WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2011 >>>

1. Although we are not huge fans of mass-market American "beer" - there are times when drinking anything else would be wrong. And camping accounts for five of the top 10 times when it's absolutely correct to drink this swill. We doubt that will be a part of REI's 7 p.m. "Camping Basics" class, but you never know. What we do know is the class will cover camping gear, how to stay warm and comfortable, ideas for fun activities, and local areas for car camping. There were four spots open the last time we checked. RSVP here.

2. Glass breaks if it can't flow. Get it melting, you can conjure all manner of shapes and color-infused wonderments that will remain when cooled. Work it cold, there are sheets and shards, baubles and balls, for manipulating into leaded frames or arranging intricately sculpturewise.  Glass kicks ass, especially this week in Tacoma as the 2011 Glass Art Society (GAS) Annual Conference is in town. In celebration, the Museum of Glass (natch!) hosts a Day of Glass from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Click here for the schedule of events.

3. Olympia owns the Mahari style of Orissi dance, a legacy of the legendary temple dancers and Guru Pankaj Charan Das, thanks to Evergreen professor Ratna Roy and her many years promoting the dance. Roy is at it again, presenting Earth My Body: Invoking the Goddess - an evening of Orissi dance, music, poetry, film, and theater performances to invoke the feminine spirit - at 7 p.m. in the Recital Hall inside the Communications Lab Building at The Evergreen State College. 

4. Last year, readers of this fine rag voted the Top of Tacoma Bar and Cafe the best bar in Tacoma. This was due in no small part to their well drink Wednesdays. Check it: $1.50 well drinks after 7 p.m. Are you kidding? That's, like, riding the train to funkytown for only eight bucks. Yes, please.

5. Tacoma guitarist Jerry Miller, he of Moby Grape fame, hosts a jam session at 9 p.m. inside the Gruv Lounge and Nightclub. Groovy, man.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music tonight in the South Sound

LINK: Happy hours!

LOCAL HIP HOP FROM SOMEONE WHO KNOWS IT >>>

Doughkain, one of the most respected artists on the streets, is back at us with Where The F*** Y'all At? You can get the new album free at reverbnation.com/doughkain. With production by BoomBox Massacre and a host of local up-and-comers, Doughkain's latest project features Tay, Blockrepper R A Dubb, a spirited appearance by Whikid Maticuless and a verse from Lebowski. On a side-note, Lebowski is a young MC from Tacoma who rapped his way onto a track on a Tech N9ne album. That's a big deal. Look for more from him in the future.

To read this week's full column by Josh Rizeberg click here.

GREENER THEATER FUN >>>

Dare I call it egg-citing news that Riot To Follow Productions, a student theater group at The Evergreen State College, is opening a production of Honk: The Ugly Duckling Musical?

If they don't quack up, readers will cluck at me for making such a fowl pun, and I'll end up with egg on my face.

And yet the 1993 British musical update of the Hans Christian Andersen classic is itself undeniably punny, and what writer can resist the chance to take off from there? A critic for the London Evening Standard described the show as "cheery, chirpy and chock full of fowl yolks - sorry, I mean foul jokes." (See? It's not just me.)

The Olivier-winning musical is often produced by children's theater companies, and although a Riot To Follow trailer stars actual ducks, chickens and a cat, the show itself will feature the kind of singing, dancing personified animals that populate plays for kids, Disney films and cartoons of all sorts.

[Black Box at The Washington Center, Honk: The Ugly Duckling Musical, through June 12, Thursday-Friday 7 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 2 p.m., $12.50, $6.50 kids, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia, olytix.org]

THEY DO IT FOR THE KIDS >>>

Thing: Free wings, baby!

Place: Sparks Firehouse Deli

Located: Across from Sparks Stadium

In: Puyallup

Given to: Local high schools

In pursuit of: Fundraising

And: School spirit

Sparks also has: Awesome pizza

Goes with: $5 happy hour pitchers of beer

Which makes for: A cheap date

To read this week's full column, click here.

[Sparks Firehouse Deli, 621 Fifth St., Puyallup, 253.840.3354]

LOSS OF A LEGEND >>>

As news quickly and sadly spreads around Tacoma and the entire region, the Tacoma Rainiers have issued a statement about the passing of Tacoma broadcasting legend Clay Huntington, who according to the News Tribune passed away today at Allenmore Hospital at the age of 89.

Official Rainiers Release:

The Tacoma Rainiers mourn the passing of one of the men who brought Triple-A baseball to Tacoma.  You did not have to know Clay Huntington well to know how lucky you were to have him around.  He was one of the most gracious and genuine men that the Tacoma baseball family has ever known.  As one of our founders, it's a sad day for the franchise but a great time to reflect and celebrate Clay and his accomplishments. 

