Houston in the blind, this is Nerd Alert, the Weekly Volcano's recurring events calendar devoted to all things nerdy. I myself am a Star Wars fan, mathlete, and spelling bee champion of long standing, so trust me: I grok whereof I speak.

As I write this, my head is still reeling from Alfonso Cuarón's Gravity - though that may be residual motion sickness. The more I reflect on it, the more I believe it's a true thinking man's sci-fi flick, conveying volumes of astrophysics with deceptive ease and slipping inside Sandra Bullock's helmet for unobtrusive first-person storytelling. I urge you to see it in IMAX 3-D, if only the LieMAX at Lacey's Regal cineplex. Finally, an action movie that doesn't reduce matters of galactic import to fistfights or devolve into "we have a situation"-level clichés. Kudos to Bullock, and to Framestore's ingenious zero-gravity FX.

FRIDAY, OCT. 11

If you've a geek of a certain age, it's highly likely that a chunk of your formative period was spent sitting around tables, rolling multicolored dice and battling imaginary troglodytes. Some of us may, in fact, still dabble in Gygax-style fictional worlds. These folks'll find much to enjoy, even cogitate upon, in the cinematic comedy Zero Charisma, opening Friday. It stars Sam Eidson as Scott, a dungeon master who finds his life upended when a popular hipster invades his circle of gamer friends. JoBlo's Movie Emporium referred to Zero Charisma as "Taxi Driver for fanboys." It played well to festival audiences, who probably spent a few hours around the D&D table themselves back in the day ... perhaps even yesterday. Far be it from us to pass judgment! Mighty Pelor the sun god would never forgive us.

SATURDAY, OCT. 12

Technically, Oct. 5 was Star Wars Reads Day, a celebration of youth lit highlighting the "Expanded Universe" of books and comics set in that galaxy far, far away. The Puyallup Public Library may be a tad late to the game, but they're chiming in hardcore with "astromech builder" and history buff Cole Horton. He's capping off a series of events by revealing how George Lucas's science-fantasy universe was influenced by the pop culture of his youth. It's a great way to introduce younglings and Padawan learners to the Light Side of both reading and 20th-century history. (And while we're on the topic of Star Wars tomes, check out J. W. Rinzler's massively comprehensive The Making of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, which hit bookshelves Oct. 1.)

FROM GOLDEN AGE TO A GALAXY FAR WAY: A STAR WARS READS DAY EVENT, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Puyallup Public Library, 324 S. Meridian, Puyallup, no cover, 253.841.5454

OCTOBER

On a serious note, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and if there's one thing geeks of all genders, political stripes, and orientations can agree on, it's that breasts are the tits. Breast cancer currently affects one out of every eight women. That is simply unacceptable! Please give generously to protect these beautiful national resources. You could, for example, visit the Macy's corner of Tacoma Mall this Saturday the 12th, for a "Paint the Mall Pink" celebration that includes $1,000 worth of awesome giveaways. Coincidentally, the Gritty City Sirens perform their Spooktacular Soiree that same night at 502 Downtown. Check out other worthy events at KomenPugetSound.org.

Until next week, may the Force be with you, may the odds be ever in your favor, and may next weekend be sunny and bright for Seattle's epically distaff GeekGirlCon.

MONDAY, OCT. 7 2013 >>>

1. The Tacoma Film Festival is on, celebrating current independent film from around the globe ... and in our backyard. The 253 represent at this year's TFF. A whole slew of local film shorts will be screened at The Grand Cinema from 4-5:30: Harbor Island (Mystery, 23 min, Scott Capestany); Light and Black (Drama, 10 min, Brian Parker); Look Up In the Sky (Drama, Thriller, Sci-Fi, 9 min, Arthur Rains-McNally); One For the Record Book (Comedy, 5 min, Emily Bjarke); Practical Things (Drama, 5 min, Lindy & Kris Boustedt); The Shootout (Western, 20 min, Craig Muller, Tonya Yorke); The Small Stuff (Drama, 3 min, Andrea Capere) and The Sweet Sorrow (Drama, 12 min, Jeff Barehand).

2. Toscanos Café & Wine Bar and Cline Cellars have teamed up to raise money for Good Samaritan Hospital's Cancer Care Fund. Beginning today, buy a glass of Cline Cellars Wine or special "Pink Cocktail" at Toscanos and receive a free hand-painted collectable cordial glass. Each week the Puyallup restaurant feature a different glass color. For every bottle of Cline wine poured at Toscanos this month, Cline will donate $1 to Good Samaritan. And, Toscanos will match that donation.

