FRIDAY, OCT. 4, 2013 >>>

1. Musical performances during openings at B2 Fine Art Gallery are nothing new, but the gallery is branching out into music in a big way with the first of a two-part series of art celebrating music. "SPIN 1: American Vinyl Exhibition" - which has been extended through Nov. 16 - is the first of two shows with portraits of musicians in photography and paint augmented with vinyl records to buy, sell and trade; gallery talks and musical performances throughout the duration of the exhibition. This first show focuses on gospel, blues, country and folk, and includes art and photography celebrating giants of music from Woody Gutherie and Robert Johnson to Dylan. at 8 p.m., B2 hosts a Country/Folk Hoedown featuring The Brothers Jim and Scuff & Al's Goodtime Preservation Society. Net proceeds to benefit the National Blues Foundation Hart Fund and Tacoma's Eloise's Cooking Pot Food Bank.

2. We love Tacoma's Annual St. Nicholas Greek Festival. We love the group dancing, the fine food; hell, we even love yelling "Opa!" for no apparent reason. But let's be real. For us, the entire festival is just a complicated set dressing for a baklava-delivery system. Oh, we'll hang out and listen to them ramble on about Socrates, the Olympics and "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," but we'll be picking the flaky crumbs from our shirts and stuffing them into our hungry taste-holes while we do it. We'll dance beginning at 5 p.m. and eat the food - lamb, pork souvlaki, salata, loukomades, dolmades, tyropitakia -  not just because we like it, but in an attempt to bring the honey content in our blood down low enough so we can scarf down another slab of triangular goodness. In its 52nd year, the Greek Festival at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church - 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. - will donate a portion of proceeds to the Fish Food Bank.

3. Beer! Lederhosen! Beer! Bratwurst! Beer! Yodeling! Beer! Austrian Amazon! Beer! Oktoberfest Northwest has all of these fine things, but, most importantly, it has beer. The official opening ceremony and tapping of the Oktoberfest firkin by the 2013 Festmaster will take place at 6:15 p.m., although, beer will be served from the opening at 11 a.m. Other event highlights happening at the Washington State Fair & Event Center include a large Biergarten entertainment hall with national and international German bands and entertainers, authentic German cuisine, the German Corner gift section, the Miss Oktoberfest Northwest Swing Girl and the running of the wiener dogs. And don't forget to wash all that German food down with ... well, you know, beer!

4. There are those among us who can make their trip to a hair stylist the most riveting story you've heard all week. People whose stories never trail off into "it was really cool. ..." Envy them. They are not like you. Not only do they have great success at parties, they have a future at the Olympia Timberland Library. See what all the storytelling fuss is about with "Listen Here: A Lunch Break Story Time for Adult." The first Friday of every month, professional audiobook narrator and voice actor Corey Snow will entertain and inspire you with readings from the wide, wonderful world of short fiction from 12:10-12:50 p.m.  If you can stand a 10-minute hairdo story, just imagine how riveted you'll be by something with an actual plot.

5. Before entertainment moves indoors, and the comedy and theater season swings into play, Olympia likes to have one more outdoor celebration - Fall Arts Walk. Nearly 100 businesses will open their doors and sidewalks to artists, musicians and performers for two days, allowing Olympia to showcase, network and entertain. A stroll through town will promise to be a treasure trove of delight tonight from 5-10 p.m. More than 250 artists will saturate the town with creativity. Look for art in all places; perhaps stumble across a wine tasting while observing oil paintings. Expect street musicians, live art and surprising mediums. Stephanie Johnson, arts and events manager for the city of Olympia, says, "Arts Walk is always new" because, while she provides the framework, it's the businesses and artists that get to collaborate in new and exciting ways.

LINK: Friday, Oct. 4 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

Filed under: 5 Things To Do, Events, Food & Drink, Puyallup, Tacoma, Olympia, Word, Arts, Music,