A TRUE FAMILY PLOT >>>

The high from Hollywood's last-minute holiday batch of Oscar contenders and decades-old franchise rehashes has somewhat fizzled and been replaced by the January doldrums. (Season of the Witch, anyone?) But the lull hasn't stopped local filmmakers like Rick Walters from busily completing projects in time for the festival circuit.

Walters' short, entitled Scamp, barely made the Seattle International Film Festival's Jan. 3 deadline. Seattle composer Jeff Tolbert worked quickly on a score, as did sound designer Jon Goff of Adhesive Records. Walters and director of photography Chris Taylor (who together are Adventus Films) hand-delivered their work to the SIFF office right on the due date. Walters jokingly recalls the moment as "not very ceremonious ... we handed it in and kind of waited for something."

Unfortunately Walters and Taylor will have to wait until April to hear if their efforts make this year's running.

Scamp spins a seriocomic yarn about a father-son team living on Tacoma's streets who get by on their Artful Dodger-esque schemes. Shooting with a high-definition Canon EOS 7D, the crew captured several neighborhood landmarks, including Foss Waterway Bridge and the downtown UWT campus. Walters stars as the conniving patriarch, barely recognizable under a massive ghetto beard, while his real son, Race, plays opposite him, making this a true family adventure.

"This(film) was like an opportunity for us to do something together," says Walters. "It was a really cathartic experience."

While writing the script, Walters drew from memories of his time as a homeless teen in Portland twentysomething years ago. Now 35 and in the military, he enters the new year with a new work that both entertains and redefines what wealth, happiness and family all mean.

For updates and a look at the trailer, check out Scamp on Facebook or at the official Adventus Films website

TODAY IN ONLINE TALK >>>

Today's comment stems from last week's article on the Tacoma All Ages Music Project, an effort headed by Jeremy Bushnell and Josh Brumley - both with former Viaduct ties. The Tacoma All Ages Music Project is concerned with the lack of opportunities and venues for under-age bands in the area, and has been working for the last few months to improve the situation.

Sam Olsen writes:

"Playing music and getting together with young people is almost illegal in Tacoma. I haven't had legal fun in this town in years. People talk about revitalizing Tacoma, but it ain't gonna happen if you drive all the cool young people out of town."

ACES UP >>>

Joshua Olsen, Jason Adams, Tyler Adams, Nicholas Platter of the band Aces Up recently joined the Weekly Volcano Band Profiles section. "It’s been said that country music belongs in the South, but Aces Up is changing that with their unique Northern blue collar country sound," so states their bio in their Band Profile. They also list their upcoming CD release show alerting the Weekly Volcano community of their awesomeness.

Here is another biography snippet they wrote on their band page:

"True stories, real emotions and honest music are what Aces Up brings to the table."

See, they're talking full advantage of our Band Profiles awesomeness.

Meet the 154th South Sound band to join our site - Aces Up - here. 

LINK: Hey bands! Join our community

TUESDAY, JAN. 11 >>>

1. See the Saint Martin's University men's basketball team on real TV for the first time ever - as they battle the Western Oregon University Wolves tonight on Fox Sports Net.

2. It's Tuesday, which means it's - obviously - time for "Ha Ha Tuesdays" at Jazzbones. Tonight, comedian Andy Andrist gets the laughs going.

3. In the mood for a great cup of coffee, something tasty, and perhaps a little acoustically woven classic rock? Oh, and want it to be all ages, so you don't have to worry about what to do with the kids, or whether you'll need your fake ID? Try Josiah & Sam Bogle tonight at the Mandolin Café. The duo starts at 7 p.m., and there's no cover charge.

4. Are you kind of broke, but still need sustenance and more importantly beer? Try Tightwad Tuesdays at Hell's Kitchen - think $2 beers, $2 wells and $2 for any taco.

5. If you're going to enter the science fair in Puyallup, you may as well have success. Are we right, or are we right? Tonight, check out the Puyallup School District "Science Fair Information Night" at the Puyallup Fair and Events Center. The schooling starts at 6:30 p.m.

TACOMA ART MUSEUM CELEBRATES NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE AND ARTS >>>

We know about Mighty Tacoma, the photo exhibition of Tacoma landmarks and portraits at Tacoma Art Museum. But Tacoma was mighty before most of us were here, and TAM acknowledges this proud history with a celebration of Tacoma's Native American heritage.

