THE LOWDOWN ON WHAT'S UP THIS WEEKEND >>>

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Rain likely, hi 56, lo 50

Saturday: Cloudy, hi 61, lo 49

Sunday: Rain, hi 58, lo 48

>>> OCT. 7-8: OLYMPIA FALL ARTS WALK

Olympia's Arts Walk happens twice a year, but the fall edition has always been the little sister, bundled up and toting her umbrella, not as glamorous as spring's costumed, sandaled walk. This time around, though, the autumn version of Arts Walk has grown to two days. Waterproof gear is still a good precaution, but there's twice as much time to see the art. There are also more businesses participating (106 compared to last fall's 101) and performances happening both days. Besides visual art, music, dance and street performance, Arts Walk offers the chance to see and be seen. And many participating businesses offer snacks, desserts and even wine. (That's not listed in the guide, though; think of it as a scavenger hunt of sorts.) Click here to discover some of the outrageous offerings. - MG

• Downtown Olympia, Friday, Oct. 7 from 5 to 10 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 8 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., free throughout downtown Olympia, 360.753.8380

>>> OCT. 7-9: OKTOBERFEST NORTHWEST

You totally need more excuses to drink beer. That gut and that child support payment shouldn't stop you now. This weekend in Puyallup, slurp down all the brew you can stomach at the 7^th annual Oktoberfest Northwest. In addition to the obvious beer, expect tons of food (read: brats, pretzels) and tons of authentic entertainment (read: polka). Still not sold? Did we mention the Hammerschlagen? The wiener dog races?  The hats?

• Puyallup Fair & Events Center, 11 a.m. - midnight Friday - Saturday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday, free on Friday 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Regular Price after 3pm on Friday and all day Saturday $10, Sunday $5, Children 12 and under free all weekend, 110 Ninth Ave. SW, Puyallup, oktoberfestnw.com

>>> OCT. 7-9: CELEBRATION OF WESTERN & WILDLIFE ART

Wait just a freakin' second! You mean to tell us Oktoberfest Northwest AND the Fred Oldfield (his name LITERALLY has the world "old" right in it)-powered Celebration of Western & Wildlife Art Show and Sale will both be at the Puyallup Fairgrounds this weekend? Simultaneously? Like, right next to one another? Jesus. This is almost too good to be true. Oldfield's Celebration of Western & Wildlife Art Show and Sale includes auctions, free wine and cheese for all, the Rainier 2 Cylinder Tractor Club and more paintings of cattle and horses than you can shake a stick at. And don't sleep on "pioneer spinning" with Mickey Pederson.

• Puyallup Fair & Events Center  - enter through the Gold Gate, 3 p.m. - 10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sunday,  110 Ninth Ave. SW, Puyallup, fredoldfieldcenter.org

>>> OCT. 8-9: FALL FREE FOR ALL

As the old proverb suggest, the only thing better than a community arts festival boasting more than 75 awesome events and activities for the entire family is a completely FREE community arts festival boasting more than 75 awesome events and activities for the entire family. Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner. This weekend's Fall Free For All offers all of the above and the proverbial bag of chips. If you have yet to introduce yourself with Tacoma's awesome Theatre District, now's your chance. Wristbands, free but required for entry to Fall Free For All events, are available through the Broadway Center's box office by calling 253.591.5894. Be sure to check out the performance by Drew Grow and The Pastors Wives Saturday night. Find all the info you need right here.

• Theater District, Saturday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., free, broadwaycenter.org, Tacoma, 253.591.5894

>>> OCT. 8: REBECCA HOWARD MURAL CELEBRATION

If you've been kicking around downtown Olympia lately you've no doubt been impressed by the Rebecca Howard Mural taking shape on the side of the Bread Peddler. Howard is credited as one of Olympia's very first business women, in the 1860s. She was also African American. Howard was the owner, cook and manager of the Pacific House, described by historians as a popular restaurant and hotel back in Olympia's early heyday. This year the Olympia Downtown Association and the Olympia Heritage Commission, along with historians Shanna Stevenson and Lynn Erickson, have made it their duty to make Howard's story more well-known. The mural, brought to life by local sign-master Ira Coyne and fellow artists Vince Ryland, Arthur Crews, Sara Calland, and Christopher Ross, is all part of that plan. Saturday, from 10 a.m. - noon the Rebecca Howard Mural will be celebrated. Get in on that action.

