MLKBallet stages its own show

You know all about “MOVE!,” and you love MLKBallet for bringing the series to Tacoma.

Now see what the events have been helping to fund at the first MLK recital Saturday afternoon at the ballet school’s current space on Hilltop Tacoma.

The building, moved into after busting out of the shared DASH school’s seams, but before the restoration of the church originally slated to be the MLKBallet home on 12th and J, is an impressive behemoth of a hall.

Sit on down, and then prepare to ooh at the impressive feats of the older dancers’ feet. Prepare to aww as you see the wee little dancers frolic.

And then note: these classes have been in session only since January.  Impressive feats of all the feet, including the instructors and worker-bees that have made MLKBallet run and grow into what it is now.

And then prepare to smile broadly at the best of it all: it’s free, with an ice cream social to follow, where you can meet the dancers, as well as MLKBallet masterminds Kate Monthy and Alexa Folsom-Hill.

[MLKBallet, Saturday, June 23, 2-3 p.m., 1216 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Tacoma, www.mlkballet. org]

Fiesta!

DuPont pet shopping haven The Posh Paw will celebrate a year of business with an ole!, throwing a pets-welcome fiesta on June 23, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. This is a rare event where pets are welcome, with extra incentives like snacks for both pooches and their people, a drawing for a free year of dog food, door prizes, and even a pet trick contest where the winner will take home a $50 Posh Paw gift certificate.

[The Posh Paw, 1545 Willington Dr., DuPont,  253.964.8300]

Festival!

The McKinley Avenue Street and Arts Festival will follow-up last year’s “Sit” art chair auction with a “Drink” water bowl art contest. 

Participants create and design their own pet water dish to be sold at the festival on Aug. 11. Part of the proceeds will go to the Dugan Foundation, a non profit organization with the mission to develop a sustainable no-kill companion animal community in Pierce County.

And just in case straight-up altruism isn’t your gig, note this: prizes will be awarded for best in show, junior division (under 16) and people’s choice.

For more information, e-mail sharikaroland@net-venture.com, or call 253.472.1365. — JCB

The Royal

The Royal opened in downtown Olympia this month with a ‘70s lounge motif and bocce ball inside. Owners Jennyrose Wright, Josh Brown and principal owner, Hezekiah Pugh (“Ky,”) strive to make the new joint sort of a house party where you don’t have to worry about cooking or cleaning, and where you can get drinks like the Fat Elvis and the Farrah Fawcett.

The lounge is a comfortable, easygoing bar with heart, where collaboration and a lot of hard work have created a space filled with repurposed furniture.

[The Royal, 311 N. Capital Way, Olympia, 360.705.0760]