SUNDAY, AUG. 25, 2013 >>>
1. Imagine sitting close enough to a stage to feel the breeze off a dancer's pirouette, or to hear the shuffle of feet and the sound of bodies as they rise and fall. Now imagine watching these dancers on a 4-by-4 foot stage. This is the appeal of Ten Tiny Dances, a stripped down format where 10 dance artists demonstrate astonishing inventiveness and variety on a stage about the size of a coffee table from 6-8 p.m. at Jazzbones. Based out of Portland, the contemporary dance series has been adopted by many Northwest production companies, including Tacoma's MLKBallet. Read Nikki McCoy's full feature on Ten Tiny Dance on the Walkie Talkie blog.
2. Sand in the City, Washington state's largest sand sculpting event with 240 tons of sand, nationally known sand sculptors, features 40 different hands-on art and science activities and a live entertainment stage from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in downtown Olympia. All proceeds from Sand in the City directly support the Hands On Children's Museum's free and reduced admissions program. Show up with a shovel, a bucket and an idea.
3. The 21st annual Maritime Fest continues today around Dock Street in Tacoma. Expect harbor tours, seminars, tall ship cannon battles, music, Kids Zone, boat building, Knights of Veritas' medieval-period pavilion with handgonne demonstrations and a beer garden.
4. People like eating outside, and they'll stop at almost nothing to do it. They will choke down steaming food as mysterious water droplets rain down from air conditioners above. Crowd a party of eight into one pitiful corner of shade. Inhale exhaust fumes along with aromas of fine wine. At Paesan Kitchen and Bar next to the Museum of Glass, the only negative aspect of dining on its patio is trying to find a table. It's patio is a lovely spot to while away a weekend afternoon, sipping cocktails and old world red wine and watch condo residents walk their dogs. Come Sunday afternoon, tables mean nothing as resident DJ Mr. Melanin and rotating guests spin an eclectic and extremely tasteful selection of lounge, bossa nova and electro soul music 2-6 p.m. This quadruple threat of delicious pizza, booze, sun and hip tunes is known as Tacoma's only daytime summer party, "Dayclub."
5. The Vancouver, B.C., band The Plodes's debut album, A Foot Was As Long As... A Foot!, is packed to the brim with odd ideas and unbridled energy. The songs whip by, with none of them even approaching the two-minute mark, riding high on punk rhythms and fiery accordion. "I'm stimulated by the absurdity and the stupidity of something," says lead singer and guitarist Reid Blakly. "I just put out what I think is an interesting idea for a song." The Plodes join Gay Ghost and November Witch at 6 p.m. in Le Voyeur. Read Rev. Adam McKinney's full feature on the Plodes in the Music and Culture section.
LINK: Sunday, Aug. 25 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area
