LUCKY STEVE >>>

Weekly Volcano photographer Steve Dunkelberger brings back these photos from Encore Boutique Nightclub on the night of Friday the 13th. In honor of the unlucky day, the downtown Tacoma nightclub discounted its VIP lounges to help put everyone at ease.

It also happened to be ladies night.

While Dunkelberger bounced around the VIP lounges, he did spend a majority of his time photographing one party of eight women. We had to delete most of theme because it bordered on stalking.

LINK: More photos from Encore Friday

TUESDAYS ARE A GOOD BOOZE DAY >>>

Do the early-workweek doldrums have you down? Just need to escape? The Weekly Volcano has a few suggestions. Who really cares if you have poli sci at 8 a.m.?

The Red Hot

The best bars are named after ex-wives. Or defunct rock bands. Or candy. Yep, candy. That's why we knew The Red Hot in Tacoma was destined to be a classic. How could a place known for its beer and hot dog selection not bring the noise? Especially on Tuesday's, when The Red Hot features various happy hour specials including $3 pints. Yes, sir, The Red Hot is up there for sweetest joint in the area. That is until the Skittles moves into town.

[The Red Hot, Tuesday happy hour 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., 2914 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.779.0229]

1022 South

Not much can be said about 1022 South that hasn't already been said. Everyone has sung the bar's praises. I mean, even a writer from New York called 1022, "home to some of the most fascinating apothecary cocktail work on the West Coast." And I agree.

As a drinker's destination, 1022 is certainly a treat. Its dark, stylized interior and gorgeous bar are nothing short of stunning. Beautiful bartenders and an in-vogue music selection add to the appeal. Of course, the real draw of 1022 is the cocktails. From perfectly prepared Old Fashions to the perfectly named Under the Volcano's, 1022 is unbeatable when it comes to drinks. Trusting the waitress, I order a whiskey-based apothecary cup (bartender's choice). It's served in a fancy glass and tastes like a Jamba Juice infused with booze.

Please don't let this poor-man's description turn you off. New York Times drink critic I am not. The cocktails are really, really good.

[1022 South, happy hour 4-8 p.m., 1022 South J St., Tacoma, 253.627.8588]

Puget Sound Pizza

Featuring karaoke three nights a week, starting at 9 p.m. and going until last call, the real appeal of Puget Sound Pizza's karaoke is its inimitable host, the Reverend Colin. A tall, bearded man who always sports an utilikilt, Rev. Colin possesses a wealth of oddball musical knowledge and a disarming ease for calling everyone "baby." Having hosted karaoke for a little more than 12 years, Rev. Colin conducts karaoke with a sure hand and a sense of fairness with who gets to sing and how often; he once told me that he prides himself on not accepting bribes from people to be moved to the top of the singing rotation.

Pro tip: if you're looking through the list of songs at Puget Sound Pizza and you don't see the one you want, ask Rev. Colin if he has it in his "secret stash." He always has a little bit set aside for the people who really want it.

[Puget Sound Pizza, karaoke Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, 9 p.m. to close, 317 S. Seventh St., Tacoma, 253.383.4777]

Paddy Coyne's Irish Pub

Tuesdays seem to be the hottest night for the overeducated South Sound masses to prove their intellectual worth. And where do such brainiacs head? Glad you asked.

The Geeks head to Paddy Coyne's Irish Pub.

The Tacoma watering hole is the site of John Dicker's Geeks Who Drink pub quiz night. Dicker, a genius from Colorado, has taken the Irish Pub quiz tradition to a new level with Geeks Who Drink games across the nation, including every Tuesday night at the downtown pub, hosted by graphic artist and Weekly Volcano production assistant Holland Hume.

The quiz consists of eight rounds of eight questions and is played in teams of up to six people. Questions are read aloud by the quizmaster; teams write their answers on provided sheets and turn them in at the end of each round. The team with the most points after eight rounds is the winner.

To read Pappi Swarner's full story about the night, click here.

[Paddy Coyne's Irish Pub, 8 p.m. Tuesdays, no cover or entry fee, 815 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.6963]

LINK: Happy hours!

