BOBBLE TIKI: BREAKFAST WITH BOBBLE TIKI >>>

THE DAILY WORD

Sentient \SEN-shee-uhnt; -tee-; -shuhnt\, adjective:
1. Capable of perceiving by the senses; conscious.
2. Experiencing sensation or feeling.

USAGE EXAMPLE: Few realize it, but Dick Cheney is one of the more sentient Vice Presidents this country has ever had. In fact, when he thinks about you he touches himself. 

MORNING NEWS

TACOMA: More problems at Point Ruston

OLYMPIA: Food bank is hoppin'

SEATTLE: Holmgren trying to be less fat

UNITED STATES: Pundits say it's over

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

As you may have heard by now, one of those mobile cranes ran amok in downtown Tacoma about an hour ago. From the reports we're hearing at the Weekly Volcano, the thing pretty much came barreling ass down 15th and crashed near Pacific at the 705 off-ramp.

We haven't heard of any injuries, and the Trib is reporting that Tully's and Quizno's emerged unscathed.

This is a valuable lesson to all those who ignore the importance of turning your huge crane wheels toward the curb when parked on a hill. 

MATT DRISCOLL: TRIED NOT TO SPILL WINE ON ANYTHING EXPENSIVE >>>

Yesterday afternoon at Dragonfly, an impressively large gathering of interested citizens, politicians, and business and property owners convened over wine, shrimp and roasted red pepper hummus to talk about the future of Tacoma’s SODO â€" or the South Downtown Dome District. The event was billed as mainly a “meet and greet,” and in that respect it didn’t disappoint. Surrounded by Dragonfly’s “unique furnishings,” a group of 40-50 mingled for the first hour or so, and then heard from Dragonfly owner Angela Schellenberg, Darrel Bowman from Mynetworkcompany.com and Jim Merritt, principal at Merritt Arch â€" all of whom spoke about the importance of defining the future vision of what the South Downtown Dome district will become.

While the presentation, which was led by Mr. Merritt, lasted less than fifteen minutes, the shindig at Dragonfly succeeded in rallying support for the Dome District cause and recruiting some new, motivated troops for the fight.

Speaking to a crowd that included well known faces like Marty Campbell and Jake Fey, Merritt reiterated a theme that’s pulsing nearly everywhere in Tacoma these days â€" where everything seems ripe for the remolding and recreating. It’s time for us to fashion the Tacoma we all want. The decision is ours.

“What happens to this district? What can happen in this neighborhood?” asked Merritt. “How do we make a difference?”

“It will happen to us anyway. So let’s make it happen so it can become something we’re proud of.”

While specific visions for the Dome District weren’t actually discussed, several ideas and things to consider were. What can be done with the Dome? How can we show Brown & Haley we care about them, want them here, and are building a better Tacoma? How can we increase pedestrian friendly spaces and park spaces? How can we do more to bring people to the Le May Museum?

But in the end, it came down to people and community.

“It’s about what’s right for the people. It’s about collaboration, grassroots, and people first,” says Merritt.

“We have not done a very good job over the last decade,” continued Merritt, emphasizing the need to work collaboratively with all Tacoma’s neighborhoods, not separately.

“Let’s define the future vision of what the South Downtown District can be.”

If you’re interested in helping shape the future of the South Downtown Dome District, a group meets every Thursday at Mystic Mocha Cafe between 7:30 â€" 9 a.m. You’re totally invited.

The Weekly Volcano's Steph DeRosa just sent in some more action photos of this afternoon's crane debacle.

CHRISTOPHER WOOD: TACOMA ON THE BIG SCREEN >>>

I made my way past pools of filmmakers huddled under the Rialto Theater’s sparkling marquee last night and ducked inside the small lobby. Besides the smell of warm wine, something else lingered in the air as well â€" anticipation. A special feeling of excitement pervades every film festival. The experience finds greater meaning particularly at a community-driven event like the annual screening of the Grand’s 72-Hour Film Contest entries. “There’s a real buzz here,” noticed Greg Youtz, a first-time attendee. “The celebration of local creativity is fabulous.”