• The Bread Peddler, 10 a.m. - noon, 222 Capitol Way, Olympia

>>> OCT. 8: TACOMA MURALS PROJECT DEDICATION & BBQ

Speaking of murals, the Tacoma Murals Project will dedicate and celebrate this year's additions Saturday at Bergerson Terrace, the site of one of this year's coolest new pieces of community art. Part of Tacoma's Safe and Clean effort, and an initiative of the Graffiti Reduction Through Community Based Art team associated with Safe and Clean, the Tacoma Murals Project bills itself as an effort that, "joins artists and communities through the collaborative process of mural-making to create powerful artworks that can transform public spaces, neighborhood identities, and individual lives." So far, so true. Saturday's event will include City of Tacoma Arts Jedi Amy McBride, Michael Power from the Tacoma Housing Authority and a whole slew of artists. Plus, you can get up close and personal with the new Bergerson Terrace mural - which is pretty sweet.

• Bergerson Terrace, 4 p.m., free, 5305 S. Orchard St.,  tacomaarts.wordpress.com

>>> OCT. 8: HELLA EFFICIENT LIGHTBULBS

We know our demographic. We know the masses reading this are going to get a huge charge to learn Tacoma Power will be throwing three upcoming events designed to promote energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (yay!), including exchanging CFL light bulbs for old, non-energy efficient bulbs (double yay!). Saturday at Home Depot on Tacoma Mall Blvd. Tacoma Power will throw the first such event, offering attendees the ability to exchange up to five incandescent bulbs for life CFLs, buy qualified CFLs and get one free (up to 10) and enjoy "fun activities related to energy-efficient lighting." Future events will be held Oct. 15 at the Home Depot on Center Street in Tacoma, and Nov. 5 at the Lowe's on Orchard Street in Tacoma.

• Home Depot, 7050 Tacoma Mall Blvd., Tacoma  

>>> WHERE OUR STAFF IS GOING

ALEC CLAYTON Visual Arts Critic
My most excellent plans are to go to Pugstock Saturday night. That's a benefit party/performance for Oly actor/director Pug Bujold. And Sunday is the candidate forum at PFLAG-Olympia where we get to hear all of the political candidates tell us why we should vote for them.

BRETT CIHON Meat Market Correspondent/Features Writer
I continue my string of atypical meat markets this weekend with a stop at 1022 South. I love the change of scenery, but wonder if I'm starting to get dance floor withdrawals.

NIKKI TALOTTA Features Writer
My weekend prediction: I will be relishing in the fact that I was drawn onstage at the Emerald Queen Casino for a chance to audition for Wheel of Fortune. I will have kicked everybody's ass during the practice round, guessing the correct phrase after only two letters. There will then be copious amounts of bragging to friends about how I'm flying to LA to meet Vanna White and win tens of thousands of dollars. *Sigh* I hope it comes true...

CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL: Theater Critic
We're attending a benefit for a friend and writing thank you cards for our recent wedding celebration. My wife has Monday off (banker's hours), so I might even find time to make out with her.

REV. ADAM MCKINNEY: Music Writer
Friday, I'll be attending Basemint's first show in quite a while. But earlier that day, I'll be helping to make a ridiculous amount of pretzels for my Saturday activity, Maltoberfest.

JOANN VARNELL: Theater Critic
It is the Fall Free for All and I have procurred wrist bands for myself and my little son and some excellent friends. The husband is running sound and performing Saturday at 9:30 with Tad Monroe. I *might* be performing with my husband and Tad but I am mostly excited for Kellie Schaeffer and Drew Grow! Hurray for Portlanders who are practically Tacomans!!

JENNIFER JOHNSON: Food & Lifestyles Writer
Kayaking Friday if the weather takes a startling turn for the warmer. In reality, going to all of the downtown museums, having lunch at Pacific Grill, and then hitting the conservatory at Wright Park with visiting family members. Saturday I'll take the sisters to hot yoga at Expand Yoga and then have a Pampered Chef luncheon party. In the evening I'm heading to Gig Harbor for dinner at JW Restaurant. Sunday- church, family time, Pt Defiance Zoo. Somewhere in there I will do a week's worth of math homework, write a paper on Hamlet and one on the possible parallels between today's social and governmental climate and post-revolutionary colonial days in America.

