Weekly Volcano Blogs: Walkie Talkie Blog

Posts made in: May, 2010 (173) Currently Viewing: 1 - 10 of 173

May 1, 2010 at 8:39am

5 Things To Do: Free Comic Book Day, Fish Food benefit, Music for Lovers ...

SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2010 >>>

1. It's Free Comic Book Day! As the name implies, this is a day when comic book stores and libraries around the world give away comics to people of all ages.  At the Puyallup Public Library, they'll be giving out comic books at the front of the library, and screening movies, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Comic Book Ink also opens at 10 a.m. and will feature Star Wars re-creationists, sketches by Jesse Munoz, costumes and the Dockyard Derby Dames (roller derby chicks love comics!).

2. Elected officials will serve breakfast during the Great Eggspectations 2010 breakfast from 9-11 a.m. at The Spar. During breakfast the 2010 Good Egg Award will be presented, as well as a raffle. Proceeds will go to the Democrat's Victory Fund - to help elect Democratic candidates.

3. Tacoma's Maurice the Fish recording company hosts its third Fish Food benefit concert from 6-9 p.m. inside  Westminster Presbyterian Church, 5236 E. B St., in Tacoma. Daniell Egnew, Raymond Hayden and the Dark Drive Home, Nick Sandy, Eric Montgomery, Savanna, Eric Montgomery and JNC Trio will perform with all proceeds benefiting Fish Food Banks of Pierce County.

4. The Tacoma Concert Band presents "A Russian-American Potpourri: Great Works from Both Sides" of the Pacific featuring guest soloist soprano Heidi Vanderford at 7:30 p.m. inside the Pantages Theater.

5. The Northwest Sinfonietta Jazz Ensemble performs "Music for Lovers" cabaret-style featuring Gypsy-jazz quartet (Sinfonietta artistic director Christophe Chagnard and members of Pearl Django) and Seattle vocalist Stephanie Porter at 7:30 p.m. inside the Merlino Arts Center at Sixth and Fawcett.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

May 1, 2010 at 9:10am

Doughnuts do good, new Brix 25 menu, wine tatsings ...

NOSH PIT >>>

Doughnuts Do Good: Local law enforcement officers won't be inside the Krispy Kreme doughnut shop next to the Tacoma Mall but instead on the roof in order to raise money for Special Olympics Washington.

Spring Menu: Brix 25 in Gig Harbor revamped its menu and rolls it out today.

Wine Tastings: Water to Wine in Gig Harbor will pour complimentary tastes of Croation wines today from 2-5 p.m. The Wine Bank in University Place will pour wines from Walla Walla today from 2-4:30 p.m.

Food Matters: New research on what defines a "foodie" puts gender, race, and socioeconomics on the table.

LINK: Wine and beer tastings, dinners and events

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

LINK: Send us your restaurant and lounge news

May 1, 2010 at 9:20am

Tap Into T-Town today, then party

SCAVNEGER HUNT IN DOWNTOWN TACOMA >>>

Scavenger hunts are fun. The minds behind this year's Tap Into T-Town event know this, just like they know raising money to help support the Tacoma City Kids Marathon is a valiant reason to (re)discover downtown Tacoma. Today, registered teams of four - including the Weekly Volcano's Bordeaux Patrol team - will start at Varsity Grill and wind their way through Tacoma, scavenging, mingling, and having an awesome time - all while raising money for a worthy cause.

The race ends at 8 p.m. with a party and awards ceremony back at the Varsity Grill.

NOTE: Bring back a sailor's hat made from a Weekly Volcano.

[Varsity Grill, Saturday, May 1, starts at 3 p.m., 1114 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.627.1229, tapintottown@ hotmail.com to register]

Filed under: Contest, Tacoma,

May 1, 2010 at 9:54am

NIGHT MOVES: Mecca Normal, The Riffbrokers, Mount Eerie, Tyler Fortier, C.F.A.

