SUNDAY, JULY 20 2014 >>>

1. If you think you've been hot the past two weeks, think about how hot those guys in the food trucks must be. The high temp should only reach 70 today so no one should complain about the heat at the Food Truck Festival from noon to 5 p.m. at Wright Park. Metro Parks called out to food trucks, and they've answered en masse. Today will mark the one-day, free event featuring trucks and mobile businesses and live entertainment. Schedule businesses driving trucks to the park include Masa, Asado, It's Greek To Me, Lizzie Lou's Comfort Food, Celebrity Cake Studio, Lumpia World, Josefina's Taco Truck Pampeana empanadas, Budha Bear Bagels and others.

2. If you've got a girlfriend, you probably know what season it is: the free outdoor festival season. You've probably hit just about every free music-in-the-park event, free drum circle and free farmers market since April. Well, this weekend prepare for a trip over the bridge, for the annual Gig Harbor Summer Arts Festival, where 122 artists (plus the obligatory vendors), live music and family activities will take over Judson Street in downtown Gig Harbor from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Go ahead, get your face painted.

3. The sun is hiding today after what felt like a 10-year summer. Head inside today to catch some local theater today. 

4. The Social Bar and Grill's patio is a lovely spot to while away a weekend afternoon, sipping cocktails and old world red wine and watching condo residents walk their dogs. Come Sunday afternoon, resident DJ Mr. Melanin and rotating guests spin an eclectic and extremely tasteful selection of lounge, bossa nova and electro soul music 2-6 p.m. This triple threat of delicious happy hour specials, sun and hip tunes is known as Tacoma's only daytime summer party, "Dayclub."

5. What might have come across as a bit of cheeky, gimmickry with the Cave Singers, has coalesced into an easy and natural product. Combining members of punk bands such as Pretty Girls Make Graves and Murder City Devils into a folk-rock band (right at the apex of Seattle's neo-folk inundation, mind you) surely must have struck some as a stunt, but the band's seventh year on the scene shows them settling into a welcome groove. Their tour finds them breezing through The New Frontier with No Grave for a rare Sunday 8 p.m. show, so it'd behoove you to catch them.

LINK: Sunday, July 20 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SATURDAY, JULY 19 2014 >>>

1. From its birth in the 1970s, the post-punk genre evolved as many of the all-time greats of the genre appeared. Into the '80s, bands like the Fall, Public Image Ltd., Wire and Suicide continued to innovate. The term "darkwave" came from back in the 1980s, and was one of the terms used to describe the Golden Age bands, as well as dark electronica acts such as Gary Numan and Depeche Mode. Now the new wave is discovering the art of the original New Wave, and even some of the surviving masters are making returns to resurrect the genre. It's an exciting time for post-punk fans. At 8 p.m. in Le Voyeur, post-punk and darkwave collide when three dark post-punk bands take the stage: Happy Noose, Shadowhouse and the Mercenaries. Bonus: Vern Rumsey, former bassist of Unwound/Blonde Redhead, will perform as Red Rumsey.

2. Often we try to bring you fun activities at a reasonable price. But it doesn't get any better than FREE! Of course most of the time, free isn't exactly free, that is just the sugar-coated packaging the really expensive activities come in. The 30th Annual Gig Harbor Summer Arts Festival is one of them. It's pretty cool, and if you can abstain from buying anything, you might come out scotch free - unless you have a girlfriend. But ... what can be more romantic than taking a stroll along the beautiful Gig Harbor waterfront, hand-in-hand with your better-half, taking in beautiful art by 122 area artists and craftspeople from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. You will see painters, potters, jewelry designers, fabric artists, woodworkers, photographers and, of course, pastels and watercolors.

3. LeMay - America's Car Museum hosts an exclusive summer event for lovers of the grill, both the one that adorns your wheels and the ones you cook over fire with in their Smokin' Hot RibFest 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dive into barbecue ribs and other meat delights while enjoying discounted admission into the museum. Attendees get to vote for the best vendor book and best ribs with a percentage of proceeds benefiting Rescue Mission of Tacoma. Need something to wash down all that meaty goodness? Imbibe in cocktails from Heritage Distilling Company and Ginkgo Forest Winery.  Meals are $10 and tastes in the garden are $3. Vroom, Vroom, YUM.

