DANIEL BLUE: MEET JENA STEDTLER >>>

Jena Stedtler moved here In February of 2005, from Marysville, Wash., "also technically from Auburn, Lynnwood and Bellevue," she says with a giggle that is very typical of her cute teddy bear demeanor. Currently she is attending Tacoma Community College, "just trying to learn stuff," and has lived downtown and in the north end since she found Tacoma.

She likes Tacoma for her friends and how separate they are from how things are conventionally done, "There isn't an equation for my friends, I like that a lot of them naturally push buttons and push the limit without even trying."

She thinks this town is the most progressive she has lived, and that is attractive to her. She is very nice, because, "if you are nice it spreads, it makes sense to spread nice around."

I met Jena at the Kickstand Cafe, when she first rolled into town, she was introduced to me by a mutual friend, Kimmy. Kimmy and Jena met at massage therapy school and decided to get an apartment here to reduce their commutes, Jena stayed because of the people that she got to know.

She just got a job at Corina Bakery and Bistro and is planning to spend another year in Tacoma to decide if she should stay here or move to Portland.

FILM
Young@Heart
In School of Rock, Jack Black taught a classroom of 10-year-olds that rock ’n’ roll music is always about one thing: sticking it to the man. Young@Heart, a documentary about a chorus of performers in their 80s and 90s, shows that no one has more reason to stick it to the man than people who are most defiantly not going gently into that good night. PG for some mild language and thematic elements. Three-and-a-half stars. â€" Jeff Johnson

By the way, this flick ends its run at The Grand today.
[The Grand Cinema, 3:40, 6 and 8:30 p.m., $4.50-$8, 606 Fawcett Ave., Tacoma, 253.593.4474]

ROCK
Voxxy Vallejo
Voxxy Vallejo are few in numbers, but formidable in power. On stage it’s just the two of them â€" the blues heavy licks of Gene Vallejo spliced with the awe factor of Voxxy’s vocals â€" but that’s more than enough. Voxxy Vallejo have the ability to make you forget it’s just the two of them, especially on record where the multi-instrumentalism of Vallejo makes their sound complete. Not that it will be incomplete at Bob’s Java Jive. There’ll be more than enough Voxxy Vallejo to go around. â€" Matt Driscoll
[Bob’s Java Jive, with Barkin Dawgs Band and Monadnoc, 8 p.m., 2102 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma, 253.475.9843]

POWER POP
Don’t Tell Sophie
There’s something completely satisfying about Don’t Tell Sophie’s brand of power pop. It’s the kind of stuff you can get stuck in your head for days and it won’t make you want to hang yourself. The same can’t be said for most power pop. With Don’t Tell Sophie it’s the norm. â€" MD
[4th Ave Tavern, 8 p.m., no cover, 210 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia, 360.786.1444]

LINK: Handful of Luvin’ and others in the clubs tonight.
LINK: Discover when the movie starts here.
LINK: Let’s eat steak tonight.

BOBBLE TIKI: BREAKFAST WITH BOBBLE TIKI >>>

THE DAILY WORD

Tremulous \TREM-yuh-luhs\, adjective:

1. Shaking; shivering; quivering; as, a tremulous motion of the hand or the lips; the tremulous leaf of the poplar.
2. Affected with fear or timidity; trembling.

USAGE EXAMPLE: With tremulous excitement, Bobble Tiki headed to the Tacoma Dome last night for KISW’s Rock Girl Gala. Once inside, not much blood made it to his brain.

MORNING NEWS

TACOMA: New Mayor in Ruston, and Huson is still a dick

OLYMPIA: Feeding babies

SEATTLE: No lesbian kissing at Safeco

UNITED STATES: More from the R. Kelly trial

JUST BIZARRE:Taser wakeup

MORE STRANGE NEWS: Found it!

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

DANIEL BLUE: MEET JAMES SINDING >>>

"I was born in TG! Ten-twenty-seven-eighty-six," says James Sinding. He's lived on Prospect Hill for the majority of his life.

He claims to have attended Tacoma Baptist "for my entire life" but that's impossible because I know that currently he is enrolled in the University of Washington Tacoma Arts Media and Culture program.

The recent recipient of "Best in Show" from The Helm Gallery's 2008 juried exhibition, Sinding's piece was entitled "Quarantine Depression Now" and seems to be the mantra for Sinding's way of life.  Sinding is an artist. People will discover this to be true.  His work is innovative and inspiring. 

An avid bicyclist and generally a leader in pedal culture and style; I am often surprised at the outbursts of joyous laughter that exude from Sinding's oversize frame.  This is a fun loving friend.  I met him at secret beach on the Titlow side, at a random bonfire where I decided he was a good person immediately.  I don't think I've ever made someone laugh that hard in my whole life, but I'm pretty funny and Sinding loves to laugh. 

James is currently a valet driver at the door of the Pacific Grill. He's the tall smiling one - cant miss him.

ALEXANDRA DELONG: WHATCHA WEARING GOES TO THE DOGS >>>

We often turn to our favorite celebrities for fashion inspiration, whether it’s the hottest new bag or latest designer look â€" they always show us the new upcoming trends for the season. This summer, for most Hollywood starlets, the best accessory (besides oversized sunglasses), is a cuddly designer dog.

Best gal pals Vera Berg and Ruby Shillelagh can be found looking street chic and glamorous taking their daily walk around Wright Park. Two-year-old Berg, a miniature wild-boar dachshund looks sassy and sweet in her pink dress from PetSmart, matching her well manicured nails. Berg's studded collar is a nod to her sometimes rebellious ways and contrasts nicely with her smooth coat. She keeps it sleek and glossy by eating organic dog food from Lucky Dog Outfitters.

