1. The mighty Big Wheel Stunt Show & Friends play the showcase at Magoo's Annex DJ Melodica too! $3 pints, $2 Hot Dogs 9 p.m., no cover, 2710 N 21st Street, Tacoma, (253)759-0467.

2. Care about Olympia? Hit up city hall tonight -  there will be a discussion of sub-area planning & other related neighborhood topics. 6:30 p.m., free, 601 4th Avenue East, Olympia,(360) 753-8325.

3. Featuring the works of Laura Ahola-Young, Lois Beck, Becky Knold, and Mia Schulte. The exhibit will feature the artists’ abstract painted and mixed-media pieces. Noon - 4 p.m., free, Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts Gallery, 2011 Mottman Road Southwest, Olympia, (360) 596-5527.

4. Professional actors will read and perform controversial sections from three books that have been banned or challenged in the United States, including Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451. The troupe will then facilitate a discussion on the First Amendment and how and why books are banned. Banned Books Week is September 30-October 6 this year. 2 p.m., free, 500 College St SE, Lacey, (360)491-3860.

5. It's karaoke with a live band. Earn your rockstar status tonight at Jazzbones. 9 p.m., ladies free, dudes $3, 2803 6th Avenue  Tacoma, (253) 396-9169.

Rock Tiki wrote a poem so you don't have to:

Man Day comes just once a week,

food and liquor you must seek.

Grab a six-pack, chug a lot.

Hulk smash, grunt, then take a shot.

Monday night is all about recovering from the shock of Monday morning. Whether you celebrate your manhood or just have a good time with friends, the Puget Sound can accommodate. Rock Tiki likes to start Monday nights at Malarkey's Pool and Brew at 6^th and Tacoma. Malarkey's offers 21 seven and nine foot pool tables, beer, food, and a stage featuring stand-up comedy. Every Monday, Burgers are half off, drinks are 25% off, and pool is free on all nine foot tables. Additionally, Monday's on the Grit City Comedy stage are Open Mic and free admission. For more information, visit www.malarkeysonline.com/index.html.

                Rock the Dock Pub on Dock Street also celebrates men with Micro Man Mondays. Every Monday micro brews are $3 and well drinks are set at happy hour prices for men all day long. On the Tacoma waterfront, Rock the Dock Pub offers food, drinks, pool tables, and darts. For more weekly specials and menus visit www.rockthedockpub.com/index.html.

                Finally, Rock Tiki suggests Charley's Pub on 19^th street. Texas hold ‘em tournaments every night, no buy in, with cash and bar prizes. Monday night tournaments begin at 6 PM. For directions and more visit www.facebook.com/CharleysPub.

                Head over to Jazzbones on Sixth Ave. Monday night Rockaraoke is one of the most famous weekly events on Sixth. The $4 Jaeger Bombs and $3 Fireball Shots only make it that much better. Check out www.jazzbonestacoma.com.

                If you're looking for music, head down to The Swiss for the JA Hill Band tonight. www.theswisspub.com/index.htm.

                Rock Tiki Understands that ladies don't want to be cooped up on a Monday night either, so Rock Tiki suggests Bull's Eye indoor range on Puyallup Ave. Ladies shoot free on Mondays, and with over 120 rental weapons, it's hard to resist taking your Monday anger out on an innocent piece of paper. Check Bull's eye website for rules and authorized weapons. www.bullseyeshooter.com/rangemain.htm.

Alright, alright, I write enough about rock shows and strip teases and herb-smoking hippies, it's time to give a little love to the kids. Here's something you can do with the little rugrats and probably enjoy yourself, too.

Saturday, October 6th, Huntamer Park in Lacey will be bustling with inflatable obstacle courses, fun booths with crafts and games, and entertainment on the main stage. This year's theme is Pirates and Princess and children are encouraged to come dressed as either or their favorite storybook character to be entered in the costume contest at 12:30pm. 

Pirates and Lady Captains alike will enjoy the Misadventures of Captain ARRR! His interactive comedy performance will have kids walking and talking like pirates in no time. Little Princesses will be amazed with the Simple Wish Princesses. The Princesses come with music that will have all little princesses and princes dancing. Other local children's groups will be performing with songs and short theater productions. 

Come enjoy the celebration with face painting, games, and crafts for the whole family to enjoy. This event is free and the fun starts at 11:00am ending at 2:00pm.

