MONDAY, JAN. 25 2010 >>>

1. Barefoot Collective's 8@8 event gives performance artists eight minutes to showcase their work before an audience at 8 p.m. inside the Tacoma City Ballet Studio B at the Merlino Arts Building.

2. Historian Todd Smith discusses how Washington state's national parks changed during The Great Depression and World War II from noon to 1 p.m. inside the State Capital Museum.

3. The PLU University Orchestra will perform repertoire from their January 2010 Alaskan tour from 4-6 p.m. inside Lagerquist Concert Hall.

4. The Swing Reunion Orchestra featuring Melanie Vail will perform "A Celebration of Swing" at 7 p.m. inside the Imperial Dragon restaurant.

5. Billy Roy Danger & the Rectifiers perform at 8 p.m. inside The Swiss.

LINK: Live music tonight in the South Sound

GOOD SUPPORT DURING THESE TRYING TIMES >>>

Bikinis Espresso Bar, one of Lakewood's many bikini espresso stands, will knock 25 cents off your cup of coffee if you say the word "bra" today. That's nice.

IT'S PRESSURE, BUT NOT >>>

Television book clubs have their positive points. They get people reading and talking about literature. Sometimes they reward debut novelists whose work would otherwise founder in obscurity.

However, I generally don't look for recommendations when it comes to books. That's because a significant part of experiencing literature for me is the element of discovery. I would rather learn something on my own than have it taught to me because then it becomes a part of who I am. I like challenging books. I love to encounter foreign and new intellects.

That said, the Pierce County Library System recommmends a good one.

The Pierce County Library System selected the best-selling Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise by nationally known award-winning author Ruth Reichl as the Pierce County READS book for 2010, which begins today and runs through April 3. The memoir tells the accounts of famous food critic Reichl and her secret adventures as an undercover food critic for the New York Times in the 1990s.

I recommend it.

LINK: Pierce County READS Web site with events

MUSICALLY SPEAKING >>>

Mondays. Blah. Here we go again. Every week I tell you off, and six days later you're always right back in my face. I truly hate what we have together. I wish you'd get hit by a bus.

But since that's unlikely to happen, Monday, you're so careful when you cross the street - here's a look at what's coming up this week, musically speaking, in the pages of the Weekly Volcano and at weeklyvolcano.com.

Poppin' Wheelies

The Weekly Volcano's Rev. Adam McKinney tracks down Pat Doherty, lead singer and guitarist of Tacoma pop band Wheelies. In his column in Thursday's paper, McKinney chats with Doherty about Wheelies' recording style, which McKinney calls a "photocopy of a photocopy of lo-fi."

McKinney has a point. Wheelies record on what they call an "old Window 95 computer."

Helping Haiti

Did you know prior to last Friday's Hope for Haiti telethon, Sting had sexual intercourse for 36 straight hours, all for the people of Haiti? That's pretty impressive. It's a Tantric feat that should really make you wonder about ways you can help too.

On Saturday, The Color East, Bandolier, Portland's SuckerForLights and Norman Baker will play a benefit for the Red Cross and the people of Haiti at The New Frontier. Short of extended lovemaking, which - let's be honest- isn't going to raise Sting money for you anyway, attending Saturday's show and throwing down the $5 cover charge is a good start.

Or more. If you throw down $10, you receive a free copy of The Color of East's debut CD, In the House of Endless Light - which, having heard the record, is a pretty sweet deal.

The Volcano talks to The Color of East guitarist Vinny Beatty in Thursday's Volcano.

Trip the Light

We loved them so long ago (OK, not that long ago), and then they disappeared.

Now, they're back.

Or did they ever leave?

The Weekly Volcano will answer all these questions and more, including, "Does Tacoma get you?" when we sit down for a Q&A with Trip the Light Fantastic, purveyors of brainy, experimental, blue collar rock. Specifically, we'll chew the fat with guitarist Tyler Pratt. Look for that Q&A to post here, on Spew, in two installments - Wednesday afternoon, and Friday afternoon.

Honorable mention

November Witch, Yellow Cross, Grizzle Grazzle Tune Snugglers, Red Hex and The Dirty Birds: Look for them all in print or online this week.

THE GOLDEN TICKET >>>

And ... March 7 is the day. Oscar day. The day all those little-golden-statue-grubbers have been losing sleep over. You want to watch, you know you do. Food, raffle, silent auction, cash bar, live broadcast of the show - yep.

