FRIDAY, AUG. 29 2014 >>>
1. You poor, tragic thing. Your friends have all but deserted you for a fabulous holiday weekend camping in the mountains, and you are stranded, Banarama-style, here in the South Sound. The only way to exact revenge is to have a better time than those so-called friends. This calls for some quality time at the Harbor Days Maritime Festival and Tugboat Races. Stupid camping. Stupid friends. For 900 years the city of Olympia has hosted Harbor Days - a mix of seafaring, food and fun. While Harbor Days doesn't sound overly exciting considering every coastal town seems to have such a festival, this weekend's event has something unique - tugboats. Apparently, like the swallows returning to Capistrano, tugboats do the same in Olympia. There are vintage, working and retired tugs to get your heart aflutter. And if that doesn't get your life vest in a bunch, Sunday also features tugboat races up Budd Inlet.
2. Pack your snacks, blankets and lawn chairs and head to the park to watch Norwegian sister save the other from the disco-inspired ice palace she's entombed herself in. Good news, the rescuing lass has helpers - a sturdy young woodsman, his trusty reindeer and a goofy snowman. Metro Parks Tacoma and Click! Will screen top-notch animated film Frozen - with the snow and ice deserving special commendation - at dusk in Steward Heights Park, 402 E. 56th St. Live music and entertainment, inflatable obstacle course, food vendors, face painting and games begin at 5 p.m.
3. There's a dope show at The Artesian Park & Commons from 6-10 p.m. Afrok and guests will drop lyrics as part of the Oly Park Days series. This week features some live singing and performances mostly from amateur artists, but included in the lineup of talent will be the aforementioned, award-winning Afrok along with QP & Legac Jones - all outside under the sun, moon and stars. Check it.
4. Say kids! Do you like the rock and roll? Gladness, Dick Dagger & The C Monsters, Big Idiot, Crack House and Fuzzy Math rock the all-ages venue Northern in downtown Olympia beginning at 8 p.m.
5. They say good things come in threes. Bandolier, People Under The Sun and The Echo Echo Echoes, are celebrating a record release at 9 p.m. in The New Frontier Lounge, a trifecta of "Hell yeah!" for Tacoma. But if you've seen your share of these bands, and think you'll just pick up their album online or at the next show, let me give you an extra reason to attend: Tela Novella. Hot in the midst of a huge tour, playing across the U.S. with bands such as Shannon and the Clams, The Hive Dwellers, Mount Whateverest and others, Tela Novella is the perfect band to round out the night. From Austin, Texas, the quartet nails that sweet psychedelic indie pop. Words I would use to describe Tela Novella: sweet, swanky, sexy. Words I would use to describe Friday night: Your ass, live music, New Frontier.
LINK: Friday, Aug. 29 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area
