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

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Cloudy, hi 51, lo 41

Saturday: Rain, hi 49, lo 42

Sunday: Rather cloudy, rain possible, hi 49, lo 44

>>> MARCH 11 - 12: Jordan Family Circus

The circus is a dying art - and the circus-lifer is a dying breed. Bearded ladies just don't go as far as they once did. Sure, someday there may be an iPhone app replicating the experience only achieved by rings of fire, balancing acts, shitty peanuts and captive wild animals. But what fun will that be? This weekend the Jordan Family Circus sets up its tents at the Puyallup Fairgrounds, more than ready to stick their entire head in a wild beast's mouth for nothing more than your applause ... and a small entrance fee. See it while you still can.

• Puyallup Fairgrounds - Paulhamus Arena, $16 Adult, $12 Children 3-12, 110 Ninth Ave. SW, Tacoma, thejordanworldcircus.com]

>>> SATURDAY, MARCH 12: The Great Leprechaun Hunt

The Tacoma Mob Riders are at it again -- planning another booze fueled bicycle cruise for Tacoma's dedicated peddlers this weekend. Starting off at everyone's favorite beer and hot dog destination, The Red Hot (because nothing says, "Let's go excercise!" like a stomach full of hot dogs and beer), The Great Leprechaun Hunt Bicylce Booze Cruz will kick off at 7 p.m. and offer riders a chance to mingle, drink, ride and repeat -- with this time of year's obligatory Irish green thrown in for good measure.

• Starts at The Red Hot, 7 p.m., free, 2914 Sixth Ave.., Tacoma, 253.779.0229

>>> SUNDAY, MARCH 13: Jim Lynch & Stephanie Kallos

Weekly Volcano readers recently named Jim Lynch "Best Writer" in our 2011 Best of Olympia issue. Taking nothing away from those who cast votes, they were really just following the overall trend. Jim Lynch is getting props from high and low, and they're all well deserved. His novels, 2006's The Highest Tide, and the more recent (and most awesome) Border Songs have both been gushed over by book critic types from across the land. Sunday, Lynch and fellow author Stephanie Kallos, who spent 20 years in the theater business before turning her attention to writing, will be at the Tacoma Art Museum to talk about how the Northwest has inspirted their work -- part of the Literacy Month Author Series.

• Tacoma Art Museum, 2 p.m., $10, 1701 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.4258.

>>> WHERE OUR STAFF IS GOING

NIKKI TALOTTA Features Writer
Well, I'm back at work this weekend, so I'm sure I'll be hearing about all the great shows I'm missing. But no bother, I'll be happy shaking it behind the bar, where all kinds of fun things happen. (Check out my Spew Blog, "Behind Bars" for more on that.) Anyway, what's really got me shaking is the nerve-racking wait time to see if an offer we put on a new house goes through! Geez - big things for Volcano staff lately, engagements, babies, new houses - there must be something in the paycheck ink.

MATT DRISCOLL Editor
For the first weekend in as long as I can remember we don't have a toddler birthday party to attend this weekend, so I'll probably ... Wait. Crap. My wife just texted. Guess we got invited to a toddler birthday party. So there you go ...

BRETT CHIHON Meat Market Correspondent/Features Writer
I have my sights set on the Matador tequila bar for Friday night, which means I've penciled in a headache for Saturday morning.

CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL: Theater Critic
Between rounds of wedding plans, I'll be reviewing Love, Sex, and the IRS at OLT and The Floating World at PLU. Best of all, I get to watch hostile E.T.s kick the crap out of my home town in Battle: Los Angeles. Go, Team Alien!

ALEC CLAYTON: Visual Arts Critic
More theater shit. Going to see Love, Sex and the IRS at Olympia Little Theatre. And, if you want to fudge on the definition of weekend, I'm going to see the high school art exhibit at South Puget Sound Community College to review it for this fine rag (actually going this afternoon).

JOANN VARNELL Theater Critic
This weekend (hopefully), I will be crafty and make curtains for my son's room in anticipation of transitioning him to spend nights in there. Other than that, I got nothin'.

STEVE DUNKELBERGER Nightlife Correspondent
I'm headed to the Tacoma Opera then Toxic 253 Roller Derby, Lenten stuff and maybe start planting my pea patch.

JOE IZENMAN Theater and Music Writer
With the missus away for her hometown bridal shower, it's 100% MAXIMUM PARTY TIME at Casa Izenman. Featuring such exciting party activities as playing Settlers of Catan, DnD character creation, maybe a chess game or two, and a bike ride to the final monthly off-season Proctor Farmer's Market. NEWS FLASH: I am a huge nerd.

REV. ADAM MCKINNEY Features Writer
In between going to Santee's show on Friday and all of the other totally fun things I'm doing this weekend, I will be scrambling to figure out last-minute accommodations for my trip down to SXSW. If there are any non-serial-killers out there reading this, I will gladly stay at your house for the days of the 14th-16th or the 20th-22nd.

JENNIFER JOHNSON Food and Lifestyles Writer
The DoDo Show at Mad Hat Tea Friday evening. Volunteering at the Empowerment Center Saturday morning. Then attending the vocal masterworks concert at Tacoma Community College Saturday night. Sunday church service followed by potluck dinner with friends.

RON SWARNER Publisher
Friday night I'm hitting MOVE! #18, followed by embarrassing ass shaking during Rare Groove night at The Tempest. Sunday afternoon I'll clean up for the Tacoma Opera. The remaining time gaps will be filled with thick and thin crust research for our Tournament of Pizza, which begins March 17.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

Filed under: All ages, Arts, Comedy, Culture, Events, Olympia, Tacoma, SXSW, Food & Drink, Theater, The Weekend Hustle,