There were more legal-types than literary types at Tacoma’s downtown Public Library Thursday evening when Mark Lindquist read from, and signed, his latest novel, “The King of Methlehem.”
One prominent figure in the book, Judge Sorenson, who was also a recurring character in Lindquist’s book “Nevermind Nirvana,” himself showed up, in the bereted, sunglasses-wearing, bongo-drumming flesh.

This gentleman was actually deputy prosecuting attorney Phillip Sorenson, and did a fine job of impromptu beatnik-ing as Lindquist read from three chapters in his book.

The novel delves entertainingly into Lindqust’s world of legal expertise from the standpoint of the detective protagonist and his “quarry,” a meth cook who dubs himself “The King of Methlehem,” as well as the aliases Howard Schultz, Lars Ulrich, and Ted Nugent.

Lindquist comes by the subject matter of the book honestly: in his “day job” Lindquist is the trial team chief of the drug unit for the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney.

“I don’t watch TV, and I don’t sleep â€" that’s how I get both things done,” Lindquist quipped.

In "The King of Methlehem," issues particular to Pierce County figure prominently like the “Crime Warp” phenomenon dubbed by prosecutor Gerry Horne (where criminals set up home base in Tacoma after their sentences, when halfway houses lead them here), and the moment in time where Tacoma sits as the next gritty metropolis after Nirvana and Grunge faded awayâ€"while a literary theme is established early on â€" Moby Dick has a special place carved out for the protagonist’s own hash-stash, even while he, like Ahab, seeks out his own great white whale, Howard Schultz.

Thing is, as you read the novel, you don’t think about high-falutin’ legal thoughts, or grandiose literary concepts. If you’re like me, you just turn the pages, one after another, sucking in the setting, the action, and the personalities as they develop, foregoing sleep as you do so.

And want more.

Remind you of anything?

Lindquist will read and discuss "The King of Methlehem" in Tacoma June 14 at King's Books. â€" Jessica Corey-Butler

Every other month at the 100th Monkey Party there is a drawing, and the winner becomes the honored 100th Monkey at the next artist community critical mass party. The rules are simple: bring food and drink to share and introduce yourself to at least three people you’ve never met before. At the parties you’ll find live entertainment, interesting creative people, art on display and “monkey tiles” (Houston's monkey tile for Wednesday's party is pictured) that have become coveted collector’s items.

On Wednesday, May 23 at Bamford and Bamford Pottery, 100th Monkey Johanna Gardner will provide the entertainment for the bimonthly party. Let’s learn a little more about her here, shall we? â€" Angela Jossy

You know how the old saying goes â€" nothing ventured, no one stained. â€" Brad Allen

This just in: The Beach Tavern officially serves booze now.  How long will it take for people to run into the Puget Sound or streak in neighboring Titlow Park?  â€" Natasha

Update
I have to apologize and say I'm very sorry to you fancy readers and the owners/employees of The Beach Tavern. I heard through the T-Town grapevine that they officially had hard alcohol now, but that's just not so. Not yet, at least.

They're thinking about applying for a Class H license, but that hasn't happened yet.

I should've investigated this with my own two, especially since I'd typically take any excuse to visit The Beach, one of my favorite taverns in town.

I'd hang out there amongst booze or otherwise.

Who wants to join me for shuffleboard and a burger dip? â€" Natasha

A. D. Em. D.

Or in other words, “Louie Louie.”

Though many folks old enough to remember the Kingsmen’s version of “Louie Louie” in its heyday probably recall the ridiculous FBI investigation into the songs, allegedly, dirty lyrics (rumor had it that if you played the single at 33rpm instead of 45rpm, all sorts of sexually suggestive and obscene lyrics became audible), the most impressive aspect of “Louie Louie” has been the number of times the song has been recorded, and the number of bands that have done so. To date, “Louie Louie” is the most recorded rock song in history.

That’s something worth celebrating, or at least the Fabulous Wailers (who did the best version), their non-profit organization, and a boatload of local, national, and even international musicians think it is.

I tend to agree. I’m always down for a party.

The people behind the now annual LouieFest announced the 2007 LouieFest lineup on today, and there are a number of intriguing performances set to go down during the two day event â€" Aug. 18-19 at Sprinker Parks and Recreation Center in Spanaway.

It’ll probably be the best thing to hit Spanaway since last year’s LouieFest.

LouieFest will celebrate “Women in Music” on the opening Saturday of the festival, with performances from: Atlanta’s Andrea  Nardello, PDX’s Cee Cee James and Amy Mann, and Rhode Island native Kerri Dopart. Sunday will feature Norway’s ORBO and the Longshots and Montreal’s Panacea.

“Regionally acclaimed favorites will perform on various stages  throughout the two-day festival including Junkyard Jane, Randy  Oxford Band, Suzie Bradford & The Side Project, Jim Kerl's Swing  Session Big Band, Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra, native American  flutist, Gary Stroutsos, and of course, The Fabulous Wailers,” according to the press release.