3. Meet authors Anne and Laurence Yeadon-Jones and learn about their latest addition to the Dreamspeaker Guides featuring Gig Harbor and other South Puget Sound boating destinations at 6:30 p.m. at the Tides Tavern. Puget Sound - A Boater's Guide is the seventh Dreamspeaker Guide and captures a fresh perspective to cruising our local waters. 

4. Pianist Nate D., bassist Cameron and drummer Peter T. have launch the city's newest jazz jam inviting talent to sit in as the house trio explores straight ahead, funk and space at 8 p.m. in The New Frontier Lounge. Not all gigs qualify as a hang, but this one has the precise alchemy that could draw the area's best players: a high level of musicianship, a relaxed atmosphere and a sympathetic intergenerational crowd. Ask any working jazz musician, and the hang is what it's all about.

5. O'Malley's "Mondays For The Damned," is your typical above ground underground new wave, synth pop, goth, industrial and post-punk haven, and, if you're into it, it's one of the best places to find yourself in the company of the city's goth and industrial scene. Night Shift (Nicole and Aaron) and guest DJs will spin, while Rich Sumner screens videos and movies. Get dark over $3.25 micro brew pints and a pound of wings for $5.50.

LINK: Monday, Oct. 7 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

FRIDAY, OCT. 4, 2013 >>>

1. Musical performances during openings at B2 Fine Art Gallery are nothing new, but the gallery is branching out into music in a big way with the first of a two-part series of art celebrating music. "SPIN 1: American Vinyl Exhibition" - which has been extended through Nov. 16 - is the first of two shows with portraits of musicians in photography and paint augmented with vinyl records to buy, sell and trade; gallery talks and musical performances throughout the duration of the exhibition. This first show focuses on gospel, blues, country and folk, and includes art and photography celebrating giants of music from Woody Gutherie and Robert Johnson to Dylan. at 8 p.m., B2 hosts a Country/Folk Hoedown featuring The Brothers Jim and Scuff & Al's Goodtime Preservation Society. Net proceeds to benefit the National Blues Foundation Hart Fund and Tacoma's Eloise's Cooking Pot Food Bank.

2. We love Tacoma's Annual St. Nicholas Greek Festival. We love the group dancing, the fine food; hell, we even love yelling "Opa!" for no apparent reason. But let's be real. For us, the entire festival is just a complicated set dressing for a baklava-delivery system. Oh, we'll hang out and listen to them ramble on about Socrates, the Olympics and "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," but we'll be picking the flaky crumbs from our shirts and stuffing them into our hungry taste-holes while we do it. We'll dance beginning at 5 p.m. and eat the food - lamb, pork souvlaki, salata, loukomades, dolmades, tyropitakia -  not just because we like it, but in an attempt to bring the honey content in our blood down low enough so we can scarf down another slab of triangular goodness. In its 52nd year, the Greek Festival at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church - 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. - will donate a portion of proceeds to the Fish Food Bank.

3. Beer! Lederhosen! Beer! Bratwurst! Beer! Yodeling! Beer! Austrian Amazon! Beer! Oktoberfest Northwest has all of these fine things, but, most importantly, it has beer. The official opening ceremony and tapping of the Oktoberfest firkin by the 2013 Festmaster will take place at 6:15 p.m., although, beer will be served from the opening at 11 a.m. Other event highlights happening at the Washington State Fair & Event Center include a large Biergarten entertainment hall with national and international German bands and entertainers, authentic German cuisine, the German Corner gift section, the Miss Oktoberfest Northwest Swing Girl and the running of the wiener dogs. And don't forget to wash all that German food down with ... well, you know, beer!

4. There are those among us who can make their trip to a hair stylist the most riveting story you've heard all week. People whose stories never trail off into "it was really cool. ..." Envy them. They are not like you. Not only do they have great success at parties, they have a future at the Olympia Timberland Library. See what all the storytelling fuss is about with "Listen Here: A Lunch Break Story Time for Adult." The first Friday of every month, professional audiobook narrator and voice actor Corey Snow will entertain and inspire you with readings from the wide, wonderful world of short fiction from 12:10-12:50 p.m.  If you can stand a 10-minute hairdo story, just imagine how riveted you'll be by something with an actual plot.