4. Narrows Brewing will host a one-year anniversary party titled "Breakers Ball" from 6-11 p.m. Stephanie Anne Johnson will perform. Local food trucks and vendors will be on site. Read Pappi Swarner's interview with Narrows' head brewer Joe Walts in the New Beer Column.

5. Ant and the Cold 102's gang will brings their real blues, blistering guitars and wailing harmonicas to Doyle's Public House at 9:30 p.m. 

LINK: Saturday, July 19 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

THURSDAY, JULY 17 2014 >>>

1. Emmet and Marque met online. They fell in love. She moved to Ireland and lived with Emmet for seven months. Then, she brought him to the States. They became Irish man and wife. Emmet began the process of immigration. After three years, he secured his green card. He performed Irish folk music for two years in the greater Phoenix area. Music is his life; it runs in his blood. Emmet's late uncle Tommy Makem was an internationally celebrated Irish folk musician, artist, poet and storyteller. The couple decided to move to Olympia. Emmet's St. Patrick's Day shows completed the travel fund. Then, doctors found a cyst on one of Marque's ovaries. The travel fund was gone. After Marque healed, the duo launched a GoFundMe page. Emmet and Marque now live in Olympia. Emmet now goes by That Irish Guy. At 5:17 p.m. Doyle's Public House will hold its Guinness Pint Club award ceremony and new members recognition, as part of its monthly St. Practice Day party. At 7 p.m. That Irish Guy will perform Irish folk music. At 8 p.m. a Guinness Pint Club member will hug him.

A reception for Bill Colby's "Water and Rocks: A Journey" will be held from 4-6 p.m. in The Gallery at Tacoma Community College. A former art professor at the University of Puget Sound, Colby has been creating art for six decades, and his work has been widely displayed and collected.

It's the third Thursday of the month, which means we look at art in Tacoma. Spaceworks Tacoma hosts The Portal Pop-up Gallery from 5-9 p.m. in the Post Office Building, 1102 A St., in downtown Tacoma. In conjunction with the Post office's current exhibitions - "The Hole in Your Heart is a Portal to Another Dimension"by Erin Dengerink and "Invoke the Muse" by Jennifer Chushcoff - Dengerink invited a group of her artist colleagues and collaborators to pop in on the Pop-up and pop out their works, including Maureen Andrade, painter and executive director of the NorthBank Gallery in Vancouver, Wash.;Sarah Paul Ocampo, multi media artist and performer from Seattle; and Edward Trover, printmaker, painter and sculptor from Portland, Ore.

4. Sailor Jerry presents Tattoo Night at The Swiss from 6:30-10:30 p.m. The downtown Tacoma hangout will have an artist on site doing free Sailor Jerry tattoos (yes, real ones). Junk Parlor will rock it at 9 p.m. Drinks include $4.50 rum drinks and, of course, the shot wheel.

5. A doom-ish, heavy show is going down at the all-ages Northern venue in downtown Olympia featuring Dead To A Dying World, Uzala, Shadows and Burial Suit at 8 p.m.

LINK: Thursday, July 17 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

WEDNESDAY, JULY 16 2014 >>>

1. Farmers markets come in all sizes, shapes and vibes, but the atmosphere of the Sunset Market is definitively about fun. Right off the bat, it turns the tables on the usual early-morning affairs we're used to by hosting its vendors in the evenings, from 3 to 7:30 p.m. - a Puyallup version of Tacoma's 6th Ave Farmers Market if you will. The Sunset Market focuses on local farmers, growers, processors, artisans, downtown merchants and food vendors accompanied by live entertainment, demonstrations and more. The farmers' party continues every Wednesday through Sept. 17.

