DANCE CLASSES
Studio 6 Ballroom Tacoma. Tango Practica, Tues 9 pm, $5. Salsa Practice, Fri 9:30 pm, $5. Fred/Fred and Ginger/Ginger same sex calls, Sat 5 pm (2806 Sixth Ave., 253.905.5301).
EVENTS/FESTIVALS
Annual Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital Toy Run Fife. Kick off the Holiday season with Vietnam Vets Legacy Vets M/C and Destination Harley to help make a child's experience as stress free and positive as possible for both the child and family, Nov. 28, BBQ at Noon - Pack Leaves Destination at 1:30 pm, If you choose to bring a gift please select from the Mary Bridge Wish List at marybridge.org, $10 donation, all welcome (Destination Harley, 2302 Pacific Hwy. E., 800.301.3701, vnvmc-waa.com/events).
Casino Royale Tacoma. Get dressed up, trade your real dollars for "D.A.S.H. Dollars" and come out to a Casino Party Fundraiser to help save the D.A.S.H. Center! Play for prizes & dance the night away, all for a great cause, Nov. 28 7 pm-midnight, $10, cocktail attire requested, 21 years and over (Robert Daniel Gallery, 2501 S. Fawcett, 253.507.9466, thedashcenter.org).
Fantasy Lights Spanaway. The largest holiday drive-through display in the Northwest, featuring nearly 300 elaborate displays and thousands of sparkling lights, dial your car radio to FM 93.7 to listen to special holiday music performed by a local high school to add to the festive atmosphere, Nov. 26 through Jan. 3, nightly 5:30 pm-9 pm, $13-$45 (Spanaway Park, 14905 Gus G Breseman Blvd., 253.798.3330, piercecountywa.org/parks).
Festival of Trees Tacoma. Nearly 70 fully decorated trees decorated by local designers and business to be auctioned off to raise funds for Mary Bridge Children's Hospital and Health Center, Dec. 3-6, open to the public; Kids Day, Sat Dec. 5 10 am-3 pm, also Sun Dec. 6 11 am-4 pm, $2-$6, children 12 years and under free, Ladies Night Out, enjoy sips, bites and holiday shopping under the trees, 21 and over, Thurs Dec. 3, $45 advance purchase online, $50 at the door (Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center 1500 Broadway, 253.403.1368, multicare.org).
Gritty City Gift Fair Tacoma. Step away from corporate mayhem and mall madness and buy locally made, hand-crafted gifts this year; art, jewelry, fashion and functional items many made from upcycled and repurposed materials, all while enjoying music, refreshments and socializing, Nov. 27 noon-6 pm (The Robert Daniel Gallery, 2501 S. Fawcett, myspace.com/grittycityfair).
Holiday at The Commons Federal Way. Santa Photos, through Dec. 24 in the Macy’s Courtyard, visit santaphotos.com for pricing and times. Giving Tree, Nov. 27-Dec. 20, between Target and Century Theaters, gifts are needed for boys, girls, adults and seniors. Gift Wrap Station, Nov. 27 and Dec. 1-24, located near Macy’s all proceeds go to the Des Moines Food Bank. Santa Pet Photos, Dec. 6, pets must be domesticated and on a leash or in a carrier, no exceptions, visit santaphotos.com for pricing and times. A Blizzard of Tales and Tunes by Eric Bode, Dec. 10 7-8 pm (The Commons, 1928 S Commons, 253.839.6156, tcafw.com).
Holiday Tree Lighting Downtown Tacoma. Broadway Center screens The Polar Express followed by the annual tree lighting in downtown Tacoma, Nov. 28 3 pm film $9, 5 pm lighting (Pantages Theater, 901 Broadway, 253. 591.5894).
Pecha Kucha #3 Tacoma. Drawing its name from the Japanese term for the sound of "chit chat", it rests on a presentation format that is based on a simple idea: 20 images x 20 seconds, a format that makes presentations concise, and keeps things moving at a rapid pace, the theme for the third volume is “Work”, Dec. 2 5:30-8:00 pm, free (The Hub Gallery, 203 Tacoma Avenue South, pecha-kucha.org/night/tacoma/3).
Raw Talent # 2 Downtown Tacoma. A talent show with mostly local performers, many with little or no experience on stage, content ranges from dramatic to heartfelt to wild and experimental, plus a DJ, full bar and food, bring a t-shirt for your very own talent screen print, Nov. 28 7 pm, $5 benefits Second Cycle, the Hilltop bicycle co-op (The New Frontier Lounge, 301 East 25th St., 347.851.0053).
Tacoma Bike Tea Party Tacoma. A double-edged celebration - one for the kids and one for the over 21crowd, join us for two 45 minute bike rides starting at Tacoma Bike and ending at the Mad Hat Tea Company for tea and cake, Nov. 29, Family ride at noon, Adult ride 3 pm and will continue on to bars around Tacoma, don’t forget your beer fund, Children free, adults $7.50 or $10 with an optional $2.50 donated to a local charity, payable at Mad Hat on arrival. (Tacoma Bike, 309 Puyallup Ave., 253.272.1351, tacomabike.com).
Winterfest Arts & Crafts Fair Gig Harbor. A great shopping opportunity for locally made arts and crafts for gifts and decorating, Nov. 28-29, Sat 9 am-5 pm, Sun 11 am-4 pm (Peninsula High School, 14105 Purdy Ln. NW, 253.530.4400).
