TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2011 >>>

1. Get your laughs out with Ha Ha Tuesdays at Jazzbones hosted by Ralph Porter. And after the laughs, stay for DJ Omar starting at 10 p.m., working the comedy crowd into a frenzy.

2. Rafael Tranquillino's rockin' blues jam is held every Tuesday at Stonegate Pizza. Or, if that doesn't tickle your musical fancy, browse the Volcano's extensive live local music listings here.

3. DJ Atom Ant does it Parkland style at Lady Luck's Cowgirl Up Steakhouse and Saloon.

4. The City of Destiny Faith and Film Series continues today at the Grand Cinema with Must There Be Blood. Or, if that's not up your alley, try the Volcano's arts and entertainment calendar here.

5. Author Bethany Maines launches her second novel, Compact with the Devil, at King's Books today. If it's anything like her first effort, Bulletproof Mascara, it's sure to be awesome.

MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2011 >>>

1. In Olympia check out The Z-Kamp Experience, with Dub & Jender at the Eastside Club. Or, if that doesn't tickle your musical fancy, browse the Volcano's extensive live local music listings here.

2. Monday night means the New Frontier Lounge in Tacoma's Dome District transforms into the Dana Nicole piano lounge. Expect originals, covers, and all sorts of goodness from 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.

3. The Children's Museum of Tacoma turns 25 this year. Even better, on the 25^th of every month they museum is celebrating by offering a party of some sort - from exciting games and activities to 25-cent admission. Find details here.

4. The Post Pop/Pop Art Exhibition has been running at The Gallery at Tacoma Community College for since February. Still, we know there are folks out there who have yet to see it. We also know it only runs through May 3, so time is getting short. Perhaps today is your day to finally see what the fuss is about?

5. Typically, the Vegan Book Club meets on the fourth Tuesday of the month at King's Books. This month, however, a scheduling conflict necessitated a change - and the VBC meets TODAY! Discuss Melanie Joy's Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows: An Introduction to Carnism starting at 7 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events int he South Sound

LINK: It's Micro Monday at Magoo's

TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2011 >>>

1. Misner & Smith present a fresh take on the Americana/Folk revival at 6:30 p.m. inside the Mandolin Café. 

2. The City of Tacoma will host a 9 a.m. groundbreaking celebration to commemorate the next phase of rehabilitation work for the Murray Morgan Bridge. All are welcome to attend the groundbreaking ceremony where City officials will speak on the approach to the bridge near the intersection of A and 11th streets.

3. Seattle Sounder and former USA goalkeeper Kasey Keller will pop in Tacoma's Paddy Coyne's Irish Pub between 6-8 p.m. to sign autographs, and watch you throw back $2.50 Bud and Bud Light bottles.

4. Tacoma eco-celeb SolaRichard, known for his bigger than life hats and tireless work to further the use of solar energy, calls our hydroelectric power a "green-washing" of our energy problem. By "green-washing" he meant whitewashing a problem by slapping the green label on it. Is it? The Sustainable Tacoma Commission has gathered a bunch of Solar Heads for a discussion at 7 p.m. inside the Wheelock Library. If you ever wanted to know more about solar power, this is your chance.

5. The Banned Book Club at will gather at 7 p.m. inside the Tempest Lounge to toss back tasty cocktails and discuss Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Hey kids! Do you like the live music?

SUNDAY, APRIL 17, 2011 >>>

1. There aren't enough places in the world where you can watch Tacoma stalwart sweet pea Flaherty drive a steamroller over stuff while simultaneously creating the art of letterpress. The annual Wayzgoose event at King's Books just happens to be one of them. Already in its seventh year (holy crap!), there's a reason Wayzgoose is on the lips of every artful Tacoman this time of year ... and, frankly, it has a lot to do with sweet pea driving a steamroller. Of course, the collection of letterpressers and book artists Wayzgoose brings together doesn't hurt. Check out who will be there here from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

2. Can you believe The Grand Cinema celebrates its 14th birthday with a day full of awesome movies and prizes? It's true. The Grand is well on its way to adulthood, no doubt growing hair in new places and grappling with hormonal changes like the rest of us at that age. All we're saying is if The Grand starts spending long periods of time in its room and seems detached, it doesn't necessarily mean drugs. Maybe it just stumbled upon the scrambled Spice channel.

