SATURDAY, JAN. 18 2014 >>>

1. Looks like the Bettie Brigade, Dockyard Derby Dames have competition for the title of Fastest Wheels in the South Sound tonight. The National Speed Skating Circuit (NSC) holds its first event of the year at 7 p.m. in the Tacoma Armory.  Inline skaters will race around a wooden track at speeds of up to 30 mph, in both sprints and endurance challenges.

2. Let's Play! will fill the Tacoma Dome with more than 40 different local sports and fitness organizations from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Each fitness outfit on tap will offer up demonstrations or hands-on experiences so you can try your hand at everything from martial arts to lacrosse to ZUMBA to rock climbing. The event aims to get adults, families and especially local kids interested in being active. After all, how can you know if you love fencing or canoeing if you've never tried it?  

3. Do you know what Shodo is? How about Sumi-e? Tako? Ikebana? Well, you have to know origami - don't you? OK, quickly, in reverse order, they are: paper-folding, flower-arranging, kite-making, ink-painting and calligraphy. Confused? Excellent. Now you can go to the Oshogatsu in Olympia: Japanese New Year Celebration to get yourself straightened out. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Olympia Center, you cannot only learn the difference between all of these delicate arts, you can experience firsthand Japanese dance and music, taiko drumming, aikido and vocal performances. You'll walk away culturally educated and suddenly able to kill hours at work by folding all of your memos into little cranes and flowers. Oh, how you'll Odori it.

4. If you're a fan of Downton Abbey, and have craved receiving a fancy engraved invitation that reads, "Lord and Lady Hinklebottom request your company for dinner at Hinklebottom Manor in East Thrappingstock," then this is your lucky day. OK, "Hinklebottom Manor" is actually the Key Center Pierce County Library and "East Thrappingstock" is Lakebay, but it's still a fancy event. Food Historian Tames Alan discusses various aspects of British upper-class dining as it would've been eaten "upstairs" at Downton Abbey prior to the outbreak of World War I at 2 p.m. Manners, menu and accouterments of a full 12-course meal are on the table (figuratively speaking. They are not, we repeat not actually serving a full, 12-course meal). 

5. Waylon Jennings sang like he meant business. He didn't get fancy, and he didn't send his voice on missions it could not complete, but there was an urgency in his best songs that pounded them home. When he sang something, it stayed sung. The Outlaws will mosey on into Doyle's at 9 p.m. for a Jennings tribute. Pro tip: Find a parking spot early on St. Helens before the dusty pick-up trucks cranking AM radio arrive.

LINK: Saturday, Jan. 18 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area