THIS WEEK'S BEST FREEBIES OCT. 3-9 >>>

Rent is due on Monday, which means unless you're some type of money-saving wizard, you're probably a little short on cash this week. Don't worry, though: There is a ton of stuff to do this coming week for free, including Broadway Center's Fall Free For All community arts festival, which all on its own can take up your entire weekend. But if you're not into giant puppets and Vaud Rats, there's plenty to choose from this coming week.

MONDAY 10-3: Saxophonist Steve Munger and his quartet fill Olympia's Royal Lounge with soulful jazz every Monday from 7-9 p.m. without a cover charge.

TUESDAY 10-4 It's honestly not every day that an award-winning writer the likes of Sherman Alexie comes to Puyallup. It's not even every-other day. But Tuesday, as part of Banned Books Week, Alexie will appear at the Pioneer Park Pavilion in P-town, delivering a free talk focused on issues of censorship and intellectual freedom. Alexie's acclaimed novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, has been widely censored for it content - just one of many truths that makes Alexie's inclusion in this event so fitting. The event seats only 400, so those interested in attending are advised to arrive early.

WEDNESDAY 10-5: J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings is an indisputable classic of English literature. It's also freakin' 1,240 pages long, depending on the edition. Who the hell has time to read that many pages? Dr. John West had time. He'll be speaking and leading a discussion of the spiritual meaning of this book at 7 p.m. as part of a free Wednesday series on "Great Truths from the Great Books" in the South Chapel of First Presbyterian Church of Tacoma. Dr. West is editor of Celebrating Middle-Earth: The Lord of the Rings as a Defense of Western Civilization. He has some idea what he's discussing. Plan to be awake when he utters this line: "I will serve the master of the Precious. Good master, good Sméagol, gollum, gollum!' Suddenly he began to weep and bite at his ankle again." Just remember: Frodo lives!

THURSDAY 10-6: While environmental groups often get stereotyped as elitist, Prius driving, granola munching, tree hugging, sandal wearing wackos, it's a misconception that could use debunking. Especially these days, environmentalists are everywhere and are everyone - and thank goodness for it. Somebody has to look out for Mother Earth. If you need proof that environmentalists are just like you and me, consider this: Environmentalists like to drink. It's true. Not only do they like to drink, but also in Tacoma they get together and do it regularly. It's called Tacoma Green Drinks, and the group meets Thursday at 5:30 p.m. inside the Harmon Brewery and Eatery to hear the latest from the Puget Creek Restoration Society. Admission is free. You're totally invited - unless you insist on driving that 1974 Plymouth Duster. Tacoma Green Drinks suggest you take the bus or ride a bike.

FRIDAY 10-7: Beginning at noon, Downtown On the Go hosts it second free Tacoma fall walking tour of the season, this time flooding your eyes and noggin with all that is the Brewery District. Tacoma City Councilman and architect David Boe will discuss the rich architectural history of this area. This hour-long walk starts in front of the Swiss Building. No RSVP is necessary.

SATURDAY 10-8: Holy shit! Tacoma's Broadway Center will stages 75 performances and musical acts over two days for free under the umbrella title "Fall Free for All." And the acts are solid, quality performance, and not some grandma performing hand shadow puppetry while grandpa bangs on a coffee can. Nope. We're talking Professor Humbug's Flea Circus, Fab-5 break dancing, folkie Laura Gibson, Portland Cello project, YES YOU MAY show, Drew Grow & The Pastors' Wives, Tacoma Round featuring Noah Gunderson, Kris Doty and Nick Principe, Concours d'Elegance and many more musical acts, theater performance, lectures and films. Check out the schedule here. And reserve your free wristband here.

SUNDAY 10-9: Tain't nothing like a gallon or so of fresh cider to clear the constitution.  The folks at Lattin's Country Cider Mill and Farm host their annual Apple Harvest Festival Sunday offering apples in every way and fashion, plus tractor rides, a corn maze and pick you own pumpkins. The free festival runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

FRIDAY, SEPT. 30, 2011 >>>

1. At 7 p.m. the last all-ages Free Ya Mind open mic at Tully's on Broadway in downtown Tacoma will go down. This open mic, run by Stella Haioulani of Free Ya Mind Inc., has been a fixture in the city since 2001. Everyone from General Wojack to Tacoma Poet Laureate Antonio Edwards caught wreck at this open mic. It's also where Weekly Volcano columnist Josh Rizeberg started doing his thing - even hosting it for two years during its 10-year run. According to Haioulani, Tully's management has decided to end the open mic.

