Fun things to do this week in Thurston County
April 12
A Swim with beer
Well, sort of. There’s no actual swimming at the Hands On Children’s Museum’s Adult Swim events (though people have on occasion called the museum to ask if there’s a pool). Rather, the swims give the over-21 crowd the chance to dive into the museum and explore a topic with adult appeal. Saturday’s theme — so popular it’s repeated every year — is Beercraft. Attendees can learn about the bubbles in beer, play beer pong and, yes, drink beer. The fun will be flowing from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday at the museum, 414 Jefferson St. NE, Olympia. Tickets are $28 in advance and $32 at the door. Get details at 360-956-0818 or hocm.org/adultswim.
April 12
Highbrow high jinks
Lovers of literature and other cultured types have made the Center Salon — an evening of poetry and fiction along with theater and music — a tradition at The Washington Center for the Performing Arts. The fourth annual salon, happening at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the center’s Black Box, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia, features novelist Jim Lynch, playwright Bryan Willis, singer/host Amy Shephard and Washington State Poet Laureate Claudia Castro Luna, among others. Tickets are $17. For details and ticket information, call 360-753-8586.
April 12 and 13
Shakespeare takes the stage
William Shakespeare wrote many a play about royalty — some historical and others fictional. In Saint Martin’s University’s “Equivocation,” wrapping up its run this weekend, Shakespeare (Brian Tyrrell) finds himself on shaky ground when a manipulative adviser to the king insists he write the royally approved version of recent events. Catch the 2009 political thriller at 7:30 p.m. Friday or Saturday at the State Theater, 204 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia. Tickets are $12 at brownpapertickets.com/event/4188906 and at the door.
April 13
Songs of ‘Strength and Serenity’
Masterworks Choral Ensemble’s Saturday concert features a trio of spiritual masterworks. The community choir will perform Gabriel Faure’s “Requiem,” one of the most widely performed choral works; John Leavitt’s “Missa Festiva,” a setting of the Mass that is considered one of the most important contemporary choral pieces; and Ola Gjello’s “Ave Generosa,” adapted from the writing of Hildegard von Bingen. At the performance, the choir also will present its 2019 Salute to the Arts Award to Jen Ryle, artistic director of Olympia Family Theater. Take in the musical inspiration beginning at 7:30 p.m. at The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $10-$22. Find out more at 360-753-8586 or washingtoncenter.org.
April 14
Rascally rabbits
Joe Batt’s detailed, delightful and devilish rabbits have been captured in the midst of all sorts of mischief. The ceramic sculptures, dubbed “Late-Night Lagomorphic Marauders,” have taken over Allsorts Gallery, 2306 Capitol Way S., Olympia — which doubles as the living room of artist Lynette Charters, who hosts periodic pop-up shows. Meet Batt and his bunnies — and an eclectic collection of Olympia artists and art lovers — at the “Marauders” reception from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, or drop in to see what the wily wabbits are up to between 5 and 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday and April 19 and 20. Have questions? Email Charters at chartersart@gmail.com.
April 14
It’s time to SLURP
Slurping — eating with a loud sucking sound — is generally frowned upon in polite company. But SLURP — the Seafood Lovers Ultimate Rejuvenation Party — celebrates the undignified manner of eating, along with oysters and all manner of other shellfish. The 21st annual feast, put on by the Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association, happens from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Fish Tale Brew House, 514 Jefferson St. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $65 in advance (at brownpapertickets.com/event/4044939, Ralph’s Thriftway, Bayview Thriftway and Fish Tale Brew Pub) or $80 at the door and include lots of eats, wines and beers, live music, an auction and even a celebrity slurp-off. The whole shebang benefits the association’s Shellfish Habitat Restoration Fund. Get all the details at 360-754-2744 or pcsga.org/slurp/.
April 18-20
Boy meets doll
“Coppelia,” about a life-size dancing doll and the young man who falls for her, is as close as classical ballet gets to a rom-com, involving a love triangle made up of a girl, a boy and a mechanical doll. Studio West Dance Theatre stages the tale of mischief and mistaken identities at 7 p.m. Thursday and April 19 and 1 and 5 p.m. April 20 at The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $16-$28. Find out more at 360-753-8586 or washingtoncenter.org.
This story was originally published April 8, 2019 at 7:32 PM.