RON SWARNER: LESS TV, MORE WRITTEN WORD >>>

With Gray Sky Blues Festival photos in my camera and the Sunday New York Times bookmarked, I continue on with my week.  I'll eventually post the photos, maybe.  In regards to the Times and my intentions, Erik Emery Hanberg beat me to the punch.

Hanberg reports that the New York Times wrote a piece on Roger Ebert, the syndicated movie critic for my company since the '80s.  He had to give up his TV show and much of his writing due to health reasons. The TV show is gone due to his speech impediment.  Feeling healthier, Ebert will write more.

Good to have Ebert back.

LINK: Erik Emery Hanberg

NATASHA: DOESN'T SOUND EXPENSIVE TO ME >>>

In January we (actually, I) broke the news on our blog about a new nightlife establishment that will hit Tacoma’s streets named Maxwell’s Speakeasy + Lounge. Since that announcement, you’ve probably noticed all kinds of construction occurring at the corner of Sixth and St. Helens in and around the amazing, Historic Walker Building. All of that activity is coming from the redevelopment of this former apartment building that is currently being transformed into posh condominiums, with Maxwell’s located at the street level on St. Helens.

And here’s the news: It’s opening next week!

As with any mega-redevelopment project like this, we can only say that Maxwell’s is hoping to open to the public by Wednesday, April 23, but what we can say with certainty is that you’ll want to keep your eye on it (454 St. Helens) because what’s inside will dazzle your eyes and your palate.

Forecast Approach, LLC, put the concept for Maxwell’s together with Troy Christian and Sean Quinn. Maxwell’s will be operated by two restaurant-industry powerhouses in Matt Coloney as executive chef, who helped to open the Pacific Grill, and Tewfik Boulenouar as general manager, who most recently was the general manager of Coupage in Seattle.

The name Maxwell’s came up because it’s a timeless one that fits the seductive historic theme of the Walker Building. It’s also the name of the son of Casey and Gwen Ingels. Casey and Gwen are from Metropolitan Real Estate Development Group, the developers of the Walker project.

Maxwell’s will offer a comfortable, warm and elegant ambiance with plenty of booths and the type of atmosphere that makes the entire establishment feel like a lounge. Every accent will have an art deco feel with music playing that will match this genre.

This space is approximately 4,000 square feet, and there will be a 50/50 split between the restaurant and the bar.

In terms of food, you’ll be able to sink your teeth into inexpensive Northwest, fresh, provincial and comfort food. Think traditional mac and cheese, seafood, chicken pot pie and osso buco. Executive Chef Coloney has had the utmost latitude and creativity in the final development of this menu, and I can’t wait to see what he comes out with, which will rotate seasonally.

Not only will the restaurant serve its patrons in the actual establishment, but it will also offer the same menu as room service to the eventual Walker condo residents. That’s smooth!

MATT DRISCOLL: RECORD STORE PERFORMANCES THIS WEEKEND IN OLY >>>

In the current edition of Rock Rhetoric I give some ink to Olympia’s the Old Haunts. They released Poisonous Times last Tuesday, and played a house party in Olympia over the weekend to celebrate.

In case you weren’t invited to the house party, the Old Haunts have an all ages record store performance scheduled this Saturday.

At 7:30 p.m. the Old Haunts and www.myspace.com/themonareels ">Mona Reels will play Rainy Day Records. The event is free, and should be well worth your attention.

Also this Saturday in Olympia, Shorebirds and Gun Outfit will play another all ages record store show, this one at 6 p.m. at www.myspace.com/phantomcityrecords ">Phantom City Records.

Consider this your heads up. Now if you miss them you’ve got no one but yourself to blame. 

SUZY STUMP: BECAUSE THE VIETNAM WAR WAS SO GOSH-DARNED MUSICAL >>>

Miss Saigon, the epic musical love story, will play at Tacoma Music Playhouse’s Narrows Theatre through May 4. The show features the fall of Saigon, the plight of those left behind and the best singing pimp since Huggy Bear: The Musical.

Theater critic Steve Dunkelberger reviews the show in Thursday's Weekly Volcano.

LINK: Tacoma Musical Playhouse

TacomaWorks.org Hilltop Mural Project, originally uploaded by NineInchNachosIII.

R.R. Anderson shares a scene from the Tacoma Works' Hilltop Mural Project.

LINK: Weekly Volcano's Photo Hot Spot.

STEVE DUNKELBERGER: KIDS IN KONCERT PLAY DISNEYLAND>>>

Capital Playhouse’s Kids in Koncert continued its tour schedule, which has included Japan and gigs around the nation, by traveling to Disneyland in early April.

Directed by Troy Arnold Fisher, who is the musical mind behind Capital Playhouse, the choir consists of 50 students from the Olympia area emanating that pure sound so treasured in youth choirs. The concert lineup features favorites from The Beatles, Diana Ross, Disney and musical theatre hits.

