WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2012 >>>

1. The synthesizer is a powerful tool that has suffered much abuse since its entrance into the pop world. Cheese-doodling, lipstick-wearing hairspray bands of the '80s are to blame for the synth's lowly place among "real" instruments like guitars and snare drums. But Stepkid, a.k.a Benjamin Tyler from Portland, Ore., has reclaimed the keyboard's unique ability to create otherworldly audio on his new release, Cosmonauts. The drummer has crafted his Stepkid from a strange musical universe that encompasses the paranormal, mythology and both outer and inner space. His output feels like a musical battle between good and evil, an electronic, synthesized dance night for Rod Serling. Read the Weekly Volcano's Q&A with Stepkid on its blog, Spew, then catch him at Le Voyeur at 10 p.m.

2. Mayor Marilyn Strickland and Erik Hanberg, chair of the Tacoma Reads Together committee, will discuss this year's choice, Shoeless Joe by W.P. Kinsella, at 7 p.m. inside King's Books. The conversation will focus on pursuing one's dreams, faith, and baseball as America's national pastime.

3. Many things go well with beer: Pretzels. Football. Your mother-in-law away on an extended cruise. You know what else goes great with beer? Tacos and tunes. Every Wednesday night Tacoma's Lucky Silver Tavern has $1 tacos and $1 plates of tater tots, not to mention a full docket of karaoke songs. Chugging beer, pounding beef tacos and belting out some Fleetwood Mac - now that's a Wednesday night.

4. Hell's Kitchen hosts the Asian Hip Hop Summit featuring the Yellow Boyz, Lyricks, Smokes, Eetree, Lok Skywalker and Shao Sosa beginning at 8 p.m.

5. Want to get into the habit of doodling dudes? Tonight at 8:30 p.m. The Mix hosts live body painting giving Tacoma's creative community an opportunity to socialize, sip and scribble. Most succinctly described as figure-drawing sessions with a tarot readings twist, the sessions are open to the public, as long as you're of drinking age. Oh, there will be drinks.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: South Sound happy hours

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Tacoma City Council Laptop Thief: Tacoma Police have photos! (News Tribune)

One Flew Over The Garfield Elementary School: The padded walls at the Olympia school have been removed after complaints. (News Tribune)

Good News: The 96-acre site at the northeast end of the Port of Tacoma's Blair Waterway could become the destination for long unit trains carrying bulk commodities destined for export. (News Tribune)

Mad Cow: South Korea curbs beef sales. (CNN)

Mitt Romney: He's effectively took the Republican Party helm. (The New York Times)

America's Best Cities For Hipsters: We're surrounded. (Huffington Post)

Crown Crust Pizza: The horror. (YouTube)

It's About Time: A synchronized collage of every zoom in Stanley Kubrick's 1980 horror masterpiece, The Shining. (Strangewood)

Coming Soon?: The cardboard disposable digital camera by Ikea. (Design You Trust)

WHAT THE CLUCK? >>>

If you told me at the beginning of my college career that I would wander the streets of downtown Tacoma wearing a chicken suit for class credit, I would have called you cuckoo. Last Thursday, I donned the feathers and beak.

Grad school here I come.

As I clucked and flapped my wings, a group of University of Washington Tacoma students stared me down. Eventually, one of the girls approached.

"Why are you wearing a chicken suit?" she asked.

The first thought that popped this happy intern's head was, "Why are you not wearing a chicken suit?"

My Weekly Volcano intern-in-crime Amy Skinner did most of the talking. She explained we're out promoting the Volcano's Green issue, and to cluck-up Tacoma Restaurant Week, which the Volcano created.

Happily, everyone knew of the world-renowned Volcano. Therefore, our job was to entertain.

As time passed, and I became more and more reassured in the anonymity of the chicken suit, my interactions became less and less subtle. I stopped acting and I became the crazy floppy headed chicken dancing around passing out the green and good word.

As with most things in life, some liked me and some didn't. Reactions to my appearance ranged from running away in fright and running up for a hug and the newspaper.

We ended the day on a high note talking with a funny Australian doctor in town for a few days. Dr. Aussie enjoyed Tacoma almost as much as we do.

REAL STORIES FROM REAL BARTENDERS >>>

I've been a bartender for a long time. I have met countless freaks, jerks, pervs, sweethearts, rockstars and crazies. Even though it's a physically and mentally exhausting job, these are the colorful people that make it all worthwhile. Well, that and the tips.

I'd like to share with you some of my personal experiences behind the bar, along with the stories from some of my fellow bartenders. Each week - under the clever heading of "Behind Bars" - I will dig into my memory bank - and the incident log books that all bars keep - to bring you some of my favorite stories.

Names of bars, bartenders and patrons have been changed or withheld to protect the innocent.

And the not so innocent.

Cheers!

This week...