Jean Smith and David Lester of Mecca Normal

LIVE MUSIC IN THE SOUTH SOUND TONIGHT >>>

NOISE ROCK: Throughout the month of May, Northern will be hosting a group exhibit of political artwork from Vancouver, B.C. artists. The show will be co-curated by David Lester and Jean Smith, the duo that make up the long-standing noise-rock band Mecca Normal. Saturday will be the exhibit's opening reception, as well as a celebration of Northern's one-year anniversary, featuring a performance from Mecca Normal. If you've never heard them before, well, they're about as minimal as minimal gets: Lester plays guitar and Smith sings, and that's about it. But Smith's poetic lyrics and passionate vocals, not to mention the raucous sounds that come from Lester's guitar, helped pave the way for noise-rock and riot grrrl. If you're in Olympia, this is an event not to miss. Part of Black Dot Museum opening, Saturday, May 1, 5 p.m., all ages, Northern, 321 Fourth Ave., Olympia - Rev. Adam McKinney

POWER POP: The Riffbrokers would sound perfect on vinyl. They remind me of a band whose LP I'd pick up on a stop in a record shop - intrigued by their name and a couple song titles, never having heard them before. I'd bring The Riffbrokers home and listen alone on a rainy day - utterly blown away. Then I'd become slightly obsessed with the band for a couple months, telling all my friends about The Riffbrokers, and the band's sound combination of Creedence Clearwater Revival and REM, but with a singer who sounds like a more subdued Elvis Costello. When my friends would rebuff my offers to play them the record, I'd decide that this music wasn't meant for them anyway. I'd be happy to keep it my secret. With The Lund Bros, Jones Family Fortune, Saturday, May 1, 9 p.m., $5, The New Frontier Lounge, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020  - Rev. AM

LO-FI ROCK: Noise and effects. Noise and effects. Phil Elverum - as The Microphones, or Mount Eerie, or just about any other name in the book, I'd presume - is all about noise and effects. It's lo-fi, and repetitive, and uber-artistic, and the kind of thing that's about as far from the mainstream as you can get without being 4-track recorded monkey sex - but it is epically cool, and you don't even need to be a hipster to appreciate it. Sure, being a hipster kind of helps - it gets your retro sneaker in the Phil Elverum door, so to speak, but once you're inside it's survival of the artistically fittest. Can your mind wrap around the tangled sonic cloth Elverum weaves, like a bohemian David the Gnome, having popped out from underneath some bizarre-ass, Kombucha smelling forest mushroom, acoustic guitar in hand? If it can, Mount Eerie is an enjoyable ride. Or something. With Colonies, Saturday, May 1, 7 p.m., all ages, $8, The Viaduct, 5412 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma, 253.472.1948 - Matt Driscoll

FOLK ROCK: If Tyler Fortier is one thing, it's an up-and-coming, present-tense folk rocker - in a complimentary sense of the notion - based out of lush (read: stony) Eugene, Ore. If Fortier is two things, it's all of the above and a damn entertaining blogger. I know, I know - blogging is a debatable art form, but there's no debating Fortier does it well. In addition to playing a whole slew of shows over the next two months in Oregon, Idaho and Washington - in support of his just released This Love Is Fleeting record, which "dropped" April 15 - Fortier will also be doling out witty lines like this on tylerfortier.wordpress.com: "I played first, tickling some ivory (and by ivory, I mean a plastic keyed digital piano).  I should have prefaced this section by stating the night was billed as "danceable, funky, pop music."  My music ... Not danceable. Not funky.  Not pop.  In fact, my music just wants to make people fucking cry." Awesome. Fortier plays two shows in Tacoma today. Saturday, May 1, 3 p.m., all ages, no cover, Rocket Records, 3843 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.756.5186; 8:30 p.m., all ages, no cover, Mandolin Café, 3923 S. 12th St., Tacoma, 253.761.3482 - MD

