Premier hip-hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis will kick off their fall U.S. arena tour Oct. 22nd, playing some of the biggest venues of their career, including a Thursday, Dec. 12 date with Seattle's big house, KeyArena.

Fan pre-sale begin Tuesday, June 25 here. Ticketmaster has the $35-$72 tickets, and will offer them for sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Friday, June 28.

Here's a couple excerpts from the press release:

The group has toured their electrifying live show worldwide for nearly a year with Rolling Stone saying "they have the makings of genuine superstars." In early fall the group will play sold out shows across Europe following massive ticket sales that saw two nights at the O2 Arena in Dublin sell out in 25 minutes-faster than any artist since Beyonce. The fall U.S. arena tour will be available for early pre-sale to save fans money on ticketing fees, before going on-sale to the general public on Friday, June 28th. Joining Macklemore & Ryan Lewis on the road will be Brooklyn emcee Talib Kweli and Mississippi's own Big K.R.I.T.

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, from Seattle, WA, are known for their expertly crafted music and innovative music videos and media. They broke new ground by independently releasing their debut full-length album, ‘The Heist,' which shot to the #1 slot on iTunes, debuted at #2 the Billboard charts and was certified Gold without the support of a traditional record label. Recently they made Billboard history as the only duo to send their first two singles to #1 on both the Hot 100 and Top 40 Radio charts with new single "Can't Hold Us" and breakout smash "Thrift Shop;" each has over 60 million and 350 million views on YouTube respectively. "Same Love", a song and video in support of marriage equality, galvanized young fans and voters, and is currently soaring at radio on multiple formats with certified Gold sales.

TUESDAY, JUNE 25 2013 >>>

1. It's Tuesday and that means The Grand Cinema unleashes another special film as part of its Tuesday Film Series. Today at 1:45 and 6:45 p.m. The Grand will screen An Oversimplification of Her Beauty, a multimedia collage incorporating (semi-)scripted scenes, documentary, live action and several forms of animation, all to brood over the failure of a romantic relationship and examine how it lives on, or doesn’t, in memory. 

2. If you think the medium of artists' books are limiting, you'll undoubtedly be impressed with the array of work on display at the third annual membership show of the Puget Sound Book Artists. "Puget Sound Book Artists is comprised of amateurs and professionals from all quarters of the book arts field for the purpose of creating a spirit of community among handworkers in the books arts and those who love books," PSBA member Jane Carlin previously told the Weekly Volcano. "We also strive to increase educational opportunities for private individuals as well as institutions and other organizations, fostering excellence through exhibitions, workshops, lectures and publications." PSBA's book art show from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Collins Memorial Library features a wide variety of handmade books by 30 artists demonstrating how these talented artists can interpret the book in exciting and original ways that push the boundaries of tradition. 

3. If hearing the sound of your own cackling voice echoing off the walls of your shower stall has you craving the sound of something a bit more harmonious, check out the local songbirds at Victory Music Open Mic at the Antique Sandwich Co. It's guaranteed to be jam-packed with gorgeous sounds and humbling verses, as the South Sound's greatest up-and-coming acoustic musicians bare their souls impromptu-style. Performances start at 7 p.m., and if you're thinking that your shower-time ballads are ready for public consumption, you can sign up for your own moment in the, er, sun at 6.

4. Proctor District's wine connoisseurs at Pour at Four will be tasting wines from Steele Winery in Lake County Califonia. From the 2012 Shooting Star Sauvignon Blanc all the way to the 2009 Stymie Merlot, Pour at Four believes these wines are rocking. Not only is the tasting complimentary, but it is teeming with loads of vino knowledge. Tasting runs 5:30-8 p.m.

5. There are trivia competitions all around the South Sound on a Tuesday night, where you can unleash your inner Ken Jennings. And while you won't approach Jennings-like earnings, you can win some cool stuff, ranging from gift certificates, to concert or sports tickets, to a VHS copy of All of Me, the film starring Lily Tomlin and Steve Martin. Sweet! Two of our favorite Tuesday night trivia are at Fish Tale Brew Pub in Olympia and Farrelli's Wood-Fire Pizza in Tacoma, both start at 8 p.m.

LINK: Tuesday, June 25 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

"Good things come to those who wait," or so they say and in this case it holds a kernel of wisdom.

In February, the Weekly Volcano heard the owners of Tacoma's The Social Bar & Grill - Jason Bailey, Philip Panagos and Rodel Borromeo -would be venturing into the world of wood-fired pizza. Their new sister store, Paesan Kitchen and Bar, would open sometime in May 2013. Of course, businesses do not open on time in Tacoma, and concerting the Dock Street Sandwich Company into the Paesan took longer than expected.

Good news. Paesan is open for coffee and lunch today, and dinner beginning tomorrow.

I was fortunate enough to get a sneak peek this past weekend.

Read more...

