THE LOWDOWN ON WHAT'S UP THIS WEEKEND >>>
WEATHER REPORTFriday: Afternoon rain, hi 64, lo 51
Saturday: Rain, hi 64, lo 57
Sunday: Rain, hi 59, lo 46
Beer! Lederhosen! Beer! Bratwurst! Beer! Yodeling! Beer! Yo-Yo Man! Beer! Oktoberfest Northwest has all of these fine things, but, most importantly, it has beer.
The official opening ceremony and Tapping of the Oktoberfest Firkin by the 2008 Festmaster will take place tonight at 6:15 p.m. Incoming 2010 Festmaster Roger Mowery will toast the entire crowd and then swing a mallet into the firkin (a large wooden keg), causing the Firkin of Oktoberfest beer to pour out to signify the official beginning of the 2010 Oktoberfest Northwest. Although, beer is flowing RIGHT NOW! Other event highlights include a large Biergarten entertainment hall with national and international German bands and entertainers, authentic German cuisine, the German Corner gift section, wiener dog races and the Hammerschlagen Tournament. And don't forget to wash all that German food down with ... well, you know, beer!
You know those times when you want to sound intelligent? They are being confounded by all those other times you play video games or stare at the wall. The time has come to expand your mind, my friend. So pick a topic - for simplicity and convenience's sake, let's say the Confucian perspectives on wisdom - and learn something about it. Go to Dr. Michael Kalton's "Ancient Wisdom and Contemporary Life" lecture this afternoon at the University of Washington Tacoma. Practice saying interesting things very casually, and then turn the television back on. Or, you know, develop and pursue a lifelong interest in wisdom. Whatever.
Did J.S. Bach's Fantasia in G Minor help to inspire Disney's landmark Fantasia? A quick trip to www.imdb.com left this possible connection unconfirmed, but if you have some time on your hands, you can do your own search to satisfy your curiosity. The Tacoma Concert Band will be performing Fantasia in G Major as part of their "Fantasia" that will also include Fantasia for Harp and Concert Band by James Bingham, Greensleeves: A Fantasia for Band by Robert Smith, The Sorcerer's Apprentice by Paul Dukas and I Found Fantasia at Lover's Package by Seymour Butts. Actually, We can't confirm the last piece so disregard it.
MATT DRISCOLL Editor and Fantasy Football Addict
After the madness of last weekend it might be a good time for a low-key two-day reprieve, but with the Tacoma Film Festival in full swing, and a Husky game to attend Saturday night (which will hopefully be A LOT more enjoyable than the last home Husky game - damn you, Marty Campbell and your Cornhuskers), it seems there'll be no rest for the weary. Also, another stray shopping cart just appeared in my neighborhood yesterday, so it'll be fun to see what happens with that.
PAUL SCHRAG Senior Contributor
I'm collapsing for two days.
NIKKI TALOTTA Features Writer
This girl is excited! After many long, laborious years of bartending weekend nights, I finally get a few months of Saturdays off! Thursday and Friday I will still serve Oly all their favorite drinks, but come Saturday ... Watch out! ... I'm gonna do all kinds of fun stuff like cruise around my house in PJs, watch some movies, maybe go to bed around midnight instead of 5 a.m., snuggle with my honey, and wake up early on a rainy Sunday morning with the family. I might even cook my kid's blueberry pancakes instead of yelling at them to be quiet because mommy needs more sleep.
KRIS BLONDIN Food/Wine Writer
I might be going to Spokane with friends to look at a vacation property. Otherwise, I was told I am on restriction. Don't ask.
JENNIFER JOHNSON: Lifestyle/Leisure Writer
Today will see me running three miles as fast as I can with local man-about-town Stevie D. followed by a yoga class, a noon seminar luncheon on how to live my life better and then homework in the afternoon. Most likely I'll attend the Purple Passion Fashion Show at Surreal tonight. Repeat run and yoga on Saturday morning and then I'm taking the rest of Saturday and Sunday to winterize my yard and house, 'cause man, did it get cold suddenly.
REV. ADAM MCKINNEY Features Writer
Tonight, I will be moving and sweating in all sorts of ungainly ways at the New Frontier's dance party, featuring Strength and Reporter. I missed their performance at Squeak and Squawk the first time around and was forced to live vicariously through pictures of happy friends with painted faces. I won't make the same mistake twice. Now, if I could just find my dancing shoes. ...
CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL: Theater Critic
I loved Harlequin's take on The Taming of the Shrew and have equally high hopes for Capitol Playhouse's production of Into the Woods. I'll also interview burlesque artist Lily Verlaine and try to keep Chris Cantrell away from that damn Goat in the Midnight Sun.
STEVE DUNKELBERGER Meat Market Correspondent
I will be spending the weekend with the kiddos, but will find time to take them to the set of Jesus4less, which is shooting a protest scene this weekend. My offspring wants a film credit.
ALEC CLAYTON: Visual Arts Critic
Oh no, another weekend. I'm going to make final corrections on the manuscript of my new novel, Reunion at the Wetside.