LOVE IS SCARY FOR SCREENWRITER RICK TOBIN >>>

Rick Tobin's dark work shall soon see the light of day. The shooting of Tobin's horror short, The Resolution, is scheduled to commence July 31, with Rick Walters of Tacoma-based production company Adventus Films directing. In the tradition of films like Four Rooms and Twilight Zone: The Movie, this project will eventually appear as a feature-length anthology with three other shorts (also written by Tobin) called ...in my best Vincent Price tones... Twisted Tales of Madness and Murder. Sounds spookier than Shark Week.

Auburn-born and now living in Federal Way, Tobin spends his days as a mild-mannered repairer of safety appliances on freight trains, yet at nightfall he hammers away on, well, twisted tales like Resolution. The script follows a jilted lover who sets in motion a fiendish plan of comeuppance for his former girl. Tobin calls it "a revenge story with a twist."

The screenwriter has a soft spot for plots that pile on surprises and toy with an audience's expectations. His writing emulates classics in textbook suspense like John Carpenter's The Thing. Recalling that movie Tobin says, "From start to finish, I thought it was great the way the characters were developed, the way the story unfolded."

When completed, The Resolution will tour festivals with hopes to build buzz for Twisted Tales.  

This week ...

Thing: Tacoma Wine Pundits

Group: Closed

Focus: Wine

Brings: Potluck food

Began: Three years ago

By: Jennevieve Schlemmer

I crashed: Their event

Specifically for: This column

I'm probably not: Invited back

At least: I drank their wine

To read this week's full column click here.

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL COVERAGE AS DRUNK AS YOU >>>

Let us take a brief interlude as the Tacoma Rainiers (51-52) meet up with Mr. 100 Games late last week. Here, take a listen:

Oh. Sorry. We didn't see you standing there, Mr. 100 Games. You always sneak up on us so fast.

What? Yeah, I guess we have a second to talk. We'll always try to make time for you, Mr. 100 games.

Oh, We're doing OK, Mr. 100 Games. We're doing OK.

Why just OK? You know how it is, I guess. Every time we see you it's pretty late in the year.  Our boys are always worn out by the time we run into you. It's a long, grueling road, this baseball season. Never easy. Yeah, we know. But last year was special. It's not every year you win the Pacific Coast League Championship. There was magic in the air last year, Mr. 100 Games.

No, no, the magic's not all gone. We're doing OK. Hanging in there. Not great, no, not great. Still, we're hoping there's enough baseball left to be played.  By the time we meet up with Mr. 144 Games, we'll hopefully be sitting pretty. Well on top of those pesky Reno Aces, at least. That's true. That's true. No, you're right.  We're about ten games behind the Aces right now, but things could pick up. You know how baseball is, Mr. 100 Games.

Star players this year, you ask? It's hard to say, Mr. 100 Games. We've got a hot new third baseman named Kyle Seager. He's batting .423 so far this season. Then there's first baseman Matt Mangini.  He's always ripe for a base hit. And Jay Yenich over at USS Mariner just named Carlos Peguero the hitter of note for the week.  So things are looking up.

What's that, Mr. 100 Games? Matt Tuiasosopo and Michael Saunders, our past stars? Well, Mr. 100 Games. What can we say, really?

Sorry, Mr. 100 Games. We gotta run. Wish we could talk more, but Mr. 144 games is waiting for us. Can't be late.

Same time next year, Mr. 100 Games? Alright. See you then. Maybe, just maybe, in better spirits.

Notes ...

-Last night, the Tacoma Rainiers lost to the Salt Lake Bees 2-9. This loss capped off an eight game road trip that saw the Rainiers go 4-4. Over the trip, the Rainiers actually outscored opponents 66-64. This brings us back to our continuing theme that 4-4  -- or .500 -- on the road is not a bad stretch at all. Not bad unless you're the 2011 Tacoma Rainiers, a team that has relied on its road success to keep it close to .500. C'mon boys, you've spoiled us with all those road wins. Don't stop now.

