Weekly Volcano Blogs: Walkie Talkie Blog

Posts made in: January, 2007 (68) Currently Viewing: 1 - 10 of 68

January 1, 2007 at 11:04am

Happy New Year

Filed under: Music,

January 1, 2007 at 11:57am

Musical premieres in Tacoma Jan. 5

It's always news when a new play comes to town. Here's a very new play, in fact, the South Sound performance is a world-premiere production. "What Is this Thing Called Love?" is a new musical revue arranged by Emmy-nominated and South Sound theater giant (as well as all around nice guy) David Duvall that opens Jan. 5 at Tacoma Little Theatre. The show features the music of Cole Porter, after Duvall obtained the rights to use the works directly from the Cole Porter Music and Literary Property Trusts.

"No composer has ever written more eloquently or effusively on the subject of love than Porter," Duvall says. "He knew all too well the many dimensions of this basic of human emotions, and captured different aspects of it in ever love song that he composed. This show that I have compiled examines Cole's examination of the different facets of human love, which he never saw as a simple subject." â€" Steve Dunkelberger

January 1, 2007 at 1:34pm

New Year's Eve in Tacoma

The significant one and I decided on a date-night New Year's Eve, just the two of us in varied intimate settings.  He and I have vastly different philosophies governing the institution of New Year's Eve¬" while I believe it's a magical place to start fresh, he believes any date can be that magical place, so long as your mind is set to it.  As a classic extrovert, I gain energy and happiness from a vast group of friends; he's more the hang with only a select close few's type.  So we went through the evening in a sort of compromise: he agreed to help me celebrate out, I agreed to keep my focus on us.

Wanting a quick appetizer, we tried Indochine, which was closed.  Since we were on Pacific Avenue, we headed toward 21 Commerce.  They, too, were closed until 9 p.m. due to a private party that appeared to fill two tables.  Finally, we found two seats by the bar at El Gaucho.  I felt under dressed compare to all the rhinestones and gowns in the dark and chi chi setting of the New York-style steakhouse.

Even still, I managed to choke down two two lovely glasses of Merlot and some gorgeous pan-fried oysters before we were off to our next destination, The Monsoon Room.  The Boom Boom Room suited my nicely with its lightly-ginned juiciness; by that point the intimacy turned stifling to the significant one, so we headed over to our friends house and decided, after much deliberation, to head closer to home.

Nyeattheunicorn Sticking with the gin theme, I enjoyed two potent Tanqueray and tonics at the Unicorn Sports Bar (pictured), while the rest of our party enjoyed Bud Light; we were gently urged (ââ?¬Å?all right you motherf@#%ers, get over here and letââ?¬â?¢s bring in the New Year!ââ?¬Â?) to enjoy our champagne toasts with the group. We did, and the New Year was rung in.

My fresh start included favorite places and favorite people, his included quiet intimacy on a day that was pretty much like any other.  We both won. ââ?¬" Jessica Corey-Butler

Filed under: Food & Drink, Tacoma,

January 2, 2007 at 11:48am

Weekly Volcano featured in City Arts mag

Tacoma's arts scene is so off the chain that we recently scored our own glossy magazine dedicated to covering it. City Arts, a bi-monthly brought to us by Encore Media Group out of Seattle, is a free mag that you'll want to pick up at museums, galleries, restaurants and businesses right away, especially now. The January-February edition features two hot guys that you may have been dying to sneak a peek at: Your very own Ken and Ron Swarner, the publishers of the Weekly Volcano, the Fort Lewis Ranger and the McChord Airlifter.

In the full-page profile pic, Ron is rockin' some wind storm hair, and his shirt is indeed unbuttoned. Ken sports a business jacket. Both of their eyes sparkle.

Sure, City Arts inadvertently reversed the roles â€" Ron is the editor of the Volcano, and Ken is the editor of the Ranger and Airlifter â€" but we love City Arts all the same, for the recognition, the shout out, and the common love and passion we share for everything art related.  In the current issue Jen Graves breaks down the downtown Tacoma revival, and Claire Levine previews our favorite bluegrass weekend, Wintergrass.

