SUNDAY, AUG. 17 2014 >>>

1. Head to downtown Sumner for its 15th annual Classy Chassis car, rod and truck show from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It's the best place to scope out new and old muscle cars, or show off your own. Expect a "used car lot" this year as well as a "junk yard" sale location where you can find car parts for your classic cars. Wally and the Beaves will rock the block.

2. Since 2010, The Grand Cinema has been taking advantage of the simultaneously obvious and genius concept of taking Filmmaker Magazine's yearly list and turning it into a film festival celebrating rising talent. Actors, writers, directors, animators and other facets of filmmaking are honored by the magazine, and then in turn are celebrated during the five-day festival at The Grand Cinema. Read Rev. Adam McKinney's full feature on the 25 New Faces in Independent Film in the music and Culture section, then catch Manos Sucias, a collection of shorts, Afronauts and Pauline Alone beginning at 2 p.m. 

3. 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 guest DJs B-Boy Peanut, Blueyedsoul and PhoSho 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."

4. Gabe Dixon has recently been diagnosed with a cancer. His sister is throwing a rockin' benefit show featuring Mr. Von, Speakerbox, Vividal and Ayron Jones and The Way from 3-7 p.m. at Jazzbones. There will be raffles and a silent auction for Seahawks tickets, custom built guitar and more. The all-ages show has a suggested $10 cover.  

5. St. Patrick's Day celebrations aren't easy. You must practice to prepare yourself for the zaniness that goes down every March 17. Doyle's Public House knows this. That's why they host monthly St. Practice Day parties, of which happens again Sunday. The party begins with Doyle's Guinness Club toast at 5:17 p.m. All the members gather before Grand Poobah Russ Heaton, who recognizes members who have hit milestones, such as 500 pints of Guinness, while the other members tear up. After the announcement, Heaton raises a glass of the Irish Mother's Milk and toasts the members. At 7 p.m., musical genius Ethan Tucker gives everyone another reason to raise a glass.

LINK: Sunday, Aug. 17 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

FRIDAY, AUG. 15 2014 >>>

1. Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist's fifth annual Signed Book and Wine Auction will be held at 5 p.m. inside King's Books. New York Times bestselling author Garth Stein will attend. His new novel, A Sudden Light, will be available for auction six weeks before it appears in bookstores. Other signed books on the auction list include bestsellers by Ann Rule, Maria Semple, and Bret Easton Ellis. For music fans, Peter Buck of R.E.M. and actress/singer Molly Ringwald have donated signed CDs. Lindquist, after being elected by a landslide in 2010, is up for election again this year, although he lacks an opponent. Thankfully, this tall, handsome novelist/prosecutor with cool friends is throwing a party anyway. It's our one chance a year to feel like an A-lister.

2. Since 2010, The Grand Cinema has been taking advantage of the simultaneously obvious and genius concept of taking Filmmaker Magazine's yearly list and turning it into a film festival celebrating rising talent. Actors, writers, directors, animators and other facets of filmmaking are honored by the magazine, and then in turn are celebrated during the five-day festival at The Grand Cinema. Frequently, the honorees in question show up to introduce their films and participate in Q & A's. Read Rev. Adam McKinney's full feature on the 25 New Faces in Independent Film in the music and Culture section, then attend the opening films today at The Grand Cinema, including a mixer with DJs at 9:30 p.m.

3. "Awesome coffee on a farm in the middle of pretty much nowhere, group photo on the haystacks every year ... swimming in the river, eating food that was grown on the land, standing in the back field late at night, watching the bands play (really loud), or watching from the hay bales under the stars." These are musings from Mariella Luz, K Records general manager, as she reflects on some of her favorite things about Helsing Junction Sleepover. In its 10th year, the Helsing Junction Sleepover is bigger than ever, with plenty of room to grow. The three-day party takes place on a 30-acre-farm. Tonight kicks off with eight performances, including Spider and the Webs, Arrington De Dionysio and Tender Forever. For more info and a complete list of bands, visit www.krecs.com/helsingjunction.

4. If the music of Voxxy Vallejo were the soundtrack for your life, you'd be guaranteed a good time and a crazy ride. Heavy blues laced southern rock and roll that is perfect for sweaty summer nights and back yard barbecues. Hot and sticky ... Voxxy's vocals entice and forbid while Gene's guitar licks interplay with her voice, both teasing and encouraging the song right out of her. It's Gene's Vellejo's birthday so the back will tear it up at 7:30 p.m. in Jazzbones.

