When local runners don blue in DuPont Aug. 16, it will not only be about honoring those who have fallen, but also about raising funds for the men and women who have served and are suffering from post-traumatic stress.

That day the weekly wear blue: run to remember event will be teaming up with VetREST, a nonprofit dedicated to "helping veterans address their challenges and find peace from their hidden battles," which was founded by Maj. Gen. Daniel York.

VetREST finds veterans with PTS and then matches them with a coach who is prepared to help the veteran across all aspects of their life. However, coaching is only the first line of effort. VetREST also focuses on getting veterans involved with organic gardening, paired with companion dogs and, at the end of these modules, veterans receive recommendations for personal mentors to offer long-term guidance.

York, who still serves as an Army reservist, is a recreational runner and beyond the concept of the 501(c)(3) itself, he believed that organized races could be a way to fund this important work. So began Onaway Runs, which was created to manage a countrywide series of races to benefit VetREST. Onaway is a Chippewa word meaning "ready and alert" which York felt fit the tempo of the military and the goal of his nonprofit.

Presently, there are three VetREST chapters: in Portland, Oregon; Denver, Colorado; and San Diego, California. A fourth chapter is being developed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, which is why a race just outside those very gates made sense.

"We have a lot of connections through JBLM and then we learned about wear blue: run to remember.  We reached out to them to see about working together," said Brian MacArthur, race director for Onaway.

"The JBLM chapter of wear blue: run to remember is proud to support the VetREST race, as what they are doing for our United States Armed Forces is consistent with wear blue's overall mission of honoring the service and sacrifice of our American military," stated chapter co-presidents Rachel Elizalde-Powell and Curtis Brake. "The reality is that the war is not over for far too many just because they come back home."  

Registration will open that day at 8 a.m. in Powderworks Park and the run will begin at 9 a.m. All runners will be given a race T-shirt, water and energy bars prior to the run as part of the $45 entry fee. Following the race there will be an awards ceremony with medallions for top finishers.

"The event will be timed and conclude at 10 a.m., but this is primarily a group run, not a race," explained MacArthur.

A raffle for assorted prizes will also be held afterward; both spectators as well as runners are welcome to participate and purchase tickets. To register for the run in DuPont, go to http://bit.ly/1tCoCPH.

Following the run near JBLM in August, there will be runs in Boulder and Colorado Springs, Colorado, at the West Point Military Academy and then 2014 will conclude with a turkey trot in Belton, Texas, near Fort Hood.

"The goal is to make these annual events," said MacArthur. "In years to come we really want to turn this (in DuPont) into a larger-scale run."

For more on VetREST, visit www.vetrest.org. 

SUNDAY, AUG. 10 2014 >>>

1. For those who haven't caught the buzz, Ten Tiny Dances is a stripped down format where 10 dance artists demonstrate astonishing inventiveness and variety on a 4-foot-by-4-foot stage - or about the size of a coffee table. Based out of Portland, the contemporary dance series has been adopted by many Northwest production companies, including Tacoma's MLKBallet. Ignoring the in-the-round, up-close theater experience and the fact it's held in a bar (Jazzbones), the coolest aspect of Ten Tiny Dances is the spatial constraint serves as a catalyst for creativity. Expect to see silly to serious improvised and rehearsed movement beginning at 6 p.m. Remember: heckling and betting will not be allowed. All proceeds benefit MLK Ballet's tuition-free dance training.

2. The Social Bar and Grill's patio is a lovely spot to while away a weekend afternoon, sipping cocktails and old world red wine and watching condo residents walk their dogs. Come Sunday afternoon, resident DJ Mr. Melanin and rotating guests spin an eclectic and extremely tasteful selection of lounge, bossa nova and electro soul music 2-6 p.m. This triple threat of delicious happy hour specials, sun and hip tunes is known as Tacoma's only daytime summer party, "Dayclub."

3. OHC: Olympia Hardcore Fest continues today from 2:30-4:30 p.m. at Bike N Bike and 7-10:30 p.m. at Northern. Hardcore punk bands Snob, Bone Sickness, Burial Suit, Bricklayer, Big Zit and others will rock the joints.

