WEEKLY VOLCANO TEAMS UP WITH UNITED WAY OF PIERCE COUNTY >>>

When it comes to opportunities created within a community and the impact they have on individual lives, the United Way of Pierce County (UWPC) makes a positive difference.

"The United Way always provides the traditional safety net, the emergency services for those in need," says Sean Armentrout, vice president of UWPC Community Education & Resource Development. 

"We also work with leaders and subject matter experts to further the impact we have in the community."

Based on a 2003 survey seeking to identify the critical issues effecting Pierce County, the United Way focused on education, housing and health issues.

What resulted is a plan to improve the community as well as funding guideline for contributions made to the United Way's Community Solutions Fund.

Financial support to the UWPC helps fund 117 non-profit programs in 71 agencies. 

"When you donate, it is a smart investment in this community in which you live," Armentrout explains. "All of the dollars remain local and have a tremendous impact."

The Weekly Volcano has partnered with UWPC for this coming year, concentrating our efforts on housing needs and homelessness. Stay tuned for more information on our events and donation opportunities.

The United Way for Pierce County is located at 1501 Pacific Ave. SW, Suite 400, Tacoma. For more information, call 253.272.4263 or visit www.uwpc.org.

EAT A TON OF PIZZA ALL DAY AND NIGHT >>>

When it comes right down to it, just about everything rests in a name. Case in point - the fundraiser today being held for breast cancer research by pizzerias around the nation. What did its inspired organizers call it? SLICE FOR HOPE. Wow. If you don't feel like a bastard for not supporting, well, maybe you should. It's for hope, man, hope. Hope is all we have. Plus, while the hope in the title may be figurative, the slice is not.

Locally, Farrelli's Wood Fire Pizza will donate 10 percent of its sales today to the Karen Mullen Breast Cancer Foundation, a national charity based in Seattle. It's estimated 40,000 women will die from the disease this year.

"There isn't a person in this country who hasn't felt the effects of breast cancer in some way," says Farrelli's owner John Farrell in a release. "Farrelli's wants to do something to help end this disease."

Farrell goers on to say that besides donating 10 percent today, he's also created a pizza called the "Tasty Cancer Fighter" for the month of October and will be donating $6 for every 12-inch and $10 for every 16-inch of that pizza sold to the Karen Mullen Foundation.

So eat pizza. Support hope.

For the nearest Farrelli's, click here.

SUNDAY, OCT. 2, 2011 >>>

The 85-piece Dale Chihuly Northwest show ends its run at the Tacoma Art Museum. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. you may see baskets to "Pilchuck Stumps," plus pieces from Chihuly's private collection of objects ranging from Native American baskets and wool blankets to canoes and Edward S. Curtis photogravures. In addition, at 2 p.m., Author Dennis Reed discusses Photographer Virna Haffer and some of her West Coast contemporaries at TAM.

The motto of the annual Pierce County Hunger Walk is, "Fighting hunger, one step at a time." It's a little cheese-ball, but it's also totally appropriate. According to promotional hype, last year, "more than 1,800 feet (900 or so people, we presume) ran, walked, shuffled and pedaled around Waughop Lake at Fort Steilacoom Park in Lakewood," all raising money to fight hunger in Pierce County and beyond. This year's goal is to raise $350,000, with half of the proceeds from Hunger Walk will benefit the Emergency Food and the other half going to international hunger relief agencies designated by each walker, including FISH Food Banks, St. Leo's Food Connection and several other food banks in the area. Head to Fort Steilacoom Park at noon and walk.

If you have yet to fully experience the musical majesty of the mandolin, today offers perhaps the perfect opportunity to do just that, as the Tacoma Main Library welcomes the Seattle Mandolin Orchestra performing "The Italian Concert" at 2 p.m.

"Tonight We Shine: A Benefit For Connie Meredith Bowen" is a fundraiser for Bowen who still struggles from a motorcycle accident 30 years later featuring Blues Redemption, Al Earick Band, Maia Santell, The Jupiter Order at 3 p.m. inside The Swiss.