2. Starting at 10 a.m. and running the next five weeks, the Museum of Glass will feature women artists working in the Hot Shop. Today, Jessica Jane Julius will experiment and explore new directions in her art. She currently teaches at Tyler School of Art, and her work was recently featured in Craft Spoken Here at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

3. While it's easy to quantify Oly as just a hippie, college town - that's only partially true. A large portion of the population is proudly blue-collar. The most amazing part of all of this is the two demographics - shoeless hippies and hardworking grunts - come together every year for Lakefair, meshing farmer tans with hacky sacks, and creating a fairly unique event disguised as just another summer festival. Think carnies, cotton candy, live music, volleyball, fireworks and all the usual trappings - Olympia style. It runs from noon to 10 p.m. around Capital Lake and Heritage Park, Fifth and Water Street, in downtown Olympia.

4. There will be an Army invasion tonight in Steilacoom when the U.S. Army Band enters Pioneer Park at 6:30 p.m. The show is free. 

5. Ian McFeron, whose lyrical prose has been compared to Bob Dylan, Ryan Adams and David Gray, will perform roots-oriented American music at 7 p.m. in Olympia's Sylvester Park.

LINK: Wednesday, July 16 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

Tacoma's Art on the Ave really underscored how, at our cores, we really just are animals on the hunt for our next place of gratification for all our cravings, hungers (Grub Crawl, corn dogs), hobbies (art projects, pole dancing), thrills (carnival rides, palm readings), and addictions (yes, drinking in the sun can be considered an addiction when half the year is spent in pissy weather). And like most simple creatures, no matter what degree of civilized they may be, when we hear great music, we can lose our cool, which we lost many times including Amadon, Rust on the Rails and Nolan Garrett, to name a few.

Yesterday one of the busiest streets in Tacoma was Sixth Avenue - a nine-block span between North Junett and Sprague - where from noon to about 7 p.m. the free, family-friendly event offered food vendors, artists, roller derby girls, one drone, bands and herds of people stopping every five yards to chat with someone they know.

Though body paint and roving packs of teenagers often lead to a damn good time, the Weekly Volcano has a strict "no sticky kids" policy - so we stayed clear of the "Cirque du Tacoma" carnival area at Jason Lee Middle School. Not surprisingly, our day was spent soaking up the 89-degree weather in and out of vendor booths and beer gardens - listing to the bands on the neighboring stages and catching up with friends.

The 16th annual Art on the Ave housed five stages and more than 120 arts and crafts vendors. Here is a tiny portion of what we enjoyed. ...

LINK: 253 Weekend festival action for Saturday July 12

MONDAY, JULY 14 2014 >>>

1. Seth Freeman has played the guitar since the age of 4. He has spent time in both the city and the mountains of Arkansas, in the heart of the South in a large, and very musical, family.  When you hear Freeman play guitar, you quickly realize these are not the same old licks. At 23, he opened for Jonny Lang, Wes Jeans, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Damon Fowler and Devon Allman. Today, he spends most of his time on the road, gigging with Chris Duarte, Wes Jeans, Damon Fowler, Michael Burks, Lance Lopez and Jeff Lang, when not fronting his own band, which brings its driving blues, Ozark Mountain bluegrass and sweet tender ballads to The Swiss for the second time this year, this time for Monday Night Blues at 8 p.m.

2. When you read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, does the book provide a secret passageway to Narnia? Flipping through Chitty Chitty Bang Bang does it frustrate you the car can't fly? Pop-up books are endlessly fascinating. Being able to conjure up a three-dimensional world just by pulling a tab never gets old. Also cool are handmade bookbindings where a simple blank journal can become an elaborately illustrated storybook complete with 19th century photographs, old quilts, cereal boxes and vintage record albums. In conjunction with The Puget Sound Book Artists "4th Annual Member's Exhibition," the group presents the panel discussion "The Artist's Vision: From Idea to Completion." From 5:30-7:30 p.m. in Collins Memorial Library, Suzanne Moore, distinguished calligrapher and book artist, will ask Pat Chupa, Lucia Harrison, Mari Gower and MalPina Chan to explain their complete artistic process.

