MATT DRISCOLL: LOVES NAKED MOLE RATS>>>

Admittedly, it's been a while since I've visited the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. The last time I did, as I recall, it was 1997 and I was stoned.

I like the zoo. Don't get me wrong. I guess there's just something about growing up, taking on responsibilities, and becoming cynical that takes the fun out of things like the Point Defiance Zoo.

Next Wednesday the Point Defiance Zoo will be offering free admission to anyone who shows up with picture ID or other proof of residency. The gesture is a thank you from the Point Defiance Zoo to the people of Tacoma for approving a $35 million bond issue in 1999.

I don't remember voting for it, but I'll take a free trip to the Point Defiance Zoo any day of the week â€" even a Wednesday. I think I'm due. Check out the details here.

STEVE DUNKELBERGER: THEATER FESTIVAL >>>

I was talking to a theater lover this morning about the demise of the South Sound Playwrights Festival (formerly the Pierce County Playwright Festival) a few years ago and how the Festival of New Works opening Feb. 21 is set to not only replace but eclipse that effort.

The entire pool of scripts readers pondered ran close to 50. I'm excited.

The festival, the biggest festival solely devoted to fully-staged Northwest plays ever produced, will  offer three full-length plays, 33 10-minute plays and more than 150 actors from Tacoma, Seattle, Olympia and Bellingham. The gig runs Feb. 21  to March 2 at Tacoma's Broadway Center for the Performing Arts.

Visit www.northwestplaywrights.org for more information.

ART
Lino Tagliapietra
Lino Tagliapietra is a glass maestro from the oldest international glass art capital in the world â€" and no, I don’t mean the upstart glass capital of Tacoma, Wash. I mean Murano, an island off the coast of Venice, Italy, that was a recognized world glass center before the United States was a country.

Americans don’t even have such things as maestros â€" although we do sometimes use the word as a term of respect. A real maestro in the European tradition is someone who has served an apprenticeship, mastered his craft and taught it to others. Tagliapietra began his glassblowing apprenticeship with Archimede Seguso at the age of 12 and became a maestro at 21. Now 72, he is lauded throughout the world for his skilled craftsmanship and classical design.

Tacoma’s Museum of Glass will host Tagliapietra’s first retrospective exhibition beginning Feb. 23. In conjunction with the exhibition, Tagliapietra will come to Tacoma for two five-day visiting artist residencies working in the museum’s Hot Shop Feb. 13-17 and Feb. 27-March 2. â€" Alec Clayton

[Museum of Glass, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., $10, 1801 Dock St., Tacoma, 253.284.4750, www.museumofglass.org]

MORE ART: In the galleries and museums today.

DANCE
Tapestry Dance Company
Catch Tapestry Dance Company’s The Souls of Our Feet as they shove tap-dancing history into a two-hour montage of film and live tap performance where the Austin-based dance company members re-create more than a dozen historic rhythm tap routines step by step. You may have already created a tap routine based around sweeping your kitchen floor, or shot a film of your kid in tap shoes, but it takes a professional to combine the two. â€" Suzy Stump

[Washington Center, 7:30 p.m., $20-$40, 512 Washington St., Olympia, 360.753.85860]

STAGE
Saul Williams
Call it hip-hop, spoken word or just plain genius, Saul Williams has something to say, and finally, we have an artist who has a voice and gives a damn. Born to a preacher and schoolteacher, Williams has been categorized as a poet, rapper, preacher, musician, actor, and an activist.
With a style that’s almost hip-hop, almost African storytelling, he spells out rhymes like prophecies and captivates an audience of any sort.
Come out to soak in what this cunning lyricist has to say. Let him speak to your subconscious, grab your gut and fill you with rhythm that will flow out your bloodstream. â€" Jessie Fouts

[Railto Theater, Friday, Feb. 15, 7 p.m., $35, 310 S. Ninth St., Tacoma, 253.591.5894, www.broadwaycenter.org]

MORE THEATER: On local stages tonight.