The good stuff

Normally, Behind Bars reports on crazy and disgusting stuff, like the guy who pooped in the bar, or the jar of piss left in a backpack, or exposed body parts, or bloody fights or thieves or urinal pucks. It goes on and on.

So, this week I'd like to take a step back and talk about the good stuff. Because it does exist. There is a damn tight community in the bar scene. Someone's always got your back, whether you need to bum a smoke or drink, or need a ride or a slice of pizza or whatever, there is continuous barter system of goodwill and fellowship.

Heck, people even find love at the bar. I met my husband eight years ago in a bar; I've watched the evolution of relationships, from that first game of pool all the way to the altar. We even had a guy include us in his girlfriend's wedding proposal scavenger hunt. It was one of the first places they'd hung out together, so he caught us before we opened, all giddy to set up a love note for his soon to be fiancé to find.

We have stacks of incident log books, chock full of disturbing things, so I decided it's time to start documenting the good stuff, too.

And there's no better way to get started then with photo booth pictures of people that are happy, nice, and having fun. Because that's why we go to bars. Enjoy.

What are your positive bar stories?

LINK: Past Behind Bars columns

Andrew Parker sat and sorted through hundreds of multi-colored LEGO bricks as he contemplated building a re-creation of the ancient city of Troy.

"I began to play with LEGOs when I was three years old," the eighth grader said as he worked in a studio at City Blocks, located on the lower floor of Freighthouse Square.

At the entrance to the studio, there is a large table full of thousands of LEGO blocks, and everyone is welcome to stop by and create art.

"I like the creativity, and I can build what I want to," Parker said.

Comprised of one-of-a-kind businesses and a large number of ethnic restaurants, Freighthouse Square is located at 440 East 25th Street in downtown Tacoma.

City Blocks is the 11 year-old creation of Dan Parker, an energetic individual who happens to be one of 13 certified LEGO artists in the country.

Along with other area LEGO enthusiasts, Parker has fashioned meticulous creations made from tens of thousands of different colored LEGO blocks. One of the biggest he helped to create was a life-sized Nativity Scene comprised of more than one million bricks, which took more than four months to build.

When asked how many LEGO bricks he thought he had in the studio, Parker chuckled and said, "Three million give or take 100,000."

Comparing the plastic LEGO bricks to musical notes, Parker went on to say that the bricks are the fundamental bits of creativity.

These bricks of creativity began in 1932 when Ole Kirk Christiansen started making wooden toys in the village of Billund, Denmark. Two years later, Christiansen's little business adopted the name LEGO.  The word comes from the Danish word "LEg GOd," which means to "play well."  Ironically, the word LEGO means "I put together" in Latin.

The first LEGO blocks were made of wood.

During the 1940s, the LEGO Company began to make its blocks out of plastic, and in March of 1955 the company launched the "LEGO System of Play" with 28 sets and eight vehicles. In 1958, the present day LEGO stud-and-tube coupling system was patented.

Today, the fun of creating with LEGO bricks is making a renaissance across the country.

"The Washington, D.C. area, the Great Lakes area and the Pacific Northwest are centers of LEGO artists," Parker said as he packed Batman themed LEGO creations to take to a weekend birthday party.

While true, there are very few LEGO clubs in the area, and none were found at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

"Working with LEGOS is a pushback against electronic games," Parker continued.   "It's the opportunity to work with your heart, head and hands."

City Blocks creates centerpieces for use at corporate events and fundraisers.  When not making LEGO creations for clients, Parker and his associates travel to summer camps and festivals to display their talents.

"We also host birthday parties here in the studio, or we will come to your home," Parker added.  "We will show up with tubs of LEGO blocks and play with the kids."

City Block's studio is open Mondays to Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  For more information, call (253) 632-9407 or visit www.facebook/cityblocks.

 Imagine the feeling of dry sand pouring through your fingers, or packing sand into a bucket. Sand play delights the senses, but it's also important for child development. This type of sensory play gives young children a chance to explore basic science concepts such as wet and dry, volume, pouring, and sifting...but we'd still rather bury our little brother and put sand boobs on him.

Hands on Children's Museum in Olympia

10 am-5 pm Mon-Sat Noon-5 pm Sun Summer Hours: until 9 pm Fridays though August. Every first Friday of the month is FREE Friday Night: 5-9 pm

More here

Mamma said to eat your vegetables, and what better place this morning than the Farmer's Market in Proctor.  The Proctor Farmers Market provides locally grown produce, free range grass-fed meats, seafood, cheeses, fruits, flowers and baked good to the community. You can also commisserate with local merchants feeling the squeeze (see that drama HERE)

The market is open from 9-2 p.m. North 27th and Proctor Streets in Tacoma.

As part of a Hydrogen Fuel Cell Initiative, Joint Base Lewis-McChord received a hydrogen bus last year to develop a route to take Airmen and Soldiers, civilian employees and family members around the installation.

