PAPPI SWARNER: ACADEMY AWARDS T-TOWN STYLE >>>

Check out a few snapshots from The Grand Cinema's Academy Awards party at the Rialto Theater in downtown Tacoma.

LINK: Matt Driscoll watches the Academy Awards and blogs it live.

BOBBLE TIKI: HUG A HUMAN >>>

And every single day you burn through the mountain of the mundane and you sort through the chambers of chaff and the molehills of muck trying to find the momentary gems and the facile illusive glimmers of divine spectacular connection and every single day you wonder what it takes to shift your perspective away from the electronic or alter your mindset dramatically enough so as to more fully integrate your karma with your id with your sincere desire for more human contact and better appreciation of your fellow man when suddenly it hits you that the more antagonistic and more rabidly angry you get at the world for not delivering you what you so fully and righteously deserve electronically so of course the best course of karmic action is to spin around and tap your ruby heels together three times and with all sort of messy juicy wet cherry-red intention exclaim there's no place like Rusty George Creative where they demand you hide the electronics ruling your life and touch your fellow man at their Human Interaction Party Wednesday, Feb. 27 at 4 p.m. at their place of humans.

ALEC CLAYTON: RAINBOW OVER TACOMA >>>

All the major gay and lesbian groups in Tacoma have come together to put on a big celebratory bash at the Washington State History Museum on the last evening in February in this leap year (Feb. 29). It’s called Rainbow Over Tacoma, and it is a joint effort of  Tacoma PFLAG, Oasis Youth, Out in Tacoma, Rainbow Center and Tacoma Lesbian Concern.

Begin the evening's activities by dining out at one of the sponsoring restaurants (The Swiss, Indochine, The Rock and possibly others to sign on), followed by wine, beer and entertainment beginning promptly at 7:30 p.m.

Headed by emcee Lady Chablis, the evening’s entertainment will include Brazilian performance artist Roberto Souza, singer/songwriter John Hoover, drag performer Sylvia O’StayForMore, singer/songwriter Doni Philips, monologues by members of Oasis Youth Group, musical performances by Tacoma School of the Arts students, pianist David C. Horton and singer Shelly Cooper.

Complete information, including ticket information, can be found here.

BRAD ALLEN: NEW BLUES FESTIVAL >>>

The producing team behind the Tacoma Jazz and Blues Festival have parted ways.  Trumpeter and band leader Rich Wetzel grabbed the festival name and tentatively plans a two-day festival May 23 and 24 in downtown Tacoma.  His former producing partner Doug Miller has announced a festival of his own.  He and his Tacoma Events Commission will present the Gray Sky Blues Music Festival immediately following this year’s Daffodil Parade at noon, Saturday, April 12. 

With two venues loaded with blues on board â€" all ages at the Harmon and 21 and older at The Swiss â€" the free Gray Sky Blues Music Festival will also sport a classic Mustang car show, sponsored by The Harmon Bicycle Club, across the street from the Harmon, and a Corvette car show on Jefferson Street in front of The Swiss Pub.

Seven Northwest bands will perform including The Michal Miller Band, the Randy Oxford Band and Maia Santell and House blend.

The featured artist of the festival will be Teddy Lee Hooker from Long Beach, California.  Teddy Lee was voted best blues artist of the year in 2005 at the South Bay Music Awards and was one of the top ten finalists in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tenn., in 2007. 

For more information contact Gary W Grape at 253.230.6851.

THE FESTIVAL
Chinese New Year
Time for New Year's Eve all over again? This time it's the Chinese New Year's Eve, today, the one that ushers in the promise of the year 4706, The Year of the Rat â€" I hope there’s not a stamp associated with it.

The Asia Pacific Cultural Center will celebrate the Rat with an Asian cultural festival Saturday. The event will usher in food, entertainment, information booths and kids’ stuff, all Asian, all day long. â€" Michael Swan

[Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., free, 2727 E. D St., Tacoma, asianpacificculturalcenter.org]

SPORTS
Reflections On Ice
You gotta admire these people. They squeeze themselves into skin-tight spandex jumpsuits and dance onto the ice in front of thousands of people â€" the women unconcerned about their thighs, the men fearless of shrinkage â€" often accompanied by terrible show tunes and Cher remixes, all for the limelight. The 10th annual ice show, “Reflections on Ice â€" Magical Memories” offers 100 local skaters and guest performer Jozef Sabovcik going in circles for two days. â€" Suzy Stump

[Sprinker Recreation Center, 2 and 7:30 p.m., Feb. 10 2 p.m., $12-$18, 14824 S. C St., Spanaway, 253.798.4000]

THEATER
The Vagina Monologues
Vagina, vagina, vagina. You may as well start getting used to “the V word” if you’re planning on attending V-Day 2008: The Vagina Monologues. Eve Ensler’s production â€" part humorous, part haunting â€" is based on hundreds of interviews of women emotionally and physically abused. Every year in February, productions of Ensler’s show are staged around the nation and in almost 100 countries to recognize V-Day, an organization drawing attention to violence and abuse of women. This year V-Day is 10 years old. In Tacoma, women volunteers from Pierce County star in Saturday’s product, which will benefit services for victims of domestic violence in Pierce County. â€" Suzy Stump

[Pantages Theater, 7:30 p.m., $20-$40, 901 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.591.5890, www.broadwaycenter.org]

MORE THEATER: On local stages today.