Shillelagh, also a fan of Lucky Dog Outfitter's food and clothes, struts her stuff in one of their cozy stripped hooded sweaters. This gorgeous Bichon and Shitzu mix (Teddy Bear breed) may only be 3 months old, but she knows fashion. She enjoys spa bathing treatments and getting her fur styled at Clip N' Clean to stay looking fresh, and around her neck is an imitation Burberry collar from PetSmart to complete her high end appearance.

So repay your pooch for keeping you trendy and being your best accessories, with lots of love and by accessorizing them.

Then take them to the Strut Your Mutt day-long event and dog fashion show on Saturday.

STEVE DUNKELBERGER: THEATER THURSDAY >>>

Here's the local weather forecast.  Head inside and catch one of these stage productions:

Pinocchio
Tacoma Children's Musical Theater is staging Pinocchio, its adaptation of the classic Italian storybook tale involving some dude with a creepy need to have a boy of his own so he crafts one out of wood, dreams it becomes real, which happens due to fairies. That seems like a bad acid trip that should be reported to Child Protective Services to me. But that is another story.
[Narrows Theatre, 2 p.m.  June 7, 8, 14, 15, $10-$15, 7116 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.565.6867]

Reviving Ophelia
Olympia Family Theater is staging Reviving Ophelia, a play based on the best-selling adolescent psychology book by Dr. Mary Pipher that dives into deals with the  “look-obsessed, media-saturated, girl-poisoning culture” we find ourselves living in these days. The stage adaptation is designed to showcase several episodes of adolescent development in younger girls that lead to self-esteem issues and self-defeating actions, and ultimately leave the audience questioning the role of society in raising teenage girls.
[The Midnight Sun Performance Space, through June 6, 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, $8-$15, 113 Columbia St., downtown Olympia]

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
Lakewood Playhouse gets a bit dark with its staging of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, a theatrical adaptation by Dale Wasserman of the 1962 novel by Ken Kesey. What makes this show work is the strength of the supporting cast. There were no stereotypical “crazy people”; each had their own ticks and nuances that showed the actors paid attention to their roles and developed their characters.
[Lakewood Playhouse, through June 22, 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, $11.50-$19.50, 5729 Lakewood Towne Center Blvd., Lakewood, 253.588. 0042]

The Rocky Horror Show
Talking about evil stuff, how about the creepy Dr. Frank N Furter and his sex-starved minions. These days, we can string our sexual deviances together into a pearl necklace, as it were, of letters (BD, DS, SM, PS, SBB, CD, TV, TS). Thirty years ago, some of this new vocabulary was given to us by that now-famous transsexual prophet from a distant world. And The Rocky Horror Picture Show still rouses people’s interest, thanks to Harlequin Productions.
[State Theater, through July 22 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, $12-$38, 202 Fourth Ave., Olympia, 360.786.0151]

MATT DRISCOLL: WHAT TO LOOK FOR AT THE LIQUOR STORE >>>

Impulsive consumerist urge and marketing â€" while they may affect me every time I’m rolling down the cookie aisle or perusing the online store at denverbroncos.com, State liquor stores are the last place I expect to be targeted. Like most people, I figure, when venturing inside a liquor store I usually know what I’m after. I’m not window shopping, or dropping in to see if anything catches my eye; I’m at the liquor store to buy a specific kind of booze so I can get specifically drunk.

However, maybe I’m wrong. Maybe there are a lot of people out there who enter the liquor store without knowing exactly what they’re after, and simply buy things that seem appealing once inside.

For those folks the start of Washington’s Spirits Month, celebrated at over 200 liquor stores statewide, may be just the thing. The promotion will run through June, and its catch phrase is “Get it While it’s Hot!” According to the Washington State Liquor Control Board, the “Get it While it’s Hot!” promotion will feature: “summer-related product displays, one-time-only products and value-added packages.”

That is hot.

Some of these special promotions will include: bourbon with barbecue tools, rum with mojito mix and vodka with a martini glass.

What’s better than bourbon and barbecue, I ask?

“Spirits Month is a fun opportunity to liven up our stores with creative displays and unique products that appeal to our customers in the summer months,” said Debi Besser, Director of Purchasing at the WSLCB in a press release distributed about the promotion. “Summer is the time to be outside. Our store employees go all out to create a store experience that captures the fun and outdoor activities of the season.”

Fans of “Get it While it’s Hot!” month can look forward to August, which will be “Washington Wine Month” at liquor stores, and October, which, naturally, is “Spooky Spirit Month.”

Go forth and drink.

MATT DRISCOLL: JAZZBONES OWNER LOOKS TO PURCHASE THE CLUB >>>

While there seems to be some confusion about when exactly the changeover will take place, at this point I’ve heard the news from enough people to believe it.

Jazzbones owner Terry Suzuki is in the process of buying Station 56. His plans for the venue have not been confirmed, though Station 56 bar manager Tim Smiedala says he’s heard a sushi bar is likely in the works for the club off of South Tacoma Way, and as far as he knows the music and entertainment will not change.

“They were both in here five or six weeks ago and kind of dropped the bomb on us,” says Smiedala of a meeting current Station 56 headman Max Messmer and Suzuki had with employees of the club.

“Today was supposed be the day, but that hasn’t happened.”

Smiedela says he expects an announcement of the deal to come within the next ten days, though he couldn’t confirm that as the official plan. After hearing rumblings for some time, Smiedela preferred to take a wait and see approach.

A source close to Jazzbones confirmed Suzuki’s interest and intent to purchase Station 56, but declined to offer any specifics, and said the deal would likely take 2-3 months to close.

We’ll let you know more as we now more.

For now, sushi at Station 56 seems imminent, though when exactly it will happen remains anyone’s guess.