5 Things To Do Today: Rockwell Powers and DJ Phinisey, "Star Wars," Taste of Cuba, burlesque and more ...

By Volcano Staff on October 12, 2013

SATURDAY, OCT. 12 2013 >>>

1. From the first resonant chords of piano on Rockwell Powers's and DJ Phinisey's new album, BUILD, it's clear that this is an album that strives to be more than just another album of blustering and posturing. Accompanied by the reading of a poem by Jesse Ann Fouts, opening track "BuildxPoem1" explores the compellingly picturesque idea of a city built of bones and flesh, flanked by seas of fear and longing. It's an entrancing image with which to open one's album, and Powers follows through on this promise, delivering an album that splits its time between melancholy ruminations about insecurity and spellbinding indictments of the state of music, arts and city. All of these themes are played out over a bed of tastefully restrained beats and washes of electronics. The release show for BUILD is all ages and will be held at downtown's Grit City GrindHouse - a skate and art shop - at 9 p.m. with the Breaklites, RA Scion and Mr. Melanin. Read Rev. Adam McKinney thoughts on the album and discussion with Rockwell Powers in the Music and Culture section.

2. Bird lovers from far and wide will flock (get it?) to Tacoma for the 10th annual Bird Lovers' Weekend at the Museum of Glass. Iittala master glassblowers Arto Lahtinen and Kirsi Antila enter the Hot Shop are in the Hot Shop with bird-related art activities as part of Family Day. Click here for full schedule.

3. The Puyallup Public Library celebrates Star Wars Reads Day with "astromech builder" and history buff Cole Horton from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. He's capping off a series of events by revealing how George Lucas's science-fantasy universe was influenced by the pop culture of his youth. It's a great way to introduce younglings and Padawan learners to the Light Side of both reading and 20th-century history.

4. Want to get the feel of Cuba? Go to Miami. Let's face it, with such a small Cuban population, Tacoma is typically deprived of the multitudes of cultural goodies that emanate from Fidel's little isle 90 miles off the Keys. But yearly, to the rescue comes the Tacoma-Cienfuegos Sister City's Taste of Cuba.  The evening includes a whole pig roasted in a pit, live music by trio Sin Embargo, salsa dancing and instruction and a silent/live auction of Cuban curiosities beginning at 5 p.m. in the Asia Pacific Cultural Center.

5. Tacoma's resident burlesque troupe, the Gritty City Sirens, will be throwing a Halloween-themed "Spooktacular Soiree," which does well to reflect these different aspects of burlesque. In addition to the Sirens's always engaging performances, there will be appearances by Ginger S Mack of Olympia's Tush burlesque troupe and belly dancer Carol Bui. Thrown on top of all of this will be the soulful sounds of the Kim Archer Band and Ninja Kat on the turntables. It will be a night of sensory overload and, perhaps, just a little bit of spectacular chaos. It begins at 9 p.m. in the 502 Downtown bar.

LINK: Saturday, Oct. 12 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area