ROCK
Thunderstruck
Since AC/DC’s latest album, Stiff Upper Lip, in 2000, there has been a void in many hardcore fans lives. If you’re one of these devotee’s to Australia’s most famous export who yearns for a live AC/DC show, tribute band Thunderstruck is a worthy substitute. The Canadian quintet mixes it up between the Scott-era and the Johnson-era to deliver a complete AC/DC package. With an awesome show that includes pyrotechnics, exploding cannons, classic stage antics and more volume than most can stand, for those about to rock â€" it’s close to the real thing. â€" Toney Engelhart

[Club Vertigo, 7 p.m., $10, 5240 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma, 253.678.3593]

MORE MUSIC: In the clubs tonight.

If you missed spoken word/hip-hop artist Josh Rizeberg's Martin Luther King Jr. Day appearance at the Washington Center, you can catch the performance today at 1:55 p.m. on Channel 12 in Tacoma, Channel 85 in University Place, and Channel 21 in remaining Pierce County locales. â€" Michael Swan

EVENT
Wedding Expo
Choosing a wedding photographer is probably the most important decision a bride and groom will make. Even if the buffet is terrible or old Aunt Hilda slips and falls into the cake, nothing's a bigger disaster than bad pictures â€" after all, long after old Aunt Hilda's gone, you'll still be looking at your wedding photos.

During this weekend’s Wedding Expo at the Tacoma Dome you may interview several wedding photographers for your big event, as well as pick a florist, a dress, a limo, a reception hall and if you’re Brad Allen, a supporting bridesmaid. â€" Suzy Stump

[Tacoma Dome, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., $12, 2727 East D St., Tacoma, www.tacomadome.org]

FILM
The Kite Runner
Another magnificent film by Marc Forster (“Monster’s Ball”), based on the much-loved best seller about two boys in 1970s Afghanistan and the lives they go on to lead.  Doesn’t depend on stars, effects or genres, but simply fascinates us with how it will turn out.  Superimposes human faces and a historical context on the tragic images of war.  One of the year’s best. Rated PG-13. Four stars â€" Roger Ebert

[Century Olympia: 1:15, 4:15, 7:15, 10:20; The Grand Cinema: 12:10, 3, 5:40, 8:20]

MORE FILM: On local screens today.

ROCK
The Most Awesome Protagonist
The Most Awesome Protagonist is Mikey O’Connor, a San Francisco based musician with a talent for nearly anything that makes noise. The Most Awesome Protagonist sounds as if Ted Leo got all sloppy on uppers, and maybe didn’t sleep for a week or two â€" in a good way. O’Connor’s energy, mixed with his love of everything from Elliott Smith to Stevie Wonder, spliced with his affinity for mid ’90s alterna-pop, makes for some pretty entertaining tunes.

The Most Awesome Protagonist will play Le Voyeur in Olympia tonight along with Buffalo Voice and Pwrfl Power. â€" Matt Driscoll

[Le Voyeur, 10 p.m., no cover, 404 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia, 360.943.5710]

Admittedly, I haven't always been a full-fledged supporter of Tacoma's alcohol lacking New Years Eve Party â€" First Night. However, in its absence, I must also admit I kind of missed the annual event. Since it's back this year and a number of noteworthy performers will help make it memorable, here's a peek at a few musical acts not to miss tomorrow night:

Alex Duncan will play the First Night Main Stage at 10:30 p.m., and his set will lead the party right into '08. Having seen Duncan unleash his impressive reggae styling on Jazzbones a number of times, one can only assume his presence at First Night will be nothing short of infectious â€" in a good way, not like the flu. If there's one thing about reggae crowds it's that they know how to have a good time. The music is designed for it. On New Years Eve (even though we're nowhere near the tropics) Duncan's groove should hit the spot like a spliff the size of a baby's arm.

Oftentimes, there's a serious rift between intellects and rockers. Usually they're separate crowds, and commingling is frowned upon. A handful of bands (Seattle's Bloodhag comes to mind) bridge that gap and prove that rockers can be intellects, and vise versa. Another band bringing the two worlds together is Seattle's Sugarcane Mutiny, who will play First Night's Theatre on the Square Stage (901 Broadway) at 7:30 p.m. According to the band's press release, "Sugarcane Mutiny takes two shots of single-malt rock, adds a dash of twang, and muddles the mix with fresh lime. The band’s lyric-driven songwriting and power-pop beats recall the pub rock of Elvis Costello and Graham Parker, blending the dark humor of a Cracker or Wilco with the loud jangly pop of the Smithereens and Fastball." All I know is that a band that knows the value of a well written verse, even after half a bottle of Jack, is a band I want to become acquainted with. First Night will provide that opportunity.

