BOBBLE TIKI: BREAKFAST WITH BOBBLE TIKI >>>

THE DAILY WORD
Transmogrify \trans-MOG-ruh-fy\, transitive verb:

To change into a different shape or to transform, often with bizarre or humorous effect.

USAGE EXAMPLE: A long time believer in transmogrify, Bobble Tiki often sites the recent documentary Transformers, as proof of his views. But Bobble Tiki’s beliefs go farther than that. If all goes as planned, some day soon Bobble Tiki will transmogrify into an ’89 Chevy Lumina with the ability to fight crime and drive through brick walls.

MORNING NEWS

SEATTLE: Save the Sonics?

TACOMA: Toll increase?

OLYMPIA: Big bust

CAMPAIGN ‘08:Obama's angry

THINGS TO DO TODAY
LOVE TACOMA: Check it out
MOVIE TIMES: Look here
MUSIC LISTINGS: Here’s what’s happening

PARTY
Love Tacoma
Love Tacoma? Love drinks? Then attend the Love Tacoma party at Cans tonight. The grassroots organization that gathers fellow Tacoma 20-and 30-somethings who share a common T-Town tenderness is back after a hiatus. The peeps will meet after work for munchies and brewskis. There will even be a raffle. â€" Michael Swan
[Cans, Thursday, March 6, 5:30 p.m., no cover, 100 S. Ninth St., Tacoma, www.myspace.com/lovetacoma]

CONTEST
Smartest Person in Tacoma
King’s Books will host its second annual SPITing Contest tonight to decide, at least for 2008, who’s the Smartest Person in Tacoma. Contestants will wage intellectual war, battling through two rounds of trivia, a round of defining things, and a spelling bee to figure out who’s got the sharpest head in town. Proceeds will go to non-profit The Scholars and Champions Association, which will donate the aggregate of $5 entry fees to Tacoma Schools. Teams of one to two people are invited to show up at 5:30 p.m. at Doyle’s Public House to register and slog through a written trivia contest. From there, Tacoma’s best and brightest will strut next door to King’s Books for a define-a-thon, trivia and spelling bee. â€" Robert Dobbs
[Doyle’s Public House/King’s Books, 5:30 p.m., $5, Second and St. Helens, Tacoma, 253.272.8801]

LINK: Handful of Luvin’ and more in the clubs tonight.
LINK: Spring fashion hits Tacoma.
LINK: Let’s eat sushi today.

FORUMS: Start a conversation in our Forums.

MATT DRISCOLL: TACOMA ART IN ’07 >>>

For those who don’t follow the world of art, especially the world of local art here in Tacoma, how it all works may be a bit mystifying. Sure, there are artists in Tacoma, and art is produced, but who supports it (especially financially), and how can a city help cultivate it.

In Tacoma we have the Tacoma Arts Commission. I’m certainly not going to give all the credit for Tacoma’s amazing art scene to a government entity, but the Tacoma Arts Commission does deserve some of it. Created in 1965, the Tacoma Arts Commission is a 15 member body, appointed by the Tacoma City Council, whose main job is to “create policies to support the ongoing development of arts programs and projects in Tacoma,” according to www.Tacomaculture.org, a service of the City of Tacoma. 

The Tacoma Arts Commission released its 2007 Year-in-Review last week, or at least it became public when the report was included in the City Council’s weekly packet of info. Basically, the Tacoma Arts Commission’s 2007 Year-in-Review looks at everything the Commission accomplished and the artists and organizations they funded. There’s more, of course, including a very interesting breakdown of the City of Tacoma’s Municipal Art Collection and its maintenance program. If you’re into multiple page PDF reports, with plenty of charts and bulleted lists, the 2007 Year-in-Review should be right down your alley. Check it out here.

OPERA
The Barber of Seville
Set to often lively music, this opera follows the exploits of Seville’s self-celebrating barber, Figaro â€" a character who literally sings his own praises. Everybody shares secrets with their barbers, and this barber is only too happy put what he learns to work.

As a production, The Barber of Seville has held up for the past 191 years, Tacoma Opera’s general director Kathryn Smith says, “because it is a really great piece. Our job is to make it extremely funny and to do it as the composer intended.”

