THURSDAY, DEC. 26 2013 >>>

1. Nine fortnights and four days ago the Karpeles Manuscript Library brought forth in this city documents, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men (and women) should come see them. We are now engaged in a great holiday war, testing whether we, or anyone, can endure long enough through this holiday to visit the Karpeles before "The Final Days of the American Civil War" exhibit closes. We have come to dedicate a portion of the Karpeles Manuscript Library as a final resting place (at least until Dec. 30) for these Civil War documents about those who gave their lives that this museum might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we cannot duplicate, we cannot regurgitate, we cannot own these documents. They are collected here, far above our poor power to add or detract. Or do any other kind of math to. The world will little note, nor remember what we said here - unless they go to the Internet version, which'll be around forever. But these documents won't. They're gone Saturday. So go forth and view them from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Karpeles Manuscript Library.

2. Tonight marks the 200th running of the Tacoma Runners. The group will depart from the Harmon Tap Room at 6:30 p.m. The routine is the same every Thursday - run 3 easy miles on simple-ish routes with a sprinkling of hills and stairs (sometimes), followed by good times back at the bar after the run. This group has been running and growing like crazy over the last nearly four years. Join them for a run and the celebration.

3. Sated? Maybe it's time to dig out from under the spent wrapping paper, tinsel and ham to spend a few moments in reflection. In the meantime, here's Christian Doyle doing Frank Sinatra and a beat poet. Here's Amy Shephard in a clown suit and roller skates, like ya do. Maggie Lofquist has a lovely alto singing voice, which sounds great with Shephard's. Mark Alford pulls off a fabulous Elvis but overacts manically throughout the show. The music's executed with polish and conviction. It's The Stardust Christmas Blizzard at 8 p.m. at Harlequin Productions. Read Christian Carvajal's full review of The Stardust Christmas Blizzard in the Music & Culture section.

4. Christmas might be over, but good ol' Saint Nick's got one more present for all you country music fans. Steel Creek in downtown Tacoma presents "Saint Nick's Last Gift" featuring free line dance lessons starting at 8 p.m. plus free cover and free bull rides all night long. And to make the party a little merrier, Steel Creek's little country elves will be pouring $3 Fireball Whiskeys starting at 9 p.m. Yeehaw! 

5. Every Thursday night at 9 p.m. in Puget Sound Pizza, the Volcano's music critic Rev. Adam McKinney hosts a karaoke session showcasing a Tarantino-like mix of downtown denizens seriously singing Bill Withers and glasses-wearing gals squawking out punk rawk, plus appearances by local rock stars. 

LINK: Thursday, Dec. 26 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area