Zoolights Ruston. Bundle up and stroll the Zoo as it comes aglow with more than a half-million lights, be dazzled by breathtaking displays of ice-skating puffins, a preying eagle, a leaping tiger, the Narrows Bridges and the massive flame tree, warm up with the sharks in the steamy South Pacific Aquarium, experience a ride on a camel's back, take a turn on an antique carousel and so much more, Nov. 27-Jan 3 2010, 5-9 pm, $6.50 advance at pdza.org and Bartell Drugs, $7.50 at gate (Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, 5400 N. Pearl St., 253.591.5337, pdza.org).
NATURE/PARKS
Northwest Trek Eatonville. A 723-acre wildlife park featuring a 435-acre free-roaming area with tram tours. Open daily at 9:30 am with closing times and tram times varying by season (11610 Trek Dr. E., 360.832.7189).
Point Defiance Rhododendron Garden North Tacoma. Five acres and more than 200 mature hybrid and species rhododendrons (5400 N. Pearl, 253.591.5337).
Point Defiance Park North Tacoma. Open year-round, features trails, picnic areas, playgrounds, tennis courts, beach, gardens, Boathouse Marina, Camp 6 Logging Museum, Fort Nisqually Historic Site. Free (5400 N. Pearl, 253.305.1000).
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium North Tacoma. Budgie Buddies, seahorses, sharks, peacocks, penguins, lemurs, mole rats, wolves and walrus hang out in a 29-acre zoo with roaming keepers, a Kids Zone featuring Action Alley and Contact Junction and more, 9:30 am to 4 pm daily. $5-$11 (5400 N. Pearl, 253.591.5337).
Tacoma Nature Center Tacoma. More than 100 species of birds find this 54-acre wetland habitat a sanctuary in different seasons, including resident wood ducks and great blue herons. Self-guiding, interpretive trail booklets and maps are available, 8 am to 5 pm Tues-Fri, 10 am to 4 pm Sat (1919 S. Tyler, 253.591.6439).
W.W. Seymour Conservatory Stadium District Tacoma. Exotic tropical plants and floral displays in a historic glass conservatory, 10 am to 4:30 pm Tues-Sun. Free but donations would be lovely (316 S. G, in Wright Park, 253.591.5330).
Wolf Haven Tenino. Known for its public outreach, education, support for research and practical activism for wolves, 10 am to 3 pm Mon, Wed-Sat, noon to 3 pm Sun (3111 Offut Lake Rd., 360.264.4695).
RECREATION/HOBBIES
Center For Spiritual Living North Tacoma. Indonesian Tai Chi Class includes meditations, breath work and forms, every Tues 5:15-6:15 pm. (206 N. J St., 253.217.5770).
Centre at Norpoint Northeast Tacoma. 15th annual Turkey Trot, 5k run, 2 mile fun run/walk, kids' dash and wheelchair division, Nov. 26 $15-$40, (4818 Nassau Ave. N.E., 253.594.7847, metroparkstacoma.org/trot).
Dockyard Derby Dames Tacoma. The all-female roller derby league hosts tryouts and skills clinics in prep for the 2010 season: Boot Camp: Nov. 25 and Dec. 2 7:30 pm, $80; Skills Clinic: Nov. 30 7:30 pm, $10 (Tacoma armory, 715 S. 11th St., dockyardderbydames.com).
Metro Tacoma Fencing Club Tacoma. Beginner fencing lessons, First Sat 11 am and Wed 7:30 pm of the month, equipment provided (Normanna Hall building, 1106 S. 15th St., tacomafencing.com).
Pierce County Parks Pierce County. Do you Zumba? Call this number and do it out in Graham, Lakewood and Spanaway (info at 253.798.4177).
Puyallup Fairgrounds Puyallup. NW Extreme Flat Track Racing LLC, Nov. 28 6 pm, $10, kids under 6 years free (Paulhamus Arena, Ninth and Meridian, 253.862.9391, mickeyfaysraces.com).
Puyallup Fairgrounds Puyallup. Northwest Winter Pigeon Classic, exhibition and competition of show and flying pigeons, Nov. 28 9 am-5 pm, free (Restaurant Building, Ninth and Meridian, 253.472.5103).
Tacoma Art Place Tacoma. Knit Night, every Thurs 5:30-8 pm (www.TacomaArtPlace.com).
Annual Thanksgiving Turkey Trot Gig Harbor. 5K or 10K walk or run, this event benefits Gig Harbor Peninsula FISH Foodbank, Nov. 26 8 am, $15-$20 plus two cans of food, register in person at Route 16 Running in Gig Harbor,or online at active.com (Post Office parking lot, 3118 Judson Street, 253.858.5152, gigharborguide.com).
SEE YOUR FUTURE/BE YOUR FUTURE
Pierce County Council Downtown Tacoma. Pierce County Council members vote on ordinances, proclaim special dates, and host a Citizen’s Forum, Tues 3 pm (County-City Building, 10th floor, room 1045, 930 Tacoma Avenue South, 253.798.7777).
Tacoma City Council Downtown Tacoma. Tacoma City Council members vote on ordinances and resolutions and approve all other business of the city, citizens give their opinion, Tues, 5:10 pm (Tacoma Municipal Building, 747 Market St., 253.591.5100, cityoftacoma.org).