THURSDAY, NOV. 14 2013 >>>

1. In honor of National Pickle Day today, Lynnae Schneller of Lynnae's Gourmet Pickles will place nine jars of pickles in Tacoma businesses and on historic Tacoma monuments for fans to locate and win up to $1,000 in cash and prizes. Tacoma's Mayor Marilyn Strickland will announce the first clue for the location of the first jar of pickles via her Facebook page at 9 a.m. followed by clues posted hourly until 5 p.m. on the Lynnae's Gourmet Pickles Facebook page. For more information visit www.lynnaesgourmetpickles.com.

2. At the risk of sounding curmudgeonly, we believe that cell-phone use is a prime contributor to the breakdown of civility in society, but using the dastardly devices while driving a car is simply stupid, illegal and deadly. Bates Technical College agrees. The school has teamed with UNITE International's Arrive Alive Tour to educate the public about dangers associated with texting and driving. From 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. the Arrive Alive Tour will bring a distracted-driving simulator to the college's South Campus auto body program. Ah for cryin' out loud, you're texting a link to this story on your iPhone while you sip coffee and weave through morning traffic on Interstate 5 using your knees - JUST STOP IT.

3. The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation's "Foundation of Art Award" has been recognized as one the most notable art awards in the South Sound region. To celebrate the sixth anniversary of the Award, the Foundation is hosting an exhibit featuring the 12 talented artists that were nominated in 2013 through Jan. 10 at Fulcrum Gallery. The exhibit will also unveil the commissioned artwork created by the 2013 winning artist, Shaun Peterson. An artist reception for  Sean Alexander, Beautiful Angle, Laurie Cinotto, Scott Haydon, Ellen Ito, Chris Jordan, Nicholas Nyland, Chandler O'Leary, Shaun Peterson, Juliette Ricci, Holly Senn, Kenji Stoll and Britton Sukys will be held from 6-9 p.m. at the gallery.

4. Washington state is a hotbed of first-rank poets says Kathleen Flenniken, Washington State Poet Laureate. Flenniken will be at the Olympia Timberland Library from 7:30-9 p.m. to prove it. Joining her will be local poet and playwright Barbara Gibson, as well as students Savannah Berrington from Capital High School; Hope Dorris and McKenzie Murray from Olympia High School; and Maggie Neatherlin, Everett Werner and Tom Clewes from Nova Middle School, who will also read their work.

5. Every Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Kim Archer performs old-school soul and funk, sultry blues and strong original tunes at the 502 Downtown in downtown Tacoma.

LINK: Thursday, Nov. 14 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area