Seattle's award-winning world music trio Correo Aereo introduces a stunning array of string and percussive instruments with silken vocal harmonies in a sensual combination that is both viscerally ancient and vibrantly contemporary at 7 p.m. inside Traditions Cafe in Olympia.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Grab your tickets for the Get Involved Gala at the Tacoma Art Museum

SATURDAY, OCT. 1, 2011 >>>

1, A bevy of local Pierce County farms will take part in a joint vision brought to you by the WSU Extension, Pierce County Conservation District and Cascade Harvest Coalition: the HarvestFest 2011 Farm Tour. Expect farm tours (naturally), chef demos, wine tasting, hayrides, corn mazes and all the like - in addition to plenty of learning. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., experience local farms from the Puyallup Valley to Orting and beyond, including Picha Farms and Terry's Berries in P-Town, Sholz Farm and Tahoma Farms in Orting, and Blue Willow Lavender Farm on the Key Peninsula. For more info visit county.wsu.edu/king/agriculture/harvestcelebration.

2. Yelm Farm and Pet will host a "Pink Pancake Breakfast" from 9 a.m. to noon as part of Purina's second annual "Pink 50 Campaign," an effort to unite animal lovers everywhere and raise awareness and support for breast cancer research through the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

3. Beginning at 10 a.m. members of the CLAW (Cartoonists' League of Absurdist Washingtonians) will gather at Comic Book Ink to celebrate 24 Hour Comics Day, challenging themselves once again to complete a 24 page comic in only 24 hours. The event benefits CLAW's scholarship fund, raising money to help students with a passion for cartooning pay for things like tuition, books or art supplies. Local cartoonists RR Anderson is said to be planning a Wyatt James Boy Detective entry. Consider yourself warned.

4. The Weekly Volcano would travel to the ends of the earth for a savory helping of local craft brews and soft pretzels. We've proven it before. But thankfully, from 2-10 p.m. we only need to go as far as Tacoma's Opera Alley. Presented by the Triangle Business District, Amocat Café and The Mix, Oktoberfest Tacoma will feature local craft beer, pretzels, a pie-eating contest, chainsaw pumpkin carving and more.

5. The guys over at NWCZ Radio have claimed the first night of the month at Hell's Kitchen as Rocktoberfest - a night of devil horns and fist pounding (and beer pounding). Expect crushing sets from local-favorites Mahnhammer, Dethproof, Parlooka, Fox and the Law, Burn the Harbor and headliner, The Screaming Starts, beginning at 6 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: A bunch of wine tastings

THURSDAY, SEPT. 29, 2011 >>>

1. For the always popular 26 Feet of Art (and the accompanying online auction), 26 artists have contributed a 12"x12" piece of artwork to be displayed in the Washington Center's lobby and gallery. From 5:30-9 p.m., a reception and wine tasting will get things off to a good start, kicking off the Washington Center's CenterFest Celebration 2011. The 26 Feet of Art online auction will run through Arts Walk and close Oct. 9.

2. Garfield Book Company hosts a Scandinavian Social Hour featuring a Swedish pancake-making demonstration at 6 p.m. Afterward, everyone will try to put together furniture from IKEA.

3. Oktoberbreast – a Breast Cancer Awareness Month kick-off event with the Breast Cancer Resource Center featuring educational materials, food, DJ, no host beer and wine, fire dancers and more - will happen from 6-10 p.m. at the Puyallup Fairgrounds.

4. "Imagine Tom Waits and Jack White drinking in a Romani dive bar, then haphazardly mixing DNA. That miracle baby might resemble PDX art-folk group Strangled Darlings. Using an arsenal of old-time instruments the group wades through a spooky realm of melting-pot Americana that resembles Waits' music, minus the Cookie Monster growl." The Willamette Week in Portland wrote that ditty about the Strangled Darlings, the band that will perform at 8 p.m. inside The Spar in downtown Olympia.

5. DJ Aaron Mack spins alternative 80s and beyond beginning at 9 p.m. inside The Acme Grub Cage.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Thursday Nightlife It List

PICKING WITH A PURPOSE >>>

The South Sound's fall harvest is on.

That means volunteers with The Pierce County Gleaning Project will be descending on local produce fields to gather fresh vegetables for distribution to hunger-relief agencies.

According to a PCGP, a whopping 40 to 50 percent of commercially grown food goes to waste in this country. I believe it. I witnessed hundreds of apples on the sidewalks during my run yesterday through Tacoma's Northend Neighborhood.

The PCGP collects food throughout the year to distribute to such hunger-relief agencies as St. Leo Food Connection food bank and the Emergency Food network. It runs an urban fruit harvest in Tacoma, gleans from farms in the Puyallup Valley, and connects gardeners with food banks through a Plant a Row for the Hungry Program.

