Features
There is a tradition at The Swiss Restaurant and Pub in Tacoma. Smiling down from the walls of the restaurant are photos of deployed service men and women, each holding a hand drawn sign reading, "I'd rather be at The Swiss." But one picture holds a special place. The image of
Stage
I went to see [title of show] (brackets and lower case letters intentional) thinking it was the dumbest play title I had ever heard but also with the expectation, that based on what little I had heard about it, that it was probably going to be pretty good. It was,
Music
The idea of the chanteuse is one that has held its status in pop music, even if everything else about pop has been transformed by time. While the roles portrayed by strong women in music have evolved over time, the chanteuse remains a powerful figure, as comfortable in a smoky
Arts
Michael Dickter comes soaring into Olympia's Salon Refu with a show featuring paintings of birds and flowers, subject matter that is often snubbed with various "nesses" such as sweetness and preciousness. But there is little of the saccharine in Dickter's birds and flowers. The subject matter of his paintings is
South Sound Cinema
One of the last great horror movies I saw was at The Grand Cinema. The film was The House of the Devil, and it was a loving homage to the ‘80s satanic panic that ran through culture and really flourished in horror movies. There's a point close to the end
Stage
Kids and adults alike will be enthralled with Fort Nisqually's annual Halloween event. Bonfires, Beaver Pelts and Bogeymen has become a successful tradition over the past 20 years and will take place Friday, Oct. 23 and Saturday, Oct. 24 from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. Guests will be able to
Arts
The beautiful practice of self-publishing has been providing a soapbox for maniacs and artists alike for many years. Without self-publishing, we would be bereft of scores of psychotic fan fiction, transgressive prose, loopy proposals for new religions, and furiously DIY examinations of local art and music - among countless other
Outdoors
The Puget Sound is filled with opportunities to go on sailboats, cruises, ferries, kayaks and all kinds of other watercraft, but there is only one Venetian gondola plying the waters of the Sound - and it's docked on the shores of Gig Harbor. Headed up by John "Cinque" Synco, Gig Harbor
Reviews
Ever have one of those days where your brain simply doesn't cooperate with the rest of your body? Well, me too. In fact, something happened on the way to The Forum in downtown Tacoma a few weeks ago. After immersing myself in the historic Olympus Hotel, enjoying a few drinks
Bars & Clubs
You live for this time of year, where you can dress up as bacon (or sexy bacon?) and wander the streets incognito, becoming your extroverted alter ego for just one night. And as long as you're abandoning all inhibitions, you might as well have a good time and maybe -
Attractions
Ahh, October. It's the month of Pumpkin Spice lattes, sexy Donald Trump costumes and extended darkness. And in that darkness, past the somewhat safe, flickering lights of leering Jack o' lanterns, lurks the unknown. Ghosts, ghouls, the dead, the undead: These are just a sampling of the entities that will
Arts
Recall that magic time when you were 7. You had a new box of crayons, with pristine, gorgeous tips. A book was presented, and a choir of angels might have sung because neither the scrawls of siblings nor frienemies sullied the pages. You looked at, and selected colors like Sky
Stage
Harlequin Productions' latest show, Recent Tragic Events, is one of the strangest shows I've seen in quite some time. It is billed as a comedy, and there is a lot of humor in it - insanely absurd humor - but it also addresses horrifying events and emotions in an intelligent
Arts
B2 Gallery is jam-packed with art for its fall pop-up show. Pop-ups? It's a new thing instituted at B2 this summer where, between the main or regular shows, they have exhibitions that are up for a shorter duration and sometimes with art that is priced more reasonably. They're like the
Music
There's an art to creating music mixes for Halloween. First off, if you're going to include "Monster Mash," then you need to be able to back it up. Either commit to the idea of novelty songs soundtracking your Halloween season, or surround Bobby "Boris" Pickett's with truly terrifying fair. From
Reviews
Open for just a few months, Indo Asian Street Eatery already has a pretty steady following within the Stadium District community. One look as you walk in, or even a glance at the simple and straight forward menu will tell you nearly everything you need to know. The next thing
Attractions
The month of October usually means that there are a wide variety of Halloween-related events taking place. Children are probably busy picking out their costumes and planning what to do with their trick-or-treating loot. There is plenty of fun to be had before Halloween officially takes place at the end of
Attractions
Little Creek Casino Resort in Shelton, a 25-minute drive from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, is home to some of the finest spas, lodging and Las Vegas-style gaming. But a signature attraction it holds above all other Washington state casino resorts are its nationally televised boxing events held in the Skookum Creek
Outdoors
Most of the time we spend our lives rushing between points A and B - running errands, getting to and from work, hurrying between appointments and friends and obligations. How often do you just stop and look at what's around you? Chances are you don't. And, really, not just anywhere
Reviews
Stink Cheese and Meat, with its signature sandwiches, has been satisfying the lunch crowds in downtown Tacoma since it opened its doors in 2011. Since that time, Stink has added an attached wine bar to ensure success with the after-work crowds as well. El Tufo, Spanish for stink, is of