The Weekly Volcano is proud to be a sponsor of the Tacoma Film Festival Oct. 6-12 at the Grand Cinema.

Hot air rises. Therefore, if global warming is simply hot air it should rise ... to the top ... of ... public discussion. Which is good. Except the words “hot air” connote something untrue, which means we shouldn’t have to discuss it at all. Especially publicly. Except that we’re trying to decide whether or not it’s true. And we have now confused ourselves.

Robert F. Kennedy â€" you're our only hope.

Pierce College reports: Pierce College Puyallup Student Programs kicks off the 2006-2007 Artist and Lecture series with the author, attorney and defender of the environment Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. on Thursday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. at the Liberty Theater in Puyallup. "In Our Environmental Destiny," Kennedy will discuss the important role that our natural surroundings play in our work, our health and our identity as Americans. Using examples gathered from relevant art, history, litigation, and literature, Kennedy will remind the audience of their responsibility to protect and preserve the environment for future generations.

Tickets are $15 for general admission and $5 for Pierce students.  Tickets can be purchased at the ticket office in Room C210 at Pierce College Puyallup, by calling (253) 840-8416 or Ticketmaster. A book signing and reception follows.

That's hot … air. â€" Suzy Stump

Get ready to grab the super sized popcorn â€" or plenty of energy bars. Because this Saturday, South Sound cinephiles will need plenty of stamina when the Manhattan Short Film Festival arrives at the Capitol Theater.

Twelve brand new short films from around the world are waiting for your thumbs up or down.  The participating filmmaker who receives the most votes will win the opportunity to direct a feature film.

Manhattan Short Film Festival, Saturday, Sept. 16, 7:30 p.m., $4.50-$7, Capitol Theater, 206 East 5th Ave. downtown Olympia, (36) 754-6670. â€" Suzy Stump

Diamonds are some girls’ best friends.  Others can be bought for sweet talk, chocolate, champagne, or roses.

My significant one knows the way to my heart is through sushi, employing my most favorite of foods for momentous celebrations as well as for those times when he knows he’s screwed up big.

Now he’ll have a new place to take me to make me happy, Twokoi Japanese Cuisine (1552 Jefferson Ave., downtown Tacoma, (253) 274-8999), which is setting up for a soft opening on Friday, Sept. 15.

“Realistically, this is a practice period,” explains Twokoi General Manager Mai-Lee Bowyer, “a time to practice on real customers and work out any kinks.”

A grand opening with potential double ribbon-cutting ceremony with Tacoma Art Supply (already open â€" the two businesses share a front door,) is set to occur in mid-October, at which point Twokoi will be open during all posted hours, which include late dining on weekends.  The grand opening weekend will include a fund raiser for the Cancer Society, with whom Bowyer and Warren Caves, owner of Tacoma Art Supply, share a building.

The interior of Twokoi features Japanese detailing with a modern edge, highlighting Bowyer’s “polished casual” description. A view of the Tacoma Art Museum, the newly renamed Harold M. Tollefson Plaza, and the University of Washington, Tacoma solidly places the restaurant’s interior, geographically.  Floors and key walls are bamboo, with an incredible bamboo-in-fiberglass illuminated wall backing the liquor shelves. Doors are trimmed with a Tori-styling in oiled grove Douglas Fir, which is also the material used for the custom made table tops and solid-wood interior doors.  The conference space features two of these massive sliders, and will hold conferences or large parties. 

Twokoi will also feature an open kitchen where Chef Jackie Koh will create his works of edible art. 

Manager Bowyer comes from a strong restaurant management background, having owned and run the Olympia Outback restaurant for five years.  Comparing this build-up experience to her last opening, Bowyer explains, “this is exciting for me because I have a lot more creative freedom.  It’s a new concept, so we’re learning as we go.” â€" Jessica Corey-Butler

Theater fans have seen me mention time and again the rise of cooperative spirit between South Sound theaters in recent years.

It hasn't been always the case, with theaters doing some shady things to each other as they battle for patrons, who can be otherwise distracted by Tivo, Netflix and Paris Hilton's latest reggae album.

Those days are over as theaters have bonded over verses of "Kumbaya" to take on the couch potato generation. First, the theaters in Tacoma held joint auditions and now they will be holding a "Free Theatre Night 2006" to showcase the talent the area has to offer. Tacoma Actors Guild, Lakewood Playhouse, Tacoma Little Theatre and Tacoma Musical Playhouse, will present a 20 minute scenes of their shows starting at 7 p.m. Oct. 19 at Tacoma Musical Playhouse, 7116 Sixth Ave.

TMP will do a scene from "Thoroughly Modern Millie," TLT will do numbers from "Dreamgirls," Lakewood will do songs from "Seussical the Musical," and TAG will do scenes from "Ya Got Trouble."

