SUNDAY, JAN. 22, 2012 >>>

1. The Broadway Center in Tacoma concludes its three-part Audrey Hepburn film-focus with a 3 p.m. screening of the classic My Fair Lady, in which, as film lovers and old people will recall, Hepburn portrays Eliza Doolittle. The film will be screened at the Theatre on the Square.

2. In honor of Tacoma Art Museum's 75th Anniversary and to commemorate the milestone of two decades of biennial exhibitions, The 10th Northwest Biennial will examine the vital questions of who we are as residents of the Pacific Northwest, what we look like, and what are our aspirations for our communities. The Biennial exhibit opened last night and can be viewed from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

3. Music Director Harvey Felder and the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra present the classic Peter and the Wolf, narrated by David Fischer, at 2 p.m. inside the Rialto Theater. The concert, which is aimed at children 4-9, will include a musical instrument petting zoo, courtesy of Ted Brown Music.

4. The Blues Vespers inside the Immanuel Presbyterian Church in North Tacoma will feature long-time blues band Junkyard Jane beginning at 5 p.m.

5. Mojo Overload will fill The Spar in Old Town Tacoma with blues, rock and R&B beginning at 7 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs tonight

LINK: This week's freebies

FREE EVENTS IN THE SOUTH PUGET SOUND DEC. 19-25 >>>

Well, the spirit of Christmas is lurking around the Freeloaders column, giving Bobble Tiki a wedgie. Bobble Tiki has already seen It's a Wonderful Life three times and the Christmas cartoons are making him cross-eyed. And Bobble Tiki loves it! The stockings are hung and the egg is nogged. And in that spirit, Bobble Tiki has a lot of love and free event announcements to give, gentle reader, so sit back, pull that Santa hat up from your eyes and join the community for a free group hug.

MONDAY, DEC. 19: So the tree and the fairy lights are up, you have enough booze and unhealthy snacks to sink the Titanic, and your television is about to explode in a flurry of consumerism and romantic schmaltz. But there's something missing. That's right, folks: it just wouldn't be a happy holiday without some singing about God. And for that, there's no beating Handel's "Messiah," a piece for choir, orchestra and soloists that has delighted audiences worldwide for more than 250 years. As 18th-century music historian Charles Burney once said, "Messiah" has fed the hungry and clothed the naked, fostered the orphan, and enriched succeeding managers of Oratories more than any single musical production in this or any other country." Bobble Tiki isn't totally sure what that means, so check it out yourself - for free - at 7:30 p.m. inside the Washington Center in Olympia when the Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia, Conservatory Orchestra, Anna's Bay, Olympia Choral Society, Opera Pacifica, Olympia Chamber Orchestra and other community groups present a community "Messiah" Sing-Along.

TUESDAY, DEC. 20: You've heard of the grandparent phenomenon - Kids are always 10 times cuter when you can send them home to mom after you've ramped them all up. Well, apparently now Lakewood City Hall wants to get in on this. City Hall will ramp the 6 and older kids with attention and the film Polar Express for free from 10-11:30 a.m.  It's enough to make the most frazzled, suffering-from-post-holiday-exhaustion parent smile. So exhale, tired parents, right now the employees of Lakewood think your kids are way cuter than you do. And they'll continue to think so right on through to the point they return them to you.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 21: One of the best things about the holiday season is the way people and neighborhoods go all out with the decorations. The South Puget Sound area is known for its dramatic light displays. You can walk among the flickering bulbs at Point Defiance Park, drive through a wonderland at Spanaway Park, stalk the Hilltop Tacoma house on Ninth or ... run through the Sky Island neighborhoods. Yup, Fleet Feet running store in Bonney Lake hosts a free 5K run the neighborhood. Bring non-perishable food for the Bonney Lake Food Bank. There will be a raffle too. Meet at the Bonney Lake Pierce Transit Park-and-Ride at 7:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, DEC. 22: Volksmarching is something else. It's leisurely walking with a little sightseeing along a planned route. But wait: That's not all! A volkswalk has the added bonus of record keeping for the obsessive-compulsive CPA in all of us. No OCD? No worries! Volkssporters don't have to buy the event - and/or distance books to log participation: They can just walk with a purpose for fun and exercise. The Capitol Volkssport Club will walk the hell out of downtown Olympia, leaving the Bayview Thriftway at 10 a.m. The 10K route will lead walkers around Capitol Lake and through the South Capital neighborhood.

