CHRISTOPHER WOOD: OFF DAY 6 â€" ASHKENAZ >>>

OK everyone, gather ‘round for today’s history lesson: In Biblical times, Noah (think John Huston in The Bible if that helps) begat Japhet who begat Gomer who begat Ashkenaz. Fast forward to the last century, and "Ashkenaz" became the term assigned to Jews living in the Rhineland, or more generally in Western Europe. Then Hitler got his own begetting on with World War II, which culminated in the founding of Israel.

Which brings us to 2007 with Ashkenaz, writer-director Rachel Leah Jones’s look at the Jewish state’s current social complexities. Constructed from impromptu interviews with residents of Tel Aviv, the film examines the paradoxes of Ashkenazi, or “Arab Jew,” identity. Between this privileged “white” bourgeoisie minority and its “black” counterpart, the Mizrahi, simmers an ever-present tension.

The Ashkenazi as a construct is a slippery one and hard to grasp, as evidenced by testimonials which often contradict one another. Persecuted or persecuting, this self-exiled group suppresses its own heritage while fearing and alienating other groups. Jones, a Jew herself and Israeli citizen, explains the situation as “European Jews having internalized anti-Semitic ideas…and externalizing that onto non-European Jews and onto Palestinians.”

Even with this helpful summary, it might benefit viewers to reacquaint themselves with Jewry prior to watching Ashkenaz. Produced for Israeli television, the film understandably glosses over practices such as the kibbutz and the Yiddish tradition, a fact which could confuse American audiences. Also, the work lacks a strong emotional core. Jones approaches this deep-rooted social situation from mainly an intellectual standpoint. Her detached style doesn’t provide us a central character with whom to empathize, someone who epitomizes all the bewildering contradictions of the Ashkenazi experience.

Arriving on the heels of a presidential election which will force America to reexamine its own identity, the film couldn’t be timelier. Ashkenaz, though an assault on the brain, fails to go for the gut.

LINK: Olympia Film Festival schedule

LINK: Weekly Volcano cover story on the festival

MICHAEL SWAN: IT’S ON THE STREETS AND INTERWEB TODAY >>>

Blood, sweat and gears
Tacoma needs help if it wants to be a bicycle town by Simon Moon

Keep pushing
Guest Editorial: Get involved in your community by Marilyn Strickland

In the works
A preview of the City Center Luncheon by Simon Moon

Blue Mouse turns 85
PLUS: Warren Miller and marimba! by Suzy Stump

Holy Parking Lot productions!
Holy Writ serves up Bard debate by Steve Dunkelberger

Fistful of God’s Gun
Those who dig spaghetti westerns will dig Spindrift by Matt Driscoll

50 candles on the pizza pie
The secret sauce transcends 50 years by Ken Swarner

Stop the rumors!
New Frontier is freakin’ open people! by Natasha Gorbachev

Trouble With DeRosa
Bill Creveling is a geologist superhero by Steph DeRosa

LINK: The Weekly Volcano online

MATT DRISCOLL: TIS THE SEASON…ALMOST >>>

It’s just about that time. Ski and snowboard season is nearly upon us. Time to start breaking out the snowpants and those long underwear with the hole in the crotch that you’ve worn for the last 7 seasons.

But before any of that, it’s time to head to the Top of Tacoma Bar tonight to check out the very first “Gnar Ball.”

Damn straight.

According to the hype, the evening â€" which starts at 9 p.m. â€" will feature 2 shred films, plenty of booze specials and even some giveaway prizes.

For a Thursday night in mid November, it doesn’t get much more Gnar.

Check it out at Top of Tacoma tonight.

[Top of Tacoma, free, 3529 McKinley Ave, Tacoma]

STEPH DEROSA: HORSE BUTTHOLE AT THE HOTEL MURANO >>>

Recently, the Weekly Volcano’s in-house drunk and amateur porn expert Steph DeRosa took some time to unwind from her usual debauchery at the Hotel Murano in beautiful downtown Tacoma. It’s what’s called a staycation â€" the combination of two words meant to describe vacationing while staying at home. Get it? Anyway, while combining words is stupid, Steph DeRosa’s experience at the Hotel Murano was not.

Here’s a look at how it went, taken directly from DeRosa’s booze stained diary.

I went in to chat with Dale Rush, a Bell Captain wannabe at Hotel Murano, a few weeks ago.  He’s the Trouble with DeRosa character that thinks Halloween is all the time, and likes to dress up in his Bell Captain costume every day of the year.  Apparently Murano management feels sorry for him because they let him help the guests anyway.  And on top of that, they actually pay him!  I’ll chalk that up to charity.  Good on ya, Hotel Murano.

While I was in the lobby, I asked Dale how well he knew the horse.  And I don’t mean, “knew the horse” in an Animal House kind-of way.  You know the horse I’m talking about â€" the life-sized black horse with socks on its feet.  What? You never noticed it has socks on?  Well, I did.  I noticed them right after I noticed that you could see its anus.

Dale told me they were for a special trick, an amazing display that would take place on Halloween at midnight.  Although I think Dale is deeply disturbed, I believed him.  Then I asked if anyone ever tried to get on the horse and ride it.  He answered, “Oh yeah - all the time.  But then they see the chord coming from it and realize they could get electrocuted.  This horse is plugged into a wall, you know.”  Oddly, I had never noticed that.  Noticed the butthole and the socks, but never the huge lamp coming from the horse’s head.  Go figure.

Next I went to Janette Simon, the front desk manager for Hotel Murano.  She and I go way back.  In 1999 I worked at the hotel with Janette.  I used to go cry in her office when things went wrong.  She was so nice and comforting.  I asked her if anything ever pissed her off while working the front desk.  “Rude, angry guests.  I just smile and be nice, but it’s not my fault you’re luggage was lost at the airport or your flight was late.  Get over it!” she answered.  That’s my girl!

I also asked Janette about the special display going on at midnight Halloween night that Dale had told me about.  Even though she usually thinks I’m crazy when I stop in to chat, this time she thought I was extra crazy.  There was going to be no special Halloween display.  Nor did anyone ever try and ride the horse.  The socks are on so that the floors won’t get scratched when they move Black Beauty.  Dale Rush, you’re on my shit list.  LIAR!

I guess that just means I’ll have to be the first person to ever try and straddle that horse in Hotel Murano’s lobby.   Don’t think I won’t try, either.

After checking in with Janette, I decided to stop into Bite for a, well, bite.  Look at the sparkly new façade!  And JeanClaudeVanDAMN their food is scrumptious!

The suites located on the 24th and 25th floor are phenomenally gorgeous.  They typically start at $429 a night, but if you have dirt on the front desk manager they’re a little cheaper.  Equipped with two bathrooms, a jetted tub, fine art, a wet bar, plasma TV, a private lounge with breakfasts and complimentary wine, and a living room with a view.  Speaking of the view, it is breathtaking.  Reason #368 why I love Tacoma.



Down each hall inventive displays focusing on individual, and very talented, artists surround the walk to your room and the elevators. 

I won’t get into the specifics of my overnight  (pending court case against the circus clown I hired), but I will say the service was impeccable and the hotel was glorious.  AND they’re letting me pay off my damage deposit in quarterly paycheck withholdings.  Such good people, those Murano folks.

Dale even let me have a treat as I was escorted out of, I mean left, the building.  He said it was a special treat, for special guests, and I was one of those “special” guests.  I found it unnecessary for him to actually make the “quote” sign with his fingers as he said the word “special,” but whatever. 

Awww, Dale, maybe you’re not as delusional as I thought you were. I’ll definitely be back soon for another luxurious staycation at Tacoma’s very own Hotel Murano.

