Once again the gallery at South Puget Sound Community College is filled with artists' postcards. This year the theme is "It's the Water," the old Olympia Beer slogan. Nearly 300 works by 76 artists are on display at The Gallery at the Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts.

Weekly Volcano art critic Alec Clayton reviewed the Fine Art Postcard Exhibition:

One card that I found to be particularly appealing for reasons I can't begin to understand is one by Mark Holland that has a hand-drawn postmark partially covered by a 33-cent stamp with a picture of an apple. Glued onto it is a piece of paper with the words "I Love You."

You can read Clayton's full review of the show here.

There's a chance to take home the original art in the show. Each piece was donated by the artist for the exhibition's silent auction, open now. Bidding will be open until 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 21, the exhibit's closing reception. The closing reception begins at 6 p.m. At the end of the reception, winners will be announced and artwork can be taken home.

"IT'S THE WATER FINE ART POSTCARD EXHIBITION," noon to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday, through Feb. 21, Kenneth J Minnaert Center for the Arts Gallery, South Puget Sound Community College, 2011 Mottman Rd. SW. Olympia, 360.596.5527 

GET YOUR VOTE ON NOW! >>>

Voting for the Weekly Volcano's Best of Olympia 2014 issue is now open. Best coffee shop, best bar, best bartender, best drunk 100-mile-per-hour Ferrari police chase - it's all there for you to weigh in on now (except for the Ferrari joy ride category, which we TOTALLY should have included).

Note: The Best of Olympia will encompass all of Thurston County ... yes, Lacey, we're talking to you. And don't get your panties in a bunch, Tumwater, we didn't forget you either.

Go to bestofolympia2014.com right now to cast your vote. You could win one-night stay and breakfast for two plus $50 restaurant voucher at the Red Lion Olympia just for voting. Voting ends Jan. 31.

And look for the Volcano's Best of Olympia issue to hit streets Feb. 27.

Oh, and Happy New Year!

The Best of Olympia 2014 is sponsored by Lucky Eagle Casino.

French toast is fine and good with some warm maple syrup and a cold glass of milk. But you don't really want to be just fine and good, do you? A popular breakfast spot in Tacoma has perfected eggnog French toast, soaking the six wedges of toast in an eggnog batter for a custard-like bread pudding delight. The dish sings flavor notes of the holiday. If only the seven people crammed into the foyer Sunday morning would have busted out songbooks and sang carols.

Can you guess where I'm eating?

Special bonus: Anyone who gives the correct answer below in the comments section before 5 p.m. today will be entered into a random drawing for six free tickets to the Franciscan Polar Plaza ice rink.

The first thing you notice when you walk into the joint is the light, sweet smell of waffle batter wafting through the air. This bare-bones kitchen in Tacoma serves waffles will keep me coming back from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 7-8 and Dec. 14-15. Yes, it's open for a limited time.

You can order your waffle simple, with just a dusting of powdered sugar to accentuate the crisp-on-the-outside, light-and-moist-on-the-inside organic treat. That's right. The folks running the joint use fresh, organic, local, gleaned ingredients - with gluten-free and dairy-free options. Or you may choose from a variety of more complicated preparations, such as the roasted nuts waffles, roasted nuts and whipped cream waffles and seasonal fruits. My favorite preparation is plain: light and airy, moist without the overnight yeast base that can make waffles too firm and dry. I love waffles. These are truly delicious.

Can you guess where I'm eating?

Special bonus: Anyone who gives the correct answer below in the comment before 5 p.m. today is entered into a drawing for six free tickets to the Franciscan Polar Plaza ice rink.

Ed. Note: Congratulations to Debbie Corcoran who, among others, guessed the waffles were from the Free-Range Kitchen at 4427 Sixth Ave. in Tacoma. The waffles will be served from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 7-8 and 14-15. The cost is $2 a waffle. All proceeds go toward developing the culinary incubator.