ROCKABILLY
Hot Roddin Romeos
There’s just something about rockabilly that gets my motor running. It makes me want to put the top down and drive fast. If you listen to KEXP’s Shake the Shack on Friday nights, the Hot Roddin Romeos are old straw hat. In fact, they are probably one of your favs. Delivering a potent mix of rockabilly, swing and alt. country, the Bellingham quartet is a party band, plain and simple. Their no-frills approach is what makes them so fun, for by their own admission, these cats and kitten are all about cars, bars and guitars.  â€" Tony Engelhart

[Jazzbones, 9:30 p.m., $8-$10, 2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.396.9169]

JAZZ
Michael Powers
If you live in the Northwest and haven’t heard of Michael Powers, crawl out of your fricking cave; he’s only one of the best jazz guitarists on the West Coast. For the past 20-plus years, Powers has been a vital part of the Seattle/Tacoma jazz scene as well as international stages.

Diversity is the key to Powers’ success. Sure, he can rip through fusion like a hurricane, but he can also cross over to the smoother side like a young George Benson. As a blues player, you’d be hard-pressed to find an equal to Powers’ midis touch. His latest, Cinco de Michael, flirts with Latin and Caribbean rhythms which transports you to the sunny shores of Cabo without leaving your sofa. â€" TE

[Jazzy Blues at the Tacoma Club, 8-11 p.m., $20, Wells Fargo Plaza, 1201 Pacific Ave., 16th Floor, Tacoma, 253.272.3218]

ROCK
The Jury
Ed Camp, lead singer of the Jury â€" who will play the Viaduct tonight â€" does not have a catchy name like Axl Rose. But there are comparisons to be made between the two, and between the Jury and G ‘n’ R.

Camp’s jungle cat vocal delivery pays obvious homage to Rose (albeit rough at times), and the fueled up riffs of guitarists Mike Welsh and Joel Kady would make Slash and Izzy proud â€" especially if they were too loaded to stand up. The Jury is rounded out by Jess Kady on bass and keyboards and Cameron Persian on drums.  Together, they’re the spitting image of a ‘70s or ‘80s classic rock band, except younger, and from the Puyallup and Graham area. â€" Matt Driscoll

[Viaduct, The Jury, Top Heavy Crush, Love You Long Time, Sirens In The Sky, 7 p.m., all ages, $5, 5412 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma, www.myspace.com/viaductvenue]

MORE MUSIC: In the clubs tonight.

STEPH DEROSA: LOVE TRAIN >>>

I forced BanditoBetty out last night for Valentine's.  I knew she wouldn't put out, but regardless her company was well worth the money spent.

Our first stop of the evening was SinSational â€" one helluva soiree thrown by the women of Equilibrium.  It was held at the ever-so-hip Mad Hat Tea Company.  At first Bandito and I took a corner seat to people watch, but pretty soon the action began and we were on our feet.  There was full nudity available for viewing as an extremely modest woman posed for body painting.  A kissing booth, stage performers, and fire dancers were entertaining the masses minute by minute.  There was never a dull moment, and never a dull face â€" smiles were everywhere.  The art was fantastic. Embellish Multispace Salon was on hand for anyone who might opt to have their hair and make-up, well, embellished.  Glitter and high coifs were the theme as Bandito sported the 40's era throwback, and I managed to pull off a borderline bouffant.

After the SinSational party, we could hear the cries of The Red Hot calling us to come visit.  We had just missed “The Wedding Singer,” but made it just in time to down some killer grub while headbanging to old school KISS.  New to the menu were the Tacoma Boys BLT Dog (minus the "L"), and the Filthy Nachos.  You know Bandito and I couldn't pass on ordering something "filthy" that included "boys" now didja?  Chris the bartender hooked us up with cold beer, yummy food, and some free Corina Bakery cupcakes.  Our night was made.

We quickly ran across the street to catch the second half of Intervision as they brought the house down at Masa.

The night was good, the night was ours to be had, and we could definitely feel the love waifing through the Tacoma Valentine air.       

BOBBLE TIKI: >>> SUSURRUS, HOT RODDIN ROMEOS, TEAM UNICORN>>>

THE DAILY WORD
Susurrus \su-SUHR-uhs\, noun:

A whispering or rustling sound; a murmur.