STEPH DEROSA: Person, Place or Thing Corespondent
As you read this, my beloved 10-month-old Boxer puppy will be having surgery to repair his broken femur.  Unfortunately this surgery requires pins, screws and steel rods and costs a few thousand dollars.  In order to pay for this surgery, this weekend I will be panhandling on various Tacoma street corners.  In my spare time I plan to possibly hang out with Melanie Rushforth and take in a few parties.  I hear the DyDD Trampires have already begun the jello shots and melanie has found the perfect push-up bra.

STEVE DUNKELBERGER Meat Market Photographer
The boss has me shooting the Tacoma Film Fest Thursday, MaltoberFest at the Java Jive Saturday, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame action on Sunday.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

ARTS COVERAGE TO END ALL ARTS COVERAGE >>>

At this point it goes without saying. If you're looking for coverage of local arts in Tacoma, Olympia, and all points in between, the Weekly Volcano is THE place to find it. Our goal is to consistently provide the best local arts coverage possible to our fantastic readers -- always be on the lookout for ways to shine a light on all the awesome creativity we see around us.

Here's a look at the Volcano arts coverage waiting for you this week in print and online.

MOVIE BIZ BUZZ: The Sea Is All I Know

If you think TFF lacks any celeb cred, think again. Tucked away in Saturday's Drama Shorts package (4:15 p.m., Grand Cinema) lies The Sea Is All I Know, which boasts not one but two of those Hollywood folks you may know. Melissa Leo most notably won the Best Actress Oscar earlier this year for her work in The Fighter, and character actor Peter Gerety has, over three decades, appeared in numerous TV shows and movies. (I personally relished his world-weary police captain in Inside Man.)

Known for his supporting roles, Gerety finds himself front and center in The Sea, playing Sonny, a New England fisherman married to Sara (Leo). They have a terminally-ill daughter, Angelina (Kelly Hutchinson), who asks Mom and Dad to help her in performing euthanasia. Together and in private these parents agonize over their final decision, wavering unsteadily between mercy and what Sonny calls "natural law." ... -- Christopher Wood

FEATURE: OLYMPIA FALL ARTS WALK

Olympia's Arts Walk happens twice a year, but the fall edition has always been the little sister, bundled up and toting her umbrella, not as glamorous as spring's costumed, sandaled walk.

This time around, though, the autumn walk has grown to two days. Waterproof gear is still a good precaution, but there's twice as much time to see the art. There are also more businesses participating (106 compared to last fall's 101) and performances happening both days.

Besides visual art, music, dance and street performance, Arts Walk offers the chance to see and be seen. And many participating businesses offer snacks, desserts and even wine. ... -- Molly Gilmore

FEATURE: TACOMA FILM FESTIVAL

How about a magic trick? Most films perform one; they conceal as much as they reveal. They have us so mesmerized by the world flashing onscreen that we barely tune in to that other world just beyond the frame, that of the film's creators. They cover up their own tracks so nicely, sacrificing their real stories to serve the fictions spun for an audience's enjoyment.

Well, the curtain comes down at this year's Tacoma Film Festival. From Oct. 6-13, The Grand Cinema will blanket this town in over one hundred shorts and features. All of us will find something worth seeing, I'm sure. But beyond keeping movie lovers happy, TFF exists for producers, actors, writers and directors. Many will come from near and far to mingle with viewers and share their works, as well as a part of themselves - the stories behind the stories. ... -- Christopher Wood

THEATER REVIEW: THE LOVE LIST

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Olympia theater companies aren't competing with each other (even last weekend, when three different shows opened downtown), they're competing with television. If you're a producer who plans to charge money for tickets to a musical, then it needs to be better than Glee - a task which, let's face it, hasn't been difficult for over a year. But if you stage a sitcom, by golly, you've bitten off a challenging task indeed, because your competition is Modern Family, Parks and Rec, and Up All Night. Situation comedy has always been hit or miss, but cable subscribers have plenty of yuk-worthy material to enjoy on their DVRs. If your production can't be as polished and funny as what's on the boob tube, then you'll find yourself playing to barren houses.