The Rainiers will be paying their respects in a tribute game to Clay tomorrow evening (Thursday, June 2; 7:05pm.)  The flag at Cheney Stadium will be flown at half mast, Clay's initials will be etched into the infield dirt behind second base, and a video tribute will be followed by a moment of silence.

LINK: The "Rainiers Minute" collection

News of the death of former VIII Days Clean bassist Tony McDougald has spread throughout Tacoma over the last week, with sadness and questions pouring out from the community. According to the News Tribune, McDougald died early Monday, May 23 of a gunshot wound to the back after a homeowner reportedly found him involved in the suspected burglary of his garage.

Friends and family of McDougald wish to publicize a memorial planned for Saturday, June 4 at 11 a.m. at Elk Plain Community Church (4115 224^th Street E, Spanaway). The public is welcome.

ONLINE CHATTER >>>

Today's comment comes from Becky Knold in response to yesterday's blog post by Volcano visual arts critic Alec Clayton titled, "The new old aesthetic."

Knold writes,

Just read David Brooks' "It's not about you" in today's NYTimes and somehow feel that he is expressing in social cultural terms what you are expressing in artistic cultural terms. In other words, the new becomes old, then new again... blah blah. Both artists, and the broader social spectrum are looking for something more than quick, self-indulgent expressions & solutions. It's about time.

THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2011 >>>

1. The title character in Aristophanes' Lysistrata convinces all of her fellow wives to remain "unbulled" (the world's single greatest euphemism for celibate) until their husbands come to their senses and sign a peace treaty. Besides providing us with a brilliant post-modern twist on the whole "Make Love Not War" thing, this play will actually make you laugh. The play is part of Evergreen's academic program "Dionysia: Enlivening Greek Theatre" at 7:30 p.m. in the Recital Hall. Wait! The program actually begins at 2:30 p.m. with another classic Greek drama, Trojan Women.

2. Olympia singer-songwriter Kimya Dawson will stop by the Washington State Capital Museum for an evening of music beginning at 7 p.m.

3. The Hub in Tacoma's Stadium District has an open mic and jam session beginning at 8 p.m. They have a rhythm section for your bad self.

4. A perpetually rotating stable of New York musicians have made up the Billy Nayer Show over the years, creating a prolific and chameleon-like body of work. Cory McAbee and co. picked up where acts like Frank Zappa and other disturbing mutations of popular music left off. Catch the Billy Nayer Show, along with Romanteek and the Olympia Free Choir, beginning at 8 p.m. inside Northern. With emphasis spread equally over recordings and live performances, the Billy Nayer Show also has quite a reputation for energetic and strange concerts. 

5. DJ Aaron Mack will spin alternative '80s, and beyond at the Acme Grub Cage beginning at 9 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music tonight in the South Sound

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide!

USELESS AND INDISPENSABLE >>>

Saul Becker is a Tacoma artist who strives to capture the world via sculpture and landscape painting and drawing. While Becker grew up in T-town, he has traveled the world more than he has stayed here, seeking new horizons to fortify his work. His unique sense of style yields some cool pieces, including rough-hewn landscapes with an industrial edge and electroplated weeds sheltered from the world in display cases.

Becker's work often juxtaposes nature and the industrial world - and if that sounds familiar, you are probably from or a resident of Tacoma. Where else can you check out amazing views of a majestic mountain whilst looking through plumes of port smoke?

"I was born and raised in Tacoma," says Becker. "It's had a huge influence on my work. There's something about growing up in the shadow of an active volcano that never leaves you. ... I was living in a city surrounded by incredible natural beauty, but struggling with its own aesthetic reality."

To read Kristin Kendle's full article click here.

BLOSSOMING IN THE FORMER GRISWOLD'S OFFICE SUPPLY SPACE >>>

This weekend, Evergreen Shakespeare's production of Romeo and Juliet is blooming in the former Griswold's Office Supply in Olympia, gutted by fire in 2004.

Soon, there'll be much more growing in the long-vacant building - literally. Clifford Lee of Olympia, the building's owner, envisions not only a performance space, commercial and perhaps residential spaces but also a vegetable garden, growing indoors under a greenhouse roof.

"We want to let the light come in," says Lee, who has been working with a group of students from The Evergreen State College on plans for the building.

Lee envisions the Olympia Green Living Center a multiuse space. He's most excited about creating a three-story high and 100-foot-long green wall where food can be grown.

To read Molly Gilmore's full story click here.

Olympia Green Living Center

308 Fourth Ave. SE, Olympia

email zangle98506@gmail.com

Romeo and Juliet

Friday, June 3, at 8 p.m., Saturday, June 4, at 9 p.m., Sunday, June 5, at 8 p.m.; free

Olympia Green Living Center (formerly Griswold's Office Supply), 308 Fourth Ave. SE, Olympia

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