5. Before entertainment moves indoors, and the comedy and theater season swings into play, Olympia likes to have one more outdoor celebration - Fall Arts Walk. Nearly 100 businesses will open their doors and sidewalks to artists, musicians and performers for two days, allowing Olympia to showcase, network and entertain. A stroll through town will promise to be a treasure trove of delight tonight from 5-10 p.m. More than 250 artists will saturate the town with creativity. Look for art in all places; perhaps stumble across a wine tasting while observing oil paintings. Expect street musicians, live art and surprising mediums. Stephanie Johnson, arts and events manager for the city of Olympia, says, "Arts Walk is always new" because, while she provides the framework, it's the businesses and artists that get to collaborate in new and exciting ways.

LINK: Friday, Oct. 4 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Capitol Theater Olympia - Downtown. For MCs By MCs Presents: 360 VS 206 Freestyle Rap Battle Preliminary. All Ages. 7 pm. $5.

• Once again, Heretic The Heathen's For MCs By MCs Battle League sets the tone for premier hip-hop battles and events, this time by inviting some standout writers and MCs from Seattle to battle the best of The 360. Fortunately, there is not any true "bad blood" between the areas, but a slight rivalry is alive and healthy. The all-ages battle is a preliminary invitational to see who will make the eight-person teams that will officially represent The 206 and 360 in an official area code battle to be announced later this fall. If you are interested in the next level of rhyme battling and repping your town/city/area code is essential - this is the place to be. - Jose Gutierrez Jr.
  

Harmon Tap Room Tacoma - Stadium District. Battersea, Jesus On The Moon, Rowhouse. 9 pm.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. The Randy Oxford Band. 8 pm. $9.99.

Kilworth Memorial Chapel/University of Puget Sound Tacoma - Northend. Ronstadt Generations Trio. 8 pm. $4-$12.

• The Tucson-based band - Linda Ronstadt's younger brother, Michael, and his two sons, Michael G. and Petie - three voices and all multi-instrumentalists and solo artists in their own right - bring to life a repertoire that reaches back to the end of the 19th century while continually looking ahead into the 21st, with a rich innovation of original material alongside traditional Southwestern and Mexican songs. - Weekly Volcano
  

Northern Olympia - Downtown. Azar Swan, Delphic Oracle. All ages. 9 pm. $5.

• Zohra Atash and Joshua Strawn make up the dark post-punk duo, Azar Swan. As residents of the NYC-based goth label, PENDV SOUND, it would be easy to guess what Azar Swan are all about even before you saw a picture of the pair looking moody, black and intimidatingly stylish. That's actually a quite apt way to describe their music. All violent synths and surging bass and thudding drum machine, swirled together in a tangled web of angsty electronics. Azar Swan are all about creating this threatening musical façade - an assault of sexy darkness that recalls groups like The Knife and other practitioners are electronically enhanced gloom. No wonder, then, that they recently opened Martin Rev, of Suicide, the band that took doom and fear and dressed it up in just enough catchiness to let you sleep with the lights off. Well, "Frankie Teardrop" excluded. - Rev. Adam McKinney
  

Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. Erika Luckett, Lisa Ferraro. All Ages. 8 pm. $10-$15.

Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Race To Extinction, Tatarus. 9 pm.

Washington State Fair Puyallup. Carly Rae Jepsen, Hot Chelle Rae. 7:30 pm. $20-$50.

LINK: More live music Friday, Sept. 20 in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 18 2013 >>>

1. The attack that hit us when we pressed play on the first song on Babysitter's EYE LP was so immediately guttural we imagined the sonic damage it would do to your internal organs if you exposed them to the ridiculous vibrations emanating from the amplifiers. The rest of the songs flirt with early '90s indie and grunge, while never giving up the caustic edge that first alerted us to Babysitter. Catch the punk band with Happy Noose, Species and Handwritings at 9 p.m. in Le Voyeur.

2. Why climb one Mountain when you can climb two? Double Mountain Brewery out of Hood River will visit Pint Defiance from 5-7 p.m., pouring hoppy brews, including a rare appearance of its Lulu Saison.

3. Riding the wave of post-grunge-early-2000s-Nickelback-vocals, Shinedown launched onto the scene with "Burning Bright" and later with the hit single "Second Chance." This popular Southeast alt-rock band headlines the 2013 version of the Carnival of Madness tour, which creeps into the Washington State Fair for a 5 p.m. show. The band will be joined by Memphis rockers Skillet, L.A. heavy metal band In This Moment and Nashville Christian rock band We As Human.

4. Carol Barbeau - astrologer, teacher, author, and radio and television personality - will discuss karma, destiny and connections at 6:30 p.m. in Crystal Voyage. Right when it all seems dark and bitter and offensive and acrimonious and conflicted and bilious ... here's your opening. 