4. Friends of musician Glenn Harrell's are holding a benefit in his honor to assist with his current medical bills. Harrell is facing his biggest challenge ever. A live auction, raffle and music by Lady Carter and the Gents, James Coates, Steve Stefanowicz, Junkyard Jane and the Linda Myers Band will fill The Swiss Restaurant and Pub from 3-8 p.m.

5. Blues Redemption - Doug Skoog, Billy Barner, Joe Hendershot and Doug Kearney - will perform at The Spar's Sunday Night Blues series at 7 p.m.

LINK: Sunday, Aug. 10 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

WEDNESDAY, JULY 30 2014 >>>

1. There are times when our music picks write themselves, which is helpful as some of us drink. This is one of those welcome moments, because Jazzbones is having one stunner of a week. It began with crooners Color Me Badd Saturday - hell, yes, they still wanna sex you up! - followed Sunday by Georgia rapper Warren Anderson Mathis, better known as Bubba Sparxxx. Save room on your musical plate, though, for Igor & The Red Elvises, a mind-blowing rockabilly combo whose members hail from former Soviet states (or, in one case, the Minnesota gulag) but met in California, with Psycho 78 at 8 p.m.

2. The Swiss hosts Military Appreciation Day, a.k.a. Warrior Wednesday, a fundraiser for Pat Tillman Foundation (Official) with portions of every Jack Daniels sale going to charity. The downtown Tacoma restaurant will have $5 drink and food specials for those with military ID.

3. The Puget Sound Partnership's Science Panel will meet from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Commencement Bay conference room at the Center for Urban Waters. The panel includes some of the top scientists in the Northwest and advises the Partnership's efforts to develop a science-based comprehensive plan to restore Puget Sound. These meetings are open to the public and all are welcome to address questions or provide comment about the regional effort to restore and protect Puget Sound. We imagine the whole ordeal is like the montage scene in a Hollywood movie, in which a schlubby male is transformed into a veritable Renaissance man as the clock ticks from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. You arrive dehydrated from the night before and leave looking for a "green" Chardonnay and someone to discuss Xenobiotics in the Urban Water Cycle.

4. Thurston County Fair starts at 10 a.m. and provides five days of activities including musical entertainment, home arts demonstrations, 4-H and FFA events, rides for kids of all ages, and the always-fabulous fair food. A little history: The first Thurston County Fair was in 1871 and was located where the present day 4th Ave Tavern is. The event was a way to support agriculture and immigration in Thurston County. The fair has grown over the past 130 years and has jumped from location to location, including the now Tumwater Safeway and Lacey Post Office, before settling in to the present day fairgrounds in 1958. Bonus: The fabulous Artesian Rumble Arkestra headlines the grand opening ceremony at 5 p.m. tonight.

5. A couple of beer tastings are going down tonight. The Puyallup River Alehouse hosts Schooner Exact with beer, giveaways and prizes from 6-9 p.m. Jhon Gilroy with specialty beer importers Merchant du Vin will hang at 99 Bottles from 5-7 p.m. Pick his brain, drink his beers and enjoy a $2 happy hour.

LINK: Wednesday, July 30 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SUNDAY, JULY 27 2014 >>>

1. Born Warren Anderson Mathis, Bubba Sparxxx grew up in Georgia, where a black friend turned him on to New York mail-order mix tapes. His introduction to rap was dominated by the booty-shaking grooves of 2 Live Crew and the brutal truths spit by N.W.A. Later, when he discovered ATL pioneers OutKast, Sparxxx was inspired to write his own rhymes and started battling at school. Sparxxx made a major bang with solo-debut Dark Days, Bright Nights, which featured the single "Ugly" and went gold with the help of Shannon Houchins, a staff producer for Jermaine Dupri's So So Def label. Sparxxx's "Ugly" video put him in overalls and created some frustration for the Southern white rapper when the public pegged the video as satire. Sparxxx responded that the video depicted his Southern roots. Touring behind his 2014 release, Made on McCosh Mill Road, Sparxxx will rap about living in the country, loving women, cars and booze with Mike Drastic, Mr. Von, A King Also x The Royal Coat at 8 p.m. in Jazzbones.