5. As you know the CannaCon cannabis convention is going down at the Tacoma Dome. Those with CannaCon credentials or tickets can get into see local, original bands Mighty High and Ethan Tucker at 9 p.m. in The Swiss Restaurant and Pub at a discount, which of course is probably the entire city.

LINK: Friday, Aug. 15 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 13 2014 >>>

1. Washington state is home to such oddities as a giant coffee pot by the side of the road; a garbage-eating goat sculpture in Spokane; mysterious bumps in the landscape near Olympia called Mima Mounds; a replica of Stonehenge - Stonehenge! - in Maryhill. There's even a Menudo Festival in Granger! All of these oddities, and more, have been cataloged into Washington Curiosities by author Harriet Baskas. She'll be on hand at noon in the Washington State History Museum to tell more stories and sign copies of her book.

2. Tacoma's Mad Hat Tea Co. and local band The Cloves teamed up to create a special tea blend. Mad Hat's Tobin and Maureen made their own unique mix of black tea, cinnamon and cloves to spawn "Tea Time with The Cloves." The band will be playing an acoustic set at this favorite Tacoma hideaway on Commerce Street at 4:30. Come have a sip and celebrate this tasteful collaboration.

3. There's street art and then there's graffiti. One can be beautiful, creative and inspiring; the other can be destructive, ugly and a huge nuisance. But the dividing line is difficult to determine. For proof of that, at 4:30 p.m. head to downtown Tacoma's Post Office Building for a graffiti forum featuring representatives of Tacoma Police Department, BIA, Tacoma Arts Commission, Downtown Merchants Group, Fab 5 and the City's Graffiti Task Force. After the panel answers directed questions the floor will open for audience comment.

4. Northwest composer/pianist Scott Cossu has been erroneously slotted into the neo-classical new age section of the record store. Sure, his stuff is mellow, laid-back and relaxing, but Cossu pushes the musical boundaries further than Yanni or John Tesh ever did, would or could. In other words, he's uncategorizable as he flirts with everything from jazz, blues, world and classical. at 7:30 p.m., Cossu, accompanied by John Croarkin playing flute and harmonica, will present a variety of music styles including jazz, blues and his own compositions, which he has described as "heavy mental" and "cosmic national geographic" at the Olympia Timberland Library.

5. Maurice The Fish Records grabs Jazzbones' stage for its Wednesday Sessions series, this time featuring The Thrill, Dear Darkness, Breakaway Derringer at 8 p.m.

LINK: Wednesday, Aug. 13 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SATURDAY, AUG. 9 2014 >>>

1. With the combination of local food vendors, blues bands and more than 30 Washington craft brewers, Brew Five Three is one not to miss. Back for a second year, the Broadway Center hosts this downtown Tacoma beer festival from 1-9 p.m. The $30 ticket includes 10 tasting tokens and a collectible pint glass, and additional tasting tokens can be purchased at the event. A designated driver ticket - which includes admission to the event, music and food vendors - is available for $10, as the music is kick ass. Read Pappi Swarner's New Beer Column for complete details.

2. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. the Washington State History Museum will host IN THE SPIRIT Contemporary Native Arts Market and Festival showcasing American Indian artists and artisans of the highest-caliber, many of whom live and work right here in the Pacific Northwest. See demonstrations of traditional artwork from the best Northwest native carvers, printmakers, weavers, sculptors and fiber artisans. The Festival on the museum's plaza will showcase high quality art, demonstrations, Native dancers, Native culture, Native American foods and musicians and storytellers. Not to be missed.

3. Starting at 4 p.m., the Stadium District Art & Wine Walk will celebrate its six-year anniversary. If you have walked the Walk before, then you'll all ready be there; if you have no idea what we're talking about, you might want to visit this colorful event. Technically, the entirety of Tacoma's Stadium District participates. Boutiques, restaurants, bars, bookstores, banks, accountants, salons, a pharmacy and many other businesses host artists and hang work just for that night. People stroll up and down Tacoma Avenue and St. Helens, discussing art and potholes. Of course, none of this would be as fun without alcohol! Wine and food samplings are offered by more than 30 participating businesses. A $35 ticket includes 10 wine tastes, savory hors d'ouvres and a commemorative wine glass that we're sure will end up on the shelf at Goodwill Industries next spring.

