MONDAY, JULY 22 2013 >>>

1. In the same way that sharks must keep swimming to keep breathing, it seems guitarist Rafael Tranquilino must fuse genres across various musical projects in order to stay afloat. His arrangements incorporate blues, funk, rock, funk, ska, metal, reggae, Latin and jazz-fusion. As accomplished as he is varied, Tranquilino can be seen every Monday night as host of Stonegate Pizza's rockin' blues, if not experimental, jam. He's one of the best guitarists in the South Sound.

2. If you've noticed we're pushing local breweries lately, you've caught us. We can't stay away from local beer. Plus, there's something about a local brewery that screams perfect date night. A couple pints of lager, a couple side salads, a doggy bag for the happy couple. ... Powerhouse Restaurant and Brewery in Puyallup offers a pasta and pint combination every Monday that's easy on the wallet. Buy pasta off the menu and get any one of Powerhouse's seven beers free of charge.

3. Tacoma Rainiers games are pretty exciting. At 7 p.m. the Rainiers battle the Tucson Padres at Cheney Stadium. Who wants to stick it to Tucson?

4. The Jho Blenis and Shelly Ely Band will fill The Swiss with blues at 8 p.m.

5. The 2013 Best of Olympia "Best Band" winner Erev Rav performs at 8 p.m. in The Royal Lounge. The Klezmer orchestra delivers a kaleidoscope of original compositions and traditional melodies infused with funk, reggae, bee bop, rock and Latin rhythms.

LINK: Monday, July 22 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

Two more mondays left ...

Three years ago, a team of Swedish divers and researchers discovered what is considered the world's oldest unopened champagne in a shipwreck believed to be from the early 19th century in the Baltic Sea. However, the Swedes found another liquid treasure - a couple of bottles of unopened beer from the same era. The champagne was kept intact. What about the beer?

They drank it; even more startling was the fact that they actually liked it. Horrified Swedish beer experts shuddered. However, they admitted they'd be tempted to take a swig, too.

Oh c'mon, it was all in the name of science, right? And beer science at that!

Pacific Brewing and Malting, a new Tacoma based brewer who will open later this year, will put an American and scientific spin on a beer treasure from the past, too. They managed to get a hold of unopened bottles of 100-year-old beer. Hardly sunken treasure - the beer was discovered in an old California hotel.

OK, old beer. Nice.

The story continues. ... The beer is an extra special find for these Tacomans. The found beer was brewed locally by its predecessor of the same name, Pacific Brewing. The original company was the second largest beer producer in Washington state in the early 1900s. Due to prohibition in the state in 1916, the brewery relocated to California and underwent significant business changes.

Read more...

TUESDAY, JULY 23 2013 >>>

1. Coming from the mountain town of Bishop, Calif., the cello-and-banjo duo The Littlest Birds does well in capturing the sort of humbly catchy Dust Bowl-era folk that used to dominate lonely radio stations on long stretches of desolate country road. David Huebner's utilization of the cello is particularly inspired, capturing as it does both the sound and feel of the genre's requisite fiddle, while lending a certain depth that would have been lost without an upright bass or something similar. Catch themat 10 p.m. in Le Voyeur.

2. The film In The House centers on Germain (Fabrice Luchini), a high school literature teacher who regards his students as "barbarians" who can't write. But as he's grading papers one day, Germain reads the essay of a teenager named Claude (Ernst Umhauer), who captivates his instructor with a well-written piece about a classmate and his house: For a long time, Claude used to sit in the park across from the house, admiring it and its "holy family." He wants to see what life is like inside, so he befriends the classmate, Rapha (Bastien Ughetto), by offering to tutor him in math. Faced with this gifted and unusual pupil, the teacher rediscovers his enthusiasm for his work, but the boy's intrusion will unleash a series of uncontrollable events. The film screens at 1:40 and 6:55 p.m. at The Grand Cinema.

3. Add Victorian style to your correspondence by creating a steampunk greeting card with paper crafter Rachel Collins from 3-5 p.m. at the Summit Library.

4. The Beatniks, Seattle's most famous cover band ('60s-'80s) will perform an outside concert at Skansie Brothers Park in Gig Harbor beginning at 6:30 p.m.

