THE LOWDOWN ON WHAT'S UP THIS WEEKEND >>>

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Rain, hi 45, lo 36

Saturday: Chance of rain, hi 43, lo 39

Sunday: Chance of rain, hi 48, lo 41

>>> FRIDAY, DEC. 7: LEGALIZE MY SMILE PARTY

Hey, in case you've been hiding in a closet, weed is now legal! Hooray! Friday, The Royal in Olympia is celebrating Washington's new found freedom with a Legalize My Smile Party at 9 p.m.  The party features up and comers Elbow Coulee and The DaveBenSamTrio, busting out their space funk and dance rock. Pay $5 at the door and a world of irie smiles will greet you. Make sure you bust out your finest Zig-Zags and Cush, roll up some love, smoke it like there's no tomorrow and dance your ass off in celebration. For info on how much you can posses and other details of this fresh law, check out local lawyer advice in our South Sound Sidekick column. — Nikki McCoy

• The Royal Lounge, 9 p.m., $5, 311 Capitol Way N., Olympia, 360.705.0760

>>> SATURDAY, DEC. 8: HILLTOP ARTISTS HOLIDAY GLASS SALE

Tacoma is filled with local shops, galleries and antique stores where you can take your holiday shopping local - but the Hilltop Artists Holiday Glass Sale is at a whole ‘nother level. Not only can you shop locally, but you can support an important youth program, a program that produces sweet talent at that, and you can find fantastic artwork at the most reasonable prices in town. The sale will feature everything from flame-worked beads to paperweights to vases. Prices range from under a dollar for beads, to $15 to $25 for vases or cups, to $150 for vases. Large, wavy bowls can be as high as $375, but look into how much Chihuly charges to understand just how much of a deal this is.

• Jason Lee Middle School, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 602 N. Sprague, Tacoma, 253.571.7670
  

>>> SATURDAY, DEC. 8: DUCK THE MALLS

Duck The Malls sounds fun on paper. If nothing else, this holiday sale to benefit the Olympia Film Society cuts out so much of the guesswork and crap of going to a regular flea market: With just the freaks on board selling their Yaz CDs, hipster bicycles and Ronald McDonald drinking glasses, you're sure to be steering clear of screaming babies and the scary men selling kicker boxes and enormous knives. Meanwhile, you may finally pick up that home-tattooing manual you've always wanted, along with that Boss phaser pedal whatshisname uses. You know there's going to be that moment where somebody runs into her ex, who's behind a table selling everything she ever gave him. Read Nikki McCoy's feature on this year's Duck The Malls in the Weekly Volcano's Style section. — Weekly Volcano

• Capitol Theater, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., 206 Fifth Ave., Olympia, 360.754.6670
  

>>> SUNDAY DEC. 9: LET IT SNOW COMMUNITY FESTIVAL

Sugar and spice and everything free is the song for Sunday's Let It Snow community festival, a merry, merry tradition that's ho-ho-hosted every year by the Tacoma Art Museum. The free community event lights up at 10 a.m. and includes dance performances and festive music. While the entertainment fills the main floor, free craft projects will be offered upstairs. Create a pop-up holiday card for family and friends, or buy something cool in the gift shop. Everything the Tacoma Art Museum envisioned this holiday season comes to fruition Sunday.

• Tacoma Art Museum, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., free admission, 1701 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.4258

>>> SUNDAY DEC. 9: EUPHORIA MARIE SORENSEN BENEFIT

Musicians and the community will come together at The New Frontier Lounge to show support for Euphoria Marie Sorensen, who was hit by a truck Oct. 29. She remains hospitalized in serious condition and suffered several injuries including many broken ribs and a broken arm and had to have her right lung removed. The benefit show will help cover the extensive hospital costs and will provide support for community members affected by the accident. Sorensen is a mother, an artist and a good friend to many. A Leaf, Death By Stars, Looking For Lizards, Deborah Page and DJ Melodica will play their hearts out, providing healing and hope for the community. Local businesses and individuals are also contributing to the cause, offering items for a raffle and silent auction. Word has it the event will be taped so Sorensen can enjoy the music and love too. — NM

• The New Frontier Lounge, 4 p.m., suggested donation of $5, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253. 572.4020

