OH MY >>>

The site instructables.com teaches you how to make a Valentine's Day cake that looks like a real human heart that spurts blood when sliced!

TUESDAY, FEB. 15, 2011 >>>

Photojournalist and documentarian Melanie Burford was a member of The Dallas Morning News photo team that won a Pulitzer for its 2006 coverage of Hurricane Katrina. She returned last spring to document the human cost of the BP disaster, and next week she's taking a break from her teaching gig at Columbia University to bring these stories to the University of Puget Sound. Her 6:30 p.m. lecture in the Rasmussen Rotunda will consider the topic, "The Monster Under the Water: Delacroix Island Fishermen Defend Their Marsh Against the BP Oil Spill." Her second lecture, tomorrow evening at 6:30 p.m., will be in Kilworth Chapel and cover the "Eyes of the Storm: The Photographic Story of Hurricane Katrina From the Photographers at The Dallas Morning News." Both presentations are free, and the general public is encouraged to attend. Read the full story here.

2. The 8th annual Middle East Film Festival kicks off today screening 30 films through Feb. 23 at The Evergreen State College (Tacoma and Olympia) and Capitol Theater. The films range in length from short documentaries to feature-length productions. The festival will also feature 10 or 11 different speakers. Admission is free to see all films and speakers. Read the full story here.

3. The Banned Book Club will discuss Jay Asher's Th1rteen R3asons Why at 7 p.m. inside the Tempest Lounge. Half-price appetizers for all book club participants are the norm.

4. Poet, scholar and teacher J. P. Newell will discuss Celtic spirituality at 7 p.m. inside the Immanuel Presbyterian Church at North Ninth and J Street in Tacoma. Formerly warden of Iona Abbey in the Western Isles of Scotland, Newell is currently Companion Theologian for the American Spirituality Centre of Casa del Sol in the high desert of New Mexico.

5. You've seen the photos. Now experience the Harmon Tap Room's goldfish Races for yourself beginning at 8:30 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

BE CULTURED FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME >>>>

Have you seen the new Google Art Project? Wow! What an amazing way to kill a few minutes - or a few hours!

It's like the Google street views only instead of pictures of cities and streets it offers tours inside many of the world's great art museums. Seventeen museums to be exact. According to a fine article by Roberta Smith in the New York Times, many of the world's great museums are holding off on allowing Google to document their collections. The Louvre in Paris and the National Gallery in Washington, D.C., are among those not yet included. And some, such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York, have given them only limited access. MOMA has granted Google access to only one of their many galleries and detailed pictures of only 17 of the paintings in their collection.

Navigating through the site can be frustrating. I often found myself kicked into other museums when all I wanted to do was zoom in on a different section of a painting, and trying to navigate through the hallways and galleries can be dizzying and confusing. But if you quit trying to find specific things and just let the site surprise you, it's amazing what you can find. I've never seen such detailed photographs of paintings, and I venture to guess that most visitors to actual (as opposed to online) museums never take such close looks at paintings as they are given on this site.

When you go to the home page it opens on a background image of a tiny section of Van Gogh's "Starry Night" seen in such extreme close-up that the brush strokes in the sky look like mountains and ocean waves, and you can see the weave of the canvas.

I took a look at "Birth of Venus" by Botticelli at the Uffizi in Florence, and the details were so sharp that I noticed for the first time that Venus has dirty fingernails. And you can see where the paint has crackled.

Some of the close-up views are actually larger than life; you see more than you can see in person in the museums. That's not real, it's surreal.

There are plenty of flaws, many of which I'm sure they'll fix, but the flaws are miniscule compared with the thrill in seeing great art in this way. The biggest problem is that once you get started you may never be able to pull yourself away.

MOVIE'S MESSAGE HITS HOME >>>

Mick Flaaen, busily PA-ing for the last few weeks on a Seattle feature film called The Dead Men, broke away briefly to premiere his own first short, Welcome to Parkland, this past Sunday at The Grand Cinema. (I wrote about this project in an earlier edition of Buzz.) When Flaaen broke the news to his Seattle crew, one member scoffed, "You guys do films in Stinktown?"

Ouch. As a retort, please indulge me in borrowing a witty utterance from Welcome to Parkland: "What a f***in' DOUCHE!"