The filmmakers certainly deserve accolades for their hard work. Each team had only three days to complete a short film in which four required elements had to appear: the line of dialogue “I feel like I’ve been here before,” a fortune cookie, a museum, and a person blowing bubbles. Throw in a rain-drenched weekend and the challenge produced some very determined (and weathered, literally) artists. And through it all they kept sight of the ultimate goal: creating an entertaining story for viewers. “We’re just hoping to get a lot of response,” said J.D. May before the premiere of his fast-moving drama Roadside. Winning is an afterthought. When asked about his team Psychic Playtime’s uncanny ability to walk away with a major award every year, Isaac Olsen smiled and humbly predicted, “The winning streak will definitely come to an end tonight.”

Above the heads of over five hundred audience members (the event’s biggest attendance to date), the lights in the expansive theater dimmed as the show got underway. The evening progressed with several strong opening entries, including Lost Path (notable for its startling life-spanning match cut), and The Bored Room, which shows a corporate drone battling ennui by concocting some comical fantasies about his coworkers. The three-hour, 28-film whirlwind passed surprisingly fast.

Then the big moment arrived â€" the Grand’s Executive Director Philip Cowan announced the evening’s victors. Best use of dialogue went to Phoebe Moore’s parodic portrait of a washed-up starlet, Forgettable.  Fortune’s 11 most creatively used bubbles in its crime caper plot. Bryan Johnson’s Tacoma-loving team showcased the city’s Art Museum in T Minus 72. Risky Business grabbed the award for best prop. Lost Path received an Honorable Mention from the judges, and gave Scott Gribble’s beautifully shot Army of Two the Best Film award. And as for Olsen’s winning streak, it decided to stick around a little longer â€" the audience voted his frenetic and hilarious Foolish Games as their favorite (along with do-director Kurt Kendall.

Will film in Tacoma eventually win out as well? Only time â€" and maybe a fortune cookie â€" can tell.

Scott Gribble and his family accepted the 72-Hour Film Contest's Best Film award for Army of Two last night at the Rialto Theatre. 

FESTIVAL
Lakewood International Festival
The coldest sight in the world is that of rain blowing in the wind. It’s spring in the South Sound, baby, and it’s wet. Which is why we all must enjoy the spring as best we can. So put on that rain slicker and prance on down to the Lakewood International Festival, a celebration of Lakewood’s international community, which is big and just gettin’ bigger. Bask in the atmosphere of an outdoor festival held indoors (i.e., market booths with exotic food, music that doesn’t suck, art that’s cool and cheap, and games, games, games) and then hug everyone who doesn’t look like you. Soak in singer Sung Jin Park, Intangible Cultural Assets and Dance from Korea, Congo productions percussive world music â€" it’s like a vacation to Japan, or Korea or the islands, only cheaper. You can even take pictures and lie to your co-workers about where you went on your vacation. â€" Suzy Stump
[Clover Park Technical College’s McGavick Student Center, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., world evening dance with DJ Cesar Quimosing is 6 to 9 p.m. ($5), free, 4500 Steilacoom Blvd., Lakewood, 253.589.6054]

EVENT
Cook’s Tour
If there’s one thing I can’t stand it’s having to drive myself around when I stalk rich people’s houses. I also cringe when I have to actually go to a restaurant and eat a full meal with a loved one.

Fortunately, The Junior League of Tacoma has solved this problem for me with A Cook’s Tour.

Saturday, May 10 you can pay $50 to have someone drive you around to five North End Tacoma houses while five chefs from various Tacoma restaurants give you a sample of their finest dishes. Be ready to taste the likes of Maxwell’s, Southern Kitchen, Pacific Grill, Pinwheel Catering, and Pour At Four â€" all while you catch a glimpse of houses you only wish you could afford.

