THE LOWDOWN ON WHAT'S UP THIS WEEKEND >>>
WEATHER REPORTFriday: Rain, hi 50, lo 47
Saturday: Rain on and off, hi 49, lo 39
Sunday: Foggy morning, sunbreaks in afternoon, hi 44, lo 34
Round up the family for some comedic relief and see Harlequin Productions opening night performance of A Christmas Survival Guide, a musical for the whole family. Harlequin Productions describes the play as follows, "This intimate revue takes a wry and knowing look at a stressful season. Armed with a copy of A Christmas Survival Guide and an optimistic attitude, our characters charge into an urban holiday landscape searching for the true essence of Christmas. In songs and vignettes, they learn to cope with the season in ways that are both hilarious and heartwarming." The show features laugh out loud pokes at the season of stresses and stars a cast of talented, funny actors and some puppets. Take your mind of the turkey and the holiday bills and enjoy a night of music and fun. — Nikki McCoy
After a day of carving turkey, why not enjoy a cinematic experience of carving people with Grindhouse Theater's presentation of Cannibal Ferox on 35 mm film? The film, which has been banned in 31 countries, will include rare uncut footage of raw gore and shock. Due to it's violent nature, no one younger than 17 should be permitted. Umberto Lenzi's 1981 Italian cannibal cult classic, Cannibal Ferox will play Friday and Saturday night and features audience appreciation by offering free raffle and trivia with prizes/giveaways from sponsors: Cult Collectibles - Figures From The Fringe!, Rotten Cotton, Fangoria, Crypticon Seattle and RaroVideo. In addition to the raffle ticket movie-goers get for free just for attending, this screening is a special food drive where each can of food brought will earn another raffle ticket. — NM
Maybe you can't be in the Alps, twirling in a lovely dress and pinafore, and dancing around an estate with scads of charming children singing "Do, a deer... ." But Saturday you can "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" with everyone at the Pantages Theater for Sing-A-Long Sound of Music. With a newly restored version of the film projected high and wide for all to see and sing to, so you won't miss a note - or a chance to hiss at the Baroness. Come in costume and be judged for prizes. Afterward, you can be a part of an age-old Tacoma holiday tradition - the tree lighting ceremony at Ninth and Broadway. — Ron Swarner
The only time we were forced to walk through that new H&M store in the mall we started to feel queasy, claustrophobic and like we were going to karate chop the next person we saw with a stupid bleach pattern on their jeans in the throat. Just because it's the holiday season doesn't mean anyone should have to go through this. Saturday, check out the Jada-Moon Gridley-created Gritty City Gift Fair, where local artists and crafters will offer their one-of-a-kind fairs for all at the 906 Broadway space in Tacoma's Antqiue Row. Expect re-purposed silk, cashmere and wool to recyled silver and pearls, fashion, reclaimed wood, forged steel, sparkling gems, feathers, ceramics, glass and more. — Weekly Volcano
Monday, Nov 26, the ladies of Pistols and Petticoats are celebrating their one-year anniversary. The group that meets regularly for shooting at Bull's Eye Range in Tacoma and meets regularly for drinks in Olympia, plan to potluck, network and shoot the shit (pun fully intended) at The Brotherhood Lounge. Festivities are from 6-9 p.m. and include a raffle with awesome locally sponsored prizes, cute merchandise from the DIY girls in the club and a drink special on the dangerously delicious Smith & Wesson. The group always accepts new members and will have information on hand for interested parties. — NM
CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL Theater Critic
This is a massive theater weekend for me, so I hope that tryptophan thing really is a myth. I'm seeing Nuncrackers at Capital Playhouse, The Sound of Music at Tacoma Musical Playhouse, and Christmas Survival Guide at Harlequin. Finally, it's time for the best Thanksgiving activity: delicious dinner roll leftover sandwiches.
REV. ADAM MCKINNEY Music Writer
Saturday, I'll be attending a birthday party at the home of James Jenkins, of People Under the Sun (local) fame. There will be copious amounts of drinking and indoor smoking. The following day, I'll smell like success.
