Concert Alert
We list major concerts going on sale this weekend, as well as national touring acts performing in the Puget Sound this week and down
Show And Tell
Tinseltown suffered a heavy blow last week with the tragic death of Paul Walker. I'll resist the temptation to call him a "great thespian," a "master of his craft" or any of the other tried and true cants that frequently appear in celebrity eulogies. I'll just point out that in
Food Matters
SAY HI TO NUCKY What better way to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Repeal Prohibition Day than handcrafted cocktails, burlesque dancers and a quartet! At 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5 Olympia Film Society will party old school style at the Capital Theater (206 Fifth Ave. SE, Olympia). Sip classic cocktails and
South Sound Cinema
Some days you just don't feel like paying for another Redbox rental, and the next movie on your Netflix queue takes FOREVER to arrive in your mailbox. And recession or no, who can pass up free, convenient entertainment?
Guides
The "War on Christmas" decried by Sarah Palin and Bill O'Reilly isn't evident in South Sound theater, which is producing a rich variety of appropriately jolly and family-friendly shows for the holiday season. Weekly Volcano theater critics Joann Varnell and Christian Carvajal chime in with their thoughts on the productions
Stage
Try as we might, we critics look forward to some productions more than others. From our perspective, the newer, more cutting-edge shows cluster in late spring and summer, as do the Shakespeares and edgier musicals. Autumn ushers in every new theater season with tried-and-true popular favorites, and as for the
Listings
ACOUSTIC/FOLK/CELTIC Cascadia Grill Olympia - Downtown. Jeremy Serwer. All Ages. 6-9 pm. NC. BLUES Dawson's Bar and Grill Tacoma - South. Billy Shew Band Open Jam Session. 8 pm. NC. Eagle's Hall Olympia - Downtown. OlyBlues Dance Night. Third floor, no partner necessary. All Ages. 9 pm. $5. COMEDY/GAMES Tacoma Comedy Club Tacoma - Downtown. Comedian
Listings
ACOUSTIC/FOLK/CELTIC Morso Wine Bar Gig Harbor. Dan Navarro. 8 pm. $25. The Embers at Indian Summer - Olympia. Tarik Bentlemsani. 6 pm. NC. Red Bicycle Bistro and Sushi Bar Vashon. The Jeff Kanzler Band. All Ages. 8:30 pm. NC. COMEDY/GAMES Grit City Comedy Club Tacoma - Downtown. Comedian Chris
Listings
ACOUSTIC/FOLK/CELTIC Franciscan Polar Plaza Ice Rink Tacoma - Downtown. Rebekah Ann Curtis on Ice. All Ages. 7-9 pm. Free admission, $4-$8 ice skating. BLUES B Sharp Coffee House - Tacoma. Little Bill Duo, with Rod Cook. All Ages. 7 pm. COMEDY/GAMES Grit City Comedy Club Tacoma - Downtown. Comedian Chris Dunham.
Listings
ACOUSTIC/FOLK/CELTIC Charlie's Restaurant Puyallup. Acoustic Jam Night. 6-9 pm. NC. Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center Kent. Magical Strings Celtic Yuletide Concert. 3 pm. $15-22. Gibsons Frozen Yogurt Tacoma - Stadium District. Kim Archer CD release party for her CD Planet Cool - cool music for kids. 1-2:30 pm. NC. Traditions
Listings
BLUES Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Blues Monday with Black Rose. 7 pm. NC. Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Rafael Tranquilino and Brooke Lizotte Experimental Jam. 8 pm. NC. COMEDY/GAMES Willoughby's Restaurant and Lounge Yelm. Bar Bingo. 7 pm. NC. Grit City Comedy Club Tacoma -
Listings
ACOUSTIC/FOLK/CELTIC Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Acoustic open mic hosted by Leanne Trevalyan. 8 pm. NC. Tugboat Annies Olympia - Westside. Open Mic Night. 9 pm. NC. BLUES Red Wind Casino Yelm. Alice Stuart. 6:30 pm. NC. COMEDY/GAMES Westgate Bar and Grill Tacoma - Northend. Barstool Bingo. 6:30 pm.
Listings
ACOUSTIC/FOLK/CELTIC Ted Brown Music Company Tacoma - South. Uke 'An Jam. All Ages. 6:30-8 pm. NC. COMEDY/GAMES Cascade Community Center JBLM-Lewis Main. Bar Bingo in Heroes Lounge. No cash prizes. 7 pm. Pints & Quarts Pub Westside Olympia - Westside. Bingo. Win prizes. 8:30 pm. NC. Tacoma Comedy
Stage
Saturday, Jan. 4 at 6:30 p.m., Tacoma Little Theatre will host a roundtable conversation between theater practitioners and theater audiences. I've arranged it to start a dialogue that'll serve, I hope, to boost attendance community-wide and give artistic directors a better idea what you want your ticket price to buy.
Stage
With a larger than usual amount of plays opening Thanksgiving weekend, fellow theater critic Christian Carvajal and I divided and conquered. Each taking two plays we split them up based on several different criteria. One of the plays I was fortunate enough to review was Lyle the Crocodile at Olympia
Stage
Oh, George Bailey. A heroic, self-sacrificing, and a generally likable fellow. It's nearly impossible not to feel empathy (or resonance) with the dashed dreams and settling for second place for the sake and betterment of others. Unfortunately George is unable to continue saving those less fortunate due to the greed
South Sound Cinema
Some days you just don't feel like paying for another Redbox rental, and the next movie on your Netflix queue takes FOREVER to arrive in your mailbox. And recession or no, who can pass up free, convenient entertainment? Every Tuesday, "Check
Stage
The first thing I thought when I visited Thomas Studio Art Gallery in Olympia to see M.W. Lindenmeyer's pastels was this stuff is funny. And then I thought it's more than just funny; it's also smart. And then references came to mind. These pictures remind me of Red Grooms and
Guides
Beer is more than just a drink at the bar. Beer is more than happy hour, more than game night, and certainly more than a Bud Light (ew). Much more. Beer is the gift everyone wants for Christmas. And anyone who's anyone gifts beer in a growler. If you aren't in the
Guides
It's that time of year again: not just the time for cold weather, short days and a retail frenzy, but the time for visions of sugarplums, chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Christmas cookies and rugelach. In other words, it's the time of year when even non-cooks might find reason to