portland
friday 11-saturday 12
Big Ass Boombox
Billed as a loud pop festival, Big Ass Boombox showcases more than 40 of Portland's best musical acts alongside 15 writers, at four venues, all within walking distance. Best of all, it's totally free! Bands include Just Lions, Animal Eyes, Your Rival, Lee Corey Oswald, Friends & Family, Thanks, Genders, Ninja Turtle Ninja Tiger, Fanno Creek, Wooden Indian Burial Ground, Pheasant, Glassbones, The Hoot Hoots, And And And, A Happy Death, and Little Volcano. 7 p.m. Kelly's Olympian, Backspace, Someday Lounge and Floating World Comics.
friday 11
Robin Williams
The formerly cocaine-fueled comedic spaz comes to Portland. William's classic roles include a cross-dressing nanny, a poetry-loving English instructor, Peter Pan, a clown doctor, and a yeti. Our mistake on that last one, that's just his excessive body hair. Older, wiser and now sober, Williams' free associative stand-up is a revival of his unfiltered roots. 7:30 p.m. Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.
saturday 12
J.R.R. Tolkien Birthday Bash
If you've ever wanted to venture into the Mirkwood Forest, ride with a Nazgûl, or destroy the one ring by casting it into the hellish fires of Mt. Doom, J.R.R. Tolkien's Birthday Bash is for you. Orcs, ents, elves, trolls, men, hobbits, wizards, and all other manner of Middle-earth creatures will gather to watch all three of Peter Jackson's extended edition Lord of the Rings films and celebrate the man who penned them all. Shire-themed food and drink will be offered including, po-tay-tos boiled, mashed and stuck in a stew, second breakfasts and the Prancing Pony Porter, brewed especially for the occasion. 11 a.m. Kennedy School.
tacoma
monday 14
Lady Gaga
If you're stuck in a "Bad Romance," make your way to the Lady Gaga extravaganza where you can "Just Dance" to the "Edge of Glory" wearing your "Poker Face" because, baby, you were "Born this Way." Thousands of Gaga's famed monsters will be hanging on her every-empowering-syllable as she prances around stage in an American-flag-spandex-onesie, a meat dress, or something equally ridiculous. 7p.m. Tacoma Dome.