2. The Social Bar and Grill's patio is a lovely spot to while away a weekend afternoon, sipping cocktails and old world red wine and watching condo residents walk their dogs. Come Sunday afternoon, resident DJ Mr. Melanin and rotating guests spin an eclectic and extremely tasteful selection of lounge, bossa nova and electro soul music 2-6 p.m. This triple threat of delicious happy hour specials, sun and hip tunes is known as Tacoma's only daytime summer party, "Dayclub."

3. The great irony of the original Gong Show was that the program itself would have gotten gonged. And to its credit, it - and its creator, Chuck Barris - wore that fact like a badge of (dis)honor, creating a space in television where it could be proud of showcasing the misplaced pride of the American populous. At 3 p.m. in The Swiss, the Music and Art in Wright Park folks will host a Gong Show to raise funds for their August concert. It will match the zaniness of the original show. Bands Speakerbox and The Jilly Rizzo will warm up the crowd for when the "talent" hits the stage at 5:30 p.m. The master of ceremonies will be local comedian Eric Puddin Lorentzen, which will be worth the price of admission alone. After the $100 prize is awarded, The Nitrogen Lion Society will rock.

4. Friends and talented musicians will hold a benefit concert for Christopher Brant Anderson at the Antique Sandwich Co. at 7 p.m. Anderson was diagnosed with asbestosis in 2004, which is a progressive condition and leads to heart-related complications along with other symptoms. Scheduled to perform are Steve Beck, Steff Kayser, Larry Murante, Kevin Jones, Mark Filler, Jim Moore, Bill Glover and Rob Kneisler.

5. Remember that time in high school when your parents went away? You know, plot line of every teenage movie ever made - except this time, you blew up the house. Standing in the ashes as your parents roll up, what do you do? Say it with us now -iiiiiimprovise. Take notes at 8 p.m. in the Tacoma Comedy Club when male and female comedians battle with improve and sketch skills. 

LINK: Sunday, July 27 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

Bless his gracious heart: Mike Mitchell is bringing back Tacoma's Old Town Rhythm and Blues Festival. He has put Tacoma on the musical map for years, bringing bona fide festivals and concerts here, always attached to a beneficial charity. In his mind, it's charity first; the rest is music to his ears.

Permission To Start Dreaming Foundation has Mitchell's full attention this year. P.T.S.D. Indeed, the foundation's mission is to raise awareness for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury and related issues and to support organizations that provide services for returning soldiers to help them re-adjust to the country they served. As a Vietnam War veteran, Mitchell knows the importance of Permission To Start Dreaming Foundation's mission.

"This wonderful organization works with the young men and women who return from war with trauma to help heal them," explains Mitchell. "It's a grassroots organization and I know the money raised from the Old Town festival will go directly to these men and women."

Mitchell won't produce or lend a hand with any event unless there's a local charity benefitting from the proceeds. It was his number one request 22 years ago when he founded the Tacoma Old Town Blues Festival with Ted Brown.

Mitchell was approached by Brown to create a musical festival after Brown witnessed Mitchell's impressive musical tribute for former Wailers' singer and sax-playing songwriter Ron Gardner who passed away after an accidental fire in 1992. Mitchell was a huge fan of The Wailers, sneaking into the now-legendary teen dances of the time before reaching his teens. Mitchell also relied on music to help heal from the atrocities he witnessed in Vietnam.

Partnering with blues enthusiast Brown, who died last year at age 61, the two created the Tacoma Old Town Blues Festival. The partnership fell apart after the 2012 festival.

This year, Mitchell, with the help of T Town Apparel owners Pat and Gail Ringrose, has taken back the reigns of the festival after several alterations the past two years, including Mitchell's absence last year. Mitchell truly missed bringing music to Old Town, and his introduction to Permission To Start Dreaming was the kicker.

"It's a rebirth, if you will," says Mitchell. "I'm keeping last year's name change - Old Town Rhythm and Blues Festival - and the music will be more than just blues."

The show must go on. The Old Town Rhythm and Blues Festival moniker remains, as does a more eclectic show, staged in Old Town Park as well as The Spar and Slavonian Hall. The Mountaineers building's renovations eliminated its popular garden court space for intimate blues performances, such as those legendary performances by Little Bill and Jerry Miller.