In all, LouieFest sounds like it’ll be more interesting this year than any year in the past.

And it’s been interesting in the past.

If you’re thinking to yourself, “isn’t LouieFest where all the guitar players bring their rigs and play ‘Louie Louie’ at the same time, breaking the world record?”

Yes. It is.

So bring your rig.

Check out www.louiefest.com for the 411. â€" Matt Driscoll 

There’s only two weeks left to bid on the student and professional artwork hanging at Firehouse Coffee Co. on Sixth Avenue in Tacoma.

All proceeds benefit the Washington State Council for Fire Fighters Burn Foundation.

Check out the art, support local community, and drink fair trade coffee. â€" Jessie Fouts

Downtown Tacoma’s El Gaucho restaurant now has two ways to say thank you to local military.  Since November of 2006 diners at the restaurant who are also members of the military have received a small gift along with their dinner checks â€" a plaque recognizing their contributions as members of the armed forces.  Their names are also added to a perpetual plaque displayed near the restaurant’s entrance. 

El Gaucho has since added a second program focused on the military.  Diners at the restaurant now have the option to buy a wine keepsake charm, formed by small red, white and blue crystals, to decorate their in-house beverage glasses. Proceeds from sales of the charms benefit the Fisher House Foundation, which, among other things, provides temporary housing for family members whose loved ones are undergoing treatment at military or veterans medical centers.  The charms are priced at $5. â€" Bill Timnick

[El Gaucho, 2119 Pacific Ave., Tacoma]   

I was tired by the time I arrived at the 100th Monkey Party.  I had had a long, full day, complete with early morning wake-up to get the house â€" and laundry â€" ready for the Significant One’s imminent return, some last minute deadline stuff, a trip into the office for some more stuff that helps me earn my paycheck, a trip in to Vin Grotto to meet the smart and fun Rock Zombie gang (and get the sacrificial Monkey wine), a trip in to Corina Bakery to pick up a welcome home “Mow the Grass” carrot cake, a trip back home to let puppy boys get some relief and to feed them â€" only to discover they’re out of food, and so then, to cook for them, a trip to the mother in law’s to hang out with me sweet though sad kid, and to bring sweet though sad kid PJs and her partially disemboweled Squishy, a stuffed dog Bill tried to kill that grandma said she would mend, and then, finally, a trip to Bamford and Bamford Pottery where said 100th Monkey Party was held.

I was tired, by the time I arrived, but then the excitement of a Monkey Party, and the energy and open welcome of my friends there acted like a triple shot Venti latte.

The venue was awesome for the event, with beauty and (clay) art surrounding us, and more art and garden inspiration outside.  Organizer Sue Pivetta reported that right around 300 people showed up, and yet the space felt open and the music (awesomely spun, and later played live, with a middle-eastern flair when the belly dancer appeared) was loud enough to be heard through the entire space, and the set-up at the wine counter was well-organized, though I heard the odd grumbling about the two-cup maximum.  For me, it worked out well, since I had pictures and notes to take (tasks made more difficult, when spilling wine) and an airport to drive to after 11.  It also seemed to work out well in the long run, with less congestion in the hooch line overall, and an apparent better flow of people  throughout the venue.

I thought, as first I recapped the evening for myself, that I didn’t meet the requisite three new people for all the reconnecting I was doing with established friends I hadn’t seen in a while.  But then I remembered that I had, and as the evening took my car (and me driving it) to the Tempest Lounge after-gathering, I met even more.

The thing about this 100th Monkey Party that made me so happy was that it felt like the first Monkey Parties I had been to â€" as intimate as you wanted it to be for conversation and re-connection, yet as social as you wanted it to be.

Sue Pivetta’s done a great job of reinventing the groundwork for the party each time it comes around, with the 100th Monkey herself for this event â€" the awesomely cutely expectant Johanna Gardner â€" organizing a hella-good time.  The next Monkey, picked out by the lucky tile (created by Houston Wimberly, each very different and very cool looking) was shrouded in secrecy (or confusion,) while the next venue could possibly be the outside of the Tacoma Art Museum.

And it looks like the Monkey Parties are sprouting wings and flying beyond Tacoma â€" news spread yesterday that Sean Starr, formerly of Tacoma, moved to California and brought the idea to Big Bear, a sleepy SoCal mountain town.

Today Tacoma, tomorrow the world.

How fun is that? â€" Jessica Corey-Butler

On the significant one’s first full day home, I had grand plans for a grown-up program for the two of us that included culture, potentially an early cocktail or two, and some time “hangin’ around the house,” ahem.

My plans were squashed by a kid and her daddy, both of whom had grand plans for a hookie day hanging out together doing the sorts of things all 5 year olds long to do with daddies, and that daddies long to take part of.

