Thursday, June 8, and Friday, June 9
Lisa of Free Tacoma Project was running the door at Club Zoë for the Urban Art Festival fund-raiser show Thursday. She is just adorable and has the raddest wardrobe. I noticed The Forgery has a new drummer. Are keyboards next, Caleb?
Friday night Brad Allen and Natasha had a good run around Tacoma. I was supposed to meet them, but instead I had a government to overthrow (read: I didn't feel like it). Hanging at The Swiss (that place is Brad's woobie) and the new Duke's on the waterfront, closing it down after doing shots with off-duty servers - that is so my style. Dedset singer Jeff Burch celebrated a birthday at the Swiss and had a fun time with friends and the Boinkers.
Saturday, June 10
Breakfasted with Pappi Swarner at Alfred's Bubble Room. Next, we were first timers at Puyallup's Meeker Days and took it all in. As soon as we walked in, a giant plushy bee hugged me and totally crept me out. We stopped to say hey to artist Jake Hose, who was painting live in front of a gallery. We did the tour of view, sample, buy - I purchased a chunky, pink stone bracelet and drop pearl earrings from Green Pepper Art Co. We giggled behind our hands at people who looked like Gary Larson cartoon characters.
Back in T-town, we hit Rampart Art Gallery to see Uncle Steve and the interior's makeover in progress. The place was positively zinging with energy. I grabbed a bite at Puget Sound Pizza with artist James Hume. Owner Jim knows the way to this girl's heart, making sure we were well taken care of - not hard to do with his good staff. The little kid in me loves that they have root beer and beer all in the same place (I know I'm a dork, but that just tickles me).
The Scuzztones rocked The Spar in Old Town Tacoma that night. Chesty Meow had herself a fine time while the crowd around her went nuts, even screaming a little. Some of the band members of Girl Trouble were in attendance.
Murphy and Trash's birthday was off the hook, crazy as H-E-double-toothpicks, and got out of hand. And that was just his outfit! I expected no less. I whiled away my evening at Fort Bender, enjoying the mix of personalities of the guys from Broken Oars (who are gearing up for a West Coast tour shortly), The Frenchman and his lady (she always gives me the best wine tips), Superstar Asa, Kate's awesome cousin Carrie with magenta hair (she'd dyed it to match a bridesmaid dress and succeeded - woo-hoo!), Hogbot collaborative artists, and Bender's bro. Speaking of Bender, he played some tracks from Seattle rappers Kirk Dubb and Mister Holmes' CD Thirsty. We all squealed with delight when they name-dropped him: "Been on more benders than James Bender."
Sunday, June 11
I called up Chesty and was invited to preview Syren Lounge and Nightclub's interior. Through ladders, paint cans and the usual construction supplies, I could see she'd done a great job with the colors, accent pieces and the overall vibe. That place is going to look dope when it opens officially Friday, June 16, with The Lost Boys, Gene Lee, Sean Majors, DJ dAb. Doors open at 8 p.m. DJs spin at 10 p.m.
Live at Five
As part of downtown Tacoma's "Live at Five" Thursday night entertainment, four bands will perform on a stage in front of a floor to ceiling library in the bottom level of Sanford and Son. Heather 'n' Ross and The Give from Olympia will get the party started right. Tacoma's own killer power rock duo Lozen follows with band Robots in the Skies making their debut show. As Lozen says, "It's awesome! You gotta check it out." An espresso bar will be open to get you really psyched. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Open to all ages. Will this be the next all-ages music venue? June 22, 7 p.m., all ages, no cover, Sanford and Son, Seventh and Commerce, Tacoma.
Give me a wink and a kiss here. Knoxx knows.