ROCK: A band like Cody Foster's Army doesn't come along every day - a dynamic and powerful three-piece with a heavy old school hardcore attitude and an uncompromising DIY approach. Consisting of members of an assortment of legendary Tacoma bands from the last two decades, these guys are no strangers to local rock. Foster plays bass and sings, Dave Takata is the crazy guitarist, and "Reno" David Marseillan is the thundering drummer. Together they are making a name for themselves with a fierce set of raging tunes. They are also gearing up for the release of their debut EP, Smoking Gun, on Violent Hippie Records. Read the full story here. With Zeke, Witchburn, and The Badlands, Saturday, May 1, 9 p.m., $10, Hell's Kitchen, 928 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003 - Potter

LINK: More live music in the South Sound tonight

May 1, 2010 at 10:50am

Peek inside Tacoma's Big Whisky Saloon

Big Whisky Saloon in downtown Tacoma

WHISKEYS, ROCK 'N' ROLL AND COWBOY HATS >>>

Whiskey has always been the drink of dangerous men - cowboys - the ultimate macho accoutrement. Whiskey is what mom warned you about, and there has never been anything dainty about drinking the stuff. In accordance with myth, whiskey is to be belted back in a quick, neck-snapping gesture, from a shot glass or straight from the bottle, by those who are tough enough to take it. 

You can now test your manliness at the new Big Whisky Saloon at the corner of Ninth and A Street in downtown Tacoma. The country music joint that opened last night in the spot that once housed Cans Tacoma - and 53 other restaurants, or so it seems - has dubbed itself a "Whisky Bar" carrying more than 50 whiskeys from around the world.

Yup, no "e." According to a press release, co-owner Roger Rahill who has dual citizenship with Canada "came up with the concept, name and the logo and preferred the Canadian spelling of whisky."

Rahill and business partner Jon Tartaglia (Varsity Grill, The Loft, 21 Commerce) want to make it clear that while the 6000 square foot venue does have a country feel to it with a whisky barrel wall, a true hardwood dance floor, a mounted moose head, staff donning cowboy hats and skimpy jean shorts - plus General Manager Paul Muller came from McCabe's American Music Café - they will play a mix of country and rock via music videos and DJs.

"Roger and I have been dreaming of the country and rock concept for a long time," Tartaglia told me yesterday just after opening the doors. "Funny, Cans was just finding its legs, gaining a large crowd, but we really wanted to open this kind of joint."

Last night's opening saw a mixture of country music fans and folks waiting for the Comedy Underground show to start, which has been housed in the building's basement for years.

"Country and comedy are a natural fit," Tartaglia explains. "Typically, a majority of the comedy crowd comes from Puyallup, Sumner and Orting."

Right now, food consists of burgers, nachos, fries, tater tots and such. A giant projector screen is also on it's way soon.

Big Whisky Saloon will host a Brooks & Dunn pre-concert party with 100.7 The Wolf tonight.

LINK: More photos in our Photo Hot Spot

Filed under: Food & Drink, Business, Music, Tacoma,

May 2, 2010 at 8:40am

5 Things To Do: Beltaine, Tea Bar party, old time radio, BreastFest ...

SUNDAY, MAY 2, 2010 >>>

1. On the heels of the über-successful Third Annual Spring Fairy Festival - which reportedly drew upward of 15 fairies - Crescent Moon Gifts is back today with a Beltaine celebration and May Day celebration all wrapped into one. Beltaine, for those unaccustomed to Gaelic ways, is both the Gaelic word for "May," and an annual Celtic festival celebrating springtime hope and the coming harvest. It's totally pagan, yo. May Day, of course, is, well, May Day. Both are typically celebrated on the first day of May, but apparently Crescent Moon Gifts is throwing pagan convention to the wind. Expect floral wreaths, maypoles, and some fairy fun - as well as a pagan potluck from 4-6 p.m.

2. The Den @ urbanXchange hosts a grand opening celebration for its Tea Bar from noon to 9 p.m. with a sidewalk sale, free tea pours, an art show, Gypsy jazz, trip-hop from Tacoman Ess One and more.