WE SCENE IT >>>

If you're a frequent bar-goer in the South Sound, then you've surely been corralled into going to a trivia night, only to be stumped by the name of Jupiter's second moon. We all know the empty feeling of watching geekier teams chug beer after free beer after winning each round of trivia, then continuing to drink and win while much drunker than you, and it aint pretty. We all know the feeling of being beat by individuals with one eye on the English football on the boob tube. And we all know what it's like to be mocked unmercifully by someone who calls himself Trivia Newton John.

If you seek a mellower atmosphere to share your knowledge of actor Abe Vigoda or the difference of a traverse stage from a three-quarter thrust, may we suggest Monday nights at the Mandolin Café.

From 6-8 p.m. host Jeff Ross tosses out random trivia questions about movies, sports, news and geography to teams of players - while students study in the corner, ladies knit and that one guy dozes next to the fire. The winning team of each round - six total - receives a bowl of candy. The overall winning team scores a free drink, which means beer and wine.

It's a challenging, fun night.

Last night Weekly Volcano photographer Steve Dunkelberger dropped in on the Mandolin to watch seven teams battle it out.

Team Awesome

Team Bob Loblaw

Team Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

[Mandolin Café, Monday Trivia Night, 6-8 p.m., 3923 S. 12^th St., Tacoma, 253.761.3482]

LINK: More photos of Mandolin's Trivia Night

ONLINE CHATTER >>>

Today's comment of the day comes from "Olys finest" in response to our little blurb we wrote a while back on the new 1230 Room club in downtown Olympia.

Olys finest writes,

Super nice place clean, music was like every other club. Buff Guys trying to be like jersey shore pretty sure they were all high on something or way to drunk. so I left and went to another called the royal. More up beat and a lot better service hot ladies dancing every place I will go back there again.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 16, 2011 >>>

1. It's Wednesday, which means it's time for another Wednesday Session at Jazzbones. Tonight, Roman Holiday takes to the stage, promising to rock like few things will this Hump Day.

2. The real appeal of Puget Sound Pizza's karaoke is its inimitable host, the Reverend Colin. A tall, bearded man who always sports a utilikilt, Rev. Colin possesses a wealth of oddball musical knowledge and a disarming ease for calling everyone "baby." Having hosted karaoke for a little more than 12 years, Rev. Colin conducts karaoke with a sure hand and a sense of fairness with who gets to sing and how often; he once told me that he prides himself on not accepting bribes from people to be moved to the top of the singing rotation. See for yourself tonight at Puget Sound Pizza, when Karaoke with Colin kicks off at 9 p.m.

3. It gets dark at, like, 3:30 p.m. every afternoon these days. It's cold, wet and growingly miserable outside. The time is right for a movie. May we recommend heading to the Grand Cinema for a warm bag of popcorn and a great flick. Offerings like The Way, Martha Marcy May Marlene, Margin Call, Lost Airmen of Buchenwald and Being Elmo all seem worthy.

4. Get your bingo on and win fabulous prizes tonight at Pints & Quarts on Olympia's Westside. The fun starts at 8:30 p.m. and it's free to play.

5. 2. Holy crap! Hump Day already? That must mean it's time again for Masa College Night. Expect flesh.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound
LINK: Live music tonight

LINK: This week's freebies

SCARY-OKE >>>

Weekly Volcano photographer Steve Dunkelberger dropped in on Jazzbones's Monday night Rockaraoke live band karaoke last night, which - as your cold sweats still tell you - was Halloween. Dunkelberger says it was a night for freaks and ghosts and slutty, slutty angels. Check out his photos of the night in our Photo Hot Spot.

TUESDAY, NOV. 1, 2011 >>>

1. It's true! Santee will perform at Tacoma's New Frontier Lounge tonight with Portland's CORDUROY and special guests. This show should be a good one. The action kicks off at 9 p.m.

2. Work off your Halloween hangover tonight at the delicious and hip Dirty Oscar's Annex on Sixth Avenue during the club/restaurant's weekly "Musician's Industry Night." The good times are chaperoned by host Steve Perez.

3. So, you've been telling yourself: "One of these days I'm finally going to make it out to the Midland Tavern ... or Lil Vic's ... or whatever it's called. Well, make tonight that night! Action the bar bills as "Crazy Vegas Barstool Bingo" runs from 7 - 9 p.m.

