STEVE DUNKELBERGER: WHY DO WE HAVE TO HATE? >>>

I was out with my better half this weekend. We were celebrating our 10th anniversary, so I took her to a movie â€" with a large popcorn and everything. The Grand always has such great popcorn. (We don't get out much since we have two children and when we go out for my theater column the night is just more work than entertainment since I'm always taking notes during intermission.)

So we were chatting with an otherwise obnoxious couple about theater and film. They were actually hating on folks who go to the theater rather than to the movies since live theater is so expensive and boring compared to independent movies, they argued. I almost punched them in the face.

But it got me thinking. I have seen a lot of arts groups come and go over the years because their successes rested on the failures of others instead of generating new arts lovers. One theater would rise up at the expense of empty seats at another theater. There really isn't a coordinated effort to bring the soap of "the arts" to the unwashed masses out there who just sit in their houses watching Jerry Springer. Instead, arts groups operate like mini kingdoms instead of strategic alliances.

Let's unite! Theater and film folks, dancer and static artist â€" just keep the mime folks away. Those cats are freaks.

ART
Remembered Light
U.S. Army Chaplain Frederick Alexander McDonald may no longer be with us, but he lives on through his memories and shards of glass he collected during World War II. These stained glass pieces from sanctuaries damaged or destroyed when the war wreaked havoc on Europe, and McDonald’s personal recollections come together in a breathtaking exhibit on display at the Washington State History Museum. 

Remembered Light: Glass Fragments from World War II, The McDonald Window features 25 windows in diverse media including ceramic, silk screen, vinyl and glass created by 13 international glass artists. These stunning works of art reflect the despair and the hope, the destruction and the renewal Seattle-born McDonald experienced as he traveled through Europe with General Omar Bradley’s 12th Army Group from 1944-45. â€" Jamie Forsythe

[The Washington State History Museum, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.,  $6-$8, 1911 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 1.888.BE.THERE, www.WashingtonHistory.org]

MORE ART: In the galleries and museums today.

FILM
There Will Be Blood
Daniel Day-Lewis in a virtuoso performance as an obsessed loner, starting with nothing and becoming a California oil tycoon, in a live dominated by greed, duplicity, hatred and loneliness. Paul Thomas Anderson's epic is ambitious and relentless as the study of a human monster. Magnificent visuals created by cinematographer Robert Elswit and set designer Jack Fisk. A debatable ending, and its reach exceeds its grasp, which is not a dishonorable thing. Rated R. Three and a half stars. â€" Roger Ebert

[The Grand Cinema: 4:40, 8; Lakewood Cinema 15: 11:05 a.m., 2:50, 6:10, 9:40; Regal South Hill Cinema 6: 12:20, 4:10, 9]

MORE FILM: On local screens today.

JAM
Billy Farmer
A gifted guitar player, Farmer plays acoustic with a folk style, electric in a Chicago blues stomp style and knows his way around the Delta, too.  His arsenal of strings includes a reliable 12 string, Dobro, mandolin and banjo. When he needs a little oomph, Farmer plugs in his Les Paul or Stratocaster. Farmer is a master of mimicry and can imitate everyone from Jagger to Cash.  Farmer leads the Tacos & Jams Open Mic tonight. â€" Tony Engelhart

[O’Callahan’s, 7:30 p.m., no cover, 15610 92nd St., KPN Key Center, 253.884.9766]

MORE MUSIC: In the clubs tonight.

BOBBLE TIKI: UNGUENT, FIDEL, TAB BENOIT >>>

THE DAILY WORD
Unguent \UNG-gwuhnt\, noun:

An ointment.

USAGE EXAMPLE: “What’s in this unguent?” Roger Clemens asked with a cold smirk, coating his (at the time much smaller) muscles with a clear goop given to him by a team trainer.

“Flaxseed Oil, Roger. It’s flaxseed oil.”

MORNING NEWS

KIRKLAND:  Is drunk

TACOMA: Primary concerns

OLYMPIA: Calvin Johnson story

WORLD: Hasta luego, Fidel

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: If you’re in the military and find yourself in Lakewood this evening â€" probably not much of a stretch â€" be sure to check out Maggie O’Toole’s Loud and Local Rock Show. Not only does Maggie’s book some of the most rockin’ bands around, but Bobble Tiki knows for a fact they give you half off your tab with a Military ID on Tuesdays. That’s too good to pass up.

MORE MUSIC: What’s on tonight
SAVE THE MURRAY MORGAN: See who wants to
FORUMS: Check ‘em out

THREATS AND PROMISES COLUMN

Tab Benoit is coming to Jazzbones this week, and Bobble Tiki’s all over it. Check out Bobble Tiki’s Threats and Promises column come Thursday to catch all the details. Benoit is a top notch guitarist, and Bobble Tiki will have all the dirt on his upcoming NW gigs. Now you know…

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

BRAD ALLEN: ON SALE THIS WEEKEND >>>

Ray Romano, Brad Garrett, and Jon Manfrellotti will perform April 7 at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle. Tickets are $55 to $95. They will go on sale Friday, Feb. 22, 10 a.m., at Ticketmaster outlets

The Foo Fighters  will rock KeyArena July 11 for only $25 to $45. Thank you Dave Grohl for taking it easy on my wallet.  Tickets go on sale Saturday, Feb. 23, 11 a.m. at Ticketmaster outlets.