For the past 11 months you have been chasing Tacoma City Ballet nuts around Tacoma. The ballet company has been hiding Golden Krakatuk Nuts as a promotion for its highly anticipated December performances of The Nutcracker and The Tale of the Hard Nut, a prequel to the original Nutcracker, which explains why a prince is trapped inside a nutcracker doll. The performanc eopens Dec. 7 at the Pantages Theater and runs for three weeks. The contest, on the other hand, is on today. The contest in a nutshell: TCB hides the nuts inside jewel boxes around Tacoma; inside the boxes is a scroll with prize details, such as gift certificates, merchandise or tickets to the performance.  

Anyway, the December Golden Krakatuk Nut clue - the last clue of the year - dropped this morning. This clue will guide you to a restaurant, shop or other business at which the nuts may be in plain sight or may be behind the counter.

Read more...

THURSDAY, NOV. 14 2013 >>>

1. In honor of National Pickle Day today, Lynnae Schneller of Lynnae's Gourmet Pickles will place nine jars of pickles in Tacoma businesses and on historic Tacoma monuments for fans to locate and win up to $1,000 in cash and prizes. Tacoma's Mayor Marilyn Strickland will announce the first clue for the location of the first jar of pickles via her Facebook page at 9 a.m. followed by clues posted hourly until 5 p.m. on the Lynnae's Gourmet Pickles Facebook page. For more information visit www.lynnaesgourmetpickles.com.

2. At the risk of sounding curmudgeonly, we believe that cell-phone use is a prime contributor to the breakdown of civility in society, but using the dastardly devices while driving a car is simply stupid, illegal and deadly. Bates Technical College agrees. The school has teamed with UNITE International's Arrive Alive Tour to educate the public about dangers associated with texting and driving. From 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. the Arrive Alive Tour will bring a distracted-driving simulator to the college's South Campus auto body program. Ah for cryin' out loud, you're texting a link to this story on your iPhone while you sip coffee and weave through morning traffic on Interstate 5 using your knees - JUST STOP IT.

3. The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation's "Foundation of Art Award" has been recognized as one the most notable art awards in the South Sound region. To celebrate the sixth anniversary of the Award, the Foundation is hosting an exhibit featuring the 12 talented artists that were nominated in 2013 through Jan. 10 at Fulcrum Gallery. The exhibit will also unveil the commissioned artwork created by the 2013 winning artist, Shaun Peterson. An artist reception for  Sean Alexander, Beautiful Angle, Laurie Cinotto, Scott Haydon, Ellen Ito, Chris Jordan, Nicholas Nyland, Chandler O'Leary, Shaun Peterson, Juliette Ricci, Holly Senn, Kenji Stoll and Britton Sukys will be held from 6-9 p.m. at the gallery.

4. Washington state is a hotbed of first-rank poets says Kathleen Flenniken, Washington State Poet Laureate. Flenniken will be at the Olympia Timberland Library from 7:30-9 p.m. to prove it. Joining her will be local poet and playwright Barbara Gibson, as well as students Savannah Berrington from Capital High School; Hope Dorris and McKenzie Murray from Olympia High School; and Maggie Neatherlin, Everett Werner and Tom Clewes from Nova Middle School, who will also read their work.

5. Every Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Kim Archer performs old-school soul and funk, sultry blues and strong original tunes at the 502 Downtown in downtown Tacoma.

LINK: Thursday, Nov. 14 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SweetKiss Momma's rebel rock is something that resonates from the Deep South, through their home in Puyallup and beyond. When you listen to the grit of dirty guitar, down-home lyrics and whiskey-licks, it's irresistible.

Don't just take my word for it. SweetKiss Momma is now in The Final Four competition of the Seattle WAVE Radio Jammin' Challenge Battle of the Local Bands held Saturday, Nov. 16 at The Hard Rock Cafe in Seattle.

