Looking for something to do this weekend? Here are a few ideas:

Laughs to be had at Don Fleming's adaptation of Shakespeare's "The Tempest"

Most of us may not remember The Tempest as being a particularly humorous play when we were forced to read it in high school or college classes but Don Fleming has managed to turn Shakespeare's play inside out to make it a local, modern, and most of all, highly entertaining tale.

Titled Freak Storm, the play was the winner of Battle of the Bards V and surrounds the story of a powerful and corrupt scientist, Dr. Benedict Karybduff (played by James Lyle), who returns to the Cascade Mountains to investigate the causes of the disruptions in his research on using volcanoes as an energy source.

A powerful mad scientist (played by Jillian Boshart) awaits him in a secret base, ready to wreak revenge on him while ushering in a new, environmentally-sensitive and sustainable age.

Fleming has given the story a few new twistx involving a magic mushrooms, an unexpected hero, and a colorful cast of side characters including Sesquath (Mok Moser), Stefi (Sarah Rose Nottingham), and Trank (Joey Fechtel).

Freak Storm is written by Don Fleming and directed by Lisa Anne Glomb, and will run through March 11 at the Ballard Underground, 2220 NW Market St.

Tickets are $15 general, $12 student/senior/tps and are available at Brown Paper Tickets.

Shilshole Gateway Workparty:

Groundswell NW is organizing a workparty at the Shilshoel Gateway on Saturday to plant bare root shrubs as the second phase of improving the ends of the 36th Avenue N.W. median.

The medium will be decorated with low-maintenance, low-growing plants to keep sight lines clear, improve safety and enhance the appearance of this important connection between Sunset Hill and Shilshole.

Participants should bring work clothes and any tools suitable for weeding and planting, including wheelbarrows.

Groundswell will provide additional tools, safety vests and refreshments.

The workparty will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.at the 36th Ave NW median, just south of NW 62nd St. and just north of NW 60th St.

Contact Dave Boyd at 498-6636 or dave.boyd1@comcast.net for more information.

All-You-Can-It Pancakes

Loyal Heights Community Center is once again hosting their annual pancake breakfast on March 4th. This family-fun event is the community center’s major fund raiser to provide low-income families with scholarships for programs and activities throughout the year.

In addition to the all-you-can-eat breakfast of pancakes, eggs, and sausage, there will be activities and crafts for kids.

The event will tale place on March 4th from 8 a.m. till noon at the Loyal Heights Community Center, 2101 NW 77th Street.

Tickets are $4 per person in advance, $5 at the door. There's no charge for kids three and younger.