At the point at which Chuck E Cheese was mentioned â€" despite the fact that I could have considered the venue culture and an early cocktail (er, beer), I took the coward’s way out and said, “erm, sorry, I have to go to the museum to check out the new show, for work.”

So it came to pass, that I passed my afternoon in the Tacoma Art Museum, alone in the galleries (I think two other people might have wandered through as I browsed, though they could have been apparitions.)

I love shows that stun you with newness and hipness, yet contain an abundance of smart.  Therefore, I loved “Sparkle and Fade,” but I have to admit there were moments that had me going, “guh?”

The main guh?, for me, was helped along by the gumball machine full of meds in close proximity: the assume vivid astro focus film loop “Pills and Cigarettes,” and “Freebird,” with its sort of "Yellow Submarine"-esque aesthetic had me scratching my head while longing for a teeny piece of paper to lick (perhaps then, I’d “get it,”) all the while sucking me in, and leaving me feeling discombobulated and sort of… altered.

Another “guh?,”  the mirrored non-room, Kathryn Van Dyke’s “Knowing You, Knowing Me” had me feeling headachey and fractured, though reading that the intent of the piece was to do just that (or at least make me draw correlations with the piece, and the many pieces of my psyche)  made me feel appeased.

Other works made me nod, smile, and appreciate them, like Jeffrey Simmons’ “Amass” and “Flux,” as well as Verena Sieber Fuchs’ “Toxicomanie (Drug Addiction)”, a lei made of the blister packaging of drugs; Marc Swanson’s “Fits and Starts” deer made me happy, the same way Oliver Herring’s “Big Round Flat” made me sad â€" it was fleeting beauty, caught in a moment, it was work to create the beauty, and it was appreciated.

And then, my “A HA!” moments, the moments with the pieces that spoke to me and my experience in this moment in time.

Andy Warhol’s “Myths” delighted me; to have this juxtaposition of Warhol portraits ranging from the Wicked Witch, to Santa Claus, to Uncle Sam, to Howdy Doody, which so fits my feelings about certain political happenings in the world, all tied in to the theme of myth â€" ahhhhh.  Add sparkle? Aaaaaahhhhh.

Capturing the same note of the sublimely screwed up, Alice Wheeler’s photograph of pageantry gone horribly awry in “Rhinestones and Machine Guns” tickled me uncomfortably; to note it was in Tacoma, to note it was only a year ago. Ooooooh.

Lastly, and I suspect the reason I cut my visit to the museum shorter than I’d ordinarily have done, James Rosenquist’s “Gift Wrapped Doll #14,” a large oil on canvas that brought to mind the state of my wee one’s toys, with their semi-obscured beauty and purity, skewed by packaging now that replicate bondage or some bizarre death ritual (have you tried to unwrap any craptacular kid toys lately? If you thought CDs were rough, go ahead, buy a Barbie: I dare you.)

Reading the painting “symbolizes his hopes and fears for his daughter’s future,” I recognized the deep down gut twank that meant the painting affected me the same way, and I recognized that I needed to spend family time as a unit, whether I liked what the unit was choosing to do or not.
And I had a fabulous day, watching my man teach our daughter how to ride a bike on two wheels, and playing Go Fish as a threesome, hearing our kid call us “Shawn, and Jess” as she selected which of us to choose a card from, and hearing her glee-filled giggles pierce the air as she won yet another game (why yes, we sort of helped, but we couldn’t help but, since she had all her cards turned up, blithely believing we’d do as she said when she said, “OK now.  Don’t look!”)

Like some museum shows, some days just sparkle with luminescence; they live in memories, but flee as the next life event draws attention to a different course.

Mmmmmmm. â€" Jessica Corey-Butler

At the Centennial of Point Defiance Park, the Point Defiance Home and Garden Show debuted.  While it was “originally designed to be a one-time event,” according to Marcy Frlan, co-chairing the event this year with Natalie Findlay, it was so successful it was held again last year, and will be again, this year, on June 1, 2 and 3, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., except for Sunday, when it closes at 5 p.m.

While I thought the opening night preview, with its “fabulous '50s-style classy cookout” sounded like a hoot, that “Go Retro” event is by invitation only (I was not invited, sob) I guess I’ll have to settle happily for all the fun and games of the rest of the event.

But how to choose? With highlights like Display Gardens, a Children’s Pavillion, various types of contained gardens and design ideas, Afternoon Teas, a lecture series, food court, arts and crafts, plants, and community growers showing off goods for sale, not to mention the wine and beer garden, I suspect by the time I get there I’ll be that butterfly, flitting about from point to point, landing on occasion when a sight, smell, or taste strikes my fancy.

And since it’s walking distance from my home, I can call it community fun in the name of nature-meets-exercise.

I can’t wait! â€" Jessica Corey-Butler