5. Best known as vocalist/guitarist for pop-psych quartet the Alice Rose, JoDee Purkeypile will perform his porridge of power pop, rock riffage and Beatles-meet-Kinks at 8:30 p.m. at Jazzbones. Setting the mood will be Misterblackwatch and the Silver Ships.

LINK: Wednesday, Sept. 18 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

MONDAY, SEPT. 16 2013 >>>

1. Beginning this month, a sparkling selection of writers of Caribbean descent will be in Tacoma to engage the community in conversations about the history, culture, and literature of the West Indies region. First up, Prof. Tiphanie Yanique - a Virgin Islands native and author of the collection of short stories, How to Escape from a Leper Colony (Graywolf Press, 2010) and I am the Virgin Islands, a poem and collection of collages - will lecture on "Those Who Wait for Us," discussing colonialism, slavery, tourism, and multiculturalismat 6:30 p.m. in the Rasmussen Rotunda and the University of Puget Sound.

2. The Squeak and Squawk Music Festival invited indie bands from all over the Northwest and beyond to stop by Tacoma and unleash their magic. It ends tonight: (6-9 p.m., all ages, Library at Sanford and Son) Goat, Upchcuk and the Chunksand others (9:30 p.m., 21+, The New Frontier Lounge) Rowhouseand assorted friends. 

3. The country band Alabama has reunited and will perform at 7:30 p.m. at the Washington State Fair. Picking which songs they will perform won't be an easy task since the band has had 43 No. 1s since its formation in 1972.

4. Want to feel like a rock star without all the pain and annoyance of having to be a  fire-breathing demon that bleeds from the mouth? Then hit Jazzbones at 9 p.m. for Rockaraoke, where you can belt out songs like the Whitesnake's "Here I Go Again," Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me," Joan Jett's "I Hate Myself For Loving You" and enough INXS tunes to make you feel like you're on a reality show, and other hits from the days when you made mixtapes by recording the radio, all backed by a live band. Expect a college crowd enjoying $2 PBR drafts, $3 Sinfire shots and $4 Smirnoff Flavor Vodka Bombs. Dibs on "Hungry Like a Wolf."

5. O'Malley's "Mondays For The Damned" is not some cartoon-like parody like you see in the movies. For the most part, the Monday DJ night is just your typical above ground underground new wave, synth pop, goth, industrial and post-punk haven. Get dark over $3.25 micro brew pints and a pound of wings for $5.50 beginning at 9 p.m.

LINK: Monday, Sept. 16 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SUNDAY, SEPT 15 2013 >>>

1. The city of Lakewood, in cooperation and partnership with the Lakewood Subchapter of the Association of the U.S. Army, the 4/2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team and other community partners, will host two welcome home events for members of 4/2, who have recently returned from a nine-month deployment in Afghanistan.  The morning kicks off at 9 a.m. with a parade to welcome and salute the returning troops.  The route begins at the Lakewood Police Department (Lakewood Drive and 95th Street), and ends at Lakewood City Hall (6000 Main St. SW). The homecoming event continues with a family friendly community party at Fort Steilacoom Park. This event will begin at noon and run until 6 p.m. There is no entry fee, and free onsite parking is available.

2. The Red Hot has added three sausage hot dogs to its menu: The Cowboy ($4.75), Berliner ($4.25) and The Dakota ($4.50). TRH bartender Mitchell gave nod to The Cowboy, a locally made beef/cheddar sausage link on a steamed poppyseed bun, topped with barbecue sauce, chopped onions, slice of bacon, nacho cheese sauce and jalapeños. Giddy up! The Cowboy pairs well with Belgian style ales, which are $1 off on Sundays. Oh, TRH opens at 9:30 a.m. on Sundays for the game.

3. Latin Americans love to party. From Mexican tamales to pizza from Argentina, food is crucial in the holiday mix, as is dance, whether it's salsa, samba or merengue. The moves and beats differ, but they always create a purely Latin rhythm. Taste, feel and see the action at Fiestas Patrias, a celebration of Latin America's Independence Day at the Washington State Fair. From noon to 9 p.m. a collection of Latin entertainment ranging from traditional mariachis to colorful folkloric dancers to Roberto Tapia and other well-known musicians playing on the radio will gather in the Main Grandstand. Plus, expect authentic foods, vendors, artisans and kids activities.