The JBLM Duty Shuttle begins service on Monday. The two-route shuttle system will cover main roads from McChord Field to Lewis Main and Lewis North.

When establishing the route, officials at Directorate of Logistics thought about where the most Soldiers and Airmen were throughout the day, and where they most often need to go.

"The purpose of the bus is to get people back and forth between appointments during the duty day," Lt. Col. A.J. Mims, 627th Logistics Readiness Squadron commander and DOL deputy director, said.

The Blue Route will start at 62nd Airlift Wing Headquarters and make stops at McChord Health and Wellness Center, McChord Clinic, McChord Education Center and Madigan Army Medical Center. It will then turn around and head back to 62nd AW Headquarters with the same stops. The route will go through gates between McChord Field and Lewis Main but will not need to be stopped for an ID check, as riders will already have been vetted when they entered JBLM for work that day. The bus on this route is expected to be a Bluebird bus and not the one hydrogen bus.

The hydrogen bus will be used for the Green Route. The route will run from the Hawk Education Center on Lewis North to Madigan where it will pick up and drop off passengers who need to ride the blue route, and turn around to head back to Lewis North. Stops include Lewis Army Museum, Garrison headquarters, Waller Hall, Lewis Main Exchange, Stone Education Center and Madigan.

The busses will have signs in the window designating it the Duty Shuttle and there will also be signage at each stop with information on the bus and route times.

The bus routes begin Monday and will run from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. They will not run on holidays, weekends or days with inclement weather. For more information visit: www.facebook.com/jblmcommutes or call 982-2684 (option No. 4).

While you can't do much about the global price of oil, you can take steps to reduce pain at the pump.

With current gas prices on the rise, you may be tempted to trade in your car for a scooter - or resort to pedaling your way to work.

Before you make any drastic financial or lifestyle sacrifices, consider these tips provided by the Environmental Protection Agency, fueleconomy.gov and gasbuddy.com.

1. Slow down.

Although each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at different speeds, gas mileage usually drops dramatically at speeds above 60 mph. As a general rule, every 5 mph you drive above 60 mph is like paying an extra 30 cents per gallon of gas.

2. Be gentle.

Avoid jack-rabbit starts and sudden stops, which can lower your gas mileage by 33% on the highway and by 5% around town.

3. Lighten your load.

Try not to keep unnecessary items in your car, especially heavy ones. Each 100 pounds of extra weight can reduce fuel efficiency by up to 2%.

4. Scout out cheap gas.

Avoid gas stations in affluent areas and near major freeway exits. In major metropolitan areas, outlying suburbs tend to have the lowest gas prices, according to gasbuddy.com. If you're not in a hurry when traveling, drive a few blocks from the freeway exit to find lower gas prices. Also, avoid service stations with on-site auto repair shops, which often charge more for gas. Download the gasbuddy.com app on your mobile device to locate gas stations near you and see their current gas prices. If you don't see a download for your device, just go to m.gasbuddy.com, which can be used from any mobile device.

5. Skip traditional gas stations.

Check out wholesale clubs, grocery stores or department stores with gas stations onsite. These businesses often sell gas at discounted prices and may offer credit for in-store purchases when you fill up with gas.

6. Keep your older car in shape.

While traditional tune ups are becoming a thing of the past for newer vehicles, older cars with worn spark plugs, low transmission fluid and dragging brakes can suck your gas tank dry. Check your owners manual for recommended maintenance schedules and get regular engine checkups. Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4%. Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40%.

7. Avoid idling.

For every hour a car idles, between a quarter-gallon to a half-gallon of fuel is consumed. Restarting your vehicle only takes a few seconds' worth of fuel. However, restarting your car excessively can cause starter wear.

8. Don't neglect your tires.

Keep your tires properly inflated and make sure you have them aligned periodically. You can improve your gas mileage by around 3.3% by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Plus, properly inflated tires are safer and last longer. 

9. Choose the right oil.

All oils aren't created equal. That's especially true when it comes to engine oil. Using only the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil cited in your owners manual can improve your fuel efficiency by 1% to 2%

Come face to face with real poets speaking for a difference in Exhibit Talk & Poetry Reading. In honor of National Poetry Month, join 2010-11 Tacoma Poet Laureate Tammy Robacker and writer Maria Gudaitis with special guest poets as they read poems in response to "Hope in Hard Times: Washington During the Great Depression." The public will be invited to enjoy an exhibition briefing, a walk around the exhibit, a break with refreshments, and admission to the special poetry reading at 3 p.m. in the Auditorium. Guests are also invited to join the poets at a post-event poetry party from 4 - 6 p.m. at Anthem Coffee and Tea in the museum plaza.
This is not to be missed.
Washington State History Museum
1911 Pacific Avenue
Tacoma, WA 98402-3109
(253) 272-3500