🤘 Good morning, Tacoma. It's Thursday, March 12

Grab your greenest hoodie and a comfortable pair of shoes, because this Saturday is absolutely packed. We’re looking at a rare "Tacoma Trifecta" where you can start your day with Nordic heritage in Parkland and end it with an epic bar-hopping adventure downtown.

The Official Lucky’s St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl

If you'd rather spend your Saturday afternoon hopping through downtown with a "crew" in green, the Lucky's Bar Crawl is taking over the city. Starting at Steel Creek, this is a massive, multi-venue event designed for anyone who wants to turn St. Paddy’s into an all-day affair.

The Haul:

  • Perks: Your ticket gets you 2–3 drinks or shots, a stadium cup, and a bottle opener lanyard.

  • No Covers: Admission is included for all participating bars, plus the mid-party and after-party.

  • Specials: Access to exclusive drink and food deals across the crawl map.

The Essentials:

48th Annual Nordic Heritage Festival

This Saturday, head over to Pacific Lutheran University to celebrate nearly five decades of Nordic tradition. Hosted by the Scandinavian Cultural Center, this festival is a massive community favorite that brings the sights, sounds, and, most importantly, the tastes of Scandinavia to Parkland.

What to expect:

  • The Food: Visit the Norwegian Café for authentic favorites like pea soup, rømmegrøt (a rich, sour cream porridge), freshly baked bread, and traditional cookies.

  • Entertainment: Live musical performances and cultural demonstrations happening throughout the afternoon.

  • Marketplace: Browse booths from local vendors and artisans selling unique Nordic goods and crafts.

The Essentials:

  • When: Saturday, March 14 | 11:00 am – 4:00 pm

  • Where: Anderson University Center at PLU

  • Cost: Free admission

  • Pro Tip: There is no ATM on campus, so make sure to bring cash for the food and vendors.

St. Patrick’s Live Music & Dance

Get a head start on St. Paddy’s with an authentic ceili (Irish social dance) this Saturday. Whether you're a seasoned pro or have two left feet, this monthly gathering is all about high-energy music and community storytelling.

The Plan:

  • The Lesson: Arrive at 7:00 pm for a 30-minute crash course in the basics.

  • The Party: Live music and social dancing run until 10:00 pm, with plenty of guidance throughout the night.

  • The Vibe: All ages and skill levels are welcome.

The Essentials:

  • When: Saturday, March 14 | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

  • Where: Immanuel Presbyterian Church (901 N J Street)

  • Cost: By donation ($10–$20 suggested)

🎭 Events

Thu

  • Painting in Contrasts | 11:00 am – 1:00 pm (Tickets)

    • Location: Tacoma Art Museum

    • Description: A hands-on workshop focused on using contrast to create energy and focal points in landscape painting. You’ll explore nine different techniques to evoke emotion and enhance viewer engagement in your art.

  • Cousin Collective Learning Landscape Workday 8:50 am – 10:50 am (Free)

    • Location: 4412 South Alaska Street

    • Description: A hands-on morning focused on preparing the landscape for future garden infrastructure. You’ll help with grading, soil movement, and bed repairs while learning about sustainable site management.

    • The Essentials:

      • Gear: Wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty; tools are provided.

      • Experience: All skill levels are welcome to help and learn.

Fri

  • Thompson Hall Science & Math Seminar | 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm (Free)

    • Location: Thompson Hall, Room 193, University of Puget Sound

    • Description: A professional research seminar featuring Shannon Hugard, a PhD student from the Bowerman Sport Science Center. This is a great chance to hear about current scientific research happening in the field of sport science.

Sat

  • Dancing In The Streets! | 6:30 pm (Tickets)

    • Location: Pantages Theater

    • Description: A high-energy concert featuring dance rhythms from around the world, including a New York streets-inspired world premiere and a guest appearance by a New Orleans-style brass band.

    • Special Offer: Tickets are FREE for anyone 18 and under, but you have to call or visit the box office (901 Broadway) to grab them.

