THURSDAY, OCT. 27, 2011 >>>

1. While the Weekly Volcano occasional dips its toe in a department store (here's looking at you, Saks!), there's nothing like the rush we get from uncovering a hidden treasure at a local mom-and-pop or specialty boutique. So after you've thumbed through Vogue, Nylon, Elle, or wherever you go for your style fix, check out a local take on fall fashion from the cool kids at The Salon Professional Academy. From 6:30-8:30 p.m. you may enjoy a fun, flashy New York-style runway fashion show benefiting the YWCA Pierce County ($10). You'll admire the work of the academy's cosmetology and aesthetics students as well as 10 RAGS Wearable Art Sale artists (yes, their work will be available for sale).

2. The Sixth Avenue Progressive Dinner visits Marrow, Medi's and Studio 6 Ballroom at 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. Dance to jazz and blues by Maia Santell & House Blend from 8-10 p.m. at Studio 6.

3. At Bates Technical College you can learn a lot of things. Welding. Commercial truck driving. Sheet metal technology. Early childhood education. Even how to be a barber. And on Thursday, Bates will diversify the educational opportunities it offers even more, hosting a "Hoptoberfest" event - designed to educate the masses on the pairing possibilities of beer. According to hype, "Bates' culinary arts students will prepare and serve guests a five-course gourmet meal. Each dish will be partnered with flavorful brews from New Belgium Brewing, home of perennial favorite Fat Tire Amber Ale." The event starts at 6 p.m. at Bates' downtown Tacoma campus and tickets run $40 - which goes to Bates scholarships for students in need.

4. Unless you're of the Folger's drip tribe, you know good coffee is an art - a mercurial mix of water, finely ground beans and flavoring. The folks at Bluebeard Coffee will showcase this art form beginning at 6:30 p.m. when dozens of hirsute non-bikini-clad baristas battle for latte art honors while the rest of us drink beer. Watch the fine hands of the baristas as they shake the milk pitcher before pouring it onto the espresso. Presto, there's a leaf on your cup. Or - if you like - a feather. Could it even be a whirlwind? Look hard enough and you might even see Van Gogh's ear. Check it!

5. If there's one thing the Weekly Volcano has learned this past year, the Tacoma Thursday Runners are freakin' nuts. Running 3 miles in pink tutus like they just don't care. Oh good lord. Well, Halloween is basically upon us and it's Thursday. Appropriately, the Thursday Runners will meet at 6:30 p.m. in front of Hell's Kitchen for their weekly 3-mile jaunt - this time with more bed sheets with holes cut out for eyes. And if timed right, the Runners will be in the Kitchen when Led Zeppelin tribute band Kashmir hits the stage. Ah ah aaaaaaaaaah ah!

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Happy hours!