Oh the Elephants. I love them so. I saw Cody from the band at Stadium Video the other night, but like a school girl with a crush, shyly turned my eyes to the ground. Too bad for this piece, because had I not been such an anti-social chickenshit (or had I not been so stoned), I could have asked him about the band's scheduled gig on the First Night Theatre on the Square Stage at 8:30 p.m. First Night is giving the Elephants 45 minutes, which (at a typical Elephants show) is just about the time their psychedelic gluco-pop gets interesting. At First Night Trevor and Cody will have to speed things up a bit, but know that they're up to it. The Elephants may just be the best thing First Night has going for it â€" besides, of course, the fact that it exists again this year. Enjoy First Night this year, and get your button now! â€" Matt Driscoll

THE FESTIVAL
Model Train Festival
There are some hobbies better kept to yourself. You know, the ones you do alone in your basement late at night. And then there are some truly cool hobbies, like model railroads. These should be celebrated and dragged out in the open for all to admire. Which is why the 12th Annual Model Train Festival, downtown Tacoma’s biggest model railroad exposition (taking into account, of course, the relatively small size of the subjects at hand because they are, of course, models), is being held through Jan. 1, instead of like, a half-hour. This gives you plenty of time to enjoy every floor of the Washington State History Museum filled with operating modular layouts.  But remember to look both ways before crossing, and keep your pennies to yourself.  â€" Ron Swarner

[Washington State History Museum, noon to 5 p.m. $6-$8, 1911 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.272. 9747]

MORE EVENTS: Get off the couch.

FILM
“Juno”
Very smart, very funny and then very touching; “Juno” begins with the pacing of a screwball comedy and ends as a portrait of characters we have come to love.  Ellen Page in an Oscar-worthy performance as a pregnant 16-year-old who decides to keep the child.  With J.K. Simmons and Allison Janney wonderful as her parents, older and wiser than most parents in teenage comedies.  And Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman as the would-be adoptive parents, and Michael Cera, shyly winning as Juno’s boyfriend.  Screenplay by Diablo Cody, directed by Jason Reitman; the best movie of 2007. Rated PG-13. ★★★★ â€" Roger Ebert

[Grand Cinema, noon, 2:10, 4:20, 6:35 and 8:50 p.m., $4.50-$8, 606 Fawcett Ave., Tacoma, 253.593.4474]

MORE FILM: On local screens today.

THE LIGHTS
Fantasy Lights
Although the holidays are a time for joy and light, you’ll drive by Bobble Tiki’s hut, point and laugh at his light display. Don’t risk driving by after Bobble Tiki’s third eggnog â€" head to Fantasy Lights. Billed as the largest holiday drive-through display in the Northwest, it features nearly 300 elaborate displays and thousands of sparkling lights. While enjoying the sparkly two-mile drive along Spanaway Lake, be thankful you’re not in charge of this holiday light display. â€" Bobble Tiki

[Spanaway Park, 5:30-9 p.m., $13 per vehicle, just west of 152nd Street and Pacific Avenue., Spanaway, 253.798.4177

JAZZ
Maia Santell and House Blend
Maia Santell and House Blend perform their traditional holiday jazz and blues show at Jazzbones tonight. They play an upbeat brand of R&B with a little jump blues and big band jazz thrown in for a party second to none. Santell has been called the Northwest’s queen of swing for her high-energy shows and boisterous vocals. Yet, unlike so many female singers, she is not a screamer but rather possesses exceptional vocal control that is rich and warm. â€" Tony Engelhart

[Johnny’s Dock, 6 p.m., no cover, 1900 E. D St., Tacoma, 253.627.3186]

MORE MUSIC: In the clubs tonight.

A legitimate excuse for frivolous hedonism comes but once a year, so we say make the most of it. Don a silly hat (everyone else will look stupid, too), pop a magnum of champagne and blow your horn: 2007 is finally done.

Whether you want to dine, dance, drink or disco the night away, we've rounded up a plethora of parties so you won't be left on the couch watching "Friends" reruns, wondering where yours are.

FIRST NIGHT: All-ages shindig in downtown Tacoma, Q Dot adds flavor to First Night.

CHEERS: Give good toast.

PARTY RIGHT: How to do New Year's Eve right.

ADVICE: Hangover remedy.

PARTIES: A couple of cool bashes, Terminator-like show, all-ages gig.

STAY HOME: Home is where the bar is.

PARTY CENTRAL: In the clubs New Year's Eve.