MONDAY, JAN. 6 2-14 >>>

1. Get out your dancing shoes and join in the whimsy of a country western shuffle dance, hosted by the Evergreen Country Dancers from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Olympia Elks Lodge. What is a shuffle, you say? It's the country western version of polka - the primary difference being that the style of shuffle is less hoppy than the polka. The basic step consists of a triple to the left followed by a triple to the right.  The shuffle is sometimes called double two-step or traveling swing, for it also uses components of two-step and the popular East Coast swing.  This makes shuffle a very versatile dance, allowing a mix and match of patterns, which can result in some exciting variations - and there's nothing wrong with that.

2. Puyallup gastropub-ish The Forum will open a second location in downtown Tacoma, in Paddy Coyne's former location (815 Pacific Ave., Tacoma), tonight at 6 p.m. If it's anything like the Puyallup version, you'll dig the sandwiches.

3. Abd.El.Kader and his AEK Band will fill The Swiss with blues beginning at 8 p.m.

4. Hot off his Saturday night performance at the Franciscan Polar Plaza, guitarist Rafael Tranquilino will incorporate blues, funk, rock, funk, ska, metal, reggae, Latin and jazz-fusion into an experimental jam at 8 p.m. in Stonegate Pizza. 

5. Pianist Nate D., bassist Cameron and drummer Peter T. continue to explore the edges of jazz by continuing their jam into 2014 with a 9 p.m. start inside The New Frontier Lounge. Not all gigs qualify as a hang, but this one has the precise alchemy that draws the area's best players: a high level of musicianship, a relaxed atmosphere and a sympathetic intergenerational crowd.

LINK: Monday, Jan. 6 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area