FRIDAY, MARCH 7 2014 >>>

1. From Bach to Bird to Biggie, Black Violin executes a unique and often brilliant juxtaposition of urban and classical styles. The two-man violin/viola hip-hop outfit of Wil B and Kev Marcus mix classical music with hip-hop beats, and then toss in some rap and freestyle to keep it interesting. Yes, violins. Yes, hip-hop. With the addition of a hip-hop DJ, this talented trio fuses funk, hip-hop and classical music to create a sound and style that very nearly defies traditional genre categorization. Some might call it revolutionary. Check it out at 7:30 p.m. in the Pantages Theater.

2. Sure, Tacoma celebrates its status as an arts community.  Sure, Tacoma loves to band together for a good cause.  With the YWCA RAGS wearable Art Sale and Gallery, continuing for its 20th year, it does both. RAGS started as a fun way to raise money for the YWCA, whose mission statement is all about honoring diversity and creating opportunities for women’s growth, leadership, and power in order to attain a common vision: peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all people. RAGS offers guests an opportunity to view and acquire fabulous handmade clothing, jewelry and accessories created by artisans from across the country. Check out RAGS from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. inside the Mercedes-Benz of Tacoma new showroom at 1701 Alexander Ave. East in Fife.

3. The Tacoma Community College Symphonic Band concert and trombone soloists Sara Mayo present a variety of contemporary wind band music, exploring ideas around tradition, conversation, spirits and dance at 7:30 p.m. in TCC Building 2 Auditorium, which is close to South 12th and Mildred.

4. The genial satire of contemporary feminism Angry Housewives ran for ages in Seattle centering on Jetti, Bev, Wendi and Carol — good friends, but angry over the lack of respect from their men. So, they form a punk rock band, Angry Housewives, and take their local club scene by storm gaining new self-respect and renewed respect from their men. The play opens at Paradise Theatre at 7:30 p.m.

5. Near as we can tell from what little music is available of Coma Figura, one might describe them as a sort of Foxygen or Titus Andronicus for the bedroom pop set. These are bands that mash together influences and jumble them up into something that surges past imitation and into a kind of fervent homage. Whereas Foxygen and Titus Andronicus reinterpret pastoral psych rock and boozy Springsteen-isms, respectively, Coma Figura take stabs at the idiosyncratic singer-songwriter. Catch the band with BA the Scribe, FLORIDA, Mad Youth at 9 p.m. in The New Frontier Lounge.

LINK: Friday, March 7 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

As you know, the new McChord Field Commissary Club Store officially opened this morning at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. According to Sgt. James Bunn of the 5^th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Victoria Rush, Defense Commissary Agency west zone 12 manager, announced the new club store is the first of its kind in DeCA and is designed to appeal to younger service members.

"The Commissary Club model offers patrons club store and traditional grocery store shopping under one roof. And the only membership card customers need is their military ID," Bruce Dubisar, project manager for DeCA's club store concept, told us last month.

As we reported, DeCA will evaluate the new format's operations and customer acceptance of the Commissary Club model over a period of time, but because it is a concept-test limited to one store, officials are want local shoppers know that there are no plans to change the format of the Lewis Main Commissary just yet.

Bunn snapped several photos this morning at the grand opening. Check them out. ...

>>> Victoria Rush, Defense Commissary Agency west zone 12 manager, announces the opening of the new McChord Field Commissary Club Store at Joint Base Lewis-McChord March 7. Photo credit: Sgt. James Bunn

>>> Col. Anthony Davit, Joint Base Lewis-McChord deputy commander cuts a ribbon, with the help of other service members, and welcomes McChord Commissary patrons into the new McChord Field Commissary Club Store at JBLM, Wash., March 7. The new club store is the first of its kind in the Defense Commissary Agency and is designed to appeal to younger service members. Photo credit: Sgt. James Bunn

>>> Airman 1st Class Eric Deleon shops around the new McChord Field Commissary Club Store for the first time at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., March 7. The new club store is the first of its kind in the Defense Commissary Agency and is designed to appeal to younger service members. Photo credit: Sgt. James Bunn

Clarification: My son, Pineapple Upside-Down Cake, was really baked Friday afternoon. The open letter below has a mistake. Apparently, Babblin' Babs Bistro's permit delay isn't the city of Lakewood's doing. The delay is rooted in inspection issues. Pineapple Upside-Down Cake has been restricted to his refirgerator.