The Love List at Harlequin has been playing to standing ovations, and that's because it's better than TV. ... -- Christian Carvajal

THEATER REVIEW: ALWAYS ... PATSY CLINE

I suppose one of the defining traits of legendary talent is that it cannot be reproduced. Thousands of doughy Elvis impersonators later, there's still just one King, and Beatlemania remains a mere echo of the Fab Four. Likewise, there has only ever been, and can only ever be, one Virgina "Patsy" Cline. We don't need to be fans of early Sixties country to know that. To this day, "I Fall to Pieces" remains one of the great karaoke destroyers of all time. You can't sing it; I can't, either, though it seems to have been written for my deep baritone range.

So give it up for Kittra Coomer, who dares not one, not two, but 27 Cline numbers in a little over two hours for Capital Playhouse's production of Always...Patsy Cline. ... -- Christian Carvajal

THEATER REVIEW: LITTLE WOMEN

Unfortunately, for all the talent on display, they were still doing a musical adaptation of Little Women, and there is only so much you can do to rescue a show from such a fate. A book about four women growing toward adulthood, and the changes that gradually affect their lives, is distilled into a play in which some things happen, people change suddenly and, for no apparent reason, there are some weddings ... the end. ... -- Joseph Izenman

THEATER REVIEW: BUNNICULA

Last I checked Dictionary.com, a vampire was defined as a preternatural being who sucks the blood of humans or animals, and that's a scary concept for youngsters. Luckily, James and Deborah Howe's kid-lit Bunnicula is nothing of the kind. Rather, he's a nocturnal rabbit with teleportation powers who prefers to drain the carotene from carrots and other produce. In Olympia Family Theater's version, those powers are accompanied by brief strobe effects, which I'll warn you about as I'm pretty sure house management didn't. (It's a common oversight in local theater, but I've seen the worst-case neurological repercussions so I'm sensitive to it.) That glitch aside, Bunnicula is a wittily staged, charismatically acted comedy that'll entertain rather than traumatize patrons of all ages. ... -- Christian Carvajal

PLUS: Comprehensive Arts & Entertainment Calendar

PLUS: Even More Freakin' Events

PLUS: Just Plain Goofy Stuff

THIS WEEK'S VOLCANO IS AWESOME >>>

Sure, it was a little harder than usual to concentrate this week around Weekly Volcano World Headquarters, what, with the publication of this week's Volcano Restaurant Guide. Deliciousness abounded. Pictures of doughnuts and bacon French toast and all sort of delectable treats floated around the office. To be truthful, it was sweet torture.

But, lucky for you, the highly trained monkeys tasked with producing the Volcano's music section each week soldiered on, pumping out another fine example of music-oriented literary awesomeness that hits streets today, inside the tastiest looking Volcano in some time.

Here's a peek at the musical goodness waiting for you in print and online ...

FEATURE: Historical Society honors Grit City's rock ‘n' roll roots

All across the world, but particularly in the Pacific Northwest-and especially in Tacoma-the influence is still felt. The impact of certain bands called the Sonics, the Wailers, the Ventures and others still reverberates. These were groundbreaking bands in the late '50s and early '60s that helped pave the way for punk, grunge and everything generally loud that came to follow. The Sonics poked holes in their amps to attain that sweet level of distortion, and out of those holes burst decades of garage rock spirit and punk rock attitude.

Sunday, the Tacoma Historical Society will gather for its 5^th Annual Destiny Dinner, although this time the focus will rest on the rock 'n' roll pioneers of the Pacific Northwest.

