Weekly Volcano Blogs: Walkie Talkie Blog

Posts made in: November, 2010 (158) Currently Viewing: 151 - 158 of 158

November 30, 2010 at 9:26am

5 Things to Do Today: Drink Sailor Jerry Rum, more barstool bingo - this time with Mama Glo!, Ha Ha Tuesday and more ...

Alice Stuart: She's either pooping or playing the blues

TUESDAY, NOV. 30 >>>

1. "Sailor Jerry" Collins is an American cult icon of sorts - famous for his place in the history of tattoo, and now gaining notoriety for the rum that bares his name. Friday, Tacomans will have a chance to catch a special screening of Hori Smoku, a pretty fantastic documentary about Sailor Jerry himself. To build hype for that event, and even better as a good excuse to drink rum, two Sailor Jerry parties will go down today in Tacoma - one at The Swiss and one at Gruv Lounge.

2. Just can't get enough barstool bingo? Thinking of going pro? Seems like you can hone your skills every day of the week in the South Sound. Tonight, take your game to Gloria's Bar & Grill at 8201 Pacific Avenue for Barstool Bingo with Mama Glo! Action runs from 7 - 9 p.m. Need we say more?

3. It's Ha Ha Tuesday at Jazzbones. Grab a Grey Goose and lemonade, or some sake, or whatever, and have a few laughs with host Ralph Porter and headliner Nancy Reed.

4. Get your jazz fix at Pacific Lutheran University tonight when the school's jazz combos from the Jazz Studies department hold their "Final Exam" concert. Action goes down in The Cave, starting at 5 p.m.

5. Alice Stuart plays the Red Wind Casino tonight. If you're in Yelm, or aren't above traveling to Yelm, this one should be good.

November 30, 2010 at 10:00am

Mistledole: Lindquist Dental Clinic for Children

Carolyn McDougal, president and CEO of Lindquist Dental Clinic for Children, works to ensure that no child is turned away due to the family’s inability to pay. Photography by J.M. Simpson

DONATE TO A LOCAL CHARITY >>>

There's no better way to support your community than supporting your neighbors in need, especially during the holiday season. We'll feature local charities on Spew throughout this holiday season with links to donate your money, supplies and time.

Give the karmic wheel a spin for today's charity focus:

Lindquist Dental Clinic for Children

Clinics in Parkland, South Tacoma, Gig Harbor and Buckley
253.539.7445

Healthy teeth are important for good health and self-esteem.

According to the 2000 Surgeon General's report, "Oral Health in America," tooth decay is the single most chronic childhood disease - five times more common than asthma and seven times more common than hay fever.

The 2003 Pierce County Needs Assessment survey pinpointed that finding and accessing dental care to be in the top five overall needs and service needs throughout Pierce County.

Read more...

November 30, 2010 at 11:33am

Calling all Guilty Ones!

The cast of "Spring Awakening"/photo by Andy Snow

WAKE UP! >>>

The Pantages Theater will be converted into a 19th-century German reform school Saturday, Jan. 22 when the Broadway musical Spring Awakening arrives for two shows. The Tony Award-winning production follows the story of Wendla and Melchior, two star-crossed teens who seem to encounter every possible teenager obstacle in their relationship: Their parents don't understand them, their friends are abused and suicidal, and they just want to love each other.

It's a show laced with profanity and anthems of angst and sexual rebellion.

Read more...

November 30, 2010 at 1:08pm

The life of a theater critic

WHY I DO THIS >>>

I don't sleep well the night before a negative review goes online. There are probably critics who enjoy shredding the dreams of theater artists, but I don't happen to be one of them. I try to keep my critical writing, if not impartial, then at least devoid of personal attacks. You won't see me, for example, sharing gossipy dirt on the people who work in and around the South Sound arts community, no matter how juicy or seductive that gossip might be. It's the only way I can express my opinions without being fairly accused of succumbing to vendettas. I've been doing theater - as an actor, then a playwright, then a director - for decades longer than I've been writing about it, and I care about it more than I probably should. That informs all my reviews, and I try to assess the efforts of others as generously as I would have them assess mine.

It's one thing to evaluate child actors or even amateur thespians at Olympia Little Theatre (OLT). They almost always get a pass. It takes guts to take one's first steps onto the boards, and a professional critic should lower his or her expectations, as should discerning audience members. It's quite another to post a bio full of creative accomplishments ("Dale Pretentious has directed over 60 shows in three states"), then phone it in. I will catch you. I know it's just "one man's opinion," but I am one man who's paid - is still paying - hard-earned money to know exactly what he's talking about.

As in Almost Famous, I try to judge creative efforts "warmly and accurately." I've written kudos to people I don't like and stinging dismissals of people I do. I imagine I've lost any chance of friendship or even mutual respect with some of my targets, and that never fails to sadden me.