4. That Coyote describe themselves as hard rock, and while that's intermittently true, they devote a substantial amount of their time to exploring different moods and textures. At any place or time, That Coyote may land upon a catchy enough hook that it could make up its own alt-rock song, while later on in the song, they'll find themselves delving into ambient and hardcore music. In all, it comes across as a majestic way to explore music of a theme, while still coming across as interested explorers of sound. Catch the band with Dark Hip Falls, Wow, Laura and Speed Queen at 8 p.m. in Bob's Java Jive.

5. Bruising lyrics about weird moons and whiskey friends and love and hate in places like Montesano and Oklahoma, the female vocals are a little Mazzy Star meets old country, with that wavering sexiness that sounds like power. Instrumentally, a little shake, shake, shake, some twang, lots of good melodies and some straight rock riffs as well, 10 Cents in Oklahoma is pretty damn groovy. Catch the band with AquaCulture and Horse Bodies at 9 p.m. in the 4th Ave Tavern.

LINK: Saturday, Aug. 9 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

FRIDAY, AUG. 8 2014 >>>

1. Tonight will see round three of the confluence between small businesses and indie music performances in a moment of synergy that won't rub you the wrong way. Dubbed the Downtown Music Crawl, the event will feature three downtown businesses showcasing three brief, consecutive concerts. Starting with Q Dot at 6:30 p.m. in Anthem, Will Jordan at 7:45 in Bleach and ending at 9 p.m. with The Rockwell Powers Band at urbanXchange, the event is designed to reward those who do the crawl and hit all three stores. Ten dollars cash allows you in to all three concerts, plus 15 percent discount at each store.

2. Don't know much about history; don't know much about biology, who cares? What matters is how much you know about Tacoma. Here's your chance to strut your Tacoma stuff: a trivia game where your local knowledge feeds your ego and your sense of belonging. Dr. Bill Baarsma, former mayor of Tacoma, will host History of Tacoma Free Trivia Night from 6:30-9 p.m. at The Forum. Expect history-themed eats and drinks. Wear period costumes for door prizes. What Tacoma woman was a nurse for 30 years before running for state office? You know. What Jack lived in the grotto by the Tacoma Hotel in the 1890s? Why, that's easy. What two Tacoma clubs, owned and operated by the Downings, were home to local bands in the 1990s? You puked outside of both. Here's your chance to impress your friends and neighbors.

3. Andras Jones created Radio8Ball in 1998 on KAOS in Olympia. Now, he is producing it as a local TV series (for the web, for now) with Olympia Film Collective. The episodes are filmed in front of a live audience at Rhythm and Rye in downtown Olympia, including tonight at 8 p.m. Radio8Ball has fun with synchronicity, choosing the songs that answer the questions by spinning "The Wheel of 8" or picking a Radio8Card, and using the music and lyrics of the song to answer questions from the audience, drawing in associations with other systems, like tarot, astrology and numerology. Read Nikki McCoy's full feature on Radio8Ball.

4. For rock guitar fans looking for instrumental jams à la such '80s shredders as Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and Eric Johnson, the Travis Larson Band has made sure the genre is still living and breathing in the new millennium. The band hits the Jazzbones stage at 8 p.m. with Nolan Garrett and Larry Mitchell opening. This show will rock. 

5. Seattle thrash metal legends Coven plan to rule McCoy's Tavern at 9 p.m. with Iron Kingdom and Reficul. After 20 years, they are re-releasing their third album, Boneless Christian. Coven demonstrate shock-comedy metal at its finest.

LINK: Friday, Aug. 8 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

THURSDAY, AUG. 7 2014 >>>

1. Today, as you surely know, is a pretty big holiday: National IPA Day (or #IPADay, if you're joining the cause on Twitter). National IPA Day celebrates this particular style because the India Pale Ale is one of civilization's saner inspirations for a holiday: it evolved from a means of preservation during beers' arduous travels from England to India; nobody died or was tortured; nobody has to fast; nobody has to commune with the dead or celebrate war. All you have to do is be glad this good beer made it to America and enjoy the hell out of it. Click here for IPA suggestions we found at last week's Olympia Brew Fest.

