6-Pack of Things To Do: Friday, Feb. 24-Sunday, Feb. 26

Happy Friday! Here are a few things to do this weekend in Tacoma. Cheers!

BEER FLIGHT: The Hawaiian Islands are known for several beverages: Kona coffee, mai tais, Blue Hawaiians, and pineapple juice come instantly to mind, but the Aloha State also produces delicious craft beer two blocks from the ocean in Kihei, Maui. What began in 2005 as a tiny local brewpub has grown into Maui Brewing’s multi-million-dollar facility that serves its craft beer in Lahaina (Maui), Kailua (Oahu), and Waikiki (Oahu), and well beyond the Hawaiian Islands. In April 2022, less than two months after announcing the closure of half its locations, including Portland, Oregon, San Diego-based Modern Times Beer announced the company’s lender had commenced litigation that would inevitably lead to a court-ordered sale of the craft brewery. Long story short, Maui Brewing acquired Modern Times for $15.3 million, twice as much as their initial bid of $7.62 million. Longer story shorter, Maui Brewing has brought Modern Times back to Washington state and Peaks & Pints in Tacoma. Friday, Peaks & Pints hosts Modern Times and Maui Brewing for a 4-7 p.m. lodge meeting with draft from both breweries and a to-go flight of Maui beer that we’re calling Peaks and Pints Pilot Program: Maui Brewing Flight.

BEER LODGE MEETING: Modern Times Beer is back in Washington state — thanks to new ownership Maui Brewing — and Peaks & Pints hosts the San Diego Brewery’s welcome back party Friday, Feb. 24. The craft beer and cider bar, bottle shop and restaurant in Tacoma’s Proctor District will tap special beers from Modern Times and Maui Brewing 4-7 p.m. asking folks to wear Hawaiian shirts while tropical tunes swirl above like trade winds.

TOURNAMENT OF BEER: In April 2023, Peaks & Pints will host the Tournament of Beer: Northwest Pale Ales. Chosen through the nomination process, the top 64 vote getters — the cream of the hops — will compete Monday through Friday on our website, April 7-29. Through smartphone voting, Washington and Oregon American pale ale drinkers will pick daily winners until the best pale in the Northwest is crowned. It’s just like March Madness, only with way more citrus and tropical fruit accents. Vote for your three favorites at peaksandpints.com or tournamentofbeer.com before midnight Sunday, March 5. We’ll randomly select a ballot to win a $25 Peaks & Pints gift card. Look for the first round of Northwest brewed pale ale battles April 7.

GRIT & GRAIN PODCAST: The first and only Advanced Cicerone in Washington state and assistant sensory scientist at John I. Haas Farms in Yakima, Ellensburg resident Rikki Welz brings her hop lab to the Grit & Grain Podcast. Employed by Iron Horse Brewery in March 2013, Welz worked her way from server to merchandise to distribution to running the brewery’s sensory panels and writing beer and food pairing stories on the Ellensburg brewery’s blog to quality control manager before heading a few miles south to Haas Farms where she now sniffs hops for a living. Tune-in to Grit & Grain Episode 34 to hear Welz’ explain what style Irish Death is, her job is at North America’s leading hops supplier, hear us smell hops on air, and much more. To listen to Grit & Grain Episode 34 with Rikki Welz of John I. Haas Hop Farms, and previous Grit & Grain episodes, visit gritandgrainpodcast.com, or search your favorite podcast mediums, including Channel 253. Cheers!

MOVIE: As you’re watching Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania at the Blue Mouse Theatre in Tacoma’s Proctor District, ask yourself: “Can the littlest superhero get the film side of Marvel back on track? The answer is a giant-sized yes, as Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly return to not only seemingly wrap up the story of Scott Lang, the petty thief turned Avenger, but also hurl headfirst into Phase 5 and the upcoming multiversal menace of Kang the Conqueror. If you’re an IPA fan, stop by Peaks & Pints before and after the screening for a pint of Fort George Blue Mouse IPA. 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24-Monday, Feb. 27, 3:45 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Blue Mouse Theatre, 2611 N. Proctor, Tacoma, photo courtesy of Marvel Studios

MUSIC: Award-winning vocalist CeCe Teneal honors the legacy of Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, in Portrait of Aretha: CeCe Teneal celebrates The Queen of Soul Saturday night at Rialto Theater. Presented by Tacoma Arts Live, Teneal will give a personalized interpretation of both popular and lesser-known songs from this 18-Grammy-Award-winning icon’s 50-year career, including “Chain of Fools,” “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” “Rock Steady,” “Until You Come Back to Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do)” and more. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, Rialto Theater, 310 S. Ninth, Tacoma, $45-$69