Barber of Seville also stands out somewhat regarding matters of “scale.” Compared with some works of grand opera, this production tells its comic tale with a relatively small cast. The show includes seven principals and 11 chorus members.

“Compared to Carmen, it’s tiny,” Smith says. â€" Bill Timnick

[Pantages Theater, The Barber of Seville, March 7-8 8 p.m., March 9 2 p.m., $24-$78, 901 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.627.7789, www.tacomaopera.com]

MUSIC
HAPA
As themes go, I happen to love Hawaiian â€" the tikis, Elvis and 1950s surfer images make me weak in the knees. When I heard “The Sound of Maui” will fill the Washington Center tonight, I heard mai tai ice clinking mixing with waves crashing on the shores of Makena Beach.

That’s coconuts according to Washington Center. Their version is the Pan-Polynesian music of HAPA, a contemporary band that brings the majestic tones of oli, mele and hula to us Haoles. â€" Brad Allen

[Washington Center, Friday, March 7, 7:30 p.m., 512 Washington St., Olympia, 360.753.8585]

LINK: The Delta Project brings blues to Bob’s.
LINK: In local clubs tonight.
LINK: Let’s eat Chinese tonight.

BOBBLE TIKI: BREAKFAST WITH BOBBLE TIKI >>>

THE DAILY WORD
Virago \vuh-RAH-go; vuh-RAY-go\, noun:

1. A woman of extraordinary stature, strength, and courage.
2. A woman regarded as loud, scolding, ill-tempered, quarrelsome, or overbearing.

USAGE EXAMPLE: Hillary Clinton is both an amazing virago, and a real cut-throat virago. Take your pick.

MORNING NEWS

SEATTLE: Backseat bungalow

TACOMA: Opposed to toxic toys

OLYMPIA: Girls basketball

CAMPAIGN ‘08: Delegate debacle

THINGS TO DO TODAY
HAPA: Check it out
MOVIE TIMES: Look here
MUSIC LISTINGS: Here’s what’s happening
THEATER: Dunkelberger doesn’t lie

STEVE DUNKELBERGER: WEEKEND THEATER >>>

Swan Lake
Swan Lake is not only a classic on the big ballet stages of the world, but on a host of community and semi-professional stages as well. It is just a show that everyone explores and experiments with time and again as they sharpen their skills and train the next generation of dancers. Such is the case with Dance Theatre Northwest, which will be staging its version of the classic tale this weekend.
[Mount Tahoma High School, Saturday, March 8 2:30 and 7 p.m., Sunday, March 9 4 p.m., $11-$26, 4634 S. 74th, Tacoma, 253.565.5149]

The Audition is Dead...Is Too Drunk to Drive
For something a little different, The Audition is Dead...Is Too Drunk to Drive, a collection of original, comedic one-acts, takes to the Midnight Sun’s stage. This installment is the seventh mini-theatre festival of local talent and features puppetry, music, performance and a slide show. This show is for adults or at least folks old enough to get some blue jokes every now and then.
[Midnight Sun, through March 22, 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, $10, 113 Columbia Street, Olympia, 360.556,3245]

The Barber of Seville
The Barber of Seville is taking to the Pantages Theater this week as Tacoma Opera kicks into its classic work mode. This opera by Gioacchino Rossini will be sung in Italian with an English translation projected on a screen for those unwashed masses who don't know the story of Figaro, a barber to the well-to-do of the area.
[Pantages Theater, Friday, March 7-Saturday, March 8 8 p.m., Sunday, March 9 2 p.m., $12-$78, Ninth and Broadway, Tacoma, 253.627.7789]

MATT DRISCOLL: GLOBALLY SPEAKING >>>

No matter how many things there are to bitch about here in the United States, every once in a while it’s good to read a story like this to keep things in perspective. Of course, it’s not good for the people of China, or Bjork (it seems), but as bad as things have gotten in the United States we still have many freedoms and rights that people in oppressed places like China would gnaw a limb off for. I say this not so these rights and freedoms can be taken for granted (which at the rate we’ve been losing them seems hard to fathom), or to make light of the situation in China, but so here in the States these rights can be appreciated and fought for.

Anyway, I’m happy to not live in China. Beautiful country, I’m sure, with plenty of wonderful people - but I like my rights. I’m just sayin’.   

