MICHAEL SWAN: THE SCORE WILL FINALLY BE SETTLED >>>

Mozart versus Beethoven. One of the oldest rivalries in classical music. A battle that will resume Saturday, Nov. 14 and Sunday, Nov. 22 when the Northwest Sinfonietta and Tacoma Symphony Orchestra pit the two composers against each other at the "Mozart Meets Beethoven" concerts. Rosemary Ponnekanti of The News Tribune wrote a wonderful preview piece on it today.

I dove a bit deeper with a Google search and found the two composers had battled it out for brief period of time from 1784 to 1786. Below were the results:

Greco-Roman Wrestling: Mozart
100-Meter Dash: Beethoven
Pole Vault: Beethoven
Backgammon: Mozart
Tobogganing: Beethoven
Plate-Spinning: N/A
Competitive Hot-Dog Eating: Mozart
Mechanical Bull Riding: Push

History shows the two classical musicians were evenly matched.

Saturday, Nov. 14 Maestro Christophe Chagnard of the Northwest Sinfonietta and Maestro Harvey Felder of the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra will lead the battle when the Northwest Sinfonietta performs Beethoven's Coriolan Overture, Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 25 and Don Giovanni Overture and Symphony No. 35 "Haffner" in the Rialto Theater.

Sunday, Nov. 22 the two maestros will settle the score once and for all when they lead the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra in Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro Overture, and Beethoven’s Emperor Piano Concerto and Symphony No. 5.

Expect an all out battle … in tuxedos.

[Rialto Theater, Saturday, Nov. 14 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 22, 2:30 p.m., $19-$77, 310 S. Ninth St., Tacoma, 253.591.5894]

REBEKAH CORCORAN: LOCAL VETERAN'S ARTWORK ON DISPLAY FOR VETERAN'S DAY >>>

Tacoma Art Place - the nonprofit art center located in Tacoma's Hilltop neighborhood - hosts the bronze and copper works of local veteran Charles Minton through the end of the month. His work is amazing. He first draws the artwork on transfer paper by hand and then hammers and crafts every detail into intricate designs.

As a veteran, Minton is well aware of the struggles and joys of military life. He gives back to the military community in several ways. One of the ways he does this is by honoring military members who are killed in action. He donates his time and his artwork to create individualized pieces for these heroes and provides them to Fort Lewis.

TAP will be honoring all veterans during Minton's reception on Veteran's Day from 5:30-7:30 p.m. TAP encourages veterans and their families to come to the reception as well as check out what TAP has to offer.

If you are a TAP member, you are invited to a special member's only viewing of Minton's work with Washington state's First Gentleman, Mike Gregoire at 1 p.m. on Veteran's Day. If you are not a member, you can join at the door.

[Tacoma Art Place, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 1 p.m. members only reception, 5:30-7:30 p.m. public reception, 1116 11th St., Tacoma, 253.238.1006]

RON SWARNER: FOOD MATTERS >>>

Show Off Your Wine: The Dockside Bistro and Wine Bar in Olympia offers a $1 cork fee every Tuesday.

This Is Bogels: Panera Bread has invented Bogels - bite-size pieces of their Cinnamon Crunch bagel coated with cinnamon and sugar prepackaged in cup holder friendly containers of six or 12. Panera Bread is in the Lakewood Towne Center, along Point Fosdick in Gig Harbor, at the Lacey Market Place and on South 320th Street in Federal Way.

Plan Ahead: Chef John Edwards will teach a class on How to Cook a Thanksgiving Dinner Wednesday, Nov. 11, 6 p.m. at the Bayview School of Cooking in Olympia. The school will also teach a Cranberries Beyond Relish class Nov. 15. Reserve your space at 360.754.1448.

Food For Thought: If your plate is bigger than 9 inches across, you're going to eat too much, one expert says.

