SUNDAY, MARCH 24 2013 >>>

1. Rich Ridenour, a 54-year-old Michigan native, has been playing the piano most of his life. He wasn't old enough to drive when he joined his first rock band. He met his future wife, Stacy, who is in the front office at the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, when both were students at the University of Michigan. She went into musical administration, he went on to a master's from Juilliard and a career as a pianist that has taken him from piano bars to the nation's finest concert halls, such as the Pantages Theater at 2:30 p.m. when he join the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra in concert. Expect the greatest hits of Elton John, Billy Joel, George Gershwin, Rachmaninoff, Beethoven and more with a pinch of Victor Borge humor, a grand Steinway and the full Tacoma Symphony Orchestra. 

2. Heritage Park and Capitol Lake are great to visit for more than just the people watching. An abundance of ducks provides ample opportunity to impersonate David Attenborough with your own narration of their activities, and the dog watching is always entertaining. Where else would you find a Chihuahua dressed as an Ewok in March? (True story. Outdoor Addict columnist Whitney Rhoades saw it on her last visit.) And the scenery is stunning. From one side of the lake you can admire the Capitol Dome, from the other the Olympic Mountains peek out at you.

3. Orca Books in Olympia hosts local author Anthea Sharp at 3 p.m. to celebrate the release of her newest book, Feyland: The Twilight Kingdom.  This is the final installment and thrilling conclusion to her Feyland Trilogy.

4. Saxophonist Kareem Kandi's sound is virtually unrelated to the roomy traditions of soul saxes, honking saxes or deep-chested boudoir ballad saxes. It derives from the classic, free, often enthusiastic tradition of Joshua Redman as filtered through Dexter Gordon and Sonny Stitt, all of whose shadows can be traced-Redman in Kandi's funky organicism, Gordon in his dynamic harmonics, Stitt in the intensity that coats his every note with a Gritty City finish. Catch the Kareem Kandi Band from 3-6 p.m. at Uncle Thurm's BBQ in Tacoma's Lincoln District.

5. Tacoma artist Maria Jost has created an eight-piece permanent installation for the 1022 South lounge. Each of this commissioned series' eight collage-drawings pays homage to one of the natural ingredients featured in owner Chris Keil's distinctive cocktails. A reception will be held at 4 p.m.

LINK: Sunday, March 24 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area