FRIDAY, DEC. 23: Today is the last day of downtown Olympia's 12 Days of Free Parking promotion. As a thank you to shoppers and diners for buying local and supporting downtown Olympia the city has allowed free two-hour parking in the pay station areas of downtown since Dec. 12. Head to Olympia for your last-minute shopping.

SATURDAY, DEC. 24: Capital Christian Center as they present He Is, a night of acting, music and celebration from 4-6 p.m. inside the Washington Center in Olympia.  If He is anything like Bobble Tiki, He is frustrated he can't find Shania Twain's Down-Home Country Christmas at Thong Beach in the local record stores.

SUNDAY, DEC. 25: Look for Bobble Tiki at Denny's. In the corner. All day. Weeping and slightly drunk.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Santa Says Blog

TUESDAY, NOV. 22, 2011 >>>

1. Tsui Hark's Detective Dee boasts multiple people bursting into flame, a talking stag that also fights, an actual underworld complete with a Charon-like ferryman, people changing their faces via acupuncture, a fight with what looks like a puppet and a shady herbalist named "Dr. Donkey Wang." Nice. The Grand Cinema will screen Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame at 1:40 and 6:10 p.m. as part of its Tuesday Film Series.

2. Tin Man plays an all-ages show at 6 p.m. inside the Mandolin Café. Opening will be the Scarecrow.

3. Sante Fe, New Mexico, is known for its arts and restaurant scene. Some how the Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Tacoma convinced artist Jack McCarthy to leave said paradise in order to give a 7 p.m. lecture on the art of woodcuts, linocuts, monocut printing and handmade bookmaking. We have no idea if he'll reveal the best spots to dine in Sante Fe. It's worth a shot, though.

4. Watercolor artist Susie Short will come clean on her techniques before the Peninsula Art League at 7 p.m. inside the Cottesmore Retirement Center in Gig Harbor.

5. Conductor Edwin Powell will lead pianist Oksana Ejhokina and the Pacific Lutheran University Wind Ensemble in concert at 8 p.m. inside the Lagerquist Concert Hall.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: This week's freebies

LINK: Ho! 2011 South Sound Holiday Calendar

MONDAY, NOV. 21, 2011 >>>

1. Have you seen the temporary public art exhibit that celebrates the important transformation of the Prairie Line Trail from rail to linear park in downtown Tacoma? The Temporal Terminus: Marking the Line exhibition features sculptural work by Austin-based national design team Thoughtbarn, as well as a who's who of the Tacoma arts scene: Jennifer Renee Adams, Kyle Dillehay, Kristin Giordano, Jeremy N. Gregory, Diane Hansen, Christopher Jordan, Lance Kagey, Lisa Kinoshita, Ed Kroupa, Bret Lyon, Janet Marcavage, Maria Olga Meneses, Nicholas Nyland, Chandler O'Leary, Elise Richman, Claudia Riedener, Holly A. Senn, Chris Sharp, James Grayson Sinding and Kenji Stoll. For more details, click here.

2. The Manitou Art Center hosts another fused-glass class, concentrating on holiday designs from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Give them a buzz at 253.584.3605 to see if there's room.

3. It's a University of Puget Sound String Chamber concert, dahling, but there's not a chamber to be found. Unless you count UPS' Schneebeck Concert Hall as a chamber, but that's impossible since it's a hall. Oh dear, this is very confusing. Perhaps the Hall is very small, intimate, if you will, like a chamber should be. But it's not. Oh goodness. Well we're sure Director David Requior will do his best to overlook the whole chamber thing and concentrate on the classic strings. Head to the Hall at 7:30 p.m. to see what happens.

