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Friday night, I bar hopped around Tacoma with my camera. It was a full-meal deal of live music and audiences wackiness.

The first course of the night was a family set at C.I. Shenanigans along the Ruston Way waterfront. Gina Belliveau and Cottonwood Cutups were in the Fireplace Room, performing before date couples, families and old dudes snapping their fingers to the down beat. A kid or two played games on cell phones as the music blasted the room. Belliveau packed a lot of power into a spritely frame while Cottonwood did ... well, what Cottonwood does ... brought the thunder. See more photos from the Shenanigans show in the Weekly Volcano's Photo Hot Spot.

The next morsel came with The Front featuring RJ Medeiros playing at Rock the Dock Pub & Grill. The band brought out the power ballads for a mix of over 50 rockers and those who love them. The jam proved that age is just a number - some of those folks can cut a rug with the best of them. See more photos from the Rock the Dock show in the Weekly Volcano's Photo Hot Spot.

My main entrée was a delicious set by the Kim Archer Band at Jazzbones. The band brought its signature soul and energy to the stage with a tight set of classic R&B covers. See more photos of the Jazzbones show in the Weekly Volcano's Photo Hot Spot.

For dessert, I went for the weird. After the KAB show, the Jazzbones crowd was well lubricated for BZ Productions' Mardi Gras Costume Contest, complete with full-on bead craving hotties. With $100 for best Mardi Gras outfit on the line, and DJ Switch behind the deck, BZ asked the Jazzbones crowd to stay away from the trashy look. It got trashy. Fast. See more photos from the Mardi Gras Party in the Weekly Volcano's Photo Hot Spot.

LINK: Weekly Volcano Photo Hot Spot

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Remember back in the day when you were in your first apartment and spent a memorable Saturday night with your friends just blaring the record player and singing along to random selections from your album collection? Toss in a pitcher of PBR and extreme lighting and that is karaoke at Bob's Java Jive.

Sunday through Tuesday nights has Nikki Weatherhead on the mic. The spunky Tacoman never seems to lake energy or a smile even if the sign up sheet is less than full.

Monday, Jan. 7 brought Tacoma filmmaker and all around hipster G.W. Welsh to the mic to celebrate his birthday. It was a good time.

BOB'S JAVA JIVE, KARAOKE, 9 P.M., NO COVER, 2102 S. TACOMA WAY, TACOMA, 253.475.9843

LINK: More photos from Monday night karaoke at Bob's Java Jive

WE SCENE IT >>>

I pulled on my thick black tights, knee high boots, gold leopard print mini skirt and Iron Maiden T-shirt. I was ready to hit downtown Olympia in all its New Year's Eve glory.

The original plan was to launch the night at Frankie's Sports Bar, where smoking weed is allowed in its upper room. When the cab driver told me he accepts reservations after 9 p.m., I bagged Frankie's. The cabbie informed me last New Year's Eve there were 3,000 people in downtown Olympia and only 18 cabs on the road. No need to hitchhike at 2 a.m.

When I asked the cabbie where he's dropped the most people off, he promptly replied "The Brotherhood." Sounds like a plan. Off to The Brotherhood, indeed, where there were many fine looking people in suits and sequins - and 500 balloons piled in a net, ready to drop at the stroke of midnight.

A couple drinks in, and a few good, danceable spins from DJ Dead Air, I got the wandering bug and headed down to the 4th Ave Tav for some pool. While the place was packed - 15 minutes in line for a shot of tequila packed - I was able to squeeze in a few games of pool, listened to a bagpiper, and ran into man-about-town Jerry Zeigler, who was in a festive mood. After a few wet kisses on the cheek, I realized it was almost midnight, and headed back to the Broho to watch the balloon drop. 5-4-3-2-1! And a rainbow fell on all the tipsy heads in the bar, with much hollering and high-fiving (and ass-pinching, as Pappi Swarner observed in his latest visit to Olympia).

