MATT DRISCOLL: GET INSPIRED >>>

Ever feel like everything these days is LOL, and WTF? Ever feel like all today’s youth can do is pop in their ear buds, zone out, and abbreviate text message style? Well, there are some kids attending Tacoma School of the Arts (SOTA) that would love to prove you wrong. As part of the ongoing and omnipresent Art at Work: Tacoma Arts Month 2009, a handful of talented SOTA students will gather at King’s Books to drop poetry and prose on the ears of the willing.

MICHAEL SWAN: THURSDAY, NOV. 19, 2009 >>>

1. South Puget Sound Community College art faculty - including Carol Hannum's work pictured above - is showcasing its wide range of works in a show opening today in the Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts Gallery. Check it out from noon to 4 p.m.

2. Creative writing students of Tacoma's School Of The Arts will read their poetry and prose as part of Writers Bloc at 7 p.m. inside King's Books.

3. The newly remastered 1982 Godfrey Reggio film Koyaanisqatsi will screen at 7:30 p.m. inside the Washington Center.

4. The semi-finalists for 30th Annual Seattle International StandUp Comedy Competition will hit the Liberty Theatre stage at 8 p.m.

5. Fulcrum Gallery hosts a fundraiser featuring MC Alleon, Bobby Galaxy, Sax & Synth and DJ Broam at 9 p.m.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

MICHAEL SWAN: ONE CITY. 30 DAYS. WHAT WILL YOU DO? >>>
 
Art at Work Month: Thursday, Nov. 19

November 2009 marks the eighth anniversary of Art at Work: Tacoma Arts Month. There is something for everyone to enjoy throughout the month: lectures, music, dance performances, readings, workshops, theater performances, visual art exhibits and more.

Here are today’s highlights:

The Third Thursday ArtWalk participating downtown Tacoma galleries and museums have refreshments, demonstrations and artists on site from 5-8 p.m. 

The documentary Home Front 1967 covers Vietnam from a number of perspectives at 6:30 p.m. inside the Washington State History Museum.

The 253 Collective hosts a Holiday Sale and Silent Auction from 5-8 p.m.

There are many more events today. For a complete Art at Work schedule, click here.

RON SWARNER: FOOD MATTERS >>>

Martini Club: The Varsity Grill will pull out the holiday party cocktails for its monthly Martini Club from 5-7 p.m. Oh, they also have a buffet of pumpkin raviolis, cherry coated ribs, tiramisu and mini apple crisps.

Free Appetizers: Doyle’s Public House will offer free samples of its bacon and blue potatoes Happy Hour appetizer from 4-6 p.m.

Wine Tasting: Minoela Wine House (2914 Sixth Ave., Tacoma) will host a Sokol Blosser Winery wine tasting tonight from 6:30-8:30 p.m. for $5.

Plan Ahead: The Harmon Brewery and Restaurant will pair food with stouts Saturday, Nov. 21 at 4 p.m. The reservation-only event costs $25. Reserve your spot at 253.383.2739.

Food For Thought: Rachael Ray on Martha Stewart: "Why would it make me mad?...I'd rather eat Martha's than mine, too."

LINK: Weekly Volcano’s Eat & Drink section

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

LINK: South Sound Happy Hours

LINK: Wine and beer tastings

WEEKLY VOLCANO: MUSIC IN THE SOUTH SOUND TONIGHT >>>

Don't know what to do tonight? Don't worry, we have you covered.

Squirt - Dick Rossetti, Eric "The Swede" Olson, and Electric Vee Vee Roark - after 14 years, has decided to play one last string of shows starting here in Tacoma tonight at Hell's Kitchen, which was the Central Tavern back when Squirt was crankin' it in the early '90s.

Tacoma's legendary The Fabulous Wailers hold s CD release show for the band's latest effort, Rooster Rock, tonight at The Swiss.

An impromptu acoustic open mic is doing down from 5-8 p.m. at the Speakeasy Arts Cooperative in downtown Tacoma.
 
The Missionary Position plays a free show at Doyle's Pubic House beginning at 8 p.m.

Afrok, Xperience and E-Phryme tell it how it is at 8 p.m. inside The Royal in Olympia.

LINK: More shows in the South Sound tonight

LINK: Concert Alert

SUZY STUMP: GRAB THE UMBRELLA AND START WALKING >>>

So you're sitting around playing games on your cell phone. Yes, you are. That's not productive in any way. It's worse than computer solitaire. It's the third Thursday of the month - you should go support your local budding artists during Third Thursday ArtWalk. May I suggest the venues below.  Thank you, I will.

Los Angeles artist Kim Cheselka and her beautiful hand-sculpted Montana willows will be at the Fulcrum Gallery from 6-9 p.m. Read her Q&A with Pappi here. Fulcrum also hosts a fundraiser for itself following the reception featuring M.C. Alleon, Bobby Galaxy, Sax & Synth and DJ Broam until 2 a.m. Admission is $5.

