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

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Most sunny, hi 72, lo 51

Saturday: Sunny, hi 81, lo 54

Sunday: Iphone says still sunny, hi 84, lo 54

>>> SEPT. 2-4: OLYMPIA HARBOR DAYS

The Volcano's "Weekend Hustle" is synonymous with fun, so there's no way we would ever let Olympia's Harbor Days festival pass without trumpeting it. Why? Because we love the hell out of some tugboats. And if there's one thing Oly Harbor Days is synonymous with, it's tugboats. And history. And fun. Is there another way we could use the word synonymous in this blurb? Probably. But why push our luck. The important thing is that you head down to Oly's waterfront Friday, Saturday and/or Sunday and get in on a late-summer rite of passage. Of particular interest are the annual tugboat races, which go down Sunday at noon.

• Percival Landing & Port Plaza, 5-8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday, free, 222 Columbia St. NW, Olympia, harbordays.com

>>> FRIDAY, SEPT. 2: 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE

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 Theater stage three weeks starting this Friday. 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.

• Tacoma Little Theatre, through Sept. 26, $16.50-$26.50, 7:30 p.m. Friday -Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, 210 N. I Street, Tacoma, 253.272.2481

>>> SEPT. 3-5: GET OUT OF THE RUT WEEKEND

Ahhh yeah! It's that time of year! Time for getting it on! That's why Northwest Trek invites you to its "Get Out of the Rut Weekend," your chance to play peeping Tom on the breeding habits of moose, elk, deer and even sheep. You see, the "rut," refers to the breeding habits of hooved animals - and we all know hooved animals are the hottest of all! According to hype, "Watch and listen as they grunt, snort, bugle and spar. From wild romance to turbulent action, you won't want to miss this three-day kickoff to the most dramatic time of year at Northwest Trek." So hot.

• Northwest Trek, 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m., $9-$18, 2 and under free, Get Out of the Rut Weekend activities free with admission, 11610 Trek Dr E, Eatonville, nwtrek.org

>>> SATURDAY, SEPT. 3: PADDLES & PINTS

You've seen the Weekly Volcano's cover story this week. You know this weekend brings the third annual Tacoma Craft Beer Festival. Your mouth is already watering at the thought of it. But even better - this year you have an opportunity to do a little paddling before you pound the brews. In conjunction with Metro Parks, this Saturday at 10 a.m. the Paddles & Pints event offers kayak and beer enthusiasts of all skill levels the chance to do a little outdoor recreating before settling in at the Craft Beer Fest for a day full of awesome suds. Taking off at 10 a.m. from the Thea Foss boat launch, according to hype the paddling will offer, "a view of the city skyline while kayaking past the glass Museum and the marinas. ... Afterward  arrive at the Tacoma Craft Beer Festival to enjoy local craft beer, food and entertainment." Perfect pairing.

• Thea Foss boat launch, 10 a.m. $50 with kayak rental, $30 without, pre-registration required, 253.594.7847

>>> WHERE OUR STAFF IS GOING

NIKKI TALOTTA Features Writer
It's Labor Day weekend, Biotch! There's a three-day live music event out in Elma I might check out - called Impressive Vibrations Tour, and dubbed "Woodstock of Olympia." There's also this private house party/concert on Monday out on the Sound that sounds rad. Oh yeah ... It's also my two-year-old's birthday party, so chocolate cake and make-believe dinosaurs are also in the cards.

REV. ADAM MCKINNEY Music and Film Writer
Friday, I'll be catching a last-minute show at The New Frontier with my favorite local band that I've never been able to cover: Derek Kelley and the Speedwobbles. (One of these days I'll be able to write about you, Speedwobbles! You will rue the day!) The rest of my weekend will be spent trying to get up the nerve to go to Bumbershoot. Lots of great comedy shows. I recommend the Comedy Bang Bang podcast tapings with Scott Aukerman and Paul F. Tompkins. Very funny people.

ALEC CLAYTON Volcano Visual Arts Critic
I'm going to learn how to spell and do lots of other fun stuff at the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Tacoma Little Theatre. Plus, I'm going to write the next chapter in the next great American novel.

JENNIFER JOHNSON Food and Lifestyles Writer
Saturday: whitewater rafting, rodeo, dancing in cowboy boots. Sunday after church, it's my mother-lovin' birthday barbeque, shindig, potluck, soiree! I'm sure something will get lit on fire. Hopefully it isn't me this year.

JOANN VARNELL Theater Critic
Labor Day weekend = first weekend after the start of school. I'd like to say that I'll be loafing, but I'll probably spend some time thinking about lesson planning. The rest of the time will be spent hanging out with my little son and planning out his school day meals. Oh, on Sunday I'll be playing music at church. 

MATT DRISCOLL Editor
I'll be swinging by the Northwest Convergence Zone podcast Sunday to talk sports with Darrell and the gang. I'm sure Voxy can't wait. Fantasy football will no doubt come up. The rest of my weekend is a complete mystery at this point, even to me. Although I do know I'll be watching the kids for a good chunk of it while my uber-smart wife attends the annual American Political Science Association annual conference in Seattle.

CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL: Theater Critic
Our friends Chris and Heather are getting married (at long last), so we'll be merrily toasting their union.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

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