Somewhere in my Hornitos soaked mind, I remembered that Rockfish was serving a midnight buffet. I swaggered up Fourth Avenue - passing by loud groups, sexy ladies and the occasional soldier - until I found the spot, which was nice and dark with a good dance scene. The buffet was a pretty rich spread of fresh fruit, chicken wings, penne Alfredo and more. A friend handed me a glass of champagne to wash it all down with, and at that point, I forgot how to take pictures, and most of my penne desired to come back up.

So, I made my way to McCoy's where everybody was as shit-housed as me. I called a cab. Of course, it was more than an hour wait. Luckily I ran into a friend who was playing designated driver and I got home safe. 

I hope Olympia had as much fun as I did ringing in the New Year. I also hope next year brings many more good parties and safe rides home.

LINK: Live music tonight in the South Sound

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Doyle's Public House and its patrons have St. Patrick's Day on the brain ... constantly. In fact, Doyle's hosts a St. Patrick's Day practice party every 17th of the month. During the "St. Practice Day" party, patrons discuss what they will wear on St. Patrick's Day - such as obnoxious green eye shadow, glitter and thigh-high green and white striped stockings; who would a fight between the Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly; and whether the guy in the green trash bag will show up again March 17. Above all, St. Practice Day monthly parties are a chance to gather with friends and drink a pint or three.

St. Practice Day parties are also a time to do business, specifically if you're a member of Doyle's 100 Pint Club. Doyle's co-owner Russ Heaton calls the meeting to order, typically with a Guinness in his hand, and rattles off member drinking achievements, such as hitting 250 and 500 Guinness pints consumed. With each name called, there's a toast and everyone advances further toward his or her Guinness drinking goals.

This month, St. Practice Day was stretched over two days. Today, Dec. 17, there will be the typically revelry including a 6:17 p.m. 100 Pint Club member toast, and a chance to win the Guinness Guitar for those who drink Guinness pints before 6 p.m. Last night, a special St. Practice Day was summoned to hand out drinking honors and dance to several bands, including Matt Coughlin and the Growlers. The big honors of the night went to Joe Shuckhart and John Howard, two 100 Pint Club members who reached 1,000 Guinness pints downed at Doyle's. It's equivalent to drinking 10 kegs for those trying to do the math. Shuckhart and John Howard receive Doyle's bar stools each with their names engraved on the back.

Tonight, at 6:17 p.m. two more members will receive stools for reaching the 1,000 pint level.

DOYLE'S PUBLIC HOUSE, MONDAY, DEC. 17, 6 P.M., 208 ST. HELENS AVE., TACOMA, 253.272.7468

Its Old West saloon style facade and jutting awning are nothing that will ever land it onto some glossy magazine pages extolling the best in Tacoma design. If it weren't for the yellow lettering, you wouldn't notice it at all as your car sails on by.

Well, that place is Buffino's Golden West Restaurant and Lounge. There's nothing surprising or unexpected about the Golden West. It looks on the inside exactly as you would picture it upon viewing the outside. Interesting carpeting, funky smells, low lights, beer signage, pull-tabs and dart machines. It's the sort of neighborhood joint where people just walk in, saddle up to the bar and see what movie is playing on the DVR.

Gailene Donovan shows off the wall of names at Buffino's Golden West Restaurant and Lounge in Tacoma.

A rite of passage - from a casual patron to a "regular" - is the ritual of writing your name on the back of the bar. Yes, you have to ask for the Sharpie by the cash register, but you have to be bold enough to ask for it. Regulars have been writing then names there for decades.

Other draws to the South Tacoma Way watering hole are the $1.75 Rolling Rocks and tasty 100-year-old spaghetti recipe.

Barry Hall tossed down another whiskey at Buffino's Golden West Restaurant and Lounge in Tacoma.

Friday and Saturday nights bring the owner out with his band, the Back Porch Band, to play blues and jazz.

[Buffino's Golden West Restaurant and Lounge, 5228 S. Tacoma Way. Tacoma, 253.471.9892]

LINK: More photos from Buffino's Golden West Restaurant and Lounge

We've come to the point in rock history that there are actually "punk classics," and you know you want to slam a few brewskies, climb on a stage and belt out something - hell, anything - by the Ramones.

This scenario can play out every Thursday and Saturday night at the historic Engine House No. 9 in Tacoma. You pick a tune out of the songbook, host Rev. Colin loads it, you're Joey for three minutes.