The event kicks off at 9:30 a.m. with the traditional Bluesberry Pancake Breakfast, a flapjack feast that will feature acoustic folk and classic rock musician Rick Gonzales and percussionist Ike Sutton on the Slavonian Hall's first floor. Guitarist Steve Stefanowicz will lead the opening ceremonies at noon at nearby Old Town Park, kicking off an afternoon of free, family-friendly sets there with cheers from the adjacent beer garden. I can't stress enough the importance of being there exactly at noon. This year's opening will be a jaw-dropper.

Following Stefanowicz's set on the main stage in the park are Tacoma blues guitarist legend Little Bill; bushy-bearded, curly-haired ultra-talented singer-songwriter James Coates; B-3 jazz/blues trio ButterBean; blues rockers The Jr Hill Band; and veteran blues musicians James King and the South Siders wrapping up the park shows with Texas roadhouse blues at 6 p.m.

Tacoma's nine-piece R&B band The High Rollers will headline the evening showcase, which will start with an opening set by blues band Burnham Drive (hopefully with guitarist Tim Hall) at 8 p.m. upstairs at Slavonian Hall.

Over at The Spar, That's What She Said will take over at 8 p.m., at least that's what he said.

Tickets are $20 for the night shows, and available at T-Town Apparel, Metropolitan Market, and The Spar and ParkWay taverns. Tickets may also be purchased the day of the event in the Old Town Park, The Spar and Slavonian Hall.

There you have it. Leave it to Mike Mitchell's big heart and love for music to continue the tradition in Old Town Tacoma. There will be vendor areas for food, clothing and a beer garden run by Tacoma's adorable bartenders, who donate their time. It's going to be a memorable event. See you somewhere at the festival. If I miss you, there's always next year.

FESTIVAL LINEUP

Here's the full lineup, with more details available at tacomaoldtownrhythmandbluesfest.com.

Bluesberry Pancake Breakfast

9-11 a.m. Lower level of Slavonian Hall, 2306 N. 30th

Rick Gonzales and Ike Sutton

Tacoma Old Town Park, 2305 N. 30th

Noon to 12:45 p.m. Steve Stefanowicz

1-2:45 p.m. Little Bill

3-3:45 p.m. James Coates

4-4:45 p.m. ButterBean

5-5:45 p.m. The Jr Hill Band

6-7 p.m. James King and the South Siders

Evening Performances

>>> Main Stage Upstairs Slavonian Hall, 2306 N. 30th

8 p.m. to midnight The High Rollers

>>> Downstairs Stage Slavonian Hall

8 p.m. to midnight Burnham Drive

>>> The Spar Tavern, 2121 N. 30th

8 p.m. to midnight That's What She Said

SUNDAY, JUNE 29 2014 >>>

1. Early summer in the South Sound means changing warmer weather, adding a boa and checking out the pride festivals. In conjunction with Olympia Capital City Pride event last weekend, the Olympia Film Society presents the 2014 Pride Film Festival, closing today at the Capitol Theater. Today's screenings include My Prairie Home and Dating Sucks: A Genderqueer Misadventure at 2:30 p.m., Appropriate Behavior and Vecinas at 5 p.m., and Cupcakes, First Date and Becoming Flirty at 7:30 p.m. MC Flirticia Fondue closes the night out.

2. The Tacoma Benefit Jam and Feed is now a quarterly endeavor, bringing together musicians and food to raise money for a charity. Bring your instruments from an afternoon of bluegrass, jazz, swing, and old time from 1-5 p.m. at the Vaeth Mansion, 422 N. E St. in Tacoma. The suggested $15 donations ($10 donations for musicians) will benefit Sister Cities International. A buffet will be available throughout the jam, with food, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages included in exchange for your generous donations.

3. Lakewood Playhouse never seems to disappoint and their most recent production is no exception. People who don't like Monty Python humor, also known as fuddy duddies, might want to skip it but for everyone else, Spamalot (books and lyrics by Eric Idle) will have them laughing, whistling and singing even after the show. Director John Munn's brilliant cast and crew could not have done a better job. Read Joann Varnell's full review of Spamalot in the Music & Culture section, then catch the show at 2 p.m.