2. Beginning at noon, Downtown On the Go will host its fall walking series. Back by popular demand, the walk events encourage downtown employees and residents to walk at work, get out and see Tacoma. The series of five walks, which follow each of the Downtown On the Go walking maps, will take place Fridays from noon to 1 p.m. No RSVP necessary, simply meet near the Wright Park white lions on Sixth Avenue for a walk with Metro Park's Melissa McGinnis, Historic & Cultural Resources manager, along the Wright Park to Stadium District.

3. Join the Olympia Poetry Network for special night of poetry, from some of Olympia's most dearly loved female poets, including Kathleen Byrd, Terri Cohlene, Chris Dahl, Jeanne Gordner, Jeanne Lohmann, Lucia Perillo, Cynthia Pratt, Linda Strever, Gaia Thomas, Emily Van Kley, Gail Ramsey Wharton and Willow Wicklund, with music from Amy Thomas. "The "Godiva Speaks: A Celebration of Women Poets in Olympia" runs from 6:30-9 p.m. at the Art Kitchen in Olympia.

4. While the name Lorna Luft may not instantaneously ring a bell, mention of Luft's mother, Judy Garland, always will. Garland was the ultimate legend, and to this day's fans of her work still fill the world. At 7:30 p.m., Luft - who made her television debut on her mother's Judy Garland Show at the ripe-old age of 11 - will be at the Washington Center performing, Songs My Mother Taught Me, an ode Variety called, "a rousing, dramatically riveting musical event."

5. South Sound's mad horn-blower Randy Oxford and his gang of bluesy merrymakers will tear the house down (in this case, Jazzbones - and not literally) while you shake whatever it is you have to shake on the dance floor from 8-10 p.m. The reason? - as if you need one: The Randy Oxford Band is celebrating the release of its new CD, Festival. Expect door prizes and special guests.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: New movies have hit local screens

LINK: New concerts are on sale.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 18, 2011 >>>

1. From 3-10 p.m. at The Swiss Wizard's Hairspa will celebrate its 30th anniversary with a bash featuring live music, silent auction and a raffle. Schedule to perform are bluegrass band The Graham Crackers, country bands Eddie Gillan's Lovechild and Twang Junkies, blues band Big Nasty, Leibel's band The Blonds and guests. It's rumored one of the guests might be Wizard's Hairspa stylist and singer Denny Porter (Blue Baboons, Running With Scissors). Read the full story here.

2. Poet David Rowe will be stopping at Orca Books at 2 p.m. on his tour from San Diego to Seattle, bringing life to the words bookslut.com called "beautiful and chaotic and sexy and sonorous."

3. Internationally recognized artist and Tacoma native Dale Chihuly will come clean on how Tacoma and the Northwest have influenced his art and career at 3 p.m. inside Philip Hall at the University of Washington. The event will be followed by a chance a meet and greet with Chihuly at the Tacoma Art Museum. Weekly Volcano art critic Alec Clatic chimes in on TAM's  Chihuly exhibit here.

4. For those out of the loop, every February in Memphis the top blues act in the world gather for one of the biggest blues competitions known to man - on Beale Street, of course. Also, every year the South Sound Blues Association holds a competition (usually in June) to choose one lucky band to represent them and the entire region at said competition in Memphis. This, naturally, takes money - which is where today's fundraiser comes into play. The South Sound Blues Association will host another fundraiser to help send the Red Hot Blues Sisters (band winner) and Jumpin' Josh and Felicia (duo act winner) to the International Blues Challenge in Memphis this February. The 4-10:30 p.m. concert takes place at Louie G's Pizzeria and will feature Jumpin' Josh and Felicia, Chester Dennis Jones Band, Nick Vigarino and friends, The Wired Band, The Randy Oxford Band and The Red Hot Blues Sisters.

