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

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Drizzle, hi 46, lo 40

Saturday: Drizzle (part deux), hi 47, lo 35

Sunday: Partially sunny, partially less depressing, hi 46, lo 34

>>> MARCH 3-6: SEWING & STICHERY EXPO

Well holy crap. Honestly, we see an event title like "Sewing & Stichery EXPO" and our eyes instantly glaze over. Sounds like about 13 old ladies in a double wide crocheting death certificates, right? Wrong. Completely false. As it turns out, the Sewing & Stichery EXPO overtaking the Puyallup Fair and Events Center this weekend is freaking gigantic -- "the nation's largest event for sewing enthusiasts," according to hype. Apparently, "The Expo is the foremost venue for the home sewing industry attracting leading authorities including Nancy Zieman, Mary Mulari, Ricky Tims, and Pati Palmer." Do we have any clue who those people are? Of course not. But they sound important. And we're not in the home sewing industry. Maybe, just maybe, after this weekend we will be ...

• Puyallup Fair & Events Center, $10-$12, seminar prices vary, 110 Ninth Ave. SW, Puyallup, sewexpo.com]
  

>>> SATURDAY, MARCH 5: HELL'S BELLES

Mandy Reed (bass guitar), Adrian Conner (lead guitar), Lisa Brisbois (rhythm guitar), Laura D. (drums) and Amber Saxon (lead vocals) currently make up this balls-to-the-wall, all-girl rock-hard revue. I urge you to check out their show tonight at Hell's Kitchen in Tacoma. Breasts, beer and head-bangin' - all of life's pleasures in one place. - Steph DeRosa

• Hell's Kitchen, 9 p.m., $12-$15, 928 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003

>>> SUNDAY, MARCH 6:HILLSTOMP

Since my first experience with Portland band Hillstomp, I can't help but notice there's not much difference between that bearded duo and my baby-faced toddler. Do they both sing with wild abandon? Yep. Are they dirty and loud? Uh-huh. Do they both bang on cans and buckets and somehow produce a unique, harmonious chunk of sound? You bet. Swampy, electric and bluesy, with a bad-ass junkyard feel, Hillstomp has it.  — Nikki Talotta

• The Spar, 8-11 p.m., NC, 2121 North 30th St., Tacoma, 253.627.8215

>>> WHERE OUR STAFF IS GOING

MATT DRISCOLL Editor
I'll be helping see the Nightgowns off to SXSW Saturday at the New Frontier, which -- on the off chance the hype we've thrown at this event hasn't already been too much for good taste -- should be totally kick ass. I specifically assigned Meat Market correspondent Brett Cihon to show up as well -- mainly so I'll have someone to stand next to (thus making me look like less of a douche).

BRETT CHIHON Meat Market Correspondent/Features Writer
On Saturday I'm cruising over to the New Frontier to give my love to the Nightgowns, Jason Baxter and The Rev. before they all head down to SXSW. Lucky bastards, headed to Texas for a week of boozing and music. I'm sure it sounds more fun than it really is.

CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL: Theater Critic
I'm seeing My Name Is Asher Lev at Lakewood Playhouse this weekend, as I fully intended to do last weekend. This weekend is mostly devoted to wedding plans, as my betrothed and I look for a suitable indoor-outdoor location to get hitched in rainy May.

ALEC CLAYTON: Visual Arts Critic
I'm gonna hustle up to Tacoma to see A Flea in Her Ear at Tacoma Little Theatre.

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JOANN VARNELL Theater Critic
My weekend starts today as I have completed another year of life. Tomorrow night I'll continue to celebrate at the Drew Grow and the Pastors Wives at Columbia City Theatre. Saturday I'll take easy and then catch the matinee of A Flea In Her Ear at the Tacoma Little Theatre on Sunday.

STEVE DUNKELBERGER Nightlife Correspondent
Kiddo time, A Flea In Her Ear, geocaching and other random stuff.

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JOE IZENMAN Theater and Music Writer
Comics, comics, comics. And more comics. This weekend is Emerald City Comic Con at the Seattle Convention Center. Nerds shall abound, and I shall be one of them. I'm not going out of my way to meet William Shatner, though. So there.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

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