4. Pound the buttons on some old school title, claim the next game by placing quarters on the edge of the screen or just watching other players defeat pixelated villains with killer techniques from 1 p.m. to midnight during Dorky's third-year anniversary party. For $20, you will receive unlimited play, trips to the taco bar and quarterly raffles.

5. The Squeak and Squawk Music Festival has invited indie bands from all over the Northwest and beyond to stop by Tacoma and unleash their magic through Sept. 16. Here is the schedule for today: (6-9 p.m., all ages, Library at Sanford and Son) LAKE, Friends and Family and The Hoot Hoots (9:30 p.m., 21+, The New Frontier Lounge) Not From Brooklyn, Fen Wik Ren and the Wheelies. Descriptions of the bands can be found here.

LINK: Sunday, Sept. 15 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

MONDAY, SEPT. 9 2013 >>>

1. Tacoma loves it some Pacific Grill. It was no surprise when the chef/owner Gordon Naccarato-powered upscale dining option on Pacific Avenue took home "Best Restaurant" honors in the Volcano's 2011 Super Best of Tacoma Readers' Poll. Tacoma's love for Pacific Grill has been proven time and time again. After being open for eight years this month, Naccarato and his team recently rolled out thoroughly revamped menus, featuring small plates, lower prices and more vegan and gluten-free options. From 4-7 p.m., Pacific Grill will celebrate its eighth birthday with a party extravaganza, featuring free appetizers and desserts, prizes and hot DJ action with Mr. Melanin. The only thing more exciting is the food.

2. Think of them as Nashville's version of Fleetwood Mac without quite so many psychosexual head games, and you have Little Big Town. The country foursome will ride into the Washington State Fair at 7:30 p.m. taking turns singing lead and harmonize like no other group in Nashville right now.

3. Pianist Nate D., bassist Cameron and drummer Peter T. host the city's newest jazz jam inviting talent to sit in with them as the house trio explores straight ahead, funk and space at 8 p.m. in The New Frontier Lounge. Not all gigs qualify as a hang, but this one has the precise alchemy that could draw the area's best players: a high level of musicianship, a relaxed atmosphere and a sympathetic intergenerational crowd. Ask any working jazz musician, and the hang is what it's all about.

4. Every Monday Jazzbones is packed to the brim with college kids. Party types. The type that wear tight shirts and trucker hats. Throngs of Chad Fratguys and Sarah Sororitysisters swarm the bar, line up for the bathroom and dance to the Rockaraoke - live band karaoke. The Rockaraoke band is skilled, too. Expect $2 PBR drafts, $3 Sinfire shots, $4 Smirnoff flavor vodka bombs.

5. The stereotype is racing through your head: Everyone is in all black, many are wearing dark and heavy eye make-up and every now and then, the DJ stops a tune with a vertebrae-shattering guitar riff for chants of, "Kill! Kill! Kill!" But O'Malley's new "Mondays For The Damned," is not some cartoon-like parody like you see in the movies. For the most part, the 9 p.m. Monday DJ night is just your typical above ground underground new wave, synth pop, goth, industrial and post-punk haven, and, if you're into it, it's one of the best places to find yourself in the company of the city's goth and industrial scene. Night Shift (Nicole and Aaron) and guest DJs will spin, while Rich Sumner screens videos and movies. Get dark over $3.25 micro brew pints and a pound of wings for $5.50.

LINK: Monday, Sept. 9 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SUNDAY, SEPT. 8 2013 >>>

1. Tacoma takes care of its own, as we like to say. Today will provide an opportunity for us to prove that we can extend this affection to one of our area's beloved musicians. Jho Blenis needs help paying his medical bills. Enough said. A benefit will be held from 1-10 p.m. at The Swiss featuring a full day of awesome blues: Spin Cycle, Randy Oxford Band, Big Nasty, Dean Reichert Band, Little Bill and the Blue Notes, Tim Hall Band, Jerry Miller Band and Bump Kitchen anchoring at 8 p.m. Ted Brown Music is providing a bass rig and drum kit/cymbals. All-Star Guitar is donating major gear for guitarists. Robert Richholt is donating a Hammond XK3 with a Leslie for back line.

2. Roller derby fans and skaters no doubt celebrated the sports' 78th anniversary last month with an elbow to someone's chest. The latest out of the Dockyard Derby Dames' camp is an early start. The league will hit the flat track for season eight Saturday, Oct. 5. Also look for more out-of-league play, as well as appreciation nights. Need a breakaway from sorting books at the library? The Dockyard Derby Dames Boot Camp runs every Sunday in September. For $40 you will learn the basic skills and have fun, too. In no time you'll be transformed into Anna Scar-enina! Hurry! Camp opens at 9 a.m.