>>> SUNDAY, DEC. 9: NO GOD, NO MASTER

No God, No Master benefit screening for Northwest Grand Jury Resistors is this Sunday at the Capitol Theater. The benefit is for the remaining Northwest imprisoned resistors: KteeO Olejnik and Matt Duran. The film is described as a "gritty but beautifully rendered period piece set in the early 20th century that is an eerie parallel to the war on political outsiders and immigrants that is going on today." This on-screen chapter out of American Anarchist history will have a Q and A via Skype with Director Terry Green and there will be an information table and additional speakers at the screening. The screening is sponsored by The Reef, where KteeO worked as a waitress. The two have been in custody for over two months. More information about the Grand Jury Resistors can be found here. — NM

• Capitol Theater, 7 p.m., suggested donation of $5-$15, 206 Fifth Ave., Olympia, 360.754.6670

WHAT SOME OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS ARE UP TO

CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL Theater Critic
This is an exciting weekend for me, as it marks one of my last before the end of the world. I'm joining a handful of Volcano staffers aka Quetzalcoatl worshipers on Saturday night to usher in the Dark Times with a decadent gourmet dinner and a variety of barely legal intoxicants. Save us, O might Itzamna!

REV. ADAM MCKINNEY Music Writer
Friday, I'll swing by the Jeff Buckley Tribute Show at the New Frontier. Saturday, I'm going to a super secret squirrel party. (Super secret if the others haven't already talked about it here.)

ALEC CLAYTON Arts Critic
I'm throwing a big party in celebration of the publication of my new book, Return to Freedom, with a dramatic reading featuring four fabulous actors: Michael and Heather Christopher, Jennie Jenks and Christine Goode. That's Saturday afternoon. Friday night I'm going to see Olympia Family Theater's Wind in the Willows at SPSCC.

NIKKI MCCOY Feature Writer
Alright. Well what will be a strange, sad and exciting night Saturday I will be attending a Volcano end-of-the world party as well as a memorial benefit show for a dear friend. All I can be certain of is I'm going to be completely wasted. I apologize in advance and hope that Sunday is full of bed covers and no regrets.

JOSH RIZEBERG Music Columnist
Today, I'll be teaching the Spoken-Word/Poetry class at D.A.S.H. and helping out with the Art of Hip-Hop Program. It goes down from 5 p.m. 'til we're done! Then I'll head to The Loch's and catch a heavy-hitting local line-up of hip-hop, with Island Trybe, Second Family, Po Boxx and Tha Committee. Saturday and Sunday I'll be helping my D.A.S.H. family with their production of Dream Girls. This is the last weekend of the show, so it's also yo last chance to see it and support D.A.S.H.!

JACKIE FENDER Food Writer
I'm already doing a happy dance in anticipation of the weekend's happenings. Saturday, I'll be on the big yellow bus helping guide the Shift your Shopping tours. And Sunday I will be getting all gussied up and attending PNB's Nutcracker, the first time I've had the pleasure to do so.

JOANN VARNELL Theater Critic
Continuing with the Christmas spirit of the last two weekends, The 2 year old, husband and I will head back to Polar Plaza for our second round of ice skating.  Afterward the boy and I will ride a camel all while our good friend plays paparazzi for our Christmas photos. That evening we will head to Zoolights and then have friends over for dinner. I'll also be reviewing The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at Lakewood Playhouse Sunday.

TIMOTHY GRISHAM Music Writer
It has been a very unbalanced week for the Olympia community; and frankly it has been hard to concentrate on anything beyond the immediate. With the stabbing death of a beloved local, the celebration of same-sex unions and legalized marijuana - this week has had its share of ups and downs for a lot of people in the South Puget Sound. I had originally planned on going to the King Tuff show, which I may still do. The band has the goods, and it is a great opportunity to see them in a small venue (Northern). I also promised my mother-in-law I'd take her to Zoolights!

STEVE DUNKELBERGER Photog About Town
I'll be heading down the the Dickens Festival in Stadium Saturday then Marie's benefit show on Sunday and then Tacoma Cult Film Club movie night at the Acme to round out the weekend.

NIC LEONARD Music Writer
A friend and local skateboard legend Casey Heath was murdered on Monday in olympia. This weekend I will be attending and playing benefit shows for his family at Le Voyeur and McCoys

ROCKFORD ROWLEY All-Ages Music Columnist
This weekend my friend and I are headed over to Cashmere, Wash. to visit some friends and attend a dessert party. We'll probably also visit Leavenworth, and enjoy the faux Bavarian town during its holiday season.

JENNI BOREN Features Writer
Why, I'm headed to LA this weekend for a trip that is 20 percent business, 80 percent karaoke-ing on a Saturday night with my old cronies.

LINK: Even more local events that we recommend

LINK: Comprehensive South Sound Arts & Entertainment Calendar