Cities are ever-shifting organisms, in a constant state of decay and reconstruction and more decay, fighting to keep themselves upright and functional amid the slow rainstorm of time and money and development and evolution and corrosion. The same goes for newspapers. Hell, the same goes for public officials, those people who occupy the front pages of newspapers because of the ever-shifting cities. If you follow public officials, you know what I'm talking about. And if you know what I'm talking about, you should not miss the opportunity to meet and mingle with Tacoma's public officials Wednesday. If you brush away the pollution issues, traffic congestion, potholes, rain gardens, painted black bridges and 20-year-old laptops, you will see a love for puzzles, a joy for knitting — with Tacoma Makes playing cards in their spokes and Green Day, Beyoncé and "Stairway to Heaven" in their ears. Wednesday, Dec. 5 Tacoma's public officials will mix small talk with small drinks, which means many folks will end up down the street at The New Frontier Lounge for Rock and Roll Bingo.

LEMAY CAR MUSEUM, PUBLIC OFFICIALS HOLIDAY RECEPTION, WEDNESDAY, DEC. 5, 6-9 P.M., $45-$55, 2702 EAST D ST., TACOMA, RSVP TACOMACHAMBER.ORG