STEPH DEROSA: BETTER LATE THAN NEVER >>>

Somebody here at the Weekly Volcano had to do it, and it will be my honor...

George Carlin, one of the most popular comedians in American history, died yesterday afternoon in Santa Monica at the young age of 71 due to heart failure.  I personally agree with most of his religious views, comedic views, and political views -  he will be missed greatly by many.  A legend has passed, and by posting a link to this video of the comedian at the top of his game I hope to pay homage.

(Thank you to my good friend Jeff for reminding me of this one.)

SINGER/SONGWRITER
Jim Page and Artis The Spoonman
When I received word that one of my all-time favorite musical partnerships would reunite for Tacoma Public Library’s Rock The Books series, memories of sitting on the sidewalk in front of Pike Place Market in the early ’90s rush back: fresh cinnamon roll in hand, ears still ring from the Crocodile Café the night before, gazing at the politically charged wizardly of Jim Page and Artis The Spoonman. They would play almost every Saturday in that spot in Seattle â€" Page strumming and singing about evil corporations, crooked politicians and mass marketing gimmicks while Artis would beat the shit out of himself musically. It’s magic. â€" Ron Swarner
[Tacoma Public Library, Tuesday, June 24, 7 p.m., all ages, no cover, 1102 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma, 253.591.5666]

LUNCHEON
Spotlight! On Business Awards
The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber will name winners of its Spotlight on Business awards Tuesday at the Best Western Tacoma Dome Hotel. Awards will be given in five categories: small, medium, large, jumbo, non-profit and minority-owned. Finalists include: Franciscan Health Systems, Printing, Heartwarming Care, Roman Meal Co., Joeseppi’s Italian Ristorante, Bayview Limousine, Pacific Wellness, Best Western Tacoma Dome Hotel, Petra Engineering, Celebrity Cake Studio, Trillium Employment Services, Lazer Trends, Washington Architectural Hardware, Mac-Donald Miller, WineStyles, Pierce County Coalition of Developmental Disabilities and Connelly Law Office. “Zen Master of Cold Calls” Jerry Hocutt will keynote. â€" John Herbert
[Best Western Tacoma Dome Hotel, 11:30 a.m., $60-$65, 2611 East E St., Tacoma, 253.627.2175]

LINK: Pygmylush and others in the clubs tonight.
LINK: Check out when the movie starts today.
LINK: Let's eat Asian today.

SUZY STUMP: BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE >>>

Hey, seven months into the new year and you’ve done nothing tangible. What happened to all of those resolutions? Don’t you think it’s time you opened a new door and made a joyful noise! How about taking a fist and pounding on something soft? How about twirling needles? Spinning? The amazing Tacoma Art Place invites the community to try its knitting, spinning, sewing, drawing, painting and fire pottery classes for free Saturday. The Hilltop Tacoma art studio is becoming a true cultural center, a place where a community can grow together and share the creative spirit. Try it for free.

[Tacoma Art Place, Saturday, June 28, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., free, 1116 S. 11th, Tacoma, 253.238.1006]

LINK: Download tap_june_28_flyer.pdf

BRAD ALLEN: SO OLYMPIA >>>

D.I.Y. stands for Do-It-Yourself, and when so moved, that’s exactly what the people of Olympia do. The fifth annual What You Got? Festival is a fine example. Over the course of two days, Numbskullz, DEK, The Cut Throats, Anna Bri, Logical Deer and others will do what they do best â€" all in the name of youth. Expect some youth-centric workshops, art and film, too.

[Capitol Theater, June 27 3 p.m., June 28 noon, $5-$8, 206 Fifth Ave., Olympia, 360.754.5378]

LINK: Previously in the Weekly Volcano

BOBBLE TIKI: BREAKFAST WITH BOBBLE TIKI >>>

THE DAILY WORD

Malapropism \mal-uh-PROP-iz-uhm\, noun:
The usually unintentionally humorous misuse of a word, especially by confusion with one of similar sound; also, an example of such misuse.

USAGE EXAMPLE: Displaying an above average gift for malapropism, President Bush told his ever dwindling legion of supporters that he enjoyed “self defecating” humor. Then, realizing his mistake, he pooped himself to cover his tracks.

MORNING NEWS

TACOMA: Oops!

OLYMPIA: Nascar makes soldiers smile

SEATTLE: Bill's legacy

UNITED STATES: BBQ talk

ENVIRONMENT: 20 years later

JUST BIZARRE: Further proof Bill O'Reilly is the devil

MORE STRANGE NEWS: Too drunk to drive... you wheelchair

THINGS TO DO TODAY
FILM LISTINGS: Look here
MUSIC LISTINGS: Here’s what’s happening
SHOOT THE SHIT: Weekly Volcano forums

SUZY STUMP: TASTE IT >>>

It would be hard to determine what Tacoma tastes like. For starters, where would one sample the soil most indicative of the City of Destiny?  Commerce Street? Or would the most-telling turf be found at higher elevations like Hilltop? And what would that flavor be like? You can be sure the topsoil would smack of scandal â€" but it would probably also taste a bit like Heidelberg. Deeper down, there would be traces of Indian blood intermingled with a salty prospector tang. Then there'd be all that fossilized dinosaur crap to contend with. When you think about it, Tacoma would probably taste pretty disgusting. Fortunately, the good people at Taste of Tacoma do the thinking for us, presenting a more palatable annual survey of the city's best cuisine.

This year is no exception. More than 30 vendors â€" including Asado, Masa, Katie Downs, Southern Kitchen, Katie Downs, Famous Dave's BBQ, Jazzbones, Joeseppi's, and Federal Way’s Pac Island Grill â€" along with live entertainment will plant roots at Point Defiance Park this weekend.

Sure beats eating dirt.

[Point Defiance Park, June 27-28 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., June 29 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., $7 and less an entrée, 5400 N. Pearl St., Tacoma]

DANIEL BLUE: MEET NICK BUTLER >>>

This striking young gentleman is Nick Butler. Since he moved to Parkland two years ago he has been coming downtown to explore the offerings of a larger social community.

"I have dogs," he says in response to unaired inquiries about the choice to live in such a strange place outside of where he obviously wants to be. I guess they don't allow dogs in Tacoma anymore. I was unaware of this because I am a cat person.

Butler is an artist in the most technical sense of the word. His figurative work is breathtaking and sometimes even titillating. There are few artists circling downtown who understand the human form as well as this friendly chap.

Currently he is renting studio space around the corner from the Monsoon Room on South 11th and J Street. 

I met Butler outside of the UW Tacoma on my way to work one morning, he stopped me and asked me a lot of questions about the arts in Tacoma, and I learned that he had an obsession with the creation of comic books. The next time I ran into him was several months later in the form of his work, which hung for a long time at the One Heart Café on South Sixth and Fawcett.

Butler is a must see and must meet. The quality of his work is bested only by the sincerity of his smile.