MICHAEL SWAN: THE YOUNG AND RESTLESS >>>

It isn't often that I have no desire to go out (though it seems to happen more and more as I "mature"), and the other night was one of those rare occasions when I just wanted to park my butt on the couch, crack open a beer and contemplate religion and redemption while watching the heavenly body of Jaime Pressly. But then, just as Mary was visited by the Archangel Gabriel, I received an offer I can’t refuse. The press release title said:

“Love Tacoma rises from the dead to rock your head at Cans”

My calling came in the form of Love Tacoma, the organization that gathers fellow Tacoma 20-and-30-somethings who share a common T-Town tenderness.  The peeps will meet after work Thursday, March 6 at Cans in downtown Tacoma for munchies and brewskis.  There will even be a raffle. Neat.

LINK: Love Tacoma MySpace style.

HAT MAKES ME HAPPY >>>

Bumpy's bathroom is what I'm all about. Nothing says "Steph DeRosa" like a little bit of trashiness mixed in with some faded pink porcelain. It warmed my heart experiencing this ultimate toilet. It spoke to me, it made me actually feel happy in this cold winter-ish-almost-spring-time. I get that stupid SAD depression disease every winter. You know, where you want to slit your wrists and draw a warm bath? Anyone else get this? Anyone? OK, fine, just me then.

I'm happy to say: It's springtime again. Well, close enough. I heard a bird chirp the other day. Maybe the bird was really only coughing or burping, but I'll take it as a chirp. The daffodils are poking their leafy greens up; the mud in my driveway has subsided, and my urges to punch people in the face have taken a backseat. Don't get me wrong; I still want to punch certain people in the face and watch them bleed profusely through their nose as I dip some warm toast in their blood and eat it for breakfast. Yeah, that part will always be alive inside me. Now I'm just a little bit more compassionate about it.

So in the spirit of all things mushy, warm, and happy, I've devised a Steph DeRosa list of things I love in life. The things that make me smile; make me appreciate life, and the things that simply make me want to have sex.

Music
Not the "pop radio" shit, but good, talented, feel it in the pit of your stomach poetry that's put to an original tune. I've always said the true test of a good band is how they sound live. I'll hear anything live at least once; this will tell me if they actually have the talent. The first time I saw James Blunt I walked out. That guy right there is by far one of the shittiest artists to ever hit the airwaves. I'm about to come out of my skin waiting for Wintergrass, SxSW, and all the summer concerts about to be hatched. I could go on and on about music, but I think you get my point.

BBQ, Beer and Sun
I'm from Texas. I was raised to believe that nothing else exists outside of the great Lonestar State, and if you were to give thanks to anything in life, it should be for BBQ, beer and sun. Snow can kiss my white ass.

Politeness and Respect
When people let you into traffic, hold a door for you, look you in the eye and smile, say please and thank you, and ask how you're doing today. The stuff mamma always said you should do, but now you're just "too busy." You should try it, it makes a difference in someone's day, I promise.

Hot men
All kinds, all types, all styles. Muscular, skinny, tattooed, clean cut, business suits, construction workers, facial hair or not: as long as you have a sense of humor and you're not a self-absorbed asshole (like a certain local beer distributor): then you have a chance to be a part of my mental "hot men" list. For all the potential hot men out there: the list is kept in my bra. Feel free to look at it anytime you want. That's right, I'm not above cheap thrills, not at all. Don't judge me.

Friends
Without sounding like a mushy 35-year-old broad, my friends are very important to me. They are the ones who share with me all of the above things I love in life. My closest friends don't judge me, love me unconditionally, and can laugh at my stupid immaturity without hiding under a table in fear.

The point to this week's Toilet Tales is this: Underneath the shabbiness, rough edges, pink faded porcelain, and raw music is almost always something beautiful and loveable. Appreciate the dirt, and with this you will appreciate what made it dirty. I have no idea what that even means, but it sure does sound cool, doesn't it.

MATT DRISCOLL: LAST NIGHT'S Q13 NEWS >>>

You may remember about a month ago when Doxology played a benefit at Jazzbones for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The show specifically honored Baby Frankie, who died  in 2002 from  acute myelogenous leukemia after being diagnosed when he was six months old. A team of do-gooders, including Frankie's parents and siblings, were raising money for "The Big Climb," an event they've participated in on a yearly basis to honor Baby Frankie's memory.

Here's a look back at the column I wrote at the time.