Best,

Golden Pound Cake

Dear City of Lakewood,

For the love of everything delicious, please grant my boss his freakin' building permit so he'll stop driving me crazy. Chef William Mueller cooks. He doesn't sit around. He doesn't run errands. He doesn't watch television. He doesn't weed the garden or wash the car or shop for fabric. He makes Bodacious Biscuits!

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You don't hear it, do you? Bend an ear. No pitter-patter on the tin roof. Look outside. For a brief moment, it's not chilly or drizzling. It's not foggy or sleeting. The flagrantly unpleasant winter weather outside, weather that has slammed the South Sound since you kissed that stranger at First Night, is on hold for a brief second.

It's 57 degrees outside Walkie Talkie World Headquarters. Beach day! Let's grab a sixer and head to the beach.

Since weather and beer in on the brain, let me relay that Harmon Brewing Company announced it is one of the first brewers in the U.S. with an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) label for its beer, issued through the Institute for Environmental Research and Education's (IERE) Earthsure program. According to a news release, "Earthsure, the first EPD program in North America, worked with five Pacific Northwest breweries last year to develop automated software for this science based eco-labeling for the beer industry. Partial funding for the project was provided by the city of Tacoma - the first Life Cycle City in America. Much like a nutrition label, the beer EPD is a disclosure of product data and analyzed the following impacts: Climate change, Stratospheric ozone depletion, Acidification, Eutrophication, Smog Profile Toxicity, Water Consumption and Land Use."

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For anyone who thought last year's Soldier Show packed a punch, its song-and-dance production this year is likely to yield a big round of applause at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. While the JBLM show date hasn't been released, we do know Pfc. Kiari Mhoon - Operation Rising Star finalist from JBLM - will join the 19 cast members to deliver the "Stand Strong" theme to garrisons starting April 11.

Here are more details from a U.S. Army Installation Management Command news release. ...

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GRAB A CUP AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 3.8.14 >>>

Mystery surrounds the whereabouts of a Malaysia Airlines jet that disappeared with 239 people on board.

China declared a "red line" on North Korea, saying that China will not permit chaos or war on the Korean peninsula, and that peace can only come through denuclearization.

Polish Minister: U.S. must show Russia it will protect Europe.

At what point does the Army become a hollow and ineffective fighting force if the drawdown and budget cuts continue?

DoD has spent $300,000 per year since 2009 to study the body language of world leaders.

Air Force One Back In Budget; Airbus Unlikely To Bid.

The Department of Defense has removed 20 areas from its list of locations that qualify for imminent danger pay starting June 1, in a move that is expected to affect approximately 50,000 service members.?

Nine soldiers who served in the Korean War will be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor during a March 18 ceremony at the White House.

Part of Pratt & Whitney's F135 engine, which powers the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, was damaged during a ground test in December and will need a redesign.

Despite being the reigning Olympic four-man bobsled champion, former U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program driver Steven Holcomb and his "Night Train 2" crew face an uphill climb to reach the medal podium this weekend.

Army Emergency Relief has launched its annual campaign which runs from March 1 through May 15.

In preparation for the Army's Network Integration Evaluation 14.2 this spring, the 86th Expeditionary Signal Battalion is training with new tactical communications equipment that is smaller in size for easy transport, yet significantly increases capability.

Preschoolers can be smarter than college students at figuring out how unusual toys and gadgets work.

No U2 album until 2015.

John C. Reilly will never have a role better than Steve Brule.

If you're gonna make a lyric video, at least be creative with it. Japanther pass with flying colors.

Finally: It's not the massive Sandcrawler Ultimate Collector Edition every Star Wars and Lego nerd in the world were claiming for, but it's pretty damn good.