In Thurston County, the Thurston County Food Bank began a gleaning project in 2010. The TCFB gleaners focus on harvesting the bounty from their county's organic farm and CSA community as well as the four Kiwanis-run food bank gardens in Olympia.

The fall harvest offers an opportunity to collect large amounts of fresh-from-the- farm produce. The donated produce is often what's left in the field after the farmers have had their pick. Vegetables that are an off size, shape or color might not be suitable for shipping to area markets.

It can't be accomplished without volunteers.

To get involved with the Pierce County Gleaning Project, sign up to volunteer and find a list of where to donate garden bounty at www.piercecountygleaningproject.org or call 253.584.1040.

To work with the Thurston County Food Bank, visit www.thurstoncountyfoodbank.org or call 360.352.8597.

30 YEARS OF AWESOMENESS >>>

The puppy chewed up your shoe again, didn't he? Now he's in there gnawing on your kitchen table leg. Oh, he will pay. He will pay dear. You'll fix him, heh, heh. You'll SUPER FIX him. It won't cost you that much, and it will solve many, many problems far into the future. Perhaps not of the chewing variety, but hey, things get more complicated as we grow older.

Don't I know.

Speaking of older, Wizard's Hairspa celebrates 30 years of turning heads this year. In 1979, Mark Leibel opened Ozone Tonsorial Parlor in Tacoma's Stadium District, and co-owned Ozone II in Lakewood, which he later turned into Wizard's Hairspa.

What the hell has this to do with neutering your dog?  Wait.

In the early '90s, Leibel, his wife, Deborah, and Benno Waler opened Galleria on Broadway in downtown Tacoma. Terry Rishel - Chihuly's photographer for years - ran a photography studio in the back. I hooked up with this cool crew for fashion shoots during my years as publisher of the local arts and society newspaper Choices.

Neuter. Yes I'm getting there.

Sunday, Wizard's Hairspa will celebrate its 30th anniversary with a bash featuring live music, silent auction and a raffle. Schedule to perform are bluegrass band The Graham Crackers, country bands Eddie Gillan's Lovechild and Twang Junkies, blues band Big Nasty, Leibel's band The Blonds and guests. It's rumored one of the guests might be Wizard's Hairspa stylist and singer Denny Porter (Blue Baboons, Running With Scissors).

OK, here it is. Money collected from the $5 donation admission fee and silent auction will benefit the Coalition: HUMAnE Spay and Neuter Clinic. The clinic's mission is to promote and provide low cost spay and neuter services for pet cats and dogs, as well as feral cats in an attempt to stop the needless killing of companion animals due to overpopulation.

"This local clinic makes a difference and the money we raise will go directly to the cause, instead of getting eaten up by administration," says Leibel.

Sunday's party has fun written all over it. Speaking of "all over it," you best get back to your puppy.

Wizard's Hairspa 30th Anniversary Party

Sunday, Sept. 18, 3-10 p.m., $5 donation
The Swiss, 1904 S. Jefferson Ave., Tacoma
253.588.5544

SUNDAY, SEPT. 11, 2011 >>>

1. Sept. 11, 2001, a day of inconceivable tragedy, will always be a date seared into the memories of Americans. Today marks the 10th anniversary of 9/11 terrorist attacks, and the South Sound remembers those who lost their lives and honor those who serve and protect us every day with many events. The Weekly Volcano has listed a few here.

2. The Tacoma Public Library Main Branch in downtown Tacoma celebrates the opening of the Murray and Rosa Morgan Room at 2 p.m.  The room is home to Murray Morgan's personal research library - a comprehensive and unrivalled collection of written material on the South Sound.

3. At 2 p.m. inside King's Books in Tacoma, author Karla Stover and teacher Frances Snyder will delve into the ins and outs of poison, from ancient Greece to Agatha Christie. According to hype, " Discover the unexpected as this presentation explores nature's most poisonous plants and compounds, and how they have been used for thousands of years, both in fact and fiction."

4. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, a Tony award-winning musical, will hit the Tacoma Little Theatre stage at 2 p.m. Billed as, "tender and sardonic," not to mention "hilarious," and irreverent," The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, directed by Suzy Willhoft, should be totally excellent. Excellent: e-x-c-e-l-l-e-n-t. Excellent. To read Joe Izenman's review of the show, click here.