MATT DRISCOLL: A WEEK LATER, SUCCESS >>>

According to the fine people on the FeedTacoma.com website, this week a group of concerned Tacoma citizens have officially taken back Frost Park. As you may remember, they almost did this last week, but ended up rescheduling. Today at noon the Frost Park takeover became official.

Check out the FeedTacoma discussion here.
And look at pictures of the takeover from the Tacoma Urbanist here.

FESTIVAL
Tacoma Wine and Jazz Festival
Tonight, the Tacoma Wine and Jazz Festival will celebrate what looks like a victory. It finally looks like Ted Brown’s dream will come true. For the past several years Brown (no relation to the music store by the same name) has been lobbying and fund-raising to build an outdoor concert stage in Old Town Park, at the base of North 30th Street in Tacoma. According to Brown, architects and engineers are working on the details of the project now. The new performance stage will match the small historic cabin that houses the Job Carr Museum in the park. To learn more about the museum that commemorates one of Tacoma’s founding fathers visit www.jobcarrmuseum.org.

This year the festival will feature a crowd favorite from last year: flutist Bradley Leighton, whose funk-infused jazz lends sex appeal to the flute that may change people’s ideas about the instrument all together. Co-headlining the festival is Olympia’s 7 on 7, a seven-piece jazz band, who will perform their energetic swing and jump style jazz. 

This year the festival will focus more on Washington wines including Covey Run, Desert Wind, Houge, Red Diamond, Snoqualmie, and specialty wines by Tacoma’s own Vino Aquino. â€" Angela Jossy

[Slavonian Hall, Tacoma Wine and Jazz Festival, 5-11 p.m., $25, 2306 N. 30th St., Old Town Tacoma, 253.759.2518]   

ROCK
Post Stardom Depression
Tonight at Hell’s Kitchen, something that hasn’t happened in 14 months will return to Tacoma â€" something T-town could once count on like onion rings at Frisko Freeze and hookers on South Tacoma Way. Post Stardom Depression will return to the stage, in a big way. The band will play an early all-ages show, and a signature late 21+ show for all their booze loving followers. Jeff Angell, Kyong Kim, Brent Saunders and Josh Fant â€" together once again. It’s a return most rock fans in the 253 have been begging for.

Sometimes you need a catalyst to make something happen. When guitarist Kyong Kim’s daughter was born with a birth defect of her esophagus and began racking up enormous medical bills without health insurance, that was enough to inspire PSD’s return. Angell told me this week the band had been discussing a return before the situation with Kim’s daughter arose, but the desire to help part of the PSD family was enough to seal the deal. Both of Saturday’s shows at Hell’s Kitchen will be benefits for Kim’s family. â€" Hell’s Kitchen

[Hell’s Kitchen, 5 p.m. all-ages show: Post Stardom Depression, The Jet City Fix, The Jury, The Pete Moss Band; 9 p.m. 21 and older show: Post Stardom Depression, The Jet City Fix, Foray, Bumma Stoge, $7, 3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]

LINK: Fear Train Caravan and others in local clubs tonight.
LINK: Figaro! Figaro! Fig-a-ro!
LINK: Let’s eat in a bar tonight.

FORUM: Small groups takes back Frost Pocket Park.

ALEXANDRA DELONG: SATURDAY SPIFF >>>

Bright colors, wild prints and patent leathers mixed with metallic hardware are coming fast and strong this spring. The days of toning down your accessories are over, and flashy bold statements are in. Paring everyday wear with funky heels and oversized bags makes any look instantly fabulous. Exotic colored stilettos and clutches draw attention and bring flare to an outfit. Matching is of days past; putting together interesting color combos like pinks and blues are chic and trendy. It is a fashion rule to wear at least one item that commands attention this season.

Now is the time to express your personality through sexy shoes and loud bags. Be careful not to get lost or over powered by too many in-your-face pieces. Try mixing classics like white slacks and crisp kaki's to offset patents, big floral or animal prints. Flirt with your feet and feel spicy in brands like Naughty Monkey sold at Nordstrom and Cake, BCBG Girls, Jessica Simpson, or Steve Madden also at Nordstrom. Dress up your look with Marc Jacobs or Michael Kors bags at Nordstrom.

Let your inner diva break free by being beautifully bold with personal style through color and prints.

LINK: Weekly Volcano fashion section