Water War!

SATURDAY, MARCH 8 2014 >>>

1. Do you like the idea of skiing more than the actual activity? Are you considering taking up an extreme sport, but need a hit of inspiration before acquiring the mandatory tattoos and safety equipment? Then consider watching BANFF Mountain Film Festival's Radical Reels Tour's that explore environmental, adventure or adventure-related themes, including BASE-jumping, snowboarding and mountain climbing at 7:30 p.m. in the Capitol Theater. Mountain do or mountain don't? You decide.

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LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Bob's Java Jive Tacoma - Central. Lark vs. Owl, Back From Hiatus, the Past Impending, Photon Pharaoh. 8 pm. $5.

• Lark vs. Owl refer to their music as "the new hard rock," which is the sort of self-aggrandizing statement that I can totally get behind. While a duo of multi-instrumentalists utilizing ukulele, glockenspiel and loop pedals - not to mention the very name of the band - may not smack of hard rock, there's a certain fiery energy that lurks at the heart of Lark vs. Owl. Look no further than their blistering cover of Suicide's "Rocket USA" for proof that this band means business. With their feet planted firmly in the alt-rock fatalism of the '90s, Lark vs. Owl may not be the type of band to soundtrack your house party, but there is a certain downer conviction to their music that might've convinced you to write some lyrics on your sneakers, back in the day. - Rev. Adam McKinney

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SUNDAY, MARCH 9 2014 >>>

1. If we were to return to the most direct definition of post-punk, Nervosas is likely the type of band that you would picture. A minimalist trio of guitar, bass and drums, Nervosas embody the sort of band that might rise out of punk's late '70s pop decimation. At their core, Nervosas play straightforward, no-fucking-around punk that's heavy on charging drums and breakneck guitars. But there's tentative experimentation at play, the way that those first post-punk bands were relearning what music can be, once all the bullshit was stripped away. Read Rev. Adam McKinney's full interview with Nervosas in the Music & Culture section, then catch the band with Overboard and Cult Evaders at 6 p.m. in Bob's Java Jive.

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GRAB A CUP AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 3.10.14 >>>

DoD issues new threat report on North Korea.

The passage of the U.S. destroyer Truxtun into the Black Sea was seen by official Russian news outlets as a challenge to the Russian fleet and evidence that the U.S. was "ramping up its military presence in the region."

The Afghan Taliban said today next month's presidential election was being manipulated by the United States, which had already chosen the winner, and threatened to use "full force" in attacking anyone taking part.

DoD budget: Expect big changes in five-year spending priorities.

How big will the U.S. Army be in 2019? Not even the Army knows.

U.S. Air Force left with little flexibility in budget.

A Fort Hood sergeant who was a coordinator of the post's sexual assault and harassment prevention program faces multiple charges after he was accused of setting up a prostitution ring involving cash-strapped female soldiers.

Defense lawyers for an Army general facing sexual assault charges say they plan to press his primary accuser on inconsistencies in her story.

Turkey's state-owned missile specialist Roketsan has successfully tested a long-range anti-tank missile it has been developing.

The U.S. military services - including the Air Force, which flies the Global Hawk UAV - are increasing their dependence on commercial firms to supply satellite bandwidth for ISR requirements.

The unemployment rate for post-9/11 veterans jumped in February, nearly erasing the gains of a few months ago, Bureau of Labor Statistics data show.

Some scientists are speculating that "dark matter" may have played a role in the great dinosaur die-off.

Popcorn 411: Here's a nerdy look at one of our favorite movie snacks.

True Detective Season 1 finale recap: "Form and Void."

True Detective Season 2 pairings inspired by pop culture detectives.

Look for Morrissey's new album in June or July.

Stanley Kubrick's daughter is on Twitter, and she's sharing photos from the sets of his films.

Finally: someone tracks down the actors who played the kid version of Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah in Splash.

Seventeen of the oldest man-made structures on earth still in use.

Twenty-two incredible images show what the future looked like 100 years ago.

Guess again, dawg