JESSE HARRIS DID, AND STARTED SEATTLE'S NFFTY >>>

Let's talk numbers.

21

Jesse Harris' age when he co-founded the National Film Festival for Talented Youth (the cool kids call it NFFTY) in Seattle with Jocelyn R.C. and Kyle Seago. What had YOU accomplished by that time in your life? Probably starting your career and/or going to college, you sad underachiever you.

Actually, Harris also heard the higher calling to higher education, but ultimately listened to the moviemaker within and completed his first feature (shot mostly in Puyallup) at ...

17

But first Harris' parents had to help bankroll the project, which meant dipping into the college fund. "It took a little convincing, but I think finally they realized that no matter what they said, I was going to do it anyway," Harris laughs.

Harris wasn't going at it alone, as he soon found out. When other teenage filmmakers began taking notice and seeking him out for distribution advice, Harris started NFFTY. "There's so many other young people other there ... who have films (but) nowhere to have them screened," he says.

Like so much in life, the movie industry plays its own numbers game, doling out respect and acceptance only to those who reach some nebulous age of maturity. And despite the quality of their work, the youngest typically get overlooked. NFFTY turns six in 2012, itself a baby in the film festival universe. Yet a look at its figures for this year show otherwise.

700 - The approximate number of submissions

200 - Roughly the number of films shown at this year's fest, hailing from almost a dozen countries besides the U.S.

10,000 - The projected attendance

22 - The maximum allowable age of the films' directors

Jesse Harris

Even if he wanted to, ironically Harris can't enter the festival he started. Now 26 and relishing his role as NFFTY's artistic director, Harris firmly believes the works screening April 26-29 can hold their own against more adult-oriented festivals. "We really have the next Spielbergs and the next Scorseses (at NFFTY)," he says. Time for an all-out film fest turf war!

Nah, let's just unite and breakdance instead. Harris says you definitely must see this amazing film from Germany that he calls "breakdancing storytelling ... I can't even describe it; you just have to see it!" And En Route, a jaw-dropping visual spectacle from Baltimore's 22-year-old Colin Levy, has effects that could make John Carter look like Coach Carter.

Number of reasons you still need to check out NFFTY: 0

Find the festival schedule and purchase tickets at http://www.nffty.org. Tune into my interview with Harris this week on Volcano Radio, which airs Thursday, March 15 from 8-9 p.m. on www.nwczradio.com and is available as a podcast at www.weeklyvolcano.com directly following. 

BLOATED BOBBLE TIKI SPONSORED BY BAILEYS IRISH CREAM >>>

Bobble Tiki believes the foundation of St. Patrick's Day is undoubtedly beer, and the flagship of the genre is undoubtedly Guinness. Disagree? Well, it's now on the Internets and therefore it's true. Composed of a symphony of four and only four ingredients (malted barley, hops, yeast and water), Ireland's dark, luscious export creates more smiles around the South Sound than Mid-March snow.

Isn't it interesting that a pint of Guinness holds fewer calories than a pint of either orange juice or skim milk? Doctors used to advise nursing mothers to drink Guinness, and weak ale was at one time served to schoolchildren as an alternative to milk. That the closest genetic relative to the hops plant is cannabis? (It is impossible, however, to make beer with pot.) That the same strain of yeast Arthur Guinness brewed with in 1821 is still in use today?

That dark beer is not inherently stronger than light beer? In fact, the roasting of barley that gives Guinness stout its rich colour and flavour (superfluous u's are a staple of Guinness descriptions) actually removes fermentable sugars from the malt, resulting in a lower alcohol percentage.

Nobody knows exactly who drank the first Guinness on St. Patrick's Day. But Bobble Tiki does know a bit of St. Patrick's Day history. Pat was born in 387 A.D. in Britain as Maewyn Succat. At 16 he was kidnapped and sold into slavery in Ireland.  He escaped six years later and studied in Tours, France, to become a priest.  In 431 A.D. Pope Celestine I named him Patricius and sent him back to Ireland to rid the place of Druids (damned tree-huggers!)

According to legend, St. Paddy used the three leaves of the shamrock to explain the Trinity to the heathens, but he didn't actually drive any snakes out of Ireland.  That was just a poetic way of saying he got rid of the Druids.

To make this blog post even better, Bobble Tiki will tell you one of the few clean jokes he knows: What's Irish and outside?

Paddy O'Furniture.