The Grand Cinema will throw its annual Academy Awards Party Sunday, March 7 inside the Rialto Theater. Buy your tickets before Friday, Feb. 5 and save $3. After Feb. 5, the price goes up to $18 general admission and $15 for Grand Cinema members. Buy your tickets here.

NOSH PIT >>>

Beer Dinner: Tonight at 7 p.m. will be Pacific Grill's first beer dinner. The chef tasting beer dinner will feature Belgian Abbey Beers paired with a five-course dinner. The cost is $65 per person. Reserve your spot at 253.627.3541.

Wine Tasting: A Forgeron Cellars wine tasting will be held tonight between 5:30-8 p.m. at Pour at Four in Tacoma. Marie-Eve Gilla, winemaker and part owner is coming over from Walla Walla to pour her wines and brag about them. The tasting is complimentary.

Plan Ahead: Salty's at Redondo Beach hosts a Prawn Boil Thursday, Feb. 4 from 5-8 p.m. Will you're inside sipping wine, Chef Gabe Cabrera will slaving over a boiling pot of pickling spice, Tabasco, Worshestire and lemon outside on Salty's deck. Reserve your spot at 253.946.0636.

Food For Thought: Rumors say that the U.S. will soon lift the ban on the Scottish delicacy haggis. Happy Robert Burns Day!

POKE ME IN THE EYE WITH A CHOPSTICK >>>

Chinese brunch may be the best brunch of all, at least that's what goes through my mind every time I visit Kirin Seafood Restaurant in downtown Vancouver, B.C. Hell, there's another 25 dim sum joints up there with carts full of baskets and bowls, all steamy and smelly and packed with surprises.

Pulling the cord from chest once again: There isn't dim sum in the South Sound. Right? Please tell me I'm wrong.

Therefore, I'll be front and center when Naomi Kakiuchi leads a dim sum class Wednesday, Feb. 3 at the Bayview School of Cooking. She'll show the crowd how to roll, wrap, pan fry and steam sesame balls, hum bow, vegetable spring rolls and sui mai.

Torture, really. I'll sip her Cantonese tea, sample the delicacies, and then it's back to the frustration.  

[Bayview School of Cooking, Wednesday, Feb. 3, 6-8:30 p.m., $50, 516 W. Fourth Ave., Olympia, 360.754.1446]

TUESDAY, JAN. 26, 2010 >>>

1. REI offers a free GPS 101 class at 7 p.m. You can find it at ·47° 13.333' N and 122° 27.95' W

2. Audio Atonement presents an all-ages show featuring The Ghost Inside, For The Fallen Dreams, Suffokate, Your Demise, Oblivion, Cowardice, and Culling The Weak at 6 p.m. inside The Viaduct.

3. Doug Walsh discusses your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health at 7 p.m. inside Marlene's Market & Deli in Tacoma.

4. Comedian Ralph Porter hosts Ha Ha Tuesday with opening MC D Lamont Hall and guest comic Rodger Lizaola at 8 p.m. inside Jazzbones.

5. Saxophonist Kareem Kandi hosts an open jazz jam at 9 p.m. inside Sax Restaurant.

LINK: Live music and DJs tonight in the South Sound

WHEN IN DOUBT, GO OLD SCHOOL >>>

Last week, Click! Cable TV launched a new channel exclusively for Tacoma Area cable TV customers: ReelzChannel. Found on channel 59 for Click! customers, ReelzChannel is devoted to movies, featuring reviews from top critics along with extended interviews with today's top stars. It's basically TV about movies with original programs that offer a fresh perspective on the movies, from behind-the-scenes to what to see tonight.

I flipped it on late last night but fell asleep with the channel on. I woke up this morning, and the first thing I saw was a commercial for one of those quick-loan, get-money-fast places, and the woman in the commercial ran into a beauty shop screaming about her hair being a mess and how badly she needed some money. Nothing all that unusual, I guess, but in the background, there was a woman with smoke billowing from her hair. But enough about all of that.

With all the Conan vs. NBC vs. Leno vs. Letterman events of the last few weeks, ReelzChannel can transport you back to a more dignified time with Carson's Comedy Classics weekdays at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. (7 a.m., 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. in February). The program highlights the most memorable moments, variety sketches, and stunts from the first 20 years of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

THEMTUBE >>>

Have you seen Merende's YouTube cooking demonstrations? Here's Chef Jeff and crew making gnocchi:

By the way, Merende added an "Italian Taco" to its happy hour menu. Wild boar, Fontina cheese, arugula, and caramelized onion are stuffed into a gluten free soft shell and decorated with salsa verde. The two good-sized tacos ring in at $5.