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

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Rain, hi 55, lo 46

Saturday: Rain, hi 53, lo 43

Sunday: More rain, hi 55, lo 43

>>> FRIDAY, MAY 6: LOCAL THEATER BONANZA

Holy guacamole! This weekend is, like, totally stacked when it comes to local theater. Tacoma Little Theatre has Always, Patsy Cline (reviewed by Joann Varnell here). Harlequin's Unexpected Tenderness, by theatre heavyweight Israel Horovitz, opens Thursday. Tacoma Musical Playhouse offers Hello Dolly. Prodigal Sun in Olympia pushes out Amy's View. And Fame opens this week at Capital Playhouse.

>>> FRIDAY, MAY 6: TIM CONWAY & FRIENDS

Making fun of little people is funny. Everyone knows it. Well, except for little people that is. Comedian Tim Conway sure as hell knows it. Crap, dude probably made a small As-Seen-On-TV fortune hocking those Dorf videos back in the day. While Conway's official bio relies heavily on his 11-year stint on the Carol Burnett Show and six Emmy's, it's those Dorf videos we'll always blame him for. Friday, Tim Conway and Friends make their way to the Pantages Theater.

• Pantages Theater, 7:30 p.m., $42-$89, 901 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.591.5890

>>> FRIDAY, MAY 6: RETROSPECT

You were big in the ‘80s. Not, like, fat ... like a big deal. You were boss. Luckily, the annual Urban Arts Festival is approaching, meaning the season is upon us for Urban Arts Festival fundraisers - like this Friday's at The Space, being referred to as Retrospect. For those that need clarification, the subtitle to Retrospect is "A Totally ‘80s NEW WAVE Dance Fundraiser." Get it? You should ... you were big in the ‘80s.

• The Space, 7:30 p.m., $10, 729 Court C, Tacoma, tacomaurbanart.com

>>> SATURDAY, MAY 7: FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 

On the first Saturday of every May since 2002, comic book stores across North America have joined with every publisher they can find to give away comic books - it's called Free Comic Book Day. Major operators like Marvel, DC and Disney provide stacks of recognizable characters, from Spider-Man to Mickey Mouse, while small independent publishers like Aspen, Oni and Top Shelf take the opportunity to draw some much-needed attention to themselves.According to local comic peddler John Munn, "There is literally something for everyone, young and old, whether it's your first comic ever or your four thousandth." Free Comic Book Day will be celebrated at local comic book stores all over the area. Check our story for more details.

>>> SATURDAY, MAY 7: DAUBING WITH THE DYDD

Ever wanted to play bingo with the Dockyard Derby Dames, Tacoma's rough-and-tumble roller derby league? Seriously? You've actually said to yourself, "I'd like to play bingo with the Dames?" Well, OK then ... Saturday is your chance. Join the DYDD at Muckelshoot Bingo from 9:30 p.m. - 2 a.m. for the appropriately titled "Daubing with the Dockyard Derby Dames." Get your picture taken with the Dames, enjoy a night of music, fun, and party lights according to hype, and possibly walk away a big winner. It's a total win-win-win.

• Muckelshoot Bingo, 9:30 p.m. - 2 a.m., $10 for ten games, 2117 Auburn Way South, Auburn, dockyardderbydames.com

>>> SATURDAY, MAY 7: THE TACOMA WINE CLASSIC

The Tacoma Wine Classic is billed as the "premiere wine event in the South Sound region." While that's pretty prestigious stuff, it's probably not even the best part. The BEST PART is the annual event, which features some of the grandest food and drink available, supports Tacoma Community College's core mission of making higher education more readily available in our community. Money raised through the Tacoma Wine Classic go to things like scholarships, student support, faculty development, library acquisitions, childcare for student parents and worker retraining. It's seriously important stuff. Go here for ticket information.

• LeMay Family Collection Foundation at Marymount Event Center, 5:30 - 10:30 p.m., 325 152nd St E, Tacoma, 253.272.2336

>>> WHERE OUR STAFF IS GOING

NIKKI TALOTTA Features Writer
This weekend calls for working the bar, pulling weeds and mopping floors, and hopefully a day of breakfast in bed, flowers, baths, and not having to change one diaper.

CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL: Theater Critic
I will be in theater heaven or hell, depending on your perspective, as I have four shows to see and review. I also have two Mother's Days to celebrate. And, since I'm getting married in three weeks, I should probably hit the gym a few more times. I look too much like a writer.

MATT DRISCOLL: Editor
The family is finally getting settled in to our new Hilltop palace, so the seemingly endless battle to get out of boxes is finally coming to an end. There's a Costco trip on tap this weekend, certainly, and the back door needs weather stripping. Both of those activities will, no doubt, be awesome. I'll also spend some time gazing at the fine photography provided by Jason Ganwich for this week's Weekly Volcano Summer Guide, which hit streets today. It's another great special section - and, in addition to the photos - the words ain't bad either.

JOANN VARNELL Theater Critic
Hopefully the weather will be nice and I will forget about my looming stack of grading. On Sunday I will end every request with the phrase, "because it's Mother's Day."  

REV. ADAM MCKINNEY Music Writer
This weekend, I will be contemplating the probably too harsh review I gave to Thor. Beyond that, I will be contemplating the rainbow bridge that is featured in Thor, and which I failed to mention in my review. Seriously, guys, it sparkly.

ALEC CLAYTON Visual Arts Critic
Too much stuff. Friday night Unexpected Tenderness at Harlequin; Saturday working the PFLAG Booth at the Second Hand Safari Fleamarket; Saturday night Hello Dolly at Tacoma Musical Playhouse; Sunday PFLAG-Olympia meeting.

JENNIFER JOHNSON Food and Lifestyles Writer 
Tatanka Take-Out and Pt. Defiance on Friday. Start the day with yoga then lunch at Northern Pacific Coffee Company on Garfield Saturday, followed by potting plants and an afternoon bike ride. Sunday is all about church and Mothers Day.

STEVE DUNKELBERGER Meat Market Photographer
The weekend started early last night at the Temple Theater for the Kent Morrill memorial concert. Then, I'll be seeing Hello Dolly at TMP this weekend and playing some ukulele.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

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