PAUL SCHRAG: NATIVITY HOUSE DEPENDS ON ITS AUCTION >>>

Nick Leider is betting on the generosity of his neighbors this weekend. As executive director of  Tacoma-based social service organization Nativity House, Leider is responsible for ensuring that hundreds of Tacoma’s homeless residents receive food, clothing and other basics. This Saturday, Leider’s organization hopes to net about $80,000 at the Nativity House Annual Gala Auction. That money will go to help pay for services that are growing in demand in Tacoma. 

Leider is scared. Read why here.

CHRISTOPHER WOOD: THE GRAND CINEMA’S OSCAR PARTY >>>

Unlike Ron Burgundy, I am NOT a big deal. Though I somewhat fancy myself as a filmmaker, I must regretfully report that I had no hand whatsoever in the making of any film up for an Academy Award this year. Thus you will not see me on television this Sunday rubbing elbows with the likes of Danny Boyle and Kate Winslet. Shocking, I know.

The Grand Cinema’s Oscar soiree should help me get over my artistic anonymity. If, like me, you lack the clout to muscle your way into Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre, the Rialto can accommodate your wish to see all those shiny movie stars up close.

“It’s the biggest night in film, come celebrate it with … the best movie house in Tacoma,” proclaims Rachel Marecle, director of community development for the Grand. Serving as head organizer for Sunday’s event she urges readers to “bring your party to ours.”

And what a party. For $17 ($14 for Grand members), attendees receive dinner, dessert, and several chances to win raffle prizes throughout the evening. For those who treat Oscar night as another Halloween and feel an unexplainable urge to dress as Mickey Rourke’s wrestler, or even your favorite cinematographer (mine is Claudio Miranda!), the Grand promises a $100 El Gaucho certificate for best costume.

Suggestion: Can someone out there please show up as an elderly man who grows younger as the evening progresses? Sweet.

Even sweeter: By correctly guessing the most Oscar winners, you can win your own little slice o’ gold â€" the coveted Golden Ticket, which allows the bearer free movies at the Grand for an entire year. Move over Wonka, and take your unholy everlasting gobstopper with ye; I only crave a lifetime supply of art cinema.

So, will voters shower Slumdog with statuettes? Will Marisa Tomei’s breasts finally receive the accolades they deserve? Could Meryl Streep BE any more talented? (Seriously, she’s a freak.) Find out at the Rialto.  

[Rialto Theater, Sunday, Feb. 22, 5 p.m., $14-$17, 310 S. Ninth, Tacoma, 253.572.6062]

LINK: See a film today

SUZY STUMP: DONATE FOOD, HEAR MUSIC >>>

I have a terrible secret that I need to get off my tiny chest. I recently flirted my way to a great manicure, and I feel terrible about it. I received it under false pretenses, and now, despite having these sensational fingers, I’m feeling mighty dirty. 

I learned a long time ago that the best way to emerge happy from the chair is to keep the manicurist engaged. The better (and longer) the conversation, the better the service. So when I visited a new manicure shop recently, I decided to really lay it on thick.  I smiled; I laughed, and I was witty and charming.  These are not qualities that come naturally to me.  I even broke out the heavy artillery.  I used my “I sat next to Ashton Kutcher on a plane” story. And nothing gets the rapt attention of a South Sound manicurist like a little Ashton Kutcher name-dropping. At the end of my manicure, I received a bear hug, a wink, and a complimentary lesson on how to shape my nails. Guilt has never looked so good.

So why am I burdening you with my tale of deception? It’s quite simple. I feel guilty.  I need to pay it forward and do a good deed. But I’m me, so I found a good deed that benefits me. I think you’ll enjoy it, too.

Broadway Center for the Performing Arts has teamed up with The Emergency Food Network to encourage non-perishable food donations.  With every donation of non-perishable food items, the Broadway Center will shell out $15 tickets to see the fabulous Juan de Marcos and The Afro-Cuban All Stars on Tuesday, Feb. 17. I’m talking world-class rumba, timba and chachacha people.

Join me on that Tuesday for a night of spectacular Cuban music. Maybe you’ll also see spectacular nails.

