CHRISTOPHER WOOD: OFF DAY 8 â€" A WINK AND A SMILE >>>

Nothing brings people together quite like nudity. Lines that went on like a dancer’s legs converged at Capitol Theater’s box office. Moviegoers occupied almost every seat in the house for a late-night peep at Washington filmmaker Deirdre Allen Timmons’s debut, the burlesque documentary A Wink and a Smile.

The evening proved more than just a cheap thrill. The opening short, apparently from the gay (18)90s, reveals several females undressing on a stage. The film’s excessive grain keeps specific, ahem, details of the ladies’ performances tantalizingly out of sight. But then, as Timmons’s colorful work comes to show, burlesque is about performance itself, the journey viewers and viewed take together.

Former stripper Miss Indigo Blue runs an academy in Seattle. Her goal: teach willing students the art of shedding clothes publicly. Indigo’s 2007 class hails from a surprisingly diverse range of ages, body types and occupations. Crowds enjoyed the buxom taxidermist who, like a polite hostess, presents the camera with a veritable buffet of roadkill chilling in her freezer. There’s also Diane, a bubbly, bitty mother in her 50s who joins the academy with the solemn oath to “bring back the beauty of sagging breasts.”

The gals have only six weeks to find sparkly costumes and nail down their sexy routines. While Indigo patiently guides her ladies through the intricacies of the pasty, some suffer doubt and insecurity. Another drops out altogether. Yet the film paints a loving, rhinestone-studded portrait of them all. The empowered sisterhood that forms from this taboo art form peels away conventional (mis)conceptions about sexuality and bravely sheds society’s obsession with the ideal female form.

Wink’s director and several members of the cast arrived for Q&A; the laughter they and the audience shared felt like banter between old friends. “If I walked away from this film with one nugget,” reflects Timmons, “it’s that…you just have to abandon fear and chase whatever it is you want to do.” I’ll wink to that.

LINK: Final day at the Olympia Film Festival

LINK: ViVA South Sound arts and entertainment calendar         

JAKE DE PAUL: JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS >>>

Brix 25° added two new premium glass pours: 2006 Bergstrom Cumberland Reserve Pinot Noir and 2005 Dunham Cabernet Sauvignon.

Josh Bergstrom is considered to be one of the best winemakers in Oregon, making ultra premium wines for his winery and assisting many others at their wineries.

Eric Dunham, enough said. You all know the quality of Dunham Cellars.

JENNIFER JOHNSON: VAGABOND OPERA, THAT IS >>>

Vagabond Opera, a self-dubbed "Bohemian Operatic Eastern-Euro Cabaret Ensemble," sprang to exuberant life in 2002 with European-trained opera singer, composer and accordion player Eric Stern as the driving force. Combining theater, comedy, sprinkles of burlesque, and passionate voices with incredible ranges able to sing in 13 languages- the ensemble performs an eclectic mix of music, both original and classic scores- to take the audience on a whirlwind adventure of sight and sound. Special guest vocalist and performers are an added bonus making it so one never knows exactly what to expect.

For their return to Jazzbones tonight, the special guest will be Tacoma resident Marie Nelson who wowed the folks in Vagabond Opera to the point that they invited her to perform with them again.

"Marie came backstage and we liked her so much that we asked her to sing something, right then and there, and we liked what we heard so much that we asked her to join us in a song that night," says bandleader Eric Stern of Vagabond Opera's debut at Jazzbones in 2007 and the band's first encounter with Nelson. 

At that performance, Nelson was sitting in the crowd. All eyes were fixed on the stage and on the charming humorous Stern who called out asking if there was a lady in the audience who could sing. Nelson stood, played along and began singing perfect breathtaking opera in response- joining Stern on stage. It was very unexpected and deliciously exciting. Such is the way of Vagabond Opera. Each sketch may employ singing, a multitude of instruments, props, humor, dances, colorful costumes and an audience involved sing-along. Or it may be a lone soloist singing a cappella in spotlight to an audience held in rapture at the divine ability of the human voice.

As for developing new songs, sketches and material for the group, Stern tells us "I was very lucky to work with some of the country's best improvisers out of Second City Chicago for three years and touring the fringe festivals of Canada. I learned a lot from them about developing improv sketches."

Pacific Northwest based Vagabond Opera has toured Europe extensively and traveled far and wide tickling the fancy of U.S. audiences. This unique experience can be had by music, theater and opera lovers of all ages this Sunday at Jazzbones.

[Jazzbones, Sunday, Nov. 16, 6 p.m., all ages, $12-$14, 2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.396.9169]

Photo: Brian Mclernon

TONY ENGELHART: ROD COOK IS THE MAN >>>

My father, Little Bill, says that Rod Cook is one of the best guitar players in town. Cook, who rotates with master slide player Billy Stapleton in the Blue Notes, reminds the old man of the legendary Joe Johansen. That being said, I have seen both, and I personally feel that Cook possesses more versatility than Johansen. Sure, Johansen could rip through a blues scale with ease and could even pull jazz licks out of thin air, but he never progressed past his full potential. Cook, who holds standing memberships in both my pop’s band and the Vicci Martinez Band, is a chameleon guitarist who can change his color without missing a beat. Toast is Cook’s own baby and is completely different from anything else he partakes in. He, along with Chris Leighton and Jon Bayless carve out their own unique sound as they take traditional American roots music and combine it with blues, rock, country, jazz, bluegrass, and New Orleans influences.

Tonight, Cook and Toast will play the Spar in Tacoma.

