TUESDAY, FEB. 12 2013 >>>

1. Can't make it to the Big Easy for Mardi Gras? Relax. There's plenty of beads 'n' beer revelry to be had right here in the South sound. Ale House Sports Pub & Grille on the edge of University Place starts the party at the opening 11 a.m. bell with food specials such as chicken and andouille sausage gumbo, blackened catfish and jambalaya. And the Hurricane cocktails will flow, as well as $4 rum drinks and 22-ounce Mondos beers for $2.75. ... The Hub in Tacoma's stadium District will celebrate Mardi Gras two rounds of trivia with two $50 cash awards, plus $4 rotating shot specials, gumbo or $15, Catfish po-boys for $10 and drink specials. ... The Top of Tacoma Bar and Café will be "going all out on Fat Tuesday with food and drink specials, including Po' Boys and Jaime Kay's famous gumbo, as well as drink specials doctored up by the infamous Greg Rodriguez and Mackenzie Hamilton," says Luke Larsen, Top of Tacoma manager. The party soundtrack will be live with The Crow Quill Night Owls and OMGS - two bands that have seen some action in New Orleans. ... Medi's Pizza & Pasta hosts a masquerade party with live music from the Fun Police, Jilly Rizzo and Smokebraiders at 8 p.m. ... Jazzbones hosts The Spazmatics and Mr Pink at 9 p.m.

2. Fat Tuesday is abundant with many decadent luxuries including culinary delights. Doyle's Pub House in Tacoma will serve Cajun-inspired dishes such as shrimp po'boy, chicken and sausage jambalaya, and gumbo with red beans, rice and Andouille sausage from 11-1 a.m. It's a solid way to fuel the night's shenanigans.

3. The Grand Cinema is screening all of this year's Oscar-nominated shorts. Today, you can see Death of a Shadow, Henry, Curfew, Buzkashi Boys and Asad at 2:20 and 6:30 p.m.

4. Let the good times roll with Morso on Fat Tuesday. The Gig Harbor wine bar will be cooking authentic New Orleans and cajun cuisine from 4-10 p.m. They will also have a special treat flown in directly from New Orleans - King Cake.

5. For the uninitiated, the Night Beats consists of Danny Lee Blackwell, James Traeger, and Tacoma's own Tarek Wegner (oh he of the Drug Purse and Paris Spleen) slashing and burning their way through all periods of psychedelic, brain-melting rock. Through talent and near-constant touring, the Night Beats have found themselves playing with the likes of the Jesus and Mary Chain, the Black Lips and Roky Erickson, and joining up with garage rock juggernauts, Chicago's Trouble in Mind Records. They have manage to pull themselves off the road long enough for a stop in Tacoma for a 9 p.m. show with Milk and People Under The Sun at The New Frontier Lounge.

LINK: Tuesday, Feb. 12 arts and entertianment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area