  • Take a Hike! (With Beethoven) | 2:30 pm (Free)

    • Location: Rialto Theater

    • Description: A family-friendly concert led by conductor Rebekah O'Brien featuring Beethoven’s Pastoral symphony. The performance is designed for all ages and uses music to mimic nature, from bird calls to summer storms.

    • Cost: Free, but you must make a reservation in advance.

  • Glass Tile Workshop: Full Fuse | 11:00 am (Tickets)

    • Location: Museum of Glass

    • Description: A hands-on workshop where you'll design a 4x4 inch glass tile using sheet glass, stringers, and glass powder before it’s fired in the kiln.

Sun

  • Paint Your Pet | 11:00 am & 2:00 pm (Tickets)

    • Location: Artsi Creative Space - 2323 Tacoma Avenue South

    • Description: A self-guided workshop where you can create a custom portrait of your pet. All supplies are provided, and all skill levels (and pet types) are welcome.

  • Sunday Open Skate | 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm (Tickets)

    • Location: Tacoma Armory

    • Description: An all-ages open skate session on the largest flat floor in the PNW. $5 skate rentals are available for both kids and adults, and beginners can arrive at 12:30 PM for a quick $5 lesson on the basics.

  • Clue: The Movie with Special Guest Lesley Ann Warren | 3:00 pm (Tickets)

    • Location: Pantages Theater

    • Description: A screening of the cult classic comedy Clue, hosted by the original "Miss Scarlet," Lesley Ann Warren. The film follows a dinner party where guests must solve the murder of their host, Mr. Boddy, while avoiding being the next victim.

🎸 Music

Events marked with ($) are paid events

Thu

  • Young Dubliners | McMenamins Spanish Ballroom | 7:00 pm ($)

  • Raegan Leilani | Jazzbones | 7:00 pm ($)

Fri

  • Green Room Band | Tacoma Armory, Roosevelt Room | 7:00 pm ($)

  • Live at the Eleanor with Dain Norman | Tacoma Armory | 10:00 pm ($)

  • My Chemical Fauxmance - Tribute to My Chemical Romance | McMenamins Spanish Ballroom | 6:30 pm ($)

  • 2000's THROWBACK - Hollywood vs Bollywood with DJ Prashant | Jazzbones | 9:00 pm ($)

Sat

  • Live at the Eleanor with Evan Purcell and The Big Hello | Tacoma Armory | 10:00 pm ($)

  • Okay Not Okay - Tribute to Radiohead | McMenamins Spanish Ballroom | 7:00 pm ($)

  • 70s Funk, Disco, Party Jams! | Jazzbones | 7:00 pm ($)

  • Eldridge Gravy & The Court Supreme, Cytrus | Airport Tavern | 7:00 pm ($)

Sun

  • Glitterfox | McMenamins Spanish Ballroom | 7:00 pm ($)

😆 Comedy

Thu

  • Maddi Mays Comedy Show | 7:00 pm (Tickets)

    • Location: Super Funny Comedy Club

    • Description: Houston-raised and LA-based, Maddi Mays brings a confident, fast-paced energy to the stage. Expect a refreshingly authentic set covering everything from modern dating mishaps to the beautifully awkward moments of everyday life. (21+)

Sun

  • St. Patrick's Day Comedy Show | 7:00 pm (Tickets)

    • Location: Tacoma Comedy Club (6th & Proctor)

    • Description: Skip the green beer for a night and grab a seat for this holiday-themed showcase. It’s a curated lineup featuring some of the best local and regional talent leaning into the St. Paddy’s spirit with sharp punchlines and playful crowd work.

☀ Weather

🫡 Before we go

I recently stumbled upon this documentary, and it’s a total rabbit hole. It’s a five-year, behind-the-scenes look at the team at DeepMind as they attempt to map out the future of intelligence.

It’s surprisingly cinematic, moving from the high-stakes world of master strategy games to the massive breakthrough of AlphaFold. If you’re curious about how the AI we talk about every day actually came to be, the archival footage here is top-tier, and the best part is you can stream the whole thing for free.

Thank you for reading; we’ll be out for the next two weeks but will be back on April 2.

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