-In rather bizarre Rainiers' game news, Salt Lake Bees player Jeremy Moore legged out an inside the park Grand Slam against the Rainiers Sunday night. Moore hit a whopper of a fly ball to leftfield. A sunny day and a bit of misdirection caused Carlos Peguero to lose the ball, stumbling far away from its path. As centerfielder Michael Saunders ran over to retrieve the ball, Moore rounded the bases. How the missed fly ball was not scored an error, we aren't exactly sure. But still, weird, wild stuff; an inside the park Grand Slam.

-Speaking of wild stuff, Radio 950 KJR's Mike "The Gasman" Gastineau and Hot Shot Scott will host their daily sports radio show live from Cheney Stadium this Friday starting at 3 p.m. We can only imagine what these crazy radio DJ's plan on doing while at Cheney. Chili-dog eating contest? Rainiers' players wet T-shirt contest? Something truly groundbreaking in the realm of radio journalism?  Or something even more devilish, like sports radio guys talking sports on the radio? We'll have to wait and see.

The Rainiers start on game number 104 tonight against the Sacramento Grizzlies. The Rainiers' Luke French will take the mound against Grizzlies' Josh Outman.

Here we come, Mr. 144 Games.

LINK: The "Rainiers Minute" collection

ONLINE CHATTER >>>

Today's comment comes from Becky Knold in response to Volcano visual arts critic Alec Clayton's latest "Clayton on Art" blog, discussing the artwork of Vally Nomidou and Scott Fife.

Knold writes,

Loved this article by Alec Clayton, and appreciated the other links that it turned me on to also. I was familiar with the Big Puppy guy, Scott Fife, and his work, but was totally enthralled with the introduction to the Greek artist, Vally Nomidou... these are wonderful! just a tad "creepy" as you say, but I can't stop looking at them. Much more interesting to me than the other 2 more "lifelike" sculptors who you mention. Mystery, intrigue, questions, and imagination are all stirred by Vally Nomidou, an artist I'm going to be "following". Thanks again, Alec, for your insightful commentary on artists near and far, contemporary and historical. It's all good.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2011 >>>

1. If one needs proof that the minds behind local nonprofit Tacoma Community House are sharp, they need look no further than Scrabble Rousers, a growing Tacoma tradition held on the fourth Wednesday of every month that was created and designed to help raise funds and awareness for Tacoma Community House's mission - providing "education, employment, multilingual services, and advocacy for refugees, immigrants, and English speaking adults and youth." At 6:30 p.m., Scrabble Rousers will present a "Clowns vs. Mimes"-style Scrabble throwdown, inviting players of all ages and skill levels to break out their face paint an drubber noses at King's Book's. It'll be totally worth it just to see King's Books' owner sweet pea emcee without saying a word. Honk!

2. Hot colors in bold abstract configurations are the order of the day at B2 Fine Art Gallery/Studio in Hot Fusion: Explorations into Abstraction, which you can see from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hot Fusion, part one of a two-part show, is currently on display and features works by Todd Clark, Yvette Neumann, Judy Hintz Cox and Scott J. Morgan. To read Alec Clayton's full review, click here.

3. Nashville singer Katie Armiger drops in on The Music in the Park outdoor concert series at 7 p.m. at Sylvester Park. No doubt Sam The Cat Man will enjoy her modern country tunes.

4. Since October, experimental filmmaker Devon Damonte has been curating Northern Flickers - a monthly film series at the Northern space in downtown Olympia. Tonight at 7 p.m., from the animation faculty at Dartmouth, Jodie Mack drops in on the Flickers with her "Sing It Out Loud" tour featuring bushels of magnificent motion graphics, plus original songs performed live, in harmony, with cello. In addition, the Crackpot Crafters debut the group film, The Artifacts Of Life, with a multitudinous menagerie of once-living stuff, stuck onto 16mm film, and reanimated, cast aloft on wings of light.

5. The Sammy Steele Band adds some alt-country to Lady Luck's Cowgirl Up's Military Appreciation Night every Wednesday beginning at 8 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: OMG tomorrow's the party of the century!