3. We've come a long way. If you need proof, know that we just we wrote that while Skyping in a pizza order, text-messaging my grandma and Tweeting about our last bowel movement. However, sometimes it is nice to look back - as James Venturini and the Lakewood Playhouse will help us do at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m., when they present The Maltese Falcon and The Red Wind in classic, old time radio form at King's Books. The classic mysteries - in old school radio form - should hold audiences captive, if not completely Twitter-free.

4. The Music Giving Back folks presents its annual BreastFest, a salute to mothers with a huge pre-Mother's Day bash at The Swiss to help raise money for breast cancer research. The music lineup includes Deborah Page, China Davis, Heidi Vladyka, and Rosati and The Lonely Guys. The B-Fest runs from 6-10 p.m.

5. Humble Cub, Fat Beavers and ICK perform at 9 p.m. inside The New Frontier Lounge.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

May 2, 2010 at 2:46pm

Team Weekly Volcano takes second at Tap into T-Town

Team Weekly Volcano took a quick second from the Tap into T-Town scavenger hunt to pose with City of Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland.

WE CAN SCAVENGE WITH THE BETS OF THEM >>>

Since its conception three years ago, the Tap into T-Town event benefiting Tacoma City Kid's Marathon has grown exponentially. With approximately 300 participants that made up 73 teams of four, this year's 2010 Amazing Race-style scavenger hunt was nothing less than a complete blast and an absolute success. 

As teams raced through downtown Tacoma yesterday, our very own Team Weekly Volcano - consisting of Jennifer Johnson, Kris Blondin, Bandito Betty, and myself ­set a quick pace from the start, snapping photos of specific landmarks and accomplishing tasks mandated through various clues.

A three-page (front and back) document was handed to each team upon check-in beginning at 3 p.m., and our Weekly Volcano team - which the office tagged "Bordeaux Patrol" - immediately began working on random Tacoma-oriented trivia questions.  As the clock hit 4 p.m., teams were allowed to begin the actual "race" to solve approximately 100 tasks which upon completion gave us anywhere from 10 to 100 points.  No cars were allowed, only busses, foot, and light rail.  Destinations ranged from Stadium Video to Harmon Brewery and everywhere in between.

Half of the tasks required a picture of each team doing said task, while the other half were actual items needed to have in the team's possession upon completion of the race at 8 p.m.  The object was not how you completed the tasks, but that you had proof you did. (Nudge, nudge, wink, wink.) Teams weren't shy about spending a few dollars here and there, nor about downing a shot of whiskey as it was "taking one for the team."  Extra points were given for team creativity, while bribing the judges with cupcakes and alcohol was widely accepted. 

Team costumes showed originality, and Team Weekly Volcano's three favorite team outfits were the female superheroes equipped with capes and all, Team TAGRO who donned fake poo atop white baseball caps (shitheads), and the best of all: Team Titlow Beach, which consisted of team members wearing low-hanging breasts and beach paraphernalia.

Team Weekly Volcano brought home massive prizes in the form of local gift certificates after placing second out of the 73 teams that competed.  We were exhausted, exhilarated, and extremely proud of how well we worked as a team.  We all had one of the best days of our lives at what we think is one of Tacoma's BEST annual events to attend. 

The winning team – which was nameless - consisted of Chelsea Levy, Ryan Mello, Katie Rose and John McDonald.

Just like Babe Ruth, I'm pointing to the grandstand and calling it right now:  Tap into T-Town 2011, Team Weekly Volcano takes home first place.  Period.

LINK: More photos in the Photo Hot Spot

Filed under: Contest, Tacoma, Weekly Volcano, Events,

May 3, 2010 at 6:46am

Cinco en Maxwell's

TAMALES IN A SPEAKEASY >>>

As far as I'm concerned, any excuse to eat Mexican food is a good one. But the celebration of Cinco de Mayo - usually observed over a period of days, not just on the 5th - provides folks with even more ammunition for gorging on tacos, chile peppers, mole, pozole, menudo and burritos, while of course washing it all down with frosty margaritas and Mexican cervezas.