"Part of what makes Tacomans Tacomans is our respect for our cultural heritage, and rock 'n' roll is a part of that," says Owen Atkins, member of the F***ing Eagles, as well as a Tacoma Historical Society member. ... -- Rev. Adam McKinney

DAMAGE REPORT: NoMeansNo and the Tacoma Cone

NoMeansNo, Canada's Prime Ministers of Thinking Man's Punk, sure do rock for three guys old enough to be MY dad! With so many LP's under their belt, the band's 90-plus-minute set Friday night ebbed and flowed with sing-along brilliance and tongue twisting perfection, spanning nearly three decades of off kilter jazz punk. One onlooker stuck outside in the cold peered in on the throbbing scene and said, "It's like the Grateful Dead, Primus and the Dead Kennedy's all had a baby!" ... (Ha!)

After a steamy set the band signed tons of autographs, and I was lucky enough to get in one question.

"What is your favorite memory of any Tacoma show you've played over the years?" I asked.

They sat there for a bit, throwing out stories of the Community World Theater and even the original Sixth Avenue Hell's Kitchen. But, after reflection, one show stood out for the band.

"Playing the Tacoma Cone with My Name," they all answered.  It made me chuckle, as it's one of my favorites too. The Tacoma Cone was actually The Rotunda at the University of Puget Sound back in the late 1980s. It WAS an incredible gig, and makes me wonder why more shows don't happen there. ... -- Jason McKibbin

HIP-HOP: TODD SYKES

2011 has been a huge year for 253 hip-hop. One of the busiest artists this year has been Todd Sykes. He's dropped three albums! That's major grind. Sykes' latest is Out of the Blue - a fuller hip-hop album than his previous two releases. (His first two were mostly hip-hop/jazzy/soul instrumental delights.) This current album is full of Sykes rhyming over his own beats. I guess it's his first full release with vocals, but it's not much different than his first two albums. Todd has a vibe and its classic smooth hip-hop. His voice has the same effect as his beats: mellow and easy. Sykes' topics are also safe, basic and cool. If you're a hip-hop purist you're going to dig Todd Sykes. Go treat yourself to his whole catalogue, free at wearecityhall.com. ... -- Josh Rizeberg

PLUS: Better Living Through Music - Tallest Tree, Charlie Musselwhite, Rooftop Warrior, Maltoberfest

PLUS: Live Local Music Listings

PLUS: Concert Alert

PLUS: Things That Are a Complete Waste of Time

THURSDAY, OCT. 6, 2011 >>>

1. In 2006, musician David Nichols released his first album as Tex, The Angels Came to Take Me Home. A certain gloom hangs over the record in shrouds, as each song takes on either a sad-sack resignation or a bitterly stubborn stomp. When the clouds part and a sunny hook pops through, there's still a sadness looming in the lyrics. Tex didn't release another album until just last year. Tonight the Nichols and Tex make a return to the stage, playing The New Frontier with Canon Canyon, Library and Miss Shevaughn and Yuma Wray.

2. OMFG! The Tacoma Film Fest kicks off today. But you know this already because you've already read the Volcano's extensive preview coverage of this year's cinema extravaganza. Find something to go see today here.

3. This morning at 11 a.m. head to the Tacoma Art Museum to learn exactly how museums determine what art they collect. A museum curator will lead the presentation.

4. Boom! Mike Coucoules hosts the new Thursday Acoustic Open Mic at Medi'a Pizza & Pasta in Tacoma tonight from 8:30 - 11:30 p.m. It's all ages until 10 p.m.

5. It's "Ladies Night," in Lacey at The Play Pen. And hell yes DJ Kewlaid will be in the house!

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music tonight

ONLINE CHATTER >>>

Today's comment comes from the Volcano's own Christian Carvajal, in response to his theater review of Olympia Family Theater's Bunnicula.

Carvajal writes,

I've since been informed that warning signs about the strobe lights were, in fact, posted, though neither I nor my wife saw them on Sunday. It's possible they were blocked by patrons' bodies in the smallish, crowded lobby. Not OFT's fault, though!

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 5, 2011 >>>

1. Did you know Wednesday doesn't need to be a bummer of a night? Did you realize the Sammy Steele Band plays Lady Luck Cowgirl Up every Wednesday night? Get learned, bubba. Starting tonight.

2. Always wanted to meet Vanna White? Always wanted to pick letters so expertly it wipes that smug look right off Pat Sajak's face? Well, Vanna and Pat wont be at the Emerald Queen Casino tonight, but a Wheel of Fortune auditions show will be - kicking off at 5 p.m. Find more info on the Emerald Queen Casino website.

