All of Tacoma becomes a stage this Friday, as LuminoCity turns retail shops and nearly 50 other hotspots throughout downtown into venues for poetry readings, live music, art exhibitions, open houses and much more.

The Tacoma Economic Development Department’s (TEDD) free and festive community event runs from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on May 14.

The theme for this LuminoCity is Live Work Shop Play, encouraging people to “forget work and join your friends and colleagues downtown for three very happy hours.”

“You’d think that since this is our eighth event, we’d have a hard time coming up with new stuff,” said LuminoCity producer Benjii Bittle. “But since the last LuminoCity, great new stores have opened, downtown is connected with light rail, and artists and merchants have ramped up their participation to make sure this event is the best one yet.”

For a free, printable map of all the activities for LuminoCity, visit the City of Tacoma’s Website at www.cityoftacoma.org/22arts or call 253/591-5191 for more information.

Here are LuminoCity highlights to help you live, shop and play in downtown Tacoma:

Urban Living Open House
Thousands of people have moved downtown to enjoy Tacoma’s urban lifestyle – from glass-blowing classes in the Brewery District to upscale dining along Pacific Avenue, there’s something for everyone. Working hand-in-hand with the local development community, TEDD is striving to create 2,010 units of housing downtown by the year 2010 to meet the demands of this growing market. TEDD is sponsoring a free Urban Living Open House from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Carwein Auditorium at the University of Washington Tacoma, 1900 Commerce St. Come hear firsthand about major projects in the works and talk to developers with condos and apartments available in downtown Tacoma. This is the public’s chance to hear about innovative residential options, both in rehabilitated historic buildings and new construction.

Theater District Headquarters
Multiple stores have joined together to fill three stages with live music and performance art, plus an advice booth, coffee merchant hunt, gift bags, jewelry and fashion demonstrations, henna tattoos and pampering services. Volunteers will lead you from the light rail stop at the Theater District Headquarters, Sanford & Son at 734 Broadway, to other “don’t miss” activities in the area.

The Curate Shakespeare As You Like It
Tacoma Actors Guild and TEDD team up for a groovy grand finale to LuminoCity – a command performance of Don Nigro’s “The Curate Shakespeare As You Like It” at Theater on the Square, 915 Broadway. Seven actors play nearly 20 characters in a refreshing twist on Shakespeare’s classic comedy, which includes the immortal advice that “All the world’s a stage.” All seats for this 8 p.m. show are pay what you can. Call 253/272-2145 for tickets. Before the show, the Grand Cinema will host a movie trivia contest in the park immediately outside.

Merlino Art Center
Two Vaults Gallery, Kickstand Café, the Grand Cinema and the Community Art School of Tacoma are joining together to create a hub of activity on the north end of downtown, at 602-608 South Fawcett Ave. Highlights include: inexpensive massages, live music, interactive tile painting for the YWCA with the Arty Chicks, and free medium popcorn with any movie ticket purchase if you show a LuminoCity brochure.

Block Party
Near Firemen’s Park, about a half dozen stores are joining to present music in Renee’s Hairshop, 822 Court A, with Puget Sound Poetry Connection producing an Open Mic at One World One Love, 118 S. Ninth St., and many other special surprises in the area.

Thea Foss Esplanade
Wander across the landmark Chihuly Bridge of Glass at South 19th over I-705, to ogle three world-class installations by native son Dale Chihuly: the Venetian Wall, Seaform Pavillion and Crystal Towers. Wandering along the urban waterfront outside Thea’s Landing, visit the public art installations by Elizabeth Connor (check out the Cannon of Joy), outdoor installations at the Museum of Glass: International Center for Contemporary Art, 1801 East Dock St., and amazing glass and Native American sculptures by Preston Singletary at Vetri International Glass and William Traver Gallery, 1821 East Dock St.

Other offerings scattered throughout downtown include:

– “Letters to the Editor,” a new play by Combustible Theater based on, well, letters to the editor, at 6:30 p.m. at City Retro, 711 St. Helen’s Ave.

– A performance by The Quietus Trio, Tacoma’s experimental music project, at 7 p.m. in Ruby Collection, 711 Opera Alley.

– Ultra-hip art installations at the Woolworth Windows, 11th Street at Broadway & Commerce, by artists Miller, Nechak, Tihanyi and Sobottka, and in the adjacent kiosk, known as Tollbooth Gallery, a video installation by Denise Smith called “Step Back.”