By now everything about Tacoma Green Drinks, the sustainability network platform to inspire new ideas and awareness, and get a little buzzed. Tonight's Green Drinks is something special.  The local chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council, Cascadia, will graciously be offering a tour of the Pacific Plaza in downtown Tacoma. The building has received LEED Platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council - the highest rating possible - for energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. After an informative look at this green building, there will be a regroup at Tacoma Cabana for drinks and green talk. All are welcome. Meet at 1250 Pacific Ave. in the lobby at 5:30 for the tour. 

Do you know Tacoma Runners Emily and Brian? They're getting married. Therefore, the Tacoma Runners will convert their weekly Thursday 3-mile run into a travelling wedding, asking everyone to meet at the Harmon Tap Room at 6:30 p.m. dressed in bridesmaid dresses, bow ties and other wedding-themed outfits. Don't invite that family member who gets drunk at every wedding. After the run, it's toasts and garter belts at the Tap Room.

Knoxville's the Black Lillies have done a nice job uniting varying strands of the country spectrum. They're an indie-label band that plies its trade at rock bars, but, in addition to making a big impact on the Americana charts and year-end lists as the case with their 2011 album, 100 Miles of Wreckage, the band is freakin' cool to rock a benefit for United Way of Thurston County and its work to support vulnerable children and families. Their sound is rooted equally in bluegrass and country-rock, but taken to the next level with the vocal interplay of songwriter/bandleader Cruz Contreras and vocalist Trisha Gene Brady. Olympia favorites the Blackberry Bushes will kick off the night at 8 p.m. in the Capitol Theater.

5. It's crazy band name electro night at Olympia's all-ages club Northern. At 8 p.m., electro-punk Violent Vicki, hip hop-ish Garlicman & Chikn, electro-dream-pop Vibrissae and dreamcore Nightspac3 take you to another time, space and dimension.

LINK: Thursday, Aug. 7 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 6 2014 >>>

1. As we wolfed down fresh wild blueberries, we couldn't recall the last time we ate any fruit quite so flavorful. Eating a blueberry still warm from the sun was like tasting one for the very first time. Its essence goes straight to our heads. And everyone knows blueberries are loaded with antioxidant compounds that travel through the body reducing free radicals that can lead to cancer and other age-related diseases. We were pumped to hear Pacific Lutheran University brought back its berry festivals, specifically the Blueberry Festival today from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The berry festivals are a summertime tradition at PLU; each monthly lunchtime concert focuses on one delicious berry and features summery desserts and free live music and entertainment, which features folk-rock musician and PLU alum Peter Benjamin. Bonus: local farmers and community groups will be onsite promoting community-supported agriculture, sustainable communities and local food. We no longer have to jump a certain fence to gather wild blueberries ... although, the price was right.

2. We gotta spent this paragraph of copy convincing you that spending your Wednesday afternoon combing downtown Tacoma for clues, answering trivia, and completing challenges while snapping photos is as unbelievably rad as we both know you know it is. Downtown On the Go Walk Tacoma Scavenger Hunt asks you to begin the hunt between 4:30-5:30 p.m. at the Social Bar and Grill, then use public transportation and your feet to take you to destinations scattered across downtown before meeting back at the Social Bar and Grill for food, drinks and prizes at 6:45 p.m. This is pretty much as close to a purpose that one can hope to find in an uncaring, noncasual universe, and the very notion you'd need encouragement is ridiculous. But, it's free and there is no need to pre-register.

3. With a rotating cast of contributors and performers over the past seven years, the core of Champagne Sunday is the creative brain of Jessi and Jared Fredeen. Jessi's huge, soulful vocals could star on Broadway, on tour with Garbage or in your church choir. Her voice - which draws comparison to Chrissie Hynde and Ani Difranco - ranges from a hushed lullaby to a soaring celebratory wail. Jared, armed with a James Taylor-ish voice, guitar and a passion for raw music, can rock star pose when Jessi wails, then float on a cloud when she takes it into the ethereal edges. Catch them at 6:30 p.m. for a free, outdoor show in Old Town Park.

4. Peter Finn, The Washington Post National Security editor and one-half of the team that wrote The Zhivago Affair: The Kremlin, the CIA, and the Battle over a Forbidden Book, will speak at the Olympia Timberland Library from 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. Finn and his co-author, Petra Couvee, bring to light a story that has stayed behind the historical scenes for decades, a cold war drama in which Russian novelist Boris Pasternak's literary masterpiece, Dr. Zhivago, became a pawn of two super-powers.

