FAIR
Puyallup Spring Fair
A demolition derby has a certain poetry to it. The evening starts with a beauty contest of old cars â€" which one is painted the best and whatnot. Then, the pretty little machines bash into each other with enough force and adrenaline to make WWF wrestlers proud. See it all at the Puyallup Spring Fair. The fair lasts through April 20 and includes Dragon Steps acrobatics, Lost Boys Pirates, choir and ensemble competition, Red Hatter Contest, rising country star Ashton Shepherd, exhibits, rides pig races, Dock Dogs, tons of food, and the demolition derby (Saturday at 6 p.m.). â€" Michael Swan
[Puyallup Fairgrounds, April 17 3-10 p.m., April 18-19 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., April 20 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Ninth and Meridian, Puyallup, 253.841.5945]

THE ART
Art Walk
What’s considered chic one week is trashed by the trend setters the next. It’s in this blink-and-you-missed-it environment that Tacoma’s Third Thursday Art Walk has become something of an institution. Nothing more than an intermittent and amorphous congregation of people who enjoy original art, the monthly night has managed to snowball into a downtown Tacoma support system for the visual arts. Or something like that. Check out the “exhibit” listings in our ViVA section for tonight’s shows. â€" Ron Swarner
[Downtown Tacoma, 5-8 p.m., free, www.artwalktacoma.com]

LECTURE
Why Eat Local?
During the year chronicled in her book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, Barbara Kingsolver and her familyreaped more than vegetables as they became more empowered and self-sufficient, deepened bonds, developed an intricate knowledge of their community and improved their health â€" not to mention shared some memorable eats.

A similar effort is emerging here through the folks behind Tacoma Gardens. The gardening enthusiasts have assembled a panel to discuss such topics as growing your own food, sustainable and organic gardening, community gardens, and the importance of supporting local farms, a la Kingsolvers.

Join Amber Anglund from the Tacoma Food Co-op, Terry Carkner of Terry’s Berries CSA, Kristen Mcivor from Tacoma Gardens and representatives from the local farmers markets as they convince you to stay out of the middle section of grocery stores. â€" Suzy Stump.
[King’s Books, Growing Conversation III: Why Eat Local? 6 p.m., free, 218 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, www.tacomagardens.com]

LINK: The Phenomenauts and others in the clubs.
LINK: Tonight is Doyle’s second anniversary bash.
LINK: Let’s eat Northwest today.