THE FILM

The Cans Film Festival

“Sideways” is the next film screened as part of The Cans Film Festival, the Emergency Food Network and Food Connection’s food-theme movie festival — each film matched with a coupon to a local restaurant — to raise awareness to fight hunger. Tonight, “Sideways” will screen at the Blue Mouse Theatre with Harmon Brewery and Restaurant coupons floating smartly.

If you don’t know by now, “Sideways” is a story about longtime friends Miles (Paul Giamatti) and Jack (Thomas Haden Church) who spend a “boys” week in Santa Barbara’s wine country on the eve of impending doom: Jack’s marriage. — Jake de Paul

[Blue Mouse Theatre, Thursday, June 14, 7 p.m., $15, 2611 N. Proctor St., Tacoma, 253.584.1040]

THE BOOK

“The King”

Tacoma deputy prosecutor Mark Lindquist reads once again from his new book, “The King of Methlehem,” Thursday, June 14, at King’s Books. In 2004, Lindquist was named trial team chief of the drug unit for the prosecuting attorney in Pierce County — perfect preparation for “King of Methlehem,” which chronicles the anti-tweaker crusade of Detective Wyatt James. The book is replete with T-town references, showcasing the ugliness right alongside the stuff we all know and love. — Paul Schrag

[King’s Books, Thursday, June 14, 7 p.m., no cover, 218 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.8801]

THE MUSIC

Wizard rock

At last, ye wizards, witches and hapless muggles: The blessed day is nigh. No, it’s not Walpurgisnacht again; thanks to the Tacoma Public Library, wizard rock concerts are the new Sabbats. The Main Library will host The Parselmouths, Seattle youngsters Kristina Horner and Brittany Vahlberg who took the name for the wizards who can speak the language of snakes and rock in the name of the Slytherin girls of Hogwarts, Friday as they unleash songs from their new album, Sssss. It will be Potter-rific. 

I have sunk to my new low. — Suzy Stump

[Tacoma Public Library, Friday, June 15, 7 p.m., all ages, no cover, 1102 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma, 253.591.5666]

THE STAGE

Pinch an inch

“Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” a show about a tranny rock star with a mixed bag of thoughts and sexual giblets, takes to the Horatio Theater stage this week for two weeks with a few trips to the Emerald City for a stint (8 p.m. on June 22 and 24 at Seattle’s Chop Suey). This edgy love child between “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and “Tony” is not for everyone, but it’s a perfect show for this up-and-coming theater company to stage. — Steve Dunkelberger

[SOTA Theater, 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday and June 29-30, $16, 1118 Commerce, Tacoma, www.thehoratio. com]

THE CELEBRATION

Juneteenth

Many may not know that Juneteenth celebrates African American freedom by commemorating June 19, 1865 — the day that Union soldiers landed in Galveston, Texas, with the news that the Civil War had ended and Southern slaves were finally free.

This celebration is the oldest known commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States. While marking that pivotal date, Juneteenth is also about encouraging self-development, unity and respect for all cultures.

This year’s Tacoma Juneteenth celebration is open to everyone and features guest speakers, fashion show, great music and food, and will afford attendees the opportunity to learn about Tacoma’s African-American history. — Michael Swan

[People’s Park, Saturday, June 16, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., free, South Ninth Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Tacoma]

THE CEREMONY

Summer Solstice

Tacomans don’t have a Stonehenge-like monument with which they can determine the points of midsummer and midwinter, but we do have a few advantages over our ancestors. Paper calendars, clocks, computers and PDAs, to name a few. Put it this way: No one will miss the summer solstice this year. But just in case, the Mandolin Cafe celebrates next Thursday with a Summer Solstice party. Revelers can welcome the beginning of shorter days with friendship and community with Chiara leading the Midsummer Night’s ceremony, then hang out and eat, drink and, well, you know. But in a spiritual way. Which means don’t get wasted and grope any strangers, dig? — Suzy Stump

[Mandolin Café, Thursday, June 21, 6-10 p.m., $20 advance tickets required, 3923 S. 12th St., Tacoma, 253.761.3482]