5. If you want to get a party started, start it off with The Brown Edition. Self-described as "all the soul, funk and jazz your ass can handle," the Brown Edition's music keeps listeners happy because it keeps them glued to the dance floor. The band pushes the funk forward; he also reveres those who came before them. Lead singer Miguel Pineda is fiercely serious about the music that he loves. The entire band is a who's who of Olympia's jazz and funk scene. Bassist Thomas Pell tackles the meatier end of the, uh, funk stick, and it's just sick. Get into the groove at 7 p.m. at Sylvester Park in downtown Olympia.

LINK: Wednesday, Aug. 6 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

TUESDAY, AUG. 5 2014 >>>

1. As the last month of summer begins, it's time to step outside your air-conditioned oasis and take some time to appreciate your neighborhood. Or as this practice is referred to around the country, National Night Out, the one evening a year in which law enforcement, citizens, business owners and local officials come together to heighten crime awareness and build community morale. But more than that, NNO is a time when neighbors can come together and celebrate while enjoying free bitchin' entertainment. The Bridge, the new cooperative parish of the United Methodist Church at 56th and South Puget Sound, will host a street party, food, games and the musical stylings of Jason Kertson, Strangely Alright, Sleepy Pilot and Antihero from 6-10 p.m. Crime prevention and live music? It's a win-win situation!

2. Feed your brain at 1:40 and 7 p.m. when The Grand Cinema screens Decoding Annie Parker, an educational film about the proactive choices some women are making regarding breast cancer.

3. Pack your snacks, blankets and lawn chairs and head to Peoples Center for a free outdoor screening of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 at 5 p.m. Movie sponsor Click! Network in partnership with Metro Parks Tacoma are also bringing in jazz musician Michael Powers. So really expect clear skies with a good chance of awesome jazz.

4. Ever since the Westside Tavern won the Tournament of Burgers and Hana Klimek was named Server of the Week, the real estate agents representing Olympia's Westside have been inundated with inquiries. The Westside is happening, but that's not news to those who live up on the hill. If you want proof, drop by the Tuesday West Olympia Farmers Market from 4-7 p.m. In addition to an awesome selection of local vendors, this season features live music, raffles and special events. Drop by for fresh produce, baked goods, pastured poultry and meats, flowers, veggie starts and crafts.

5. Folksy, folk-writing folk hero John Denver - born Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. - died Oct. 12, 1997, when the experimental plane he was flying crashed into Monterey Bay off the coast of California. Tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the Red Wind Casino fans both casual (which way to the slots?) and rabid (dude, "Rocky Mountain High"!) will cheer on Ted Vigil - born Ted Vigil - as he pays tribute to Denver - both visually and musically.

LINK: Tuesday, Aug. 5 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

The day after two festivals is always foggy. But this morning - following yesterday's 2014 Olympia Brew Fest at Port Plaza and the DB Cooper Music Festival in Chehalis - isn't just foggy, it is surreal. I felt like I woke up from a 24-hour slumber where I dreamt a ridiculous beer and music fantasy.

Did that really happen? Did I really drink beer with some of the best brewers in the country and freakin' rock out in freakin' Chehalis? Were there really no lines at any of the beer booths? Were there really 10,000 IPAs along Olympia's waterfront? Did Chehalis erect a bronze statue of Puyallup Southern rock band SweetKiss Momma because they're so freakin' good?

More than 30 of the best brewers and cider makers in the Northwest came to Olympia to pour their beer, hang out and talk with hundreds of beer fans. Thirty miles down the road, while the crowd was thin, then music was more than full at the DB Cooper Music Festival.

I'm still pinching myself, but I do have photographic proof it happened.

This man knows beer.

Abby's Cupcakes knows what goes with beer.

Ahhhhhh.

Olympia Beer Fest early crowd shot

Another crowd shot

DBST provided the soundtrack at the Olympia Brew Fest.

People danced.

Thurston County Chamber folks danced too.

Here's "Mr. Beer" Mick Wilcox of Click Distributing chatting with the ScuttleButt Brewing folks.

Here are two people enjoying the beer festival.

Lucky Eagle Casino had the biggest barbecue.

Lacey's Top Rung Brewing Co. caught with their mouths full.

Little Creek Casino's Oktoberfest promotional girls owned the Olympia Brew Fest.

Proof the girls owned it.