4. The Social Bar and Grill's patio is a lovely spot to while away a weekend afternoon, sipping cocktails and old world red wine and watching condo residents walk their dogs. Come Sunday afternoon, resident DJ Mr. Melanin and rotating guests spin an eclectic and extremely tasteful selection of lounge, bossa nova and electro soul music 2-6 p.m. This triple threat of delicious happy hour specials, sun and hip tunes is known as Tacoma's only daytime summer party, "Dayclub."

5. Today marks the closing of the 20th anniversary of the Olympia Experimental Music Festival. Read Rev. Adam McKinney's full feature on the Olympia Experimental Music Festival in the Music & Culture section, then catch Replikants, Malaise, Derek M. Johnson, L.A. Lungs, Four Dimensional Nightmare vs. Infradead and Overdose the Katatonic from 4-8 p.m. at Northern in downtown Olympia.

LINK: Sunday, June 29 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SATURDAY, JUNE 28 2014 >>>

1. Before we can enjoy Music and Art in Wright Park, with bands, local vendors, good eats and live art, we gotta pile into The New Frontier, we gotta bang heads and slosh beer and put cash in the bucket. At 9 p.m., the Tacoma Dome music venue hosts a fundraiser to help raise money so we can rock come Saturday, Aug. 16 in Wright Park. Not only will Ex-Gods (former Mahnhammer), Cody Foster Army (C.F.A.) and Infinite Flux rock the house this Saturday, but there will also be a new element to MAWP's fundraising ... and archiving. For the first time, a MAWP compilation CD, Vol 1: Organic Arsenic, a collection of the festival's past performers - including Tacoma bands from the 1990s such as Queer the Pitch, Portrait of Poverty, My Name, Spuj, Swelter, Poppa Wheelie, to name a few - together in a pretty little package for your listening pleasure, will be for sale. Read Nikki McCoy's full feature on the Music and Art in Wright Park fundraiser on our Walkie Talkie blog.

2. You know that recurring nightmare where you show up at school in your underpants? It's time for therapy. Turn your underwear into outerwear at the Undy Run/Walk along Tacoma's Ruston Way at 9 p.m. Instead of receiving a race day T-shirt, participants will receive a stylish pair of boxer shorts and will have the opportunity to take a stroll through a larger-than-life inflatable colon, benefitting the Colon Cancer Alliance.

3. Chance Fashion is the Northwest's longest running monthly fashion show, providing accessible, hands-on networking resources to the Seattle fashion community - including designers, models, photographers, hair stylists and makeup artists. Chance Fashion participants will jump in their cars and head to the Lemay - America's Car Museum to bring Tacoma "100 Feet of Fashion" from 6-10 p.m. As part of the fashion nonprofit's five-year anniversary tour, designers Julie Danforth Design, Poppy & Bloom by Olga Szwed, Vivid Haiku Meroe by Yahwea Meroe, Juleano Men by Julius Leano, Karen Ashley by Karen Langley and Chelsea Mack will show off their talent, surrounded by classic automobiles.

4. Tacoma has a knack for the pop-up venue. From the backyards and porches, living rooms and reconfigured storefronts come shows of punk bands, folk singers, garage rock outfits and hip-hop emcees. We have this opportunity again tonight, a chance to hear some of Tacoma's native sons and daughters share their work.enjoy Motopony, Sporty Lee and Valerie Warren in a Tacoma backyard at 8 p.m. Tickets are $8. For the address to this backyard, visit facebook.com/events/271645249687420 and confirm you're attending.

5. Even though Fruit Juice has only existed for a little over a year, they've garnered a significant amount of praise, including being voted Best New Band in Olympia by the readers of this very rag. Even though it seems like it wouldn't be the case, Fruit Juice's brand of silly, stoned psych-pop is a breath of fresh air in the South Sound. Read Rev. Adam McKinney's full story on Fruit Juice in the Music & Culture section, then catch the band with The Bugs, Retrospecter and the Echo Echo Echoes at 8 p.m. in Bob's Java Jive.

LINK: Saturday, June 28 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

The sprawling park, with its green grassy hills, where families picnic in the shade, or groups of friends share a smoke, where dogs sniff the air in anticipation, and where a rock band tunes up on stage.