MICHAEL SWAN: TODAY’S HAPPY HOUR DISCUSSION TOPIC >>>

Discuss the above video over happy hour at:

McMenamins Spar Café & Bar
114 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia, 360.357.6444
Happy Hours: 3-6 p.m., 10 p.m. to close daily
Drink Specials: $3.30 McMenamins Ales, $2.75 Coors Light, $2.25 PBR, $3.30 wells, Edgefield Wine $5.50 a glass
Food Specials: $3 beer garden burger, $4 nachos and black bean quesadilla, $5 wings, several $1-$2 appetizers

LINK: More South Sound happy hours

MICHAEL SWAN: WEDNESDAY, NOV. 11, 2009 >>>

1. Art House Designs in Olympia hosts three top-notch musicians - Hammond B3 organist Wil Blades, drummer Scott Amendola and saxophonist Skerik - for a night of amazing funky jazz beginning at 8 p.m.

2. The Washington State Dept. of Veteran Affairs has a pdf of Veteran's Day events here.

3. Artist Joe Feddersen discusses his upcoming Pattern Recognition show at 11:30 a.m. in the Evergreen State College Lecture Hall 1. The show opens in the Evergreen Gallery Nov. 16. Feddersen's Vital Signs show is on exhibit through Jan. 10 at the Tacoma Art Museum.
 
4. Japan's jazz export, 14-time Grammy nominee Toshiko Akiyoshi, performs with the UPS Jazz Band at 7:30 p.m. inside the Schneebeck Concert Hall.

5. Guitarist Jonny Smokes performs at 9 p.m. inside The Swiss.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

RON SWARNER: FOOD MATTERS >>>

Veteran’s Day: Famous Dave's BBQ Restaurant is offering a free meal from their select menu for all active military and retired veterans with a military identification card today.

Veteran’s Day: Krispy Kreme is giving away free doughnuts to all veterans and active military personnel today.

Veteran’s Day: Cutters Point in downtown Tacoma Today offers any 16-ounce drink for $2 to all veterans.

Veteran’s Day: The Red Hot will offer $3 craft pint to those with military ID.

Thanksgiving Class: Chef John Edwards will teach a class on How to Cook a Thanksgiving Dinner tonight at 6 p.m. at the Bayview School of Cooking in Olympia. Reserve your space at 360.754.1448.

Plan Ahead: Duke’s Chowder House celebrates International Chowder Day Thursday, Nov. 12 by giving away clam chowder all day and night until they run out. Duke’s is at 3327 Ruston Way in Tacoma.

Food For Thought: Time’s 10 worst fast food meals.

LINK: Weekly Volcano’s Eat & Drink section

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

LINK: South Sound Happy Hours

LINK: Wine and beer tastings

MICHAEL SWAN: ONE CITY. 30 DAYS. WHAT WILL YOU DO? >>>
 
Art at Work Month: Wednesday, Nov. 11

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:

Draw with Warren from 9-10 a.m. at Tacoma Art Supply. Warren has some awesome warm-up moves to show you. Bring your own materials.

Marcus Amerman and Preston Singletary are in the Hot Shop at the Museum of Glass from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Tacoma Art Place hosts an opening reception for artist and local veteran Charles Minton and his copper and bronze works. The members-only reception is at 1 p.m. The public reception is from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

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

MICHAEL SWAN: Q&A WITH AMY MCBRIDE >>>

Does your cash flow feel perpetually dammed? (Or is it damned?) Sometimes one’s inner accountant needs a little assistance, especially for artists whose lives paint a more complicated and expensive existence in a burgeoning arts town.

Get help this weekend at the Tacoma Arts Commission’s free, two-day Arts Symposium, which is part of the Art at Work: Tacoma Arts Month celebration. Sessions such as “Get Your Name in the News,” “Artists in the Internet 101,” and “Arts Legal Clinic” await at the University of Puget Sound.

I threw a bunch of questions at Tacoma Art Commission czar Amy McBride concerning the Arts Symposium. Thankfully, she answered them.

WEEKLY VOLCANO: What’s the concept behind the Arts Symposium?

