MONDAY, JAN 28 2013 >>>

1. Go Local's annual event Shift Happens will fill the Greater Tacoma Convention Center with local businesses, celebrating and reveling in the fact that Tacoma loves all things local. Shift Happens is designed to give said local businesses a place to network, connect and grow, but also to get you - yes, you, every day citizens! - out to eat and drink local products, as well as tour booths representing local businesses. At 4 p.m., the vendor showcase welcomes in everyone to experience the awesomeness that is the local business scene. At 6:15 p.m., the main event takes to the stage, including Go Local handing out their three annual Indie Awards for this year's Advocacy Champion, Community Steward, and Entrepreneurial Empowerment. Mayor Marilyn Strickland will also round up the night with her State of the City address.

2. John F. Kennedy, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Paul Newman. Cool, cool cats. And these cool cats wouldn't suckle off the Wednesday night $1 PBR special. They went for top shelf. Single malt. They went classy. The best of the best. Fortunately for us cool cats in training, Asado of Tacoma has a weeknight happy hour that keeps the classy cocktails at a reasonable price. Every weeknight from 2:30-6 p.m. Asado offers $2 off any of the specialty cocktails and wine, as well as $3 selected food items. Not to mention $1.50 off draft beer. Because even the classiest of us crave some hops from time to time.

3. Monday is typically a black hole for nightlife. Sure, if you run a sports bar, you'll do well during the World Series or football season, but for most eating and drinking establishments, it's just dead, dead, dead. There's a darn good reason why so many bars are empty on Mondays. So how do those that remain open find ways to fill barstools on this, the most dreadful evening of the workweek? The folks at The Swiss seem to have found a solution and, oddly enough, it's one that has been the bane of many other venues: live music. Since the beginning of time, The Swiss has hosted live blues every Monday at 8 p.m. Tonight, guitar legend Jerry Miller will be in the house.

4. Hey! Guess what? Rafael Tranquilino hosts an experimental jam at Stonegate Pizza every Monday night! Get in on the rockin' action tonight.

5. Beginning at 9 p.m. every Monday Jazzbones is packed to the brim with college kids. Party types. The type that wear tight shirts and trucker hats. Throngs of Chad Fratguys and Sarah Sororitysisters swarm the bar, line up for the bathroom and dance to the Rockaraoke - live band karaoke. The Rockaraoke band is skilled, too. Expect $2 PBR drafts, $3 Sinfire shots and $4 Smirnoff flavor vodka bombs.

LINK: Monday, Jan. 28 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area