BE SHARP >>>

Steve Dunkelberger, our Meat Market man about town who snaps photos of drunken people doing crazy things, will host two photography workshops Saturday, Feb. 26 at at Tacoma Art Place - 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. His focus will be digital camera photography touching on exposure, metering and composition.

After a classroom instruction, Dunkelberger will take students around Tacoma snapping and yapping. A post tour brag and critique session back at TAP will end the class.

Bring your camera, an open mind and a sense of adventure.

The cost is $25 for TAP members, $35 for non-members. Sliding fee scale/scholarships are available. Dunkelberger will donate all class fees to TAP.

Reserve your spot at (253) 238-1006 or rsvp@tacomaartplace.org. If you email your RSVP, please include your phone number.

Tacoma Art Place

1116 S. 11th, Tacoma
253.238.1006

FALL IN LOVE OR SNORT COCAINE - IT'S YOUR CHOICE >>>

According to Medical News Today, falling in love affects intellectual areas of the brain and triggers the same sensation of euphoria experienced by people when they do cocaine. Researchers from Syracuse University found that when someone falls in love, several euphoria-inducing chemicals, such as vasopression, adrenaline, oxytocin and dopamine are released simultaneously in the brain.

Researchers also found that when couples had just fallen in love, their blood levels of NGF (nerve growth factor, the molecule key in romantic chemistry) had significantly risen. Syracuse University Professor Stephanie Ortigue believes their findings confirm that love does have a scientific basis.

So, on that note. Happy molecular based, non-fated Valentine's Day week!

FORMER EVERGREEN PROF'S BURLESQUE DOCUMENTARY >>>

Two years ago Red Vaughan Tremmel taught a course called "Gender and Sexuality: History, Culture, and Politics" at The Evergreen State College - typical Evergreen stuff. Now he's teaching at Tulane University and he's a fellow of Columbia College's Ellen Stone Belic Institute for the Study of Women and Gender in the Arts and Media Fellowship Program. He's a very busy man. Plus, he's a filmmaker working on an exciting project. Vaughan is in the midst of creating a documentary film on the history of burlesque centered around the world's first and only museum dedicated to the art of the striptease.

The film is called Exotic World & the Burlesque Revival. Lots of footage has already been shot, and there is information, including sample footage, online.

"We just finished doing the voice-over with Margaret Cho and hope to have (the film) completed by this June," he tells me via e-mail.

Burlesque performer Jennie Lee, known as "The Bazoom Girl," and her husband began preparing to build the museum in the Mojave Desert by collecting photos, props, stories and other materials from retired strippers beginning in the late 1950s, but it didn't really come together until the 1980s when she teamed up with another exotic dancer, Dixie Evans, known as "The Marilyn Monroe of Burlesque." The museum was located in an old goat farm in the desert. It was named Exotic World.

Jennie invited strippers to come to the museum and share their experiences. An annual retreat became something of a Mecca for exotic dancers.

Jennie died in 1990, but her husband and Evans kept the museum alive. The annual reunion of strippers that Jennie had started continued and gained fame. Young performers and older retired strippers began to flock to the annual reunions turning the unique museum at the old goat ranch off Route 66 into a national phenomenon. It sparked an international revival of the art of burlesque.

In Exotic World & the Burlesque Revival Red Tremmel has documented the history of burlesque and the revival of the art as seen through the museum.

Exotic World has now been renamed The Burlesque Hall of Fame.

GRUV TEMPTS YOUR AFTER-HOURS TASTE BUDS >>>

For those who want to party (or at least dance) until the sun comes up, Tacoma's electronic music dance club, Gruv Lounge, will offer a late-night dining menu during extended hours of operation on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays between 2 and 6 a.m. Aaron Grissom, the creative mind behind the unexpectedly good bar-fusion menu at Gruv Lounge, gave a few teasers last week as to what that will entail.

"Gruv aims to provide quality choices for hardworking hospitality industry folks just finishing their shifts," Grissom says. Besides the major chain restaurants like Denny's and Shari's that are open 24 hours a day, this might make Gr?v the only place to get an actual meal in a sit-down environment after midnight in Tacoma.