3. DJ Iceman spins tonight at 54th St. Sports Bar and Grill in South Tacoma. If he tells you he doesn't like you because you're dangerous, prove his ass wrong on the dance floor ... or playing beach volleyball. Honestly, the dance floor scenario is much more applicable to this event.

4. Tonight marks the "Pay What You Can" performance of Harlequin's The Love List, which Christian Carvajal reviews in tomorrow's Volcano. Yes, he likes it. In fact, he says it's better than TV. The show starts at 8 p.m. at the State Theater in downtown Olympia.

5. Musicians John Phillips and Gary Crooks will be at Pastiche Wine Bar on Tacoma's Sixth Avenue tonight.    

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music tonight

TUESDAY, OCT. 4, 2011 >>>

1. It's honestly not every day that an award-winning writer the likes of Sherman Alexie comes to Puyallup. It's not even every-other day. But today, as part of Banned Books Week, Alexie will appear at the Pioneer Park Pavilion in P-town, delivering a talk focused on issues of censorship and intellectual freedom. Alexie's acclaimed novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, has been widely censored for it content - just one of many truths that makes Alexie's inclusion in this event so fitting. The event seats only 400, so those interested in attending are advised to arrive early.

2. Tuesdays seem to be the hottest night for the overeducated South Sound masses to prove their intellectual worth. And where do such brainiacs head? Glad you asked. The GEEKS head to Paddy Coyne's Irish Pub. The Tacoma watering hole is the site of John Dicker's Geeks Who Drink pub quiz night. Dicker, a genius from Colorado, has taken the Irish Pub quiz tradition to a new level with Geeks Who Drink games across the nation, including every Tuesday nights at the downtown pub, hosted by graphic artist and Weekly Volcano production assistant Holland Hume. The quiz consists of eight rounds of eight questions and is played in teams of up to six people.

3. KC Brakes plays the Mandolin Café today. The acoustic action starts at 6 p.m., is all ages, and is completely free of cover charge.

4. It's Ha Ha Tuesday once again at Jazzbones on Sixth Avenue, meaning local comedian Ralph Porter will be hosting another hilarity filled night of laughs. Ha Ha Tuesdays now kick off at 8 p.m., with DJ Omar spinning afterward, starting around 10 p.m.

5. Get in on the "Songwriter Circle" at Traditions Café in Olympia tonight, starting at 7 p.m. Creativity abounds, and the good times are all ages.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music tonight

MONDAY, OCT. 3, 2011 >>>

1. Holy guacamole! Wolves in the Throne Room are at The New Frontier Lounge tonight in Tacoma's Dome District. Talk about an amazing band! Here's a short ode to Wolves in the Throne Room from February's Best of Olympia 2011.

2. As is customary, DJ Melodica will take up shop tonight at Magoo's Annex and bust out another rendition of Micro Mondays, offering funk, post punk, New Wave, early electronic and garage for the gyrating, Monday-drinking masses.

3. It's open mic night at the Angels Club in Olympia. The all-ages fun starts at 9 p.m., and there's no cover.

4. Let's tally up the score for Jazzbones Rockaraoke, shall we? A chance to sing onstage with a live band? Yes. Cheap Miller High Life? Yes. A valid excuse to drink on a Monday (repeat, Monday) night? Yes, yes and, oh God, yes. Have a shot of Jager and live a little.

5. Every first and third Monday of the month Drunken Poetry gets its game on at Last Word Books in Olympia. You haven't lived if you haven't experienced Drunken Poetry at Last Word. For the rundown go here.  

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music tonight

THE LOWDOWN ON WHAT'S UP THIS WEEKEND >>>

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Cloudy, hi 70, lo 53

Saturday: Chance of rain, hi 63, lo 48

Sunday: Cloudy, hi 61, lo 52

>>> FRIDAY, SEPT. 30: THERESE AMBROSI SMITH READ FROM WAX

Olympia's Orca Books welcomes novelist Therese Ambrosi Smith, who will read from her debut novel, Wax. According to promotion, Wax is a "story of strong female friendship, sexual discovery, and long-held secrets," set in the 1940s, a time period that offers WWII as a background. Described as fiction inspired by the real lives of the era's many Rosie the Riveters, themes of civil rights and feminism will no doubt be tackled.