If you're looking to celebrate St. Patrick's Day Saturday in the South Sound, Bobble Tiki offers these options (in no particular alphabetical order):

Aficionado Cigar Lounge: St. Patrick's Day party with Romeo y Juliet Cigars featuring the Reserva Real, door prizes, drawings, food, drinks and more. 2-6 p.m. Corner of 72nd and Waller Road, Tacoma, 253.531.9595

Ale House Sports Pub & Grille: The Ale House will take its 64 beers on tap, add green to a few of them, fire up some corned beef and cabbage and lamb stew, push the Bushmills and Jameson to the front, discount Guinness Pints and call it a party. Oh, raffle prizes too. 2122 Mildred St. W., University Place, 253.565.9367

C.I. Shenanigans: Bagpipers 6:30-8 pm. Cottonwood Cutups 8 pm.

The Cloverleaf: "2nd Annual Pre-Funk" featuring Irish food, Irish beer, Larry the Leprechaun, James King & the Southsiders (3-6 p.m.), Maxim Jack (8 p.m.) and raffle prizes. 3 p.m. to midnight. 6436 Sixth Ave., TAcoma, 253.565.1111

Doyle's Public House: The day kicks off at 6 a.m. with a corned beef and hash breakfast then amps up with live music in the outdoor tent at 3 p.m. featuring Blvd Park, Mighty High, The Fucking Eagles, Ben Union, SweetKiss Momma and The Excellent Gentlemen. 208 Saint Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.7468

Harmon Brewery & Eatery: St. Patrick's Day party with food and drink specials, plus Pierce County Pipes and Drums (7-8 pm). The celebration kicks off at 3 p.m. 1938 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.383.2739

The Hub: St. Patrick's Day Party with corned beef and cabbage, $5 Jameson shots and music by Myles Crew. 6-9 p.m. 203 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma, 253.683.4606

Jazzbones: St. Paddy's Day Bash featuring Violin Vs. Vinyl Celebration with Kytami, PhonoGraff and Jay Tablet. 7:30 p.m. $10. 2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.396.9169

JR's Hideaway: St. Patrick's Day Party, with DJ Maddog Johnson. 9 p.m. 22540 Northeast State Route 3, Belfair, 360.275.4547

Mandolin Café: St. Patty's Day with Neil Pearlman. All Ages. 8 p.m. $5 suggested donation. 3923 S. 12th St., Tacoma, 253.761.3482

The New Frontier Lounge: St. Patrick's Day Party with OMG and special guests. 9 p.m. 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020

O'Blarney's Irish Pub: St. Patrick's Day Party with traditional Irish music 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Irish dancers noon, 5 and 9 p.m. Oly Highlanders noon to 8 p.m. 4411 Martin Way E., Olympia, 360.459.8084

O'Callahan's Pub & Grill: St. Patrick's Day Bash featuring The Whistling Oysters. 6 p.m. 15610 92nd St., Key Center, 253.884.9766

Olympic Club Hotel and Theater: St. Patrick's Day Celebration with The Blackberry Bushes, Fiddlehead and Irish dancers. 4 p.m. No cover. 112 N. Tower Ave., Centralia, 360.736.5164

O'Malley's Irish Pub: The Fun Police, Shivering Denizens, Menace, Smoke Like Daddy, Firefighter Pipes and Drums, The Piping Duo with outdoor stage and beer garden. 11-1 a.m. $5. Mr. Blackwatch special performance 2-3 p.m. 2403 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.627.9403

Paddy Coyne's Irish Pub: Big St. Patrick's Day Bash featuring traditional Irish food, bagpipers, Irish music, prize giveaways and a beer garden. 6 a.m.-2 a.m. $5. 815 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.6963

Rock The Dock Pub & Grill: St. Patrick's Day Party with Triple Threat Band. 8 p.m. 535 Dock St., Tacoma, 253.272.5004

The Spar: Paddy's Day, with Mooncoyne. 8 p.m. 2121 N. 30th St., Tacoma, 253.627.8215

The Social Bar & Grill: St. Patrick's Day Bash featuring DJs Fritz, Verse and Barbarilla spinning and judging the Catholic School Girl Costume Contest with cash prizes, plus corned beef and cabbage and $5 Irish drink specials. 8 p.m. No cover. 1715 Dock St., Tacoma, 253.301.3835

Stonegate Pizza: St. Patty's Day Party with, of course, Led Zeppelin tribute band Kashmir. 9 p.m. 5421 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma, 253.473.2255

Tempest Lounge: House Improvement St. Patrick's Edition with DJs Sean Donald McLean Ober, Michael Sherman and Justin Collins. 9 p.m. No cover. 913 MLK Way, Tacoma, 253.272.4904

What South Sound St. Patrick's Day parties did Bobble Tiki forget?