Bonus: Rev. Colin possesses a wealth of oddball musical knowledge and a disarming ease for calling everyone "baby."

[Engine House No 9, 10 p.m. Thursday and Saturday, no cover, 611 N. Pine St., Tacoma, 253.272.3435]

SOMETHING TO SING ABOUT >>>

Sorry we didn't hear about this yesterday, but check the repeat button on your smartphone calendar ... for discounted buckets of Full Sail Session Lagers every Wednesday. Hellz yes.

The Loose Wheel Bar and Grill offers a bucket of five Session lagers for $12. That's a good deal.

The sports bar also discounts its wings and prime rib dinner Wednesdays.

Get there early to Loose-en up for the 9 p.m. karaoke.

[The Loose Wheel Bar and Grill, 6108 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.301.1647]

WATCH OUT FOR SHARP OBJECTS >>>

Laid-back is the essence of Sunday. That means a lazy mid-afternoon brunch, no work, phone off the hook, sweats ... you know the routine. The mere thought of lifting a finger to wash the mountain of dishes in the sink should make you shudder. Only as the sun starts to slip down should you attempt any activities. Then, you should hightail it to Dawson's where Tim Hall opens up it.

The Tim Hall Band hosts the Sunday Night blues Jam at Dawson's Bar and Grill on South Tacoma Way. Frontman "Too Tall" Tim Hall is a towering, workingman  blues guitarist who originally rocked it psychedelic with Jerry Miller in the Bay Area during the '60s. Hall switched to the blues after opening for legendary guitarist Albert Collins at an all-ages venue in South Tacoma called The Break Thru. Gigging with Robert Cray and Jho Blenis, and fine-tuning his chops in several blues groups, he eventually found his home under his own name and has been recording albums and playing every clubs in the Pacific Northwest as the Tim Hall Band for the last 25 years.

Warning: Besides awesome rockin' blues, you'll find hot dart league action Sunday nights at Dawson's. Weekly Volcano photographer Steve Dunkelberger thought his flash would be the death of him. Apparently, dart throwers don't enjoy distractions.

Other than that bar faux pas, Sunday nights at Dawson's are filled with blues originals and covers – and tipsy middle-aged folks swaying to the music.

[Dawson's Bar and Grill, Tim Hall Band Open Jam Session, 8 p.m., 5443 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma, 253.476.1421]

LINK: More photos of the open blues jam

HAVE A DRINK WITH THE CULLENS >>>

In the late ‘70s, Goth's association with gargoyle-laden architecture of the Medieval Period and monster novels of 18th century daisy-pushers such as Anne Radcliffe was coffined for the bleak post-punk prophecies such as of Joy Division, dark clothing, androgyny and waif-thin appendages that consumed the definition.

Bela Lugosi's dead - long live Bela Lugosi!

In downtown Olympia Goth means the Cryptatropa bar, or as Olympians call it, the "vampire Bar." It's dark with red lights and black booths, and Pan graces the jukebox.

The joint has a funk of sweat and spilled beer, but frankly so does the street outside. What makes this a killer spot - in addition to the New Wave cranking from the dance floor - are the intimate, dimly-lit booths hiding dweller and their conversations/make-out sessions.

[Cryptatropa Bar, 421 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia, 360.754.3867]

LINK: More photos from Friday night at Cryptatropa Bar

WE SCENE IT >>>

By 1 a.m. last night, the rowdies and chit-chatters in Tacoma had begun to thin. My night began at before Martyr Machine inside Hell's Kitchen, then progressed to the Gruv Lounge for DJ1, AC/DC tribute band Soul Stripper at the Backstage Bar & Grill and ending with Kry at The Swiss. I came up short on the phone numbers, although I met a charming lass at the Backstage - until her roommate yanked her away for last call down the street. Oh well, enjoy the photos I snapped during my journey.

Martyr Machine at Hell's Kitchen
Gruv Lounge

Soul Stripper at Backstage Bar & Grill

Backstage Bar & Grill

Kry at The Swiss

LINK: More photos from last night