5. Speaking of blues, legendary Tacoma bluesman Little Bill and the Blue Notes will play a free show at the Spar as part of the Old Town Tacoma joint's weekly 7 p.m. Sunday Night Blues showcase.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Catch a movie today

FRIDAY, SEPT. 9, 2011 >>>

1. As massive as the Puyallup Fair has become, P-Town's long-forgotten small-town identity still runs through it, part of the undeniable charm of the whole thing. But these days, part of the appeal of the Fair also lies in the modern-day, big-time entertainment options it provides. Over the course of its 17 days the Fair will welcome as part of its Concert Series acts like Larry the Cable Guy, the Flaming Lips, Chicago, Counting Crows, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Sammy Hagar and Trace Adkins. Grab a Krusty Pup and get down from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Check out today's schedule here.

2. At 7 p.m. the Amocat Café in Tacoma will host a "Special Fond Farewell to Summer and Sarah" featuring musicians John Dolge, Jeremy Bush, Megan Walter, Matthew Jorgensen, Macy Ragasa Craig Carter and others. We have no idea who Sarah is, but EXCITING!

3. Distinguished writers, poets, playwrights, short story writers, and people who scribble on cocktail napkins will step up to the mic from 7-9 p.m. as part of the Distinguished Writer Series and Open Mic at King's Books. Ken Sikes, pastor of Manitou Park Presbyterian Church since 2003, will take lead.

4. The bassoon is the Steve Buscemi of the orchestra - far from glamorous, not a romantic lead, more of a character actor. But it's the workhorse bass of the wind choir and deserves props. Paul Rafanelli, bassoon professor at University of Puget Sound, knows this. In fact, the Prof reveals that in his 14 years at the college he has never played a full bassoon recital for campus audiences. Enough is enough. Rafanelli will open the 2011 Jacobsen Series with his tribute to the bassoon: "Bassoon and Beyond: A Wily Instrument is Featured for a Night" at 7:30 p.m. inside the Schneebeck Concert Hall. Also in the house will be Dan Williams, oboe; Jennifer Nelson, clarinet; Rodger Burnett, French horn; Keith Ward, piano; Tanya Stambuk, piano.

5. People can be miserable. Dogs, on the other hand, are always pretty awesome. There's just something about unconditional love and the ability to chase a tennis ball for hours on end that always wins us over. At 8 p.m., Tacoma's London Couture independent clothing store presents the second annual "Strut for a Mutt" fashion show, scheduled to go down in Opera Alley and featuring catering by AmeRAWcan Bistro, entertainment by the Imperial Sovereign Court of Tacoma and Shannel (of RuPaul's Drag Race TV show), and treats throughout from the Mix (read: wine and munchies). All proceeds of the Strut for a Mutt event go to Puyallup's Metro Animal Shelter. You should know cocktail hour begins at 7 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: New movies open today

HILLTOPATOMIC >>>

The "artistic revival" of Hilltop is in full effect. If you haven't taken notice you're missing the boat. Tonight offers a chance to gather at Fulcrum Gallery for a reception featuring music, poetry and spoken word. 6 Deep the Messenger will go hard with the spoken word, Miz Floes will delve into the poetry, Makeup Monsters and Tallest Tree will dole out the indie rock, and Jalen, DJ Broam, E.S. and Chonie Diego will break out the electronic goodness. Earlier in the evening a year of Spaceworks Tacoma will be celebrated at surrounding venues.

[Fulcrum Gallery, 8-11 p.m., $7, 1308 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Tacoma. 253.250.0520]

IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT ... >>

So, you want to tell your story. OK, write. Go on. Don't worry about it being smooth.  Just write. Right? Right. Buy yourself a black beret and head right on down to your local friendly coffee shop for some existential inspiration. That should help you write. Can't go to a coffee shop? Don't drink coffee? You're LDS? Well, you, my friend, have a problem. But there is a way you can get your story out there.