Humans are fickle, always wanting what we can't have. Now, at Babblin' Babs Bistro in the Proctor District of Tacoma, you can get breakfast and lunch all day long with their new "Best of Breakfast and Lunch" menu, launched June 19.

"The response has been good," said Chef William Mueller. "During the week, people wanted breakfast later, since it's not offered many places. And then on weekends, people were looking for a bite, like soup and sandwiches."

Now you can get biscuits and gravy at noon or a New Orleans crab burger at 8:30 a.m. Choice is a beautiful thing.

The menu might be simplified, but the flavors are as complex as ever. Chef Mueller's creations are one-of-a-kind, making Babblin' Babs a unique culinary destination, and easily one of the best breakfasts in town. The new menu took 50-plus items down to 20, with a newly added farmer's vegetable soup and side salad. There's also a specials menu that changes weekly, featuring some of the favorites that are no longer on the daily menu.

On a recent visit, I found the new menu easier to navigate, but still with plenty of options. The Bistro Steak and Egger ($22), a top sirloin on a bed of spinach and pancetta, topped with a custard egg and served with sweet potato hash, was perfection. The Black Lentil Mushroom Breakfast Burger ($15), topped with a custard egg and served with home fries, was an artful combination of both breakfast and lunch in one dish. The baked-to order cheese and blackberry Danish ($4) melts on your tongue with a buttery flakiness.

They also have new summer hours, and are open Wednesday-Sunday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

BABBLIN' BABS BISTRO, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday, 2724 N. Proctor, Tacoma, 253.761.9099

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26 2013 >>>

1. On Happy Noose's forthcoming releases, the Amagosa and Haunted EPs, find the Olympia band embracing the darker, more romantic side of their sound, even as their hooks become bigger, catchier and more anthemic. Where their earlier output was spunky in that youthful punk sort of way, Amagosa signals the natural maturation of a still relatively new band circling and landing on its voice. Catch them with Romantic Feelings and Handwritings at 10 p.m. inside Le Voyeur. Read Rev. Adam McKinney's full feature on Happy Noose in Northwest Military's Music & Culture section.

2. Australian artist Jessica Loughlin will be in the Hot Shop at the Museum of Glass today through Sunday, July 7 as part of the Visiting Artists Summer Series. Loughlin takes her artistic cues from the landscape, creating an illusory sense of depth in her quiet horizons of glass powders and cast layers. Loughlin received the Tom Malone Prize from the Art Gallery of Western Australia in 2004 and 2007 and was the 2001 winner of the Outstanding New Artist in Glass award from UrbanGlass. Her work is included in the permanent collections of the Glasmuseet Ebeltoft in Denmark, the National Gallery of Australia and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

3. The first-ever Fife Farmers Market opens today, and will run every Wednesday until Aug. 28 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Every week the market will sprout up at Fife City Hall and the adjoining Centennial Park at the corner of 54th and 23rd Streets. The Fife Farmers Market will initially host about 20 vendors selling local farm-fresh produce, prepared and processed foods, handcrafted items, and lunch-ready foods. Their stalls will line Centennial Park and a portion of Fife City Hall's parking lot.

4. Lyonpride Music is holding auditions for the music stage at Seattle Hempfest 2013. Bands will be rockin' Jazzbones beginning at 7 p.m., including Death By Stars.

5. The small town of Moore, Oklahoma was hit with a devastating storm. More than 40 comedy clubs across the country will hosts benefit shows today with 100 percent of the ticket money going directly to the victims. The Tacoma Comedy Club is in, with comedians Duane Goad, Rodney Sherwood, Tyrone Hawkins, Andrew Rivers and Adam Norwest in the house at 8 p.m.

LINK: Wednesday, June 26 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

"Grief does not change you ... It reveals you." - John Green, The Fault in Our Stars  

If the truth in this statement is as real as it feels, then Jim Redman and family always had it in them to do better in this world. To take something as meaningful to them as music was to Brian Redman and pay it forward so that others could experience the same joy.

A stalwart in the Tacoma community - as a musician, bartender and all-around good guy, Brian Redman was killed when he crashed his scooter in September 2009.

In the years following his brother's death, Jim Redman and a circle of family and friends have thrown a benefit concert and poker tournament to help raise awareness of Brian's legend and to raise money for a scholarship program for young musicians.

"Tacoma was Brian's home and he loved playing for a local crowd," said Jim. "He played for his community and that's what we want to continue."

Since starting the memorial fund, which is under the umbrella of the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, the family has been able to award one kid per year $1,000 each to continue pursuing their passion of music and community service.

But Jim wants more.

Read more...