INSTANT ST. PATRICK'S DAY >>>

Tacoma Irish bars on St. Patrick's Day are like casinos on the Vegas Strip: loud, crammed packed, and catalysts for regret.

I'm spending my St. Patrick's Day in front of the fire with a bottle of Jameson and food to go from Affairs in University Place. Owner Gay Landry offers slow-roasted corned beef brisket, cabbage, roasted onions, potatoes and carrots - hot or cold - for pickup Friday and Saturday. The cost is $38 for 2-3 servings, $69 for 5-6 servings and $98 for 7-9 servings. Orders must be placed at 10 a.m., Thursday, March 15.

[Affairs, pickup 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, March 16-Saturday, March 17, $38-$98, 2811 Bridgeport Way W., University Place, 253.565.8604]

LINK: St. Patrick's Day parties in the South Sound

TACOMA REPRESENT! >>>

When comedian Adam Norwest, 25, returns to his home by Point Defiance Park he'll be wearing a shiny crown. Yesterday morning he learned he won Country Music Television's Next Big Comic title. Norwest began his comic career at age 13. In a few short years he was the youngest comedian ever to compete in the prestigious Seattle International Comedy Competition and has been seen on cable TV's Man Up, Stand Up, as well as Comedy Brew.

Now he's king of CMT comedy. Well done sir.

The Weekly Volcano caught up with Norwest from Birmingham, Alabama.

WEEKLY VOLCANO: Congratulations Adam. What did you win?

ADAM NORWEST: I won the title of CMT's Next Big Comic, and a recording deal with Rooftop Comedy Records.

VOLCANO:Take us through the steps to the crown.

NORWEST: The competition had thousands of comedians, which was narrowed down to 12 by CMT. Then, through online voting by fans, CMT narrowed it down to the final four. They flew us to Birmingham to compete live in front of 500 people at the Stardome. After the live show, and a little more voting, it was announced yesterday that I won.

VOLCANO: What was the joke that nailed it?

NORWEST: I'm 25 years old, and I just found out your brain is fully developed at 25. Dammit.

VOLCANO: When may Tacoma bow in your presence?

NORWEST: I will be opening for Dave Coulier (Uncle Joey from Full House) March 22-24 at the Tacoma Comedy Club, and then back to headline the club on May 3.

LINK: CMT video of Adam Norwest

ONLINE CHATTER >>>

Today's comment of the day comes from J.J. Syrja in response to KAOS 89.3FM being named "Best Radio Station" by readers in the Weekly Volcano's Best of Olympia 2012 issue.

J.J. Syrja writes,

Thanks to all who voted for KAOS--please visit the website, kaosradio.org, to get show times for your favorite music, news and public affairs programming.
Nearly 40 years on, we've still got an incredible array of shows and DJs--we call them programmers--who care deeply about their audience. Pass it on.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 2012 >>>

1. The Puget Sound is on the mat starring up at Climate Change in tights, mask and cape on the top turnbuckle and its going to receive a hard elbow. Then Over Population will raise Puget Sound above its head and throw it into a metal chair. In a full sprint from the dressing room Pollution will toss Puget Sound back onto the mat, then stomp, gouge and pin it. The Puget Sound is gonna go, well, there you are, I'm finished, sorry, and walk out. Today, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the Puget Sound Science Panel will meet in the City of Tacoma's TAGRO office to review and discuss the scientific aspects of a regional plan to prevent Puget Sound from leaving. The meeting is open to the public. Bring your knee pads.