Ken and Ron are so proud that they're walking around like they own this freakin' joint. Oh wait, they do. â€" Natasha

Filed under: Culture, Tacoma,

January 2, 2007 at 5:42pm

Bobble Tiki's New Year resolution

Bobble Tiki believes despite all the mad orgasm of technology and despite Bobble Tiki’s incredible ability to stay in constant touch and despite how he can receive FedEx packages on tiny islands and text message in The Factory’s restroom, Bobble Tiki feels he’s killing his brain cells like Britney Spears kills a party.  He feels his Treo 1000 whatever makes his life so much easier that he no longer has to think. A happy suicide of mental capacity if you will.

Bobble Tiki is becoming slower and more mellow, just like he feels during a Who Cares show, except all the time.

Therefore, Bobble Tiki’s New Year resolution is to take technology in moderation. He will make a note of it, except he will use R.R. Anderson’s Idea Globe.  Or Anderson's Idea Rack. Bobble Tiki will stare at them like a mantra and then vow to yank the useless charge cord out of his Treo 840 whatever and hang out at the Kickstand Café or search for Bob’s Java Jive’s karaoke machine or read more books full of polysyllabic words or attend more Who Cares shows.

Bobble Tiki will be the wave of the future.

Oh, got to go.  Bobble Tiki’s television tells him that his chicken pot pie is ready in the microwave. â€" Bobble Tiki

Filed under: Bobble Tiki, Web/Tech,

January 3, 2007 at 2:01pm

Rockaraoke singing contest tomorrow at Jazzbones

OK, so it’s not “American Idol” or even “Seattle Stars” but it is a little shot of adrenaline, a shot at a title and some pretty great prizes. Jazzbones’ regular Monday Rockaroake night allows visitors to live out their rock fantasy of singing with a band.

Now Jazzbones has upped the stakes by using the Rockaroake band to back contestants in the Rockaroake King or Queen Contest. Singers can sign up and compete in the preliminaries beginning Thursday, Jan. 4 at 8 p.m. as well as the following Mondays â€" Jan 8, 15 and 22. Those who make it to the finals will compete Monday, Jan. 29 at 8 p.m. Prizes include a hairstyle makeover by Najamonique at Supernova Hair and Tattoo, a full microderm package from Oslo Salon and Day Spa, cutting edge clothes from urbanXchange, dinner at the eclectically swanky Over The Moon Café in Opera Alley and gift certificates from Hi-Voltage Records, Stadium Video, Buzzard's and Jazzbones.

According to Jazzbones general manager Jennifer Johnson, the judges will be a variety of people from the local entertainment cosmos and contestants will be judged in four categories: vocal talent, stage presence, crowd interaction, and choreography/movement. Johnson also added another tip for contestants, “Dress to attract attention.” â€" Angela Jossy

[Jazzbones, Jan. 4, 8 p.m., no cover, all ages until 11 p.m., 2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.396.9169]


Filed under: Angela Jossy, Club Hopping, Tacoma,

January 4, 2007 at 7:31am

Original Roadhouse Grill to open in Federal Way

Whenever anyone who was born at least 20 years ago hears the word "roadhouse," he immediately thinks of the cheesy '80s movie with Patrick Swayze and then almost as quickly questions his masculinity â€" unless he assumes Sam Elliott was the star of “Road House,” which he wasn't. I feel that Elliott's presence in the movie makes it much less sexually ambiguous, but I also admits that I sometimes visits a Web site called epicurious.com â€" which I assume really stands for "bicurious.com." Because a real guy remembers that the true star of “Road House” was Kelly Lynch and her killer bod.

Anyway, chain restaurant Original Roadhouse Grill celebrates its grand opening Jan. 15 at 31525 20th Ave. S. in Federal Way. 