Contrary to common assumptions, the 5th of May - Cinco de Mayo - is not Mexico's day of independence. That's Sept. 15, the day in 1810 when Mexico declared its independence from Spain. What Cinco de Mayo actually commemorates is the defeat of the French army of Napoleon III in the battle of Puebla, when 4,000 poorly equipped Mexicans defeated an army nearly twice the size. That battle ended on May 5, 1862, and Cinco de Mayo is now celebrated on May 5 all throughout Mexico but with added gusto in the state of Puebla, not to mention in U.S. cities with large Hispanic populations.

Wednesday most folks will migrate to a Mexican restaurant to celebrate the French ass kicking. I'd like to suggest an alternative. Chef Matt Colony, bartender David Benefiel and staff at Maxwell's Speakeasy has created a special menu for Cinco de Mayo. Colony grew up in San Diego and surfed in Mexico. Maxwell's Sous Chef Jesus is also from Mexico. Here's their special menu for Wednesday:

Bebidas (drinks)

Loco Show de Burro

Cazadores silver, ginger beer, muddled lemon on the rocks with grilled pineapple $6

Chupacabra

Sauza Gold muddled with red jalapenos, cilantro and lime served up with black sea salt rim and float of goslings dark rum $9

Cinco de Maxwell's Margarita

Cadillac margarita on the rocks with a little coronita tucked right inside of it $12

Comida (food)

Local Rockfish Ceviche Tostadas 

Marinated in citrus, finished with pico de gallo, avocado and lettuce $6

Homemade Tamales        

Your choice pork or chicken on cabbage slaw with cilantro lime dressing and spicy pickled carrots $5

Staff Meal Tacos

With cilantro, onion and lime and choice of meats: beer marinated carne asada or housemade spicy chorizo or adobada charred chicken or chile butter braised lobster $3each or $7for two with rice and beans

Tender Pork Pozole

Pork shoulder slow braised in a mild dried pepper red sauce with hominy and finished with cilantro, onions, avocado, jalapenos, sour cream and grilled corn tortillas $9

Mexican Flan

Creamy caramelized custard  $4

Pastel de Tres Leches

Decadent dulce de leche cake $5

[Maxwell's Speakeasy, 454 Saint Helens Ave., TAcoma, 253.683.4115]

May 3, 2010 at 7:08am

5 Things To Do: Stacy Jones Band, history lecture, Tyrone Patkoski ...

Stacy Jones Band

MONDAY, MAY 3, 2010 >>>

1. The Stacy Jones Bands sings the blues at 8 p.m. inside The Swiss.

2. Mike McGuire of the Fort Nisqually Living History Museum lectures on "Hardly a Scapegrace: A Closer Look at the Life of Joseph Heath, HBC Tenant Farmer and Frontiersman" at noon inside the State Capital Museum.

3. Tacoma Art Supply is showing paintings and sculptures by a wonderfully authentic outsider artist Tyrone Patkoski from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

4. Learn piercing, filing, stamping, hammering, riveting, soldering and simple stone setting with copper, brass and silver on a jewelry scale from 2-5 p.m. at the Tacoma Metal Arts Center.

5. DJ Jason Diamond and friends spin reggae at 9 p.m. inside O'Malley's Irish Pub.

LINK: Movie showtimes in the South Sound

May 3, 2010 at 9:53am

MORNING SPEW: iPad seems popular, Skunk Ape, time travel ...

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Apple sold 1,000,000 iPads in one month.

Actress Lynn Redgrave died Sunday after a seven-year battle with breast cancer.

There's a Skunk Ape in South Georgia.

Foodies, take note: The carts are coming. (The News Tribune)

Stephen Hawking predicts time travel.

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News and entertainment from Joint Base Lewis-McChord’s most awesome weekly newspapers - The Ranger, Northwest Airlifter and Weekly Volcano.

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