3. Back from his European tour with the Sultans of Slide, Henry Cooper and band will slide into Tacoma for a Blues Vespers performance at 5 p.m. inside the Immanuel Presbyterian Church. Cooper, who began his career touring with Screaming Jay Hawkins and as guitarist for the Duffy Bishop Band, has been a solo blues artist for the better part of two decades. One of the nations premier slide guitarist, Oregon-based Coopers' visit to Tacoma is a rare opportunity to hear one of the best.

4. The Weekly Volcano recognizes the need to keep ourselves young by occasionally going out and assaulting our livers and the sensibilities of other Tacomans - and that's exactly what we do during Doyle's monthly St. Practice Day parties. Doyle's is a great pub on any given day, but every 17th of the month when it "practices" for St. Paddy's Day it's even better ... especially for drunken fake Irishmen like us. Today's St. Practice Party is extra special as Doyle's celebrates its fifth anniversary, too. Ockham's Razor trio will perform more of an intimate set beginning at 7 p.m. And there will be raffles all day and night.

5. Want a little beach-party madness without Charles Atlas kicking sand in your eyeballs and giving you a wedgie? Dave Calhoun performs tropical rock Jimmy Buffett-style from 5-8 p.m. at Johnny's Dock. Calhoun is sporting a slew on brand new songs, too. Wear your purdiest Hawaiian shirt, won't you?

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

SATURDAY, APRIL 16, 2011 >>>

1. The best time to enjoy Cicada's New Orleans meets Northwest awesome food is when master pianist Joe Baque, bassist Steve Luceno and percussionist Michael Olson fill the room with Latin jazz - like at 8 p.m. tonight.

2. Prom: It was a night of teenage majesty with shiny tuxedo shoes and (hopefully) a hidden flask full of Popov's Vodka and Tahitian Treat to take the edge off - how else could you muster up the confidence to seductively grind your date during " I Wanna Sex U Up"? However, for the women, prom is all about the dress. From 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., prom and party dresses, along with accessories, shoes and jewelry, will be featured at the "It's All About The Dress" sale in store space adjacent to Tacoma Goodwill's North Tacoma Store, 5401 Sixth Ave. in the Sixth Avenue Place shopping center.

3. Indiana Jones with the rousing fanfare, the bullwhip, and, yes, the fedora will hit The Grand Cinema's screen at 10:30 p.m. More specifically, Click! TV presents Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull for free to the first 100 people through the door, which opens at 10 a.m.

4. Those naughty Renegade Calendar Girls will participate in a photo shoot at Ink Spot Tattoo at 52^nd and South Tacoma Way beginning at noon. Maybe you can sneak your smile into a shot - next to their cleavage. Maybe you'll get thrown out the door. Either way, EXCITING!

5. The dedication of the Harry P. Cain Promenade in downtown Tacoma between the Murano Hotel and the Tacoma Convention Center went down yesterday. Today, at 2 p.m., Author C. Mark Smith speaks about conservative-libertarian philosophy of Sen. Harry P. Cain inside the Tacoma Public Library's Main downtown branch. Only 34 in 1940 when he was first elected mayor of Tacoma, Cain's unpredictable and sometimes contradictory politics followed him to the U.S. Senate, the Subversive Activities Control Board during the Eisenhower Administration, and finally, even to the Miami-Dade County Commission in his adopted Florida.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Concerts go on sale today

LINK: Wine tastings!

MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2011 >>>

1. Have your mind blown tonight at Northern in Olympia, where "Northern Flickers: Animation and Experimental Films" kicks off at 8 p.m. with Eric Ostrowski and more.

2. John Brodeur's tour takes him to the Mandolin Café in Tacoma today. Or, if Broduer isn't your musical cup of tea, check out the Volcano's extensive live local music listings here.

3. The Graphic Novel Club in Tacoma meets on the second Monday of every month at the delicious 1022 South. Guess what? Today is the second Monday of the month! Join the Graphic Novel Club starting at 7 p.m. April's book is Stitches: A Memoir by David Small. Or, if graphic novels aren't your bag, try the Volcano's seemingly endless local events calendar here.

