FRIDAY, MARCH 8 2013 >>>

1. If you wanted a white winter, the closest you're likely to get is Jeff Orlowski's Chasing Ice, one of the most visually spectacular and troubling nature documentaries of recent years. In it, photographer James Balog and a team of young adventurers set out to chart the melting of Arctic glaciers, with lamentable success. It opens today at The Grand Cinema at 2, 6:35 and 8:30 p.m., with Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium staff biologists and educators leading a community discussion following the 6:35 screening. Below is the best trailer you'll see all week.

2. B2 Fine Arts Gallery celebrates International Women's Day and History Month by hosting award-winning Northwest illustration artist Jill Neal's "I'm Every Woman" series depicting strength among women in "every field of endeavor" through April 27. A special artist reception will be held from 5-9 p.m.

3. The Warehouse kicks off its 2013 Candle Lit series with the super dynamic and super talented Damien Jurado with guests Jake Hemming and Amelia Saakian at 7:30 p.m. inside the Urban Grace Church. "Damien Jurado is quite possibly one of the best singer/songwriters many of us get the pleasure of experiencing," says Doug Stoeckicht, marketing director at The Warehouse. "His music moves us personally and we believe it's worth sharing with those who are connected to The Warehouse. Also, to have an artist such as Damien make himself accessible to us, and this event, is an amazing privilege we couldn't pass up. People are in for a treat." Music combined with atmosphere is one of the many aesthetics that The Warehouse aims for. The Candle Lit series is another way to highlight the unique visions of these Tacoma creatives. Read Nikki McCoy's full feature on the Candle Lit series in the Weekly Volcano's Music section.

4. The Pierce College Puyallup Concert and Chamber Choirs present their winter program, "Mozart and Folk Melody," featuring American and Irish folk songs, followed by Mozart's Six Nocturnes, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Arts and Allied Health Building Theater. As a bonus, an orchestra of professional musicians has been summoned to join the Concert Choir for Mozart's Missa Brevis in D Minor.

5. Dr. Torrey Lawrence will become the director of the Tacoma Community College School of Music in June 2013. There's a good chance the good doctor could stick around TCC for a while. He joined the faculty of the Lionel Hampton School of Music at the University of Idaho in 1998. He currently holds the rank of professor of Music and is associate director of the school. You can catch Dr. Lawrence in action at 7:30 p.m. when he leads the TCC Symphonic Band in Galbraith's Danza de los Duendes, Milford's Fantasy on English Folk Songs, Gregson's Tuba Concerto with Lawrence as a tuba soloist, Pann's Hold this Boy and Listen and Connor's Tails aus dem Vood Viennoise.

LINK: Friday, March 8 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area