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

WE SCENE IT >>>

The Saturday before Halloween is when the parties go down. Seems every place is town boasts some kind of scary dance party or costume contest.

Well, how about an event where you can really let loose, stay the night if you want, and possibly win $1,000?

Enter the Red Lion Hotel in Olympia. Saturday the hotel hosted the Haunted Westwater on the Hill Halloween Bash. Westwater on the Hill was the name of the hotel back in the 80s, and the hotel found it fitting to resurrect the past on a night to celebrate the dead.

The whole hotel was decorated, and the entire downstairs was transformed into a Halloween haven. The ballroom, where most of the festivities went down, featured 8,000 square feet of ghoulish delight.

The staff really got into it. Red Lion Sales Manager Kyla Cavanagh dressed as a sexy nurse.

The Joker grabbed the $1,000 top prize.

My vote went to the Derby Girl/Boy.

Below are a few more pics I snapped during the party.

WE SCENE IT >>>

We draped photographer Steve Dunkelberger in beads and shoved him out the door to find a local Mardi Gras party. He ended up at the Peabody Waldorf Gallery's soiree. The crowd was light and subdued but grew as the evening progressed. A lull allowed Dunkelberger to jet over to The Mix to wish Johanna Gardner a happy birthday and catch the Mardi Gras action at the popular gay-friendly bar.

More of Dunkelberger's shots have been downloaded to our Photo Hot Spot.

HOT TIME IN THE OLD SWISS LAST NIGHT >>>

On the 10th day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... a night of burlesque. And by "true love" I mean "my wife." She stayed home with the child so I could check out the official debut of the Tacoma burlesque troupe, Gritty City Sirens. Ava D'Jor, Tizzy Van Tassel, Rosie Cheexx, Funny Face Fanny and Polly Puckerup combated the cold weather with a hot show last night in front of a packed - and I do mean push, shove and wiggle your way through - mass of people.

The creative and beautiful women stripped through self-choreographed sets down to skivvies, stockings and pasties. The crowd loved it, and so did the performers.

I posted a few photos in our Photo Hot Spot.