[The Spar, 7 p.m., no cover, 2121 N. 30th St., Tacoma, 253.627.9215]

Photo courtesy of Myspace

TONY ENGELHART: LOVES CELTIC TUNES >>>

The Battlefield Band is to Scotland what the Chieftains are to Ireland. That’s right, authentic Scottish music â€" bagpipes included. The members of the quartet were each inspired by Celtic music and the music of their homeland. Playing a hybrid of traditional Scottish tunes with originally penned material, the Battlefield Band has created quite a stir in the world music scene. While they do incorporate some synthetic sounds into their work, for the most part they play acoustically with instruments like the fiddle, guitar, flutes, bodhran and accordion. With nearly 30 recordings dating back to 1977, the band has seen its lineup change over the past 30 years, but still retains their passion for the music. Their latest, 2006’s Dookin’, was another stunning example of the band’s versatility as they once again invited special guests to contribute their talents to the project.

The Battlefield Band will play two shows at Traditions Cafe in Olympia. The first is tonight, and the second is Tuesday, Nov. 18. For a full Battlefield Band US tour itinerary click here.

[Traditions Café, 7 p.m., all ages, $15-$20, 300 Fifth Ave. S.W., Olympia, 360.705.2819]

STEPH DEROSA: TRASHING AND PRAISING DUPONT >>>

Used to live in DuPont. Hated it. As we traveled up I-5 today headed north from the coast, we approached the DuPont exit. Mr. DeRosa requested a swing-by to our old cookie cutter DuPont house. There was nothing inside of me that wanted to return to the old neighborhood, nor run into the snobby, self-serving, and nosey neighbors. When we lived in DuPont some five or so years ago, we had two cool families as neighbors. The rest were duct tape the beer can holder, pop open a can of Bud Light and start mowing the lawn with a beer at 7 a.m. type of neighbors. The let your kids skateboard across my flower bed at midnight even though your child is only 7 years old type of neighbors. Even someone like me, being from Texas, who’s seen the trashiest of neighbors â€" I still think my old neighbors were garbage and ohmygod I need a drink I’m getting so worked up about this.

Ok, got a glass of wine. Enough about them â€" let me save those stories for a future Toilet Tales. Moving on.

So I asked Mr. DeRosa to drop me off at one of the three strip shopping centers upon DuPont’s entry so that I may walk around and mentally ridicule every shop as I passed by. He wanted to go look at our old house, but all I wanted was to fester. So for Dinner with DeRosa this week, I invited the very few kick-ass DuPont people I found in my strip shopping center escapade.

I detest how “Corporate America” Starbucks can be. They apparently have a “policy” that does not allow any employee to have their picture taken with a Starbuck’s uniform on. Seriously? What harm would I have caused by taking your damn picture and talking good about you? You know what, Dupont Starbucks? I would’ve been nice to you had you let me take your picture, but now all you’re going to get is bashed. Hoorah for the Indie coffee shops! Pat Brown from Satellite Coffee or Rachel from Black Water will let me take their picture any day I want.

There are two Starbucks in DuPont. Is that really necessary? Is it also necessary to have at least two Teriyaki places, two nail places, an H&R Block, a check-cashing store, and a tanning place but NO GROCERY STORE? Those poor DuPont citizens. Give them a damn grocery store already. Quit draggin’ your feet, DuPont City Council. Don’t worry, DuPont people, my neighbors may have been assholes, but the rest of you â€" I gotchore back. Store! Store! Store!

Great, now I’m even tenser than before. I need more wine, and a massage â€" STAT. Anyone? Anyone?

My first guests for this week’s Dinner with DeRosa are Amanda and Brianna from Farrelli’s Gourmet Wood Fired Pizza. I’m hoping they’ll bring my favorite salad, Phil’s Creation, and Mr. DeRosa’s favorite Pizza, the Meateater. Crazy thing is Amanda was one of the two cool neighbors I had. She and her amazing family lived directly next door, as a matter of fact. Amanda used to baby sit for me, and her mom was someone I considered a friend. I really liked them, and I hope to catch up with Amanda during my imaginary Dinner with DeRosa.

Someone invited this week, and definitely cooler than the policy at DuPont Starbucks, is Jesse from Domino’s Pizza. Look! I took his picture and he’s wearing a Domino’s Pizza uniform! Oh Noes!

Three of the most congenial people I met today were from Great Clips hair salon. Lydia, Heather, and Cassandra â€" you rock. Come to my make-believe dinner, please? Oh, and keep reading the Weekly Volcano. I bet you guys didn’t know this, but, although reading the Weekly Volcano does cause short bouts of stomach cramping, it can also improve fertility. Much better than a Greek Fertility God, yet still requiring an antacid. Either way, you’ll need a doctor.

Next person cooler than the policy at DuPont Starbucks is Leah of Desert Sun. Come to our pretend Dinner with DeRosa. I promise you’ll have pretend fun.

Although I may bash parts of DuPont, I do love to frequent a certain store in town called The Posh Paws. My first time in was about a year ago, and I love it. It’s not just about the pet items for sale, but the people are so congenial. I always stay in Posh Paws, talking longer than I should. Plus, there’s always some fantastic Great Dane dog in there who loves to be petted and scratched. And, well, petting and scratching is my specialty â€" there’s no denying that. Other DWD guests, meet Danielle. Danielle, meet the other DWD guests. You’ll fit in juuuust fine.

My last guest is one of my all-time favorite Trouble with DeRosa victims, K.T. What are the odds that she’d be toolin’ around inside DuPont’s Posh Paw? Good odds, apparently. I love talking to K.T., so I’m happy to invite her to this week’s Dinner with DeRosa. Plus I think she and Danielle also loathe what DuPont Starbuck’s policy represents anyway, so she could totally kick their green apron wearing asses. And that, my friends, would be our entertainment for the evening: K.T. kickin’ corporate ass. I’ll get the popcorn, you bring the beer. It’s gonna be one helluva dinner.