A chain restaurant in Federal Way?  Say it isn’t so!

The joint offers an authentic roadhouse menu and feel, roadside restaurant décor, slightly western, peanuts tossed on the floor, and a mesquite aroma floating throughout.

It, of course, is where you can get your meat on, too. â€" Brad Allen

Filed under: Food & Drink,

January 5, 2007 at 4:00am

Weekend Blowdown

On the Weekly Volcano’s desk we have two daily calendars: the Daily Planets Horoscope Calendar, which is just what it sounds like, and the Forgotten English Calendar, which teaches you weird-sounding words that are no longer in use. They were both Christmas gifts, which can be hit-or-miss, but these things are so good they're altering our reality. A former pooh-pooher of zodiac crapola, the Weekly Volcano is completely devoted to Daily Planets. Never have we heard such eerily accurate insights about ourselves, and we saw a therapist for years. And it may be that we’re spending too much time at our desk, but it's starting to seem as if the two calendars harmonize in a charming and instructive way.  Nah, we’re spending too much time at our desk.  Here’s what we’re doing this weekend:

Friday, Jan. 5
THE BLACKOUT KINGS: Rock and Roll was built on rebellion and is meant to scare the s@#% out of each generation’s elders. Grace Slick once said every 10 years music should sucker punch parents’ right in the face.  Hello Blackout Kings.  Hello booze and bad attitude. Part punk, part metal, The Blackout Kings lay it on heavy, loud and obnoxious. Like punks innovators Johnny Rotten and Sid Vicious, the quartet of unruly boys have taken on identities that fit their disobedient personalities; Jonny (toss a mean salad) Landon on drums, Ryan (date rape victim) Landon on bass, Shawn (sweet dick willy) Wingstrom on guitar and Vince (a.k.a Ratboy) in front of the mic.   They list their major influences as girls just trashy enough to look like hookers but hot enough to look like they can't afford them, pot, black velvet , DUIs, and lots of semi-automatic weapons.  No disc yet but their MySpace page has four fist shakers free for the downloading. The songs are fast and furious with attitude. Bring mom to their show Friday.  With Go Like Hell, Zero Down, Zombie Jihad. â€" Tony Engelhart
[Hell’s Kitchen, 9 p.m., $5, Tacoma]

Saturday, Jan. 6
TACOMA SPRING RV SHOW: Jack Kerouac is turning in his grave. The days of taking a drug-choked jalopy down the low road to old Mexico are long over. If Jack were alive today, he’d want comfort and economy. With enough ill-gotten bread, he could buy himself a fancy pop-up travel trailer or pickup truck camper instead of paying full freight at cheesy chain hotels, or instead of jumping a rumbling freight train and hoping to wake up alive the next morning. Besides, how many open boxcars do you see these days? Fortunately for Jack, such swank accommodations aren’t that pricey these days â€" at least compared to high hotel rates on the road. You squat when you want, crash (in your bunk â€" please!) when you want, cook up your own road kill meals. And did you know owning an RV can translate into tax breaks? What’s not to like about trailer life? After a day or two at this week’s Tacoma RV Show you’ll know for sure. â€" Suzy Stump
[Tacoma Dome, Jan. 5 and 6 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Jan. 7 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., $7-$9, Tacoma]

Filed under: Music, Tacoma,

January 5, 2007 at 3:11pm

Tacoma resolutions

As I work on day six of a New Year, curiosity compels me to ask some of my favorite people what they resolved for the New Year, and how that’s working out for them.

Ms Darcy
Ms Darcy has a sort of non-resolution-y goal for the year, “to change my name.”  Ms Darcy will remain Ms Darcy, but whether she becomes Mrs. RR Anderson or Mrs. AA Rnderson remains uncertain.

urbanXchange
The incomparable Julie of urbanXchange was a bit abashed as she admitted to breaking her resolution before it even started, “It was a silly one.” She admits it to me, and I’m happy it didn’t come to fruition.

