Tim Russ is perhaps best known as the pointy-eared, incredibly cool Tuvok, chief of security and tactical officer on TV's Star Trek: Voyager.

PENDLETON -- The wild and wacky cars at Wildhorse Casino's Rare Collection of Art Cars might be well worth making the drive to Pendleton on Oct. 4-5.

Celebrate the grape's journey from fruit to wine at the annual Grapefest in downtown Kennewick. The festival runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 4 and will be set up along Kennewick Avenue between Cascade and Auburn streets. Admission is free.

If you can't afford to hop a plane to exotic ports of call, then the Travel Adventure Cinema Series is just what the doctor ordered.

PENDLETON -- Despite his privileged upbringing, Frank Sinatra Jr. knows all about hard work.

WALLA WALLA -- The coolest blues brother on the planet, Curtis Salgado, will celebrate the release of his latest album Clean Getaway on Oct. 3 at the CrossRoads Steakhouse in Walla Walla.

Arts in brief for Friday, October 3.

Piano Squall: GAME

Balloons and a feast of harvest gatherings are planned Sept. 26-28 at Prosser's annual Balloon Rally and Harvest Festival.

A good recipe for laughter could be the blend of three Tri-City actors -- Steve Montgomery, Tim Harris and Katrina Carlson -- getting together for a bit of Murder at the Howard Johnson's.

Olympic gold medalist and Tri-City native Hope Solo will make a guest appearance Sept. 27 at Richland's annual City Fair.

There was a time when the Barlow sisters would scream and yell at one another -- as sisters do from time to time.

Take a trip on the Web's www.canote.com, and you just might be entertained by the wacky charm of Seattle's Greg and Jere Canote.

There are Octoberfests and Harvest fests that celebrate the end of summer.

Camerata Musica is a small organization that brings a large number of high-caliber musicians to Tri-City music lovers.

For 27 years, the Southeastern Washington Cavalcade of Bands has sent chills down the spines of visitors.

YAKIMA -- The festivities at the Central Washington State Fair include a swath of musical guests, Pro-West Rodeo finals and a demolition derby, not to mention the animals, the food, the rides and the fun.

Arts in brief for Friday, January 9.

WALLA WALLA -- Comedy, drama, music ... it's all there in the Little Theatre of Walla Walla's 2008-09 season.

The annual Harvest Festival kicks off at 11 a.m. Sept. 20 at Flat Top park in West Richland.

OK, movie hounds. The Battelle Film Series has a lineup of movies starting Sept. 26 that will tug at your heart, as well as make you laugh, cry and tap your toes to the beat.

The Chicago Tribune writes that Kat Eggleston has "the soul of a poet ... the voice of an angel ... not to mention the lady can play a mean guitar."

The annual Sausage Fest opens with a corn-shucking contest at 11 a.m. Sept. 19 in the schoolyard at Christ the King Catholic School in Richland.

There'll be some fancy snowbirds flying over Tri-City skies Sept. 24.

Mid-Columbia happenings for the week of Friday, September 19, 2008

Public TV will take viewers on a journey Sept. 16 that follows seven brothers on their quest into manhood, fatherhood and family legacy.

WEST RICHLAND, Wash. - The annual Harvest Festival kicks off at 11 a.m. Sept. 20 at Flat Top Park in West Richland.

KENNEWICK, Wash. - A spooky seance, an eccentric spiritualist and a novelist who's fascinated by the occult make up the storyline for Blithe Spirit, which is Kamiakin High School's first play of its 2008-09 season.

KENNEWICK, Wash. - The popularity of fancy dancing is luring more and more people to the dance floor.

KENNEWICK, Wash. - Each of the kids who sing with the India Children's Choir comes from a bloodline of fierce headhunters.