FRIDAY, NOV. 29 2013 >>>

1. In the spirit of making the best out of a bad situation, Zach Powers has organized a Black Friday "mini-concert series" to simultaneously take the sting out of the dubious holiday and to direct shoppers to local establishments. From 1 to 5:30 p.m., select downtown Tacoma stores will be host to mini-performances from local acts. At each of these businesses, one band will show up and play a brief, 15-minute set, designed to draw in shoppers with being too distracting a presence: 1 p.m. at Learning Sprout Toys will feature singer-songwriters Olivia Joy Hustoft and Jenny Snipstead; 2 p.m. at UrbanXchange will have Rockwell Powers; from there, it's 3 p.m. at King's Books with Goldfinch; 4 p.m. finds Apartment Lights at Millesime Designs; and the day closes out at 5 p.m. with Q-Dot at Feather & Oar. Read Rev. Adam McKinney's full feature on the Tacoma Black Friday Concert Series in the Music and Culture section.

2. As you know, the Washington State History Museum has taken a step back in time to study one of America's greatest unsolved mysteries: the 1971 disappearance of skyjacker D.B. Cooper from a plane traveling from Portland to Sea-Tac. What you might not know is Geoffrey Gray - the author of Skyjack: The Hunt for D.B. Cooper - will host a 2:30 p.m. book signing and 3:30 p.m. presentation on his research and conclusions. He'll also be available to join attendees and chat theories afterward at The Swiss. 

3. We dig holiday lights. We just don't like holiday lights on our office (why? laziness, lack of skill, laziness, lack of patience, laziness - you get the drift). Ah, but there's that wonderful Tacoma institution of Zoolights, the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium's holiday light show and extravaganza. We are not talking a few dinky lights thrown haphazardly into a shrub (much like our sad little office displays). No. We are talking more than half a MILLION lights, crafted whimsically throughout the zoo. Better? Zoolights throws in these groovy little extras like camel rides (yes, really), an antique carousel and a scuba-diving Santa on select days. Zoolights opens for the season from 5-9 p.m.

4. Break out the feel-good tears, tissues, angel wings and silver bells, because local theater is bringing a holiday classic to life. Here are some hints: George Bailey, Clarence the Guardian Angel, Bedford Falls, Christmas Eve transformation, life really is good, "every time a bell rings an angel gets its wings" ... (sniff, sniff). The wonderful and historic Tacoma Little Theatre, located in Tacoma's Stadium District, has been delighting audiences of all ages since 1918 (making it one of the oldest community theaters in the United States) and is taking on the holiday staple, It's A Wonderful Life, at 7 p.m. 

5. Little Orphan Annie likes you. Little Orphan Annie wants to be your friend. Little Orphan Annie wants you to visit her in the orphanage. Little Orphan Annie wants you to adopt her. Little Orphan Annie wants to live with you. Little Orphan Annie wants. Little Orphan Annie wants. Go watch her from a distance in the happiest musical in America and be grateful she has Daddy Warbucks. Little Orphan Annie can be seen at 8 p.m. in the Tacoma Musical Playhouse.

PLUS: Holiday Events Calendar

PLUS: South Sound Holiday Command Center

LINK: Friday, Nov. 29 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area