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

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Partly cloudy, hi 67, lo 51

Saturday: Partly cloudy, hi 66, lo 51

Sunday: Few showers, hi 61, lo 48

>>> FRIDAY, AUG. 20: MOVIES AT THE MANSION

Alfred Hitchcock's knack for suspense is equaled by his eye for American landmarks and landscapes in his delightfully perverse North by Northwest (1959). Mistaken for a spy, Cary Grant's Roger Thornhill finds deadly danger in such distinguished settings as the United Nations and Mount Rushmore, not to mention the agoraphobic expanse of a Midwestern cornfield. None is as picturesque as lovely Eva Marie Saint, however, a possible femme fatale paired with Grant in one of Hitchcock's sexiest couplings. North by Northwest screens Friday night in a picturesque setting: at dusk as part of the "Movies at the Mansion" film series at the historic Lord Mansion in Olympia.

• Lord Mansion, 59 p.m., free but $2 suggested donation, State Capital Museum, 211 21st Ave. S.W., Olympia, 360.753.2580

>>> SATURDAY, AUG. 21: 81ST ANNUAL OLYMPIA PET PARADE

The great thing about summer is how easy it is to be in shape. Between the great weather (well, not so much this weekend) and the great wealth of outdoor activities you can enjoy here in this pretty great state, you really have no good (great) reason to be panting when you walk up the stairs.  Which is great, because now you're in shape for the greatest (!) event of all - Olympia Pet Parade. Dress Mr. Furry Face in a cute outfit and walk off some of that Alpo with hundreds of other pet nuts while thousands watch. There are prizes too! 

• Heritage Park, 8 a.m. lineup, 10 a.m. start, on Water Street adjacent to Capitol Lake, Olympia, 360.754.5420

>>> SATURDAY, AUG. 21: OLALLA BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL

Here's the thumbnail on my relationship with bluegrass: Successive generations of wannabes liked the Dead. Tattoos entered wannabe biker culture.  Jerry liked bluegrass. He's dead. It must be cool. Tattoos are cool. Hence, I have a tat and a mandolin.  In Olalla, one of the best of the small festivals will be held, the Olalla Bluegrass (& beyond) Festival, with headliners The Paperboys, Prairie Flyer, Runaway Train, Blackberry Bushes and others, plus arts and crafts, food and a berry pie contest. 

• Olalla Little League Field, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., $8-$12, $2 parking, $10 camping, Southeast Olalla Valley Road and Southeast Hovgaard Road, Olalla

>>> WHERE OUR STAFF IS GOING

MATT DRISCOLL Editor and MSM sandwich aficionado
With Music and Art in Wright Park scheduled for Saturday, my weekend will likely be spent partaking and/or recovering from said all day Tacoma music festival. I'll also probably take a nap at some point. And watch some History Channel. And drink beer ... not necessarily in that order.

PAUL SCHRAG Senior Contributor
I'm going to Whidbey Island with my dad and sister and Mary K. My plan is to sleep, paint, and talk about the solar energy industry.

NIKKI TALOTTA Feature Writer
Holy Shit! I'm getting married to the man of my dreams! Then it's a dance party at The BroHo, followed be a late night at the Phoenix Inn in a honeymoon suite. (wink, wink) 2 p.m. check out, baby. ...

STEPH DEROSA Columnist
Domesticated life calls this weekend.  On the books are a soccer clinic, birthday party at Point Defiance Zoo, and a huge DeRosa-fest in honor of a few adult birthdays that took place recently. This may sound boring to most people, but I'm actually excited about it all. I love my friends and family more than anything. (Cue Golden Girls theme music)

KRIS BLONDIN Food/Wine Writer
Since this weekend's weather will be a preview for October's weather, I plan to stay home and clean my house. If anyone would like to save me from this madness, please call me. I'm serious.

JENNIFER JOHNSON: Lifestyle/Leisure Writer
The Weekend Getaway Queen will be traveling to Pendleton, Ore. Thursday through Monday for the annual Pendleton yoga retreat. Oooooooommmmmmmmmmmmm

REV. ADAM MCKINNEY Features Writer
Friday, I'm going to the Peabody Waldorf in the afternoon to catch what has to be one of the best Tacoma shows of the year: Japanther, Muhummadali, and the Wheelies. Saturday, I'll keep the rock rolling with the Music & Arts in Wright Park. Can't wait.

CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL: Theater Critic
It's the last quiet weekend of the summer for me, having caught up on a crap-ton of work; so my big plans include swimming, a good book, a movie of some sort, and the love of a beautiful woman. You know: la dolce vita.  (Which I'm pretty sure is Italian for Piranha 3D.)

ALEC CLAYTON: Visual Arts Critic
 I will be editing my screenplay The Backside of Nowhere, which will be performed as a reading in a Tacoma theater. Details will be announced soon.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound