THURSDAY, MARCH 7 2013 >>>

1. As you chomped on your big ass turkey leg during your Thanksgiving dinner, The Grand Cinema flicked the switch Steven Spielberg's Lincoln. And sure it's more a long-winded history lecture than a movie, but you can't deny the skill that went into it, and well worth the price of admission just to watch Daniel-Day Lewis do his thing. Today, the Grand will screen Lincoln for the last time at 1:30, 4:55 and 8:05 p.m. The film will finish as the seventh highest grossing film in the history of The Grand, right behind last year's Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and just in front of Juno.

2. Former child star, reality TV vet and now 102.5 KZOK morning shift DJ Danny Bonaduce will hang at the Ale House Sports Pub & Grille's happy hour from 4-6 p.m. shaking hands and handing out Joe Walsh/Bob Seger tickets.

3. Why drink alone when you can get your drink on with cool cats who care about environmental issues? On the first Thursday of each month, Green Drinks invites Tacoma and Pierce County residents to do just that - hang out and chat with other green-minded individuals over drinks and snacks. The next session of Green Drinks - which will be held at 6 p.m. inside the Top of Tacoma Bar and Cafe - will focus on community gardens ... and drinks, of course.

4. The 11th annual Sister Cities Film Festival is more than a film festival. It's a cultural exploration of Tacoma's sister cities, of which there are 11 located all around the world. Each Thursday, a film from a sister city lights up the screen of Blue Mouse Theatre - complemented by bonus activities and entertainment. Each week also has its own committee responsible for said entertainment and film selection. Gunsan, South Korea has been Tacoma's sister since 1978 and had a curiously parallel course of development to Tacoma - Gunsan is a port city that boomed in the 1890s due to a rail link, and there is even an American Air Force Base in the vicinity. We're still checking to see if Gunsan has a weekly chalk competition in a park or if Guy Fieri has his Camaro towed down its streets. Anyway, in honor of Gunsan, the film Secret Sunshine will screen at 7 p.m. with a culutral program beginning at 6 p.m.

5. Billy Stoop's open jam consumes Stonegate's Pizza & Rum Bar beginning at 9 p.m. Be sure to sip some La Favorite Ambre Rhum Agricole.

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

TUESDAY, MARCH 5 2013 >>>

1. Well over a decade in the making, Holy Motors arrives at The Grand for a brief moment, today for a mere two showings. Much like director Leos Carax’s style of storytelling or rather his revealing, the film is minimal and profound. The chameleonic Denis Lavant stars as Monsieur Oscar, traveling from place to place in the back of a white stretch limo, donning some shockingly good prosthetic makeup as he moves from "appointment" to "appointment" - dropping in for brief scenes as different characters in various movies belonging to wildly disparate genres. Later on, there will be some discussion with an agent, as Oscar laments the shrinking of the cameras and digital diaspora. Nothing is like it used to be. It's rare to find a film so gripping as it whirls you through sudden twists and jarring imagery with such a void in established character development and dialog. This rarity, typically an honor bestowed upon Terry Gilliam or even that of the ever visually appealing Michael Gondry, is what elevates Carax's film Holy Motors into the alluring and all too unyielding nonsensical wonderment of the word - surreal. Catch it at 2 and 6:35 p.m. at The Grand Cinema. Read Lisa Fruichantie's full feature on Holy Motors in the Weekly Volcano's Arts section.

2. The Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium will be offering free admission to anyone who shows up with picture ID or other proof of residency. That's awesome.

3. A nationally touring performance poet and teaching artist Lauren Zuniga is ranked among the top five female poets in the world. Her works include two poetry collections: The Nickel Tour, published in 2009, and The Smell of Good Mud, published in 2012. Tacoma Community College's Student Life department hosts Zuniga at 11:30 a.m. in the Student Union Building to discuss current events and other topics of interest.

5. Ricky J's Restaurant and Sports Lounge in Puyallup doesn't exactly sound like the name of a meat market haven. But in fact, Ricky J's has some of the most reasonably priced meat in town. Every Tuesday night Ricky J's offers a bar steak special for $4.95. That's a heaping pile of meat for under $5. Other specials include a buy one burger receive a second at half price at 8 p.m. poker. But what's that you say? What about the chicks? Jeez, here we mention cheap meat and you're still concerned about chicks. ...

5. Every Tuesday night at Stonegate Pizza on South Tacoma Way Leanne Trevalyan hosts an acoustic open mic at 8 p.m. Tonight, many special guests join her as Tacoma artist Teddy Haggarty celebrates his 60th birthday.

LINK: Tuesday, March 5 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympi aarea

CHECKING IN WITH A SISTER >>>

For a month now, Tacoma's sister cities has been feeding the Mouse. And by feeding the Mouse we mean feeding the Blue Mouse Theatre with delicious foreign films and cultural programs. Each Thursday through April 4, the Sister Cities Film Festival highlight's one of Tacoma's sister cities with a program and film that matches the culture of a city that Tacoma calls a sister. Take this Thursday, Gunsan, South Korea has been Tacoma's sister since 1978 and had a curiously parallel course of development to Tacoma - Gunsan is a port city that boomed in the 1890s due to a rail link, and there is even an American Air Force Base in the vicinity. We're still checking to see if Gunsan has a weekly chalk competition in a park or if Guy Fieri has his Camaro towed down its streets.

Anyway, in honor of Gunsan, the film Secret Sunshine will screen at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 7 at the Mouse.

"The movie Secret Sunshine was chosen by the committee members," says Sister Cities coordinator Debbie Bingham. "They compiled a list of movies that their members had reviewed and which ones they were able to get access to show in the U.S. and Secret Sunshine won."

Directed by Lee Chang-dong, the 2007 film garnered some strong attention around its release date. Lead actress Jeon Do-yeon scored best actress at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival for her role as troubled Shin-Ae, who is recovering from the death of her husband only to have another major tragedy jump into her path.

Get to the Blue Mouse at 6 p.m. and enjoy the full cultural program, which includes live classical Korean music and introductions by officials from the Korean Consul General's office and City of Tacoma's mayor's office.

BLUE MOUSE THEATRE, THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 6 P.M., $10, NORTH 26TH AND NORTH PROCTOR, TACOMA, 253.752.9500

AND SO IT CONTINUES ...

There was quite the hubbub around town back in November when a certain celebrity chef's Camaro was seen cruising around town.

And with good reason.

Guy Fieri visited several hot spots in the South Sound filming delicious tidbits and kitchen banter for his Food Network show, Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. The television crew visited Fish Tale Brew Pub and Darby's Café in Olympia, Bruno's European Restaurant in Parkland, Crockett's Public House in Puyallup have made their appearance on the Food Network. Now it is Tacoma's turn.

This evening at 10 p.m. triple D will air "Hitting the Grill" and showcase chef McManus casual dining digs and Sixth Avenue favorite The Crown Bar.

"Unfortunately we are closed on Mondays," Crown bartender Kevin Ketchum tells me over the phone. "The timing was off because the owners had already planned a vacation, but we are looking forward to everyone coming in on Tuesday to tell us about it!"

That means you'll have to ante up to the rail amidst all the Food Network groupies whom have newly discovered Crown Bar amore.

Among some of the dishes McManus created with Fieri include the Crown's Moroccan Beef Kabobs with a side of curried cous cous and his mixed green salad with roasted beets and goat cheese.

"We have no idea what made it on to the show so it will be fun," Ketchum says.

What did Ketchum think of Fieri?

"He's a character for sure," Ketchum says. "You can see why the guy has a television show."

Crown Bar neighbor Dirty Oscar's Annex will be airing on Triple D sometime in the coming weeks, showcasing some of chef Grissom's unique, flavorful dishes.

CROWN BAR, 2705 SIXTH AVE., TACOMA, 253.272.4177

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

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Mostly cloudy with a couple of showers, hi 57, lo 44

Saturday: Periods of annoying rain, hi 55, lo 38

Sunday: Some rain here and there, hi 48, lo 35

>>> FRIDAY, MARCH 1: DANCE OLY DANCE

It's been awhile since we've shined some light on Dance Oly Dance, where the dance revolution is televised. Well, at least on local television with local dancers and local DJs. The March 1 episode features an online vote for a favorite DJ, so dancers get to choose the poison. Will it be DJ SPF666? Will it be DJ Riot? Tune into Facebook for voting and results, and if you are not down there shaking your boo-tay, tune into TCTV to watch Dance Oly Dance live. — Nikki McCoy

• TCTV, 8-9 p.m., 440 Yauger Way, Olympia

>>> FRIDAY, MARCH 1: DISTINGUISHED WRITER SERIES

You know what rotating equipment engineers can do? They can: evaluate new equipment and enable employees training on proper repair and operational techniques; function as technical resource to maintenance groups to direct and recommend problems solutions; prepare equipment RFQ packages and technical bid evaluations and make vendor suggestions; review vendor design documents and coordinate with vendors during equipment design and fabrication process; publish two chapbooks; specify and review drawings and data for large pumps and rotating equipment for offshore applications and conduct routine and complex engineering, design, analysis and technical tasks. Well, at least that's what poet John Milkereit has done. Ask him about his chapbooks and RFQ packages tonight when he leads the Distinguished Writer Series event and open mic.

• King's Books, 7 p.m., free, 218 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.8801, kingsbookstore.com

>>> FRIDAY, MARCH 1: AKA AND THE HEART HURT GOODS

AKA and the Heart Hurt Goods is driven. The band is talented. And it plans to blow up The Royal Friday night in Oly. The group is always lively - with AKA laying his rhyme and reason to an authentic blend of talented musicians and lovely lady vocals. And I'm not ashamed to hype these guys by dropping names. They've opened for Sublime LBC and Macklemore. 'Nuff said. - NM

• The Royal Lounge, w/Elbow Coulee, 9 p.m., $3/adv, $5/door, 311 Capitol Way N.,  Olympia, 360. 705.0760

>>> SATURDAY, MARCH 2: DANCE PARTY

The New Frontier Lounge will play host to one of THE premiere dance parties of the year Saturday. Tacoma's own Death By Stars has rounded up an all-star cast of its amazing friends to provide the 253 with a night of something new, something different, something ... weird! Bands includeEver So Android, Werebearcat! and DJ Melodica. "We wanted to bring in bands that don't get a chance to play in Tacoma enough," says DBS member Patrick Galactic.  It's also Galactic and Juan El Revelator's birthday.  "I've never thrown myself a bash before," Galactic continues, "so we're gonna do this RIGHT!  It's going to be a celebration of the friends, family and city we love. If you like to shake it, this is your night. If you don't like to shake it but like to watch sexy girls shake it ... this is your night!" - NM

• The New Frontier Lounge, 8 p.m., $5, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020

>>> SATURDAY, MARCH 2: SOUTH SOUND SUSTAINABILITY EXPO

Fun fact: Before there were expos, people had no idea how to disseminate information about sustainability. It was a bleak time. Luckily, events like Saturday's South Sound Sustainability Expo at the Tacoma Convention and Trade Center have solved this problem, bringing "green" to the masses. According to hype, the South Sound Sustainability Expo is "intended to provide residents and business owners in the greater Tacoma metropolitan area a place to discover services, products, companies, and agencies in our region that address sustainability needs in our community." As part of that goal, instruction and information on everything from urban chicken cooping to waste minimization and recycling will be discussed. 

• Tacoma Convention and Trade Center, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., free, 1500 Broadway, Tacoma, southsoundsustainabilityexpo.org

>>> SUNDAY, MARCH 3: ARABIAN NIGHTS

The Tacoma Youth Symphony Association brings its 2012-2013 season to the Rialto Theater Sunday for a performance by the much-loved Tacoma Youth Symphony Orchestra. Titled Arabian Nights, and thematically including Mahler's "Adagietto" from Symphony No. 5, Weber's Second Concerto for Clarinet and Romsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, Sunday's afternoon concert should deliver in all facets of awesomeness. Coolest of all: 100 free main-floor tickets for students of high school age or younger will be available at the door on the day of the performance.

• Rialto Theater, 3 p.m., $6-$17, 310 S. Ninth, Tacoma, 253.591.5890

>>> SUNDAY, MARCH 3: OLYMPIA DANCE FESTIVAL

Jazz hands, everyone! Sunday brings the fourth annual Olympia Dance Festival to the Washington Center for the Performing Arts. Combing the dance talents of several regional dance troupes - listed on the press release as Ballet Northwest, Centralia Ballet Academy, Comerford School of Irish Dance, Debbi's Dance, Johansen Olympia Dance Center, Mas Uda Middle Eastern Dancers, Random Acts of Dance Collective, Slieveloughane Irish Dancers, Southwest Washington Dance Ensemble and Studio West Dance Academy - this yearly event typically inspires smiles and rounds of applause. Southwest Washington is full of dance talent, and the Olympia Dance Festival routinely puts that fact on full display.

• Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 2 p.m., $10, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia, 360.753.8585

WHAT SOME OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS ARE UP TO

CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL Theater Critic
Our schedule is unusually vacant this weekend, so the better half and I plan to give our condo a thorough pre-spring cleaning. Also, I'd very much like to catch Shakespeare Abridged at TLT, given its enthusiastic thumbs-up from Joann Varnell.

REV. ADAM MCKINNEY Music Writer
This weekend, I'll be hitting up Patrick Galactic's birthday show at the New Frontier. Death By Stars, Ever-So-Android, Elbow Coulee and Werebearcat! I'd be a fool not to go.

ALEC CLAYTON Arts Critic
We're going to Seattle Saturday to see Photograph 51 at the Seattle Repertory Theatre. Not exactly a title that makes people run out and buy tickets, but I hear it's a great play.

NIKKI MCCOY Feature Writer
How about a bubble bath while the servants, I mean children, clean the cat box and fold the laundry? How about a full body massage with lavender and jojoba oil while my husband serenades me on the guitar? How about a luxury shopping trip with girlfriends and martinis while a team of top-rate gardeners prepare my yard for spring? Oh, sorry, what was that? My weekend plans? Nursing a cold and scrubbing toilets while the tyrants, I mean children, fight over Legos and complain about dinner.

JOSH RIZEBERG Music Columnist
I'm not doing too much this weekend. Friday, I'll be at Jazzbones for Clemm Rishad's album-release party. Saturday, I'll be teaching my spoken word/poetry class at D.A.S.H Center for the Arts. Sunday, I'll try to get my slow-moving ass to the Graffiti Garages for the Sunday Cyphers.

JOANN VARNELL Theater Critic
Saturday, I'll hit up the Super Mall with one of my best friends (with my toddler in tow) to spend a gift certificate from Christmas. Sunday, I'll start the day with a birthday breakfast in bed and say hello to 38. I have no other plans than to relax, maybe take a nap (you know, like old people do) and enjoy a birthday dinner prepared by my rad husband. (Do people even say "rad" anymore?)

STEVE DUNKELBERGER Nightlife Correspondent
Well, I will be working on my next book about the history of Lakewood and going to the training session to learn about researching life in Washington during the Civil War years for an upcoming exhibit at WSHM, beating the ukulele strings like they owe me money for a birthday gig I got roped into playing and then maybe hit Louie G's for the Ben Union show or the Blanco Bronco show at the New Frontier. Decisions, decisions. Oh yeah, and walk the dog.

NIC LEONARD Music Writer
Saturday night I will be attending the Portland Trailblazers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves game down at the Rose Garden followed by a night if partying in Portland. Look for me on TV!  I'll be decked out in vintage Sonics gear sitting two rows behind one of the hoops.

ROCKFORD ROWLEY All-Ages Music Columnist
This weekend, I'm headed up to The Experience Music Project to see The Sound Off! finals. I'll be pulling for Tacoma's own electro-pop glimmer-twins THE FAME RIOT. A winning outcome will guarantee them a spot on the Bumbershoot bill.

LINK: Even more local events that we recommend

LINK: Comprehensive South Sound Arts & Entertainment Calendar

THURSDAY, FEB. 28 2013 >>>

1. Let's talk Tacoma Runners, cause you know we love them. As it does every Thursday, the running group will gather at 5:45 p.m. outside a venue, stretch a bit, listen to Rob McNair-Huff describe the 3-mile route, then hit the pavement. What makes tonight's run extra special is the venue - The Grand Cinema. The group skips the typical bar homebase and will start and end it srun at Tacoma's independent film house. Once returning from its run, the group will enjoy food, beverages and a free showing of The Mountain Runners. Tonight would be a good night to join the group.

2. During the 1970s, a new genre of music called funk was making its way into the American mainstream and Seattle was droppin' the bass big time.  The documentary Wheedle's Groove profiles Seattle's once-thriving now-forgotten soul/funk scene of the 1960s and '70s in entertaining and highly educational fashion. The University of Puget Sound Black student Union and KUPS radio present the film at 7 p.m. inside Rausch Auditorium. It's the first film of the KUPSxSSU Film series. A short discussion led by UPS Prof. Renne Simms will follow the free screening.

3. Like fiddles and facial hair? Good. The Barleywine Revue performs tonight at The Swiss at 9 p.m.

4. The Weekly Volcano has brought you reports from the South Pacific Restaurant, describing its over 40 crowd, including "Muscular, graying men in leather jackets and blue jeans dance with equally attractive, equally middle-aged partners." Tonight, the scene might be a bit different. The "Hip Hop At South Paw" show will feature Blue Nose Music, AR Mastermind, Spikkoli, Syncopated Knock, Model Citizens and Back Magic Noize at 9 p.m.

5. Swing dancing's Africanist cousin, blues dancing, hits the Olympia Eagles Ballroom in the form of OlyBlues every Thursday at 9 p.m. Blues dancing derives from the so-called "Black vernacular" of Southern dance styles and includes such moves as the Lindy and the irresistibly named "Funky Butt." Worst-case scenario: you have two left feet but get to listen to Nina Simone.

LINK: Thursday, Feb. 28 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 27 2013 >>>

1. Take an international cast, a rolling landscape in Flint, Mich., the thundering music of Red Hex and the twisted, talented mind of Isaac Olsen and you have German expressionist art film, Ich Hunger. The film - shot in black and white with splashes of color - is in German with English subtitles. The plot concerns a murderous creature boy who terrorizes the farming township of Frondenberg, Germany and an inspector, Stephen Heckel, travels from Frankfurt to hunt him down. Ich Hunger will screen at 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. inside The Grand Cinema. Read Rev. Adam McKinney's review of the film in the Weekly Volcano's Arts section.

2. New Old Town Tacoma cafe Treos has been closed for the past week due to more remodeling needs. That was a week without stellar flatbreads and a great beer selection. It's hosting a grand opening celebration all day today at 2312 N. 30th St.

3. Jazzy's Cafe at 3701 S. Lawrence St. in Tacoma hosts an all-ages Jazz Jam Session with the Peter Adams Trio from 7-10 p.m. Wine and cold beer are available.

4. C.L.A.W., teams up with the lovely, local cosplay group Super Sirens at 7:30 p.m. for an event at King's Books that will likely shake the foundations of the world, as we know it. The event entitled Real Life Comics will give the public the ability to create its own cartoon creation based on the models of the wonderful ladies of the aforementioned Super Sirens. Read Weekly Volcano intern Sean Contris' interview with C.L.A.W. for the sweet details.