SNAPPED TODAY >>>

Now this is scary. We snapped th eabove photo this morning over by the Tacoma Mall. It's freakin' July!

It's not open yet.

But still!

AUDITION FOR A BUNCH OF SHOWS IN FIVE MINUTES >>>

Actors experienced and aspiring alike can audition with efficiency at Olympia Audition League's general auditions set for Saturday, July 30, and Sunday, July 31. The third annual auditions are your chance to try out for roles with five theater companies - all in only five minutes.

Making an appointment in advance is recommended, as is arriving with a prepared monologue or two. If you want to be considered for a musical, you'll need to bring sheet music, too.

Participating theater companies are Olympia Family Theater, Prodigal Sun Productions, Theater Artists Olympia and - new this time around - Harlequin Productions and Animal Fire Theater.

The auditions happen 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days in the Black Box at The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. S.E., Olympia.

Go to www.olyaudition.org for more information and to sign up.

ONLINE CHATTER >>>

Today's comment comes from David Jaedyn Conley in response to this troubling, Halloween-related picture, shot today in Tacoma and posted to SPEW.

Conley writes,

LOL. I have an Australian friend who doesn't understand Halloween at all because they really don't celebrate it there,.. He would say "Greedy, rapacious, unrepentant, capitalist pigs",... LOL, but then again he's kind of perpetually cranky.

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011 >>>

1. The Weekly Volcano's Super Best of Tacoma issue is on the street. In celebration, and to honor the winners, we are throwing a huge bash at the Varsity Grill beginning at 6 p.m. At this premier event, you'll enjoy a combination of ‘80s dance music spun by the famous DJ dAb, food and drink specials, a special Super Hero Drink, tests of strength orchestrated by Elev8 Fitness, super hero movies and cartoons, raffle prizes, trivia contests - all presented in a timely, theatrical way by emcee John Munn. The Weekly Volcano highly encourage everyone to dress as his or her favorite super hero or villain. Get creative, as we'll be handing our awards for Best Super Hero and Best Villain as well as Best Local Super Hero and Best Local Villain.

2. The Barleywine Revue will fill the Tacoma Farmers Market at Ninth and Broadway with fiddle music beginning around 11 a.m.

3. The Thursday Beer runners will meet at 6:30 p.m. in front of the Parkway Tavern for an easy 3-mile run. Upon returning to the Parkway, they'll discuss their run - and why the hell they're not at the Super Best of Tacoma Party - over beers.

4. Your popcorn buckets will fill with tears as your sit in the dark Century Theatre watching the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra live from Jerusalem featuring soprano Renée Fleming and tenor Joseph Calleja instead of pouding the special Superhero Drink and dancing to 80s tunes at the Super Best of Tacoma Party. Look what your life has become.

5. After the Super Best of Tacoma Party, get on your bad motor scooter and catch L.A. Lungs, Derek M Johnson and KnotPineBox at the all-ages venue Northern. L.A. Lungs' music is bracingly unique, unfiltered and hard to categorize. The show begins at 8 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Happy hours!

CONGRATULATIONS! >>>

The time has finally arrived. The Weekly Volcano's annual Best of issue is on the street. And once again it stands alone as the definitive user's guide – for urban explorers and bar stool wise-asses alike - to Grit City and Pierce County.

Maybe you filled out the Weekly Volcano's Super Best Of Tacoma survey and maybe you didn't. But either way the super-sized, all-powerful Weekly Volcano Super Best of edition is now spread out on tables or the bottom of birdcages.

If you did vote, then probably you're anxious to discover if you won the random drawing for a $200 Pacific Grill gift certificate AND overnight stay at the Hotel Murano.

Drum roll please ...

Congratulations to Justin Leighton – he of the Save Our Buses campaign and Central Neighborhood Council – for winning the Super Best of Tacoma random drawing. Leighton was the third person to vote.

Hope to see Leighton and everyone else at the Super Best of Tacoma Party tonight at the Varsity Grill.