THE LOWDOWN ON WHAT'S UP THIS WEEKEND >>>
WEATHER REPORTFriday: Partly cloudy, hi 70, lo 52
Saturday: Partly cloudy, hi 65, lo 49
Sunday: Chance of rain 20 percent, hi 63, lo 52
There are two kinds of people: Greeks, and those who wish they were Greek, who attend the Greek Festival. Or those who are just in the mood for delicious Mediterranean delicacies, good coffee and big Greek family hospitality. The festival offers an authentic experience of fabulous Greek traditions. The event's food alone has been given many kudos (Greek root: kud, meaning glory, fame) for its gyros, baklava and dolmathes. With your coffee, beer or wine in hand, get in line for a plate of tyropitakia (light and flaky warm cheese pies) and snag a seat in front of the main stage to watch performances of traditional folk dancing by the St. Nicholas dancers. Stroll the scene. For those suffering from anthropophobia (Greek roots: anthropos, man plus phobos, fear) or who generally dislike large crowds, you might want to stay away from the giant communal dining tables.
The Speakeasy Arts Cooperative hosts a circus event tonight. There will be bands, DJs, circus performers, vendors and other live entertainment. From sultry to avant garde - this will be a circus like no other.
Eighteen local Pierce County farms will take part in a joint vision brought to you by the WSU Extension, Pierce County Conservation District and Cascade Harvest Coalition: the HarvestFest Farm Tour. Expect farm tours (of course), chef demos, wine tasting, hayrides, corn mazes and all the like – in addition to plenty of learning. Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., tour local farms from the Puyallup Valley to Orting and beyond. Farms new to the Pierce County tour this year include Picha Farms in P-Town, Crying Rock Farms and Little Eorthe Farm in Orting, and Blue Willow Lavender Farm on the Key Peninsula.
MATT DRISCOLL Editor and Life Coach
It didn't take long while putting this week's paper together to realize the coming weekend is one of the busiest in recent memory. With the 253Heart Music and Arts Festival, the Tacoma Craft Beer Festival, Olympia Arts Walk, the second anniversary of The New Frontier Lounge and about a zillion other things scheduled to go down, it's tough to know where to start. What I do know, however, is my daughter has a birthday party to attend Sunday morning at 11:30 a.m., and the parents organizing this thing obviously didn't take into account that Sundays are sacred around the Driscoll household, saved for football and shouting expletives at the TV while the Broncos find new and exciting ways to lose football games (unless they're playing the Seahawks!). I guess what I'm saying (especially since the Bronco game kicks off at 10 a.m.) is I might be skipping some toddler's birthday party this weekend. I apologize to said toddler in advance. Priorities.
NIKKI TALOTTA Features Writer
The Melvins show Wednesday seemed to be the perfect segue into this weekend: Full throttle! Last night with a full house at the bar, with a DJ and with all the kids back in school, I made many a gin and tonic. Tonight will be an evening of art and entertainment at Oly Arts Walk, followed by another night of drink-slingin'. Saturday will be Shelton Oyster Fest and Sunday will hopefully be some TLC for the garden. Love it!
KRIS BLONDIN Food/Wine Writer
Heading to the lake to pick huckleberries and hunt for mushrooms. Large quantities of food and adult beverages will be consumed.
JENNIFER JOHNSON: Lifestyle/Leisure Writer
Running a 5K Saturday morning, garden work in the afternoon. Hoping the weather guessers are right and it will be warm. Saturday evening I'll take a walk over to Greek Fest for some grubbing dinner and watching traditional dancers twirl it up on the stage before going to Tempest to tear it up to DJs dAb, Bilori and Chris Savenetti at 9:30 p.m.
REV. ADAM MCKINNEY Features Writer
This weekend is a little tough to navigate, music-wise, what with the festival and anniversaries and malt liquor celebrations. ... So. Friday, I'm heading to The New Frontier for their 2nd Anniversary proper. I haven't seen Friskey in a couple years, so I don't want to miss that. Saturday, I'm going to need to go to Maltoberfest. Tradition. Sunday, I'm all about the hootenanny at the New Frontier, featuring Swampy Draws and a performance from NF owner, Neil Harris. Sprinkled throughout the weekend will be visits to the 253Heart Music Fest, as they conveniently have early shows. Phew.
CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL: Theater Critic
I'm seeing Olympia Family Theater's A Year with Frog and Toad, so perhaps I'll learn the difference between the two. Also, Edward Albee's The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? opens at the Midnight Sun, which I gather is some sort of petting zoo.
ALEC CLAYTON: Visual Arts Critic
I hear ya Christian. More theater as usual for me too. Maybe I'll see you at the The Goat or Who is Sylvia show.