[Pantages Theater, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 7:30 p.m., $32-$56, or $15 with your non-perishable food donation, 901 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.591.5894]

LINK: The Afro-Cuban All Stars on MySpace

MICHAEL SWAN: MILLER TIME >>>

Guitarist Jerry Miller was a victim of the recent flooding in the Algona area. He lost years of memorabilia from his days of playing guitar in San Francisco's "Summer of Love" shows with Moby Grape. Along with personal items, he lost several guitars, amps and clothing. Sucks.

Miller's friends are organizing a benefit to help with his loses. Waylaid, a local act Jerry occasionally performs in, will back him for this benefit show which will be held Friday, Feb. 6 at Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill in Spanaway.

[Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill, Friday, Feb. 6, 8 p.m., 16003 Pacific Ave., Spanaway, 253.507.7808]

OWEN TAYLOR: TIME TO HELP OUT AN OLD FRIEND >>>

Crisco, Olympia's hottest and nastiest freak-a-thon will play host to a benefit for the Reef tonight at the Royal Lounge. On Nov 12, a kitchen fire stopped the Reef dead in its tracks, forcing nearly 30 people out of jobs in the already dreary employment scene that is downtown Olympia. The benefit is a chance for the denizens of Olympia to pay a $2 cover that will directly benefit the workers and restaurant by helping get it up and running as soon as possible - so downtown late-nighters will have someplace to get cheese fries after the bars close. On the wheels of steel will be master of ceremony and resident Dance Attack!! Come support those who have supported your need for a double decker burger and a Bloody Mary at 8 a.m. by getting down and dirty at what will surely be the biggest pre-New Year's dance party in downtown Olympia.

[The Royal Lounge, 10 p.m. $2 donation to the Reef, 311 Capital Way. N., 360.705.0760]

SUZY STUMP: IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE >>>

Ah, the holidays. Rain in your boots, Christmas music playing in every store, having to find gifts for people you only pretend to like â€" it’s enough to drive one mad. But don’t despair! Remember what Grandma (or was it Charlie Brown?) told you: “‘Tis better to give than to receive.” Hurrah!

So if you’re sick of giving to people you don’t like, here’s a better idea: Give to people you don’t know. Thursday, Dec. 11, Associated Ministries will host two benefit showings of the holiday classic It’s a Wonderful Life to support the Family Emergency Fund, which meets the urgent needs of at-risk families. Attending the invitation-only night screening will probably put a dent in your pocket, but you might sleep better at night.

Happy philanthropy! 

[Blue Mouse Theater, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2 p.m. screening $10-$15, 6 p.m. reception and screening $50, 2611 N. Proctor, Tacoma, 253.383.3056]

LINK: Catch a movie today

STEPH DEROSA: I LOVE EVERY MONTH >>>

It’s raining MEN! Hallelujah! Forget that sucky drizzle rain we’re used to, let it rain MEN! Well, maybe not the men with man boobs (moobs), and definitely not the ones with back shag. Not that I’d kick a guy out of bed for those things, but if it’s going to rain men I’m least likely to get hit by a moob if the men are just plain ol’ hot men.

This Friday, Dec. 12, the fine people of The Mix are stripping off their raincoats and stashing their umbrellas as firemen of the 2009 WSCFF Burn Foundation Firefighter Calendar make an appearance. From 7:30 to 11 p.m. at least seven of the 12 delectable, shirtless, muscular, ohmyGodI’mgettingsoexcited firemen will be present and ready to sign their 2009 WSCFF calendars. For this event you’ll need: Money for drinks, $15 for a calendar, and an extra change of undies. Just in case your first ones get wet. What? From the rain, you pervert!

[The Mix, Friday, Dec. 12, 7:30-11 p.m., no cover, 635 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.383.4327]

JAKE DE PAUL: ASADO/MASA VS. SOFIA BISTRO/MANDOLIN CAFE >>>

Monday, Nov. 24 the South Sound can experience the on-the-fly cooking wizardry of Asado/Masa Executive Chef Joel Mertens and Sofia Bistro/Mandolin Cafe Executive Chef Jaron Witsoe as they face off in a fierce but friendly battle for the title Ã"Urban Gourmet's Iron Chef Tacoma."

The brainchild of the Sixth Avenue kitchen store, the chefs will have one hour to create a four-course meal from a black box filled with mystery ingredients. Celebrity judges will determine the winner.