4. The Steve Munger Quartet continues its Monday night thang at The Royal in Olympia, performing original compositions as well as unique arrangements of classic jazz, beginning at 8 p.m.

5. Guitar legend Jerry Miller is at The Swiss at 8 p.m. enough said.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: This week's freebies

LINK: South Sound holiday events

SUNDAY, NOV. 13, 2011 >>>

1. If you haven't heard of Pierced Arrows, you're in the dark. Born out of the ashes of seminal garage rock band Dead Moon, Pierced Arrows boasts Fred and Toody Cole - both of Dead Moon fame. Rounded out by drummer Kelly Halliburton, Pierced Arrows have been receiving positive comparisons to the famous band they succeeded, and winning smiles and applause from those who cursed the day Dead Moon broke up. The Brotherhood Lounge in Olympia hosts the band at 9 p.m. Missing out would be foolish.

2. There's something wonderfully odd and mysterious about the mind of the miniaturist; it takes a certain kind of person to spend so much time around small things, to appreciate the exacting elegance of a tiny table or an itty-bitty bed. Whether it's a simple dollhouse or an extravagant diorama, creating a good miniature world is a matter of scale, a fastidious craft that requires patience, an artist's eye - and lots and lots of time. Gallery Three in Puyallup celebrates those dedicated folks with a wine reception for its Miniature Art Show from 12:30-2 p.m.

3. Dr. Lorraine McConaghy, author of New Land, North of the Columbia: Historic Documents that Tell the Story of Washington State from Territory to Today will discuss her book at 2 p.m. inside the Olympic Room at the Tacoma Public Library Main Branch in downtown Tacoma. She's traversed the state and sifted through the files of three dozen archives to cull the 400-plus documents that bring to life Washington's last 150 years.

4. Puget Sound Youth Wind Ensemble launches its eighth season at 7 p.m. inside the Schneebeck Concert Hall on the campus of the University of Puget Sound.

5. More than a dozen local and national comedians will come together at 8 p.m. inside Jazzbones to make you laugh and raise money for Tacoma comedy veteran Debbie Wooten-Williams, who has recently had set some health setbacks. Hosted by Ralph Porter, tonight's   "Comedy for a Cause" lineup includes comics Jerry Percio, Travis Simmons, Susan Jones, Cari Tillery, Shawn Lawrence, Rodney Sherwood, Mike Wally Walter, Tony Daniel, Rico the Comedian and Mr. Mookie.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Get the Foodcaching foodie app

FRIDAY, NOV. 11, 2011 >>>

1. With an ambitious 10-day lineup spanning the ages of cinema, the Olympia Film Festival literally is something for everyone - of any age. OFF kicks off tonight at 6 p.m. with hors d'oeuvres served by ladies of TUSH! Burlesque, the stage fantastic of Saul Tannenbaum and Mona Van Horne, sparkly dancers and the 1933 film, Gold Diggers of 1933. The Weekly Volcano previews OFF here.

2. We all know Elmo. Even if you don't have kids, will never have kids, in fact hate kids and everything about them, and have never even been a kid yourself, you know who Elmo is ... or at least you think you do. Elmo, of course, is the hug-giving, furry little red dude from Sesame Street - a staple of the last 25 years. In real life, however, Elmo is puppeteer Kevin Clash, who created the character we've come to know and love and has portrayed Elmo on TV since 1985. The award-winning documentary Being Elmo: A Puppeteers Journey opens today at The Grand Cinema at 11:45 a.m., 1:40 and 6:20 p.m., allowing the old and young alike a chance to meet the man behind the puppet. 

3. Investigative journalist David Barsamian will discuss "Uprisings: From Kashmir to Egypt to Wall Street" at 7:30 p.m. inside the Washington State Labor Council office in downtown Olympia.

