THURSDAY, MAY 30 2013 >>>

1. When we learned the Sweeteners are residents of Aberdeen via Anchorage, it made total sense. Their grunge-tinged garage rock is so distinctly reminiscent of these grey, blue-collar towns - the same towns that birthed guitar-worshiping notables such as Nirvana and Modest Mouse (not to get into tricky comparisons, here). While the Sweeteners aren't as idiosyncratic as those bands, they have a certain odd swagger that accompanies their whining guitars and stuttering drums. Catch them at 10 p.m. in Le Voyeur.

2. Think running and drinking don't mix unless there's a K-9 unit involved? Not true. The Tacoma Runners - a group of T-Town pavement pounders - meet every Thursday for a 3-mile loop at a "social pace" at one of Tacoma's favorite watering holes. Tonight at 6:30 p.m. the starting and finishing line will be Terry's Office Tavern. Get to work. 

3. Death By Stars guitarist Patrick Galactic hosts karaoke at 9 p.m. every Thursday at The New Frontier Lounge. This is what Galactic has to say on the karaoke's Facebook event page: "With our virgin voyage officially in the can, we are ready to get SERIOUSLY sexy this week. Can YOU, Tacoman, gentleman/lady, person of interest, rise to the calling?! WILL YOU find it within yourself to take the leap that mere mortals cannot even contemplate? WILL YOU take the Galactic challenge?! I hope so. But more importantly, I hope you hope so too. I really hope you hope you do." Hope is good.

4. Blues dancing derives from the so-called "Black vernacular" of Southern dance styles and includes such moves as the Lindy and the irresistibly named "Funky Butt." Worst case scenario: you have two left feet but get to listen to Nina Simone. Check out OlyBlues Dance at 9 p.m. inside the Eagles Ballroom.

5. The always entertaining Billy Stoops hosts an open jam at Stonegate Pizza tonight. Start your weekend a wee-bit early with a trip down to South Tacoma Way.

LINK: Thursday, May 30 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area