The Gritty City Sirens, a burlesque troupe from Tacoma, will host an "evening of panties and scanties" with a performance on Thursday, July 21, at The Swiss, 1904 Jefferson St., in Tacoma.

The lusty ladies of burlesque will be bumping and grinding to an array of American classics spun by DJ Broam with special guests Lusty Zins of Poledello, Hard Money Saints and Dessi De Vine.

At the end of the night, three lucky guys will have a chance to win a date with three of the Sirens. There will also be a raffle, bake sale and auction. A portion of the evening's proceeds will go to support post-traumatic stress disorder treatment for local Servicemembers. The show starts at 8 p.m., and tickets are $12 at the door.

Army Times reports the following tastes are in the test bed:

Here's what you can expect to see:

• Jalapeno pepper jack beef patty
• Beef taco filling
• White-wheat snack bread
• Oatmeal chocolate chunk cookie
• Chocolate-filled chocolate pound cake
• Barbecue almonds
• Ketchup
• Mustard
• Lemon iced tea in an ergonomically designed, zip-featured drink pouch
• Chocolate, vanilla and strawberry banana-flavored trans-fat-free dairy shakes.

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A group of military wives at Joint Base Lewis-McChord have organized a "Santa's Helpers" group. The wives have been collecting toys for needy fellow military families who don't have enough to give their children this Christmas. The group will host a party to celebrate its accomplishments at 6 p.m. Nov. 19 at the Discovery Community Center on Joint Base Lewis-McChord. 

They will be raffling off gift cards and gift certificates, with all the money going to military families.

The night will also include a cookie and ornament exchange as well as a white elephant gift exchange. Those who bring a new toy or gift item to donate to the drive will receive five raffle tickets. Participation in the other activities earns two more raffle tickets.

Organizers are asking those interested in coming to RSVP by Nov. 16. Due to the large number of guests and limited space, the event cannot accommodate young children (with the exception of newborns and nursing infants).

For more information or to RSVP, e-mail bklaw80@gmail.com.

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. -- Soldiers and families of B and C Company, 2^nd Brigade Support Battalion, 2/2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team will be decorating their vehicle trunks for an evening of trunk-or-treating fun for kids and parents from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Family Resource Center, on JBLM Lewis Main.

Unit organizers are expecting more than 200 soldiers and their families to participate in the event. Kids will meander from trunk to trunk in search of Halloween treats, while Soldiers will compete for prizes for best decorated trunks with awards for silliest, scariest, most creative, and best representation of the Halloween spirit. 

This ‘Trunk or Treat' unit event is for kids of all ages, and gives the families of the brigade's support battalion a stress-free Halloween environment to visit with other spouses, for children to meet other children, and for the Soldiers and leaders to spend time with each other outside the workplace.

The C Company's Family Readiness Group (FRG) held their first ‘Trunk or Treat' event in 2009 while the unit's Soldiers were deployed. Based on the success of last year's event the FRG leaders decided to expand the event by including B Company Soldiers and family members this year.

The unit is conducting the "Trunk or Treat' event ahead of Halloween to give their Soldiers and families the opportunity to have a fun event together, and still be able to participate in traditional ‘trick-or-treating' on October 31.

Troops returning to Joint Base Lewis-McChord after service overseas will be able to take their families to see a variety of acts at the Puyallup Fair this year. Comcast purchased $50,000 worth of tickets and is giving all of them away to returning military personnel and their families who sign up for Comcast service.

One hundred seats will be made available to members of the military and their families to all 18 Fair performances. That means people were, or will be, able to enjoy performances by artists that include Kenny Rogers, Heart, Bret Michaels, Kid Rock, Willie Nelson and Adam Lambert.

 "Our service people have sacrificed for our country, and we're honored to participate in their homecoming. Our longstanding relationship with the Puyallup Fair created the perfect opportunity to recognize returning troops for their service and for making Comcast their provider of choice," said Sean Brushett, vice president of sales and marketing for Comcast.

 Brushett said the Comcast relationship with the Puyallup Fair is an integral piece of company's ties to Pierce County, and thought buying the large number of tickets for troops was a great way of honoring military service as well as the fair, a Washington institution.

Tickets are being handed out at a variety of venues, including Welcome Home events. The promotion is only available to veterans from Comcast salespeople at JBLM. Tickets are not available any other way.

Comcast supports active duty military, veterans and their causes in a number of ways. Most recently, the company began airing a PSA in cooperation with Hire America's Heroes throughout Washington state to encourage employers to hire veterans.

The Puyallup Fair, which kicks off Friday, is offering free admission for active, retired and reserve military and National Guard and their family members, plus disabled veterans with a valid military ID on Sept. 13 and 20.

For more information, visit www.thefair.com.

VetsMeetVets, a local veterans networking organization, hosts a country dance from 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Saturday at AMVETS Post #1, 5717 South Tyler St., Tacoma.
The evening features entertainment by the country band Reckless and line dancing lessons from the Honkey Tonk Angels.

Both entertainment groups are donating their time and AMVETS Post #1 is donating its facilities to support the program.
 
Beer, wine, soda and water will be available for purchase. The event will also have bar food available for purchase as well as raffles and door prizes.
 
Organizers are unable to accept checks or debit/charge cards but an ATM is available on site.
 
For more information or to purchase tickets online, visit VetsMeetVets.org.

Champions Centre church, 1819 East 72nd St., Tacoma, hosts a free barbecue for military families from 5 to 10 p.m. Aug. 24.

Activities include live music, basketball, sand volleyball, pool tables, a giant bounce around, face painting and dinner.

There will also be prize giveaways.

For more information, visit www.championsfoundation.com.

MICHAEL SWAN: FOURTH OF JULY ON FORT LEWIS >>>

You can read this little ditty on Freedom Fest from the Fort Lewis PAO:

Or, you can pick up the Freedom Fest Guide in the Fort Lewis Ranger Thursday and discover all the glorious details on Fort Lewis' Fourth of July celebration.

ANNOUNCER: IT'S ALL ABOUT THE LAMB AT SUMAY INDIAN CUISINE >>>

Yet another ethnic restaurant gem can be found in one of the many Puyallup strip mall pockets lining East Meridian Avenue in South Hill. The non-descript facade of the family-owned and operated business gives way to a surprisingly classy and up-to-date interior. Offering fine Indian cuisine with a decided focus on the country's northern state of Punjab, Sumay Indian Cuisine can be described as a cozy restaurant the same way real estate agents refer to tiny apartments as quaint.

Although the dining area is limited, it's used well; white cloth covered tables are comfortably spaced on both sides of the wide aisle. With the tables butted against the walls, a sense of intimacy remains even in semi-close quarters. A mirror covers most of one wall creating an illusion of a larger room reflecting soft amber lighting and candle flicker. A mounted flat screen television features never-ending Bollywood movies complete with bare midriffs, elaborate sets and costumes and, of course, precisely choreographed dancing and singing.

Discover if the boys think the food is worthy here.