THE LOWDOWN ON WHAT'S UP THIS WEEKEND >>>
WEATHER REPORTFriday: Cloudy with a few showers, hi 42, lo 36
Saturday: Cloudy, a little rain, chilly, hi 43, lo 37
Sunday: Chance of rain, hi 43, lo 33
It's time for the end of the world, and all the accompanying parties. Music is especially heavy this weekend with the impending doom hovering over us like a teenager hovers over his laptop in a heated game of World of Warcraft. Tonight, the parties are popping off around the Sound, but here are two to put on your radar. The Dwell Hole in Tacoma is having another rager. Titled "Mayans Meet Mad Max," where "end of the world Mad Max Mayan death cult attire is encouraged." The line-up features The Fun Police, Shogun Barbie, Jip Sea Party and guests. In Olympia, the party will be at McCoy's for Mona Reels, Tone Dust, Black Floyd and The Hard Way, who invite you to "celebrate the end of civilization in style." — Nikki McCoy
Dancing Lights Marine Christmas Show continues at Percival Landing in Olympia daily until Dec 26. This is certainly one for the whole family, from 7-8:30 p.m., Dora The Friendly Sea Dagon will greet kids and an exceptional computer-animated light show with music, featuring a 50-foot yacht decorated with more than 15,000 lights will delight young and old. Click here to see last year's performance. - NM
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson has been around since the early 1970s and has been performed by countless elementary, middle, and high schools, church groups and community theaters. The first stage production was by the Seattle Children's Theatre in 1982 and a TV version starring Loretta Swit followed in 1983. It portrays the six Herdman children and the mayhem that follows after they attend Sunday school for the first time in search of refreshments. They end up with the lead roles in the Christmas pageant even though they have no understanding of the Christmas Story. Read Joann Varnell's full review of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever in the Weekly Volcano's Arts section.
What do you want from a Christmas play? If you're like most people, you want sparkly lights, a jolly Saint Nick with a real beard, tiny tots with their eyes all aglow, and a reminder of the true, commercial-free meaning of Christmas (brought to you by Coca-Cola). If the lobby smells like chocolate and peppermint, so much the better. You want the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping and year-end crunches at work to feel more like the wonder and excitement your kids lavish on the season. You want the kaleidoscopic bounty under the tree to mean more than a breath-shortening Visa bill. In short, you want some damn Christmas magic, thank you very much, and you'll get it from Miracle on 34th Street, Tacoma Little Theatre's big-hearted paean to the man with the bag. Read Christian Carvajal's full review of Tacoma Little Theatre's Miracle on 34th Street in the Weekly Volcano's Arts section.
With the Proctor Farmer's Market winding down for the winter, this Saturday will be your last day to purchase goods until they re-open the second Saturday January through March. This times perfectly with the last weekend of the holiday shopping season, and this farmers market is a great place to find gifts. Especially awesome is the fact that the market is offering gift wrapping and gift baskets, perfect for last-minute shoppers. Any purchases made at the market can be brought to the market booth for free wrapping, where the gifts will be arranged in a reusable wicker basket complete with a raffia bow and gift tag. Pre-made Holiday Harvest Gift Baskets loaded with fresh produce, artisan goods and market merchandise are also available for $35. - NM
What's better than celebrating the birthday of a good friend? What about celebrating the birthday of a good friend that consistently provides you with drinks and a place to play shuffleboard? OK, OK ... what if we throw in The Cure and Scorpions tribute bands and DJ Wildman James? If you astutely observed that absolutely nothing is better than the aforementioned scenario you're a lot smarter than your parents give you credit for. And you can experience it this weekend. Help the BroHo celebrate its anniversary in style this Sunday. The cover charge benefits the Thurston CountyFood Bank. — Weekly Volcano
CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL Theater Critic
We're attending a Yuletide potluck at a good friend's house and celebrating either the winter solstice, the birth of Christ Our Lord, the advent of the 14th b'ak'tun, or the end of a dismal, emotional week, whichever seems more pressing.
REV. ADAM MCKINNEY Music Writer
I will be decorating balls for Jesus.
ALEC CLAYTON Arts Critic
Our son and his in-laws will be visiting. I have no idea what we'll do, but I'm sure it will be joyful ... and wet and cold.
NIKKI MCCOY Feature Writer
Friday, after serving up a holiday happy hour, I'll cruise around town and check out all the end-of-the-world parties. Saturday, there will be 20 Talottas in my house eating, drinking and being merry. Sunday is The Brotherhood's 10-year anniversary party, which the grandparents graciously offered to babysit for. Monday eases right into the holiday, hopefully hang-over-less and full of bliss.
JOSH RIZEBERG Music Columnist
Tonight at 5 'til 8 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. I'll be teaching Spoken-Word/Poetry & Hip-Hop at the D.A.S.H. Center for the Arts. Classes are for third-grade up to 20 years. We're still enrolling - now is a perfect time to sign-up! Also tonight at 9 p.m., Beanz and Rize will be playing the Blue Nose Music End of the World Party. I believe it's a free show. Check out Awall A.K.A. 2-Piece, K Dueski, King Scrub, Shao Sosa, and others performing. Sunday, I'll be at the Graffiti-Garages taking in all the exciting hip-hop culture, the fun starts at 1 p.m.
NIC LEONARD Music Writer
I plan on having a relaxing evening at home tonight with a bottle of bourbon. Saturday I plan on finishing up what's left of that bottle while watching the UW vs Boise St bowl game. Sunday will be another joyous day of bourbon while watching football
JACKIE FENDER Food Writer
Tonight will be filled with holiday goodness like baking cookies and Zoolights with the kids. All that goodness is followed by a weekend of work and not much else save for wrapping presents.
JOANN VARNELL Theater Critic
This weekend, the husband, toddler and I will be taking a road trip to see family for the holidays. We'll be leaving our dogs, cat and home under the watchful care of friends and taking bets on whether Tacoma or Denver gets a white Christmas.
TIMOTHY GRISHAM Music Writer
I will be plunging myself into the sixth ring of Hades as I finish my holiday shopping. Pondering, "what does it all mean?" will follow; then I will prep myself for the biggest family event of the season. ... I will probably not go out other than that, for I am a moron and live on Olympia's Westside, where traffic during the weekend before Christmas is so bad that I would rather cut off a toe than venture out in it needlessly. This is all if the world does in-fact continue past today.
JENNI PRANGE BORAN Features Writer
We are doing the Zoolights with the son tonight, Harmon fish and chips to follow. The rest of the weekend will be filled with last minute holiday details (read: buy the champagne and chocolate chips and crackers that we bought last week in preparation, but have since eaten).
NIC LEONARD Music Writer
My cousin is moving out here this weekend from Detroit so I will be showing him around the beautiful city of Olympia. We will most likely be hitting up the Everybody Weekend show at Le Voyeur on Saturday night as well as other various local bars.
STEVE DUNKELBERGER Photog About Town
I might be going to the End of the World ball tonight just so I have a reason to wear my tux. Saturday at 7 p.m. the Monday Ukulele Ohana will perform at the Polar Bear Plaza because nothing says the holidays like ice skating to ukulele Christmas songs.
ROCKFORD ROWLEY All-Ages Music Columnist
This weekend, I will be catching up on some much needed rest, as well as doing some last minute holiday shopping. And just like most weekends, I will inevitable end up at Bluebeard drinking drip coffee and Mexican Coke.
LINK: Even more local events that we recommend
LINK: Comprehensive South Sound Arts & Entertainment Calendar