Sunday, Jan. 30 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. the museum will be alive with Native celebration and art as the public is invited to experience the heritage and the arts of thePuyallup Tribe and other Coast Salish groups. The Coastal Native Celebration is an annual event featuring cultural performances and hands-on art activities for all ages. And here's the really good part: the museum is offering free admission all day.

"We are pleased to continue this annual event honoring our community's Native American heritage and artistic traditions," says Stephanie A. Stebich, director of Tacoma Art Museum. "We invite everyone to come and create memories with us as we connect our past to our present through art."

Cultural performances will include drumming, dance and singing from local tribes as well as Native storytellers who will share their talents and their tales throughout the day. (There better be stories about Coyote the trickster.)

Hands-on activities will include traditional basket weaving and other crafts.

Local artist Linda Levier will demonstrate jewelry making and help visitors create their own traditional Native American necklaces. There will even be a chance to look at and buy a variety of items from local artists including wood carvings, jewelry, silver works, regalia and basketry.

Food inspired by Coastal cuisine from Jonz Catering will be served the The Workz Café.

While at the celebration, take some time to enjoy the artwork of two exhibitions that will soon close: The Movement of Impressionism: Europe, America, and the Northwest and Edo to Tacoma: Japanese Woodblock Prints from the Collection. Where else can you find Native American art, European and American Impressionism, Japanese prints and local history all in one stop?

Also, stop in and have your photo taken in the exhibition Mighty Tacoma: Photographic Portrait 2010. For more on the interactive Mighty Tacoma photo portraits go to the "Picture Yourself Here" page on the TAM website and become a part of the exhibition.

Also coming soon: A Night in Japan with guests from the Consulate-General of Japan, Jan. 20 from 5-8 p.m. Japanese treats will be served and there will be a screening of the anime film Miyori's Forest (Miyori no mori). It's free.

NEW LIVE CONCERT SERIES FILMING IN OLY >>>

I recently visited The Evergreen State College to meet with the individuals behind the local concert series, Olympia Winter Nights. Upon sitting down with the show's creators, talk does not begin with logistics, planning or any of the other topics one might expect to start off an interview. Instead, we talk about winter.

"The winter is dark, people stay indoors," explains Evergreen student and audio studio intern Scott Tipton. "And we built (Olympia Winter Nights) to coordinate with the winter season."

Tipton says it was important to incorporate the idea of winter into the Olympia Winter Nights (OWN for short) for a couple of reasons. Not only will OWN, a live concert series in the vein of PBS's "Austin City Limits," be shot in the winter, but he also believes that the dreary Olympia winters serve as a source of inspiration for area artists. It is this wintery inspiration he hopes to foster, and capture, with OWN.

"You got to have something to do in the winter months," says Tipton. "And we wanted to provide something to do in the winter months."

The first of the four episodes is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. on Jan 14. The first show will open with guitarist Patrick Meyer playing an acoustic guitar. The second act will be the Curious Mystery, a band on Olympia's K Records label. There are about 30 open spots in the CCAM studio for spectators to come watch the performance in studio.

Check out the full story, including extensive interviews with those behind OWN, in this Thursday's issue of the Weekly Volcano.

TODAY IN ONLINE TALK >>>

Today's comment comes in from Joy, reacting to Alec Clayton's recent "Visual Edge" column on Spaceworks Tacoma, recycled art, and specifically Barbara De Pirro and Holly Senn. In the first line of the column, Clayton admits he's growing weary of recycled art.

Joy says:

"Wow! What happened to the volcano. What I see in the glut of recycled art is artists inspired by and inspiring others, relearning making using ironically unstudied materials. I see artists developing with the only materials they have close at hand and affordable. I see people who are examining their life styles and behavior. And I see art that is accessible to everyone not only those who live in big cities or have a lot of money. Recycled art is activism, it is interesting, colorful, diverse and available to all."

This week ...

Thing: My short-lived career at 99 Bottles

Term of employment: One month (seasonal)

Times I fucked up the register: Three

Customers I pissed off: None! (I think.)

Who I irritated the most: Craig Adamowski

Work BFF: Dennis Best

Types of beer at 99 Bottles: Over 1000

Shelves I dusted: 35

Bottles and Glassware I cleaned: 1,426

Cuts on hands from bottle caps: 12

That my pride is long gone becomes painfully apparent during situations like public pleas for employment, like last November when I updated my Facebook status asking for a part-time job.