The real winner will be Tacoma's Family Justice Center, which will receive the net proceeds to help support victims of domestic violence.

The event is loosely based on the once-hot-as-wasabi televised-cook-off import Iron Chef.

Watch the action for $75, which includes a wine tasting, food, door prizes and swag bags.

[Urban Gourmet, Monday, Nov. 24, 6 p.m., $75, 2602 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.3111]

MATT DRISCOLL: BUT HE BOOKS WORTHY SHOWS AT JAZZBONES >>>

This week I was swamped. I'm no horn tooter, but with Pappi Swarner drinking umbrella drinks in Maui and a cover story to write on Tuesday's historic election, I had a lot on my plate- to say the least. Sometimes, being the child of the '90s I am- when there's a lot on my plate I look to cut corners. That's why I had that "slacker" T-shirt. I meant it.

I guess you could call this week's column a cut corner.

There's not much easier way for a journalist to generate content than the e-mail interview. You just send questions off into the ether, and they magically come back answered. Then with a simple cut and paste you've got a column.

Thank you very much.

There's also not much crazier a fellow in Tacoma than Jazzbones' Sean Culver. If you know Jazzbones, you know Culver- probably because he's gotten drunk and talked your ear off about communism or bummed a ride to his mom's house from you. He's been working his way up the Jazzbones food chain, and after starting as the guy tasked with effeminately answering the phone, Culver now is in charge of all Jazzbones booking duties.

If there's one guy in Tacoma worthy of the e-mail interview, it's Sean Culver.

Luckily, tonight at Jazzbones there's a show worth talking about. Tacoma's favorite little barefooted, singing, songwriting, dynamo Vicci Martinez- along with Katie Gray and Olivia De La Cruz- will be laying it down at an early all-ages performance. Proceeds will go toward an unusual and worthy cause.

Read Sean's thoughts on tonight's show, his role at Jazzbones and his communist leanings in this week's Volcano by clicking here.

Photo courtesy of the Guys That Just Look Like Perverts Online Directory

MATT DRISCOLL: WORTHY SHOW, WORTHY CAUSE TONIGHT AT HK >>>

I’ve said it before, and undoubtedly and unfortunately, I’ll say it again.

Sometimes really shitty stuff happens to undeserving people. It’s the cruel way of the world. As long as there is humanity there’ll be pain, grief and people stricken by unforgiving sickness.

But the good thing about humanity is â€" we have the power to fight through the crap. If we didn’t, we would have all given up a long time ago. As long as there have been people dealt crummy hands by life, there’ve been people fighting the odds.

Early this year Alex Macomber got sick. He was 17 at the time. According to his mom, Melissa, Alex just started to feel off his game â€" and the problem only got worse. He was tired, and average, everyday things became taxing. No one knew what was wrong â€" even doctors.

Eventually, though, the doctors found out. Alex Macomber â€" who’s a guitarist and music fanaticâ€"had a rare form of cancer. He now spends most of his time at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center undergoing hardcore treatment. According to his mom, there are only 21 diagnosed cases of the type of lymphoma Alex has.

It’s a bummer, but Alex fights on. And his friends, family and even some around town who don’t even know him are doing what they can to support him.

An example of that support can be found in tonight’s show at Hell’s Kitchen, called “Alexpalooza” and featuring the Drug Purse, Mercy Pirates, Silver and Paris Spleen. The night will be both a monetary and moral benefit for Alex Macomber, organized by friends of the family â€" specifically the locally well-known Julia Harms and Rick King of Guitar Maniacs.

King helped put the impressive musical lineup together.

“It’s the kind of bands you think are kind of hardcore, but you find out they’re all softies,” says King of enlisting bands from around town to help with Alexpalooza. “It’s just such a bad scenario. The show won’t really help much, really, with the expenses, but it’s a gesture.”

“We love both of them,” says Alex’s mom, Melissa, of King and Harms â€" who played a huge role in setting Alexpalooza up, and who King classifies as “a super angry chick with a really big heart.”

“We’re just hoping Alex is well enough to make it to the show,” says his mom, bringing home the graveness of the situation.

So is Tacoma. Support a good bill and a show for a great cause tonight at Hell’s Kitchen.

[Hell's Kitchen, 5 p.m., $7, all ages, 3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]

Photo courtesy of Myspace