots (and maybe drinks a couple, too.) Brace yourself for Tuesday night excitement. 7 p.m., Gloria's Bar and Grill 8201 Pacific Ave, Tacoma, 253.475.5877.

3. Tuesday Film Series presents Booker's Place: A Mississippi Story (90 min, NR). In 1965, documentary filmmaker Frank DeFelitta traveled to Mississippi to shoot a film on the subject of racism in the American South. As he went about observing life in Mississippi and interviewing the locals, Frank was introduced to an African-American waiter named Booker Wright. With utter candor and a brazen lack of concern for his own well-being, Booker appeared on tape in the documentary and spoke openly and honestly about the realities of living in a racist society. This brief interview forever changed the lives of Booker and his family, and more than 40 years later, Frank's son Raymond DeFelitta (director of City Island) returns to the site of his father's film to examine the repercussions of this fateful interview. 2 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. The Grand Cinema, 606 South Fawcett Avenue, Tacoma, 253.593.4474.

4. Calling all lovers of the night sky. Join in a session of fascinating astronomy activities. Use glow-in-the-dark paint to create your own star chart for tracking the constellations, make an astrolabe, design a sundial, and fashion your own compass.2 - 5 p.m., 172 Central Ave, Tenino, 360.264.2369.

5. This exhibit includes the Japanese flag captured at the battle of Okinawa and The Navigator's flight log of the Enola Gay at the time of its dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Karpeles Manuscript Museum, 407 South G Street
Tacoma, 253.383.2575.

Rock Tiki is feeling a little heavy from last night. Maybe Rock Tiki ate too many half off hamburgers last night, but Man Day is a holiday that comes just once a week, so Rock Tiki celebrates his manhood without inhibitions. But now it's time to start working off all the fat, so Rock Tiki wants to go to Backstage Bar on 6^th ave. First up is Switch and Wiggles, a DJ vs Drummer show starting at 9 PM. Not only is there no cover charge, but well drinks are only $1, plus 10% off entire tab with military ID, and if military mentions this website at the door, Lunch or Dinner is buy one get one free: http://www.backstagebartacoma.com/About-Us.html.

                Don't want to work off fat? Need more cheap food? Every Tuesday night at The Harmon Tap Room and Beer Garden is buy one get one free burgers or Fish and chips. For more information, visit http://harmonbrewingco.com/taproom/index.html.

                Finally, if you're looking for a quick way to relieve stress, Military shoot free on Tuesdays at Bull's Eye indoor range in Tacoma. For rules and authorized weapons visit http://www.bullseyeshooter.com/rangemain.htm.

1. Radio8Ball is the musical divination show where questions are answered by picking songs at random and interpreting them like musical tarot cards. Hosted by Andras Jones who created the format, this episode will feature the music of Kendl Winter and awesome gifts from sponsors Oly Kraut, Last Word Books, K Records, Sync Book Press & Kitzel’s. Show starts at 9 p.m., come early for dinner - nosh plates, desserts, wine, beer and other drinks will be available during the show after 9 p.m. All ages, $5, Kitzel's Crazy Delicious Delicatessen, 514 E Capitol Way, Olympia.

2. Explore the use of oil pastels, acrylic paints, ink and watercolors.Please remember that anyone under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Instructor: Victoria Clayton. Please RSVP. $10 Day pass (may be applied toward any membership). Tacoma Art Place, 1116 S. 11th, Tacoma, 253.238.1006.

3. Picnic! The gardens on a summer evening are unlike any other time. Grab the family for a mid-week outing and take advantage of the beautiful calm that embraces these 10-acres as day becomes night. $6-$9, children 12 and under are free, Lakewold Gardens, 12317 Gravelly Lake Dr. S.W., 253.584.4106.

4. Craig Terrill, who played for the Seattle Seahawks (2004 to 2011), is the front man for this Americana rock band. He plays music like he played football, with a strong stage intensity. His voice and style are reminiscent of Springsteen, Seger and Mellencamp. Sylvester Park, Legion and Capitol Way, Olympia, free, 7 p.m.

5. Mos Generator and C.F.A play the ACME Tavern tonight. Both bands have a new full length album to share, and both bands seriously know how to rock. Fresh off MAWP, these two bands never disappoint. $5, 9 - 11 p.m., ACME, 1310 Tacoma Ave, 253.272.1892.

Ratatouille garlic veggie crepe, barbeque garlic ribs… garlic beer? What’s up with all the garlic?

It’s the 16^th Annual Garlic Fest and Craft Show in Chehalis. The event runs August 24, 25 and 26 at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds.

With over 70 varieties of garlic-flavored foods, (even brownies with garlic frosting!) the Garlic Fest is a garlic-lover’s dream.

“A lot of people like the garlic quinoa dish, it’s extremely delicious and nutritious,” says Judy DuVual, Garlic Fest Producer, “But for plain decadence, there are things like garlic-parmesan elephant ears.”

To wash down all the savory and sweet foods, a beer garden featuring garlic beer created by Dick’s Brewing, and wine tastings will both be available.

For the craft-lover, the amount of handcrafted art, clothing, and bath and body products also reaches the impressive over- 70 mark. Antiques for sale will be on site, too.

And what festival wouldn’t be complete without music and activities?

Garlic Fest has got it covered. With pony rides and face painting for the kids and cooking demonstrations for the grown-ups plus live music all weekend, Garlic Fest is family fun at its finest.

“It gives people something very fun and exciting to do,” says DuVual, “It’s got a little bit of everything.”