5. A Special Blues Vespers benefit will be held at 5 p.m. inside Tacoma's Immanuel Presbyterian Church. Entitled "Building Hope," the benefit will feature music by Bill Sims Jr., Mark LaVoie, and Adam Levy along with Rod Cook & Toast. All proceeds from the Building Hope benefit will go toward the Habitat for Humanity International build in Guatemala.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music tonight

THE LOWDOWN ON WHAT'S UP THIS WEEKEND >>>

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Mostly sunny, hi 84, lo 56

Saturday: Sunny, hi 85, lo 56

Sunday: Iphone says still sunny, hi 89, lo 56

>>> FRIDAY, SEPT. 9: WE ARE ONE AT THE FALLING OF THE SUN

Celebrate the release of We Are One at the Falling of the Sun, a new children's book by local author and illustrator Tasha Ina Church, Friday at the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma. Promotional info for the event bills the new book as, "A children's book with great social and cultural implications," and says Church, "grew up in a multicultural home and loved to read. She wanted to create a book like We Are One to help fill the void in relevant storytelling for those who grew up in a multi-ethnic household." It seems she's done just that. As a bonus for attending, expect free admission to the museum, "friendly dialogue," not to mention appetizers and refreshments.

• Washington State History Museum, 5 - 8 p.m., free, 1911 Pacific Ave., Tacoma

>>> FRIDAY, SEPT. 9: STRUT FOR A MUTT

People can be miserable. Dogs, on the other hand, are always pretty awesome. There's just something about unconditional love and the ability to chase a tennis ball for hours on end that always wins us over. Friday, Tacoma's London Couture independent clothing store presents the second annual "Strut for a Mutt" fashion show, scheduled to go down in Opera Alley and featuring catering by AmeRAWcan Bistro, entertainment by the Imperial Sovereign Court of Tacoma and Shannel (of RuPaul's Drag Race TV show), and treats throughout from the Mix (read: wine and munchies). All proceeds of the Strut for a Mutt event go to Puyallup's Metro Animal Shelter.

• Opera Alley - Downtown Tacoma, 7 p.m. cocktail hour, 8 p.m. show, $20 in advance, $30 door, 746 Broadway, Tacoma

>>> SEPT. 9 - 25: THE PUYALLUP FAIR

As massive as the Puyallup Fair has become, P-Town's long-forgotten small-town identity still runs through it, part of the undeniable charm of the whole thing. But these days, part of the appeal of the Fair also lies in the modern-day, big-time entertainment options it provides. Over the course of its 17 days the Fair will welcome as part of its Concert Series acts like Larry the Cable Guy, the Flaming Lips, Chicago, Counting Crows, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Sammy Hagar and Trace Adkins. Grab a Krusty Pup and get down.

• The Puyallup Fair, Sept. 9-25, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, $11 adults, $9 student and seniors, children younger than 5 are free, 110 Ninth Ave. SW, Puyallup, thefair.com

>>> SATURDAY, SEPT. 10: MATTER TURNS TWO

Matter art gallery in Olympia is an area favorite - both to artists immersed in the arts scene and to the casual artistic appreciator. Saturday, Matter celebrates two years of success with a birthday party from 4 - 7 p.m. The good times will feature artist discussions, live music and "festive" refreshments, according to hype. Musically, Vince Brown and violinist Michael Gray of Pearl Django will be doling out the tunes.

• Matter, 4-7 p.m., free, 113 Fifth Ave. SW, Olympia  

>>> SATURDAY, SEPT. 10: BIG WHISKY PARKING LOT PARTY

Country music, mechanical bull, and a hope for clear skies will provide the backdrop for dance fanatics Saturday in the parking lot behind Big Whisky Saloon. By our count this is the fourth time the downtown Tacoma country-western themed club has hosted a massive party in its parking lot - although it has removed "Redneck" from the title. Did rednecks complain? Anyway, the 100.7 FM The Wolf-sponsored meat market will feature live music from Jonathan Harris and Robbie Walden & The Gunslingers, and outdoor dance floor, drinks, horseshoe pits, barbecue and the said "Bubba the Mechanical Bull."

