First Night Tonight:
The artsy, family friendly annual New Years Eve event is taking place tonight in Downtown Tacoma. Go to firstnighttacoma.org for a complete schedule of events and how to attend.

Today
The West Coast Bridal Showcase is this weekend at the Puyallup Fair & Events Center, 110 Ninth Ave. S.W., Puyallup. Hours are 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. today and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday . Admission is $8-$10, westcoastbridalshowcase.com.

Check out Ty Barnett in an 8:30 show tonight at the Comedy Underground –Tacoma, 100 S. Ninth St., Tacoma.

Model Train Festival 10 a.m.-5 …

Read more »

Saturday-Sunday
If a wedding is in your near future, you might want to check out the West Coast Bridal Showcase taking place this weekend at the Puyallup Fair & Events Center, 110 Ninth Ave. S.W., Puyallup. There will be vendors of all types, and you can enter to win a wedding at Kelly Farms. Hours are 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $8-$10. westcoastbridalshowcase.com.

Saturday
Experience movies as they were seen in 1917 at the silent movie screening of “ The Little Princess,” starring Mary Pickford. She was known as …

Read more »

UPDATE: Emerald City Comicon has announced that due to a filming project, Tom Felton will be no longer be appearing at this year’s ECCC. He’s also canceled appearance at the Fan Expo Vancouver (April 21-22), and the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo (April 27-29).

Organizers say he will make the 2013 ECCC.

Emerald City Comicon announced today that their latest celebrity guest for the March event is Tom Felton, perhaps better known as the young nasty wizard Draco Malfoy from the “Harry Potter” movies.

The good folks at ECCC have asked me to interview Felton on stage at the event. I’ll keep you posted when I know the exact date and time. Last year I had the pleasure of interviewing actor John Noble from “Lord of the Rings” and “Fringe” at ECCC.

UPDATE (Jan. 12): The panel with Felton will be on Sunday, April 1 at 1:15 p.m.

Like all of the young “Potter” actors we’ve seen Felton literally grow up on screen. He’s 24 now and eager to move his career beyond HP.

Felton got his big break as Jodie Foster’s son in the 1997 film “Anna and the King.” But immortal fame came when he was cast as Malfoy in the first HP film: “Harry Potter and the
Sorceror’s Stone.” He actually wanted and tried out for the part of Harry Potter but we know how that turned out.
Read more »

Ever taken a polar bear plunge? That’s the name given to organized cold water dips held around the world on New Years Day. For years a popular local option has been held in Olalla.

But now you don’t need to drive out of town to take your frosty plunge. The Point Defiance Marina is hosting its first Polar Bear Plunge January 1.

The free event begins with a Cub Plunge, for youth under 10 years of age, at 11:30 a.m., followed by an Adult/Family Plunge at noon.

The Plunge will take place regardless of weather (the water is going to be cold no matter what) at the Point Defiance boat launch in Point Defiance Park. The marina will provide hot drinks, tents and heaters for post-dip warming up.

And I know you are wondering but I’ve yet to hear if the zoo’s real polar bears will be participating. I kinda doubt it, though.

For more information visit PointDefianceMarina.com or call 253-591-5325.
Read more »

TODAY
Christmas Eve Services 4 p.m., Christ Episcopal Church, 210 Fifth St. S.W., Puyallup. 253-848-2323, episcopallup.com.

Christmas Eve Family Service 4:30 p.m., Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 7410 S. 12th St., Tacoma.

Christmas Eve 5 p.m., First Congregational Church, 918 Division Ave., Tacoma. 253-383-3878.

The Kings Birthday 5-7 p.m. Dec. 24, Gateway Church, 7310 12th Ave. E., Tacoma. Freewill offering. 253-537-6619.

Christmas Eve Services 6-7 p.m., 8-9 and 10-11 p.m., Puyallup United Methodist Church, 1919 W. Pioneer Ave., Puyallup. puyallupumc.org.

Celtic Christmas Eve Service 7-8:30 p.m. Dec. 24, United Church in University Place, 3912 Grandview Drive …

Read more »

Today–March
Looking for a winter outing for the family? Join the Ranger-Guided Snowshoe Walks at Mount Rainier National Park, where you can learn the art of snowshoeing and discover how plants, animals, and people adapt to the challenging winter conditions. Walks are at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. daily except Christmas Day, and are filled on a first-come, first-served basis; groups are limited to 25 people, and participating children must be at least 8 years old. The walk covers approximately 1.5 miles in 2 hours. Sign-up an hour before walk times at the Jackson Visitor Center information desk; all hikers …

Read more »

The Washington State History Museum announced on Tuesday their main show for 2012: “Hope in Hard Times.” The exhibit at the Tacoma museum will show how Washingtonians survived during the Great Depression. Using art, photos and everyday objects from the Depression era the exhibit will bring to life a time that few remember.

The museum said the exhibit will also illustrate parallels between the Great Depression and current Great Recession. A companion exhibit, “Hope in Our Times,” will feature photographs from students at Key Peninsula Middle School.

The exhibition will be open at the Washington State History Museum on Monday, February 20 and run through Sunday, November 4.
Read more »

It has to be one of the most enthralling and scary shows on TV: AMC’s “The Walking Dead.” Two of its stars, Jon Bernthal (Shane Walsh) and Laurie Holden (Andrea), are the latest announced guests at Emerald City Comicon in March.

“The Walking Dead” follows a group of survivors in the Atlanta area after a plague has turned most people into flesh-eating, rotting-while-walking zombies. The ragtag group veers from moments of panic to pastoral respite with all sorts of drama, twists and turns included.

Emerald City Comicon runs March 30-April 1 at the Washington State Convention Center.

Read more »