SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 2010 >>>
1. The Urban Art Festival runs from noon to 8 p.m. in People's Park in Tacoma. On deck are live art demonstrations and a hell of a band line, including main stage performers Voxxy Vallejo, Basemint, Blame it on the Girl, New Law, Hotels, Pioneers West, The Fucking Eagles and reggae legend Clinton Fearon. The after party - the formal fashion show with DJs Hilltop Trot - will be held at Fulcrum Gallery.
2. The family-friendly exhibition The Secret Language of Animals ends its run today at the Tacoma Art Museum. The exhibit is devoted to our relationships with our furry, feathery, and slimy friends. Through paintings, sculptures, and videos, The Secret Language of Animals explores not only the role of animal imagery in art, but also our expectations of and emotional attachments to those animals. See it for the last time from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oh, in honor of the museum's 75th anniversary, the 75th visitor to the museum today will receive a free Leroy, The Big Pup plush toy.
3. A benefit for the Gulf Restoration Network - www.healthygulf.org - to help clean up the BP created mega-disaster currently ravaging the Gulf Coast will be held from 1-10 p.m. inside The Swiss. The show carries a $10 suggested donation, and a lineup including China Davis, The Jerry Miller Band with Lee Oskar, High Rollers, Mojo Overload, Malcolm Clark, Rich Wetzel's Groovin' Higher Orchestra and Kim Archer and Nick Sandy. Expect a pretty major raffle and giveaway to accompany the festivities.
4. A benefit concert will be held for the family of Galaxies guitarist Bob Koch, who died of cancer last month, from 4-10 p.m. at the Imperial Dragon Restaurant in Tacoma. The tribute show will feature the Galaxies, Blue Oasis, Shelly Ely Band, the Tim Hall Band and an all-star jam.
5. The Dana Lupinacci Band, nominated as "Best New Band" for 2010 by the Washington Blues Society, brings their jazzy brand of New Orleans-style to Tacoma's Johnny's Dock from 5-8 p.m.