"We've been extremely busy as a band over the last year," explains SweetKiss Momma front man, pondering what edge the band might carry into the final competition. "Gearing up to do a proper release of the new album (A Reckoning Is Coming), playing more on the road than we ever have before, and getting involved in opportunities that have caused us to focus on nailing a specific performance. ... I realize that may not sound all that sexy, but at that moment when all the writing, rehearsing and preparing is done, and you have given all you have to the effort of creating, you have to believe that you are bringing your absolute best."

He pauses.

"And you have to trust that the other guys are feeling the exact same way. I feel like we are just hitting our stride. We are comfortable together and confident in what we do. If we have an edge, it's that we really are, as Adam McKinney put it, ‘comfortable in our own skin.'"

Another winning factor is that Eric Robert - keyboard player for Vicci Martinez, and current touring key player for Michael Franti & Spearhead - will sit in with the band for their set Saturday at the Hard Rock.

"He's played a couple of shows with us over the last few months, and we are looking forward to having him as our secret weapon," says Hamel.

SweetKiss Momma will be playing for more than $16,000 in prizes, including the opportunity to perform at Play It Forward 4 early next year. Last year's Play It Forward concert included members of Heart, Yes (official), John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band and Spike from Spike & The Impalers.

SWEETKISS MOMMA, 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 16, Hard Rock Cafe, 116 Pike St., Seattle, $7, hardrock.com/seattle

See Also

SweetKiss Momma named Best Band in 2013 Best of Tacoma issue

For the past 10 months you have been chasing Tacoma City Ballet nuts around Tacoma. The ballet company has been hiding Golden Krakatuk Nuts as a promotion for its highly anticipated December performances of The Nutcracker and The Tale of the Hard Nut, a prequel to the original Nutcracker, which explains why a prince is trapped inside a nutcracker doll. The contest in a nutshell: TCB hides the nuts inside jewel boxes around Tacoma; inside the boxes is a scroll with prize details, such as gift certificates, merchandise or tickets to the performance.  

Anyway, the November Golden Krakatuk Nut clue dropped this morning. This clue will guide you to a restaurant, shop or other business at which the nuts may be in plain sight or may be behind the counter.

Read more...

As you know the Tacoma City Ballet is in the midst of a yearlong scavenger hunt for Golden Krakatuk Nuts. The nuts tie into the company's highly anticipated Dec. 7, 2013 performance, Prequel to The Nutcracker.

Here's a refresher: TCB hides hand-painted Golden Krakatuk Nuts inside jewel boxes around Tacoma; inside the boxes is a scroll with prize details, such as gift certificates, merchandise or tickets to Tacoma City Ballet's World Premier of said Nutcracker in December. Each month through the year, Golden Krakatuk Nuts will be hidden at businesses throughout Tacoma. To find the nuts, decipher the poetic clues, which will be posted at Tacoma City Ballet's website, Facebook page, as well as this blog. You find the Golden Krakatuk Nuts and great riches will be heaped upon you! For complete on the contest and Nutcracker performance, click here.

The October Golden Krakatuk Nut clue dropped this morning. This clue will guide you to a restaurant, shop or other business at which the nuts may be in plain sight or may be behind the counter.

Read more...

As you know the Tacoma City Ballet is in the midst of a yearlong scavenger hunt for Golden Krakatuk Nuts. The nuts tie into the company's highly anticipated Dec. 7, 2013 performance, Prequel to The Nutcracker.

Here's a refresher: TCB hides hand-painted Golden Krakatuk Nuts inside jewel boxes around Tacoma; inside the boxes is a scroll with prize details, such as gift certificates, merchandise or tickets to Tacoma City Ballet's World Premier of said Nutcracker in December. Each month through the year, Golden Krakatuk Nuts will be hidden at businesses throughout Tacoma. To find the nuts, decipher the poetic clues, which will be posted at Tacoma City Ballet's website, Facebook page, as well as this blog. You find the Golden Krakatuk Nuts and great riches will be heaped upon you! For complete on the contest and Nutcracker performance, click here.

The September Golden Krakatuk Nut clue dropped this morning. This clue will guide you to a restaurant, shop or other business at which the nuts may be in plain sight or may be behind the counter.

Read more...