FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 20011 >>>

1. The Monster Truck Show rolls into the Puyallup Spring Fair bringing with it some 30 tons of flying truck. You know the basic idea here - overgrown toys flying over dirt and crushing old junked sedans. The pit party runs 4-6 p.m., followed by the 8 p.m. battle.

2. The Post Pop/Pop Art Exhibition, put on by The Gallery at Tacoma Community College and gallery coordinator Jennifer Olson-Rudenko, is a hell of an idea. The exhibit, which is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., is a collection of submissions - from professional artists and local school children alike - celebrating the time-honored practice of co-opting commercial art for "high art" purposes. Read Alec Clayton's review of the show here.

3. Rick Lawson says that after returning home from combat duty in Balad, Iraq in 2004-2005 he had a hard time answering questions from friends about what the experience had been like. He took a humanities course at Western Washington University in which they studied the 11th century Bayeux Tapesty, which portrayed the Battle of Hastings. That study was the inspiration for his War Experience Project on display at 906 Broadway as part of Spaceworks Tacoma. Lawson holds an open house for the show from 3-8 p.m.

4. In the tradition of barrio fiestas in the Philippines, Saint Martin's University invites the public to share in the celebration of its second annual Barrio Fiesta at 5 p.m. Expect Filipino heritage through song, dance and a dinner featuring a traditional menu.

5. The Backstage Bar & Grill on Tacoma's Sixth Avenue hosts a Bikers Against Child Abuse benefit featuring the Hollywood Allstarz beginning at 9 p.m. Expect a raffle and drink specials.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Concerts go on sale today

LINK: Movies open today