Good, I feel better.

"That attitude needs to be changed," Flaaen told a theater bursting with supportive friends and family eager to witness his debut. An outsider betrays true ignorance when still comparing Tacoma to a cultural wasteland. Welcome to Parkland's  very completion serves as the latest victory in local artists' seemingly unending battle against such stereotypes.

The film's heroine, 20-something Kin Lennon (played by Kim Whalen), wrestles with a similar problem. As she tells her coffee shop companion, Vince (Jarod Morgan), Kin's relatives have always shaped her conception of Ray (August Kelley), her estranged father. All her life she's swallowed opinion without tasting truth. But when Ray approaches death, she approaches Ray and makes a bold offer.

Admitting one's faults and mistakes, not only to one's self but to others wounded by a cold humanity, takes courage. This is Parkland's greatest lesson, a lesson the closed-minded should welcome with open arms.

For viewers' comments about the film and updates on future screenings find Welcome to Parkland on Facebook.      

LINK: More movies

PEDAL TO THE MEDAL ON THE HYPE MACHINE >>>

As we've no doubt drilled into your cranium by now, the Weekly Volcano's Best of Olympia 2011 Issue hits the street this Thursday. It's awesome. I've seen it (read: been completely immersed in it for the last three weeks, leaving me blurry eyed and completely incapable of unbiased opinion).

And, of course, we have our big-ass Best of Olympia 2011 Party coming up - Thursday, Feb. 17 at The Brotherhood. The Dirty Birds, Western Hymn and Morgan and the Organ Donors will provide the free music, and Oldschool Pizzeria will provide the free pizza (no joke). Music starts at 9 p.m., but consider arriving a wee-bit early - Bobble Tiki eats a lot of pizza.

In anticipation of Thursday's release of Best of Olympia 2011, we'd like to present a few honorable mention staff picks, which didn't quite make the print edition, but remain awesome nonetheless.

Best Theater Cocktails

Harlequin Productions

The themed beverages created for many Harlequin shows aren't quite as consistently excellent as the onstage fare, but they're a refreshing alternative to the same old wine and coffee. One notable libation was offered during Sixties Chicks and developed by production manager Jill Carter:

White Rabbit

• 1 part vodka (Smirnoff preferred)
• 1 part white cranberry juice
• 1 part white grape juice
• Dash of bitters

Combine and pour over ice. Garnish with a maraschino cherry. - Molly Gilmore

Best Marquee

Tenino 76 Gas Station

One time the downtown Subway marquee boasted, "It's eat healthy month!" A clever employee decided to switch it up to say, "It's eat pussy month!" This is the most brilliant sign I've ever seen. But, since that employee was undoubtedly fired, and Subway's sign has been boring ever since, the old Tenino 76 station takes the award in this category. Although they don't have their sign anymore, they still deserve props for years of entertaining passersby with great slogans like, "Buy two burritos, get Rolaids half off." - Nikki Talotta

[76 gas station, 397 Sussex Ave., Tenino, 360.264.4848]

Best Place To View Really Big Outdoor Sculptures

Monarch Contemporary Art Center And Sculpture Park

Monarch Sculpture Park boasts a variety of artistic sculptures from 140 local artists - there is a really large butterfly, a hedge maze, bird houses and a variety of sounds in the music garden. There is a stream and a pond on site that beg to be explored and a center that hosts special events. On my first visit there was a school group visiting, and they seemed to have a problem with the artistic nudity of some of the sculptures. So you can look forward to that as well. Monarch Park is free but accepts donations. This is a great place to take a walk and then have a picnic in the summer months ... especially if you don't have a problem with the occasional nude sculpture. - Brooke McKenzie  

[Monarch Sculpture Park, 8431 Waldrick Road SE, Tenino, 360.264.2408 monarchartcenter.org]

Best Taunt

"Get The Sevin Dust!"