Kids in Koncert will now present its annual concert on Thursday, April 24 at 7 p.m. at South Puget Sound Community College’s Center for the Arts. The performance is free of charge, donations to the program gladly accepted. South Puget Sound Community College’s Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts is located at 2011 Mottman Road in Olympia off of Hwy. 101.

[For more information contact Capital Playhouse at (360) 943-2744 or visit  www.capitalplayhouse.com.]

FOLK ROCK
Deborah Page
Sure, Page is an attractive woman, but so are a lot of women. That doesn’t mean I’d want to spend an evening listening to them play music.

I’d most certainly want to spend an evening listening to Page play music, and just such an opportunity will happen tonight at Jazzbones. Page mixes her haunting voice with heartfelt lyrics, throws in some alternative folk-inspired guitar work, and delivers the package with presence. It’s enough to catch any music lover’s attention, not just fans of external beauty. With Page there’s beauty abound, both inside and out. â€" Matt Driscoll

[Jazzbones, Deborah Page, Mismatch, 7 p.m., all ages, $5, 2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.396.9169]

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. Throw in a Cheesy British sandwich plus hard to find beers and it's the whole package. â€" Brad Allen
[Doyle’s Public House, 7 p.m. every Wednesday, no cover, 208 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.7468]

LINK: Malcolm Clark and others in the clubs tonight.
LINK: Let's eat Mediterranean today.
FORUM: Malarkey's has an open mic tonight.

BOBBLE TIKI: BREAKFAST WITH BOBBLE TIKI >>>

THE DAILY WORD
Objurgate \OB-juhr-gayt\, transitive verb:
To express strong disapproval of; to criticize severely.

USAGE EXAMPLE: The Seahawks’ regular season schedule was announced yesterday, and Bobble Tiki objurgates the fact the Hawks will be playing Dallas on Thanksgiving. This could be a good thing, but it could also ruin a holiday Bobble Tiki loves so much. The risk isn’t worth it.

MORNING NEWS

TACOMA: More expensive Fito

OLYMPIA: Disturbing stuff

SEATTLE: KVI gets duped

UNITED STATES: Jesse Jackson

THINGS TO DO TODAY
FILM LISTINGS: Look here
MUSIC LISTINGS: Here’s what’s happening

CHRISTOPHER WOOD: READY, SET, GO SHOOT A FILM >>>

So, think you can write, cast, shoot, score and edit a film? Can you do it all in just three days? Do you have vision, drive, stamina … and 50 bucks? Well then, aspiring auteur, cinematic glory awaits you at The Grand Cinema's 72-Hour Film Festival.

Tacoma’s celebrated independent movie joint kicks off its fourth annual film challenge Thursday, May 1. That night the registered teams, ranging in skill from amateur to not-so-amateur, gather together in the theater’s “poster room” and await the clock to strike eight. At that time Grand staff members hand entrants their assignment, and the contest is officially underway.

To make things interesting, every video must contain certain elements. These elements could include: a prop (usually a familiar, easy-to-locate object), a line of dialogue (plucked from well-known feature films in years past), and a specific locale. To give all entries that unique Tacoma flavor, The Grand likes to keep the location within city limits. Now you get the whole weekend to create a story incorporating this list of requirements.   

Fast forward to Sunday, May 4. Weary but triumphant, you pass through The Grand’s doors once again, this time with a mini-masterpiece in your hands. Just remember that entries won’t be accepted past 8 p.m. May 4. Judges ask for projects in either mini-DV or DVD formats.

For those 72 hours you’ll have bravely endured the birth pangs of genius. Then rest up â€" at least until May 9, when the Rialto Theater plans to screen your and your colleagues’ works for the paying public at 7 p.m. Prizes that evening go to most creative use of each element, audience favorite, and judges’ pick for best film.

Register soon â€" the competition allows a maximum of 30 teams, and as of this writing only six available slots remain. Don’t forget the $50 entry fee when you visit The Grand. That gets you four tickets to the screening.

The clock’s ticking â€" time to dazzle T-Town with your filmmaking.   

MATT DRISCOLL: THE GOSSIP DO LETTERMAN >>>

Need something to do tonight?

May I suggest sitting on the couch in front of the boob tube.

While normally I would never suggest such a thing, tonight is an exception. That’s because the most dance happy and beat bustin’ punk band I know, the Gossip, will make an appearance on the David Letterman show tonight.

I’m getting my popcorn and Pabst ready.

The Gossip originally formed in Olympia, but have since relocated to Portland â€" a very hip thing to do these days. Their latest recorded effort, Live in Liverpool, was released on Tuesday.

It’s the shit.

And so is the Gossip.

Unless you’ve already got plans this Wednesday evening, tune in to CBS at 11:30 p.m. It’s the cool thing to do.