MICHAEL SWAN: ON THE BIG SCREEN TOMORROW >>>

Only one film we know is opening tomorrow due to Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince hype, which began yesterday. Cheri will open at The Grand Cinema tomorrow with show times at 2, 4:15, 6:30 and 8:35 p.m. through next Thursday with a noon screening Saturday and Sunday.

Cheri stars Michelle Pfeiffer as a beautiful and subtle as a 50ish courtesan Léa de Lonval who makes the mistake of falling sincerely in love with a friend’s son (Rupert Friend), who is 24 years younger. They promptly fall into bed together and wake up from their lusty haze six years later when his mom (Kathy Bates) demands grandchildren. Pissed, she marries him off to the virginal Edmée (Felicity Jones).

Christopher Hampton’s script is tight and gets quickly to the point, a change of pace for a costume drama. Read Roger Ebert’s rave review of Cheri here.

Check out the Weekly Volcano’s Movie Clock for the scoop on all the movies playing in the South Sound

MICHAEL SWAN: FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2009 >>>

1. Aerial Troupe Ricochet will perform Stitch plus live music by Polka Dot Dot Dot at 7:30 p.m. inside Olympia’s Capitol Theater.

2. Celebrating its 100th anniversary, this year’s Strawberry Festival will commemorate the past while looking toward the future.  With three parades, music, dances, a beer garden, over 175 vendors and, yes, strawberries, there’s much to look forward to. Go here to find out what’s happening today at the festival.

3. After 51 years, Capital Lakefair has grown to include all of the pomp, pageantry and play we expect from a classic American celebration: a parade, a queen, a car show, boat races, fireworks and, of course, a Neil Diamond tribute band. Check out its Web site for today’s events. 

4. Cheri opens at The Grand Cinema with showtimes at 2, 4:15, 6:30 and 8:35 p.m.

5. Guns & Rossetti â€" playing tonight with The Dirty Birds â€" has a new song, “Bon Von Wheelie: Queen of the Big Boss Beat,” and needless to say, it hits close to home for those of us here in Tacoma, and kicks major ass. Hear it and more at 9 p.m. at The New Frontier Lounge.

Extra credit: Seriously, there are tons of great bands playing tonight. Check out our music calendar for options.

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

MATT DRISCOLL:THE MINUS 5 PLAY HELL'S KITCHEN TONIGHT >>>

Serious question, Tacoma: Do you realize Scott McCaughey and Peter Buck will be at Hell’s Kitchen tonight, with their band the Minus 5?

Yes, that Scott McCaughey, he of Young Fresh Fellows fame â€" he of the seemingly endless rock ‘n’ roll resume.

And, YES, that Peter Buck. R.E.M., dude. Is there really any other Peter Buck?

I only ask because, if you do realize Scott McCaughey and Peter Buck will be in Tacoma and on stage when the Minus 5 sets up musical shop at Hell’s Kitchen tonight, I feel like the excitement should be palpable. I feel like the buzz should be strong. I feel like â€" whatever your situation is â€" the babysitter should be booked, your parole officer should be warned or your AA sponsor should be put into speed dial.

Read the full story here.

[Hell’s Kitchen, with Canon Canyon, the Joshua Cain Band, James Hilborne and the Painkillers, Friday, July 17, 9 p.m., $10, 3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]

Photo: Jay Blakesberg

JAKE DE PAUL: FRIDAY FOOD LINKS >>>

Whole Lotta Lunch: Pacific Grill will be serving at the Summer Lunch Series 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tollefson Plaza, and at the City Center Luncheon 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. in its own Events Center.

New Study: Reusable grocery bags are bacteria breeding-grounds.

Beware: 10 grossest ice cream flavors of the summer.

Today's South Sound Specials

Christine Clancetta will teach a class on cooking pizza on a grill today at 6 p.m. at the Bayview School of Cooking in Olympia. For more information, call 360.754.1448.

Pour At Four will pair wine with barbecue ribs today and tomorrow from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Taste the creation at 3814 N. 26th St. in the Proctor District of Tacoma.

Future Things Are Coming

A Summer Garden Party will be held Friday, July 31 at the W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory at Wright Park. From 5:30-7 p.m. you can enjoy wine, champagne punch and light hors d’oeuvres while listening to jazz by the Musig Christensen Brooks Trio. Tickets are $20. Call 253-591-5330 for more information.

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

NIKKI TALOTTA: BACCHUS' LAST SHOW AT MCCOY'S >>>

While Bacchus is reluctant to say they’ve “broken up” this will be their last live show â€" and for this fan, it seems appropriate that the band plans to bid good bye at McCoy’s; a place where this rowdy trio has damaged many eardrums, destroyed gear and gotten laid.

A place where bacchanalia reigns. 

Read the full story here.

