THE LOWDOWN ON WHAT'S UP THIS WEEKEND >>>

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Partly cloudy, hi 65, lo 49
Saturday: Chance of rain 40 percent, hi 65, lo 50
Sunday: Party cloudy, hi 63, lo 48

TRAFFIC ALERT: Utility work on northbound I-5 at Carpenter Road in Lacey from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. Friday. 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.

>>> JUNE 17-19: GRIT CITY FEST

Grit City Fest is set to go off all over downtown Tacoma. A full on music and arts throwdown, in the vein of SXSW according to founders Quincy "Q-Dot" Henry and Suzanne Skaar, Grit City Fest kicks off at 6 p.m. Thursday at The Den with a music workshop featuring Ben London of the Recording Academy and Shelli Martineu of Conversify - followed by hip-hop performances by Digga Mac, Name The Uncanny and Strik & Krusal. Later Thursday, check events at Hell's Kitchen and The New Frontier. - Michael Swan

[Downtown Tacoma, $20 weekend pass, $40 VIP, $12 selected single events, gritcityfest.com]

>>> JUNE 18-20: BRUNCH

Even before the Weekly Volcano's Joe Izenman can review the play for print next week, check out local playwright Elliot Weiner's Brunch, opening Friday at Tacoma Little Theatre. A comedy built on friendships and the challenges they create, Brunch is the latest theater gem to come to us via Weiner, who most recently directed TLT's The Star Spangled Girl, Greater Tuna and Tuna Christmas. - MS

[Tacoma Little Theatre, through June 27, 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, $15, 210 North I Street, Tacoma, 253.272.2281]

>>> JUNE 19: QUIET SHOES WORLD PREMIERE

Directed by Issac Olsen, written by Olsen and Kurt Kendall, and starring Dale Phillips, the film Quiet Shoes centers around a private dick by the name of Savage - Rick Savage. When a suspicious-looking dame enters his life, the dick is thrown into a world of intrigue, cigarettes, shadows, tough guys with iron claws, upstart newsies and crooked cops. In a word: noir. In fashioning this world, Olsen brilliantly utilizes downtown and industrial Tacoma. Around every corner an alleyway looms, and on every horizon great plumes of smoke lurk. It's a thrill to see Tacoma finally used to all its gritty potential. - The Rev. Adam McKinney

[Rialto Theater, Saturday, June 19, 7 p.m., $12, 3105 Ninth St., Tacoma
253.591.5890]

>>> JUNE 20: GLITTER AND BE GAY

If we've already lost your mind to junior high level snickering, it's probably for the best. This event is too classy for you anyway. Sunday, in an extremely rare musical spectacle, the Seattle Men's Chorus and the Seattle Women's Chorus will join forces to offer what's sure to be a stunning tribute to composers Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim - yes... titled "Glitter and Be Gay." Expect music from Bernstein and Sondheim collaborations like West Side Story, along with plenty of other stage composition goodness. - MS

[Pantages Theater, Sunday, June 20, 3 p.m., $39-$52, 901 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.591.5894]

>>> WHERE OUR STAFF IS GOING

MATT DRISCOLL Editor
Will be giving into his neighbors' glares and finally mowing his godforsaken lawn, along with dropping in on the Grit City Festival and barbecuing with his loving (and far too understanding) family on Father's Day.

PAUL SCHRAG Senior Contributor
I'll be making music, working in the garden and heading to Jennifer Johnson's housewarming party Saturday. Sunday I'm going to collapse.

ALEC CLAYTON Arts Critic
This weekend I'll be seeing the premiere of an original play by Elliot Weiner at Tacoma Little Theatre (to review for that other paper, but you may not want to say that).

CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL Theater Critic

I'm seeing Sixties Kicks at Harlequin Productions, then hoping Toy Story 3 doesn't make me cry like Jessica Simpson at a spelling bee.

STEPH DEROSA Columnist
My liver will be recycling three drinks somewhere in Buckley, Bonney Lake or somewhere in eastern Pierce County this weekend.

JENNIFER JOHNSON Lifestyles/Leisure Writer
Hitting up Tacoma Boys Friday afternoon for fresh local produce for my Summer Solstice Soiree and house warming party. Sampling Sputnik Donuts at Satellite Coffee after running the White River 5K in Buckley Saturday morning. Then planting bushes from Proctor's Garden Sphere Landscaping in my garden. Before my little party, I'll get my eyebrows waxed at Salon Professionals on 38th Street for a sweet, low price.

KRIS BLONDIN Food/Wine Writer
I am going to the lake to celebrate the husband's birthday with friends, drinks, good food and hopefully some sun.

JOE IZENMAN Music/Theater Critic
Brunch, by local playwright Elliot Weiner. Local Heroes signing at Comic Book Ink. Rocking for KGRG at Jazzbones. The long-awaited return of Coffin Break to Hell's Kitchen. Playing Dungeons and Dragons. So much stuff, it doesn't even get complete sentences.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound