STEVE DUNKELBERGER: TACOMA MUSICAL PLAYHOUSE EXCELS WITH THE KIDS >>>

The Tacoma Children's Musical Theater is staging a short run of the show Heidi, with a gaggle of thespians and a great family vibe that got me within seven minutes of running from the theater to grab my feathered hat and lederhosen before rushing the stage to join the fun. Maybe it's the German in me, but it was working.

The classic story of a very European life includes goat tenders, a wise grandfather and an adventurous young girl. Toss in some puppets and some scenes of the Swiss Alps and you get the idea of the show. Read my full review here.

[Tacoma Musical Playhouse, Heidi, May 30-31, 2 p.m., $10-$15, 7116 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.565.6867]

ALEC CLAYTON: THE MANY TALENTS OF STEVE LAWLER >>>

Woodworker Steve Lawler is a man of many talents. His handcrafted furniture â€" or as he calls it, “re-Furniture” â€" is both beautiful and functional, and it is made from reclaimed fir and scrap plywood collected from local cabinet and furniture shops.

But that’s just one small part of his many talents. As seen in his latest show, Recover, at Gallery Madera, he is also a painter, photographer, sculptor and collage artist. “My work represents my passion for two things: First, reusing what others have found to be useless and second, creating something in a way that nobody has thought of before,” Lawler says.

Particularly attractive in his current show at Madera are groupings of chairs, coffee tables and lamps made of recycled wood and featuring strips of variously patterned wood. Read my full review here.

[Gallery Madera, Steve Lawler’s Recovery, through June 6, 2210 Court A, Tacoma, 253.572.1218]

MICHAEL SWAN: FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2009 >>>

1. AIDS Housing Association of Tacoma hosts a fund-raising drag show Friday night titled Until The Fat Lady Sings featuring some of Puget Sound’s most recognizable female impersonators beginning at 6:30 p.m. inside the Blue Mouse Theater.

2. Tonight at 8 p.m. marks Artifakt’s inaugural event at The Robert Daniel Gallery. This multi-genre spanning art party features nine unique artists with styles that exhibit elements of the fantastical backed by Seattle’s DJ Eva, Tacoma’s own DJ Spice and Flat Black.

3. Theater Northwest Group presents Educating Rita featuring working-class hairdresser Rita who takes literature lessons from disillusioned, alcoholic professor Frank at 7:30 p.m. inside Theatre on the Square.

4. Local filmmakers will screen their imaginations as part of Pierce College’s Spring Film Festival from 7-9 p.m.

5. The Washington Center hosts Echoes of Ireland â€" Frank and Malachy McCourt’s mashing of Emerald Isle storytelling with music, dance and song â€" at 7:30 p.m.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

NEWS TEAM: GOOD MORNING SOUTH SOUND >>>

Use It Now: The Sprague Avenue onramp to westbound Highway 16 in Tacoma will close Monday night for two years.

There were 15,195 Pierce County Families In Poverty: United Way put statistical information on towns online.

Speaking Of Gangs: Gang-related shooting in East Tacoma.

Photo Says It All: Italy's Prime Minister says he’ll resign if caught lying about allegations of an improper relationship with a teenager.

We Really Hope This Stops: North Korea test-fires another short-range missile.

About Time: Pentagon plans new arm to wage cyberspace wars.

Civil War: A large amount of Tamil civilians were killed by the Sri Lankan military.

They’re going apeshit all over the Internet

JAKE DE PAUL: FRIDAY FOOD LINKS >>>

The 6th Avenue Farmers Market opens Tuesday.

Chocolate-covered mushrooms

Dr. Pepper ribs spotted on menus of two NYC restaurants. Is it a trend?

Today’s South Sound Special

Wine for the perfect picnic tasting, 3-6 p.m., complimentary, Water to Wine, 9014 Peacock Hill Ave., Gig Harbor. 253.853.9463.

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

CHUCK DULA: HELMS ALEE AT THE NEW FRONTIER LOUNGE TONIGHT >>>

Synesthesia is a condition in which one type of stimulation evokes the sensation of another, as when the hearing of a sound produces the visualization of a color. It’s within the sludgy math-rock, distorted guitars, and vicious wails of Helms Alee frontman Ben Verellen that you’ll see black. Helms Alee has taken the post-hardcore sound of Verellen’s former band, Harkonen, and tamed it just slightly to create one of Verellen’s best projects to date. Verellen sung-tunes like “Borrowed Wind” slowly infiltrate your head space and leave you hypnotized and a tad more dangerous.