3. This past weekend Tacoma's gay community hits the street and celebrated its identity. But thanks to the The Grand Cinema, some of that out-and-proud celebration will take place indoors. The Tacoma Pride Film Series kicks off today at 2 and 7 p.m. with Lilting, the story of a mother's attempt to understand her son after his untimely death. Her world is suddenly disrupted by the presence of his lover. Together, they attempt to overcome their grief while struggling with not sharing a language.

4. L.A. dark psych-country band The Abigails will perform their stoney slow jams off their new album, Tundra, at 9 p.m. in The New Frontier Lounge. Garage rock duo Pecos opens.

5. Improvisational rock group Ground Score Willie will take you on an "unpredictable ride through danceable grooves, dirty riffs, ambient sweetness, lyrical gems, sparkling harmonies, and daring loop-a-whirls that may result in motion sickness, possibly dry heaves (although we take no responsibility as we DID warn you not to drink the whole bottle)" at 10 p.m. in Le Voyeur.

LINK: Monday, July 14 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SUNDAY, JULY 13 2014 >>>

1. If you're accustomed to thinking of art as esoteric - or, for that matter, if you regard it as material to enliven the walls over sofas - then prepare to have your mind ba-lown. Tacoma's Art on the Ave community celebration includes Live bands, Grub Crawl, carnival rides, art projects, giant puzzles, local beer and wine lounge, tons of art and more from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tacoma's sixth Avenue. Read Christian Carvajal's full feature on Art on the Ave in our Music and Culture section.

2. At the Best of the Northwest Free Community Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., visitors to the Tacoma Art Museum will get to see up close and personal just what it takes to make a bronze sculpture and take part in a hands-on sculpture project making your own three-dimensional art. At noon the bronze World War II Marine memorial sculpture "Soul of the Forward and Faithful" by Mardie Rees will debut in an unveiling. It will be on view at TAM until July 27 when it will travel to its new permanent home at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Va. The festival will feature artists, fabricators and curators talking about the process of creating bronze sculpture. "Rarely do you witness sculptures taking shape," said museum director Stephanie A. Stebich. "We're giving visitors a close-up look into the sculpture process that most people don't get to see." Admission to the museum will be free all day. 

3. The Social Bar and Grill's patio is a lovely spot to while away a weekend afternoon, sipping cocktails and old world red wine and watching condo residents walk their dogs. Come Sunday afternoon, resident DJ Mr. Melanin and rotating guests spin an eclectic and extremely tasteful selection of lounge, bossa nova and electro soul music 2-6 p.m. This triple threat of delicious happy hour specials, sun and hip tunes is known as Tacoma's only daytime summer party, "Dayclub."

4. The Riffbrokers' Nick Millward has a voice that resembles a more nimble version of Elvis Costello's nasal croon, draws you in, sonically, before you have a chance to really appreciate the beauty of his lyrics. With the rest of the band consisting of Nick's wife Heather Millward (bass), as well as Chris Cline (guitar) and Ryan Maxwell (drums), the Riffbrokers like to refer to themselves as "powerpop twang," which works just as well as anything else. They sound like what would happen if Tom Petty earned his stripes in the indie punk underground. Read Rev. Adam McKinney's full feature on the Riffbrokers in the Music & Culture section, then catch the band with the Dignitaries and the Oly Electric at 5 p.m. in The Swiss Restaurant and Pub.

5. For some of us, karaoke is all about either watching or being drink-sodden disasters - specifically the kind poorly belting out ballads to a hooting crowd of strangers. For the non-voyeurs and the non-exhibitionists, the song's the thing, and Harlequin Productions "Forbidden 12 Night" karaoke party should be a song-centric affair. Harlequin's A Rock ‘n' Roll Twelfth Night cast and crew will be singing each other's songs from the show karaoke style, with the live band, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The $40 ticket is good for a catered buffet dinner and a cocktail as the cast, crew, and band from the musical present an evening of unscripted musical mayhem.

