Arts
Betty Sapp Ragan passed away a year ago. She was an excellent artist, and she left behind an impressive body of work, a lot of which is now being shown in an exhibition of photo collages and prints at the Mary Bozeman Gallery in the Tahoma Unitarian Universalist Congregation. Curated by
Outdoors
There are many things the Northwest does well. Coffee. Beer. Scenic water views. We also stand out in terms of our greenery. There's nothing quite like a Northwest forest, from its giant ferns at ground level all the way up to its towering Douglas firs. Northwest forests are pleasantly easy
Reviews
Announcer: If you have not taken your stomach for a ride in downtown Olympia, then it is missing a great deal about Northwest cuisine. While there are plenty of places cooking fancy dinners on the waterfront, in Olympia, the mood and scene are often funky at best. There is no
Features
Travelers can fly directly to places as far away as Beijing, Dubai and Hong Kong from Sea-Tac International Airport, so it only makes sense that exotic fare should be available nearby. Yet most passengers are regrettably unaware of anything more challenging than a 6 a.m. Cinnabon in the Seatac area.
Music
As odd as it seems now, I somehow got through most of my formative years without having really heard the music of Prince. I suppose I knew from places like Saturday Night Live and other cultural pockets about his "Artist Formerly Known As" period, and from Chappelle's Show that he
Arts
As an art critic and lifelong student of art, I must confess that my education is sorely lacking in certain areas - 19th and 20th century Western art being a prime example. I don't mean Western as opposed to Asian or Egyptian or African; I mean American cowboy art and
Stage
There's always been plenty of room for blue humor and bawdiness in musical theater, even if it can sometimes feel like a more squeaky clean environment. Avenue Q is a musical that plays on misconceptions - pitching itself as a sort of children's puppet show crossed with a riff on
Features
Farmers markets are great summer fun. My favorite is the Olympia Farmers Market. The smells of the different foods, the colors of the fruits and vegetables, and the plethora of jewelry, glassware, meats and bakery items is overwhelming. Located at 700 Capitol Way North in Olympia, the 40-year-old market is open from
Features
Summer is fast approaching, as you can surely tell from the Washingtonians that spontaneously combusted over the past weekend. With these hot months comes more excuses to go outside, necessitating an influx of festivals and events to take advantage of people heroically deciding to leave their homes. Tacoma Musical Playhouse
Reviews
Announcer: There are plenty of Irish dining options in the South Sound, probably one close to where you live. For those in Puyallup, the choice is easy - Flanagan's right there on the main street in the valley. They are the new kids on the block, having just opened this
Attractions
The Seattle area is known for many things - rain, the Puget Sound, coffee. It's also known as the birthplace of the world's biggest aerospace company, Boeing. Today, Boeing has plants and offices in many other locations, but its largest factory remains just north of Seattle in Everett. And that factory
Music
It's hard to believe, but it really has been two whole decades since Lakewood first incorporated into a city. That means that right around the time the rest of us were nervously re-spooling our Scotch-taped Tragic Kingdom cassettes with a #2 pencil, ensuring our Jinco pants had the precise amount
Music
One of my favorite Christmas songs - and I like so very few - is "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." It's a lonely little number that reflects the quiet ambience of winter, while still largely sending a positive message. The most interesting part of the song, though, comes at
Arts
I almost missed seeing the "11th Annual Student Art Exhibition" at South Puget Sound Community College. It has only another week to run. If I were cynical enough, and I admit that I often am, I could say, "What's the big deal? It's only a student show." There's some truth
Reviews
Announcer: The greater South Sound area is not lacking in waterfront dining. From Browns Point, slicing through the downtown, around the bend at Point Defiance and on down to Olympia, diners can have views of ships, ferry boats, kayakers, seals and islands to their heart's content. You can eat on,
Stage
The Wiz hit Broadway like Soul Train on steroids in 1975, winning seven Tony Awards, including best musical. It was followed-up three years later by a popular film version starring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson. To ask any community theater to follow that is a tall order. Tacoma Musical Playhouse
Outdoors
Who doesn't enjoy a rodeo? Horses and cows and calves and bulls and cowboys and cowgirls - what's not to love about that? On Saturday and Sunday, June 4 and 5, the Roy Pioneer Rodeo will put on a great rodeo experience that's fun for the whole family. Located in the
Music
There are few art forms more uniquely American than rock and roll - the music genre originated in the 50s when great artists like Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley had the genius idea to combine blues/R&B and country music. The Karshner Museum and Center for Culture & Arts, owned by
Attractions
There are few things more fascinating to kids than bugs. What else perfectly taps into their curiosity towards all things gross and unique? It's really not surprising, then, that the Puget Sound has their very own bug museum; the creatively-named Bug Museum in Bremerton should satisfy your kids' needs for
Arts
"NW Art Now" at Tacoma Art Museum is a big, colorful, and cutting-edge exhibition of new and recent works by 24 regional artists. Included are 47 works in a wide range of media including painting, sculpture, craft-based work, as well as conceptual, performance, installation and digital projects. One of the