2. America's ineffectual government, led by an unpopular president, is helpless to combat meteorological catastrophe; meanwhile, avaricious bankers rape the working class. The insulated elite barricades itself behind gilded walls, while haggard masses wander aimlessly, scavenging the ravaged landscape. This isn't an allegory for The Walking Dead. It's the story of this country's Great Depression. The Washington State History Museum examines the era through The exhibit, Hope in Hard Times, and how ordinary people worked for change in their communities, pulling together to find ways to deal with the crisis. A billy club used during the 1934 "Battle of Smith Cove," WPA artifacts, and everyday items are among some of the objects showcased in this exhibition. The paintings and sketches of Ronald Debs Ginther, also featured in the exhibition, comprise one of the most complete visual records of the Great Depression. Take a walk through from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

3. Despite the philosophic passages, introspective musings, pageantry, and Russian geography of Leo Tolstoy's supreme achievement in novel form, Anna Karenina is also a whopping good story whose characters are so finely drawn that one comes to love them as friends. So it's no wonder Tacoma's Classic Book Club - which has been meeting since 1994! - will tackle the novel at 7 p.m. inside King's Books.

4. The Harmon Tap Room Underground hosts an open mic from 7-9 p.m. It's a good opportunity to check out the remodeled music room.

5. There was a time when the Big Friction Jam at Jazzbones was THE place to be for Sunday night maxin', relaxin' and jammin'. Powered by the groove-heavy leanings of saxophonist Brett "Big Friction" Cummings, and aptly backed by a rhythm section the South Sound knows well - drummer Darin Watkins and bassist Jeff Leonard, of Vicci Martinez Band fame - the Big Friction house band took the stage, laid down the funk and groove, and magic ensued, with a cast of talented locals streaming through to take the stage and get down. At 8:30 p.m., under the increasingly-cool "Wednesday Sessions" header, Jazzbones welcomes back the Big Friction Jam for an evening that's sure to blow your usual Hump Day plans out of the proverbial water.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs tonight in the region

LINK: South Sound happy hour food and drinks

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Scandal County: Pierce County Council crosses its fingers and rubs rabbit feet in hopes Assessor-Treasure Dale Washam resigns. (News Tribune)

While You Were Watching MythBusters: Tacoma City Council came up with a plan to pay for mental health and substance-abuse programs. (News Tribune)

GOP Presidential Race: Rick Santorum owns the Alabama and Mississippi. (CNN)

Today In Resigning Financial Leaders: Executive Director Greg Smith probably won't have his picture hanging on the walls of Goldman Sachs. (The New York Times)

New Star Wars film: Topher Grace edits Stars Wars Episodes I through III into one film. (Slashfilm)

The Shins' New Album: You can stream Port of Morrow on iTunes. (Paste Magazine)

Speaking Of Streaming: Jack White has a new song. (Twenty Four Bit)

Green King: Burger King to offer free fries and green ketsup on St. Patrick's Day. (Huffington Post)

Helpful Tip Of The Day: What to do when the elevator starts a free-fall. (The New York Times)

Today's French Cat Video

APPLAUSE >>>

Coming off a good season with favorable reviews for its productions of The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, A Christmas Carol and California Suite, Tacoma Little Theatre has announced its 2012-2013 season. Let's take a look. ...

Sylvia

Sept. 7-30
Just what Tacoma theater needs: more plays featuring people playing dogs. OK, so I can't think of any others like that. Regardless, the season kicks off with a comedy about the complicated relationships between man and wife, man and dog, and dog and wife. I can only assume that hijinks ensue. It seems like a good setup for hijinks.

Night Watch

Oct. 19-Nov. 11
Carrying on TLT's recent tendency toward Halloween-centric features in October - Jekyll & Hyde, Woman in Black, Transylvania Clockworks - Night Watch sounds thoroughly Hitchcockian with its mysterious neighbors, possible murders, and psychological confusion.

Miracle on 34th Street

Nov. 30-Dec. 23
Christmas is the season for old standards. It's a time for some version of A Christmas Carol, and 24 hours of A Christmas Story, and a quiet evening at home with Die Hard. It's about traditions. The original film of Miracle on 34th Street is another such cultural standby, and I'm sure the play will pull in the audiences without trouble.

Six Dance Lessons In Six Weeks

Jan. 18-Feb. 10
TLT first produced Six Dance Lessons as a second stage vehicle for community stalwarts - and husband and wife out in the real world - Micheal O'Hara and Sharry O'Hare. I can only assume it proved to be a winner, if they're bringing it back for a mainstage turn.

The Joy Luck Club

March 15-April 7
Last year, Lakewood tried to stage the Joy Luck Club, but ultimately pulled it for The Lion in Winter, "in order to uphold the integrity of the script and all the attention to the specific cultural details which it is duly owed." Hopefully TLT has better luck pulling together a viable production of this study in Chinese-American cultural heritage.

