THE LOWDOWN ON WHAT'S UP THIS WEEKEND >>>
WEATHER REPORTFriday: Partly cloudy, Hi 67, lo 52
Saturday: Partly cloudy, Hi 72, lo 52
Sunday: Party cloudy, hi 70, lo 52
TRAFFIC ALERT: Eastbound SR 16 ramp to northbound I-5 closes from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Friday, June 25. Construction closes three lanes on I-5 in both directions between Gravelly Lake Drive and 48th Street in Tacoma 7 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday. Southbound I-5 between Mounts Road and Martin Way will see lane closures Friday and Saturday nights.
Drag queens tend to be a nasty lot. Bobble Tiki doesn't know if their universal bitterness stems from the pain of squeezing size 11 feet into size 9 pumps or from the irritation of persistent waxing and tweezing. That scenario will not be the case Friday night when drag divas - men dolled up as women - sashay across the Blue Mouse Theatre stage as part of Until the Fat Lady Sings! 2. Last year the drag queens brought the Mouse down with their dancing, vamping and lip-synching. You don't want to miss this one. This impersonators show benefits the AIDS Housing Association of Tacoma. - Bobble Tiki
The blockers have the bruises to prove it. The pivots feel the extra pressure. Saturday, returning to the Foss Waterway Seaport, Tacoma's roller derby phenomenon, the Dockyard Derby Dames, will hold their 2010 championship bout. Fans will clamor for blood (or just beer) when the Marauding Mollys and the Hellbound Homewreckers throwdown for a major grudge match, and things will get cranked up even more when the two-time champion Trampires battle the reigning champions, Femme Fianna, for total T-Town roller derby supremacy. Mark your calendars. It's going to be awesome. - Matt Driscoll
The outdoor Urban Art Festival will feature live art demonstrations from painter and screen-printing wiz Kenji Fulmer, who has been seen recently teaching screen-printing classes at Tacoma Art Place. Also, expect appearances from local favorites Mike Capp, Dustin Hillgrove, Jada-Moon on the henna, Ryan Loiselle, Jodi Barstad, Lithium Love, and photographer Tanya DeMots. And then there's the music. Hell of a line up this year, including main stage performers Voxxy Vallejo, Basemint, Blame it on the Girl, New Law, Hotels, Pioneers West and The Fucking Eagles. Rounding out main-stage offerings is a rare treat for Tacoma - reggae legend Clinton Fearon. – Paul Schrag
MATT DRISCOLL Editor
I will be mowing my lawn (for real this time!), taking off my shirt at every (slight) opportunity, and checking out The Fucking Eagles et al. at the Urban Art Fest.
PAUL SCHRAG Senior Contributor
Friday, I'm heading to Oly to help Xperience celebrate the release his new album, William VIII, with XP himself, Macklemore, Grayskul, Candidt, etc. Heading to Seattle on Saturday to see some good people. Sunday ... I think I'm hanging out with Mary K and my sister. Naps.
NIKKI TALOTTA Feature Writer
If I didn't have to sling drinks all weekend, I'd be hanging with the kids and chickens by day, and roaming downtown Olympia - looking for shows and bros - by night.
CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL Theater Critic
TAO's baadasssss take on Othello has been pushed back a week, so instead I'm beginning my move to Olympia proper. By this time next month I should smell like patchouli, a Sara Jane's Firebird, and shake.
STEPH DEROSA Columnist
MI will be watching men getting all dirty and sweaty from doing manly things with huge pieces of wood. That's right, I'll be at the Buckley Log Show all weekend.
THE REV. ADAM MCKINNEY Feature Writer
I will continue to wear my dad's clothes while he's out of town (not weird). At some point, I will finish my pint of bottom-shelf whiskey and stumble out on the town, possibly ending up at karaoke.
KRIS BLONDIN Food/Wine Writer
Dustin and I are heading to Mardon Resort near the Pot Holes in Eastern Washington with Aura Mae and her Hubby. Gettin' some sun!
JOE IZENMAN Music/Theater Critic
I'll be heading out Friday night to catch the awesome and fun Shotgun Kitchen at Malarkey's pool hall. OK, that's kind of a lie. I am IN Shotgun Kitchen, and I'm just trying to trick you all into coming. Sunday it's off to that city in the North for Idaho singer-songwriter Josh Ritter.
JENNIFER JOHNSON: Lifestyle/Leisure Writer
Friday evening I'll hit the Belles at the Ball inside Sanford & Son. Saturday morning features an ass-kicking workout at LA Fitness followed by lunch at The Taste of Tacoma. Sunday afternoon I'm attending Bria McCoy's wedding and Urban Art Fest followed by Hilltop Trot at Fulcrum.