THE LOWDOWN ON WHAT'S UP THIS WEEKEND >>>
WEATHER REPORTFriday: Chilly with sunny intervals, hi 46, lo 42
Saturday: Partly sunny and chilly, hi 42, lo 33
Sunday: Cloudy and chilly, hi 46, lo 40
Video Games Live is not just a concert. It's an experience. An experience to end all experiences for all nerdkind. An experience that will give every game geek in the land the chance to hear live video game music. An experience that will yank game fanatics from joysticks Friday night in Tacoma. The concert integrates local orchestras and choirs with its extensive mix of media and performance - video footage from the games, synchronized lighting and live performers from soloists to live action sequences.
— Kristen Kendle
Olympia Film Society presents incredible lineup of screenings, events, guests and a kick-ass gala that is the 29th annual Olympia Film Festival. The Opening Night Gala Friday will match previous year's spectacles. The "Glam Gala" gets fabulous at 6 p.m. with glamorous costumes galore. The gala includes a screening of Velvet Goldmine that includes a VIP reception with director Todd Haynes. Other highlights of the event include annual favorite All Freakin Night featuring five freaky films to chill you, Locals Only filmmaker showcase, a kung-fu double feature with Crippled Avengers and Fist of White Lotus, House of Wax presented in 3D, special kids' films and the Best of the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. For a complete listing or for tickets visit www.olympiafilmsociety.org. — Nikki McCoy
The theater musical Cloud 9 jumps from 1880, an era of bridled lust and rigid ideals of the Victorian empire into 1980 and an era of sexual exploration in London. The seven characters, including gender reversals and a ragdoll, inhabit the stage in a story of British-ruled Africa. When the natives prepare to overthrow the British, the whole company is engaged in a non-stop round robin of sexual liaisons. Fast forward to 1980 and for the remaining, surviving characters, it's only been 25 years. Cloud 9 sounds totally weird and humorous and drenched with sex, history and politics, just how Olympia likes it. - NM
There are tons of great things to do in Tacoma this weekend, but the Gem Faire at the Tacoma Dome is a rather intriguing event. Quality gems, beads, crystals, minerals, findings and earth treasures will be available at wholesale prices. Yes, you can grab holiday project supplies, get personal treasures or simply browse and look at all the shiny, pretty, sparkly stuff. For the jewelry maker, there will also be tools, packaging supplies and millions of beads. Be sure to enter for a chance to win cool prizes at the Gem Faire with drawings every hour. The last time I witnessed a gem show it was at some hippy rainbow gathering event, and while that was pretty cool, this one is sure to be grander, and much more organized. - NM
Saturday and Sunday, Patrons of South Sound Cultural Arts (POSSCA), together with Friends of the Olympia Library are once again hosting their juried arts show and sale. Come meet local artists and see works in jewelry, photography, painting, glass, pottery and more - just in time for the holidays! Admission is only $1 and all proceeds go to funding the Olympia Library and POSSCA's arts awareness mission, including their annual scholarship program, enabling talented high school seniors to pursue higher education in arts, and CAPS program, which provides musical instruments to students who would otherwise be unable to participate in school programs. - NM
CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL Theater Critic
I'm seeing Cloud 9 at St. Martin's to review, plus Twelfth Night at Lakewood Playhouse for fun. My sister's launching her barbecue restaurant, Smoking Mo's 2.0 in Shelton - highly recommended! And I'll spend a few hours trying to decide who said the dumbest thing about the election - Chris Matthews or Bill O'Reilly. So far Billo's ahead.
REV. ADAM MCKINNEY Music Writer
Saturday, I've got an annual Big Lebowski party to attend. Like all the other years I've attended, this year I will firmly plant my feet in the ground and refuse to go in costume. Now, if this were a Fargo party, I'd be set. I'd be Peter Stormare - just wearing long johns and eating TV dinners.
ALEC CLAYTON Arts Critic
Starting the Hustle again with one helluva weekend. Friday night I'm catching Leonard Cohen at KeyArena. Saturday, I will see Ordinary People at SPSCC. Sunday, I'm attending the PFLAG gathering in Olympia featuring a retired rear admiral from the U.S. Coast Guard and other guests discussing the end of "Don't Ask Don't Tell."
NIKKI MCCOY Feature Writer
This weekend I'm ready to post-election party. Friday night after slinging drinks, I'm going to let it out at the Olympia Ballroom for a night of Hillstomp and its swamp loving, bucket pounding ways. Saturday is a Thomas the Train toddler party, which shouldn't fair too bad, as long as I don't have too many greyhounds the night before. And Sunday is the usual chores, home-cooked dinner and America's Funniest Videos. By the way, I plan to catch my child(ren) someday giving their dad an unintentional groin punch, saying something ridiculously cute or air-guitaring their way to winning me $10,000, because there are child labor laws in this country and the way I see it, they already owe me at least double that for Star Wars toys and a pantry full of Annie's all natural mac 'n' cheese.
JOANN VARNELL Theater Critic
This weekend is chock full of theater! I will be reviewing Lakewood Playhouse's production of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. Sunday, I will be heading to Seattle for Wicked, which will make all of my friends happy since they will finally be allowed to talk about how great they thought it was when they saw it (weeks ago). I will be spending the rest of the time trying to get my adorable two year old to learn new party tricks in time for the upcoming holiday season.
TIMOTHY GRISHAM Music Writer
While the Olympia Film Festival kicks off with a glam-rock bang Friday, I look forward to Saturday's run at the theater. Starting with Richard Elfman (Brother of composer Danny Elfman, and member of Oingo Boingo) brings his film Forbidden Zone to the theater. The film also features amazing performances from the '80s party band. Then, of course at the strike of midnight is the all out assault on horror nerd senses, ALL FREAKIN NIGHT! I am particularly stoked for Killer Driller.
JOSH RIZEBERG Music Columnist
Friday I'll be chilling with The Family, observing Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath. Saturday, I'll trek to Kent and drink at The Central Ave Pub. They have live hip-hop and stiff drinks. The bar is a good mix of locals and Tacoma residents checking the local music out. Sunday, I'm smashing to Oly to hit-up hip-hop at the South Pacific Restaurant. The show is booked by Remex. He's a good, young dude doing some quality booking in the Oly area. I'll be looking to catch Heretic The Heathen's and Cam the Viking's set. Heretic is a freestyle beast from Oly.
JENNI BORAN Features Writer
I plan on finding a corner at Anthem Coffee and catching up on my NaNoWriMo. ... I'm about 1,600 words behind. And once I catch up? THE SESSIONS opens at The Grand Friday. I'm so there.
LINK: Even more local events that we recommend
LINK: Comprehensive South Sound Arts & Entertainment Calendar