This is Music and Art in Wright Park, MAWP, Tacoma's annual summer event - one that brings out droves of people ready to rock.

But before we can enjoy the outdoor fair, with local vendors, good eats and live art, we gotta pile into The New Frontier, we gotta bang heads and slosh beer, and put cash in the bucket. Saturday the Tacoma Dome music venue hosts a fundraiser to help raise money so we can rock come Saturday, Aug. 16 in Wright Park.

Not only will Ex-Gods (former Mahnhammer), Cody Foster Army (C.F.A.) and Infinite Flux rock the house this Saturday, but there will also be a new element to MAWP's fundraising ... and archiving. For the first time, a MAWP compilation CD, Vol 1: Organic Arsenic, a collection of the festival's past performers - including Tacoma bands from the 1990s such as Queer the Pitch, Portrait of Poverty, My Name, Spuj, Swelter, Poppa Wheelie, to name a few - together in a pretty little package for your listening pleasure, will be for sale.

"The mix is great," says Cody Foster of C.F.A. and curator of MAWP. "If you grew up listening to comps jam packed full of bands, you will love this. From pop to punk to rockin' to heavy ... nostalgic tunes, I must say."

While additional funding for MAWP is a motivator to release the compilation series - yes, Volume 2 is in the works - Foster feels the conservation aspect is most important. Fifty copies will be put into Puget Sound libraries. Out of 29 songs, 15 are unreleased.

"Some of these recordings had never left analog format," Foster explains. "We had to restore some of the tracks. In one case, we got ahold of an entire lost, never-released album that the band members didn't even have."

"I really do believe that the compilation is a rare treat to all," said Micah Hembree of Ex-Gods, formerly of Swelter, who made it on the comp. "It not only has bands that you know and love on it, but it also has some hidden things that you may not remember hearing. Those bands that you may have forgotten about, that truly made the music in Tacoma what it is today."

So come get your hot little hands on the mix ($10), or grab a MAWP T-shirt ($20) and get your rock on with C.F.A., Infinite Flux and Ex-Gods.

"As far as MAWP is concerned, I feel very fortunate to be a part of a community that cares so much about art and its staying power," Hembree said."As far as Ex-Gods is concerned, we are ready to make love to you the only way we know how. By crushing you."

For more information on Music and Art in Wright Park, click here.

MAWP FUNDRAISER, w/ C.F.A., Infinite Flux, Ex-Gods, 9 p.m., Saturday, June 28, The New Frontier Lounge, 301 E 25th St, Tacoma, $5, 253.572.4020

SUNDAY, JUNE 22 2014 >>>

1. It's like money in dog years. For FISH Food Banks of Pierce County, every dollar raised has seven times the buying power. Based on this math, last year's Maurice The Fish Records benefit concert brought in nearly $50,000 to help feed the hungry. This year's FISH Food Benefit Concert has eight bands taking the stage at the all-ages, family friendly 3-7 p.m. show at Louie G's in Fife. Musical artists span many genres and include: James Coates, Champagne Sunday, Vividal, Moss Brothers, The Approach, Tin Man, Nolan Garrett and Strangely Alright. Read Nikki McCoy's full feature on the FISH Food Benefit Concert in the Music & Culture section.

2. Capital City Pride began under the aegis of Rainbow Center Olympia. Back then, the festival drew a few hundred people. Now as many as 10,000 celebrants converge on a two-day extravaganza that marks the climax of a very busy year for the organization. Today marks day two of the fabulous celebration with The Pride Parade at noon followed by another full day of music. There will be information and food booths in the park, a marvelous kids' area with activities provided by the Hands On Children's Museum, lots of speechifying and, of course, drag performances.

3. If you are looking for a quiz that calls for more than sitting on a stool with a pint of beer, or if you have killer knowledge of Tacoma history that you feel compelled to show off, then this trivia game is for you. Today you can test your local authority against other history buffs. The Tacoma History Hike is a high-suspense, high-speed scavenger hunt that begins at the Washington State History Museum and leads you to a variety of checkpoints within a 1.5-mile radius, allowing you to walk, run, skip or bike the course. Each checkpoint provides the answer to a question of Tacoma-related historical trivia. Collect as many as you can in the time allotted, and return to the museum for music, awards, goody bags and admission. There is still walk-up registration at 12:30 p.m. with the race at 2 p.m.

