THE LOWDOWN ON WHAT'S UP THIS WEEKEND >>>
WEATHER REPORTFriday: Rain - like 60 percent chance of it, hi 72, lo 56
Saturday: More freakin' rain, hi 68, lo 54
Sunday: Have you heard about the rain? hi 65, lo 54
Miniature golf has been around since the 1930s when some psychotic's light bulb glowed and he knocked a golf ball around on a flat surface using only a putter. Gradually, the courses were full of mechanical windmills, plaster dinosaurs and other flashy eyesores.
As with other trends, like skateboarding and punk rock, the popularity of miniature golf has fluctuated over the years, but the sport has never gone away. It's even at your local bowling alley. Tower Lanes in Tacoma hosts an 18-hole miniature golf course complete with waterfalls, fountains and bridges. So get out of the rain, test your skills and fill in the blanks during the silent moments on your date.
Bollywood, that colorful and exuberant fusion of classical Indian dance and the Hollywood musical, has gained a following outside of India. And its arrival in Tacoma comes in the form of Sanford & Son Antiques' annual adult prom Saturday loaded with, no doubt, spectacular song-and-dance sequences, joke-shop wigs, ill-fitting body shirts and at least two clownsrunning around talking like Apu from The Simpsons. Twirl in front of Girl Trouble, Si Si Si and DJ Infinity to benefit the Companion Animal Rescue Society.
It's getting harder to tell the pets from the people in the modern American household, but it's not so hard to understand why. Animals, who operate on instinct and often supply the unconditional loyalty we all crave, impress us and provide us with solace from the ugly, stressful world. It's no wonder they've become such big business; they've even got their own cable network. This weekend at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium the cute and cuddly critters – as well as the not so cute and not so cuddly critters – will perform outrageous stunts as part of "Animal Intelligence Weekend." There will also be interactive exhibits and games for the cute and cuddly kids.
STEPH DEROSA Columnist
After spending a majority of last Saturday throwing expletives into the ears of Direct TV's customer service staff, I hope to reap the rewards this Saturday as DeRosa Manor finally becomes equipped with 400 hours of DVR space and all the mind-numbing reality shows I can handle. This will most likely effect my life in one of the following two ways: A rift will divide my faithful sidekick (Bandito Betty) and I apart due to her maddening jealousy over the fact that I can watch all my shows on East Coast time, OR I will never be able to get rid of her ass on my couch. Other than that I will be doin' The Puyallup, entertaining 3 drinks somewhere in Pierce County, and planning the demise of all Justin Bieber haircuts.
NIKKI TALOTTA Feature Writer
No more partying for this girl for at least a month. This weekend it's back to bustin ass at the bar, writing for this fine publication, hitting the gym and getting the 4-year-old ready for pre-school. That's right. Living the working moms' dream. Wait! I'm also going to see Lord Franzannian's Royal Olympian Spectacular Vaudeville Show.
KRIS BLONDIN Food/Wine Writer
I think dinner out with my lovely husband Dustin is in order Friday
night. Where? Not sure. Saturday, after major house cleaning,
Bollywood Prom at Sanford and Sons bitches! Dustin even plans to go
(can't believe it). Sunday, I will be in full-on recovery mode. Shhhh,
don't talk too loud. ...
JENNIFER JOHNSON: Lifestyle/Leisure Writer
Tonight, I'll pop in on James Hume's solo art show at Sandpiper Gallery then go to my college class (that's right, I'm a college student). Friday, I'll spend gearing up for the annual CARS fundraising and not-to-be missed event 'The Prom' at Sanford & Son Library held Saturday evening. The Bollywood theme is a scream. Noon on Saturday I've loaned myself out to help set-up for the South Downtown Block Party at the SideBar Bistro that evening from 5-8pm. I'll enjoy dinner with my boyfriend and other friends at said bistro and then hit the Prom Saturday to dance the night away. Weeeeeeeeeeeee!
REV. ADAM MCKINNEY Features Writer
Today, I'm attending the SOTA 10th Anniversary show. Haven't had a chance to see Makeup Monsters since they started playing again around here, so that'll be a nice treat. The rest of the weekend, I don't know. I might see a metal show. The other day, I saw a band that made my right ear ring for the rest of the night. I thought I might have been going deaf. Love that.
CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL: Theater Critic
Thanks to Lord Franzannian's Royal Olympian Spectacular and Hairspray, here are six things I'll see this weekend: A one-man band. At least one man in drag. A woman in drag. My steering wheel. My writing desk. Pasties. Oh, wait, that's seven things.
ALEC CLAYTON: Visual Arts Critic
Going to see Hairspray at Paradise Theatre in Gig Harbor.