Only one of my 408 "friends" responded to my Facebook plea: Tiffany Adamowski of 99 Bottles. Lucky her.

I jumped on the offer to temporarily work at her beer store, which she co-owns with husband Craig Adamowski, during the busy holiday season. Get this: I was going to get PAID to work with BEER ... which is mainly purchased by MEN. Oh. Hell. Yes.

What I quickly learned upon my arrival at 99 Bottles is that, without having any other valid reason for wanting it, men will go nuts for beers mentioned on television and radio shows. (Hello, Men's Room and Bitches Brew.) 

I learned that Mac & Jack's only comes in a keg, bacon beer does exist and canned beer is completely underrated. I was educated on European versus domestic hefeweizen, beers aged in bourbon barrels and how mead is made. Oh, and the "perfect pint" glass made by Samuel Adams? AWESOME. Go get one. Now.

My favorite thing to do at 99 Bottles was listen to Tiffany Adamowski talk beer.  That girl knows anything and everything there is to know about beer and how it's made: what it's made from, how it's brewed, where it came from and in what way you should drink the beer. Cold? Warm? Type of glass? Keg stand? She can answer those questions. I'd like to suggest attending 99 Bottles weekly Wednesday beer tasting with Tiffany from 4-8 pm.  Completely worth the $1.

Aside from the random girl who came in talking like a northwest version of yesterday's valley girl (learn to annunciate, please), working at 99 Bottles provided me with a plethora of beer knowledge, a handy holiday paycheck and a sweet discount on anything in the store. With all that good grub, who needs pride?

[99 Bottles, 35002 Pacific Hwy S, Federal Way, 253.838.2558]

PERSON, PLACE OR THING LINK HUB

LINK: Community Produce and Jason Barker

LINK: Sabrina T. Scale of Menchie's Frozen Yogurt in Federal Way

LINK: Puyallup Forza

LINK: Spartacus T. Ladle of Infinite Soups

LINK: Louie G's Pizzeria "Little Italy" Pizza Challenge

LINK: Aaron Tumale, dough-tosser at The Rock Wood Fired Pizza & Spirits

RIDER ALERT OUT OF PIERCE TRANSIT HEADQUARTERS >>>

ALL Pierce Transit routes are now operating on snow detours.  For information on snow route detours please visit piercetransit.org or call our 24-hour hotline line at 253-984-8155 with pre-recorded snow detour descriptions.

Tips for riding the bus in snow and ice:
-  Wait for the bus at the top or bottom of the hill closet to the stop.
-  Signal the bus so the operator has plenty of time to stop.
-  Wait until the bus stops and the door opens before approaching the bus.
-  Use the handrails when getting on and off the bus.
-  Wear highly visible and warm clothing.

That is all.

Update from Pierce Transit: RIDER ALERT
5:30 AM
Wednesday, January 12, 2011:
ALL Pierce Transit routes are now operating normally, no longer on snow detours. 

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 12 >>>

1. Local grunge and feedback driven band Dreams Jaded will rock Hell's Kitchen tonight. If you like the idea of your ears ringing on a Wednesday night, this one's totally in your wheelhouse.

2. If you're in Oly, and you like the idea of sitting criss-cross-apple sauce and listening to some well-written, emotionally-weighted tunes, check out Kimya Dawson, Defiance OH and Your Heart Breaks tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Olympia Timberland Library.

3. It's "Wacky Wednesday" at Chalet Bowl in picturesque North Tacoma. What exactly does this mean? Tough to say. What we do know is it's an all-you-can-bowl extravaganza for two hours - 9 - 11 p.m. - and it costs $5.50 a person.

4. If you're reading this, you probably passed on the opportunity - but there's a 40-mile training ride led by the Tacoma Wheelman Bicycle Club kicking off at 9:30 a.m. today at the Proctor District Starbucks. Peddle fast and you might still make it ...

5. Ah shit. It's college night at Masa in Tacoma - one of the sexiest places to get your groove on in T-Town. Also, Masa wants you to know "Your Girlfriend's Favorite DJ" is spinning - so that's a good thing, right? The action really gets smoking around 10 p.m.