STEPH DEROSA: WHERE IS MY GRASS SKIRT? >>>

It’s time for you, my dear South Puget Sound habitants, to uncover any questions or misunderstandings you never knew you had and join me in a celebration of all things Asia-Pacific. More specifically, let’s celebrate Tonga. What’s Tonga, you ask. See now, I can tell you already need to follow me and my grass skirt-wearing ass over to the Tacoma Dome this Saturday for the 2009 Asian Pacific New Year Celebration.

Tonga, which lies deep in the South Pacific, happens to be the featured community for this year’s celebration. Created by the Asian Pacific Cultural Center, this Saturday’s event could easily be labeled as an invitation to expand your knowledge of all things Vietnamese, Korean, Taiwanese, Japanese, and Chinese. Oh, and let’s not forget those beautiful cultural islands lying in the Pacific Ocean. Those are simple parcels of sheer paradise.

Story telling, Bonsai workshops, shopping, food, singing, Tai Chi, Haiku, and dancing demonstrations that include the likes of hula, Bollywood, and Belly dancing will be offered throughout the day in various areas of the Tacoma Dome. There truly is something for everyone. And don’t worry about having to get tickets to this multi-faceted happening, entry into an Asia-Pacific country for the day is absolutely free.

[Tacoma Dome, Saturday, Feb. 7, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., free, 2727 E. D St., Tacoma, 253.383.3900]