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

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Partly sunny, hi 57, lo 36

Saturday: Sunny, hi 67, lo 43

Sunday: Chance of rain, hi 54, lo 45

>>> FRIDAY, APRIL 22: Artifakt

Well hot shit. The regular art-meets-music-meets-socializing-meets-(usually) booze phenomenon that is Artifakt has finally made it to Hell's Kitchen - throwing some flames on the show flyer for good measure. Those who know art in this town know about Artifakt and the cats behind it, so it should come as no surprise that Friday's Artifakt get-together at Hell's Kitchen will be a total who's who of the T-Town arts scene. Even better, expect performances from the Gritty City Sirens burlesque troop, music from Pioneers West, Elbow Coulee, Stoned Evergreen Traveler and DJ Slow, live body art and featured artists Laura Eklund, James Hume, James Tucker and Julie Luke. Tacoma is an arts town. Be a part of it. 

• Hell's Kitchen, with Pioneers West, Elbow Coulee, Stoned Evergreen Traveler, DJ Slow, 8 p.m., $5, 928 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003

>>> APRIL 22- MAY 14: Sloth

Aaron Schmookler, director of Gold From Straw's Sloth, which opens Friday, says, "Scripts are notoriously difficult to read, laborious even ... Sloth was a page-turner on the first read. ... While (technical) challenges are things we've certainly wrested with, we trust the story to carry even where our technical solutions only hint at the play's events." Since the play is a comedy about a retired firefighter, it'd be easy to interpret this cynically as, "I hate reading plays, and we can't afford awesome fire scenes anyway." Luckily, we're fond of Schmookler, so we're confident his band of theatrical upstarts will bring it hardcore.

• Theatre on the Square, through May 15, $23-$26, 901 Broadway, Tacoma, 800.291.7593

>>> SATURDAY, APRIL 23: Jane Monheit

For those with an affection for current jazz, it doesn't get much better than singer Jane Monheit, scheduled to perform at the Rialto in Tacoma Saturday. There's also a free pre-show lecture starting at 6:30 p.m. covering "Fostering the Next Generation of Jazz Masters," with local jazz artist Patrice O'Neill. Basically, it's a whole evening dedicated to jazz -- which sounds like a solid way to spend a Saturday. Monheit has been described as, "an extraordinarily gifted jazz vocalist whose sincere and romantic interpretations of songs has made her a favorite in both the jazz and cabaret worlds.

• Rialto Theater, 7:30 p.m., free pre-show lecture 6:30 p.m., $39-$49 $25, 901 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.591.2013

>>> SATURDAY, APRIL 23: Rainbows Over Tacoma

Tacoma PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) hosts Rainbows Over Tacoma 2011 this Saturday at the Washington State History Museum. With entertainment from Kim Archer, Sylvia O'Stayformore, the Seattle Women Chorus' Sensible Shoes and Oasis Youth, expect an evening full of music and smiles - all for a good cause. Entertainment runs from 7 - 9 p.m., but stop by the museum early, starting at 6 p.m., to tour the exhibits before the show.

• Washington State History Museum, 6-9 p.m., $25, 1911 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, brownpapertickets.com

>>> WHERE OUR STAFF IS GOING

NIKKI TALOTTA Features Writer
This weekend is going to be a crazy mix of bartending, moving, Artswalking, more moving, Easter egg hunting, and even more moving.  Hope I get to sleep in on Monday.

Joe Izenman Theater and Music Writer
It may startle you to learn that this weekend I am actually doing some work for the Weekly Volcano. You know, instead of just writing a Hustle entry not quite every week. Lakewood Playhouse's Lion In Winter and Gold From Straw's Sloth both open this weekend, so you'll find me at one theatre or another for most of the weekend, when I'm not taking advantage of the sexy awesome weather by cycling, grilling, and collecting driftwood.

BRETT CHIHON Meat Market Correspondent/Features Writer/Rainiers Dude
Editor Matt Driscoll and I will be playing a drinking game that involves chugging a beer every time the Rainiers pitching staff gives up a hit. Yesterday they gave up 16. This should be fun.

CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL: Theater Critic
I'm seeing Riot to Follow's production of Eurydice on Monday. On Saturday, my fiancee and I are compiling the guest list for our reception in September...so this would be an excellent week to be awesome to us.

MATT DRISCOLL: Editor
Everything Brett Cihon says is a lie. He's actually in France. Trust me. Plus, I don't need the Rainiers pitching staff to give up hits to get me to drink ... I've got the drinking covered. Don't you worry about me ...

JOANN VARNELL Theater Critic
Cloth diapering, 9 a.m. at Best Loved Babies on 12th and Proctor-ish. I, my cutie little son and his cutie little bum will be participating in an attempt to get into the Guinness Book of World Records for the most cloth diapers changed at once. Sunday I'll be singing at Urban Grace's Easter Service at 10:30 a.m.

REV. ADAM MCKINNEY Music Writer
This weekend, after turning in an application on National Hiring Day, I'll be waiting by the phone for a response from McDonald's.

JENNIFER JOHNSON Food and Fitness Writer
Dinner and dancing Friday night. Farmers Market in Gig Harbor Saturday morning before stopping off at a yard sale or two then Sonja's clothing shop on North 21st followed by dinner with friends. Easter Sunday I'll attend church and a special evening program marking the resurrection of Christ.

ALEC CLAYTON Visual Arts Critic
Saturday we're going to some place near Bothell to be filmed for a PFLAG public service announcement. Sunday I'm going to see "Lion in Winter" at Lakewood Playhouse.

STEVE DUNKELBERGER Meat Market Photographer
Artifakt,roller derby and ukulele at the Jive with Baby Gramps.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

Filed under: All ages, Arts, Comedy, Community, Culture, Holidays, Food & Drink, Music, Tacoma, Olympia, The Weekend Hustle,