5. Every Tuesday night at Stonegate Pizza on South Tacoma Way Leanne Trevalyan hosts an acoustic open mic at 8 p.m.

LINK: Tuesday, July 23 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

"The crossfit community is very tied to the military and law enforcement communities, so it makes sense for us to get involved," said Camille St. Onge, who is an elements coach at CrossFit Finish First in Olympia.

CrossFit Finish First is preparing to host the Northwest Battle of the Beasts this August and test the strength, determination and heart of crossfit athletes from not only their gym, but from Oregon, other areas in Washington and Canada.

"We decided that when we did this competition that we would support our military members and all of the warriors at Joint Base Lewis-McChord by giving a portion of the proceeds to the JBLM Fisher House and the Wounded Warrior Project," St. Onge continued.

The competition, which is part of the national Garage Game series, will take place on Aug. 3-4 at North Thurston High School, 600 Sleater Kinney Rd. in Lacey. Although the specific WADS haven't been released yet - in order to maintain an element of surprise according to St. Onge - there will be individual men and women events in both RX and Scaled divisions, as well as RX two person teams (same sex).

Read more...

Opera Alley, arguably Tacoma's most charming street, will soon be home to B Sharp Coffee House, slated to open early August. Adding to the street's already bewitching vibe, coffee, beer, wine and music will soon be flowing.

It's owner Dennis Ellis's first venture into the food/drink business, and he hopes to combine it with his love of music. "I have been a musician for many years, playing the saxophone at different venues, and have always had a dream of opening a place of my own," he says. "We want to focus on roots music: blues, jazz, bluegrass and country."

Coffee is the star at B Sharp, and it's meant to be savored. They will feature Bluebeard Coffee, a Tacoma favorite. "We'll have a focus on slow coffee, with Chemex, pour over, vacuum pot and French press," says Ellis. "We want people to enjoy the coffee they are drinking, sit down and enjoy it."

Also on the menu will be handmade sandwiches, fresh salads, soups, pastries from Corina Bakery and Mad Hat teas. Stop by later in the day for craft beer, Belgian ales and wine.

Look for the coffee house to be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and until midnight Friday and 2 a.m. Saturdays, closed Sunday.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 24 2013 >>>

1. Film is called a medium, but mainstream filmmakers don't employ it in the manner of other artistic media like oils or clay. That's been left to art-film craftsmen like Devon Damonte, who's currently exhibiting handmade, camera-free movie film loops and related graphalia homages and maps to Olympia's historic "Marker Trees," The Hard Rubber Washi Company and others in his "What's the Rub?" show at Northern in downtown Olympia. Damonte and Ruth Hayes taught an animation class this summer at The Evergreen State College and the last day of class culminates with a handmade motion graphics show and party at 7 p.m. in Northern. Expect well-established avant-garde techniques like montage and fast-motion. Don't blink.

2. Pint Defiance hosts Bellingham brewery Boundary Bay for tastes and giggles. Founded in 1995, the brewery has become synonomous with its hometown, and continues to churn out awesome beers at a breakneck pace. From 5-7 p.m. raffle prizes, Imperial IPA, Single Hop Pale and more.

3. Continuing its tour of free area music in the park type summer events, this week the Volcano's girlfriend-activity Doppler highlights Tunes @ Tapps, a weekly musical gathering in Bonney Lake that happens every Wednesday through Aug. 28. At 6:30 p.m. Tunes @ Tapps welcomes The Coats, a vocal band born in front of the cinnamon rolls vendor at Seattle's famous Pike Place Market.

4. Vinum Lounge hosts a comedy show every second and fourth Wednesday of the month. According to our calendar, Reggie X, DD and Ms. Genesis Grizzly will add laughs to the joint at 8:30 p.m. Hosted by Ashyknlicks, and introducing DJ IC, expect a comedy show as interesting as the participants' names.

5. More than anything else, singer songwriter Jim Page is a walkin', singin' acerbic commentary on life.  His lyrical style resembles that of Arlo Guthrie or Bruce Springsteen; rock words trapped inside a folk singer's music. You can't ignore his direct style and compelling message.  Open your ears and mind at 7 p.m. when Page performs at A Rhapsody In Bloom on Tacoma's Sixth Avenue.