618 Woodland Square Loop SE  Lacey, (360) 491-0857.

1. Check out the garden in the fall. The Delbert McBride Ethnobotanical Garden, located on the grounds of the museum, displays a selection of Northwest flowers, shrubs, and trees that have been used for food, tools, and medicine by the Native American tribes in Western Washington. Free, State Capital Museum, 211 21st Ave. S.W. Olympia(360)753-2580.

2. For all those mountaineers who hiked all summer long, this is a chance for them to show off photographs and subjects of the beautiful PNW. 40 photographs will be on display. Visitors can vote their favorite photograph for the People's Choice Award; everyone who votes has a chance to win a print of their favorite image. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Tahoma Center Gallery, 1323 South Yakima Ave., Tacoma.

3. Stroll through a seven-acre corn maze. Your mission? Find the answers to eight trivia questions hidden throughout the maze. If you can find all eight, you win a prize! Try your hand at the best slingshot in the Puyallup Valley. Hit the target and win 15 pounds of free pumpkin! Hay rides, apple cider and more. 3 - 6 p.m., $1 - $6, Picha's, 6502 52nd St E., Puyallup, (253)841-4443.

4. One night only! Maloof Money Cup World Championship skateboard highlights and behind-the-scenes footage from the event in South Africa. Luan Oliveira takes the crown. See him and other skaters in all their glory. 7:30 p.m., Century 16, 1928 S. Commons, Federal Way.

5. Come sit and read, drink tea, and argue politics at downtown Olympia's Last Word Books. 5 - 7 p.m., free, 211 4th Avenue East Olympia,(360) 786-9673.

Hey Chris! It's your lucky day!

Christopher Columbus day is just around the corner and LeMay - America's Car Museum (ACM) is celebrating the famous name with admissions deals.

ACM is giving visitors with "Chris" in their first or last name a chance to sail through the museum for half-price on Columbus Day.

"Christopher Columbus and automobiles...now that's American," said Scot Keller, ACM chief marketing and communications officer.  "So if you're a Chris, Christina, Chrissie, Christine or Christian, Monday's a great chance to discover our museum at a special price. Adults get half off and kids (ages 12 and under) get in free."

Participants of all ages are required to show a form of identification (driver's license, student ID, library card, etc.) before exploring the museum's exhibits, which include the Cars of Harold LeMay, Ferrari in America, British Invasion of the ‘60s, Indy Racing, Classic Car Era and other treasures.

For more information about America's Car Museum, visit www.lemaymuseum.org.

                Rock Tiki is so glad Monday is over. Now it's time to really party, starting with Backstage Bar and Grill on 6^th ave. First up is Switch and Wiggles, a DJ vs Drummer show starting at 9 PM. Not only is there no cover charge, but well drinks are only $1, plus 10% off entire tab with military ID, and if military mentions this website at the door, Lunch or Dinner is buy one get one free: www.backstagebartacoma.com/About-Us.html.

                Don't want to work off fat? Need more cheap food? Every Tuesday night at The Harmon Tap Room and Beer Garden is buy one get one free burgers or Fish and chips. For more information, visit www.harmonbrewingco.com/taproom/index.html.

                If you're looking for a quick way to relieve stress, Military shoot free on Tuesdays at Bull's Eye indoor range in Tacoma. For rules and authorized weapons visit www.bullseyeshooter.com/rangemain.htm.

Finally, don't forget about Ha Ha Tuesdays at Jazzbones. Host Ralph Porter will kick things off at 8:30 PM Featuring Myles Webber  with headliner Richard Chassler. There is a five dollar cover, but at 10 PM the live DJ show begins, and the cover charge is discontinued. Check out www.jazzbonestacoma.com for more information.

1. Sunny folk out of Olympia, Sunshine and Irony is a bit americana, a bit country, throw in some jazz and pop and out comes glorious sound. Together with Ash Reiter (pop from the Bay area,) and New Slang (Oly jazz,) Sunshine and Irony will bring their charm to Northern tonight. 8 p.m., 414 1/2 Legion Way, Olympia.

2. Touring folk singer Debra Cowan will give two performances at the Olympia Timberland Library today, one for children and one for the grownups. "Silly Songs and Funny Folk" will be presented for young children at 10 a.m., before the library is open. (Enter by the Adams Street door.) Cowan returns to the library to perform "Women and the Sea" at 7:30 p.m. Both concerts are free, 313 8th Ave SE, Olympia, (360)352-0595.

