Still Blue after 85 years

THURSDAY, NOV. 13: It seems just like yesterday — early September — when I was celebrating the 5,000 years that have passed since the Hindu Lord Sri Krishna appeared on Earth to protect his followers and spread his teachings. Maybe it’s not your typical celebration, but those folks at the Acme Tavern that night saw one happy girl.

 

Tonight I will be throwing down more happiness when the Blue Mouse Theatre — the oldest operating movie theater in the Northwest — celebrates its 85th birthday. The owners are planning a blowout with Old House Café food, music by Pearl Django, raffle prizes and raising it a notch with a screening of two Buster Keaton flicks from the ’20s — One Week and Sherlock Jr.

 

[Blue Mouse Theatre, 6-9 p.m., $50, 2611 N. Proctor St., Tacoma, 253.752.9500]

King of the week

THURSDAY, NOV. 13-SATURDAY, NOV. 15: King’s Books unleashes marauding gangs of poets, craftspeople, artisans, and their multitudinous admirers on the genteel people of St. Helens Avenue for the next three days. Run for your art! 

• NOV. 13: Dick Stein will perform the epic poem The Tacomiad followed by a Tacoma slide show presented by Kevin Freitas with John Carlton reading from the book Puget’s Sound. 7 p.m. 


• NOV. 14: Distinguished Writer Series and Open Mic featuring haiku poet Michael Dylan Welch. Open mic sign-up at 6:30 p.m. 


• NOV. 15: Tacoma is For Lovers Artist Craft Fair and benefit for Colleen Malone with more than 20 artists’ booths. Noon to 4 p.m.


• NOV. 15: Shakespeare in the Parking Lot will be performing Proofs of Holy Writ. 7 p.m.
  
   

[King’s Books, 218 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.8801]

Snow porn

THURSDAY, NOV. 13-SATURDAY, NOV. 15: If it’s November, it must be Warren Miller time. Again. Since before Ike was president, Miller has been making, more or less, annual films dedicated to the exhilaration of all things vertical and snowy. The fact that he’s still doing it — though the actual director’s reins have been handed to successors, including his son, Kurt — suggests that he’s doing something right for his target audience. It’s winter sports porn for me. I soak in every money shot. For the 59th time a Miller film tours the nation, and this time it’s all about the Children of Winter. Ski and snowboard athletes tackle the world, including Japan, Austria, and Iceland.

[Washington Center, Nov. 13 8 p.m., Nov. 14 6:30 and 9:30 p.m., $16.50-$17.50, 512 Washington St. S.E., Olympia, 360.753.8586]

[Pantages Theater, Nov. 15 6 and 9 p.m., $20, 901 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.591.5894]

Marimba!

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 19: Several things have occurred to me since I stopped watching television:

1. Poor Gilligan was kept down by the man.

2. Everything useful I know I learned from watching cartoons.

3. The marimba kicks ass.

The last one might shock a few. It’s true. I was forced to watch the Lawrence Welk Show as a child. It sucked, except I was fascinated with one band member — marimbist Jack Imel. Dude mastered mallets, sticks and other friendly weaponry. I’ve had a thing for the instrument ever since.

Thrilling news — Marimba player Naoko Takada performs Wednesday at the Washington Center in Olympia. Takada began to study the marimba at the age of 8, and she first appeared as a soloist with orchestra at 11 when she played with the Tokyo Symphony and the Tokyo Chamber Orchestra. At age 8 — I studied Hong Kong Fooey.

[Washington Center, 7:30 p.m., $11.75-$23.50, 512 Washington St., Olympia, 360.753.8586]