LINK: Wednesday, July 24 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

Tacoma's favorite stonercore rock band is at it again. Cody Foster Army, also known as C.F.A., has just released its second music video in a series of four. "Sons of the Soil" is now available on The Ripple Effect's website as part of a worldwide release.

C.F.A. called in the troops for this one, with filming by Jack Saffle, better known for shooting pro skaters for the past 10 years. Saffle brought with him Addie Stonack and Jaynee Schmidtke to capture multiple perspectives, adjusting lighting and camera angles and hanging from the ceiling.

The effect is Cody Foster and bandmates - Dave Takata and "Reno" Dave Marseillan - portray little people on stage with crazy corpse paint and sweet dance moves.

Did CFA need a Kickstarter campaign to pull this off? Nope, just $13 and a few sore appendages.

A chat with Foster reveals he is still recovering (knee braces and all) from the filming of the video, which happened to coincide with his 40th birthday.

"I shit you not - I could not walk for two days," said Foster. "But, it was a lot of fun. We're always tongue-in-cheek, and it's working for us."

"Kick Rocks" was the band's first video and Foster says to expect live footage on their third release, including candid shots with friends at local bars.

P.S. Catch CFA live at Olympia Hempfest, Sunday Funday and Music and Art in Wright Park.

THURSDAY, JULY 25 2013 >>>

1. The Grand Cinema teaches science in a different way: First it secures a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and the Coolidge Corner Theatre Foundation to pair films with lessons in science. Next, it invites notable figures from the world of science, technology and medicine to give introduction lessons using those long pointer sticks to tap the screen while nodding their heads. Each film is used as a jumping off point for the speaker to reveal current scientific research or technological advances, providing the perfect combination of entertainment and enlightenment - even for the most science-phobic culture vulture. Then, of course, everyone watches the film, paying close attention to key factor brought to light by the big brains before the screening. Science on Screen kicks ends its run at 6:45 p.m. with a screening of Obselidia, a bittersweet love story about a librarian who complies an encyclopedia of "obselete things," and tries to live his life surrounded by objects that technology has rendered extinct. Dr. Elizabeth Fortenbery, a sociology professor at Tacoma Community College, will discuss what can be lost when a language disappears.

2. Freddy Pink will play blues and clssic rock at 6:30 p.m. in Puyallup's Pioneer Park.

3. Pacific Lutheran University continues its 15 annual Jazz Under the Stars concert series tonight from 7-9 p.m. The series, a different band every Thursday through Aug. 15, features singer Stephanie Porter tonight.

4. The Kareem Kandi Band will fill the lobby of the Hotel Murano with jazz from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m.

5. Cairo, Show + Tell and DJ Melodica entertain at 9 p.m. in The New Frontier Lounge.

LINK: Thursday, July 25 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

For those of you who have a hankering for an omelet the size of your head, want to drown your sorrows in a ginormous piece of pie, or simply want the all-American diner experience while on the road, your choices just got a little slimmer.

Mitzel's American Kitchen in Fife turned off the griddle and hung up the spatulas for the last time. This iconic restaurant that served all-American comfort food all of the time, closed its Fife location promptly at 2 p.m. July 23. The lease on the building was not renewed and a new tenant will be taking over the building. This location knew its fate since May.

Ah, so where on earth does the wanderlust traveler get a cuppa Joe and a pancake stack (Frisbee-sized, please) dripping with maple syrup and lakes of melted butter?

There's another nearby joint in the fair city of Fife that takes iconic to a whole new level. The historic Poodle Dog Restaurant has been slinging beloved American classic food fare for 80 years (yes, really!).

Oh, but be still our hearts; we may just be without any slice of Americana for a little while. An upcoming and planned remodeling effort will be happening in the future that will temporarily close the Poodle Dog. The restaurant can't confirm actual dates of closure, but did acknowledge the remodeling will be happening.

Holy hotcakes, what will we do when THAT happens? Resort to the fast food drive through menu? Rubbery eggs, tiny greasy burgers, and over-wrought coffee in paper cups?

Shudder.

Well, for the Poodle Dog, thankfully, it's temporary. For those jonesing for Mitzel's, don't worry. Get your fix with a short drive up to their Kent location.