1. Tacoma's Red Hot has been chosen as one of 88 bars across the country set to feature all eight award-winning recipes of Shmaltz's He'Brew Jewbelation beer this Chanukah - Dec. 1-8. According to Red Hot owner Chris Trashcan, his bar will tap all eight of the selected Jewbelation beers at once - today!  Judging by the hype, this is not an event for the non-committal. "You'll get a four-oz pour of every version, as well as the blended wood-aged beer (Schmaltz) made (Vertical Jewbelation). ...The first 24 people to do the vertical will get a Jewbelation Vertical pint glass that they made for these releases," says Trashcan. "There are no growler fills, or getting a singular pour.  This is an adventurous event, so it's the whole enchilada, or nothing at all.  First come first serve."

2. Get smarter. It's fun. Start tonight at the University of Puget Sound when Deborah Willis, PhD - chair of the Department of Photograph & Imaging at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University - delivers a talk titled "On Beauty: Critique and the Artist's Response." According to hype, the event will  "explore ideas and representations of race, specifically as they relate to people of African descent in today's global visual culture, and "consider ways in which ‘reading' notions of beauty in contemporary visual art, video, fashion, and advertising has affected (Willis') art practice and teaching." 7 p.m., at Kilworth Chapel at UPS.

3. Drop In over at the Varsity Grill event space today for an event that, as far as we can tell, is called "Drop In." But the name's really not that important. From 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. over 30 lines of local gifts, clothing, scent, scarves and all that kind of stuff will be available for your guilt-free, non-mall holiday shopping. It'll be awesome, and totally Tacoma.

4. Join South Puget Sound Community College's Concert Choir for "Sing We Clear" at the Kenneth J. Minnaert Center this evening. You could do far worse, trust us ...

5. Romanteek is awesome. Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside is amazing. Basemint always kills it. Tonight, all three will be at Northern in Olympia. If it's been a long time since you've been out to see a show on a Wednesday - tonight just might be your night.

THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO >>>

Hailing from Edmonton in Alberta, Canada, Chris Connelly and Hot Panda make joyous, vibrant and super-melodic indie rock that has no other desire than to pick you up off your lazy, Twittering ass and spin you dizzy on the dance floor. Connelly's voice strains and spits from behind a wall of overdriven guitars and bouncing keys.

On Monday, Dec. 6 Hot Panda will stop into Northern in Olympia, part of a West Coast tour the band will launch Friday in Vancouver, BC. In addition, and to whet your whistle, Magnet Magazine premiered the band's latest single yesterday.

Closer to home, the Volcano's Rev. Adam McKinney interviewed Hot Panda for a story soon to be birthed onto this very website. Until then,  some YouTube fun ...

WHY I DO THIS >>>

I don't sleep well the night before a negative review goes online. There are probably critics who enjoy shredding the dreams of theater artists, but I don't happen to be one of them. I try to keep my critical writing, if not impartial, then at least devoid of personal attacks. You won't see me, for example, sharing gossipy dirt on the people who work in and around the South Sound arts community, no matter how juicy or seductive that gossip might be. It's the only way I can express my opinions without being fairly accused of succumbing to vendettas. I've been doing theater - as an actor, then a playwright, then a director - for decades longer than I've been writing about it, and I care about it more than I probably should. That informs all my reviews, and I try to assess the efforts of others as generously as I would have them assess mine.

It's one thing to evaluate child actors or even amateur thespians at Olympia Little Theatre (OLT). They almost always get a pass. It takes guts to take one's first steps onto the boards, and a professional critic should lower his or her expectations, as should discerning audience members. It's quite another to post a bio full of creative accomplishments ("Dale Pretentious has directed over 60 shows in three states"), then phone it in. I will catch you. I know it's just "one man's opinion," but I am one man who's paid - is still paying - hard-earned money to know exactly what he's talking about.

As in Almost Famous, I try to judge creative efforts "warmly and accurately." I've written kudos to people I don't like and stinging dismissals of people I do. I imagine I've lost any chance of friendship or even mutual respect with some of my targets, and that never fails to sadden me.

So why do I do this? First, the Volcano pays me to write about an art form I love. That kind of employment doesn't come often. Second, I hope I can help to improve the work of beginners by defining what went wrong. And third, I harbor this tiny, self-delusional hope that by holding my fellow artists to the lofty standards of which they've already proven themselves more than capable, I can help make South Sound theater even better, more creative, cathartic and relevant, than it already is.

Of course, I still direct and tread the boards myself, so the handle of my critical dagger turns out to be yet another dagger. This week I begin rehearsals as Zelnick in Tacoma Little Theater's production of Frost/Nixon. So if I've annoyed you with any of my writing (and I plan revisit one of those offenses down the road), it should cheer you to know I'll be subject to the same critical body blows, courtesy of the Volcano's Joe Izenman or Joann Varnell in mid-January.

For more of my writing on a variety of subjects, please visit Carv's Thinky Blog at www.ChristianCarvajal.com.  Also, feel free to buy my debut novel, Lightfall, at an independent bookstore near you. It's between Lewis Carroll and Raymond Carver, which is patently hilarious.

TUESDAY, NOV. 30 >>>

1. "Sailor Jerry" Collins is an American cult icon of sorts - famous for his place in the history of tattoo, and now gaining notoriety for the rum that bares his name. Friday, Tacomans will have a chance to catch a special screening of Hori Smoku, a pretty fantastic documentary about Sailor Jerry himself. To build hype for that event, and even better as a good excuse to drink rum, two Sailor Jerry parties will go down today in Tacoma - one at The Swiss and one at Gruv Lounge.

2. Just can't get enough barstool bingo? Thinking of going pro? Seems like you can hone your skills every day of the week in the South Sound. Tonight, take your game to Gloria's Bar & Grill at 8201 Pacific Avenue for Barstool Bingo with Mama Glo! Action runs from 7 - 9 p.m. Need we say more?

3. It's Ha Ha Tuesday at Jazzbones. Grab a Grey Goose and lemonade, or some sake, or whatever, and have a few laughs with host Ralph Porter and headliner Nancy Reed.

4. Get your jazz fix at Pacific Lutheran University tonight when the school's jazz combos from the Jazz Studies department hold their "Final Exam" concert. Action goes down in The Cave, starting at 5 p.m.

5. Alice Stuart plays the Red Wind Casino tonight. If you're in Yelm, or aren't above traveling to Yelm, this one should be good.

MONDAY, NOV. 29 >>>

1. Marcus Walker, a well-known member of the community and the managing artistic director at Lakewood Playhouse, was recently diagnosed with cancer - more specifically malignant metastatic melanoma, which he describes in a letter to friends and Lakewood Playhouse patrons as a "very virulent form" of cancer. Tonight, banking on the fact that laughter is the best medicine, a benefit roast of Walker will be held at Urban Grace Church in Tacoma. All proceeds will go to Lakewood Playhouse to help in this time of need.

2. The power of social media can be leveraged by artists. Today a workshop discussing this fact will be held at Tacoma Art Place. Grow your fan base. Grow your business. Increase your exposure. The free workshop will cover it all. Hopefully you RSVP'd.

3. The Mix hosts Barstool Bingo with prizes beginning at 9 p.m. Get your butt down there.

4. Dance party, yo! Tonight at the New Frontier Lounge with DJ Tanner & DJ Dark Skars. Starts at 9 p.m. Be there or be square.

5. Community and West African drumming and dance go together like, well ... we don't know yet. Tonight we'll get a chance to find out. What we do know for sure is when there's a community oriented, all-are-welcome West African drumming and dance event at the Loft on Cherry in Olympia it's probably a pretty good way to spend your Monday evening. Lucky for us, all skill levels are welcome. Runs 7:30-9 p.m.

MARIO LOPEZ IS COMING >>>

With no discernable positive qualities other than dimples and rock-hard abs, Mario Lopez, who still manages to live a life of D-List celebrity, will  appear Saturday at the South Hill Mall in Puyallup for a meet and greet with fans from 1 - 3 p.m. Lopez will be joined by his wife, Courtney Mazza, which makes a lot of sense since she's the by-default co-star of Mario's new VH1 reality series "Saved by the Baby."

Get it? Because he used to be A.C. Slater? Get it?

Anyway, here's a YouTube clip from Lopez in his prime. We'll be doing this all week, if for no other reason than we think it's funny and it gives us a good excuse to search for "Saved by the Bell" clips on the clock.

