A.K. Mimi Allin's 15-minute Seaside Opera was actually inspired by Tollefson Plaza. No joke. As Allin says of her poetic opera, now set to be performed daily in the place that inspired it, "I can smell the water from Tollefson and long for it. ... I wanted to capitalize on the water element of the park. How wonderful, I thought, to bring the beach right up into town!" Hell, the beach is better than nothing.

From Allin's website:

The ocean washes its way up to Tollefson Plaza this August for a playful performance set to ocean-side operas. The plaza turns into a beach and the birds sing in opera through a record player. An aging wooden lifeguard chair rises up from the base of the curved pink steps, which are now lined in blue waves. Using costumes, flags, whistles and metal pails, the artist performs to a changing audio of sea-inspired operas and carnival music. 15-minute performances occur daily, on the half hour, for one full week from 2-7pm. The public is encouraged to take a seat and watch the performances or participate in the activities by playing with the water toys around the cascading pools. There will be paper boats, wind-up water toys, water guns and fishing rods. Summer is finally here.

[Tollefson Plaza, through Aug. 21, 2 - 7 p.m., every half hour, South 17^th and Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, spaceworkstacoma.com]