• Big Whisky Saloon, Saturday, Sept. 10, 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., free cove rbefore 6 p.m., 100 S. Ninth St., Tacoma, 253.272.0777 

>>> SATURDAY, SEPT. 10: TACOMA FOOD CO-OP GRAND OPENING PARTY

Have we adequately expressed yet how excited we are to have the Tacoma Food Co-op officially open? If you answered no, you may not be paying attention ... because we've been drooling and blabbering about the awesomeness of the Tacoma Food Co-op for months now (actually, years). In late August, after plenty of grueling legwork, the Tacoma Food Co-op officially opened. Saturday, it officially celebrates this opening with a day-long grand opening party, including samples from the co-op's many vendors and lots of smiles and high fives. Come see what all the fuss is about.

• Tacoma Food Co-op, 2 p.m., 3002 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.627.3344

>>> SUNDAY, SEPT. 11: POISON

No, not the band. Sunday at King's Books in Tacoma, author Karla Stover and teacher Frances Snyder will delve into the ins and outs of poison, from ancient Greece to Agatha Christie. According to hype, " Discover the unexpected as this presentation explores nature's most poisonous plants and compounds, and how they have been used for thousands of years, both in fact and fiction."

• King's Books, 2 p.m., free, 218 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.8801

>>> SUNDAY, SEPT. 11: WALK TO END ALZHEIMER'S

Alzheimer's disease has the capability to ravage individuals and families. It's a truly nasty affliction, impacting both the people who get it and those who have to care for them. According to the Alzheimer's Association's own numbers, there are over five million Americans living with Alzheimer's, and 11 million more serving as caregivers. Sunday at Annie Wright School, the Alzheimer's Association offers the Walk to End Alzheimer's as an opportunity for you to pitch in and help the situation. The idea is to raise money and awareness, and maybe have a good time in the process. Those interested in participating can call or email Stephanie Watson at 206.529.3874 or stephanie.watson@alzwa.org.

• Annie Wright School, 10 a.m., 827 North Tacoma Ave., Tacoma

>>> WHERE OUR STAFF IS GOING

ALEC CLAYTON Volcano Visual Arts Critic
Saturday I'll hit Matter's second anniversary party in the afternoon then rush home for dinner and off to Capital Playhouse for Brighton Beach Memoirs.

JENNIFER JOHNSON Food and Lifestyles Writer
Volunteer work Saturday AM, birthday party that afternoon, Flight of Phanuel at Louie G's in Fife that night. Church on Sunday. Generally taking it easy after long Labor Day weekend and my own birthday last week. Sheesh, having a lot of fun is hard.

BRETT CIHON Meat Market Correspondent/Features Writer
After a holiday weekend bust, I will be headed back to Surreal Ultra Lounge to diligently evaluate the Meat Market scene.

STEVE DUNKELBERGER Meat Market Photographer
Hitting the Puyallup Fair on Friday and the Junk in the Trunk city yard sale in Lakewood on Saturday. I'll also be restringing one of my ukuleles after I managed to snap yet another string while rocking out to AC/DC for the ukulele song book.... Don't ask. Daddy likes to rock from time to time. The dog is not pleased when I do.

CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL: Theater Critic
We're seeing Capital Playhouse's first-ever non-musical production, Neil Simon's Brighton Beach Memoirs. Then on Sunday, we're bidding a fond farewell to our pal Amy Shephard, who's Exeter-bound.

MATT DRISCOLL: Editor
If all goes according to plan I'll be joining the Pierce County Council's Tim Farrell on a doorbelling excursion Saturday north of Orting. Farrell is ramping up his campaign for Assesor Treasurer. Sunday is all about football. And I'm on vacation all next week, so sayonara, beotches!

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

IT'S A BENEFIT >>>

Something seems so right about the marriage between punk rock and the washboard. Skidding your hand along the grooves of a washboard elicits nothing more than a visceral rattle - a crude affront to the idea of percussion and what it means to be a member of a band. Punk rock similarly shatters the idea of a rock 'n' roll band. It seems only natural to combine the worlds of bluegrass and punk, and the Rusty Cleavers do so magnificently, with all manner of mandolin, banjo and backyard clatter coming together in a cacophony of spirited group-singing and hoops and hollers.

It's awfully lively stuff, and the Rusty Cleavers will be delivering it in invigorating fashion Wednesday for the benefit of Food Not Bombs - a very worthy cause. 

[Hell's Kitchen, with Fang Chia, Miasthma, doors at 6 p.m., $5, 928 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]

LINK: Food Not Bombs Movement

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound