WE SCENE IT >>>

Every week in the print version of the Weekly Volcano, right below our awesome crime column Ragnet, we predict the outcome of local events for the week ahead. Titled "Punching Up The Future," our predictions are compared with predictions by Zoltar, the mechanical fortuneteller. Zoltar always nails the outcomes of the events. We, on the other hand, suck at it – correctly predicting only 8 to 16 percent of what happens at the events.

In this week's issue, we tackled Weekly Volcano photographer Steve Dunkelberger's birthday bash at Jazzbones. We wrote,

It's the hottest party of the year, bitches!The one and only Steve Dunkelberger - photographer, journalist, Tacoma icon, geocaching nut - only has one birthday a year, and this Friday at Jazzbones he'll be celebrating 2011's rendition. Expect music from Deborah Page, the Dignitaries, Voxxy Vallejo and China Davis - with proceeds generated from the $7 cover benefiting AAUW, Emergency Food Lifeline, Tacoma Art Place and YWCA. Why? Because that's the kind of solid dude Steve Dunkelberger is.

PREDICTION: What happens at a Steve Dunkelberger birthday party, stays at a Steve Dunkelberger birthday party ... unless Steve Dunkelberger takes pictures and we post them on our website.

Again, our prediction sucked. Dunkelberger didn't take pictures, which also means he didn't post them to our website.

However, his friend, Abby Hooyer, did take photos.

What the hell, we'll post them below. We'll also stay true to keeping what happened at the bash a secret ... BUT we'll tell you the after party at Puget Sound Pizza was a karaoke-licious booze fest. Karaoke host Rev. Colin, sporting a Christmas sweater, kept the mic occupied throughout the night, which was impressive considering the amount of booze being downed. Singing highlights include Voxxy belting out Led Zeppelin, Doug Mackey nailing the Beatles and Cody Jones singing Neil Diamond's "Cracklin' Rosie" as if he toured as an Diamond impersonator. Steve, although taking on the roll as designated driver, danced wildly before the singers.

We're happy to report, after the last drink was downed and the numbers were tallied, Dunkelberger raise $1,200 toward his designated charities.

Nice work Steve.

Emcees Doug Mackey and Pretty Boy Sean Culver

The Dignitaries

China Davis

Voxxy Vallejo

Fire dancers!

Deborah Page

LINK: Steve's photographic handiwork can be seen in our Photo Hot Spot

WE SCENE IT >>>

This isn't your typical Saturday night in The BullWheel Pub & Grill at Crystal Mountain Ski Resort. The ski bum vibe has been transformed. Wind burns and bright ski jackets give way to the racier imagery of thongs and bras befitting the night's theme. The music is rocking. But the real difference goes beyond the watering hole's ambience. It's not often you see this much leather in one place. The crowd ranges from sexy to odd, but decidedly intriguing.

Some who pass through the bar's doors appear to have arrived by accident, figuring it to be an average, perhaps even quiet night to get a drink. Ironically, these otherwise nondescript would-be patrons are the ones who stand out for the moment, awkwardly camouflaged in their ski hat plainness against a landscape of decadence personified. The energy continues to build into a full-blown, raging party. And for those who  find thrill in the act of people watching, there's no better venue than this.

Welcome to Dirt Bag Ball. 

For some, it was about the fashion this past Saturday night; getting to wear something out of the ordinary;  enjoying the tactile sensation of dirty or racy clothing against the skin. Obviously, there's a certain mystique or thrill in wearing rock star or groupie attire. For others, it was about the music, as the theme for this 10^th annual event was Rockers and Rockettes. It was a de facto meeting place for those who like the sleazy '70s, '80s glam, and grungy '90s. The rock, New Wave and metal covers by band One-Eye Jack were as inseparable from the scene as the form-fitting corset.

For still others, like the dude who wore an empty Pabst half-rack box on his head, or the dude who dressed as Angus Young, or the chick dressed as Madonna who wouldn't stay off the band's stage, it was about partying to the extreme.

My wife, Kate, and I attended this year's Dirt Bag Ball sandwiched between two days of awesome powder. It was the best night of people watching I've experienced in a while. And the $25 ticket benefitted the Crystal Mountain Ski Patrol education fund.

We'll be back.

LINK: More photos from the night