4. The fifth Jacobsen Series classical concert hits Schneebeck Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m. with Masterworks for String Quartet. Under the masterful hands of violinist Maria Sampen, violinist Tim Christie, violist Joyce A. Ramée and cellist David Requiro, the audience will hear Ludwig van Beethoven's String Quartet No. 5, Opus 18, Aaron Copland's Two Pieces for String Quartet and Johannes Brahms' String Quartet No. 1 in c minor, Opus 51.

5. The Angels of Mayhem present the Murder Masquerade Ball featuring with Sad Face, The Hardcount, Cityfaire, Angels Of Mayhem Burlesque, DJ Traxx, DJ Berry and Magician Cary Durgin hits Stonegate Pizza at 9 p.m. The party benefits the independent short horror film, The Resolution.

PLUS: The ICONIC performance and new Warren Miller flick in our Weekend Hustle

PLUS: Veterans Day events

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music tonight

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 9, 2011 >>>

1. At age 4 Joshua Bell tossed his bobba across the room and snatched a violin. At age 14 Bell dropped the slingshot and joined Riccardo Muti and the Philadelphia Orchestra on stage. In 1999 while you checking out your Prince outfit in the mirror, Bell was bathed in roses from his performance in the Academy Award-winning Red Violin. Tonight at 7:30 p.m. while you're sitting in the Pantages Theater, Bell will blow you away with sonatas by Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Isaye and Franck. 

2. Professional thinkers-about-the-future Rowan Schmidt and Zac Christin from Earth Economics are next in line to unleash their brains as part of the Individuality and Sustainability seminar series, sponsored by the Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences program at UW Tacoma. From 12:30-1:30 p.m. in Room 117 of the Joy Building, will push the boundaries of watershed economics for the 21^st century, specifically the value of ecosystem services with a case study in the Puyallup River Watershed. Get ready to learn something you couldn't even imagine was possible five days ago.

3. There's talk of a print arts center opening in Tacoma. Is it possible? Rory Sparks from Portland's Em Space Book Arts Center might have a clue. Listen to her him at 7 p.m. inside The Nurture Healing Center, where there are a free things in print.

4. Northern Pacific Coffee Co. next to Pacific Lutheran University hosts an all-ages open mic from 8-11 p.m.

5. One of the most influential hip-hop artists of the '80s, KRS-One will perform at Jazzbones's Wednesday Sessions with Dirt Nasty and The Breaklites at 8 9 p.m.

LINK: Freebies for the week

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Download the new Tacoma foodie app

ONE CITY. 30 DAYS. WHAT WILL YOU DO? >>>
 
November 2011 marks the 10th anniversary of Art at Work: Tacoma Arts Month. There is something for everyone to enjoy throughout the month: lectures, music, dance performances, readings, workshops, theater performances, visual art exhibits and more.

Here are today's highlights:

TUESDAY FILM SERIES: The Grand Cinema yanks a worth film from the archives and fill your popcorn bucket every Tuesday. Today, The Grand screens Green Fire, a documentary about the life and legacy of conservationist Aldo Leopold, who helped develop modern, scientifically-based wildlife management. Sink in a seat at 1:45 and 6:30 p.m. today.

REGENCY CONCERT SERIES: The Regency String Quartet performs at 8 p.m. inside Lagerquist Concert Hall on the Pacific Lutheran University campus. Admission is $3-$8.

VICTORY MUSIC OPEN MIC: Yea, like you're going to have an arts month and not include one of the longest running open mics in the state. Victory Music pulls out the microphones from 7-10 p.m. inside the Antique Sandwich Company.

PLUS: Classical Tuesdays concert and Cat Grey Tuesdays listed in our 5 Things To Do Today

LINK: Art at Work 2011 feature story

TUESDAY, NOV. 8, 2011 >>>

1. Looking forward to the day when the Twilight franchise is pushing up daisies? Then skip past this one. However, if you love the mopey bestselling saga of sparkly vampires, shirtless werewolves and a cloyingly vapid heroine who makes Carrie Bradshaw seem generous and self-aware, then you are probably knee deep in Twilight Saga Tuesdays at the Regal Lakewood Stadium 15. NCM Fathom and Summit Entertainment are in the midst of screening the first three Twilight flicks, every Tuesday, until Breaking Dawn breaks Nov. 18. Tonight at 7:30 p.m., New Moon is in the house. The event will begin with exclusive introductions from the cast members, interviews with the stars and clips from the many fan fests over the years. The Twilight Saga: New Moon will immediately follow the behind-the-scenes content. (We removed our shirts to write this blurb, because everything in New Moon seems better when it happens without shirts.)

2. The Tacoma Art Place opens its doors for Cat Grey's Tuesday "Die Jack Die" post-Halloween pumpkin carving workshop from 3-8 p.m. Bring your leftover candy and pumpkins.

3. Hell's Kitchen hosts Tumbledown, Love Songs From The Hated, Phasers On Kill and Looking For Lizards to rock its Tightwad Tuesday night, where tacos, beers and wells are $2 each.

4. Whether you are a through-hiker, a section hiker, a day hiker or an arm chair hiker, the Master of Environmental Studies program at The Evergreen State College invites you to share an evening of laughter, reflection and celebration of the Pacific Crest Trail from 7-8 p.m. at the LOTT Board Room.  The guest speaker is Rees Hughes, co-editor of a new two-volume anthology called Pacific Crest Trailside Reader: Adventure, History and Legend on the Long-Distance Trail. Hughes will provide a brief overview presentation on the Pacific Crest Trail followed by a reading of a selection of stories from the anthology. 

5. Classical Tuesdays in Old Town: The Manette Trio will perform Beethoven, Mozart, Kodaly and Dohnanyi as part of Classical Tuesdays inside the Slavonian Hall in Old Town Tacoma.

LINK: Best freebies this week

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music tonight in the South Sound

SUNDAY, OCT. 30, 2011 >>>

1. Tacoma Art Museum has partnered with Centro Latino and Proyecto MoLÉ once again to celebrate Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) culminating with a free community festival Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Now in its seventh year, the free festival will feature music, live performances, food and several hands-on art-making activities.

2. Remember that ninth-grade production of Romeo and Juliet? Turned you off to Shakespeare forever, didn't it? Chaste kisses involving balconies and poorly coordinated swordplay - this is not what the Bard intended. See what Ballet Northwest can do for Shakespeare's most over-produced and under-thought-about play at 3 p.m. inside the Washington Center. It's drama with more spinning. But with a romance-themed silent auction at 2 p.m. OK. Good.

3. You know John Williams is the world's most famous film composer because you know who he is. We mean, name another film composer. You can't, which goes to show how insanely familiar this man's music is to so many people. At 3 and 6 p.m. the Tacoma Youth Symphony Association will perform the work of Williams and other movie theme composers when it tackles "A Night at the Movies Costume Concert" inside the Urban Grace Church. Yup, costume contests will be held at 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. Expect a plethora of Storm Troopers, members of the Rebel Alliance, Boba Fett, a Jedi, Luke Skywalker and (Wait for it. Wait for it!) Darth Vader.

4. What would all this Halloween talk be without perhaps the most classic (and bloodiest) Halloween-y performance of them all? Head over to see Tacoma City Ballet performance of Haunted Theatre: Backstage Tour and Eerie Dances at 5 p.m. inside the Merlino Arts Center, then go grab a "bite." The dance company will be sure to make a great impression (or is it a great mark?) on you.

5. The Toy Boat Theater continues its series of open readings with Dusk by local playwright Nick Stokes at 7 p.m. The two-actor performance tells a suspenseful, musical, surreal story of a man and woman lost in the wilderness.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Happy hours!