4. The scene is pretty messed up right now. Life provides more questions than answers. There's a lot to discuss ... a lot to worry about. In Olympia, luckily, Last Word Books opens up its doors on Tuesdays (and, really, every day) for encouraged and lively discussions about politics, contemporary issues and the world around us. It's called the "Tuesday Read-In," and the free event runs from 5 - 7 p.m.

5. Across the Narrows Bridge, drop in on the Harbor History Museum exhibit The Artistry of Quilts, described as a "beautiful collection of both antique and new quilts displaying the fine artistry of this centuries old craft." The Artistry of Quilts is available for viewing all day, from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., and runs through Dec. 4.

EXTRA CREDIT: Give a woodchuck a tuna melt

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music tonight

LINK: Freebies this week

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 19, 2011 >>>

1. Jazz O'Rama featuring Kareem Kandi, Alexey Nikolaev, Joe Doria and Andre Thomas performs tonight at Jazzbones. The action kicks off at 8 p.m. and there's no cover.

2. Hump Day means it's time to party - and there's nowhere better to party than at Stunna Wednesdays with DJ Kun Luv at Surreal Ultra Lounge. Ladies get I free before 11 p.m.

3. The real appeal of Puget Sound Pizza's karaoke is its inimitable host, the Reverend Colin. A tall, bearded man who always sports a utilikilt, Rev. Colin possesses a wealth of oddball musical knowledge and a disarming ease for calling everyone "baby." Having hosted karaoke for a little more than 12 years, Rev. Colin conducts karaoke with a sure hand and a sense of fairness with who gets to sing and how often; he once told me that he prides himself on not accepting bribes from people to be moved to the top of the singing rotation. See for yourself tonight at Puget Sound Pizza, when Karaoke with Colin kicks off at 9 p.m.

4. You only have a few more days to catch Tacoma Community College's 9^th Annual Juried Art Exhibition, which Volcano art critic Alec Clayton reviewed recently, saying "there are exciting pieces by Ron Hinson and Barlow Palminteri, whose two-man show at South Puget Sound Community College last year was probably the best of the year outside of major museum exhibitions." To read Alec Clayton's full review, click here. The exhibition runs through Oct. 21.

5. Interested in getting lost in a corn cannon? How about a corn maze? Want the kids to run wild with tractor-pulled rides, a pumpkin patch, a haunted trail bouncy castle, pony rides and more? Well, sounds like the nearly legendary Maris Farms is for you. Check it out today.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music tonight

BEIR YO >>>

Saturday night's Maltoberfest was all things ghetto Bavarian at Bob's Java Jive with Tacoma's craziest people pounding Mickey's Ice and Old E Brass Monkeys (malt liquor and orange juice for those not in the know) to the musical stylings of DJ Melodica, Saucy Yoda and Crooked Smile.

It's a fine mash of ghetto culture spliced with lederhosen.

The annual Maltoberfest is ostensibly about drinking malt liquor, but everyone knows it's much more about eyeballing the party weirdoes at the party. Weekly Volcano photographer Steve Dunkelberger sojourned forth the crazy parade at the Jive to bring back these photos. It's fun to guess what's going on in them.

LINK: More photos from Maltoberfest 2011

FIRST PEEK >>>

Here's the tricky thing about grand openings:

They're grand.

At any club's grand opening, the bathrooms are clean, the lights flow perfectly and the liquor is stocked. Hoards of pretty ladies and muscled men abuse the dance floor. At grand openings, a noticeable buzz of excitement crams the air.

What a competent reviewer (eh-HMM) must do is gaze through all the glitz and glamour of opening night and ask the tough questions. Will the new Big Whisky Saloon in Olympia always be a Stetson-wearing, whisky-drinking hoopla; or is this more of a first night kind of deal? 

I'm talking the TOUGH questions here, people.

Read Brett Cihon's review of the new Big Whisky in Thursday's Weekly Volcano. In the meantime, enjoy Steve Dunkelberger's photos of the Olympia Big Whisky.

LINK: More photos of Big Whisky Saloon Olympia

LINK: Brett visited the Tacoma Big Whisky