As your nightlife research analyst, I completely understand that sometimes you just gotta shake things up.

Even with the South Sound’s wide array of restaurants, bars, pubs and clubs, the scene has a way of wearing on an individual with the same old song and dance.

Leave it to Natasha to conduct investigations that will save you from this restlessness.

I have good news, you fancy schmancy readers. Tacoma is so freakin’ cool that we now have three new ways to party. Each of which will get you out from the confines of four walls.

We should all be proud that we have our very own Tacoma Rainiers baseball team. Sure, you can catch nine innings, run with Rhubarb and buy some merch, but the Rainiers recently stepped up their game. They want you to party on their new party decks. These decks go for $1,500 for groups from 50 to 500. The cost includes tickets for 50, a tented area on the third base side of the park, an all-inclusive buffet, a keg of beer (yea!), in-game recognition on the scoreboard, a hospitality attendant, and four parking passes. SWEET! I realize that most of us don’t have $1,500 to toss around, but if you could throw 50 of your friends together, $30 a pop wouldn’t be too bad. You could also make a recommendation to your boss at work that a team-building event is desperately needed and have the boss fund it. Visit www.tacomarainers.com for the lowdown.

If you’re sick of the land altogether, take it on the water! Our Thea Foss Waterway is now the home of iBoat Tacoma. For $85 an hour, you can rent a 12-person electric boat that you get to drive yourself. iBoat is a 21-footer that’s enclosed with heated seats. You can bring your CDs, but even better than that, it has an ipod docking station. NICE! So grab some wine and cheese and cruise! For more information, go to www.iboattacoma.com.

During each and every Thursday in downtown Tacoma, you can get Live After 5. The downtown merchants all want to stay open later, but that requires customers like you and me to show them love. Live After 5 typically includes music, kids activities, events, and specials at 20-some businesses until 8 p.m. Also, on the third Thursday of each month, our Tacoma Art Museum, the Washington State History Museum and the Museum of Glass are free for Artwalk. As if that weren’t sweet enough, downtown is now home to horse-drawn carriage rides on Thursdays. These carriage rides are $50 for a half hour. They run up and down Pacific Avenue from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Giddy up! Hit up www.downtowntacoma.com for the scoop.

Let’s rock all three.  Cheers!