3. Somehow, "Story Time with Leroy," sounds a little creepy. But, I'm sure it's not. Bring your family to cozy up in this inviting space and listen to a story or two. Books are chosen and read by ARC volunteers based on relevance to current exhibitions or artists on view, or just for fun. 11 a.m., Tacoma Art Museum, 1701 Pacific Ave, (253) 272-4258.

4. This blues group, while not actually hailing from Texas, are bad ass southern gypsies, nonetheless. Having opened for ZZ Top, these guys are certain to rock Dawson's Bar and Grill tonight. 8 p.m., 5443 S Tacoma Way, (253)476-1421.

5. Seems appropriate for October...Ranging from earthen jugs for embalming fluids to black satin "slumber beds" for home viewing, this exhibit will look at the Victorian process of death and dying, causing one to reflect on how this has changed. Noon-4p.m., $1-$2, White River Valley Museum, 918 H St SE, Auburn,(253) 288-7433.

Everyone knows to shop at thrift stores, like Value Village and Goodwill for Halloween deals. But, did you know there are more deals and perks than ever this year?

At each Goodwill location, find a special Halloween Boo-Teek with an array of costume options that are silly, scary, spooky or sweet.

Choose from a huge selection of new or gently used costumes that cost a fraction of those at pricier costume stores. (I got my kid's Luigi costume for $4.99, they cost $25 elsewhere.)

Make sure to keep an eye on specially colored tags for extra savings!

In addition, Goodwill debuts its first Sooper Boo-Teek, located next to the Spanaway Goodwill store at 14918 Pacific Ave S., with nearly 10,000 square feet dedicated to Halloween.

At Value Village in Lacey (604 Sleater Kinney Road,) the Halloween perks don't stop at deals. While you'll find 50% off items Thursday thru Sunday, with .99 specials on Mondays, and the irresistible bring a donation box and get $3 coupon deal, the store also plans a "Fall Back" event in honor of this Saturday's time change.

The party starts at 1 p.m. and features live music and "General Lee," the famous car from Dukes of Hazard, on display in front of the store, followed by a huge Halloween costume fashion show at 3 p.m.

Every Thursday thru October, the store hosts smaller Halloween fashion shows to help spark that Halloween costume creativity.

The store also has a costume consultant on hand to help piece together ideas, find items and costumes within budgets and mimic more expensive costumes with items throughout the store.

"We're bringing 7,000-10,000 pieces out every day," says Brian Bean, store manager. "We can make any kind of costume from the latest movie, to Star Trek."

Rock Tiki knows everyone likes music. That's why Rock Tiki is all about music on Wednesdays. Whether you enjoy listening to a live band, or singing your heart out in a karaoke bar, Rock Tiki knows exactly where to send you tonight. Backstage Bar and Grill offers live music on Wednesday nights. The shows starts at 7 PM, and, as always, military receive 10% off their tab, and buy one get one free lunch or dinner if they mention this website at the door: www.backstagebartacoma.com/About-Us.html.

                It seems just about every bar in Tacoma does Karaoke on Wednesday nights. Rock Tiki does not enjoy Karaoke, Rock Tiki is too shy. However, Rock tiki knows the Harmon Tap Room and Beer Garden is a great place to catch dinner and a couple drinks, especially with Wednesday nights $3 Harmon Pints, so if Rock Tiki were so inclined to experiment with Karaoke on a Wednesday night, The Harmon Tap Room and Beer Garden is where Rock Tiki would go. For more information visit: harmonbrewingco.com/taproom/taproom_events.html.

             Finally, head over to The Summit Pub on Canyon Rd. in Puyallup for the foosball tournament starting at 8 PM. The buy-in is $10 and the winner takes all. The Summit Pub's website is currently under construction, so visit www.yelp.com/biz/summit-pub-puyallup for more information.

If you seek beer, schnitzel, and steins, then to Oktoberfest you must go. You have many choices for your Oktoberfest celebration-Leavenworth, Seattle, or Portland. But why venture that far? It just takes longer to stumble home.

From October 5-7, Oktoberfest takes over the Puyallup Fairgrounds.

Friday night at 6:15 p.m. is the tapping of the firkin-a giant cask of beer. This will officially kick off Oktoberfest Northwest.

The rest of the weekend is filled with German food, live oompa band music, games, and even a small shop filled with souvenirs and German wares. Food includes plenty of brats, pretzels and potato salad as well as more traditional fare like Schweinebraten (a pork and gravy dish), currywurst, and Kartoffelpuffer (potato pancakes). Many of the beers on tap are official beers of Munich's Oktoberfest.

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