Hearty Harrison Ranch New York strip loin steak will be served with two fried eggs, crazy-good slab bacon, Parmesan gravy and Grissom's own style of butter-fried hash brown. A stand-out dish is Three Little Pigs, as Chef Grissom has dubbed it, a  house-made breakfast biscuit is sliced and placed open-face to hold a mound of pulled pork and maple sausage drizzled with Vermont maple syrup with bacon to complete the pork trifecta. Some items from the regular menu will be available, too. No alcohol is served during after-hours, so let the Red Bull flow.

Gruv Lounge and Nightclub

Late night dining - 2-6 a.m.
3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma

This week ...

Person: Aja Pound
Hometown: Tacoma
Career: Esthetician
Marital status: Single
Longest relationship: 3.5 years
Why they broke up: Not in love
Hopeless romantic: No, realist
What she's looking for in a man: Honesty, sense of humor, not in a club
What she is: Easy going, caring, social
Are her parents reading this: Yes
Would I have mentioned her virginity or lack thereof if they weren't: Absolutely

Read the full column here.

ELECTION SHOWS WHO'S WILLING TO PAY FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT - AND WHO'S NOT >>>

Pierce County residents decided to reject Proposition 1, a decision that officials say will result in reduced transit services throughout the county beginning as early as July. Roughly 55 percent of voters chose to reject to measure. Perhaps more disturbing, only 33% percent of Pierce County's registered voters bothered to vote in decision that has big ramifications for our community.

Organizers of the Save Our Buses campaign, which encouraged voters to approve the measure, were disappointed but not shocked by the results.

"It was a tax increase in an anti-tax climate," explains Save Our Buses campaign manager Justin Leighton.

Leighton attributes much of the loss to a self-serving mentality amongst voters who do not use public transit or live in parts of the county that receive limited or no service. "Many voters had a sentiment of ‘if I don't use it, why should I pay for it?" he says.

 "You often see a similar sentiment concerning school bonds," he explains. "Not everyone understands the overall benefit of education, and (they) say because they don't have a kid or relative in the system they don't want to pay for it."

The map linked below released by Gecommons.com and Chris Karnes shows the approve/reject trends throughout the county. Tacoma strongly supported the measure, as did the core are of Puyallup, and much of Lakewood. However, the sprawling suburban and rural areas of Pierce County overwhelming rejected it. 

"We won Tacoma by 55 percent but lost a lot of other areas by over 60 percent," explains Andrew Austin, Field Director for Transportation Choices Coalition and Steering Committee member of Save Our Busses. "The urban ‘yes' vote wasn't enough to offset the suburban ‘no' vote."

It is now inevitable that services will be cut, and Austin says that the voter map should be considered by the County as they prepare to make tough decisions about where and how they make cuts.

"This map shows who is willing to pay for transit services," he observes.  "I hope that using this (map) Pierce Transit will have a serious conversation about shrinking their boundaries to places where they can better service communities and people have indicated that they want it."

LINK HUB

Pierce County Auditor's Special Election results

GeoCommons map breaking down the regional voting trends

TODAY IN ONLINE TALK >>>

Today’s comment comes from (presumably) theeeee Denis Flannigan, in regard to theater critic Christian Carvajal’s recent review of The Last Schwartz.

Flannigan writes,

My daughter Ann appears in, "The Last Schwartz," so filial delight is acknowledged. For me, the review hits the mark. Production is spot on, set amazing, and the talented cast captured every morsel of magic. Left over plot devices don't annoy during the play, only after you think about it. Harlequin offers many a treasure for South Sounders. Oh, if you go, tell Ann, she's marvelous.

THURSDAY, FEB. 10, 2011 >>>

1. Gary Edward Keillor, the Minnesota raconteur better known to millions of Lutherans as "Garrison," will be appearing at the Pantages Theater for a night of rambling tales of Northern life, plus folk harmonies with Robin and Linda Williams.

