MONDAY, APRIL 15 2013 >>>

1. Standup comedy hasn't evolved much since the glory days of ventriloquist and puppet. Every so often, there's a Gallagher smashing watermelons or a musical funnyman like Jack Black, but for the most part, comedy is a dude on a stage with a microphone, plodding through a joke-punchline-new-joke routine. You're funny. You need to change the course of comedy forever. Every Monday at 8 p.m. the Grit City Comedy Club opens its stage to the public for a comedy open mic. Explore the space. Head for space.

2. The second leg of Olympia Restaurant Week is on. Celebrate Thurston County's unique fine dining scene. Following in suit with its neighbors to the north, the inaugural Olympia Restaurant Week is happening Sunday-Thursday. Ten Thurston County restaurants will be serving up special $25 three-course dinners, with some eateries offering a three-course lunch menu for $15. See the menues here.

3. Jazz saxophonist Kareem Kandi will be joined by Steven Bentley and Delvon Lamarr at 8 p.m. inside The Royal Lounge in Olympia.

4. The Crazy Texas Gypsies are a new blues band made up of seasoned veteran performers steeped in old school tradition, and updated modern lyrical sensibility and rhythmic foundation. Catch them at 8 p.m. inside The Swiss.

5. It's karaoke with a live band. Earn your rockstar status tonight during Rockaraoke at Jazzbones beginning at 9 p.m.

LINK: Monday, April 15 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area