TUESDAY, NOV. 27 2012 >>>

1. Deejay Del Brown packs up her classic Rammstein and Marilyn Manson records for a night of moody post-punk, classic bats-and-bondage soundscapes beginning at 10 p.m. at the Top of Tacoma Bar and Café. A prize will be awarded for the best Matrix costume. The "Religious As Hell" Goth and Darkwave night hits the Top every last Tuesday of the month. Bela Lugosi's dead - long live Bela Lugosi!

2. One of the reasons you likely love The Grand Cinema is because of the wide variety of films it chooses to screen. The unfortunate fact is that there are more quality films that it would like to play than it has screen space. Enter The Grand's Tuesday Film Series, which allows it to bring in many more films than usual. Today at 2:50 and 6:50, it screens Wild Horse, Wild Ride - the story of a handful of unforgettable characters set out on a 100-day quest to tame a totally wild mustang for a Texas competition. In three months, man and horse must transform from scared strangers to close companions. It won't be an easy journey.

3. You can find a lot of things in caves: Bats, guano, fish, insects, spiders, crabs, water, stalactites, stalagmites, limestone, stone tools, cave drawings, mud, snakes and bears. Inside The Cave at Pacific Lutheran University you will find a jazz combo from 5:30-7 p.m. Wear a headlamp and a black turtleneck.

4. Bold and brassy horn-players are ditching the rest of their orchestras. But don't worry - it's for one night only. Without the addition of those pansy woodwinds and strings (we kid!), the brass section has a chance to shine in all its strong, honking glory. Get blasted into the holiday season at 7:30 p.m. as musicians perform Christmas classics with a horny spin at the Student Union Building on the University of Puget Sound campus.

5. Every Tuesday night at Stonegate Pizza on South Tacoma Way Leanne Trevalyan hosts an acoustic open mic at 8 p.m.

LINK: Tuesday, Nov. 27 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

WE SCENE IT >>>

Sure, the night before Thanksgiving's ideal for holiday meal prep, but who wanted to chill with a dead bird on one of the biggest party nights in Tacoma? Granny handled the stuffing just fine.

There's no time like the night before Thanksgiving to reconnect with friends over a cold one. The unofficial holiday has become the excuse of the year to hit the bars, mostly because friends and family who've moved out of town are back to visit for the holidays.

The Weekly Volcano dropped in on several parties Wednesday night: Kim Archer Band performing at the mustache party inside The Hub, the 253Heart Music Festival stages at the Harmon Tap Room, the 253Heart DJ night at Dorky's Arcade and Doyle's Bad Sweater Party, which was completely packed with gawd awful clothing choices.

LINK: More shots from the mustache party at The Hub

LINK: More shots from Wednesday's 253Heart Music Festival

LINK: More shots from Doyle's Bad Sweater Party

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 21, 2012 >>>

1. Is it possible for a bar to save your life? The Weekly Volcano thinks so. Whether you're looking for cocktails and conversation, or a place to brood, your favorite bar, tavern or lounge can be a home away from home. These are the places you go to commiserate, to communicate or to just get rocked. Three bars exist in Tacoma's Stadium District, and all three will be rockin' tonight. The Hub hosts the Kim Archer Band at 7 p.m. and it will be packed. The Harmon Tap Room hosts two 253Heart Music Festival stages tonight. And Doyle's Public House throws its annual Bad Sweater Party. Off the hook.

2. Throughout the month of November brave men have been attempting to eradicate cancer by growing mustaches (thus raising awareness, which is fatal to cancer). The movement is called Movember. All the Farrelli's Pizza joints are down, hosting a Big Stashe Bash tonight demanding all participants wear a big mustache to score giveaways and drink specials. That means you too ladies. The drink specials include $4 Red Hook Winterhooks and $16 buckets of five. A Best Stache Contest for men AND women will be held. Release your inner face-follicles and go balls-out manly! Oh, check out our Movember photo gallery.

3. Speaking of 253Heart Music Festival, a DJ stage has been added this year. DJ Chris Savenetti brought in an arcade full of local talent, including himself, Mr. Melanin, dAb, Deron "Suga" Jones, D:Fi and Ninja Kat. Expect house music, drum 'n' bass, jazzy rhythms, soul, funk and electro dance competing with the beeps of the arcade games. That's right, it goes down at Dorky's Arcade, beginning at 9 p.m.

4. Besides tasty tunes and big ass bottles of Grey Goose, Encore Boutique Nightclub is also know for showing a lot of skin - specifically, the ladies in the house. A good example would be its second anniversary party last week. Tonight, expect to see more skin when Playboy's Miss September Alana Campos drops by for the club's Pre-Thanksgiving Party tonight at 10 p.m.

5. Punk rock returns to O'Malley's Irish Pub at 8 p.m. in the form of South 11th, Sok and the Faggots, Deathbed Confessions and Burn The Threshold.

