Celebrate the Winter Solstice Tonight in Tacoma

Tonight celebrate the lengthening of our daytime hours, (oh how I've missed you sun) with the Mandolin Cafe's Winter Solstice Celebration. Every year the Mandolin Cafe throws a bash, of the classy variety, featuring a candle lighting ceremony and a feast fit for The Crone, an Irish Goddess of Winter and the waning moon (seems appropriate).

Surrounded by an artful ambiance, (as the Mandolin also serves as a gallery of sorts, work often rotating monthly) dine on a tasteful menu from appetizer to dessert. The entree this winter season is a vegetarian friendly lasagna with butternut squash and pecan with caramelized onions and béchamel or the classic Italian sausage, three cheese and marinara version.

To accompany the banquet, a traditional, septet Celtic band, Mooncoyne will play rich ballads. The Tacomans mesh sing-songed waltzes and jigs, beating the bodhran and strumming their stringed instruments with jubilant vocals. As any good Irish band their band portrait features Bushmills and wine. That makes me want to do a jig.

Reservations are highly encouraged. Dinner begins at 5 p.m.