MONDAY, SEPT. 16 2013 >>>

1. Beginning this month, a sparkling selection of writers of Caribbean descent will be in Tacoma to engage the community in conversations about the history, culture, and literature of the West Indies region. First up, Prof. Tiphanie Yanique - a Virgin Islands native and author of the collection of short stories, How to Escape from a Leper Colony (Graywolf Press, 2010) and I am the Virgin Islands, a poem and collection of collages - will lecture on "Those Who Wait for Us," discussing colonialism, slavery, tourism, and multiculturalismat 6:30 p.m. in the Rasmussen Rotunda and the University of Puget Sound.

2. The Squeak and Squawk Music Festival invited indie bands from all over the Northwest and beyond to stop by Tacoma and unleash their magic. It ends tonight: (6-9 p.m., all ages, Library at Sanford and Son) Goat, Upchcuk and the Chunksand others (9:30 p.m., 21+, The New Frontier Lounge) Rowhouseand assorted friends. 

3. The country band Alabama has reunited and will perform at 7:30 p.m. at the Washington State Fair. Picking which songs they will perform won't be an easy task since the band has had 43 No. 1s since its formation in 1972.

4. Want to feel like a rock star without all the pain and annoyance of having to be a  fire-breathing demon that bleeds from the mouth? Then hit Jazzbones at 9 p.m. for Rockaraoke, where you can belt out songs like the Whitesnake's "Here I Go Again," Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me," Joan Jett's "I Hate Myself For Loving You" and enough INXS tunes to make you feel like you're on a reality show, and other hits from the days when you made mixtapes by recording the radio, all backed by a live band. Expect a college crowd enjoying $2 PBR drafts, $3 Sinfire shots and $4 Smirnoff Flavor Vodka Bombs. Dibs on "Hungry Like a Wolf."

5. O'Malley's "Mondays For The Damned" is not some cartoon-like parody like you see in the movies. For the most part, the Monday DJ night is just your typical above ground underground new wave, synth pop, goth, industrial and post-punk haven. Get dark over $3.25 micro brew pints and a pound of wings for $5.50 beginning at 9 p.m.

LINK: Monday, Sept. 16 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area