Music
It is goddamn freezing outside! As I write this, pitiful snowflakes listlessly fall to the cold Tacoma ground, almost as if to whisper, "Get out while you still can." Winter has arrived, and with it comes the almost overpowering urge to stay inside and never, ever leave again. Fight it!
Concert Alert
We list major concerts going on sale this weekend, as well as national touring acts performing in the Puget Sound this week. SECRET TICKET CODE TM = Ticketmaster, 253.627.TIXS, www.ticketmaster.com TWEB = Ticketweb, 866.468.7623, www.ticketweb.com >>> ON SALE NOW Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience Olympia. Feb. 13 7:30 pm. $14.50-$39 (Washington center, 360.753.8586) Leroy Bell
Food Matters
HALF-OFF WINE There are no less than three Tacoma establishments who celebrate boozy fermented grape juices each week by knocking half off bottles on certain nights. So, for those who enjoy a reduced-price bottle of vino to share (or not to share) with dinner, visit Pacific Grill (1502 Pacific Ave.) on
Listings
ACOUSTIC/FOLK/CELTIC Blue Couch Lounge Tacoma - Downtown. First Night 2014, featuring Kye Alfred Hillig, Sisters, Sporty Lee, Jake Loden & The Fisherman's Daughter. All Ages. 6:45 pm. NC. BLUES Rialto Theater Tacoma - Downtown. First Night 2014, featuring Gary Stroutos, Baby Gramps, Pearl Django, Uncle Bonsai. All Ages. 7 pm.
Listings
COMEDY/GAMES Tacoma Comedy Club Tacoma - Downtown. Comedian Jay Hollingsworth. 8 pm. $15. KARAOKE The Mix Tacoma - Downtown. Gay-friendly karaoke. Featuring double-shot Sundays. 9 pm. NC. China Clipper Club Cafe Olympia - Downtown. Late Night Karaoke. 9 pm. NC.
Listings
ACOUSTIC/FOLK/CELTIC Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. Ethan Jodziewicz, Tatiana Hargreaves. All Ages. 8 pm. $10-$15. COMEDY/GAMES Tacoma Comedy Club Tacoma - Downtown. Comedian Jay Hollingsworth. 8 and 10:30 pm. $15. COUNTRY/BLUEGRASS Lucky Eagle Casino Rochester. Broken Trail. 9 pm. NC. Red Bicycle Bistro and Sushi
Listings
COMEDY/GAMES Tacoma Comedy Club Tacoma - Downtown. Comedian Jay Hollingsworth. 8 and 10:30 pm. $15. Mud Bay Coffee Company Olympia - Westside. Fool's Play Improv Comedy Troupe. All Ages. 8 pm. $5. COUNTRY/BLUEGRASS Lucky Eagle Casino Rochester. Broken Trail. 9 pm. NC. Franciscan Polar Plaza Ice Rink Tacoma
Listings
ACOUSTIC/FOLK/CELTIC Charlie's Restaurant Puyallup. Acoustic Jam Night. Open mic format with Pam Carter from Classic Case as the host. 6-9 pm. NC. BLUES Dave's of Milton Milton. Blues Jam, hosted by Doug McGrew. 7:30 pm. NC. Dawson's Bar and Grill Tacoma - South. Blues Jam, hosted by Tim Hall.
Listings
ACOUSTIC/FOLK/CELTIC Steilacoom Pub and Grill Steilacoom. Monday Music, featuring Kurt Lindsay. 7 pm. BLUES Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Blues Monday with Black Rose. 7 pm. NC. COMEDY/GAMES The Hub Tacoma - Stadium District. Bar Bingo. Win $100 in cash prizes. 6-8 pm. Harmon Tap Room Tacoma
Listings
ACOUSTIC/FOLK/CELTIC Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Acoustic open mic hosted by Leanne Trevalyan. 8 pm. NC. Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. Oly Songwriter Circle. All Ages. 7 pm. NC. Tugboat Annies Olympia - Westside. Open Mic Night. 9 pm. NC. COMEDY/GAMES Westgate Bar and
Listings
ACOUSTIC/FOLK/CELTIC Tugboat Annies Olympia - Westside. Irish Session. All Ages. 8-10 pm. NC. Ted Brown Music Company Tacoma - South. Uke 'An Jam. All Ages. 6:30-8 pm. NC. Tugboat Annies Olympia - Westside. Wed night Irish Session. 7:00- 930. NC. COMEDY/GAMES Cascade Community Center JBLM-Lewis Main. Bar Bingo
Stage
The Thurston County Family & Juvenile Court is not a place people are likely to go with the intention of viewing art, but the court is open to the public and there is a lot of exciting art to be seen. "The Butterfly Effect" is a new permanent installation in the
Outdoors
I have wanted to go whitewater rafting for years. So when my oldest adventure buddy called up and asked if I wanted to join a group of his friends for a trip, I didn't hesitate. I didn't even ask where we were going. The only words out of my mouth
Features
Here we are again. Another year is behind us. The year 2014 has nearly come to a close with 2015 awaiting, and with that enters new resolutions, goals, hopes and aspirations we hope to attain: "Welp, that didn't happen this year; there's always next." As I was ruminating on this,
Stage
As Christmas approaches I get to offer, with considerable delight, my picks for the best of Olympia theater. This was a banner year, with something for everyone and more than enough deserving candidates for each of the five categories. Those exceptional nominees who made a difficult cut have been listed
Critics' Picks
[BLUEGRASS] + FRI, DEC. 26 It's a final hoedown of sorts as the year draws to a close. The Rusty Cleavers and The Cottonwood Cutups takeover the Half Pint Pizza Pub the night after Christmas. Sadly, the Riverbottom Gang - a motley crew of rich kids with bad attitudes lead by
Music
In some ways, the Tacoma School of the Arts in particular, and Tacoma in general, have a tendency to function as a sort of musical farm league for the country. While this may be a fact shared by other smaller, quirky schools and cities in the U.S., my firsthand experience
Concert Alert
We list major concerts going on sale this weekend, as well as national touring acts performing in the Puget Sound this week. SECRET TICKET CODE TM = Ticketmaster, 253.627.TIXS, www.ticketmaster.com TWEB = Ticketweb, 866.468.7623, www.ticketweb.com >>> ON SALE NOW Chris Minh Doky's Nomads featuring Dave Weekl Seattle. Jan. 13-14 7:30 pm. $28.50 (Jazz Alley, jazzalley.com) Peter
Food Matters
XMAS CHEER Maybe you're away from family for the holidays, perhaps you just desperately want to avoid family drama, whatever the case there are a few joints in Tacoma open on Christmas Day to fuel your holiday cheer including Top of Tacoma Bar and Cafe, Eleven Eleven and Doyle's Public House.
Listings
COMEDY/GAMES Capitol Theater Olympia - Downtown. OFS and Temple Beth Hatfiloh Present: Fiddler On The Roof Sing-Along. All Ages. 3:30 pm. $5-$8. WORLD BEAT Emerald Queen Casino Tacoma - Eastside. Christmas Asia Fest, featuring Don Ha. 7 pm.