4. The Social Bar and Grill's patio is a lovely spot to while away a weekend afternoon, sipping cocktails and old world red wine and watch condo residents walk their dogs. Come Sunday afternoon, resident DJ Mr. Melanin and rotating guests spin an eclectic and extremely tasteful selection of lounge, bossa nova and electro soul music 2-6 p.m. This triple threat of delicious happy hour specials, sun and hip tunes is known as Tacoma's only daytime summer party, "Dayclub."

5. Seattle film director Megan Griffiths' latest film, Lucky Them, stars Toni Collette as a Seattle rock journalist who is ordered by her magazine's editor, played by Oliver Platt, to search for a long lost rock god who also happens to be her ex-boyfriend. In the story she teams up with an eccentric amateur documentary filmmaker played by Thomas Haden Church.  Read Jared Lovrak's review of Lucky Them in our Music & Culture section, and then chat with Griffiths after the 2 and 4:20 p.m. screenings at The Grand Cinema.

BONUS: Don't get stuck watching the World Cup games cornered in some dingy bar with a 10-year-old TV and '80s classic hits on the radio. Doyle's Public House's giant tent with two huge TVs (and a bar) will make it feel like you're along the Amazon watching the games (minus the Piranhas). USA takes on Portugal today at 3 p.m.      

LINK: Sunday, June 22 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SATURDAY, JUNE 21 2014 >>>

1. Capital City Pride begins at 11 a.m. in Sylvester Park with the live performances by Sonny Nguyn & Stonewall Youth, Wonder, guitar picker and set designer extraordinaire Bruce Haasl, Something Wicked Comedy Improv, The Downey Brothers at 1 p.m., Xavier Toscano, Full Moon Radio at 2:15 p.m. and headliner Paris Original (with Hattie Hotpants & Gregory Conn) and Thea Austin at 3 p.m. There will be information and food booths in the park, a marvelous kids' area with activities provided by the Hands On Children's Museum, lots of speechifying and, of course, drag performances.

2. Happy pigs and human heads carved from coconuts, T-shirts, coffee mugs, salt and pepper shakers, trays, bells and toothpick holders stenciled with Florida iconography, metal frames bordered with leaping dolphins, necklaces, nightlights made from mollusks' shiny homes. One person's tacky is another's kitsch at Pierce County Parks & Recreation community garage sale Junk in the Trunk, where people stuff their automobiles with, er, stuff they want to sell from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Sprinker Recreation Center. Even if you don't buy any of the crap they're hawking, it's worth a visit for people-watching purposes alone. And if you happen to be looking for old lamps, cheap socks or worn-down appliances, all the better.

3. Fort Nisqually Living History Museum hosts a dozen cooks competing for the coveted Golden Skillet from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. According to pre-event hype, "This event is a glimpse into how we cooked and what we ate during the mid-1800s. The Fort's re-enactors will cook on a wood stove and over numerous campfires." Celebrity guest cook Paula Marcoux, food historian and author of Cooking with Fire, will be in the ... fort.

4. There are no words when a community loses one of its beloved members. There are no words, but there is music. And this is exactly what Brian Redman would have wanted. A stalwart in Tacoma's music scene, (3 Inches of Blood, Trial, Dirty Knockers) it's been nearly five years since Redman tragically lost his life. But, his spirit rocks on. BriFest 2014 features 11 music acts, including Pig Snout, Earth Mother, Kim Archer and Nolan Garrett, beginning at 2:30 p.m. in Jazzbones. BriFest is a fundraiser for the Brian Redmond Memorial Fund, which continues to give out the $1,000 Brian Redman Memorial Fund Scholarship.

5. The Thermals have never skimped on passion - musically or lyrically. With straightforward opinions about politics being spat by Hutch Harris at a furious rate per minute, over the driving pop-punk explosions of the unimpeachable trio, the Thermals have been, at their best, near unmatchable for fist-pumping power. It's not often that the band graces a Tacoma stage, so consider this show unmissable. Catch the band with Big Eyes and Wheelies at 9 p.m. in The New Frontier Lounge.

LINK: Saturday, June 21 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area