USAGE EXAMPLE: From the study, muddled by the ever-present racket of Mormon rock CDs and waffling convictions, a susurrus could be heard. Though those in attendance at Romney family TV night had no idea, the susurrus was John McCain snorting angel dust off Mitt’s ass. Shortly after, both returned to the living room to watch the last half hour of Lost.

MORNING NEWS

SEATTLE: Coffee wars

TACOMA: Orchestra at work

OLYMPIA: When hippies run wild

SPORTS: Newest Seahawk

HUSTLER OF CULTURE
You can stand atop the mountain and scream your naked desires to the universe or shed that synapse epilepsy and hug the South Sound today with your fellow man:

MUSIC: www.myspace.com/hotroddinromeos ">The Hot Roddin’ Romeos promote their sound as power rockabilly with a devil beat. Bobble Tiki’s not sure exactly what makes a “devil beat,” but he’s pretty sure these guys have it. From their home in the rockabilly hotbed of Bellingham, the Hot Roddin’ Romeos will be playing Jazzbones tonight. It’s Bobble Tiki’s suspicion this will be one hot show. The Hot Roddin’ Romeos may have left the “g” off of “rodding,” but they’ve kept the “rock” in “rockabilly.”

MORE MUSIC: What’s on tonight
SAVE THE MURRAY MORGAN: See who wants to

THREATS AND PROMISES COLUMN
Audio proof of Tacoma’s emergence, and budding new identity as something other than the Northwest’s favorite Almost Live punch-line, can be found at www.myspace.com/bobsjavajive ">Bob’s Java Jive this Friday, February 15th. Team Unicorn Records will be throwing the party, and they’ve invited musical guests www.myspace.com/murderpartymusic ">Murder Party, www.myspace.com/theredseasharks ">Red Sea Sharks, www.myspace.com/publicstudents ">Wallpaper and www.myspace.com/selecteclectic ">Darren Selector to take over the pot with them. (Not your pot, the coffee pot. As in the Jive. Silly stoner.)

Breakfast with Bobble Tiki runs six days a week now. Deal with it.

JAKE DE PAUL: BE THE BAIR >>>

The Steilacoom Historical Museum Association is seeking proposals for operation of a business in the historic Bair Drug Store building in downtown Steilacoom. The association has been remodeling and upgrading the structure during the last few months and hopes to have it opened early this summer.

The Request for Proposals can be found here.

LINK: Suburban Times

BRAD ALLEN: DRINK OF THE DAY >>>

Nicole Austin greeted me with a lovely smile today at The Hot Hut in Lakewood.  She's working the Hut until 1 p.m.  Just saying.

LINK: Story in the Weekly Volcano.

ALEC CLAYTON: RAINBOW OVER TACOMA >>>

All the major gay and lesbian groups in Tacoma have come together to put on a big celebratory bash at the Washington State History Museum on the last evening in February in this leap year (Feb. 29). It’s called Rainbow Over Tacoma, and it is a joint effort of  Tacoma PFLAG, Oasis Youth, Out in Tacoma, Rainbow Center and Tacoma Lesbian Concern.

Begin the evening's activities by dining out at one of the sponsoring restaurants (The Swiss, Indochine, The Rock and possibly others to sign on), followed by wine, beer and entertainment beginning promptly at 7:30 p.m.

Headed by emcee Lady Chablis, the evening’s entertainment will include Brazilian performance artist Roberto Souza, singer/songwriter John Hoover, drag performer Sylvia O’StayForMore, singer/songwriter Doni Philips, monologues by members of Oasis Youth Group, musical performances by Tacoma School of the Arts students, pianist David C. Horton and singer Shelly Cooper.

Complete information, including ticket information, can be found here.

SUZY STUMP: WINE ALERT >>>

This just arrived at the Weekly Volcano World Headquarters via e-mail:

We've made the decision to move Pairings to a new, 100% owned location, allowing us to better serve our customers and offer an enhanced experience.  We will be announcing our new location very soon, as well as new events and more offerings for our wine club.   We anticipate a few months of transition. You may still contact us via our website (www.pairings.org) or by phone 253-274-WINE, which will remain unchanged.   

We look forward to announcing the exciting new details, and seeing all of you at the new Pairings soon.

Salut!

Mike Swenson
Marianne Haynes
Owners,
Pairings
253-274-9463