4. The new open mic night at O'Malley's is actually called an "open stage," but you get the idea. Every Monday it's hosted by duo Seven's Revenge. Action starts at 9 p.m.

5. Need some cash? Good at trivia? Trivia at the Harmon Tap Room offers a $50 prize to the winner of each round of their Tuesday trivia night.

SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2011 >>>

1. Honestly, this one's really tripping us out. We swear (like TOTALLY swear!) we were just working on a one-year retrospective of the Tacoma Cult Movie Club. Now ... BOOM! The club is two. Kids these days; they grow up so fast. Originally created by the Tacoma-legendary Reverend Colin and Tobin Ropes, and now with the venerable poster design skill of Holland Hume on board (yes, he of the creepy Billy Maze Volcano cover of 2009, and the vomiting Lee Harvey Oswald Volcano cover of 2009), there's no stopping this beast. Just like the poster reads, "They said it could be stopped. They were wrong." Today, celebrate in style starting at 4 p.m. with a kickass raffle and a potluck at the Acme Grub Cage ... not to mention the all time best TCMC flicks, as voted on by you!

2. Tacoma Reads Together welcomes William Kamkwamba, author of The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity of Hope, for a reading and signing at 2 p.m. inside the Olympic Room of the Tacoma Public Library's Main Branch in downtown Tacoma.

3. Look, we don't much care how you do it. But one way or another you should really try to set a few dollars aside for Japan and the massive, massive (damn near incomprehensible) relief efforts underway there. Not to make light of the situation, but perhaps one of the most entertaining ways you could possibly achieve this is by heading to The Swiss. From 2-10 p.m. for a worthy benefit to aid Japan and the Red Cross featuring the Japanese drum ensemble One World Taiko, plus Malcolm Clark Band, Loose Gravel and the Quarry, Randy Oxford Band, Fingertips, Norma Beach, Kim Archer and New Old Stock.

4. Yeah, sure, you can stay home to keep dry, pop some corn, and watch whatever you rented from your couch, but you really should make it out to The Grand Cinema and Tacoma Community College hosted Diversity Film Festival. Today's 2:30 p.m. feature is Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, Hollywood's idea of a stirring call for racial justice.

5. The Sunday-night malaise bums out even the happiest of partyers: a day spent slothing around in pajamas, a week of work hanging in the near future. It's time to shake off those blues, put on a clean shirt and head into town to listen to some, well, blues. The Spar in Old Town Tacoma features live blues every Sunday evening from 7-11 p.m. Sit back, snack on some of The Spar's scrumptious grub and listen as local blues musicians do their best to conjure up the spirits of Muddy Waters, Son House and Robert Johnson. Tonight, Blues Redemption sets up in the corner.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

ONLINE CHATTER >>>

Today's comment of the day comes from Harrison Fart, in regard to Molly Gilmore's recent feature on Michelle Tea and the Sister Spit literary tour - which was in town last week.

Fart writes,

I'm sorry, but Ms. Gilmore might want to look up the definition of "memoir."

A "memoir" is, by definition, an autobiographical work.
You cannot write a "memoir" about someone else.
And you absolutely cannot write a "science-fictional memoir."

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

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Cloudy, hi 55, lo 41

Saturday: Rain, hi 46, lo 39

Sunday: Cloudy, hi 51, lo 42

>>> APRIL 1-3: Too Many Sopranos

Sure, we may have had a bit of a joke with the Too Many Sopranos performances coming up at the University of Puget Sound this weekend, but don't take that to mean we're not into it. Quite the contrary. Edwin Penhorwood's comic opera seems sure to deliver, especially with Kethryn Lehmann on directing the stage and musical action, and orchestral conductor Steven Zopfi tying it all together

• UPS - Schneebeck Concert Hall, 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, $8.50-$12.50, 1500 N. Warner St., Tacoma, 253.879.3419

>>> SATURDAY, APRIL 2: JUNIOR DAFFODIL PARADE

Watching the Junior Daffodil Parade in Tacoma's Proctor District is just plain fun. While other parades may attempt to wow you with intricate, tight, well-rehearsed production, the Junior Daffodil Parade is more of a free-for-all. Our favorite part? The kids. And not just the kids watching alongside the action -- we're talking about the kids walking in the parade. It's a wide-grinning spectacle that promises a Saturday morning of family fun.