Whether singing for Harkonen, playing drums in These Arms Are Snakes, playing in Roy, or watching his older brother destroy people in former hardcore pioneers Botch, Ben Verellen has always had an influence on the local hardcore community.

Do not miss this show.

[The New Frontier Lounge, with Prize Country, With a Bullet, Friday, May 9 p.m., $5, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020]

JENNIFER JOHNSON: ARTIFAKT TO CONSUME THE ROBERT DANIEL GALLERY >>>

Seattle-based arts group and clothing design cooperative Artifakt was born two and a half years ago. Co-founder Jake Wagoner found a kindred spirit in Matt Eklund, musician, artist and entertainment promoter, recently naming him Artifakt’s Tacoma creative director.

“We throw art parties,” says Eklund with a smile in his voice.

Tonight marks Artifakt’s inaugural event at The Robert Daniel Gallery.

“We’re showing artists that haven’t shown a whole lot in Tacoma, including Blaine Fontana from Oregon,” Eklund elaborates.

This multi-genre spanning art party features nine unique artists with styles that exhibit elements of the fantastical â€" cartoon dragon, snowy robot, howler monkey, purple hand-signs, deep-sea diver, antler-wearing man â€" and a well-captured animated sense of movement.

Aural aspects will be headed up by Seattle’s DJ Eva, Tacoma’s own DJ Spice and Flat Black.

[The Robert Daniel Gallery, Artifakt Multi Genre Art Party with Eva, Dizzy Dave, DJ Hanibal, Flat Black, Spice, Friday, May 29, 8 p.m., $5, $7 after 11 p.m., 2501 Fawcett Ave., Tacoma, 253.297.3869]

Photo: Blaine Fontana's The Last Koi Chapter #

MICHAEL SWAN: GET READY FOR METAL-URGE >>>

As part of the June city-wide group show Metal-Urge Fulcrum Gallery will host a few Northwest artist working in metal. The Heavens Reflect Our Labor show will feature the works of Molly Epstein, Chris McMullen, Joseph Miller, Mick Newham and James Porter.

The opening reception will be Thursday, June 4 from 6-10 p.m.

Photo: Chris McMullen’s piece from the Modern Convenience series

STEPH DEROSA: SLOW BURN >>>

Szechwan Chicken
Tea House â€" B & I Marketplace
Price: $5.45
Burn Factor: Three our of four Molotov cocktails

Mr. DeRosa laughed after I told him I was headed to B&I Marketplace.  I had been intrigued about the housed flea-market-type establishment after a friend informed me it’s where she purchased her beautiful clip-in hair extensions made out of REAL hair.  Being the type to constantly seek instant gratification (and the type to do whatever Mr. DeRosa laughs at), I hauled ass to Lakewood in search of clip-in hair extensions.

What advice did Mr. DeRosa have for me before I left?  Just don’t eat there.  (Oh, you know this meant I had to eat there.)

Amongst my options inside B&I’s food court were Taz Pizza, King’s Burgers, Tacoma’s Own Cheesesteaks, and El 7 Mares serving cow goiter and tongue.  I opted for the safe option, and the one with the longest line: Tea House.  Being a teriyaki joint, they had to have something spicy â€" like Szechwan Chicken.  I asked them to make it as hot as possible, found my seat in the food court, and my instant gratification-seeking ass sat and waited.

They serve entrees in barely closed to-go boxes that were busting open with stir-fried contents.  As I lifted the lid, my face caught a steamy whiff of chili sauce making my eyes water and my nose tingle.  Liberally doused in this red chili sauce was celery, bamboo shoots, carrots, green onion, and of course, chicken.  I poked around, fished out the chicken, ate a few carrots, and nabbed some white sticky rice.  It was spicy enough, but not totally kicking my ass.  It could’ve used more fire. 

As I quickly filled up, I closed my to-go box and realized just how convenient it was to have my food already in a to-go box.  Because in about an hour, when I was at home with my hair extensions, after the after-burn from my Szechwan had worn off, I was going to be hungry again.

[Tea House Restaurant, B & I Marketplace, 8718 S. Tacoma Way, Lakewood, 253.581.0880]