THE LOWDOWN ON WHAT'S UP THIS WEEKEND >>>
WEATHER REPORTFriday: Showers tonight, hi 50, lo 39
Saturday: Showers, hi 50, lo 39
Sunday: Showers, hi 50, lo 37
Tonight, bear witness to the amazing Playback Theatre as they delight audiences with their one-night performance of Stories of Being Downtown. Sounds intriguing already. This is in collaboration with Olympia's Downtown Ambassador Program. And remember folks, Playback Theater is a form of improv where the group or audience members tell stories to be enacted. Sounds awesome. - Nikki McCoy
Each April brings a shower of poetry to the South Puget Sound. Inaugurated as National Poetry Month by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, the entire month is dedicated to showcasing and celebrating poets, poetry, libraries, bookstores, and the literary arts community across the nation. Tacoma is truly no exception to participating in the poesy festivities. One of the state's longest-running poetry events - the Distinguished Writer Series - hosts Elizabeth Austen, author of Every Dress a Decision and two chapbooks for a reading, with an open mic following Bring a poem to read! Hosted by Connie Walle. - Weekly Volcano
Nothing says spring like daffodils, and nothing says spring in Tacoma like the Daffodil Parade. Saturday morning the Grand Floral Parade, in its 80th year, will stroll through downtown Tacoma and Puyallup in all its yellow glory. And you can bet your ass Tacoma Art Bus joined in on the fun. This year, for the first time ever, hitch a ride through the parade on the Art Bus. This event offers all the fun of other Art Bus tours, like VIP seating and special gifts, but this time with an inside out view of the parade and 1,000 daffodils to join you. Just don't forget your allergy meds. - NM
Interested in snowboarding? How about checking out the snowboard photography of Tsutomu Endo for free on a 9-foot screen in a bar? Endo is a natural and action photographer from Japan who is on his way home from a snowboard trip in Alaska and decided to drop into The Brotherhood Lounge this Sunday to share his awe-inspiring photos. "I think this event will be disorganized and very fun, but everyone will have a good time," says Mike Cummins, owner of Northwest Snowboards and event curator. Plus there will be drinks. Sold. - NM
Hard to believe that the Tacoma Cult Movie Club has flipped on the projector for four years! But it has, and hosts Rev. Colin, Tobin Ropes and Holland Hume will throw a party Sunday at The Acme Grub Cage - the movie club's ultra-appropriate home. Its membership of deviants, freaks, weirdoes and misfits invite the public to watch some undead Knights Templar. Admission and popcorn are free, as always. In tradition of previous anniversary parties, there will be a potluck for anyone interested. "Please only partake if you participate," says Rev. Colin. "That's how we do it in the good old T-Stank."
CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL Theater Critic
I'm seeing Premiere! at Olympia Little Theatre on Saturday, and my wife and I will wrap work on The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood Sunday afternoon. Along the way there'll be an epic cast party and a trip to Seattle to catch the latest program of Naked Girls Reading. Yay for literacy!
REV. ADAM MCKINNEY Music Writer
By the time the weekend arrives, I will have hopefully shaken off this bout of the consumption. Oh, how my kerchief fills with blood! If I'm better, I might head down to The Grand Cinema and make a double feature out of Trance and The Place Beyond the Pines.
ALEC CLAYTON Arts Critic
First Reservoir Dogs the Women, then Reservoir Dogs the Men.
NIKKI MCCOY Feature Writer
Friday brings another day of happy hour delights at the BroHo. Swing in for a Nikki special sometime, eh? Saturday is a much-needed over-nighter at the local casino to celebrate the hub's birthday. Sunday is the usual R & R, as much as one can get with two boys under the age of 8 anyway. Cheers!
JOSH RIZEBERG Music Columnist
I've got a pretty chill weekend. I'll teach my spoken word/poetry class at D.A.S.H. Center on Saturday from 1-2 p.m. Sunday, I'll try to hit the Graffiti-Garage M.C. Cypher put on by the Northwest M.C. League. If it's nice I'll put my 1-year-old son in the stroller and take him down to witness and experience the culture. I encourage ya'll to do the same!
JOANN VARNELL Theater Critic
Saturday I will be attending a Multicultural Day event put on by The Broadway Center for Performing Arts "Broadway Year" class. If my babysitter comes through, I will be heading up to Seattle for a fiction writer's group. With any luck, my toddler will start sleeping again and I can get some sleep instead of just needing it.
TIMOTHY GRISHAM Music Writer
Las Vegas!
NIC LEONARD Music Writer
I will be taking it easy on Friday but on Saturday my dad is hosting a Fandango at his house, which is like a Mexican style music party. I'll be over there getting wasted causing a scene.
JACKIE FENDER Food Writer
Friday evening will be nothing super spectacular though Saturday totally compensates! In the morning I'll be participating in the Art Buses first ever ride through the Daffodil Parade. Evening festivities include leading the Wrist author reading and poetry slam at Cork! And finding something to do in celebration of my baby sisters birthday that may include drinks and laughs at the Grit City Comedy Club's Lupus Fundraiser. Sunday will be a bittersweet finale to the weekend as it is my last shift slinging drinks and serving breakfast at Dirty Oscar's.
STEVE DUNKELBERGER Nightlife Correspondent
Going to the parade, noshing at Shake 3 and stopping by the Tacoma Dome Book Center.
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LINK: Comprehensive South Sound Arts & Entertainment Calendar