AROUND AND AROUND >>>

There is a moment each year that marks the true arrival of winter - and it's not the ugly sweater parties and debauchery of Santarchy. Nor is it fighting traffic on South 38th Street by the Tacoma Mall.

For the Weekly Volcano, it's making our way to downtown Tacoma, lacing on our black Bauer hockey skates in the tiny Polar Plaza tent and stepping onto the ice for the first time of the season. Pushing off, we feel the familiar wobble of ankles, but after a few laps around the tiny rink, falling only once or twice, we're back. This year the Franciscan Polar Plaza ice rink is more special to us. We're sponsoring the live music stage in the southwest corner of the rink, which we have tagged the Electric Salchow Stage. Every Saturday through Jan. 5, from 7-9 p.m., live music will serenade the thrills and spills. Igneous Rocks and Kim Archer set the tone the first two weeks. Last Saturday. Jessi and Jared Fredeen, also known as Champagne Sunday, brought a little punk, blues and indie rock to the rink. By far the busiest and coldest night of the music series, the crowd loved the show, as evident with a little hip shaking to the tunes.

Next Saturday, the Monday Ukulele Ohana performs holiday tunes on, you guessed it, ukuleles.

Here's the Electric Salchow Stage band schedule:

Saturday, Dec. 22: Monday Ukulele Ohana Holiday Show

Saturday, Dec. 29: BODYBOX

Saturday, Jan. 5: Sweetkiss Momma

The bands perform two sets from 7-9 p.m. with a couple of breaks during surface repair sessions.

[Tollefson Plaza, through Jan. 6, 4-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 4-10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, $8, $1 off active duty military and family, $2 skate rental, Pacific Avenue and South 17th Street, Tacoma, website]

LINK: More photos from Champagne Sunday's performance at Polar Plaza

LINK: Photos from Kim Archer's performance at Polar Plaza

LINK: Photos from Igenous Rock's performance at Polar Plaza

LINK: Ten reasons why the Franciscan Polar Plaza is so awesome