WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12 2014 >>>

1. When Chicago bands need a musician, they call Howard Levy. He can play any instrument and genre, although he prefers the piano and harmonica - and has a special affection for the music of South America, the Middle East and the Mediterranean. Most know Levy as the founding harmonica player with Bela Fleck & The Flecktones. A superb harmonica soloist, Levy appeared on the first three Flecktones releases before departing for a career that has seen him appear on hundreds of CDs, win both a Grammy and Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Original Music for a Play, and also work with jazz, rock, country, Latin and classical artists, including his own jazz group Chevere de Chicago. The shape-shifter will join the University of Puget Sound Jazz Band in concert at 7:30 p.m. in Schneebeck Concert Hall. Expect some Balkan folk flute or spiky jazz piano or quirky fusion or. ...

2. Letterpress is art, plus so much more, made tangible and accessible. There is something for everyone, from decorator dilettante to art lover, color theorist, historian, mechanical engineer, graphic designer, or lover of literature. Stylistically, finished works become something old-school modern, and can evoke the turn of the century, the 1600s, or 1950. Each year, King's Books in Tacoma hosts Wayzgoose, a celebration of the printed arts. The University Gallery at Pacific Lutheran University hosts "The Art of Wayzgoose," an exhibition that surveys work collected from past Wayzgoose events in anticipation of the April 2014 event. The opening reception is 5-7 p.m.

3. Who's got the best IPA? It's Washington vs. Oregon for all the marbles. Ninkasi Brewing, 7 Seas Brewing Co., Silver City Brewery & Taproom, Deschutes Brewery, Laurelwood Public House & Brewery and NoLi Brewhouse are bringing their best IPAs to The Swiss for a Battle of the Brands: The IPA Face Off, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Grab a passport to sample all the IPAs before casting your vote. Expect giveaways and swag. Grand prize drawing is a VIP tour of the winning brewery and the "Swiss Golden Ticket," entitling the winner to one year of free cover at The Swiss.

4. Lately our society has become lazy. Our interest in the Great Outdoors has been replaced by an extreme interest in technology. Olympia Film Society is on it. The organization presents an interesting mash-up of our favorite, and least favorite, things to do. Its Trail Running Film Festival will allow us to enjoy the Great Outdoors through the marvel of technology in the Capitol Theater. Gather with your family and friends at 7 p.m. to watch films that recreate the exhilaration of running through the woods, climbing mountains and navigating other tough obstacles. With little movement required, we can enjoy our days of laze and enjoy a nice run. For the crazed music lovers, there will be live music by The Pine Hearts that will satisfy your musical hunger after a long, relaxing run.

5. If you visit locations in Olympia's business zones or have lived in the area for any length of time, you've seen Ira Coyne's hand painted signs.  Certainly, if you have read the Weekly Volcano's Best of Olympia issues then you know him as the Best Mural Artists year after year, including this year. Coyne will be at the Olympia Timberland Library at 7:30 p.m. to talk about his art and how his career came about. Audience questions and conversation will follow.

LINK: Wednesday, March 12 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area