I've been on the verge of telling you about On the Verge and now it's go time. University of Washington Iron Gallery presents 14 graduates of the Artist Trust 2008 EDGE Program in On the Verge, an exhibition of painting, sculpture, photography, jewelry, basketry, fibers and more through the end of the year. The artists reception is tonight from 5-8 p.m. at the gallery, 1742 Pacific Ave. in Tacoma's Museum District.

You need to put your cell phone somewhere besides your front pocket. That's not a good look. Gig Harbor artist Bella Youngok Kim's designs lovely handbags, as well as brooches, earrings and necklaces. Her show at BKB & Company disappears at the end of the month. Stop by 1734 pacific Ave. from 5-8 p.m. and check out her skills.

Oh, and there's a new gallery in town - Brick House Gallery - at 1123 S. Fawcett. Peter McDonal's paintings, Ralff Somoff's photography and Richard Turner's artwork - mighty mighty, just lettin' it all hang out. Shake it down, shake it down now from 5-9 p.m.

UPDATE: Pappi just yelled at me for not mentioning the Karl Krogstad art party at Two Vaults from 5-9 p.m. Check out the details here.

LINK: Weekly Volcano's exhibits calendar

MICHAEL SWAN: FRIDAY, NOV. 20, 2009 >>>

1. The Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular - fires up at 7 p.m. inside the Tacoma Dome.

2. MOVE! - the ongoing modern dance series presented by MLKBallet - presents its 15th installment featuring works joined by Seattle's Spectrum, Tacoma Dance Collective and others at 7 p.m. inside the SOTA Theater. Tacoma musician Vicci Martinez contributed several songs to MLKBallet's pieces.

3. Weekly Volcano visual arts critic Alec Clayton delves into his latest novel, The Backside of Nowhere, at 6 p.m. inside Orca Books.

4. Northwest Snowboard presents its Annual Winter Video Premier at 7 p.m. inside the Capitol Theater.

5. The Uncle Bonsai trio will take a quirky look at modern life through harmony and humor performs at 8 p.m. inside the Pythian Temple, 926 1/2 Broadway in downtown Tacoma.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

MICHAEL SWAN: ONE CITY. 30 DAYS. WHAT WILL YOU DO? >>>
 
Art at Work Month: Friday, Nov. 20

November 2009 marks the eighth anniversary of Art at Work: Tacoma Arts Month. There is something for everyone to enjoy throughout the month: lectures, music, dance performances, readings, workshops, theater performances, visual art exhibits and more.

Here are today’s highlights:

The Tacoma Philharmonic presents the New York Chamber Soloists performing Handel's Water Music at 7:30 p.m. inside the Pantages Theater.

The PLU University Jazz Ensemble will perform inside Chris Knutzen Hall at 8 p.m.

Visiting artist John Miller will be hanging out in the Museum of Glass Hot Shop during lunch from noon to 1 p.m. eat and see really hot glass.

There are many more events today. For a complete Art at Work schedule, click here.

SUZY STUMP: YULE BOUTIQUE THIS SATURDAY>>>

Even if you don't personally celebrate a single holiday in winter - even if you say Hanukkah schmanukah and bah humbug in the same breath as you tell the Kwanzaa candle lighters what they can do with their ujamaa - it's still cold and wet outside, and we know somewhere in your desiccated non-denominational soul there is a desire to share something with others in this dark season. Something merry. Perhaps even bright.

Yes, well, festivity doesn't get any more vague than the description for the Yule Boutique: "The Yule Boutique, sponsored by the PLU Women's Association, is a holiday bazaar featuring quality arts and crafts and a variety of food vendors." There's also a Nordic Sweater Exchange (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) that allows you to sell or exchange "gently-used" Nordic clothing. Those who have been before know it's a feakin' festivus of holidayness.

All are welcome Saturday, Nov. 21 at Pacific Lutheran University's Olson auditorium. Happy mid-November.

[Pacific Lutheran University Olson Auditorium, Saturday, Nov. 21, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., $3, 10th Avenue South and 124th Street South, Parkland/Tacoma, 253.531. 7581]

WEEKLY VOLCANO: MUSIC IN THE SOUTH SOUND TONIGHT >>>

Don't know what to do tonight? Don't worry, we have you covered.

Featuring members of Screaming Trees and Queens of the Stone Age, Seattle band Valis (pictured) has catapulted into space and back creating their own brand of Northwest rock. Check them out tonight with The Hard Way at The Eastside Club Tavern.

New York singer-songerwriter Julia Ilowiecki joins Andrew Vait & The Lonesome Pioneers, and Olivia De La Cruz at 8 p.m. inside Stonegate Pizza.

Freedom Records Present Underride, VIII Days Clean, Cold December, Ashley from "Rock Of Love" at 9 p.m. inside Jazzbones.

Grant Valdes, the singer-songwriter in the Seattle nightmericana band The Empty Moon, is in Olympia at Le Voyeur around 10 p.m.

Columbia, the rock band out of B.C. Columbia with a big sound, plays the New Frontier Lounge with Stefan Paul George at 9 p.m.

Dilithium Piston is at Bob's Java Jive tonight, too.

LINK: More shows in the South Sound tonight

LINK: Concert Alert