StoryCorps invites people to come into one of their sound booths for a 40-minute chat with anyone they choose. What? Here's what StoryCorps says:

StoryCorps, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to recording, preserving, and sharing the stories of Americans from all backgrounds and beliefs, will record interviews in Tacoma from September 8 - October 3 as part of its cross-country MobileBooth tour. StoryCorps' MobileBooth-an Airstream trailer outfitted with a recording studio-will be parked at the Museum of Glass (1801 Dock Street, Tacoma, WA). Reservations will be available beginning at 10 a.m. on August 25^th and can be made by calling StoryCorps' 24-hour toll-free reservation line at 1-800-850-4406 or visiting storycorps.org. Additional appointments will be made available on September 9^th.

Tell your story. Right? Right.

FRIDAY, AUG. 12, 2011 >>>

1. In the grand, and unusual, tradition of skinny English boys bopping about in even skinnier ties to American soul and jazz music, local DJs Bobby Galaxy and dAb offer a night of soul, funk, jazz and rare grooves under the tag Rare Groove at 9:30 p.m. inside the Tempest Lounge. Back in the day, Brits loved obscure American soul records almost as much as they loved mayonnaise and cucumber sandwiches. Galaxy and dAb celebrate this phenomenon by playing authentic, obscure soul, funk and jazz records. It's the kind of music that would have been heard at all-night parties in Manchester or Blackpool back in the day.

2. You will take the spotlight at 7 p.m. for the monthly Distinguished Writer Series gathering inside King's Books. After you demonstrate why you've been published on numerous refrigerator surfaces, the floor opens up for everyone to lay some words down.

3. The Happy Socks Club asks everyone to drop by Amocat Café at 7 p.m. with a pair or two of festive socks for the kids supported by Stand Up for Kids Tacoma.

4. Surreal Ultra Lounge is the full-service grocery store of Tacoma bars, its clientele and staff a fascinating mix of fresh meat, some discontinued items marked for quick sale, and some of the finest melons I've seen. At 9:30 p.m. the staff will step aside for a bikini and boardshorts contest with big money on the line - a sexy preliminary for the sexy final bikini and boardshort competition Sept. 9. Expect courageous girlies parading their perky tops and wedgied bottoms in front of a braying crowd. These are prelims for the finals on September 9th. Booze and copious amounts of skin - aren't we lucky to live in an area that has it all?  Thank you Surreal Ultra Lounge for recognizing the power of the booze, skin and Friday combo.

5. Tacoma garage rock is front and center at 9 p.m. when The Plastards and The Fuzz begin ripping it at The New Frontier Lounge.

PLUS: A couple of Friday events in our Weekend Hustle

LINK: More arts and entertainment today in the South Sound

LINK: Movies open today!

FRIDAY, JULY 29, 2011 >>>

1. It was a long and winding road that led songwriter, actor and pianist Steve Schalchlin from New York City to Olympia to perform a song cycle about a search for peace in a violent world. Schalchlin will perform the song cycle, New World Waking! (along with selections from his musicals) at 8 p.m. inside the Minnaert Center, joined by students at South Puget Sound Community College and Olympia musical theater luminaries Josh Anderson, Christina Collins and Lauren O'Neill. It's a benefit for Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). To read Molly Gilmore's full story, click here.

2. And whilst you are on your travels in the far reaches of Puyallup, perhaps you could consider dropping in on a little Russian culture, just to make your afternoon complete. And to expand your knowledge of Russia beyond what you've seen in James Bond movies. The Puyallup Public Library will explore Russian folk culture through crafts, stories and language at 3 p.m. This event is part of the 2011 Summer Reading program at the Puyallup Public Library, which encourages children to explore "One World, Many Stories" at the Library. Second thought, unless you are younger than 12, it's best to explore something else in Puyallup.

3. Friday at the Fort is a 21 and older "date night" featuring light food and drinks, plus the musical styling of The Burren Boys of Olympia from 6-9 p.m. The event is a fundraiser for the Fort Nisqually Foundation, which supports the restoration, preservation historical interpretation and education of Fort Nisqually Living History Museum.

4. A bunch of hardcore folks are designing 24-page zines with a 24-hour time frame based out of the Olympia Timberline Library. We're not exactly sure when the thing starts or ends, but what we do know is zines will be read out loud at 7 p.m. followed by a dance party with Maxines and Happy Noose. That's all you really need to know.