• Orca Books, 6 p.m., free, 509 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia, 360.352.0123

>>> SATURDAY, OCT. 1: 24-HOUR COMICS DAY

Saturday members of the CLAW (Cartoonists' League of Absurdist Washingtonians) will gather at Comic Book Ink to celebrate 24 Hour Comics Day, challenging themselves once again to complete a 24 page comic in only 24 hours. This isn't the first time it's happened. In fact, 24 Hour Comics Days, and similar complete-a-comic-in-24-hours competitions, go down all over the country, all over the world, and perhaps even all over the universe. Comic Book Ink has hosted 24 Hour Comics Day two years running, with this year's madness marking the third rendition. The event benefits CLAW's scholarship fund, raising money to help students with a passion for cartooning pay for things like tuition, books or art supplies. Local cartoonists RR Anderson is said to be planning a Wyatt James Boy Detective entry. Consider yourself warned.

• Comic Book Ink, 10 a.m. start, 2510 S. 84^th St., Lakewood, 253.761.4651

>>> SATURDAY, OCT. 1: DOWNTOWN OLYMPIA CLEANUP

Just like your apartment, downtown Olympia gets messy after a while - in need of some sprucing up. That's one of the reasons why the Olympia Downtown Association and the Downtown Clean Up Committee put together two Downtown Clean Ups every year, each of them a week before the Spring and Fall Olympia Arts Walk events. And with Olympia's Fall Arts Walk just around the corner, this weekend marks the fall version of the Downtown Cleanup. Saturday volunteers will weed, sweep, rake, prune and paint downtown all for the good and beautification of the community. To volunteer or learn more check here or email odaevent@tss.net

• Downtown Olympia, 8:30 a.m. - noon, downtownolympia.com]

>>> SATURDAY, OCT. 1: Oktoberfest Tacoma

The Weekly Volcano would travel to the ends of the earth for a savory helping of local craft brews and soft pretzels. We've proven it before. But thankfully, on Saturday we only need to go as far as Tacoma's Opera Alley. Presented by the Triangle Business District, Amocat Café and The Mix, Oktoberfest Tacoma will feature local craft beer, pretzels, a pie-eating contest, chainsaw pumpkin carving and more from 2-10 p.m.

• Opera Alley, 2-10 p.m., $12-$18 includes five tastings, Seventh and Opera Alley, downtown Tacoma, oktoberfesttacoma.com

>>> SATURDAY, OCT. 1: Fall Harvest Farm Tour

A bevy of local Pierce County farms will take part in a joint vision brought to you by the WSU Extension, Pierce County Conservation District and Cascade Harvest Coalition: the HarvestFest 2011 Farm Tour. Expect farm tours (naturally), chef demos, wine tasting, hayrides, corn mazes and all the like - in addition to plenty of learning. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., experience local farms from the Puyallup Valley to Orting and beyond, including Picha Farms and Terry's Berries in P-Town, Sholz Farm and Tahoma Farms in Orting, and Blue Willow Lavender Farm on the Key Peninsula. For more info visit county.wsu.edu/king/agriculture/harvestcelebration.

>>> SUNDAY, OCT. 2: Pierce County Hunger Walk

The motto of the annual Pierce County Hunger Walk is, "Fighting hunger, one step at a time." It's a little cheese-ball, but it's also totally appropriate. According to promotional hype, last year, "more than 1,800 feet (900 or so people, we presume) ran, walked, shuffled and pedaled around Waughop Lake at Fort Steilacoom Park in Lakewood," all raising money to fight hunger in Pierce County and beyond. This year's goal is to raise $350,000, with half of the proceeds from Hunger Walk will benefit the Emergency Food and the other half going to international hunger relief agencies designated by each walker, including FISH Food Banks, St. Leo's Food Connection and several other food banks in the area.