LINK: Wednesday, Nov. 21 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

253HEART MUSIC FEST KICKOFF >>>

"House music is not a business; it's a community of people who like to dance. In order for the community to maintain and grow, the people that make up this community have to continually contribute," explains local DJ and promoter Chris Savenetti. "And that contribution can be anything from coming to dance to the music, to introducing others to this sound, to providing a night for the community to gather, to producing the music, or from a DJ standpoint, playing the music provided by the community. It is circular, and is essential for survival, because without one of those elements it cannot continue."

Savenetti loves house music. He's been spinning it since the dawn of time. And he will continue to spin it until the end of time.

"DJ dAb and I will continue to spin and support house music in the South Sound," he says, a little depressed after his beloved house music home, Tempest Lounge, closed this summer.

For those who would enjoy a little Savenetti house should drop by Dorky's Arcade Wednesday night. Savenetti is producing the DJ portion of this year's 253heart Music Festival. "This will be the first DJ night ever for the festival," says Savenetti.

Savenetti will spin alongside DJs Mr. Melanin, dAb, Deron "Suga" Jones, D:Fi and Ninja Kat. Besides house music, expect drum 'n' bass, jazzy rhythms, soul, funk and electro dance. 

Why Dorky's?

"Why not?" replies Savenetti. "It's an awesome place. Play games, listen to music, drink beer."

Admission to the 253Heart Music Festival DJ night, as well as all the live music venues during the three-day festival, is two cans of non-perishable food earmarked for local food banks.

"There's really great music being made every day. House music is not for everybody, and that is fine, but we're not going to compromise the music to make it appeal to everyone. It's for people who like to dance and have fun," says Savenetti

Sounds like a plan.

DORKY'S ARCADE, WEDNESDAY, NOV. 21, 9 P.M., ALL AGES, BEER AND WINE FOR 21+, TWO CANS OF FOOD ADMISSION, 754 PACIFIC AVE., TACOMA, 253.627.4156

LINK: 253Heart Music Festival schedule

MONDAY, NOV. 19, 2012 >>>

1. Author Jamie Ford will drop by the Tacoma Public Library's Olympic Room at 7 p.m. to explain why he didn't follow his great grandfather into the Nevada mining business but rather decided to write awesome books about commitment and enduring hope, such as his debut book, The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet.

2. In September, roughians busted into Olympia's all-ages music venue Northern and stole a mess load of equipment. QB, also known as the awesome Quality Burrito, will donate a portion of its food sales today to Northern. Go eat in the name of music.

3. Artist Victoria Bjorklund has her Modern Relics vintage photograph show hanging at The Swiss in Tacoma. It's bitchin' cool.

4. Minilla Smiles - which is saxophonist John Croakin, drummer Jeff Busch, guitarist Phil Lawson and bassist Steven Luceno - will perform the music of Hermeto Pascoal, Jobim, Guinga, Edu Lobo and other Brazilian musicians at 8 p.m. inside Olympia's Royal Lounge.

5. For those who haven't attended DJ Melodica's Monday Showcase at Magoo's, it's basically a way to ease into the week, nibble on $2 hot dogs and sip $3 pints, and enjoy the best in classic punk and garage rock, as well as the latest indie tunes, spun by Melodica and his guest DJs. Tonight at 9 p.m. the guest DJs come in the form of DJ Wiggle Sass and DJ Meow Mixx.

LINK: Monday, Nov. 19 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SATURDAY, NOV. 17 2012 >>>

1. Tacoma is FOR a lot of people - doughnut bakers, clothing sellers, street designers and, of course, artists and lovers - well not much Andy Warhol. Yes, Tacoma is FOR lovers, artists and, hopefully, lovers of artists. Today and tomorrow, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. inside King's Books, "Tacoma is for Lovers" - the official pro-Tacoma outfit, which is also a community based organization that hypes local arts and Tacoma in general - hosts the "Tacoma is for Lovers Artist Craft Fair," which is an opportunity to revel in local art, and maybe, just maybe, buy some. Also going down today in the same vacinity is the Tacoma Cash Mob.

2. Rocket Records + Mos Generator = One bitchin' way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Commit your favorite vice, call your classic rock loving stoner friends and get your butt down to Rocket Records and enjoy the heavy, melodic sound of Mos Generator.

3. Tacoma's Sisters Cities Program presents Taste of Cuba 5-9 p.m. at the Asia Pacific Cultural Center. This event features a full Cuban dinner, live salsa music and a silent auction - all for $45 or $80 for a pair. You can snag tickets at the Pacific Northwest Shop in the Proctor District or call 253.272.6622.

4. Adam Martin grabs four of his projects over the last three years and converges them at the Coyne & Door at 711 Opera Alley in downtown Tacoma. "The projects to be presented this night represent my concerted effort to build value throughout our local landscape, to divert traffic to our local roots and to celebrate the independently creating culture that is our own. There is much more to life than the dollar, and the possibilities available to us as a community are constrained only by ourselves - we can share anything, and so we can do anything," states Martin. Expect music, art and ice cream from 5:30-8 p.m.

5. Encore Boutique Nightclub in downtown Tacoma celebrates its second anniversary tonight at 10 p.m., bringing in DJ Scene from Las Vegas.