5. At 8 p.m. several musicians will explore the art of the tape loop at the all-ages club Northern in downtown Olympia. "The Yes And No in All Things: Magnetism in Soundcraft" will feature the lo-fi cassette soundscape of Factoria from Brooklyn and Olympia artists Arrington de Dionyso performing Songs of Psychic Fire, Stellar Angles exploring cyclic textures concerning Macrocosmic Influence and Prismatic Cloak diving into world ambient degradation.

LINK: Wednesday, Feb. 27 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

TUESDAY, FEB. 26 2013 >>>

1. In the 1990s Olympians were knee deep in a D.I.Y. music revolution, running between house concerts and packing it in anytime indie-metal band KARP found a stage. Short for Kill All Redneck Pricks, KARP anchored the other end of the K Records roster - the loud, impenitent high-energy end. By the end of the '90s, like many of the Olympia venues of the time, KARP faded to black. After 4 1/2 years of collecting archival footage - and conducting interviews with Calvin Johnson of K Records, Justin Trosper of Unwound, Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill and others - Brooklyn filmmaker William E. Badgley has managed to capture the rise and fall of the raucous band in his film, Kill All Redneck Pricks: A documentary about a band called KARP. The film documents - in a rough-and-tumble style - the story of the Olympia sludge band and its exposure to drugs, demons and bad luck. Tonight at 9:30 p.m. catch a free screening of the KARP documentary on King Solomon's Reef's new big ass projector screen ... with director Badgley drinking next to you.

2. It's Tuesday, which means The Grand Cinema busts out another special film gem. Today at 2:15 and 8:05 p.m. the independent film house will screen Starlet, the story of an unlikely friendship between 21 year-old Jane and the elderly Sadie after Jane discovers a hidden stash of money inside an object at Sadie's yard sale.

3. You’re feeling pretty down about your failed Oscars predictions. But, hark! dear knowitall. Your shot at redemption and encyclopedic esteem lies before you at The Hub's Trivia Night. Every Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. the Tacoma Stadium District restaurant hosts two rounds of trivia with$100 in cash prizes.

4. Lyda Kuth and Kent Christman were enrolled at The Evergreen State College in the '70s. Nearly a decade later, they crossed paths in Boston and later married. Their relationship, and the universal uncertainties of finding and staying in love, is the subject of Kuth’s first feature film, Love and Other Anxieties, which will screen at 6:30 p.m. at The Evegreen State College. Kuth will answer questions after the screening.

5. The Unknown Relatives play songs that sound like dead ringers for songs you'd find hidden in one of those Nuggets compilations of long-lost '60s garage gems. It's all bopping guitar and bouncy rhythms, with cute little stop-start dynamics that pull you in and make you oddly invested in a song that's just a little over a minute and a half long.Check the band out with The Matildas and Pacific Pride at 10 p.m. inside Le Voyeur in Olympia.

LINK: Tuesday, Feb. 26 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SUNDAY, FEB. 24 2013 >>>

1. The 85th annual Academy Awards has arrived, and there exists really only two options for you tonight - you can either watch Daniel Day-Lewis win Best Actor from Tacoma's swanky Theatre on the Square thanks to the Grand Cinema, or watch Daniel Day-Lewis win Best Actor at Olympia's equally swanky Capitol Theater. Before the show starts at the latter, find a good seat to watch fellow guests arrive in their best duds on the Capitol's mammoth screen. Enjoy yourself, and may the best Dan win on Oscar night.

2. As you have heard, the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra seeks a new music director. One of the four finalists for the job, Maestro Sarah Ioannides, will make her debut with the TSO at 2:30 p.m. for a little Glinka's Overature to Russlan and Ludmilla, Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5 and other pieces at the Pantages Theater.

3. Saxophonist Kareem Kandi's sound is virtually unrelated to the roomy traditions of soul saxes, honking saxes or deep-chested boudoir ballad saxes. It derives from the classic, free, often enthusiastic tradition of Joshua Redman as filtered through Dexter Gordon and Sonny Stitt, all of whose shadows can be traced-Redman in Kandi's funky organicism, Gordon in his dynamic harmonics, Stitt in the intensity that coats his every note with a Gritty City finish. Catch the Kareem Kandi Band from 3-6 p.m. at Uncle Thurm's BBQ in Tacoma's Lincoln District.