And just because you waited until the last minute to buy a Mother’s Day gift doesn’t mean you can wait until the last minute to purchase a ticket to this event. RSVP required at 253.383.1030. â€" Steph DeRosa
[Annie Wright School, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., $50, 827 N. Tacoma Ave., Tacoma, 253.383.1030]

HIP-HOP
Common Market
Nearly two-and-a-half years after the release of their debut, Common Market, RA Scion and Sabzi of Blue Scholars are set to drop Black Patch War Tuesday, May 13. The seven-track EP pulls its name from an early 20th century farmers’ rebellion in Western Kentucky. The May release is a prelude to an upcoming full-length, Tobacco Road, due in September.

Common Market grew out of a collaborative project in 2004, when Sabzi contributed beats to RA Scion’s Live & Learn. Later, the Seattle hip-hop duo recorded an album during a marathon, week-long session in a sweltering Beacon Hill attic. Common Market was born.

This album is a quantum leap for Common Market, with heavy groove and heavy subject matter. Isht should sound amazing in HK. â€" Paul Schrag
[Hell’s Kitchen, Common Market, Jay Barz, Spaceman and Abadawn, 5 p.m., all ages, $10; Common Market, Jay Barz, Friday Knights and Life Cycle, 9 p.m., $7; 3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]

LINK: Sickamore and others in the clubs tonight.
LINK: There’s a party in Wright Park today.
LINK: Let’s eat Mexican today.

SUZY STUMP: THIS WEEKEND AT THE MOVIES >>>

Speed Racer is simply a mishmash â€" the delusions minus the grandeur.

Diaz is a delight, but What Happens in Vegas is Ashton Kutcher’s film. He’s funny as hell. It’s a shame these two talented comedic actors didn’t have a stronger vehicle to help drive the laughs.

Then She Found Me is the kind of film that only a mother, my mother specifically, would love.

David Mamet has infused the trademark sleight of hand with a measure of two-fisted action in Redbelt.

LINK: Go here for movie starting times.
LINK: Weather report.

BOBBLE TIKI: LUNCH WITH BOBBLE TIKI >>>

THE DAILY WORD

Parsimonious \par-suh-MOH-nee-uhs\, adjective:
Sparing in expenditure; frugal to excess.

USAGE EXAMPLE: The Bushes were reportedly quite parsimonious at Jenna’s wedding, deciding to bring in suspected terrorists from Abu Ghraib to distribute the shrimp cocktail rather than pay for servers. 

AFTERNOON NEWS

TACOMA: Marathon talk

OLYMPIA: Smoking at Frankie's

SEATTLE: Bobble Tiki hates Oklahoma City

UNITED STATES: Grabbing for anything

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

STEVE DUNKELBERGER: NPA SETS SAIL >>>

While the Northwest Playwrights Alliance is holding a sold out workshop with Steven Dietz this weekend and its stage readings on Monday and then its Double Shot Festival next weekend, something must be in the works. The group is preparing to move its readings from Tacoma to Seattle in the fall.

NPA will be offer its free monthly reading at 7 p.m. Monday at the Broadway Center, 915 Broadway in Tacoma. The reading will be A Play that Begins and Ends with a Dream by Nate Harpel and directed  by Eva Suter.

Buried in the notice for the meeting was this little note "NPA update:  We're moving our monthly reading series to Seattle Rep beginning Sept. 8." That will be a long drive for the brains behind the operation, Bryan Willis, who lives down in Mcleary, but I guess he has to go where the support is.

NPA and University of Puget Sound are staging their second Annual Double Shot festival May 23 and 24 at Rausch Auditorium in McIntyre Hall on the UPS campus. Tickets are $8 to $10 at the door or by calling 253.879.3419. All proceeds benefit the Northwest Playwrights Alliance's Festival of New Works and reading series. This year's festival will feature 16 playwrights and directors and more than 60 actors theaters and schools in the South Sound, as well as some of the best talent from Bellingham to Centralia.