This one was suggested by my friend Ben Matthews, who clearly spends many an idle hour in Sylvester Park. If, like me, you know Sevendust as the Georgia heavy metal quintet that gave us "Driven," "Enemy" and the Atlanta Falcons anthem "Falcons on Top," then the mocking chant oft heard as "Get the Sevendust" will confuse you at best. In point of fact, though, the Atlanta shredders (and the old Mac OS virus, SevenDust, aka "666") drew their handles from Sevin, the trade name of a Bayer-produced lawn insecticide, Carbaryl (IUPAC chemical name 1-naphthyl methylcarbamate). It's the third leading bug killer in the U.S. I cite these obscure lawn chemistry factoids merely to explain why said taunt is frequently hollered in response to the percussive stylings of downtown drum circle peaceniks. Fans of Sevendust drummer Morgan Rose will, no doubt, be relieved: No connection is implied between Rose and dirty hippies. - Christian Carvajal

[Sylvester Park, corner of Capitol and Legion, Olympia, 360.753.8380]

LINK: Best of Olympia Party Facebook

This week ...

Place: Warthog Barbeque Pit

Established: 1999

Location: Fife

Founder: Gary Kurashima

Closed for deep cleaning: Christmastime

Curtains: Black ruffles with chili peppers

Stuffed dead animals: 30

Sweet tea: Yes

Built: Inside the Kingdome

Previously: Log cabin model home

Seating: Indoor and outdoor

Capacity: 50-100 guests

Catering: Yes

Music: Country

Number of Thin Mints I ate while writing this: 8

To read the full story, click here.

ONLINE CHATTER >>>

Today's comment comes from Alison, in regard to Volcano editor Matt Driscoll's interview and feature on Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist, originally published in November of 2009.

Alison writes,

Excellent writing in this article. I find the writing in The Volcano so exceptional compared to our corporate daily newspaper. I was a lead reporter for the defunct Tacoma Reporter. It seems likes eons ago. I just happened upon this article. I don't know how I missed reading it when it came out.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 16 >>>

1. Kids can be major dicks, especially to gay kids. With homosexuality becoming a more prominent theme on television, and in movies and music, kids are coming out earlier and earlier, and being around others kids, doesn't it puts them right in line for some old-fashioned playground bullying. Tacoma Art Museum is opening an installation on today in the George and Mary Davis Gallery that presents a selection of works by David Wojnarowicz with online access to the It Gets Better Project, the program started by Seattle columnist and author Dan Savage to inform LGBT youth that, yes, it does indeed get better. Artist Wojnarowicz narrowly escaped a viciously abusive family life to wind up as a homeless, underage street hustler in Manhattan in the early '70s dealing with HIV/AIDS, homophobia and dicks. Check it out the art of Wojnarowicz from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

2. Project:U, the 20- and 30-somethings who party and raise money for the United Way of Pierce County, will take over CORK! A Wine Bar from 4-10 p.m.  Owner Nick will donate 20 percent of the proceeds over the party people for them to do good. It's awesome, really.

3. Singer-songwriters Neal Woodall and Lisa Kuhlman will perform on the indoor porch of A Rhapsody In Bloom Florist & Cafe Latte beginning at 7 p.m.

4. Ya mon, Jazzbones' Wednesday Sessions welcomes Higher Vibes at 8 p.m.

5. Doyle's Public House's Knowledge Night Team Trivia games is so awesome they hold it twice every Wednesday - 8 and 9 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Half-price wine bottlepalooza

EXCELLENT FARE WITH A SURPRISING SOURCE >>>

A rising trend in the Tacoma area seems to be pseudo-gourmet food being offered in unlikely places. The standard hangover-helper breakfast menu gets a makeover at Dirty Oscar Annex, a bar that also features live rock bands and an open mic. Cook Kyle Wnuk, who designed the entire menu, uses garlic, béchamel and cream in his made-to-order Italian sausage gravy that graces hand-dredged chicken-fried steak. Also worth checking out are pork belly hash with sweet potatoes and roasted red peppers, breakfast flatbread with egg and béchamel and huevos ranchero with cilantro crema.

Unexpected ingredients are used in appetizers and entrees, too.

"As much of it that can be is made in-house from scratch," says Wnuk.

For starters, there are the hot wings drenched in a pineapple-hoisin glaze. Then there's the half-pound Dirty Burger, a signature dish quickly becoming a popular picture to post on Facebook. The Dirty Burger is made from hormone-free 100% Certified Angus Beef straight from Oregon.

Where did Wnuk get these culinary skills?  The culinary program at Seattle Central Community College and through experiences working at places that serve up the dish-delicious like the Dash Point Lobster Shop, the Cliff House, Sophia Bistro and Il Fiasco, that's where.

Response to the menu has been amazing according to Wnuk. "People are taking pictures of the impressive plates coming out of a bar," he says. 

Wnuk's desire to create a menu of "better dishes" using quality ingredients,  and make it accessible to the everyday person, is being realized. The price point tops out at $13 (average $7), helping insure bar patrons can afford to try things they might not be able to at other restaurants. Braised elk Bolognese rigatoni and an air-cured beef bresaola with goat cheese, poached asparagus and a raspberry-Pinot Noir reduction will be added to the menu this week. These are some of the dishes one would typically see at finer places, places that have cloth napkins and waiters in long black aprons.

[Dirty Oscar's Annex, 2309 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.572.0588]

PEDAL TO THE MEDAL ON THE HYPE MACHINE >>>

As we've no doubt drilled into your cranium by now, the Weekly Volcano's Best of Olympia 2011 Issue hits the street tomorrow. It's awesome. I've seen it (read: been completely immersed in it for the last three weeks, leaving me blurry eyed and completely incapable of unbiased opinion).

And, of course, we have our big-ass Best of Olympia 2011 Party coming up - also tomorrow, Thursday, Feb. 17 at the Brotherhood. The Dirty Birds, Western Hymn and Morgan and the Organ Donors will provide the free music, and Oldschool Pizza will provide the free pizza (no joke). Music starts at 9 p.m., but consider arriving a wee-bit early - Bobble Tiki eats a lot of pizza.

In anticipation of Thursday's release of Best of Olympia 2011, we'd like to present a few more honorable mention staff picks, which didn't quite make the print edition, but remain awesome nonetheless.

Carv's Vote for Best Theater

Harlequin Productions

I used to think of Harlequin as the company that did amazingly polished productions of scripts I wasn't crazy about. (I'm especially reminded of Under a Mantle of Stars.) But over the last two years, it seems, Scot and Linda Whitney and I have grown together, and in 2010 they oversaw a run of shows that flat blew the doors off the place. End Days and Rabbit Hole were nearly flawless the nights I saw them, and even in a chaotic dress rehearsal, Scot's Taming of the Shrew was a bold experiment that paid off in spades. Not to take away from Olympia Family Theater or Olympia Little Theatre, both of which had killer runs, but End Days launched Harlequin into deep space.  - Christian Carvajal

Best Daytrip

Intercity Transit's 600 buses

Feeling blue 'cause she left you? Down on your luck 'cause nobody understands, man? I understand. I understand that you need to get away on a little vacay from the humdrums of spangin' in Olympia. Hop one of the 603's Northbound, bro. Head up to the 512 Park & Ride in Lakewood, or as I like to call it, "The Hub of Possibilities." You can smash a Pierce Transit east to Puyallup to see some "culture," head north to Tacoma Mall to swoop on chicks or take things straight to downtown Tacoma to have your mind blown. The world is your oyster, bro. Find the pearl. - Scabby McCrusto

Best Park For Kids

Tumwater Falls Park

Just up Capitol Way and beautiful in all seasons, this park calls for attention. A super place to bring the family with nice trails, gorgeous waterfalls, fish runs, history and a great playground with big concrete boats for pretending to sail the high seas. And for the adults, the old Olympia brewery is in sight, prompting memories of the warm smell of yeast and hops and the ole five o'clock whistle blow. - Nikki Talotta

[Tumwater Falls Park, Deschutes Way SW, Tumwater, 360.943.2550].

Best Fountain Blast

Heritage Park Fountain

Ahh, a hot summer day, a clear blue sky and a slight breeze blowing off the Sound. Is there any better sort of Olympia day? What's that?  Something's missing? A powerful blast of running water perhaps? Thankfully, Heritage Park Fountain has those cooling blasts so crucial for us "not used to a degree over 75" kind of Olympians. With 40 different water spouts ejecting at any given moment, the fountain is a ticking time bomb of watery refreshing-ness. (Yes, it's a word.) Plus, a crowded day at the fountain also makes for another excellent summertime activity: watching people try to pass off jeans shorts as a bathing suit. - Brett Cihon

[Heritage Park, Evergreen Park Drive SW, Olympia]