THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012 >>>
1. If local boy done good Donald Glaude is spinning in Tacoma that means it's either Christmas or an Ocean Grooves anniversary. Happy 13th anniversary Ocean Grooves. It's hard to tell who is having a more time of your life experience - the crowd or Lakewood-raised now internationally famed DJ Glaude. He has an intoxicating energy about him. It's contagious. His lust for life shines on his face. Is that pure joy we see when a particularly tasty beat mixes lushly with an incoming track and fans voice appreciation for the talent it takes to make that magic happen with deafening cheering and dancing, dancing, dancing? Pure joy indeed. Joining the Ocean Grooves house music explosion with Glaude will be, of course, DJ dAb and Omar, as well as Mr. Clean beginning at 10 p.m. inside Encore Boutique Nightclub.
2. The Puyallup Spring Fair opens at 2 p.m. today for a four-day run. Organizers say that this year's edition, while shorter than its late summer edition, is crammed with more attractions than ever. For urbanites who need convincing, here's a handy checklist: Monster Trucks Friday, demolitions Saturday-Sunday, Rock U interactive music exhibit, Northwest Jr. Rodeo, Dock Dogs water jumping NASCAR race with an authentic simulator, Fiesta Mexicana, rides, fried foods and more. Go ahead: Leave your laptop behind, shimmy into that old pair of Wranglers, pull on those dusty cowboy boots, slap on a 10-gallon hat and prepare to spend yourself a day - or four - at this year's wingding.
3. "It's always the last place you look," people say about lost objects. Well, of course it is. As some comedian from decades ago (probably David Brenner) used to say, you wouldn't continue to search for something once you've found it. Sheesh. Anyway, the Tap into T-Town folks will make looking for hidden items fun Saturday, June 2 with a benefit scavenger hunt throughout downtown Tacoma. Afterward, you and your teammates (the hunting is done in groups of four) are invited back to the starting line at the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center for a reception, and if you were very, very good at sniffing things out, an award might await. Team pre-registration sign up for the Tap into T-Town scavenger hunt is tonight from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at The Office Bar and Grill in downtown Tacoma. The Office will serve specials during the sign-up. Tonight's an awesome opportunity to meet other participants and strategize with your team.
4. Riding a wave of positive vibes, the Third Thursday ArtWalk ART BUS is back this month with more art venue stops, launching from the Tacoma Art Museum at 6 p.m. The April bus is partnering with the local poetry community to celebrate National Poetry Month. Its celebrity guest tour guides are poet laureates and the VIP riders ($20, instead of $10) will receive a free, limited edition poetry booklet with poems from local poets about galleries, culture, writing and the muse. Each one is handcrafted, signed and numbered by local artist and writer, Maria Chong Gudaitis. Two buses will hit the street visiting 253 Collective, Wright Park Observatory, B2 Fine Art Gallery, A Touch of Magick, Anew Thyme, Brick House Gallery, Embellish Multispace Salon, City Grocer, Grassi's Garden Café, Merlino Arts Center, Nine Lives Vintage Wears, Throwing Mud Gallery, The Social and The Swiss. Remember, art is in the eye of the bus rider.
5. Baseball may no longer be the "national pastime" if judged by TV ratings. Judged by the quantity and quality of writing it inspires, however, baseball is still the champ. Paul Dickson is author of several mammoth baseball books including the indispensable Dickson Baseball Dictionary. His latest book, Bill Veeck: Baseball's Greatest Maverick, will be released in late April. Dickson will discuss his books, and sign autographs, at 7 p.m. inside the Tacoma Public Library Main Branch, as part of the Tacoma Reads Together campaign to read and discuss the W. P. Kinsella's classic baseball novel, Shoeless Joe.
BONUS EVENT: Do you love Bob's Java Jive? Do you like wearing bunny ears? Join the bunch of weirdos at 8 p.m. for the "Bad Bunny" Java Jive Appreciation Night party at the historical tavern. Yes, there will be usual karaoke. Yes, there will be cheap beer. Yes, one guy will dress up as the rabbit from Donnie Darko and rap "Lose Yourself."
LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound
LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound
LINK: South Sound happy hours