So why do I do this? First, the Volcano pays me to write about an art form I love. That kind of employment doesn't come often. Second, I hope I can help to improve the work of beginners by defining what went wrong. And third, I harbor this tiny, self-delusional hope that by holding my fellow artists to the lofty standards of which they've already proven themselves more than capable, I can help make South Sound theater even better, more creative, cathartic and relevant, than it already is.

Of course, I still direct and tread the boards myself, so the handle of my critical dagger turns out to be yet another dagger. This week I begin rehearsals as Zelnick in Tacoma Little Theater's production of Frost/Nixon. So if I've annoyed you with any of my writing (and I plan revisit one of those offenses down the road), it should cheer you to know I'll be subject to the same critical body blows, courtesy of the Volcano's Joe Izenman or Joann Varnell in mid-January.

For more of my writing on a variety of subjects, please visit Carv's Thinky Blog at www.ChristianCarvajal.com.  Also, feel free to buy my debut novel, Lightfall, at an independent bookstore near you. It's between Lewis Carroll and Raymond Carver, which is patently hilarious.

Filed under: All ages, Arts, Olympia, Tacoma, Theater,

November 30, 2010 at 3:46pm

One Hot Panda

Hot Panda will be at Northern in Olympia Dec. 6.

THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO >>>

Hailing from Edmonton in Alberta, Canada, Chris Connelly and Hot Panda make joyous, vibrant and super-melodic indie rock that has no other desire than to pick you up off your lazy, Twittering ass and spin you dizzy on the dance floor. Connelly's voice strains and spits from behind a wall of overdriven guitars and bouncing keys.

On Monday, Dec. 6 Hot Panda will stop into Northern in Olympia, part of a West Coast tour the band will launch Friday in Vancouver, BC. In addition, and to whet your whistle, Magnet Magazine premiered the band's latest single yesterday.

Closer to home, the Volcano's Rev. Adam McKinney interviewed Hot Panda for a story soon to be birthed onto this very website. Until then,  some YouTube fun ...

Filed under: All ages, Music, Olympia,

November 30, 2010 at 7:20pm

The NEA drive is still alive in Tacoma

BROADWAY CENTER SCORES ONE, TOO >>>

Last night we posted a ditty about the Tacoma Arts Commission's awesome news of their $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Tonight, the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts throws on the party hats with the news that they scored a $25,000 grant from the NEA. Let's read about it:

Read more...

Filed under: Arts, Music, Tacoma,

November 30, 2010 at 9:20pm

Free rum tonight!

The Sailor Jerry Girls are hanging out in Tacoma tonight. They're giving away free rum drink and bitchin' bottle openers.

PROMOTIONS ARE COOL >>>

The Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum Girls are hanging out at The Swiss for another 30 minutes tonight then heading over to the Gruv Lounge and Nightclub at 10 p.m. They're pumping Friday's Blue Mouse Theatre screening of Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry - the documentary of Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collins, who is famous for his place in the history of tattoo, and now gaining notoriety for the rum that bares his name. We bring this to your attention because the Jerry Girls are handing out tickets for free rum drinks tonight. The Swiss is pouring them stiff. With a name like Gruv, we can only assume the Gruv Lounge will do the same.

Sail on Sailor.

December 1, 2010 at 6:22am

Grab a cup of Dutch chocolate this morning

Bam!

THE FINER THINGS IN LIFE >>>

Lately, it seems that my discussions with foodies about chocolate are sounding more and more like conversations about wine. To begin with, every chocoholic I know has memorized data from recent research studies indicating that chocolate is good for you. Supposedly, it supplies a chemical to the brain that provides a sensation similar to love, or at least lust. This is comparable to the French paradox with red wine, wherein wine drinkers felt liberated by studies showing the health benefits of moderate wine consumption.

That explains why I lust for Caffe Dei's hot chocolate. L-U-S-T. It's the real deal.

I applaud the efforts of Caffe Dei owners Shane Siegfried and Shuanna Holt to raise chocolate appreciation in Tacoma to the level of that for fine wine, scotch and cheese. After all, chocolate makes you feel good and, compared to, say, a Chivas Regal Royal Salute (50-year-old), it's very cheap.

Caffe Dei pours 100 percent pure dark Dutch chocolate - melted down into liquid form - into a cup, then adds the customer's choice of milk: whole, soy, hemp, rice and so on. No sugar. No Styrofoam with plastic flip-up tab. Just a velvety smooth, rich concoction with an amazing mouth feel. And that's without Caffe Dei amping up the pleasure with a touch of their homemade Mexican chocolate to the mix, which I imagine would sweeten it a bit.

The price for their hot chocolate is $2 for 8 ounces, $2.50 for 12, and $2.95 for 16-ounces. The 12-ounce option in a mug is optimal. I left without feeling full - just happy.

Caffe Dei


Monday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday-Friday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
2607 Sixth Ave., Tacoma
253.572.2550

LINK: Previously on Spew

Filed under: Food & Drink, Tacoma,

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