12 Things To Do This Weekend

Holy cow, there's a full dozen amazing entertainment offerings in South Sound this weekend. Where is that cloning machine when you need it?

TONIGHT -- Fresh jazz: A new concert series, the BLACK BOX CABARET JAZZ SERIES, kicks off tonight with a performance by legendary saxophonist BERT WILSON of Olympia. The series shines a spotlight on some amazing jazz masters who just happen to live in Olympia, and it gives them a chance to play their own music (not jazz standards) in the intimate setting of the Washington Center's Black Box. Tonight's concert starts at 8 p.m. at the center, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $16 for adults, $14 for military. (This show offers a bar and is for those 21 and older only.) For more information, call 360-753-8586, or go to washingtoncenter.org. There will be three more shows in the series that runs through May; they will feature bassist Steve Luceno and guests, Better World and Marc Smason (trombonist and singer), and saxophonist Jim Pribbenow.

ALL WEEKEND -- A reimagined film fest: Have you been to the OLYMPIA FILM FESTIVAL yet? If not, there is still plenty to see, but you'd better hurry -- the 29th annual festival closes its 10-day run on Sunday. Remaining highlights: At 9 p.m. tonight, you can catch a rarely screened Vincent Price horror flick “House of Wax 3D,” presented in its original dual-projector 3-D format. At 11:30 p.m. Saturday, “The Queen,” a documentary about a drag-queen beauty pageant, will be screened, with Jake’s on Fourth's Miss Marlayna hosting a live beauty pageant. And the thing I'm most excited about: At 5 p.m. Sunday, the festival will screen 1983's “THE RIGHT STUFF” hosted by its director, PHILIP KAUFMAN, who will receive the festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award. All the fun happens at the Capitol Theater, 206 Fifth Ave. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $10 general admission to regular screenings, $7 for Olympia Film Society members, $4 for ages 12 and younger. Closing night tickets are $18 general admission, $12 for members and students. For more information -- and there is LOTS more -- grab a festival program or go to olympiafilmfestival.org.

TODAY -- Boogie down: If you know reggae music, you know CLINTON FEARON. He is counted among Jamaica’s most talented musicians by peers and professionals, although he now lives in Seattle. He and the BOOGIE BROWN BAND are playing at 9 tonight at the Olympia Ballroom, 116 Legion Way SE, Olympia. Tickets for the all-ages show are $15 at Rainy Day Records and brownpapertickets.com.

TODAY -- Powerful poetry: Meet Seattle slam poet and filmmaker ROSE MCALEESE when she comes to Orca Books, 509 Fourth Ave. E. Olympia. She will perform selections from her new book, “STRONG. FEMALE. CHARACTER” at 7 p.m. McAleese is a rising star in the Northwest slam poetry scene and has been described as “a wicked lyricist whose poems embody the feminine and hardcore” by Rachel McKibbens, the 2009 Women of the World slam poetry champion. Tonight’s event is free.

TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY -- Plays continue: It’s the final weekend for “CLOUD 9,” a time-shifting comedy that spoofs the Victorian Era and its rigid attitudes toward sex with eclectic characters and unusual casting. It’s playing at The Midnight Sun Performance Space, 113 Columbia St. NW, Olympia. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $7-$10. Call 360-438-4345. Meanwhile, The classic thriller “NIGHT MUST FALL” continues through Nov. 25 at Olympia Little Theatre, 1925 Miller Ave. NE, Olympia. Showtimes are 7:55 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 1:55 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $10-$14. Call 360-786-9484.

SATURDAY -- Blast off: Discover ingenuity and design of local “pilots” at the 2012 ROCKET RACE at 1 p.m. Saturday. The rubber band/propeller-driven balsa rockets are shaped and decorated in advance of the competition at the Olympic Flight Museum, 7637 Old Highway 99 SE, Olympia. Admission is $10-$15. For more details, call 360-705-3925.

SATURDAY -- Multicultural marriage: JAN PIERSON will read from her memoir “CALAMITY JAN AND THE RUSSIAN” at 3 p.m. Saturday at Orca Books. Pierson was 61 when she met a 52-year-old Russian physicist and her life changed forever. The memoir chronicles her cross-cultural marriage and journey into primitive Russia, where the candlelight, wine and cabbage soup wasn’t enough to overcome the obstacles that faced two people from opposite sides of the world. Orca Books is at 509 E. Fourth Ave., Olympia. Call 360-352-0123 or go to orcabooks.com for more information.

SATURDAY -- Good for your soul: GLADYS KNIGHT, the “Empress of Soul,” will sing at 8 p.m. Saturday at Little Creek Casino, 91 West State Route 108, Shelton. The eight-time Grammy winner will highlight enduring adult contemporary hits as well as newly released singles. Tickets are $50-$65 at little-creek.com.

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY -- Invitation-only art: Discover the works of some of the region’s finest artists at the FINE ARTS AND CRAFTS SHOW INVITATIONAL this weekend. The two-day show and sale will feature jewelry, ceramics, fiber art and a variety of two-dimensional work at the Coach House, 211 21st Ave. SW, Olympia. Hours are 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Check out the show’s Facebook page for a sample of items that will be showcased at facebook.com/fineartsandcraftsshow.

SUNDAY -- No cons, only pros, here: SEATTLE PRO MUSICA – known for its eclectic repertoire ranging from Medieval chant to choral masterpieces and the works of living composers – will perform “40: THE ANNIVERSARY CONCERT” at 3 p.m. Sunday at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 114 20th Ave. SE, Olympia. Part of the church’s concert series, the performance celebrates 40 years with the ensemble’s best loved works by Rheinberger, Whitacre, Mendelssohn, Monteverdi and Brahms.

SUNDAY -- Attitude of gratitude: Get a reminder of the reason for the season at the 29th annual COMMUNITY INTERFAITH THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION on Sunday. With the theme “Attitude of Gratitude,” the program will feature music by the Capital High School Choralaires and Gloria Dei Lutheran Church’s historic pipe organ, four high school and college speakers, poetry and more. The service is 3-4:30 p.m. at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 1515 Harrison Ave. NW, Olympia. A reception with light refreshments will follow the program. People of all faiths are welcome. It’s free but an offering to benefit local youth programs and the programs of Interfaith Works will be held.