Enjoy ...

FUCKIN' A>>>

Just got a press release from the Thermals announcing a string of shows, including one on January 23 at Northern in Olympia. How exciting! The Thermals will also play in Seattle at Neumos on January 21.

Here's the rest of the release:

Its been a busy few years for The Thermals! Since signing with beloved Northwest indie label Kill Rock Stars in 2009, The Thermals have released one LP (Now We Can See), three singles ("Now We Can See," "We Were Sick" "Canada") and two split singles (with their friends The Cribs and Thao With The Get Down Stay Down). They toured Europe five times, the U.S. six times, and even went to CHINA and ate a chicken's foot. The Thermals' career has become a metaphor for their live show - exuberantly fast-paced and fun, with no signs of slowing down any time soon.

For their upcoming album Personal Life, The Thermals re-teamed with producer Chris Walla (Death Cab For Cutie). Walla and The Thermals have a long history together - Chris mixed the first Thermals LP (More Parts Per Million, 2003) and produced their second LP (Fuckin' A,  2004). Walla brought his signature brand of crisp, shiny pop production to Personal Life, as he has done for records by Tegan and Sara and Telekinesis, to name just a few. Personal Life was recorded to 2" tape and mixed to 1/2" tape, and vinyl enthusiasts will be happy to know the vinyl was mastered straight from tape, with no computers involved.

Sonically, Personal Life continues the Thermals tradition of high-energy punk/power/pop while also exploring darker, more introspective territory. Lyrically, Personal Life obsesses over love and lies with the same passion The Thermals have reserved for politics and death in the past.

MARIO LOPEZ IS COMING >>>

With no discernable positive qualities other than dimples and rock-hard abs, Mario Lopez, who still manages to live a life of D-List celebrity, will  appear Saturday at the South Hill Mall in Puyallup for a meet and greet with fans from 1 - 3 p.m. Lopez will be joined by his wife, Courtney Mazza, which makes a lot of sense since she's the by-default co-star of Mario's new VH1 reality series "Saved by the Baby."

Get it? Because he used to be A.C. Slater? Get it?

Anyway, here's a YouTube clip from Lopez in his prime. We'll be doing this all week, if for no other reason than we think it's funny and it gives us a good excuse to search for "Saved by the Bell" clips on the clock.

Enjoy ...

MARIO LOPEZ IS COMING >>>

With no discernable positive qualities other than dimples and rock-hard abs, Mario Lopez, who still manages to live a life of D-List celebrity, will  appear Saturday at the South Hill Mall in Puyallup for a meet and greet with fans from 1 - 3 p.m. Lopez will be joined by his wife, Courtney Mazza, which makes a lot of sense since she's the by-default co-star of Mario's new VH1 reality series "Saved by the Baby."

Get it? Because he used to be A.C. Slater? Get it?

Anyway, here's a YouTube clip from Lopez in his prime. We'll be doing this all week, if for no other reason than we think it's funny and it gives us a good excuse to search for "Saved by the Bell" clips on the clock.

Enjoy ...

SATURDAY, NOV. 20 >>>

1. Celebrate the fifth anniversary of Tacoma's iconic Tempest Lounge. Everyone who's anyone will be there. Find more details here.

2. Like records? Like rock ‘n' roll? Like Olympia? The 2^nd Olympia Record Show, today at the Elk's Lodge in downtown Oly, sounds like just the event for you. Here's our article on the occasion.

3. Faun Fables, a performer that defies most classifications, is also in Olympia today - performing as part of the 27^th Annual Olympia Film Festival. Faun Fables is, basically, Dawn McCarthy - and her music and performances are like few others you'll see. Here's some background.

4. Check out the first even ‘Nesian Fest at Hell's Kitchen tonight. A celebration and gathering of talented Pacific Islanders in our local hip-hop and music scenes, organized by Island Trybe, tonight's event is one of the most impressive collections of talent you'll find this weekend.

5. Have you been training? Do you have the endurance required? November's Puget Sound Poetry Connection "Poetry Marathon" is today at King's Books in Tacoma - from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Poets scheduled to read include Emilie Rommel Shimkus, Tammy Robacker, Bill Kupinse and more.