FRIDAY, SEPT. 27 2013 >>>
1. Zombies are taking over T-town - and no - not the bath salt eating kind, but the kind that in real life are fun-loving people who want to get gory for a good cause. The Tacoma Zombie Festival and Preparedness Expo is back, with a new name - QZ-CON - and a military-focused sci-fi convention that combines the popular theme of surviving the zombie apocalypse with old school rockabilly punk. For the next three days at La Quinta Inns & Suites, expect a refugee camp military vehicle display, kid's zombie hunter costume contest, zombie freeze tag, open invitational writer's slush party, with music by The Hot Roddin' Romeos and Back Alley Barbers Saturday. This is a benefit for the Wounded Warrior Project.
2. On Erin Island, an idyllic fishing village off the coast of Ireland, the crew of a fishing boat disappears, whales start appearing dead on the shore, a local lobsterman catches a strange tentacled creature in his trap. Soon it becomes clear there's something big out there, and that it's hungry. It's time to rally the villagers, arm the troops ... and head to the pub. Grabbers opens today at The Grand Cinema. Read Jared Lovrak's review here.
3. Jeff Torlina, Ph.D., associate professor of sociology in Utah, will launch the 2013-2014 Saint Martin's University Harvie Social Justice Lecture Series with a talk that will underscore the importance of social justice in creating sustainable peace at 4 p.m. in the University's Harned Hall.
4. Instead of just one weekend, the Broadway Center is expanding its Tacoma Fall Free For All festival throughout the year, which kicks off at 7:30 p.m. when Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir performs at the Rialto Theater. A San Francisco based vocalist and percussionist, Tillery has explored African drumming, blues and African American roots music. With the choir, she focuses on spirituals, field hollers and black folk music rooted in the South.
5. Southwest Louisiana-based guitarist, songwriter, and singer Sonny Landreth is a musician's musician. His unorthodox blues slide guitar style comes from the manner in which he simultaneously plays slide and makes fingering movements on the fretboard. Landreth, who has an easygoing personality, can play it all, like any good session musician. Watch how it is done at 8 p.m. in Jazzbones.
LINK: Friday, Sept. 27 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area