2. Brooks Dental Studio, also the home of ArtSpace B, is celebrating Valentine's Day four days early by hosting an exhibit of Chris Sharp's "message-laden paintings." The first hundred guests will receive a handmade valentine by the aforementioned Sharp, plus a free decal.

3. The much beloved Kim Archer and Nick Sandy host an open mic every Thursday at the Tempest Lounge. And it's a good one. Here's a full listing of live local music tonight in the South Sound.

4. Comedian Tommy Savitt visits Tacoma Comedy Club tonight, taking the stage at 8 p.m. Start your weekend early with some laughs.

5. In Oly, check out the always-awesome Vagina Monologues at The Evergreen State College Recital Hall. The show starts at 7:30 p.m., and will cost students $7, and old fogeys $10.

LOCK YOUR DOORS, DRAW YOUR SHADES, LISTEN TO PUNK ROCK >>>

I've never liked Valentine's Day. In third grade-as was customary-my classmates and I were required to pass out Valentine's Day cards to one another. Later in class, someone walked around the room with a trash receptacle for people to dispose of their torn-up envelopes and such. Having read and absorbed every cursory, impersonal card I had received, I then took my arm and swept the pile of cards and paper off my desk and into the trash bag. My classmates collectively gasped and I was suddenly the worst person in the world.

To this day, that is the feeling I get from this godforsaken holiday. Refusal to participate automatically labels one a curmudgeon or some euphemism for a sad, lonely, insensitive asshole.

But I know I am not alone! As V-day fast approaches, I am certain there are others who share my exasperated sigh at the thought of having to endure another year of this exclusionary bullshit.

It is for you that I provide "Happy Loving Couples," a timeless anthem of the anti-lovey-dovey. It is performed by none other than Joe Jackson, that king of snide misery.

Those who hate Valentine's Day but are generally in support of love may find solace in "Not Given Lightly." Performed by Chris Knox, the godfather of New Zealand indie rock, it's genuinely one of the most touching love songs in existence. Sings Knox, "This is a love song to John and Leisha's mother. This isn't easy; I might not write another." One of the most endearing qualities of "Not Given Lightly" is how clearly uncomfortable Knox is with the idea of writing a love song; that he is compelled to do it anyway is what makes this song truly special. You really believe him when he promises that he doesn't say this to just anyone.

Brace yourself for the 14th; be wary of impersonal love notes.

TRIBUTE BAND GREATNESS >>>

In this week's Volcano, Steph DeRosa offers up her take on the South Sound's best "tribute" bands. (It's not online yet, so you'll just have to pick up a paper, dammit.)

Tribute bands, you see, are far different that run-of-the-mill cover bands (or at least DeRosa is adamant about proclaiming this). Her piece this week is provided as a guide to help you relive some of music's greatest moments and bands.

Naturally, as part of the article and list, DeRosa spoke with the locally legendary Hell's Belles, far and away the world's most top-notch all female AC/DC tribute band.

Sadly, not all of the Belles responses would fit in print.

Luckily, we have a blog ...

STEPH DEROSA:Usually men in bands have bras and panties thrown up on stage. What is most often thrown up on stage during a Hell's belles set?

Mandy Reed (playing the part of AC/DC's Cliff Williams): I think we have had a good mixture of things thrown on stage...surprisingly just as many bras as men's boxer shorts...maybe even more bras.

LisaB (playing the part of AC/DC's Malcolm Young): Same type of thing, really.  Mostly women's bras.  Gratefully, we don't get much in the way of panties.  Occasionally, people get really carried away and throw dangerous objects like drinks, but it's almost always because they are just having a really good time and not because they are mad.  Unfortunately for us sometimes, they just throw whatever they have on or in hand.

Adrian "Angus" Conner (playing the part of AC/DC's Angus Young):  Some kind of baseball cap. People like to challenge my Arizona hat. I just like the A on it. 

DEROSA: Your performances look to take a lot of stamina.  Do you have a workout regimen?

