6-Pack of Things To Do: March 22-24 2024

The weather may be gray as we head into this first weekend of spring, but the entertainment calendar is definitely heating up. You can chill out at Melissa Etheridge at the Pantages Theater, Tartan Ball at Washington State Fairgrounds, VIVID Gala at Foss Waterway Seaport Museum, and more.

GRIT & GRAIN PODCAST — FRIDAY, MARCH 22: The Grit & Grain Podcast does its best to be window into the beer world keeping an ear to the ground on local and national happenings … turns out Phantasm powder isn’t the only thing bringing the juice these days. They know. They’re hilarious. They invited their Browns Point Homebrew Club buddies Tristan and Dustin to the podcast this week for another homebrew episode — but a little bit different this time. After some interesting announcements from the American Homebrewers Association, and an even more interesting recent appearance by AHA’s executive director on John Holl’s podcast, Drink Beer, Think Beer, the Grit & Grain asked Dustin and Tristan how they felt about AHA changes, Homebrew Con and HomeBrew HQ at GABF 2024, and the homebrew community as a whole. We also get into what the Browns Point Homebrew Club is doing to attract new members and how an attitude shift overall could be the key to positive changes. Crack a homebrew, if you have one, or another delicious local beer, and tune in Episode 88 for the juice. To listen to Grit & Grain Episode 88 with the Browns Point Homebrew Club, and previous episodes, visit gritandgrainpodcast.com, or search your favorite podcast mediums, including Channel 253.

GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE — FRIDAY-MONDAY: The Spengler family returns to the iconic New York City firehouse where the original Ghostbusters have taken ghost-busting to the next level. When the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must unite to protect their home and save the world from a second ice age. Grab a coat and check out Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire at the Blue Mouse Theatre in Tacoma’s Proctor District. 7 p.m., Friday-Monday, 3:45 p.m. Friday-Sunday, 2611 N. Proctor St., Tacoma, $5.70-$9.50, photo courtesy of Sony Pictures – © 2023 CTMG, Inc.

MELISSA ETHERIDGE — FRIDAY, MARCH 22: With a rich, warm and full voice and dedication to self-empowerment, her output and influence were already impressive. But in recent years, Melissa Etheridge has become something else altogether, a dedicated fighter whose weapon of choice is socially conscious yet uplifting guitar-rock anthems. From love songs to highly personal screeds against cancer, global warming, poverty, child abuse and more, the multiplatinum Grammy winner has transformed into a classic protest singer in the timeless mold of Springsteen, Dylan, Neil Young or even Woody Guthrie, all while operating in an industry that (barely) profits on superficial trends, no less. Impressive before, at 16 albums in she’s damn near legendary. Tacoma Arts Live hosts her at the Pantages Theater Friday night. 7:30 p.m., Pantages Theater, 901 Broadway, downtown Tacoma, $55-$129 at Tacoma Arts Live

ORVAL DAY — SATURDAY, MARCH 23: Stop by Peaks & Pints Saturday as we join the top beer bars from across the globe in celebrating Orval Day 2024. Orval Day celebrates a global flavor touchstone, a beer brewed within the walls of Belgian’s Notre Dame d’Orval monastery with a thousand-year history: Orval Trappist Ale. Intensely aromatic and dry, this Belgian pale ale is as complex as it is unique. Orval is bottle conditioned with three different malts, two types of hops, and undergoes complex fermentation with multiple yeasts including Brettanomyces. On this day, while Peaks & Pints is handing out free Orval glassware (while supplies last) Orval distributor Merchant du Vin will be making a charitable donations to the National Forest Foundation for every bottle sold. 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., Peaks & Pints, 3816 N. St., 26th Basecamp Proctor, Tacoma

TARTAN BALL — SATURDAY, MARCH 23: The Clan Gordon Pipe Band Annual Tartan Ball will consume the Washington State Fairgrounds Pavilion Saturday. For more than 59 years, the Tartan Ball is the hallmark event in the Pacific Northwest Scottish community. This year, expect to hear Puget Sound Firefighter’s Pipes & Drums, Keith Highlanders Pipe Band, and Tacoma’s Own Clan Gordon Pipe Band, The Massed Pipes and Drums, and the Free Rain cover band. 7 p.m., Saturday, March 19, Washington State Fairgrounds, Ninth and Meridian, Puyallup, $25 at Brown Paper Tickets

VIVID — SATURDAY, MARCH 23: Tacoma Arts Live’s 2024 fundraising gala, VIVID, is dedicated to bringing light, perspective, and joy as they move collectively toward a vibrant future for the arts. Saturday, March 23, arts enthusiasts will gather at the Foss Waterway Seaport Museum to raise critical funds for Tacoma Arts Live’s service as a vibrant hub for arts and culture. All contributions will light the way for the dynamic work of Tacoma Arts Live. VIVID is influenced by their immersive Claude Monet exhibit, Imagine Monet, at the Tacoma Armory in both theme and, hopefully, gala attire. The evening’s festivities include drinks, dinner, programming, opportunities to purchase unique experiences, and live music. After the paddles are raised in support of a bright future for Tacoma Arts Live, the dance floor will open-up for salsa, led by their teaching artists to the live accompaniment by Café Tinto. 5:30-9 p.m., Foss Waterway Seaport Museum, 705 Dock St, Tacoma, $175 at Tacoma Arts Live