• Fort Steilacoom Park, noon to 4 p.m., amhungerwalk.org  

>>> SUNDAY, OCT. 2: SEATTLE MANDOLIN ORCHESTRA

If you have yet to fully experience the musical majesty of the mandolin, Sunday offers perhaps the perfect opportunity to do just that, as the Tacoma Main Library welcomes the Seattle Mandolin Orchestra performing "The Italian Concert." Dedicated to, "revitalizing the mandolin ensemble and expanding its repertoire through commissions and arrangements," according to promotional hype, and led by Artistic Director and Conductor Joseph White, the Seattle Mandolin Orchestra features the entire mandolin family of instruments, even the mandocello and mandobass. Best of all Sunday's concert is free.

• Tacoma Main Library, 2 p.m., free, 1102 Tacoma Ave. S, Tacoma, 253.591.5666  

>>> WHERE OUR STAFF IS GOING

ALEC CLAYTON Visual Arts Critic
I'm going to see "The Love List" at Harlequin and think about Picasso's last years.

.

BRETT CIHON Meat Market Correspondent/Features Writer
I'm headed to the Tempest Lounge in Tacoma for a shot of Meat Market. It will be nice to drink "spirits" instead of the normal "wells."

NIKKI TALOTTA Features Writer
I've got kid's soccer games and Oyster Fest, a birthday party and little rest. Hopefully a date on Saturday night, and if I get lucky, I'll be feeling alright. These will be my weekends for the next 15 years, it's no wonder I like to drink so many beers. Cheers!

CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL: Theater Critic
As per usual, all the theater troupes in Olympia opened their shows the same weekend, so I'm seeing Always...Patsy Cline at Capital Playhouse, The Love List at Harlequin, and Bunnicula at Olympia Family Theater.

JOANN VARNELL: Theater Critic
Saturday will be packed as I leave the little son with the husband and head to a baby shower. Saturday evening I will leave the little son with a babysitter and the husband and I are heading to Seattle to a German pub for a friend's birthday party. We'll be home early enough on Saturday to make it to church on Sunday.

STEVE DUNKELBERGER Meat Market Photographer
Kiddie time with his new bike and maybe a trip to the zoo. Fabulously boring daddy stuff.

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LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

SUNDAY, SEPT. 25, 2011 >>>

1. The thing about Tacoma's Jazzbones is it rarely hosts jazz. You'd assume by the club's name that it was all jazz, all the time; but in truth history has seen more DJ nights, KRY shows, foam partiers and co-ed Jager-bomb orgies than nights of actual jazz. The good news is, at least for jazz aficionados, Sundays at Jazzbones have now been claimed by the genre that loaned the club its name, because Kareem Kandi is now hosting a weekly jazz jam session sure to cap the week of in style. The jazz jam is all ages and has no cover, so bring the kids out with you tonight.

2. Look, we're old and jaded here at the Volcano. When we hear a band like Never Shout Never we can't help but scoff, squirm, and throw up a little in our mouths. We're assholes like that ... old and jaded, like we mentioned. We're, basically, the exact opposite of a youthful, hopeful, innocent, teenage girl - the kind of demographic we assume makes up the bulk of Never Shout Never's fanbase. The kind of person who doesn't look at contemporary mainstream pop music (and, to be honest, contemporary American culture as a whole) as instantly start groveling about how we're all headed to hell in a hand basket. If this sounds like you, check out Never Shout Never, The Maine, A Rocket to the Moon and The Downtown Fiction Sunday at the Puyallup Fair, closing down this year's Fair Concert Series tonight.

3. The St. John's Episcopal  Church in Olympia's Concert Series presents "Get Jazzed!" tonight, billed as "an intimate, elegant jazz program by pianist vocalist David Joyner and bassist Clipper Anderson performing works by Duke Ellington, Nat Cole, Chet Baker and other jazz icons." It starts at 3 p.m., and there's an artist reception to follow. Maybe the best part? The free child care.

4. Speaking of jazz, Sunday Jam Sessions at Freddie's Club of Fife welcomes Butch Harrison & Good Company, Keely Whitney and "friends" tonight. The Good times run from 6 - 9 p.m.

5. Head out in your outdated Lofa Tatupu jersey and catch the Seahawks (maybe, just maybe ...) get their first win of the season today when they face the Arizona Cardinals. Find the perfect sports bar here.  

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music tonight