The words “night” and “blow” together might evoke different things for different people.

But since this is a family rag, more or less, we’ll go with the innocent, more or less, and focus on that.

The Museum of Glass (yes, they dropped all that other stuff that used to be in the title) is holding its fifth Night Blow at 7 p.m. Friday, June 15. Conveniently timed for the museum’s fifth anniversary, the event coincides with the opening of the latest exhibit, “Mining Glass,” nine large installations by international artists as diverse as American Maya Lin (you may remember her little piece, the Vietnam Wall — this work will be different), Belgian Wim Delvoye, Great Britain’s Mona Hatoum, France’s Jean-Michel Othoniel, the late Chen Zhen from China, and Americans Fred Wilson, Kiki Smith, and Teresita Fernandez.

Impressive enough for the Museum of Glass, in and of itself.

But wait, there’s more.

Remember? It’s a Night Blow, traditionally the time off-duty that glass blowers get together to have some cool refreshments after a hot day at work. Maybe collaborate on some work or just sit and chat with like-minded people.

“It’s just a big party,” explains MOG spokeswoman Susan Newsom, adding, “Well, this is the museum’s version of that.”

While the museum has held four other Night Blows, this is the first in a couple of years, according to Newsom, who says with the MOG’s fifth anniversary, “we thought it would be a great time to resurrect the program.”

Program may seem like a cool word for a hot party, especially considering the likes of a MOG event. See, when the museum puts on a party, it’s not about extended pinkies and teacups with conversation about intent and composition.

While occasionally those words may pop into a conversation or two, the actual focus of the evening will be on the fun and games planned, and we’re not talking about Parcheesi or Twister (though the latter could be fun, just not on the installation pieces, please.)

At this Blow, expect to see blowing, at first. Glass master Stephan Rolfe Powell, teaching at the Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood from June 12 to June 29, will make a stop in the Hot Shop.

“His work is just beautiful, and it’ll be very dramatic to watch it get made,” promises Newsom.

He will demonstrate his non-traditional glassblowing techniques where he forms colorfully modern, almost avian pieces, in categories called “Teasers,” “Whackos” and “Screamers” with names such as “Frazzled Yellow Lick,” “Winking Tangy Orb,” “Frenetic Leering Sniffer,” “Torrid Nippled Viper,” and possibly my personal favorite, “Pushy Violet Throb.”

Possibly, Powell will hang around the Hot Shop as it becomes a karaoke stadium for the first ever “Karaoke in the Cone.” Perhaps the connection between karaoke and glassblowing is that they’re both frighteningly addictive. Possibly, they’re both slightly over-represented in Tacoma. Or, quite possibly, they’re fun as hell, both to participate in and to watch.

Whatever the case may be, if karaoke isn’t your gig, or is, but only after a bit of Dutch courage, the Night Blow will also cover you there, with catering by Galucci’s and with some cool liquid fun served up by our friends at Tempest Lounge.

While Denise Tempest did give up the magic ingredient of the evening — Patron tequila — and while she said icy shots of that libation and beer (from Pyramid Ales and Lagers and Alaska Distributors, Inc.) would be available, she would not divulge the signature cocktail she and Michelle Douglas have dreamed up for the evening. “It’s top secret,” Tempest told me, even after I swore secrecy. While the two had discussed serving the cocktail at Tempest as a “preview,” they later nixed the idea.

 “We decided to wait ‘till that night to roll it out,” she said, grinning devilishly as she ran into the kitchen, leaving me hanging.

But before she darted away, she also let me know another detail of the evening — DJ Broam will be spinning for dancing in the Grand Hall.

DJ Broam, by day, mild-mannered glassblower Oliver Doriss, spins a mean tune guaranteed to make you jiggle your thing.

Careful, though: You might just get inspired by glass being blown, installations larger than life, and torrid nippled vipers shaking it after singing.

Go ahead: Be the Artist, create your own masterpiece in the MOG studio.

The next day, as your less cultured friends ask you, sipping warm keg beer from plastic cups, what you did last night? You can say, with a private little gleam in your eye, “Night Blow.”



[Museum of Glass, Friday, June 15, 7-11 p.m., $30-$35, 1801 Dock St., Tacoma, 253.284.4719]