LINK: Saturday, Nov. 17 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

WHEN POSTERS COULD SAY IT ALL >>>

Admit it. You love karaoke – and you’re not alone. In the South Sound area, you can find it any night of the week.

Thursday night, you can find karaoke at Bob's Java Jive ... and it will be in the form of a disco party.

TUESDAY, NOV. 13, 2012 >>>

1. The Swiss Pub and science are synonymous. OK, so maybe they're not quite synonymous, but they do go together quite well - the "Tacoma Science Café" at the Swiss proves it. Tonight, U.S. Geological Survey's Chris Magirl, Ph.D., will discuss the causes of floods and approaches to reduce the threats of flooding in our communities. The dicussion and beer begin at 6:30 p.m.

2. Today is International Chowder Day. Yahoo! In celebration of said day Duke’s Chowder House on the Ruston waterfront will hand out free small bowls of chowder during operating hours.

3. Several Tuskegee Airmen will drop by the annual meeting of the Lakewood Historical Society to share stories. The celebration begins at 7 p.m. inside St Mary's Episcopal Church next to the Lakewood Library.

4. Maria Sampen, Tim Christie and David Requiro will perform the music of Zoltan Kodaly, Gordon Jacob and J.S. Bach as part of the Classical Tuesdays In Old Town series. The trio hit the chairs at 7 p.m. inside the Slavonian Hall.

5. Get your groove on tonight in Parkland. DJ spins during "$2 Tuesdays" at Lady Luck Cowgirl Up, offering Top 40 action plus $2 wells and drafts. The good times start at 9 p.m. Or, if you're looking for something more, peruse the Volcano's extensive live local music listings here. 

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

MONDAY, NOV. 12, 2012 >>>

1. Goh Kurosawa and Sharp Three will fill The Royal Lounge with compositions and improvisations of soundscapes as part of its Monday Night Jazz series. Guitarist Kurosawa is often referred to as a musical wakonyosai: a musical approach to the Western knowledge with the Japanese spirit. Nice. 8 p.m., $5, 311 Capitol Way N., Olympia

2. Every second Monday of the month Tacoma's Graphic Novel Book Club meets at the famed watering hole 1022 South to delve into another, well, graphic novel. Hence the name. Organized by King's Books, November's offering is A Drunken Dream and Other Stories by Moto Hagio, which, like all Graphic Novel Book Club selections, is conveniently available at King's. Unfortunately for the kids, you have to be 21 or older to hang with this club at 1022 South.

3. Let's tally up the score for Jazzbones Rockaraoke, shall we? A chance to sing onstage with a live band? Yes. Cheap wells? Yes. A valid excuse to drink on a Monday (repeat, Monday) night? Yes, yes and, oh God, yes. However, the 9 p.m. show receives an added bonus tonight as it's a special "Pray For Snow" Rockoarake featuring giveaways from ski and board companies and resorts. Ding, ding, ding.

4. The Jr. Hill Band will rock The Swiss beginning at 8 p.m.

5. DJs Pocket Square and John Purkey join DJ Melodica behind the turntables during the Monday Showcase at Magoo's beginning at 9 p.m. Expect $2 hot dogs and $3 pints.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

WHEN YOUNG PEOPLE DO GOOD >>>

It's always a good thing when you can get dressed to the nines and help to better mankind, or at least the community around you. Head to Tacoma Art Museum, Nov. 10, and you can do just that at the Get Involved Gala 2012 - or the GIG, if you're in the know. The Get Involved Gala is a fundraiser, but also a rollicking night on the town.

GIG is an event hosted by Project: U - United Way of Pierce County's team of 20- and 30-something do-gooders. Funds raised by this great gala go directly to the United Way's Community Solutions Fund.

"This fund acts as a safety net and supports over 117 local nonprofits in the area," says Alicia Carter, vocational counselor at United Way of Pierce County. "It focuses on criteria such as education, income stabilization and health."

This semi-formal event fills the hallowed halls of Tacoma Art Museum with DJs pumping out the tunes, dancers in their finery, drinks in hand, appetizers and desserts flowing freely. This year, attendees will get a special bonus - access to the new Andy Warhol exhibit from 8 to 9 p.m.

"There will also be a professional photo booth with pictures printed on-site this year," says Carter.

Face it, folks. This may be your only chance to get a prom picture as an adult!

"I think it's important to note that this is United Way Pierce County's only actual fundraising event besides workplace campaigns," says Carter. "It's also a great way for young professionals to meet other people in the community and find out about other ways to get involved."

It's best to buy your tickets in advance at GetInvolvedGala.org before Nov. 9. Tickets are $50 for one or $95 for two - woo, savings! Tickets are available at the door for $60 each, but be warned, they are available in limited quantities and there's no guarantee you'll even get in.

"We can't guarantee how many will be available at the door since there is a max number of attendees," says Carter. "You might get all dressed up and have nowhere to go!"

TACOMA ART MUSEUM, GET INVOLVED GALA, SATURDAY, NOV. 10, 8-11 P.M., $15, 1701 PACIFIC AVE., TACOMA, GETINVOLVEDGALA.ORG