More proof

The Brown Edition kicked off the DB Cooper Music Festival on the Saloon Stage at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds in Chehalis.

Ethan Tucker went Hendrix on the DB Cooper Music Festival crowd. That's Jesse Turcotte on bass.

He really went Hendrix.

Charlie Imes played the Songwriter Stage.

Sour Owl played a fusion of rock, blues, jazz, funk, zydeco and pop on the South Stage.

Bump Kitchen had them dancing.

Seriously dancing

When you hear Puyallup's SweetKiss Momma it's impossible not to make a few assumptions. Assumption No. 1: They're a classic Southern rock band. However, SweetKiss Momma are as much like Drive-By Truckers as they are Gov't Mule.

Yes, Jeff Hamel, I said Drive-By Truckers and Gov't Mule.

SEE ALSO

Delicious IPAs at the 2014 Olympia Brew Fest

SATURDAY, AUG. 2 2014 >>>

1. On the afternoon of Nov. 24, 1971, Thanksgiving Eve, a man who identified himself as Dan Cooper (no middle B - that was a media error) boarded Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305, one-way, from Portland to Seattle. A guy could book a flight with sketchy ID in that pre-9/11 era. He could also smoke on the plane; "Cooper" did. He drank a bourbon cocktail and ordered another. Then he informed the flight crew there was a bomb in his briefcase. A few hours later, he vanished from the Boeing 727 with a parachute and $200,000. Neither he nor much of the money he stole was ever found. My point is twofold: first, Wikipedia is amazing. Second, why the hell not name an awesome music festival at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds after a hijacker's misreported alias? We'll be there. So will Alice Stuart, The Brown Edition, Bump Kitchen, SweetKiss Momma, Curtis Salgado and Vicci Martinez from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. So should you, assuming you're 21 or older. Happy landings! Read Michael Swan's full feature on the 2014 DB Cooper Music Festival in the Music and Culture section.

2. Summer has put us in a serious doggie mood, which is why our ears are all perked up over the canine events at the Proctor Arts Festival. This is no snooty American Kennel Club affair, populated by overbred humans with overbred dogs sporting names like Major Buffington Blue Shropshire-Cronenberg; instead, it's an affair for pooches of even the murkiest pedigree, with judging in categories such as biggest ears, longest tail, best dressed, best kisser, fastest peanut butter eater and so on. In addition to the judging, there will be a doggie fashion show and Top Dog Parade, beginning at 10 a.m. Those not so into dogs, will enjoy other Proctor Arts Festival events such as the Bite of Proctor, juried art show, 160 art and crafts vendors, three stages of music and entertainment, a kids area with participation by the Metropolitan Park District, a farmers market and a merchants sidewalk sale.

3. The Olympia Brewfest returns to the scenic Port Plaza on the waterfront of Budd's Inlet's West Bay from 1-8:30 p.m. Eight brewery booths will butt up against Anthony's Homeport Restaurant, with another 16 facing the water by the Market Place Building and a tent by the amphitheater with 10 or so additional breweries. Marv's Marvulus BBQ, O'Blarney's Irish Pub, Lucky Eagle, Blend Café and other restaurants will serve food by the fence. DBST funkadelic rock band, Beyond The Fringe and Endangered Species will provide the drinking soundtrack on a stage close to the tower. Read the full story here.

4. The Asia Pacific Cultural Center together with the Seattle Asian Art Museum present the Korean Traditional Hanji Paper Fashion Show form 7-9 p.m. in the Museum of Glass. The Korean art of Hanji paper is a traditional art form that involves creating paper by harvesting trees and carefully weaving the finished material into a sculptural vessel. Audiences will be so inspired when they see the work of our featured Korean artist Dr. Jeon Yang-Bae, who has taken the Hanji paper art to a whole new level - to the world of fashion.

5. Mixing jazz elements with hyperactive synth-rock, Heatwarmer create unpredictable music that doesn't so much jostle with its time changes and flights of fancy so much as it fervently sprints to wring every little bit of inspiration possible out of a song. In doing so, they command the attention of their audience members, which - in my mind - was the ultimate goal with all of those bloated prog-rock explorations. Heatwarmer getting the same thing done in record time is a minor miracle. Read Rev. Adam McKinney's full feature on Heatwarmer in the Music and Culture section, then catch the band with Convict, Guram Guram and Whelp at 8 p.m. in Northern.

LINK: Saturday, Aug. 2 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area