Critics' Picks
[DJ] + THURS, APRIL 24 Thursday nights have been an adventure in Olympia's Westside. First, The Westside El Serape was the place to be with DJ Travisty and DJ Kemyst. Then Kemyst jumped ship to start his own gig with Tony Garcia at Trago Mexican Kitchen in the Capital Mall. Recently, Pints
Music
Much has been made of Hobosexual's appropriation and interpretation of - not the ‘80s - but the idea of the ‘80s. As evidenced on their most recent LP (titled Hobosexual II, in a spot-on sendup of the oblivious self-aggrandizement that plagued mainstream rock of the ‘70s and ‘80s), this is
Music
In the media frenzy generated by the 20th anniversary of Kurt Cobain's death, there is plenty of talk about Nirvana, Seattle and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Huffington Post, Seattle Times and CNN mention Cobain's early home of Aberdeen, Wash. or report on the details of his suicide.
Concert Alert
We list major concerts going on sale this weekend, as well as national touring acts performing in
Travel
If this is your first trip to Olympia, welcome! I feel an affinity, as I've only lived here since 2007. It took months to wrap my head around the flagrantly liberal banter in Orca Books, introverted hints of "the Seattle freeze" in local taverns, and the mind-expanding pleasures of real
Features
It would seem that some local culinary talents are hell bent on taking the community on a journey to flavor country. There is one local chef personality that isn't just delivering quality, carefully crafted dishes to the table tops of his home base restaurant, but also out and about -
Food Matters
VINO DE MEZCAL Cocktail aficionado Hilltop Kitchen (913 Martin Luther King Junior Way, Tacoma) hosts a Vino de Mezcal tasting at 2 p.m. Monday, April 28. That's right, artisanal mezcal on a Monday afternoon. So nice. The entire line of Vino de Mezcal from Fundación Agaves Silvestres will be poured as
Show And Tell
I love a good, old-fashioned "get-even" movie. There's just something undeniably and timelessly appealing about seeing a poor, put-upon protagonist suffer the slings and arrows of some cartoonish villain only to rise up and make that villain face justice. If that happens when the bad guy is at the apex
Stage
If there's one show every theater practitioner in America "knows" is overproduced, it's Neil Simon's 1965 comedy The Odd Couple. As Lakewood Playhouse's artistic director, John Munn, pointed out to me many times, however, that reputation isn't fully deserved. I, for one, had never actually seen a stage production of
Listings
ACOUSTIC/FOLK/CELTIC Rialto Theater Tacoma - Downtown. From The Top, with Christopher O'Riley. All Ages. 7:30 pm. $19-$49. 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
Listings
ACOUSTIC/FOLK/CELTIC Dub Narcotic Studio Olympia - downtown. Dub Narcotic Studio Open House, plus live performance by Lowest Pair (7 pm). 5:30-8:30 pm. NC. Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. Olympia Waldorf School Orchestra, Backroads, Quebecois Band. All Ages. 5 pm. NC. BLUES Stonegate Pizza Tacoma -
Listings
ACOUSTIC/FOLK/CELTIC Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. Kendra Shank, John Stowell. All Ages. 8 pm. $10-$15. Doyle's Public House Tacoma - Stadium District. Polecat. 9 pm. NC. BLUES Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Hambone Blues Band. 9 pm. NC. Jeremy's Farm To Table -
Listings
ACOUSTIC/FOLK/CELTIC Charlie's Restaurant Puyallup. Acoustic Jam Night. 6-9 pm. NC. BLUES Dawson's Bar and Grill Tacoma - South. Blues Jam, hosted by Tim Hall. 8 pm. The Spar Tacoma - Old Town. Little Bill & The Bluenotes. 7 pm. NC. Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Sunday Blues
Listings
ACOUSTIC/FOLK/CELTIC Steilacoom Pub and Grill Steilacoom. Monday Music, featuring James Coates. 7 pm. 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 The Hub 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. COMEDY/GAMES Westgate Bar and Grill Tacoma - Northend. Barstool Bingo. 6:30 pm. White Horse Tavern Yelm. Barstool Bingo. Prizes! 7 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
Michael Kaniecki draws with authority. Folks like me who have spent a lifetime in and around college art departments might say his figure drawings are like the stuff you see in every figure drawing class, and there's some truth to that; but Kaniecki does it better than most. He has a
Critics' Picks
[FOLK ROCK] + FRI, APRIL 18 I'm just going to come out and say it. I have a crush on Science! I really do. There is something super endearing about two dudes playing guitars in such depths that it can elicit emotion - sincerity, reflection, angst, and especially happiness. These singer/songwriters
Music
Portland's Black Pussy are quick to address their name to anyone provoked by it. You see the Rolling Stones' "Brown Sugar" - a frankly kind of odd ode to slavery and interracial sex, though let's continue not thinking about that - was originally supposed to be titled "Black Pussy." Mick
Music
My father's record collection is vast and intimidating. For years, he worked as a clerk at Peaches Records & Tapes, quick to nab up everything he could and get all High Fidelity with the rotating cast of record store devotees. Growing up, I never owned a record. In my early