THE LOWDOWN ON WHAT'S UP THIS WEEKEND >>>
WEATHER REPORTFriday: Mostly cloudy, hi 44, lo 38
Saturday: Rain, hi 50, lo 43
Sunday: Rain, hi 50, lo 36
>>> FRIDAY, NOV. 25-MONDAY, JAN. 2: FRANCISCAN POLAR PLAZA
How do you escape the pressures of the holidays, like, really quickly? Bundle up, drop your packages in the trunk, pinch your cheeks until they glow and strap on a pair of silver skates, Hans Brinker, for a glide across the frozen expanse at Tollefson Plaza. The Franciscan Polar Plaza, located on the corner of Pacific Avenue and South 17th Street. The covered outdoor rink is about half the size of a hockey rink. It will have real ice and hold about 150 skaters at a time. Oh, if you need a tree, grab one at the neighboring Two Five Trees.
>>> FRIDAY, NOV. 25: ZOOLIGHTS
You're sick and tired of driving through the neighborhood looking at the homes of people who think they deserve an award for their light displays. You deserve to take a night to go see ZooLights. Billed as the region's biggest walk-through light show, ZooLights includes animated light sculptures, live entertainment, snacks, animal encounters, and the Paul Titus Carousel. While enjoying your stroll with a cup of hot chocolate, be thankful you're not in charge of this holiday light display.
>>> FRIDAY, NOV. 25: LELAVISION
Remember when you used to dress your dolls up and make them act out scenes from Footloose? There they were all lined up on the bed, and G.I. Joe with the Kung Fu grip was causing trouble and Barbie was fighting with Cabbage Patch while their passive-aggressive little stuffed animal children hid their eyes. Yep, you've always been strange. But the point of this is you're still a fan of physical agility and humor. Seattle's Lelavision - the troupe that combines Cirque de Soleil and Stomp, and then adds its own unique vision for a humorous, musical, theatrical and dance performance unlike any other - returns to the Museum of Glass. Catch their "Physical Music" with a Cabbage Patch in your pocket. Freak.
>>> SATURDAY, NOV. 26: CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG
You love the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, right? You dressed as the Child Catcher a few years ago for Halloween. Remember? The waitress at Knapp's used to have nightmares about the Child Catcher when she was a kid, and when she saw you in the costume - she freaked. Anyway, you loved Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and you saw it once a year. That was it. Once a year. Nowadays if you like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, you buy the DVD, you have it. But not on the big screen. That is, until Saturday. The Broadway Center will screen the flick for you to enjoy. Afterward, the Ghost of Christmas Present will hover as the lights on the Christmas tree outside the Pantages flick on. There will be much rejoicing over hot cocoa and cider, too.
>>> SATURDAY, NOV. 26: GRITTY CITY CRAFT FAIR
If you are looking for a more soulful, local shopping experience after Thanksgiving, may we suggest the Gritty City Gift Fair in downtown Tacoma. Jada-Moon Gridley has created an environment void of frantic zombified credit-carded bodies fighting over pallets of heavily-discounted Vitamix 5200 Ultramax Packages. With community in mind, and live music to soothe, Gridley has hand picked local vendors offering treasures made from green and reclaimed materials, as well as artisan consumables.
>>> WHAT SOME OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS ARE UP TO
ALEC CLAYTON Visual Arts Critic
No shopping on Black Friday, but I'll top off the day by going to see Harlequin Productions' Stardust Serenade. Saturday I'm going to check out Lisa Kinoshita's show at Fulcrum.
NIKKI TALOTTA Features Writer
Turkey for the girls and Turkey for the boys / My favorite kind of pants
Are corduroys / Gobble gobble goo and Gobble gobble gickel / I wish turkey
Only cost a nickel / Oh I love turkey on Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving everybody!
JOANN VARNELL: Theater Critic
After stuffing myself silly and counting all the ways I'm thankful, I
will be attending a bridge lighting in Sumner on Friday, the Broadway
Center tree lighting on Saturday, Peter Pan at Tacoma Musical
Playhouse on Saturday night and HOPEFULLY nothing on Sunday.
STEVE DUNKELBERGER Meat Market Photographer
Going to Peter Pan at Tacoma Musical Playhouse and Oliver at Lakewood Playhouse. In between, I'll be hitting Netflix like it owes me money.
REV. ADAM MCKINNEY Music Critic
As a matter of fact, I have pretty big plans this weekend, and they all revolve around Friday and Saturday at The New Frontier Lounge. Those days are dedicated to the first fundraisers for the 3rd "Annual" Squeak and Squawk Music Festival, and they feature such ginormous acts as Derek Kelley and the Speedwobbles, I Will Keep Your Ghost, and the return of Paris Spleen, among other great acts. Please come down and show your support, get drunk and dance, and help make Squeak and Squawk the awesome festival we know it'll be.
LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound
LINK: The weekend's freebies