ALEC CLAYTON Arts Critic
My Thanksgiving weekend will be filled with theater. Friday night I shall attend the opening of Nuncrackers at Capital Playhouse. It's a wildly silly continuation of the irreverent sisters who first appeared in Nunsense. Then Saturday night another holiday treat - I hope - an original musical send-up from Harlequin Productions called The Christmas Survival Guide.
NIKKI MCCOY Feature Writer
Yesterday I annoyed my family with repeat plays of Adam Sandler's Thanskgiving Song performance on SNL. "Turkey lurkey doo and Turkey lurkey dap, I eat that turkey, Then I take a nap." I can't get enough of those lyrics! Anyway, Friday is another TGIF happy hour shift at the bar, where I will play nurse, handing out tonics to cure your Thanksgiving hang over. Saturday I'm taking my mom out for her birthday and some local holiday shopping and Sunday will hopefully be chill, with turkey sandwiches and games of Scrabble.
JACKIE FENDER Food Writer
Aside from my usual work "week," I will be helping to guide the masses in the Underground Tacoma tour through the dim lit perils of spiders, dust and creepy never never land characters. Immediately afterward Ill be collecting passports from the Art Bus/Go Local collaboration to be entered into a raffle as an incentive to spend your holiday dollars locally. After all of that amazing madness on Saturday and my obligatory long day Sunday slinging the most important meal of the day, I will spend Sunday evening hibernating.
JOANN VARNELL Theater Critic
Hello CHRIIIIIIIISTMAAAAAS! Well, OK, not really but the toddler, husband, and I will be going to the Sumner Bridge Lighting on Friday. On Saturday we'll go get a Christmas tree and maybe see some snow. Sunday we will head to church and relax.
TIMOTHY GRISHAM Music Writer
As I roll myself out of bed from post tryptophan hybernation, I will partake in the annual family film outing. I hope you imagine this in as much of a National Lampoon's Vacation way as it actually is. I am sure I will draw the short straw and we will see something like Red Dawn. It always happens that way. But perhaps better heads will prevail and we will go to Friday's screening of Cannibal Ferox at The Grand Cinema. The 1981 film is part of the filmhouse's Grindhouse Theater Series and plays both Friday and Saturday at 9 p.m. The film is about three friends out to disprove cannibalism who meet up with two fugitives who are hunted by a cannibal tribe. Nothing says Happy Thanksgiving like cannibalism, am I right?
JOSH RIZEBERG Music Columnist
Friday I'll be taking a trip The Comet in Seattle where I'll be catching Metal Chocolates, SpecsWizard, and Silas Blak and AMPFIRE. This will be one of the best, eclectic, avant-garde, artistic, yet hard nights of hip-hop Seattle has to offer. Saturday the 24th, I'll be helping D.A.S.H. Center for the Arts put on Dreamgirls. It's their big winter show. It is at the LAPAC Theatre at Charles Wright Academy. Get some tickets and support these kids! Sunday night, I'll be back-up in Seattle at The Nectar. They have a free hip-hop showcase. Nectar always has good shows, but this one is free!
JENNI BORAN Features Writer
Once upon a time, when I was in fourth-grade, I had a little boyfriend, and he was in a band! Well, he's still in a band (a different band, this one is called STRIPPED), and we'll be seeing them play at Jack's in Renton this Saturday at 9 p.m. I had to take it easy on the turkey so I could fit in my skinny jeans.
STEVE DUNKELBERGER Photog About Town
As you have seen earlier today, I went nuts on the Kim Archer Band, 253Heart Music Festival and Bad Sweater Party Wednesday night. I'm taking to the stage myself at 9 p.m. Friday at the Harmon as the Monday Ukulele Ohana performs at the 253Heart Music Festival.
NIC LEONARD Music Writer
I hit the Thanksgiving show Wednesday at the Urban Onion, I'm looking forward to a wonderful weekend with the family. Then, of course, the Seahawks game Sunday.
ROCKFORD ROWLEY All-Ages Music Columnist
Catching up with some friends that are home from college for Thanksgiving!
LINK: Even more local events that we recommend
LINK: Comprehensive South Sound Arts & Entertainment Calendar