4. Here are three reasons yo should head to Northern at 8 p.m. to catch a live performance featuring R. Stevie Moore, LAKE and Visiting Nurses. R. Stevie Moore! Moore is the kind of outsider-genius-weirdo-musician that consumes whole websites and books. LAKE is a perennial K Records favorite. It's the type of band that strikes a perfect balance of naivete and pop-sophistication. Visiting Nurses is a collaborative effort from (ex)-members of Congratulations, Broken Water and Mona Reels.

5. Portland's dirty rock 'n' roll band P.R.O.B.L.E.M.S. - featuring Kelly of Pierced Arrows - is joined by Olympia's The Narrows and Portland's Don't - featuring Sam Henry of The Wipers - for a 9 p.m. show at The Brotherhood Lounge in Olympia.

LINK: Sunday, Feb. 24 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SATURDAY, FEB. 23 2013 >>>

1. Hell's Belles returns to Jazzbones at 5 (all-ages) and 9 p.m, where last November they blasted Bobble Tiki's eardrums and raised the Jazzbones' temperature to hell-like heat with its all-female brand of chugging, riffing rock. The all-female AC/DC tribute band gets 'em in the door, but guitarist Adrian Connor (Angus incarnate with more energy!) and singer Amber Saxon from Australia (belting Bon and Brian with Tina Turner sass) keeps 'em coming back.  The onstage exuberance shown by these gals could pummel a brick wall into submission. Whether strutting, swaying, or the most important of all true r'n'r rituals, soloing, Hell's Belles makes it known that it came to shake things up. It's classic cock-rock without the, uh, receding hairline. Graceland Five opens.

2. Good pie is important. It's unfortunate that very few places understand how important, which must be why most pie is, well, sad. Flabby, machine-made crust and Technicolor interiors are the least of it. The contestants participating in today's Olympia Pie Fest understand the importance of pie. Otherwise, they'd be gardening or working on their Pintrest page. Yes, these folks understand the significance of pie, and will undoubtedly strive to bake fabulous ones: flaky, buttery crust and fresh, seasonal from-scratch fruit fillings. There are rules and rewards, which are posted at olybakers.com. Pie eaters don't care how it happens, as long as pies are made. The pie eating and general merriment is scheduled from 1-3:30 p.m. at the Olympia Center. Proceeds benefit Thurston County Food Bank and Senior Nutrition program.

3. Has anyone ever told you you're "everyone's problem?" Has anyone ever told you you're "unsafe?"  Has anyone ever told you they don't like you "because you're dangerous?" If so, the Paper Airplane Flight Schoofrom 1-3:30 p.m.  at Olympic Flight Museum might be perfect for a maverick just like you. Promising "an afternoon of discovery, hands-on paper airplane folding, and friendly competition while under the watchful eye of real flying vintage aircraft," the Olympic Flight Museum Paper Airplane Flight School offers a fairly interesting way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

4. Kids from around the world (yes world) filmed 90-second or so versions of various Newbery Award and Honor books. They sent these books to YA author James Kennedy (of The Order of Odd-Fish) and he collected, curated, organized, tightened and generally got them into working order. See The 90-Second Newbery Film Festival from 2-4 p.m. at the Olympic Room inside the Tacoma Public Library Main Branch.

5. At 8 p.m. Tacoma jazz band Taxi Driver hosts a "farewell show" for Ricky German at Magoo's Annex in Tacoma. Read Pappi Swarner's full feature on Taxi Driver in the Weekly Volcano's Music section.

PLUS: Tacoma City Ballet's Masquerade Ball, Best of Olympia bands onstage and more in our Weekend Hustle

BOBBLE TIKI: BODYBOX plays a big stage tonight

LINK: Saturday, Feb. 23 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area