[McCoy’s Tavern, with War with Saturn, Slackhabit, Bad Ghost, Friday, June 17, 10 p.m., $3, 418 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia, 360.352.0696]

NEWS TEAM: GOOD MORNING SOUTH SOUND >>>

Treasure Trouble: Tribal auction artifacts believed stolen.

Don't Mess With The Paninis!: Stadium Thriftway plans big expansion.

Stop Prop 1: Sonntag, Baarsma and McCarthy do not want the charter amendment.

Gates: More troops may deploy to Afghanistan.

Terminator, The Early Years: Company says no "flesh-eating" ground drones.

Indonesia: U.S.-based hotels hit by bombs in Jakarta.

Whoa: Bank of America reported a $3.2 billion profit for the second quarter. Citigroup said it earned $4.3 billion during the period.

Same As It Ever Was: Police tear-gas protesters in Tehran.

No New Ammunition: SCOTUS nominee Sonia Sotomayor’s confirmation hearings gracefully come to an end.

PAUL SCHRAG: INGA SWEARINGEN FILLS THE DOCKSIDE BISTRO WITH JAZZ >>>

If Sade was born in the Netherlands, she’d sound like Inga Swearingen.

A student of acclaimed jazz vocalist Susanne Abbuehl, and a frequent guest on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion, Swearingen has pipes that will make you want to sink into the couch with a bottle of really expensive red wine and smoke a Virginia Slim. She’ll be at the Dockside Bistro in Olympia tonight, with a quartet and a new album in the works.

Reverie is an intriguing mix of moody originals and carefully chosen standards. Swearingen’s clear, strong voice paints a colorful landscape of soaring notes and earthy rhythms beautifully framed by Bill Peterson on piano, Jeff Denson on bass, and Ronen Itzik on drums.

Dinner reservations are required, but there’s no charge. The show kicks off at 6 p.m.

[Dockside Bistro, Saturday, July 18, 6 p.m., dinner reservations required, 501 Columbia St. N.W. # B, Olympia, 360.956.1928]

MICHAEL SWAN: SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2009 >>>

1. Dirt Bag presents the T-Town Musicfest featuring Underride, Temperedcast, Atomic Outlaws, Downfall, Basic Radio, The Dignitaries, Cold December and Vial 8 at 7 p.m. inside Hell's Kitchen.

2. Entrance Denied: The Art Of The Chastity Belt art exhibit opens at Mineral with an artist reception from 4-8 p.m.

3. The T-Town Throwdown Bike Trials Competition will take place on the rocks, beach, logs and other natural obstacles on the Ruston Way waterfront beginning at 11 a.m.

4. Local poet Lucas Smiraldo teams up with Seattle-based jazz composer Wrick Wolff for a spoken-word symphony titled Voice of the Americas. Smiraldo examines historical events from the last half of the century through the viewpoints of famous Americans. Check it out at 7 p.m. at the Peace Lutheran Church.

5. Cory Wilds and Mark Fluegel run through favorites by Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan at 9 p.m. on the deck of Salty's at Redondo. Beautiful view.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

Photo: Atomic Outlaws/MySpace

JAKE DE PAUL: SATURDAY FOOD LINKS >>>

100th Anniversary: Vashon Island Strawberry Festival features 100 vendors, a beer garden and tons of strawberries.

Pour At Four: The Proctor wine bistro will pair wine with barbecue ribs from 5:30-9:30 p.m.

Proctor Farmers Market: Today's market includes a cooking demonstration with Francinne Martin, author of Cooking with a Baby on Your Hip. The market runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Today's South Sound Specials

Chalk the Walk outside, beer and wine tasting inside, noon to 5 p.m., complimentary tasting, Water to Wine, 9014 Peacock Hill Ave., Suite 103, Gig Harbor, 253.853.9463.

Wine tasting, 2-5 p.m., Dockside Bistro, 501 Columbia N.W., Olympia, 360.956.1928.

Wine tasting, 1-4 p.m., $5-$7, Swing Wine Bar, 825 Columbia St. S.E., Olympia, 360.357.9464.

Wine tasting, 2-5 p.m., Wine Bank, 7017 27th St. W., University Place, 253.564.1101.

Wine tasting, 1-6 p.m., Wildside Wine, 608A S. Oxford St., Tacoma, 253.565. 0811.

LINK: Drink on a deck or patio today

NEWS TEAM: GOOD MORNING SOUTH SOUND >>>

Gangs Beware: Tacoma police step up anti-gang effort.

Wilde Times: Edgewood city manager is out.

Too Many To Count: UN health agency gives up on counting swine flu.

Jakarta: Malaysian fugitive suspected in hotel bombs.

Health Care Reform: Democrats grow wary as health bill advances.

Orwellian: Amazon.com remotely deletes 1984, Animal Farm from Kindles.

Your Head On Bad Music