AMY MCBRIDE: The goal of the symposium is to connect artists and arts organizations with the business skills they need to be successful and competitive. Unfortunately, these aren't topics that are well covered in art school and/or they are less fun than creating art and don't often get the same attention.  What is great about this art symposium is that the people we bring in to teach specialize in the arts, so I think there is a shared language and comfort level that contributes to the greatest learning and information sharing.

VOLCANO: Are seats still available in the classes?

MCBRIDE: Yes, there’s still room. We have expanded our presenters this year and participants will have access to representatives from some of the most important arts service/support agencies in the state.

VOLCANO: What classes will rock Tacoma’s world?

MCBRIDE: In addition to the drop-in legal clinic â€" which is popular and there are only a few slots left â€" there is a drop-in business clinic for both individual artists and arts organizations. Miguel Guillen from Artist Trust and Andy Fife and Michelle Chiachiere from Shunpike will be there to answer specific questions. I personally value the opportunity to bounce specific ideas off of people if I am trying to develop something or get started in an area that is new. These drop-in sessions are a new idea this year.

There are some sessions that are appropriate to arts organizations like "Fundraising: Know your Supporters & Build Your Voice" in addition to those geared toward the individual artist/sole proprietor arts business and there is a lot of crossover.  Most sessions apply to artists from all disciplines as well.  This isn't just for visual artists.

VOLCANO: What else is new this year?

MCBRIDE: Another new addition is the Artist Spotlight. Robert Horner is creating public art for the Center for Urban Waters and will share his project but also talk about what it is like to be relatively new to public art.

Barb Luecke the Public Art Manager from Sound Transit will be here to share her years of expertise about applying for public art and can illuminate how to get involved with the Sound Transit STart program. Some projects are coming our way, so it is a good chance to get the skinny.

VOLCANO: You kick off each morning with coffee a half hour before the classes. Nice. Is the coffee free? Is it any good?

MCBRIDE: Coffee and snacks are provided and I have to say the UPS catering is awesome. The brownies are great. 

Pre-registration is required for the Arts Symposium. Contact Tacoma Arts Commission cultural arts specialist Naomi Strom-Avila at 253.591.5191 or by e-mail to get in on the action.

[Wyatt Hall, Saturday, Nov. 14, 9 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 15, 10 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., free, University of Puget Sound, 1500 N. Warner, Tacoma, 253.591.5191]

MICHAEL SWAN: THURSDAY, NOV. 12, 2009 >>>

1. The Mad Hat Tea Company presents paintings, photography and collage works by Glory Cancro, plus the soulful sounds of Stephanie Johnson, henna by Jada Moon and tarot by Voxxy Vallejo from 7-10 p.m.

2. Artists Mary Ann Peters, Helen O'Toole, Eric Elliott, and Danila Rumold will discuss their exhibition Gathering Image, Fugitive Form at 3:30 p.m. inside the Kittredge Gallery on the University of Puget Sound campus.

3. Filmmaker Byron Hurt’s will be at Pierce College Puyallup at 7 p.m. to screen and discuss his latest documentary, Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes, which explores hip-hop’s relationship with violence, sexism, masculinity and homophobia

4. Puppet master Jeff Dunham and his outrageous suitcase posse will be at the Tacoma Dome around 7:30 p.m.
 
5. Polka Dot Dot Dot, Church, Letters, and Google Maps play an all-ages 8 p.m. show at Northern in downtown Olympia.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

RON SWARNER: FOOD MATTERS >>>

Free Chowder: Duke’s Chowder House celebrates International Chowder Day today by giving away clam chowder all day and night until they run out. Duke’s is at 3327 Ruston Way in Tacoma.

Plan ahead: The New Frontier Lounge will begin serving lunch Friday, Nov. 13. Pull up a chair at 301 E. 25th St close to the Tacoma Dome. Clip out the coupon in the Weekly Volcano.

Food For Thought: Food Network to launch series called WORST Cooks in America.

LINK: Weekly Volcano’s Eat & Drink section

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

LINK: South Sound Happy Hours

LINK: Wine and beer tastings

LINK: Restaurant coupons