The Big Climb will happen on March 16, which also happens to be Frankie's birthday.

Q13 News ran a story on Baby Frankie last night. Check it out here.

MATT DRISCOLL:WATCHES TV Tacoma >>>

The Tacoma City Council just passed Ordinance 27673, a new noise ordinance, that will go into effect April 2, 2008. Mayor Bill Baarsma called the noise ordinance's approval by the Council a "long time coming."

Owners of local live music venues, no doubt, referred to the news as something entirely different.

Let the showdown begin.

FILM
Atonement
An event on the lawn of an English country house is misinterpreted by a 13-year-old girl, and leads her to a wicked lie that destroys all possibility of happiness her herself, hr older sister (Keira Knightley) and her sister's lover (James McAvoy). Begins in sheer happiness, ventures through the horror of the war in France and London, ends in darkest irony. One of the year's best films. Rated R. Four Stars. â€" Roger Ebert

[The Grand Cinema, 6 and 8:40 p.m., $6-$8, 606 Fawcett Ave., Tacoma, 253.593.4474]

MORE FILM: On local screens today.

THE GAME
Knowledge Night
If somewhere in the deep, dark recesses of your noggin there lurks the knowledge that actor Abe Vigoda is six-foot-four and grew up on New York’s Lower East Side, then this listing is for you. Every Wednesday Doyle’s Public House in Tacoma hosts Knowledge Night where individuals or teams answer two pages of brain teasers, trivia and current events for shirts, tickets and gift certificates. It’s a challenging, fun night. â€" Brad Allen

[Doyle’s Public House, 7 p.m. every Wednesday, no cover, 208 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.7468]

ROCK
Matt Coughlin
Matt Coughlin, the golden child of Tacoma’s coffee rock, delivers songs that touch on themes of love, joy and pain, to which everyone relates. I never like genre labeling, and in Coughlin’s case, it would be really tough to do anyway. His songs have rock worthy electric guitar licks, moments of twangy country/rock, bluesy riffs and an acoustic folky ballad style. It’s not that the music is so varied that each song should have its own genre; it’s just that the way he blends his influences together makes it something indefinable, and in my opinion that is what sets an artist apart from an imitator. â€" Angela Jossy

[Jazzbones, Bumma Stoge, State Of Security, Matt Coughlin, 7 p.m., all ages, $5, 2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.396.9169]

DJ
Salsa Night
So you were born with two left feet â€" so what? Down some liquid courage and head to 21 Commerce for one of the most happening Latin nights in the city. DJ Benny Rivas â€" originally from Puerto Rico and played AAA baseball there before relocating to Tacoma â€" will spin classic salsa and merengue as well as music-of-the-moment reggaeton, leaving little choice but to dance. You won’t need lessons (although they are available) â€" just a little rhythm and a lot of energy. With the help of a few mojitos, you’ll be pulling moves Shakira would envy. ¡Baila morena! â€" Suzy Stump

[21 Commerce, 10 p.m., 9 p.m. lessons, $3, 21st and Commerce, downtown Tacoma, 253.272.6278]

MORE MUSIC: In the clubs tonight.

BOBBLE TIKI: PLEONASM, MATT COUGHLIN, TAB BENOIT >>>

THE DAILY WORD

Pleonasm \PLEE-uh-naz-uhm\, noun:
1. The use of more words than are necessary to express an idea; as, "I saw it with my own eyes."
2. An instance or example of pleonasm.
3. A superfluous word or expression.

USAGE EXAMPLE: After much discussion, the Weekly Volcano has decided to issue a South Sound Advisory â€"be on the lookout for pleonasm. The Weekly Volcano isn’t sure, but we believe we picked up pleonasm after too many rum and cokes on South Tacoma Way. Unlike other things the Weekly Volcano has contracted on South Tacoma Way, there’s no rash or discharge with pleonasm, only excessive use of words. Beware the spread of pleonasm, and protect yourself.

MORNING NEWS

SEATTLE: State of the city

TACOMA: Atlas lawsuit

OLYMPIA: Evergreen bans concerts

WORLD: Elections in Pakistan

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: Bobble Tiki is usually a Tiki doll that doesn’t struggle with decisions, but tonight’s musical calendar is a toss up. Bobble Tiki could go either way. Matt Coughlin and Buma Stoge will be at Jazzbones, and Daggermouth and Broadway Calls will be at the Viaduct. Which you choose is up to you, but both should be worth your time.

MORE MUSIC: What’s on tonight
SAVE THE MURRAY MORGAN: See who wants to
FORUMS: Check ‘em out

THREATS AND PROMISES COLUMN
Tab Benoit is coming to Jazzbones this week, and Bobble Tiki’s all over it. Check out Bobble Tiki’s Threats and Promises column come Thursday to catch all the details. Benoit is a top notch guitarist, and Bobble Tiki will have all the dirt on his upcoming NW gigs. Now you know…

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