• Proctor District, 10 a.m., Tacoma, daffodilfestival.net 

>>> SUNDAY, APRIL 3: Star Chefs on Broadway

Why would people pay $200 a head to eat dinner inside the Pantages Theater in Tacoma? Oh, we don't know ... maybe because it's FREAKIN' AWESOME. Every year Star Chefs on Broadway delivers one night of delectable tastes and dazzling performance. This year's New Orleans theme, or  to quote the show announcement on the Pantages' website, "N'awlins," will undoubtedly live up to expectations. Food. Wine. Chocolate. A little burlesque. Maybe some more wine. It's going to be awesome. That's probably why it's sold out.

• Pantages Theater, 5 p.m., $200, SOLD OUT, 901 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.591.5890

>>> WHERE OUR STAFF IS GOING

NIKKI TALOTTA Features Writer
I will spend my weekend working the bar until the early a.m. After running around all night, I will realize I'm famished. I will miss The Reef and their pac-mans, and I will be sad. But, then, I will think ahead to Sunday, when The Reef benefit show goes down at The Broho and remember there is a supportive community and a hard working family doing whatever it takes to get back in business, and soon late night/early morning hunger wishes will be granted all over Olympia! Hooray!

MATT DRISCOLL Editor
We'll be walking in the Junior Daffodil Parade this Saturday morning, to our almost-four-year-old's great delight. Other than total rockstar shit like that, I again have nothing major planned this weekend ...

BRETT CHIHON Meat Market Correspondent/Features Writer
I'm headed to a preseason party at the freshly rebuilt Cheney Stadium. Visitors get to tour the new clubhouse, luxury suites and press box. It will be a great time to show off my patented home run call- "Phone up the Mohel because this baby is out-a-here!"

CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL: Theater Critic
We're seeing Alexander and the Craptacular Day (I'm pretty sure that's the title...) at Olympia Family Theater and attending parties in Tacoma and Olympia. My point is we're super popular. 

ALEC CLAYTON: Visual Arts Critic
There's a memorial service for dear friend and longtime rabble rouser Kay Engle and and a party for the founders of Coffee Strong. I may or may not be going to either or both, or I may do nothing at all.

STEVE DUNKELBERGER Meat Market Photographer

I'll be heading to Lakewood for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Lakewood Playhouse, then dinner in Gig Harbor and Nine at TMP.

JOANN VARNELL Theater Critic
Spring Break 2011, woohoo!!! Closing out my week of grading papers, pseudo documentaries about the pyramids and a trio of coffee dates will be a weekend of . . . wait for it . . . MORE GRADING! I'll also be watching my son scoot around the living room as he tries to get the 85 lb dogs.

REV. ADAM MCKINNEY Features Writer
I'm intrigued by the show at the New Frontier on Saturday advertised as "Abraham, with Tacoma Starz." Not sure what Tacoma Starz they're referring to, but I've seen Abraham a couple times and have enjoyed them. In other news, I have no other news.

JENNIFER JOHNSON Food and Lifestyles Writer
Friday afternoon tea at Mad Hat, smoothies at Smooth & Juicey. Saturday and Sunday watching church conference during the day. Saturday night going to see Nine at Tacoma Musical Playhouse.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

WE WOULDN'T JOKE ABOUT BOOKS YOU CAN EAT >>>

If you haven't heard of the Edible Book Festival, you are likely not alone -  even though it's an international festival held at libraries worldwide, including Tacoma's own Collins Memorial Library on the University of Puget Sound campus. And while you may be thinking an edible book festival must surely involve you getting to eat some books, it doesn't.

Instead, the Edible Book Festival at UPS is an arts festival involving food art interpretations of book titles. While it may sound mild-mannered, never underestimate the power of creative librarians.

To read the full story, click here.

[University of Puget Sound Collins Memorial Library, Edible Book Festival, Friday, April 1, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., free, 1500 N. Warner St., Tacoma, 253.879.3240, pugetsound.edu/ediblebooks]