Reed: I personally don't work out as much as I should, which is probably why I always feel like I've been run over the next day after a show.  I know Adrian does a lot of swimming, yoga and Pilates, which keeps her in really good shape. As much running, jumping, and rolling around on the ground with all that high-octane energy, it's a good thing she has the drive to keep fit.

LisaB: Everyone does their own thing.  I have a current injury due to my over zealous workout party.  Sometimes if we are really inspired, Adrian and I will work out together when we are on the road. 

Conner: Yes, I swim laps. Light Yoga. Light Pilates. Totally boring new school rock n roll lifestyle. 

DEROSA: ‘80s pop artist Terence Trent D'Arby (Sananda Maitreya) was rumored to have said he had sex more than he washed his dreadlocks.  Would that be the same for Hell's Belles lead guitarist, Adrian Conner?

Reed: Uh...I'm probably gonna leave this one for Adrian to answer...

LisaB:  Adrian????  I think you should answer that one. 

Conner: I WISH!!!!!!!!! I love my sexing. 

DEROSA: Crowd's favorite song?

Reed: AC/DC has sooo many great, well written songs, that it's hard for us to pick one, let alone a crowd.  We have all kinds of shout outs for different songs coming from the crowd.  I think the greater population says they like the Bon era stuff better, but I'm willing to wager a big portion of them have a Back and Black record in their collection.

LisaB: They seem to really love the big ones.  "Back in Black," "You Shook Me" and "Highway to Hell."  Oh yeah, and "For Those About to Rock. "

Conner: Tie between "You Shook Me" and "Highway to Hell"

DEROSA: Band's favorite song?

Reed: This list can go on forever. We cannot pick just one. SOME of the band's favorites include (but aren't limited to) "It's A Long Way To The Top," "Problem Child," "Riff Raff," "Down Payment Blues," "Overdose," "Shoot To Thrill," and "Rock n Roll Damnation." I'm probably forgetting a whole lot here.

LisaB: I know that we all have fun playing "Have a Drink on Me." "Shoot to Thrill" is super fun.  "Walk All Over You" and "Problem Child" are also favorites.

Conner: I can't speak for everyone... but the one we play is "Shoot to Thrill." The ones I love that we WILL be playing soon: "Long Way To The Top" and "Ride On."

DEROSA: Ever suffered any injuries during a show?

Reed: I don't recall suffering injuries DURING a show, except Adrian once bloodied her lip trying to stage dive with guitar and all...there may be more that has happened on stage that I'm not remembering...  However, we've played a lot of shows with injuries happening from somewhere else.  For example, Lisa has played shows with a broken hand, Adrian has played shows with a badly sprained ankle, and I've played not long after having carpel tunnel surgery. 

LisaB: YES!!!  Someone, in their hysterical love for AC/DC, knocked into my mic which in turn, knocked out my tooth!  I scolded the audience after that.   One time, during an Angus spin, Adrian came into contact with some glass that had broken because someone tossed it up onto the stage (see question number 1) and she cut herself up pretty good.  We had to administer first aid on the side of the stage.  

Conner: Cut leg from Broken glass in Portland. Almost broke me tooth, but didn't at Hell's Kitchen. Sore knees. Almost every weekend I get a little rug burn from spinning. But my knees, man, ow.  In thirty years, you might see me with a walker. 

DEROSA: Many theorists have analyzed the name "AC/DC". What would you say the AC/DC stands for in the world of Hell's Belles?

Reed: If we are speaking of the actual term "AC/DC" I believe the Young brothers got the idea off of their sister's sewing machine.  AC/DC as a band and their music stands to be one of our greatest musical influences as musicians, and are at the top of our list as being our rock-n-roll heroes.

LisaB: In the world of Hell's Belles AC/DC means "Let There Be Rock!"

Conner: Recently the Donkey Show asked if our cup sized matched AC/DC. At first, I didn't know if I could answer the question without pissing off the girls and compromising the "strong women" theme of our band. But then I got curious, because that's really funny. And our boobs are awesome. So I asked the girls and we are AC/DDDDC.