3. Luminasia - described on the Washington State Fair's website as "an exquisite take on the timeless tradition of Chinese lantern making, combining high-tech material and state-of-the art lighting and production techniques." "It really is one of the most amazing attractions we've had in years," said Karen LaFlamme, media relations representative for the fair. "We have 40 artisans from China working on it. The theme is "East meets West," so there will be dragons and pagodas and things like the Space Needle, a ferry boat and totem poles ... it really is a magical 2-acre event." Catch Luminasia from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the Fairgrounds.

4. Paesan Kitchen and Bar'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, tables mean nothing as 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 quadruple threat of delicious pizza, booze, sun and hip tunes is known as Tacoma's only daytime summer party, "Dayclub." Today marks the last Dayclub of the season. Mr. Melanin says it's going to be off the hook.

5. Jazz Live at Marine View kicks off its fall season with a celebration of jazz entitled Jazzaganza. It's an anthology of jazz, with a look at how jazz has changed and grown from its humble beginnings. Gospel, R & B and jazz vocalist Josephine Howell joins the Buckshot Jazz Band with Buck Chandler on percussion, Eugene Bien on keyboards and Cliff Colon on saxophone for Jazzaganza from 5-6:45 p.m. at Marine View Church - for free.  In addition, modern dance instructor Monica McEthy-Ballet will add a theatrical element to the evening.  

LINK: Sunday, Sept. 8 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

FRIDAY, SEPT. 6 2013 >>>

1. Every year, more than a million people pour into the Washington State Fair (previously the Puyallup Fair) not only as a tradition, but also for the fresh and innovative experiences the fair offers, like this year's feature, Luminasia - described on the fair's website as "an exquisite take on the timeless tradition of Chinese lantern making, combining high-tech material and state-of-the art lighting and production techniques." Other new highlights are the Bavarian Beer Garden and SillyVille Soda Shoppe. Also for the kiddies are two free interactive experiences: Tractor Tracks, where kids pedal antique tractors through a maze, and Crazy Worlds 5D Adventure, where participants navigate through an imaginary world while wearing 3D glasses. The latest ride to show up at the fair is Rainier Rush, which can be described as a looping inversion coaster and "a nice contrast to the classic wooden roller coaster." Today, the Fair runs 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Read Nikki McCoy's full feature on the Washington State Fair in the Music and Culture section.

2. Dirty Oscar's is joining forces with Team Hammock to help kick cancer's ass! This is Team Hammock's first year participating in the "Light the Night Walk," a 2-mile walk Sept. beginning at Marine Park in Tacoma where every dollar raised goes to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Drop By Dirty Oscar's between 4-6 p.m. for happy hour and help kick cancer's ass.

3. The Sundance Institute's Film Forward series continues today with The Loving Story screening for free at 6 p.m. in Jason Lee Middle School. The film tells the story of Richard and Mildred and examines the drama, the history and the current state of interracial marriage.

4. Two ardent supporters of the analog movement are touring up the West Coast, and will find their way to Olympia's Northern venue at 8 p.m. Calling their tour "Analog Resurgence," Rakehell and Go Pills are traveling with their salvation show, preaching the gospel of low-tech. Musically, they could reductively be described as pop-punk or New Wave, with quirky lyrics and unpredictable style shifts. Go Pills, in particular, might play around with twisted '50s novelty music like the kind Bobby "Boris" Pickett would play ("It Came From Outer Space"), and then jump over to lo-fi punk anthems ("I'm So Tired [It's Not Funny]"). Read Rev. Adam McKinney's full feature on the Analog Resurgence in the music and Culture section.

5. Tacoma band Strangely Alright, who recently signed to Maurice the Fish Records, and released a hot-seller debut album, The Time Machine is Broken, will be shooting a video for their song, "If I Don't Laugh I'm Only Going To Cry" at Tacoma's antique store Rampart Sept 14. The band requests folks to come in costume and have a good time. There aren't any criteria for costume; coming as you is cool by the band. If you need a Strangely Alright fix before the shoot, the band hosts an all-ages CD release party with Sleepy Pilot and Stone Age Thrillers Friday at 8 p.m. tonight in Louie G's in Fife. Read Nikki McCoy's full feature on Strangely Alright in the Music and Culture section.

LINK: Friday, Sept. 6 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area