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

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Rain or snow showers, hi 44, lo 27

Saturday: Mostly sunny and chilly, hi 44, lo 32

Sunday: Chance of afternoon rain, hi 44, lo 31

>>> FRIDAY, FEB. 18: MAX, THE ANCIENT CRYSTAL SKULL

JoAnn Parks is making "Max, the Ancient Crystal Skull" available for an evening of public viewing and private meditation sessions at Crystal Voyage in Tacoma. The skull is said to be thousands of years old and one of 13 artifacts with mystical properties, including the ability to generate iffy action sequels. It's been featured in documentaries the world over, including appearances on A&E, the Discovery Channel, the Travel Channel and the BBC. Max was bequeathed to Ms. Parks by Lama Norbu, a Guatemalan healer. - Michael Swan

• Crystal Voyage, 7-9 p.m. $25, 2601 E. D St., Suite 201, Tacoma, 253.272.4367

>>> SATURDAY, FEB. 19: PAPER AIRPLANE FLIGHT SCHOOL

He was the smallest, the palest, the weakest. And on top of those devastating preteen setbacks, Sid Anderson, the most unfortunate boy in fourth grade, had to eat "special oranges" for lunch, which didn't exactly help his social standing at Oakbrook Elementary. Still, for all his cruel flaws, when it came to crafting paper airplanes, Anderson was a flat-out ace. He'd fold and crease those origami whiz bangs until they were aerodynamic works of art. And no matter who threw his winged beauties, Anderson's bombers would sail for miles and miles, hovering on the winds of recess like perforated seabirds. The schoolyard thugs would salute the airborne beauties with envy, paying proper respects to Anderson's art before pounding the crap outta him under the jungle gym. Oh well: I have a feeling that Anderson today is a wealthy commercial pilot somewhere east - and that he's passed his paper-plane talents down to his beautiful, popular children. Get in touch with your inner ace and let ‘em fly at the paper Airplane Flight School Saturday at the Olympic Flight Museum.  The event will promote aerospace education with a variety of hands-on activities including an aircraft model contest and, yes, paper airplane construction. — MS

• Olympic Flight Museum, 1-3:30 p.m., $5-$7, 7637-A Old Hwy. 99 SE, Olympia, 360.705.3925
  

>>> SUNDAY, FEB. 20: NORDIC FILM SERIES

President's Weekend could mean you have family functions to avoid. It also could mean all the usual out-of-town haunts will be packed. So ... now's a great time to get in touch with your Scandinavian roots. If you're one of the 5.3 percent of South Sounders who is of Scandinavian descent (OK, I made that up) - and if you're not, just pretend - get in touch with your roots and check out the Nordic Film Series at the Scandinavian Cultural Center.  Sunday, the series opens with the 2000 film The Bench. Go sit in a chair and watch The Bench. — MS

• Scandinavian Cultural Center, 2-4 p.m., Pacific Lutheran University, Park Avenue and South 122nd Street, Parkland, 253.535.7349.

>>> WHERE OUR STAFF IS GOING

NIKKI TALOTTA Features Writer
Besides working, I plan to slowly and evenly coat layers of gradual self tanning lotion all over my body. I will also make sure I have both the tops and bottoms to all my bikinis. Laying around thumbing through travel guides might be on the agenda, too. My hubby and I are taking our honeymoon, and I've got to prepare for our Hawaiian getaway. Life can be rough sometimes.

BRETT CHIHON Meat Market Correspondent/Features Writer
Since the Best of Oly party at the Broho is tonight, I'll probably be nursing a headache for most of Friday. But on Saturday I plan to get my legs moving and visit the Olympia Old-Time Music Festival going down at The Loft on Cherry. Old-timey music and dancing. Should be a good time.

CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL: Theater Critic
This is the weekend my shawty and I will celebrate love and pop culture. It kicks off with the Volcano's awesome Best of Oly party at the BroHo tonight. Then Friday, I'm cooking her a steak dinner, followed by a special dessert. Saturday, we're catching the double feature of Raiders of the Lost Ark and its shot-for-shot, kid-made doppelganger at SIFF. Life is good!

ALEC CLAYTON: Visual Arts Critic
Going to some kind of silly party at The Brotherhood in Oly tonight. Saturday, I'm headed to Seattle to see the play Brother Size at the Seattle Rep.

JENNIFER JOHNSON Food and Lifestyles Writer
I will spend the weekend doing yoga on the beach, visiting galleries in Lahaina, going to the whale festival and hopefully eating some freshly spit-roasted boar. Jealous? You should be, I'm in Maui. :)

JOANN VARNELL Theater Critic
After a no-plans-weekend that saw me play Florence Nightingale at home, I'm excited to have a little family vacation! We're going to enjoy the three day weekend by taking the train to Portland. We'll hit Powell's a couple times, Stumptown Roasters (at least daily), Kenny & Zukes and possibly put a bird on something before coming home to our fair city.

STEVE DUNKELBERGER Nightlife Correspondent
I'm taking the kiddos to tonight's Third Thursday ArtWalk. Saturday, after hitting the Tacoma Mall and the St. Mary's rummage sale, I'll check out the Tacoma Cobras to see how the team is shaping up. Sunday will bring church and jammy time with Netflix.

STEPH DEROSA Features Writer
Whomever coined the phrase "Summer Lovin'" is friggen' brilliant. Just about every damn child we know was born in the February/March time frame (right, Driscoll?).  We are absolutely inundated with birthday parties having RSVP'd "yes" to approximately two every weekend for the next few weeks.  To add, my birthday is next week while my husband's and daughter's are next month.  All these presents and parties are going to break the bank. That's it. I've decided everyone's getting soap on a rope from the dollar store. Lather up, cowboys.

JOE IZENMAN Theater and Music Writer
I was going to say that I had absolutely nothing to do but go beachcombing and eat pasta, but then I remembered this wedding that I keep forgetting I'm going to on Saturday. Hopefully I don't forget on Saturday. ...

REV. ADAM MCKINNEY Features Writer
My weekend will likely be spent holed up in my house, finishing my contributions to next week's 2011 Music Issue for the paper.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound