FRIDAY, SEPT. 2, 2011 >>>

1. No good Tacoman worth their salt passes up a chance at a "private party," even if it's just being billed as such for legal reasons. More importantly, no good Tacoman wastes an opportunity to catch outdoor late-summer barbecue action backed by bands Hands of Toil, Weird Tigers (members of Blanco Bronco and Durango 95) and special guests (READ: Pioneers West, who may be leaving on tour soon, according to hype). It's just a no-brainier. Luckily, today The New Frontier Lounge is getting into the private party business, hosting all the aforementioned awesomeness on an outdoor stage. Are you invited? Of course you are. It may be private, but anyone over the age of 21 is encouraged to come out and have fun. Dig into some barbecue, your new favorite band Weird Tigers, and all the local goodness that makes this town bearable. But be warned: It's BYOB. 

2. A few weeks ago we highly recommended a play about stamps (Mauritius). This week, we're back at it, throwing our weight behind The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, a Tony award-winning musical taking to the Tacoma Little Theatre stage three weeks starting tonight. Billed as, "tender and sardonic," not to mention "hilarious," and irreverent," The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, directed by Suzy Willhoft, should be totally excellent. Excellent: e-x-c-e-l-l-e-n-t. Excellent.

3. Ocho Pies returns to the Waterstreet Café tonight at 7 p.m., in celebration of the final days of summer. Yeah. Summer. That's a good one. But even though the weather has disappointed this year, Connie Bunyer, Steve Luceno, Paul Hjelm and Michael Olson - collectively Ocho Pies - most certainly won't.

4. Ben and Ted Fuller take time away from their band China Davis to perform tonight at The Spar in Olympia. The action starts at 8 p.m.

5. Comedian Sharon Lacey will deliver the laughs tonight at Tacoma's Grit City Comedy Club, starting at 9 p.m.

LINK: Arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music tonight in the South Sound