THURSDAY, JUNE 27 2013 >>>

1. Do you find science less than thrilling? Maybe all those memories of sitting in biology class while your teacher prattled on about the phylum classification of the thorny-headed worm has put you off forever. But what if you could listen to an exciting presentation about researching and planning for dangerous viral outbreaks, followed by the screening of a cult classic ABOUT a dangerous worldwide viral outbreak and its consequences? How could you say no to that? At 6:45 p.m. The Grand Cinema and the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department present "Science on Screen." Emerging Diseases expert Dr. James Bales, and disease outbreak control public health leader Nigel Turner (try fitting that on to a business card!) will give just such a presentation. This will immediately be followed by the 1995 film 12 Monkeys. The next lecture and film in this series will undoubtedly be about an attack of giant thorny-headed worms. 

2. At 7 p.m., three local writers will take to the hallowed spaces of King's Books for a reading - an evening of good old fashioned storytelling in Tacoma's most awesome of bookstores. The three writers: Titus Burley, Melissa Thayer and Joshua Swainston seek to entertain you with their clever words, their wit, their art.

3. The four-day America's Classic Jazz Festival in Lacey kicks off today with an upbeat mix of ragtime, jazz, swing and blues on the menu. Saint Martin's University will transform into Dixieland during the festivities presented by the Greater Olympia Dixieland Jazz Society. The "Kick Off Party" from 7-10:30 p.m. features bands West End, High Sierra/Brady McKay and Wally's Warehouse Waifs. For a complete festival schedule, check out olyjazz.com baby.

4. The Barleywine Revue will fill The Swiss with bluegrass beginning at 8 p.m.

5. Punk bands Kramer, the Mormon Trannys, Enemy Combatants and Raptor Tractor play a free 8 p.m. show at O'Malley's Irish Pub in Tacoma.

LINK: Thursday, June 27 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

Let's face it. Joint Base Lewis-McChord life can get a bit overwhelming, especially with talk of deactivations, Soldier 2020 plans, Interstate-5 traffic hell and trips through The Gauntlet — especially after a year's deployment in Afghanistan.

Sometimes you need to let off a little steam.

Sometimes you need to squirt kids with water guns.

Charlie 52nd Infantry Regiment (Anti-Tank) dropped by Chambers Prairie Elementary School in Lacey earlier in the month for some fun and games. The 3-2 SBCT has partnered with the school, proving a leadership model for the kids, helping them with sports and putting smiles on their faces.

They also squirt the kids with water guns.

Check out the fun and games below.

FRIDAY, JUNE 28 2013 >>>

1. A first listen to Jack Endino's "Set Myself on Fire," the title track of his band Endino's Earthworm's upcoming full-length release, and we're sold. Deep vocals, edgy lyrics, and a crushing ride of instrumentals leaves us pleased. Endino may have produced Nirvana and Mudhoney, but all that matters is that his band is going to tear up The New Frontier, with Mosquito Hawk and Electric Falcons at 9 p.m.

2. The Taste of Tacoma runs from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Point Defiance Park. Expect healthier options, the inclusion of mobile food truck vendors, and most notably The Taste Cooks!, a cooking stage featuring Tacoma chefs and culinary experts.

3. Carol Gore, whose family has owned the the Goldfish Tavern since the 1950s, is trying to reopen it. The family hosts their annual beer garden party during the Taste of Tacoma, which will be held across the street at Point Defiance Park. The hope is the outdoor beer garden will raise enough repair money for a new floor.

4. North Shore Golf Course (4101 North Shore Blvd., Tacoma) is hosting a Whiskey and Scotch Tasting 6-8 p.m. Friday, June 28 from. This isn't simply a tasting but a party with live music to entertain and a full buffet for diners to pair with their samples of whiskeys and scotch for only $20.

5. You're likely to hear lots of noise coming out of Olympia this weekend. While that might not be news to some, the strange sounds emanating from the city will be calculatedly noisy. In its 19th year, the Olympia Experimental Music Festival features bands from near and far who favor experimentalism, texture, ambience, improvisation and psychedelia over straight-up rock 'n' roll.  The three-day ordeal will take over all-ages venue Northern in Olympia June 28-30. The festival will feature 18 different acts - many from Olympia, and the rest mostly spanning from Seattle to Portland. Music begins at 6 p.m.

LINK: Friday, June 28 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

If you search Brown Paper Tickets for show going down today, you'll find tickets for the World's Quickest Theater Festival, Architectural Walking Tour, Le Faux female celebrity impersonation show, the opening ceremony of the honorary consulate for the Czech Republic and more.

If you're a veteran, you might be able to free score tickets to these events, and the thousands of music festivals, comic book conventions, sporting events, comedy shows, farm-to-table dinners, cooking classes, plays, concerts, burlesque, roller derby and more offered through the ticket agency. Brown Paper Tickets has made it easy for anyone to donate tickets to the men and women of the U.S. armed services through a crowdfunding program called "Brown Paper Tickets Salutes." An integration with the Veteran Tickets Foundation, also known as Vet Tix, allows anyone creating event registration and ticketing through Brown Paper Tickets to donate tickets to veterans with just one click, and to allow ticket buyers to purchase extra tickets that are donated to veterans.

For the scoop on this program, and to get in on the party, click here.