Daniel Blue
Working on the fine principle that no resolution should go unsupported, Daniel Blue has committed to his with friend William Davick, with whom he’ll be putting on a show in February (hint: autoharps figure prominently).  Davick and Blue hope to impress the masses with shirtlessness, so weights, protein drinks, and prohibition fall in Blue’s plans, while the pact between the two involves “push-ups til we throw up, and sit-ups til we pass out.”

Embellish Multispace Salon
Embellish Multispace Salon owner Trish Lecy-Davis puts a name to her resolution: “to not make any resolutions” after admitting to hitting the snooze rather than the gym the last few mornings; co-day-maker Jade also claims anti-resolution, because “they always get broken.” She adds, “I don’t like to set myself up for failure.”

zinnia
Gretchen Bailley of zinnia is in the “no resolution” camp, and adds some really good insights based on something she read as to why resolutions in the beginning of the month are acts of futility: “Start your New Year’s resolution on the third week of January, when you’re back in the regular groove.”

www.myspace.com/blackwatertacoma ">Black Water Cafe
Perhaps my favorite non-resolution resolution comes from Rachel at he Black Water, who resolves, but not really, to have more fun this year than last, the same non-resolution she’s not held for the last several years.  She adds, “each year gets better and better.”

Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital
Julia, fave MetVet greeter, explains her lack of resolution-ness with a quote from, possibly, a quote-of-the-day calendar:  “The problem with resolutions is they go in one year and out the other.”

Tiki Lounge
Except, possibly, for me, and the recipient of my “Most ambitious resolution maker” award, Stacey White, Tiki Lounge diva. Hers works in three parts, the first of which involved whole health, to include fitness, eating, drinking, and getting enough sleep; business goals, and spiritual goals. 

Renee’s Chop Shop
Recipient of the “Damn, you rock my world!” award goes to Renee Seamount for resolving to do a half marathon.

Volcano staff
Volcano legends Natasha, Carmen, Suzie Stump, and Brad Allen weren’t available for comment; my rapier-like instinct tells me that Natasha is making good on her “shake my bootie to fitness” party-robics, while Carmen is probably too busy in her dual roles as Volcano scribe and best-darn-worker-on-the-planet to return my call.
My suspicion is that Suzie and Brad might be holed up in some room of the Sheraton for one last look at the interior before it becomes Bellagio, the Sequel, but until I see photos, I’ll never know for sure.
Angie Jossy is also in the non-resolution camp, though she’s mulling over some changes she’d like to make in the coming year.

Me
For me? Since you asked, day five is going very well thanks.  No wine, healthy foods, and healthy movement have made me happier, if not healthier (maybe resolution four should have been, “steer clear of kid-germs.”) â€" Jessica Corey-Butler

Filed under: Tacoma,

January 5, 2007 at 3:19pm

Rockaroake rocked last night at Jazzbones

If you give Tacoma a microphone it knows what to do with.  That much is proven night in and night out at karaoke joints all over town.

Now, give Tacoma a microphone and a live band with enough chops to make Kry a bit jealous, and the rest is, well, history. Crazy, drunken, a little off pitch, kicking and jiving history.

Last night at Jazzbones the first round of their Rockaraoke contest went down, and all the above adjectives apply.  Contestants battled all night for a chance to be invited back for the finals, being held Jan. 29. Two rockers were selected â€" Naja, for her White Stripes and Alanis Morissette skills, and Garret, for his memorized, no screen needed version of the Turtle's "Happy Together."

Fun was had by all, and booze was consumed at an alarming pace. Check Jazzbones' Web site for the dates of their upcoming qualifying rounds of Rockaraoke, before the big night, Jan. 29. â€" Matt Driscoll

Filed under: Matt Driscoll, Music, Tacoma,

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News and entertainment from Joint Base Lewis-McChord’s most awesome weekly newspapers - The Ranger, Northwest Airlifter and Weekly Volcano.

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