CHUCK DULA: HELP US PROF. DONALD SHOUP. YOU’RE OUR ONLY HOPE >>>

I recently took a tour of the parking options of downtown Tacoma with a good friend of mine, Joe Korbuszewski. We will call him Willy. Willy works at Paddy Coyne’s, which as I’m sure you know is a restaurant on the north end of Pacific Avenue in downtown Tacoma. If my friend Willy works during the day he can either park his car in a one hour zone and pay a ticket â€" with revenue going to the Traffic Division of the Public Works Department, or another option is he can spend five minutes out of every hour looking for a new spot to park in. Wouldn't it be better if he could park close to work and refill a meter every three hours? Or how about if he parked further away and paid for more hours at a slightly lower rate?

Something has to be done about the parking situation facing downtown Tacoma. Immediately. We need parking meters. Downtown businesses are suffering and we are creating a wasteland of consumerism.

We need Prof. Donald Shoup. We need him now. Discover why on the Weekly Volcano Web site.

SUZY STUMP: POETRY TO ME >>>

King’s Books unleashes marauding gangs of poets, craftspeople, artisans, and their multitudinous admirers on the genteel people of St. Helens Avenue over the next two days. Run for your art!

• NOV. 14: Distinguished Writer Series and Open Mic featuring haiku poet Michael Dylan Welch. Open mic sign-up at 6:30 p.m.
• NOV. 15: Tacoma is For Lovers Artist Craft Fair and benefit for Colleen Malone with more than 20 artists’ booths. Noon to 4 p.m.
• NOV. 15: Shakespeare in the Parking Lot will be performing Proofs of Holy Writ. 7 p.m.

Tonight’s haiku poetry has inspired me to write one about Tacoma.

Trailer has no tires
Rusted rims have sunk in deep
My Homeland's secure

[King’s Books, 218 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.8801]

MATT DRISCOLL: THOSE WHO DIG SPAGHETTI WESTERNS WILL DIG SPINDRIFT >>>

There’s something iconic and romantic about cowboys and old western films. Maybe, in this age awash with vague morals and seeming injustice around every turn, the idea of a life filled with honor, baking sun and a trusty horse just feels comforting. Or maybe people just really like cowboy hats and those faded, dusty siesta blankets. Who knows?

I’m not sure. What I am sure of is Spindrift â€" up from Los Angeles and in town for a show at Bob’s Java Jive tonight â€" takes advantage of it.

Spindrift is more than a band. Crafted by leader, singer, guitarist and visionary Kirpatrick Thomas, Spindrift is an amalgamation of psychedelic sounds and spaghetti western flicks â€" the result resonating and shape-shifting like nothing you’ve ever heard or seen before. What started as an experimental rock outfit from Delaware more than 15 years ago has become a nine-piece sonic collective â€" reflecting the limitless possibilities of sound and presentation when harnessed by a band with a pure and unique artistic vision.

Spindrift is â€" besides everything else â€" far and away the best band hitting town this week.

Read the rest of this story, which includes an interview with Spindrift guitarist Henry Evans, on the Weekly Volcano Web site.

[Bob’s Java Jive, Spindrift, The Upsidedown, The Drug Purse, This Blinding Light, Friday, Nov. 14, 8 p.m., 2102 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma, 253.475.9843]

LINK: South Sound live music and DJs tonight

SUZY STUMP: MACBETH CLOSES IN LAKEWOOD THIS WEEKEND >>>

Well, it’s been a cynical week. But what can we say? It’s a cynical time. Let’s end on a happy note. Macbeth. Some call it a tragedy. Some call it dark and bloody. We say look deeper. Good wins in the end. It’s just the getting there that’s the problem. But that’s always the problem, right? The point is, justice is served. Evil is vanquished. See, it’s practically Hollywood. All you need is Daniel Craig. On second thought, let’s be glad we don’t. Then let’s go see some Shakespeare. You know it’s worth it.

[Lakewood Playhouse, through Nov. 16, 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday,  $14-$22, 5729 Lakewood Towne Center Blvd., next to the Pierce Transit Center in the heart of the Lakewood Towne Center, 253.588.0042]

LINK: ViVA South Sound arts and entertainment calendar