5. The Taist of Iron reunion show will go down at 9 p.m. inside Stonegate Pizza. Blind Ambition joins the bill.

PLUS: Event suggestions in our Weekend Hustle

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music tonight!

THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011 >>>

1. It's the third Thursday of the month, meaning it's time for Artwalk in Tacoma. The Art Bus will be in full force (leaving at 6 p.m. in front of the Tacoma Art Museum), the galleries will all be putting their best foot forward, the major museums will be free and open to all and even Clancy's Coffee on Pacific Avenue will be getting into the action - offering up poets, dancers and an open mic from the D.A.S.H. Center for the Arts, as well as artist Liza Brown painting and music from Kashmir. Good times will be had by all from 5-8 p.m.

2. Speaking of Third Thursday Artwalk, make an effort to WALK up 11^th Street to catch Andrea Trenbeath's werewolf art at her artist reception from 6-7:30 p.m. inside Tacoma Art Place. It's killer. Her werewolf art is part of the exhibit "Dichotomy, which includes a collaborative painting between Andrea Trenbeath and artist James A. Tucker.

3. Tacoma's Theater District Association kicks off its new visual arts lecture series VERB with Prof. Gail Tremblay of The Evergreen State College speaking on contemporary expressions of native art backed by a panel of arty brains including panel moderator Rock Hushka, curator at the Tacoma Art Museum. This word on art runs 7-8 p.m. inside the Theatre on the Square, followed by a group hug at B2 Fine Art Gallery at 8 p.m. for the closing reception of "Coyote Forward."

4. Tacoma's Urban Art Festival hits the Thea Foss Waterway in little over a week. Are you mentally ready? Channel into the vibe from 7:30-11:30 p.m. at The Swiss when the UAF fundraiser "Funtasia" hits the historic building with Gritty City Sirens burlesque, The Vibe Project, Apricot & the Beginners and the brilliant Umber Sleeping. Your $7 cover nabs you a raffle ticket.

5. Let's be honest. You're young. You were born in 1980-something, maybe. You don't really KNOW much about Hüsker Dü, except to nod in knowing coolness when someone more musically seasoned brings up the band during a party or coffee shop conversation. It's time to stop faking it. Grant Hart is at Hell's Kitchen - former Hüsker Dü drummer, co-songwriter and just plain dude you should know about. It's not every week T-Town gets an opportunity like this. Negative Press, Check Please and Love Songs for the Hated open the 8 p.m. show.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Happy hours!

WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 2011 >>>

1. An inspirational, real-life-story about a British royal overcoming a disability during wartime? Of course The King's Speech won top honors at the big Oscar shindig. Tom Hooper's film is a handsomely made, well-acted story that, for the most part, wins hearts by transforming a potentially mega-watt historical story into a low-key dramedy and mismatched buddy movie. The film hits the big screen again for a 9 p.m. showing at the Capitol Theater in Olympia. En-en-en-en-enjoy it.

2. A pile of Tootsie Rolls. Sliced bread and some bottles. A porcelain pig holding a lasso. Anything can be the subject of poetry if you just turn your head and point your ear at it. Poet Tim McNulty chooses natural history as his subject, and he's damn good at it. The Olympia Poetry Network welcomes McNulty to Traditions Café at 6:30 p.m. to share his words. And open mic will follow.

3. Sci-fi/fantasy author Robin Hobb is a lot like Sci-fi/fantasy author Megan Lindholm in that she. ... Now wait a minute ... Hobb is Lindholm! What the hell is up with both names on the novel The Inheritance & Other Stories?! "This is a story collection by both of my writing names," HobbLindholm write on her website. "I wrote as Megan Lindholm long before I became Robin Hobb, and to this day, I continue to write as Megan Lindholm. The short stories in this book are old and new, previously published and never before seen, and include a couple of Nebula finalists and a Hugo finalist." Oh. Well someone is showing up at 7 p.m. inside Garfield Books in Parkland to discuss and sign the damn thing. Drop by and discover which one shows up. Wait. What?

4. The Gruv Lounge hosts the Jerry Miller Band in a dinner show setting beginning at 8 p.m.

5. Jazzbones continues its Wednesday Sessions free shows with the righteous reggae band Northwest Sons beginning at 8:30 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music tonight