Little Shop of Horrors

May 3-26
My wife can tell you how excited I got when I reached the end of the announcement and saw Ashman & Menken's classic horror-comedy. I hope my fellow Volcano critics are as psyched as me, because one of them is going to have to review it. I'll be beating down doors until somebody lets me run lights for the thing.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE ...

Filling out the season as second stage productions are two extremely different but thoroughly excellent productions: the return of Complete Works of Shakespeare Abridged (Feb. 22-March 3), a riotously hilarious (with the right cast) rundown of all the bard's works, which ran for three consecutive years as a TLT staple; and the beautifully somber Laramie Project (June 7-23), a gripping and surely tear-jerking portrait of hometown reactions to a brutal hate crime in Laramie, Wyoming.

LINK: Tacoma Little Theatre season subscriber information

CHANNELING CHANNING >>>

The musical Hello, Dolly! has always seemed somewhat old-fashioned, despite the fact that it hit Broadway in the mid-'60s. It's set in the early 20th century, granted, and brassy original lead Carol Channing will never be confused with Selena Gomez.

But would you be more excited if we told you the show was originally called Dolly: A Damned Exasperating Woman, or that it's a melodic rom-com about the misadventures of a millionaire matchmaker?

Capital Playhouse's production, opening this weekend, stars Gwen Haw and Michael Self, both of whom appeared in CP's Scrooge - Haw as Mrs. Cratchit, and Self as Ebenezer. Hello, Dolly! is one of the great opportunities for a show-stopping performer to blow the roof off a theater, so we demand nothing less than fireworks from Haw. Luckily, she's directed by Kevin P. Hall, who knows the show backward and forward, having worked on it with Channing herself.

Bring it!

[Capital Playhouse, through April 1, Wed.-Sat. 7:30 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m., $28-$39, 612 E. Fourth Ave., Olympia, 360.943.2744]

THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2012 >>>

1. Tacoma's Third Thursday Artwalk is awesome ... the only trouble is it's completely unwalkable. Thankfully, for the last two years Tacoma has had the Art Bus to rely on - the creation of T-Town's own Angela Jossy, and pretty much the bestest idea there ever was. Each Third Thursday the Art Bus shuttles riders from gallery to gallery, and from museum to museum, accomplishing more than any one person could ever dream of on foot, and at the same time building a communal vibe that's worth its weight in gold. Tonight from 5:45-9 p.m., in celebration of two years of Art Bus - there'll be TWO BUSES and TWO ROUTES! Pierce County Auditor Julie Anderson and former Washington State Rep turned stand-up comic Dennis Flannigan will act as the celebrity guides, ensuring all involved experience maximum artistic enjoyment. Find more Art Bus information at TacomaArtBus.com.

2. Speaking of Tacoma's Third Thursday Artwalk, there are many worthy exhibits to check out tonight, such as Lynn Di Nino's Survivor show at flow, Creatures of Habit at Fulcrum Gallery, Lisa Mereddy at 253 Collective, pop-up book artist Shawn Sheehy at Pacific Lutheran University and others. Click here for a preview of these shows and more.

3. Think running and drinking don't mix unless there's a K-9 unit involved? Not true. The Tacoma Runners - a group of T-Town pavement pounders - held meet every Thursday for a 3-mile loop at a "social pace" at one of Tacoma's favorite watering holes. Tonight at 6:30 p.m. is appropriately the Runners' St. Patrick Day outing - based at Doyle's Public House. Wear green and make a damn fool of yourself.

4. Portland (and the world's) most fearsome and slovenly Pogues tribute band K.M.R.I.A. will hold court at 7 p.m. inside the Olympic Club Hotel and Theater in Centralia. This, my friends, will be a party.

5. Composer Claude Debussy loved a good party. Yes, he would perform his multilayered harmonic "tone poems" in European concert halls. However, he really loved to mix it up with the party animals, playing his piano in the crowded cafes of Montmartre and the famous Chat Noir cabaret. So, after the Pacific Lutheran University pianists celebrate Debussy's 150^th birthday in grand fashion inside Lagerquist Hall beginning at 8 p.m., grab them outside the front door and whisk them off to the Java Jive. Debussy and PBR will bring life to that old piano.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs tonight in the region

LINK: South Sound happy hour food and drinks