ALEC CLAYTON: VINTAGE EROTICA AT REBECCA V >>>

Ever see a bombshell up close and personal? It will blow you away.

Half a century ago the word bombshell was slang for a buxom broad, a big-boob beauty. Marilyn Monroe was called a blonde bombshell. Get the picture? Well, you will starting Saturday, Aug. 16, at Rebecca V Gallery on Sixth Avenue.

The Bombshell exhibition features vintage pin-up photography from the ’50s selected from gallery owner Tony Valenzuela’s private collection.

There will be live pin-up models, classic cars and refreshments at the opening event Saturday, Aug. 16, starting at 4 p.m.

Read my full review in Thursday’s Weekly Volcano.

[Rebecca V Gallery, noon-7 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, noon-8 p.m. Friday-Saturday or by appointment, opening reception Aug. 16 beginning at 4 p.m., show runs through Sept. 5, 3010 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.572.9111]

JOHN HERBERT: BRING YOUR MUMMY THURSDAY >>>

Washington State Historical Society and the Washington State History Museum will host a launch party for COLUMBIAkids, a new online magazine for Washington rugrats, Thursday, Aug. 14, from 3-8 p.m. at the Museum. Meet the writers, illustrators, and people who inspired some of the features in the premiere issue, author readings, and a book signing reception for Northwest Book Swap authors. The event also will feature Kelley Balcomb-Bartok of the Center for Whale Research in Friday Harbor, and Dr. Jonathan Elias, director of the Akhmim Mummy Studies Consortium in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

No doubt kids will be thrilled by event proceedings. That is, until Dr. Jonathon Elias takes the podium to discuss the Akhmim Mummy Studies Consortium, mummification techniques, and how the organization uses computer tomography applications to reconstruct images of ancient, entombed royalty from the Egyptian city of Akhmim â€" all of which will either bore or creep the kids out to no end. Elias will try and regain the kids attention and interest by describing how practitioners of the art of mummification would shove hooks up the noses of dead Egyptians and pull the brains out through their nostril. His description will successfully reclaim the kids’ attention, and give them all terrible nightmares involving Brendan Fraser and Jet Li.

SUZY STUMP: 5 THINGS TO DO TODAY >>>

10 A.M.: The Living Legacies: Homage to a Maestro exhibit at the Museum of Glass presents a selection of sculptural work in glass by 15 distinguished contemporary artists who have an historic and enduring association with glass master Lino Tagliapietra.

7 P.M.: Sam McPheeters (Born Against/Wrangler Brutes/Vermiform Records) will read selections from his new magazine Clog backed by his life partner Tara Tavi (Amps for Christ/Blue Silk Sutures) on the hammer dulcimer at Phantom City Records in downtown Olympia. Righteous!

7 P.M.: If you want to prove you're smarter than your friends over rounds of Irish whiskey and a parcel of fish-and-chips, head to Doyle’s Public House. Every Wednesday the pub launches several rounds of skill-testing questions. Free to enter, the quiz awards would-be brainiacs with prizes, and an enhanced sense of superiority.

8 P.M.: Grab your cue stick and come on down to Malarkey's Pool & Brew for its weekly open mike. It is a great opportunity to meet musicians and play with new people as a jam will surface every so often.

9 P.M.: During the past 16 years as an international DJ, Lakewood-grown Donald Glaude has been responsible for seeding vibrant musical landscapes for audiences across the nation. Welcome Glaude back to town tonight when he brings his high-energy show to The Swiss. Tonight's show is also a benefit for our dear friend Johanna Gardner who is buried in bills after a neck injury.

LINK: Viva South Sound arts and entertainment calendar
LINK: Live music and DJs

JAKE DE PAUL: THE MORNING BREW >>>

1. Cherry tomatoes star in pasta, tacos alike (SF Gate)

2. Outstanding in the Field (Culinary Fool)

3. Bring the bistro experience home with savory rillettes (LA Times)

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

BOBBLE TIKI: BREAKFAST WITH BOBBLE TIKI >>>

THE DAILY WORD

Chichi \SHEE-shee\, adjective:
Affectedly trendy.

USAGE EXAMPLE: Bobble Tiki struggled to get his aging thighs into the chichi jeans.

MORNING NEWS

TACOMA: Paint Tacoma beautiful

OLYMPIA: State workers want cost of living raise

SEATTLE: Tolls coming in 2010?

UNITED STATES: Why offshore drilling won't do any good

ENVIRONMENT: Eco impact of diet pop

JUST BIZARRE: Porn inspector

MORE STRANGE NEWS: Bird crap facial

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

DANIEL BLUE: MEET ALISON COFFEY >>>

  Alison Coffey moved to Tacoma when she was 12. She attended the School of the Arts, from which she graduated last year and is preparing for her second year at Tufts University in Boston, Mass.

Alison is extremely intelligent, and the first bits of our acquaintance were spent musing over a crossword puzzle, which we were too stubborn to put down until it was completed, Internet cheating or not. My input was primarily to pencil in the answers that she was somehow able to pluck from the meta-consciousness square by square. 

She has been gentle and soft spoken with a consistency that cannot be pretended, her nature is simply to be very collected and consciously pleasant.

Alison is interested in non governmental organizations and rural to urban migration worldwide. She explained to me that over half of the world's population live in urban settings and that number is rising all the time. We talked for a bit about forced evictions, which has the softer term of "resettlement."

Her care for people is clear, and her education will allow her to care with purpose. Most days she is dutifully studying at the BW or managing to conquer the crossword with her psychic prowess.

LINK: The Tacoma Files archive

SUZY STUMP: FABULOUS! >>>

The Imperial Sovereign Court of Tacoma "Diamond Empire of the Cascades" presented "Hot & Spicy," the annual White Knight and Debutante Gala of 2008 at Jazzbones last Saturday. This was a first for both the gay and lesbian and transgender organization and the venue.

The evening started with a lip-synch, costume and stage show competition (a fun drag show) followed by the new White Knight and Debutante being crowned on stage. Some very talented folks strutted their stuff.

People in the crowd weighed in their approval by presenting dollar bills to the performers and of course, through applause.

This event can be added to the now long list of things we thought we'd never see at Jazzbones. Did we mention Kry Boys will be there every Thursday for the new Ladies Night starting in September? We can't believe it either.

LINK: Live music and DJs tonight

BILL TIMNICK: SERENITY NOW >>>

In a manner of speaking, Lakewood was made for getaways, beginning with the founding of a number of country estates in the 19th-century by Tacoma area business leaders.  And although the then-bedroom community has since grown up, some of those estates remain, clustered around the local lakeshores.  One such estate on Gravelly Lake now belongs to a nonprofit group that maintains its long-celebrated gardens for public enjoyment.  The estate’s name is Lakewold Gardens.

This 10-acre estate includes a Georgian style mansion in addition to its carefully maintained plantings (some of which were designed by pioneer landscape designer Thomas Church), pathway, and statuary.  The gardens reflect a blending of traditional European and more modern American design styles as well as the personal tastes and gardening skills of the estate’s longtime owner Eulalie Wagner. 

Lakewold Gardens features more than 500 varieties of rhododendrons, cherry trees and several species of dogwood and climbing roses.  A self-guided tour of the network of paths takes about 90 minutes.  Guided tours also can be arranged.  There is also an on-site garden shop.

Lakewold Gardens, 12317 Gravelly Lake Dr. S.W., is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through September and Friday through Sunday beginning in October.  Adult admission is $5, seniors $3; children younger than 12 and Lakewold members are admitted free.  For more information, call 253.584.4106.