LINK: Sunday, July 13 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

FRIDAY, JULY 11 2014 >>>

1. Dudley Taft may well be the best white, Cincinnati-based blues artist you've never heard of, despite the fact that he toured with Seattle's own Alice in Chains and Candlebox. But wait, you say, Alice in Chains and Candlebox aren't blues bands. You're right! Now wipe that smug look off your face. Nobody likes a know-it-all. Dudley Taft has mastered both hard rock and electric blues, and his new CD, Screaming in the Wind, delivers a paint-peeling firestorm of both. The album and its debut single, a Skip James cover called "Hard Time Killing Floor Blues" and accompanied by an awesome Star Trek-themed video, came out in May, but it's new to you so let's just call his 8 p.m. appearance at Jazzbones a CD release party. Trust us, this guy can rock you like your back ain't got no bones.

2. One of the original Artists in Residence at Hilltop Artists, as well as an art education advocate, Therman Statom will be featured on the Museum of Glass's Hot Shop Live from noon to 1 p.m. This Hot Shop Live webisode will not only highlight Statom's artwork and community service, but also his relationship with Hilltop Artists. Executive Director Kit Evans and Mayor Marilyn Strickland will join Statom for a discussion during the webisode. The show is open to the public and is free with Museum admission. For those who cannot attend, Hot Shop Live can be streamed here.

3. Last week marked the 50th anniversary of the classic Beatles movie A Hard Day's Night. The Grand Cinema proudly showed three select screenings of a newly restored print of the film to celebrate the occasion. Due to the film' s overwhelming popularity, tickets sold out almost immediately and a lot of Beatles fans and Grand patrons alike didn't get a chance to see it. That's why The Grand is screening three more showings this week, including today at 1 p.m. Read Jared Lovrak's thoughts on the film here.

4. Remember last autumn when Dukesbay Productions opened Driving Miss Daisy, and it was such a crazy pre-holiday weekend that I didn't have time to see it? Well, Dukesbay is now reprising that show with the very talented Syra Beth Puett in its title role. Malcolm West returns as chauffeur Hoke Colburn, and Miss Daisy's son Boolie will be played by ... wait for it ... Robert Puett. Catch it at 7:30 p.m. in the old Corina Bakery spot at 508 Sixth Ave. in Tacoma.

5. Like a crow that is dark, intelligent and resourceful - schooling its children in the ways of life, so do Wolves in the Throne Room school their listeners in the ways of earthy black metal. Sometimes ambient, sometimes thunderous, always with radical environmentalism in mind, Wolves will remind you of the very roots and rock and flesh to which we all belong. An alpha and omega, if you will, of everything black metal, Scandinavian, doom and crust. They throw an amazing, angry and skilled respect to all things elemental through their use of voice, thrash and drums. The band plays at 9 p.m. at the Capitol Theater with Nommo Ogo and DA Terence. This is the band's first stop on a mini-tour down the west coast celebrating the release of its new album, Celestite, on Artemisia Records.

LINK: Friday, July 11 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

THURSDAY, JULY 10 2014 >>>

1. Since really wonderful summertime food comes off the grill, the idea that chilled white wine is a good general summer drink becomes nonsensical. More often, room-temperature red wine should be the libation of choice. The marriage of a delicately gamey grilled leg of lamb with a complex yet fruity Pinot Noir, or a perfectly charred hamburger, smothered in caramelized onions and chased by a robust, peppery Zinfandel: Well, isn't this what life is worth living for? Dorian Woodson from Cru Selections knows. He has the scoop on tasty summer reds, which he'll reveal 5-7 p.m. in the STINK Tank wine bar. For $5, you may taste five summer reds, enjoy summer snacks and chat up why sweet, cold and white should stay away from your grill.

2. The second Thursday of the month, the downtown Gig Harbor community skips floating around on their yachts to host a party. The galleries stay open late, artists hold demonstrations, refreshments are passed out and the music goes live from 5-8 p.m.

3. While Van Halen was telling everyone to "jump," brothers Kurt and Rob Widmer opened their brewery with $50,000. It was a slow start. In 1986, the Widmer Brothers introduced their Hefeweizen to America. The rest is history. In 2008, Widmer and Red Hook merged to form what would later be titled Craft Brew Alliance, the ninth largest brewer in the nation. The Copper Door hosts a Widmer Brothers Brewer's Night from 6-9 p.m. Meet the brewer, chat beer history and drink Citra Blonde, Upheaval IPA, Sason de Fleurs and "other secret squirrel beers."