SW Washington Fairgrounds, 2555 N. National Ave, Chehalis, $5 general admission, $4 seniors and military, kids 7 and under are free. Fri, 12 – 8 p.m., Sat, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., Sun, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

                Rock Tiki say Wednesdays are about music; whether you enjoy listening to a live band, or singing your heart out in a karaoke bar, Rock Tiki knows exactly where to send you. Backstage Bar and Grill offers live music on Wednesday nights. This week a menagerie of local bands start performing at 7 PM, and as always, military receive 10% off their tab, and buy one get one free lunch or dinner if they mention this website at the door: http://www.backstagebartacoma.com/About-Us.html. Down the street, Ana Popovic will be performing at Jazzbones. Show starts at 8 PM, and tickets are $20. With lots of great food and drink, Jazzbones is a great place to catch a show. For more information visit: http://jazzbonestacoma.com/index.htm

                It seems just about every bar in Tacoma does Karaoke on Wednesday nights. Rock Tiki does not enjoy Karaoke, Rock Tiki is too shy. However, Rock tiki knows the Harmon Tap Room and Beer Garden is a great place to catch dinner and a couple drinks, especially with Wednesday nights $3 Harmon Pints, so if Rock Tiki were so inclined to experiment with Karaoke on a Wednesday night, The Harmon Tap Room and Beer Garden is where he would go. For more information visit: http://harmonbrewingco.com/taproom/taproom_events.html

I love award shows and best-of stories. Thumbing through the recent Best of Tacoma special issue of the Weekly Volcano was a lot of fun. Such competitive lists and awards allow us to see if other people agree with our choices of the best of whatever, and don't we all love to do that? But whenever we choose one person or one place as the best-of, that means everyone else is less-than, and that's seldom true and never fair.

For instance, the Weekly Volcano readers just picked Fulcrum as the best art gallery in Tacoma, and not for the first time. I think Fulcrum is great. I even wrote the article extolling their virtues. In years past, when Volcano scribes picked their own choices I also chose Fulcrum. But if I had been doing the picking this year I would have chosen B2 Gallery. B2, I suspect, has been unfairly overlooked. Perhaps it's because there is kind of a staid feel to the place. Perhaps they do not appeal to the young and hip Volcano readers but to a slightly older and possibly more conservative audience. Fulcrum has a funky feel to it and is more cutting-edge in their selection of artists. But you don't get much funkier than Ric Hall and Ron Schmitt whose surrealistic collaborative pastel paintings were recently shown at B2.

The thing is, I don't think Tacoma appreciates that B2 has brought important art to Tacoma. I'm talking museum quality art - nothing so grand, of course, as the wonderful Marie Watt installation or as historically relevant as the Norman Rockwell retrospective at Tacoma Art Museum - but important work nevertheless.

Starting with their current exhibition and working back:

Summer Convergence, now on display, is an exhibition on Asian-American art and Asian-influenced American art that ties into a Northwest tradition going back to the big four of what was called the Northwest School: Mark Toby, Morris Graves, Keneth Callahan and Guy Anderson.

Prior to the Summer Convergence show was the Hall and Schmitt show I've previously mentioned, which is important because this type of collaboration is something that, to my knowledge, has never before been done by anyone. If their collaborative work does not garner a place in history comparable to that of the Northwest School painters, then someone is not paying attention.

Then there was the youth art show featuring paintings by young artists of high school age and younger from all over the world featuring some future stars from right near home. Right now Tacoma can boast of being the home of such internationally renowned artists as Chuck Close and Dale Chihuly; in the not too distant future, local kids who were first introduced to the public in the show Beyond Crayons & Finger Painting 2.0 may well be as famous as Close and Chihuly, and we can brag that we first saw them at B2 Gallery. This was not the first, but the second major youth art show at B2 - thus the 2.0 in the title. And they are already scouting for young artists for yet another youth art show.

And let's not forget what may be their crowning achievement so far, the wonderful show Sweet Freedom's Jubilee, which brought us fiber artist Mary Johnson's visions in celebration of the 99th Anniversary of the death of Harriett Tubman - a vital look into American history as seen through the eyes of a talented artist.

It's your loss if you missed any of these shows. I hope you'll take advantage of your opportunity to see their current exhibition and keep your eyes open for their next show and the next after that.

1. Thursday is the new Friday, so get out tonight for a healthy dose of rock 'n' roll. Le Voyeur presents Oly natives Glass Elevator with Amores Vigilantes of San Francisco, and Crystal Shipsss from Berlin, Germany. Glass Elevater channels the art of physcadelia through music. Good stuff. 9 p.m., 404 4th Ave, Olympia, 360.943.5710.

2. Tacoma ART BUS is a tour of art exhibits every third Thursday. Every month the tour has different exhibits at different locations. Some of the stops offer free food and drinks. Each month offers a different guest tour guide. This month's tour guide is Elisa Jaffe from the TV show NW Afternoon! 6 p.m., $10, $20/VIP, tickets available online via: www.TacomaArtBus.com. Tacoma Art Museum, 1701 Pacific Ave, 253.272.4258.

3. A nice way to beat the heat today would be to wander through a farmer's market. Shade, refreshments and people-watching are few of the pluses. Not to mention great food and artisan crafts. Olympia and Tacoma (Broadway) are open today. Olympia Farmer's Market is located at 700 Capitol Way and is open 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Tacoma Farmer's Market is located at 950 Broadway and is open 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

4. Join up to 10 Washington writers of poetry, prose, fiction, and nonfiction as they share current works in progress. For writers, open mic sign-up begins at 6 p.m. for a five-minute slot. All readings must be suitable for family audiences. For listeners, the readings begin at 6:30 sharp. Everyone is free to bring a brown bag dinner or snack. Washington State History Museum, 1911 Pacific Ave, Tacoma 253.272.3500.

5. Arts, Crafts and lots of other cool stuff. And it's outside. 7th-9th Streets and Broadway, Tacoma.