Guides
>>> BEST-SMELLING BUSINESS The Tea Lady There will ever be cynics who claim it's unmanly to frequent The Tea Lady, with its staggering profusion of teas from around the world, ginger royals (they're cookies), kettles, infusers and, yes, little girls' tea sets and aprons. Well, duh. I confess to a certain bull-in-a-china-shop
Guides
Thank you to all who took the time to vote in our Best of Olympia 2011 Readers' Poll. You are the best. Best Band: The Brown Edition Best New Band: Morgan and the Organ Donors Best Indie Band: Western Hymn Best Metal Band: Wolves in the Throne Room Best Punk Band: Hipster Piss Party Best Jazz
Guides
The Brown Edition doesn't play the dirty, crunchy style of garage rock or the bedroom indie jams that helped launch Olympia onto the musical map. In fact, their unique brand of jazz/funk can be difficult to find in any town. Self-described as "all the soul, funk and jazz your ass
Guides
I don't think there's anyone more deserving of this award than Xperience. During 2010 he was by far the most active hip-hop artist in the 360. From people begging him to play with them in Portland and Seattle to being flown out to the Midwest, Xperience has really helped establish
Guides
>>> BEST TOURING BAND Wolves In The Throne Room This little three-, sometimes four-, piece metal band has drummed and droned and hummed and honed their way into the black hearts of not only their originating Northwest, but the entire world. Only drug smugglers and budding terrorists jump countries like these guys
Music
It seems like just yesterday that Tacoma was called upon to attend an overabundance of rock shows (oh, the burden!) for a good cause. Come to think of it, while I'll readily admit it was most certainly not yesterday, it really was not that long ago that we bandied around
Food Matters
HEAT AND EAT: Firemen are hot. Running through blazing infernos, saving babies while sweat drips off their rippling muscles. Nothing wrong with conjuring up that image at least a couple times a day. Engine House No. 9 (611 N. Pine St., Tacoma) can't guarantee you babe-tastic firemen, but they do
Features
This week ... Place: Alfred's Cafe and Bubble Room Originally named: Bill & Ted's Restaurant, Cafe and Tavern (1930s) Adopted current name: Late 1950s Daytime bartender: Scott Wright Evening bartender: Kali Happy hour: 4-7 p.m. Open for: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Bubbles seen: Only in our beer Beers consumed: Two each Parking lot: Resembles a pack of sardines Melanie Manista-Rushforth (of Rushforth
Listings
ACOUSTIC/FOLK/CELTIC Tempest Lounge Tacoma - Upper Tacoma. Maurice The Fish Records Showcase. 7 pm. NC. Hannah's Bar & Grille Olympia - Downtown. Open Mic. 9 pm. NC. BLUES Charlie's Sports Bar and Grill Olympia - Downtown. Blues Jam with Blues Attitude. 9 pm. NC. COMEDY/GAMES Big Wheel Steakhouse and Lounge Tacoma - Parkland. American Idol Viewing
Listings
ACOUSTIC/FOLK/CELTIC O'Blarney's Irish Pub Olympia - Eastside. Irish Sessions. Live traditional Irish music. 7:30 pm. NC. Olympic Club Hotel and Theater Lewis County. Mark Alan. All Ages. 7 pm. NC. Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. Oly Songwriter Circle. All Ages. 7 pm. NC. Tugboat Annies Olympia - Westside. Open Mic
Listings
ACOUSTIC/FOLK/CELTIC Yenney Music Olympia - Westside. Kate Power and Steve Einhorn Uke & Song. All Ages. 7-8 pm ukuleles and instrument playalong 8-9 pm singalong. NC. BLUES Harmon Brewery and Eatery Tacoma - Downtown. JD Hobson. 8 pm. The Swiss Tacoma - Downtown. Loose Gravel & The Quarry. 8 pm. NC. COMEDY/GAMES Willoughby's Restaurant and Lounge
Listings
ACOUSTIC/FOLK/CELTIC Harmon Tap Room Tacoma - Stadium District. Tin Man. 8 pm. BLUES Dawson's Bar and Grill Tacoma - South. Blues Jam, hosted by Tim Hall. 8 pm. The Spar Tacoma - Old Town. Mark Dufresne. 8 pm. NC. City Hall Saloon and Eatery Enumclaw. Rockin' Blues Jam Session. Hosted by Max Renshaw. 6 pm. Uncle
Listings
ACOUSTIC/FOLK/CELTIC Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. Casey Neil. All Ages. 8 pm. $8-$12. Cafe Luna Vashon. Damon Buxton. All Ages. 7 pm. NC. studio four18 Olympia - Downtown. Larry Murante. Benefit concert for Patrons of South Sound Cultural Arts. All Ages. 7:30 pm. $20. Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. Zael
Listings
ACOUSTIC/FOLK/CELTIC HG Bistro Puyallup. Lewis/Lane. 8 pm. NC. Beyond the Bridge Cafe Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Open Mic Night. All Ages. 7 pm. NC. BLUES Paddy Coyne's Irish Pub Tacoma - Downtown. Blues Redemption. 9 pm. COMEDY/GAMES Tacoma Comedy Club Tacoma - Downtown. Comedian Jay Montepare. 8 pm & 10 pm. $12. Dave's of Milton Milton. Comedy
Listings
ACOUSTIC/FOLK/CELTIC Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. Nicole Mitchell. All Ages. 7 pm. NC. Liquid Soul Coffee Roy. Open Mic. Hosted by David Wayne. All Ages. 7 pm. NC. BLUES Dawson's Bar and Grill Tacoma - South. Billy Shew Band Open Jam Session. 8 pm. NC. The Junction Sports Bar and Grill Lewis County. Blues Jam.
Food Matters
SAMPLING PARTY: The Harmon Brewery (1938 Pacific Ave., Tacoma) has new tables, painted walls, food menu, drink list, wine list and more. To celebrate its new things the Harmon will host a free party 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17 offering a sampling of its new menu. At 8 p.m. the
Food Matters
EXCELLENT FARE WITH A SURPRISING SOURCE >>> A rising trend in the Tacoma area seems to be pseudo-gourmet food being offered in unlikely places. The standard hangover-helper breakfast menu gets a makeover at Dirty Oscar Annex, a bar that also features live rock bands and an open mic.
Music
Ladies, it's time to break out that sexy piece of clothing you've had sitting in your closet for a very special occasion, because Justin Bieber - I mean Macklemore - is coming to The Royal Lounge in Olympia Thursday, Feb. 24 - fulfilling every 16-year-old girl's dreams. If you've been
Music
RED QUEEN THEORY >>> Thursday, Feb. 17 Red Queen Theory takes its name from a hopelessly complex evolutionary hypothesis that finds its inspiration in the Red Queen from Through the Looking Glass - the queen who had to run as fast as she could just to stay in the same place. To
Arts
You could whip out your wee digital camera if you want to capture your image, but, let's face it, digital cameras are a flash in the pan. The real way to record the essence of you is one that kings and queens of old recognized - sit your booty down