4. We always enjoy a Big Dipper after tight harmonies. And thank the heavenly bodies, Pacific Lutheran University will, once again, make our dreams come true. The college hosts Jazz Under the Stars, an outdoor jazz concert series followed by rare public entry into their Keck Observatory. The series, a different band every Thursday through Aug. 14, kicks off tonight with four-piece Luigi LaCross in the Mary Baker Russell amphitheater from 7-9 p.m. Ah crap, the observatory is open only for the July 31, Aug. 7 and 14 shows. Well, we'll wish upon a star tonight that someone changes his or her mind.

5. Lakewood Playhouse never seems to disappoint and their most recent production is no exception. People who don't like Monty Python humor, also known as fuddy duddies, might want to skip it but for everyone else, Spamalot (books and lyrics by Eric Idle) will have them laughing, whistling and singing even after the show. Director John Munn's brilliant cast and crew could not have done a better job. Read Joann Varnell's full review of Spamalot in the Music & Culture section, then catch pay-what-you-can show at 8 p.m.

LINK: Thursday, July 10 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SUNDAY, JULY 6 2014 >>>

1. Sunday, July 6, Museum of Glass will celebrate its 12th birthday with a party FROM noon to 5 p.m. The Museum has entertained more than 2 million visitors, hosted more than 350 artists and has shown 86 exhibitions and displays since opening in 2002. Numerology states a birthday on the 6th of the month adds a tone of responsibility, helpfulness and understanding to one's natural inclinations. This is a number associated with strong sense of responsibility, artistic, a nurturing disposition and community oriented - with a strong degree of concern for others. Those born on the sixth are more apt to be open and honest with everyone, and more caring about family, too. Makes sense since MOG cares about family so deeply; it's family-friendly party on July 6 will be free for those 12 and younger with free cupcakes, balloon art, chalk art and cookies. That said, if your kid knocks over a piece of glass, MOG will dub your family's number 86.

2. Two great American loves will unite for the fourth time as part of the Gig Harbor Wings and Wheels show at the Tacoma Narrows Airport. The event, which is hosted by the Tacoma Events Commission, runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and feature bi-plane rides, cool cars and aircraft, live music and the Smoke 'N' Thunder Jet Dragster making a 300 mph run down the runway, plus three hours of aerial demonstrations and displays, featuring warbirds and aerobatic airplanes.

3. Operation Ward 57 depends solely on donations to operate their project for wounded soldiers and amputees. Uncle Sam's American Bar and Grill hosts a motorcycle run to benefit Operation Ward 57. There will be a motorcycle run leaving Uncle Sam's Amphitheater at approx. 1 p.m. This run will stop at Lawless Harley Davidson, Destination HD and NW Harley Davidson and returns back to Uncle Sam's for a concert with Commander Cody and His New Planet Airmen plus The Razorback Riders at 6 p.m. Price to join the ride is $15. These funds will support the concert benefit and includes admission to the show.

4. The Social Bar and Grill's patio is a lovely spot to while away a weekend afternoon, sipping cocktails and old world red wine and watching condo residents walk their dogs. Come Sunday afternoon, resident DJ Mr. Melanin and rotating guests spin an eclectic and extremely tasteful selection of lounge, bossa nova and electro soul music 2-6 p.m. This triple threat of delicious happy hour specials, sun and hip tunes is known as Tacoma's only daytime summer party, "Dayclub."

5. Around the mid-'00s, a cavalcade of bands arrived on the scene as blissed-out purveyors of art-pop - off-kilter melodies and shifting time signatures giving nods to progressive rock, without going so far as to approach the uncommercial. Groups such as Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear and Local Natives are on the frontline of this movement of musical geeks, and Talk of Shamans fit right in with that new wave. The San Francisco trio bounces back and forth from bouncy, yelping indie rock and world music-indebted pitter-patter. Catch the band with Globelamp and Union Pacific at 10 p.m. in Le Voyeur.

LINK: Sunday, July 6 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area