This gala event is part of a nation-wide Free Night of Theatre, a campaign conceived by the Theatre Communications Group and "Live Theatre Week," sponsored locally by Theater Puget Sound, both aimed at attracting new audiences to live theater.

For reservations, call (253) 565-6867. â€" Steve Dunkelberger

Train rocked the Puyalup Fair last night cruising through all of their top songs including covers from Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith.  Clearly the best show of the grandstand season. â€" Michael Swan

I peeked my head into Matador today to get hugs from my sawdust covered boys. Matador is tentatively set to open by Oct. 15 on 8th and Pacific in downtown Tacoma. The framing for the booths, kitchen and bathrooms were in place.  Zack was working on his handmade, custom carpentry bar. I won't tell you about it because I don't want to spoil it, but he acknowledged that it'll be the best one he's ever done.  Beautiful.  Matador is holding open interviews for most all positions on Tuesday, Sept. 19 from 1 to 4 p.m.

As you may have noticed, work is also getting done on Paddy Coyne's Irish Pub, just a couple of doors down from Matador in the Olympus Hotel building.  The man Pat hopes to open by mid-November.

I talked to Troy from Asado. If you'll remember, the Asado folks bought the former Ricardo's building across the street and they're turning it into Masa, a high end Mexican restaurant. I'm already salivating. If you drive by the location on Sixth Avenue, you can watch the transformation for yourself.  They're still set to open in coordination with the Day of the Dead in early November.

In the meantime, those hooligans at Doyle's are hosting a St. Practice Day on Sunday, Sept. 17, with drink specials and entertainment.  I'll be there just because I think the concept is hilarious. â€" Natasha

From the moment you walk into Twokoi Japanese Cuisine, you know you're in for a treat. The restaurant is housed in the historic Calton Building in downtown Tacoma, within sight distance of excited kids running up and down South Jefferson hoping they might eventually be seated in the Spaghetti Factory trolley. A bamboo smart bomb must have exploded inside covering floors, key walls and the bar back with the polished wood. Open concept, large sushi bar, tall grass decorated support beams, plasma screens, jazz swirling about - an ocean apart from the tatami mats and rice paper walls of more traditional Japanese restaurants. The place just buzzes with cosmopolitan energy.

This weekend's "soft opening" featuring a 60 percent tasting of what Twokoi will eventually offer.  Because they are still fine tuning their menu and operations yakisoba, teriyaki, katsu and other entrees are discounted to $10 and appetizers $5.  Sushi and sashimi prices are in line with other local Japanese restaurants.

Executive Chef Young "Jackie" Koh, formerly of Fujiya down the street, pushes the envelope of contemporary Japanese cuisine with a few items he developed from his French studies - tuna and salmon carpaccio, both with white onion in citrus sauce, and an "Amazing Crunch Spicy Tuna" tower of spicy tuna, avocado, asparagus, onion layered with tempura flake (stupendous).
With a promised 40 sakes, drink specials featuring sake, and weekend hours extending to 2 a.m. my butt will hit Twokoi's bamboo often.

Judy Cullen, the grand dame of South Sound theater for more than a decade, rocked the Tacoma theater community this week when she stepped down from her role at artistic director of Tacoma Little Theater.
Heck, I'll let her tell the story. â€" Steve Dunkelberger

Judy Cullen: As has been announced by the Tacoma Little Theatre board of directors, I am leaving my post as artistic director effective immediately.  Since 1993 it has been my pleasure to serve this very special organization. Whether as production manager, or in my capacity as artistic director during the past five years, TLT has given me the opportunity to explore creatively, and to come to know many fine people in our community.  I cherish that time, that opportunity, and the relationships that have enriched both myself, and the organization.

I hope that the patrons, guests, and performers who have been a part of that family will look with fondness on the many contributions it was my privilege to make over the years.  Chief among them would be the over 35 scenic environments I have designed since 1991 including settings for "Twelve Angry Men," "South Pacific," "Noises Off," "Having Our Say," "Ten Little Indians" as well as both productions of "Camelot" (1991 and 2004).  I am also especially proud that we were able to realize a personal dream of mine in producing the musical play "1776" last spring which I designed scenery and lighting for, and which was such an inspiring experience for both the cast and the enthusiastic audiences.

I have no intention of leaving the area, but am looking forward to working with Tacoma Opera this fall on their production of "Beatrice and Benedict" as well as exploring other design and directing opportunities.  I will continue to be of whatever assistance I can be to Tacoma Little Theatre’s Board and Staff as they engage in this exciting transition.   

My best to all, and I’ll see you at the theatre!

Judy Cullen

The Weekly Volcano loves Exit133's 365 Days of Tacoma photo journal.  Every morning we try to guess where the photo's object is located as we much on breakfast. â€" Suzy Stump