Low tech â€" and low attendance â€" marked the vibe at the Dickens Holiday in Tacoma's Stadium District this weekend.  A huge shame as the district put on a great show.

The Weekly Volcano started at Taqueria El Guadalajara (the Queen’s Stage), where we had a delicious Mexican lunch to the sounds of the Ladies in Red Sax Quartet.  A group of very impressive carolers wished us a merry Christmas as we finished up, and then we all had a laugh at the Entertainmen Jugglers.  My daughter noted the “safety violation” that was knife juggling, and I noted that the young guys put on a good show, even if the audience primarily did consist of the Ladies in Red, with a smattering of others.

As we walked to King’s Books (also, the King’s Stage) to pick up a book I had ordered, my daughter excitedly saw the horse-drawn carriage.  As I talked to Kris at Vin Grotto on my cell phone only to have our ride stolen by a wandering dude with a British accent and Victorian garb. We retrieved it at Rankos, (Picadilly Circus) where Santa entertained my daughter, who was only a trifle petrified, and then I whined to get a horsey-ride, but alas, the carriage was full.

So we hoofed it on human feet to King's, where the Victorian Music Hall Show was setting up, and where an impressive crowds had assembled earlier in the day to watch Punch and Judy, Peter Berry (Celtic Harpist and storyteller) and the Ladies in Red.

I was dying to see my first Punch and Judy show, though, so we trotted up the street to the “Royal Courtyard” in front of the First Presbyterian Church, where I laughed harder than I have in a long time.  Though the puppets were reminiscent of Mr Rogers’ friends, the stories â€" a sweet retelling of "St. George and the Dragon," a hilarious Christmas tree tale, and a Punch and Judy tale to top it all off â€" were timeless, well-timed, and sharper than St. George’s sword (which was a butter knife.)

Finally, I stopped to ooooh and aaaah at the beauty, fashion, and really good hair (thanks to Angelo Mendi salon) at the Tiki Lounge’s fashion show.

It was a cool day I feel lucky to have been a part of; thanks to all the work and energy that was put forward by the Stadium merchants to make it happen. â€" Jessica Corey-Butler

Danii Blackwell summed up my feelings when she said, giddy with the vibe of coolness pervading Tacoma's Eye Full event last night, “Doesn’t it kind of feel like New York City or something?”

Given that I’ve never experienced the NYC art scene up close and personal, I can only imagine the energy might be similar.  In New York you might have haughty art-type.  In Tacoma you have an accessible, fun scene of people who smile readily and share in the arts mojo.

The arts mojo last night was all about the girls â€" Women created the art hanging on the walls,  the live nude painted (and sketched) was female, the catering was impressive and done single handedly by Christina Cooley, currently-out-of-dance-work dancer who’s putting together a wicked alternate gig as a caterer, and the impressive dressing was all about the gowns and indie fashions by Lisa Fruichantie and Sherra Laureen, among others. 

Here, the boys represented, with the word “Loyalty” splashed happily on a few of the items of clothing present.  Like Elvis, Daniel Blue was everywhere, his white Wranglers showing off his impressive art skills.  If you missed his praying Jesus hands belt-buckle, you missed out on a lot.  Also like Elvis, but hella more glam, Eye Full organizer Laura Eklund was everywhere too, sparkling.

Shakespeare in the Parking Lot had their time in the (regrettably loud) space, and several dancers danced in many disciplines, with many messages.

Of the crowd present, favorite faces abounded, with Dead Artists Rob Anderson, Jeff Olsen, Jim Price with James Hume in attendance, as well as live artist Teddy and his brother Leonard Haggarty also present.  Sent from heaven, Julie Bennett wandered the crowd with my camera shooting the best and brightest of ‘em.  Check out the urbanXchange Myspace site in the days to come and I’ll bet you’ll see more of her shots.

Naturally, there was a great post-party action at Tempest, where the beautiful people ate, drank, and were merry.  While an ever-so-sweet MLKBallet Alexa told me she wanted to get an “I heart JCB” tee shirt made, I want to get an “I heart Tacoma (and the Eklunds)” shirt.

Ah, Tacoma, where the air is clean and it’s happening. â€" Jessica Corey-Butler

You’ve heard of Darcy, the newly-sprung Internet knitting celeb first seen on BoingBoing, then blogged on exit133 and GritCity.

You wanted to join up with her and the chicks, sticks in hand, for the "Chicks with Sticks" Knitting League of Friends,” but have wondered about the time, date, and undisclosed location.

I’m here to dish on that.

I met up with Ms. Darcy in her top-secret seclusion spot, under heavy midget-guard and surrounded by art.  She’s finding herself unable to come out to make her appearance due to scads of cupcake orders that she’s filling double-handedly.

Once Ms. Darcy can work herself out from under the mountains of yarn, the "Chicks with Sticks" Knitting League of Friends will most likely meet up at King’s Books, kindly loaned for the purpose by sweet pea, our knight in curly-haired armor.

Naturally, I will disseminate information on time/date/cost as I receive it. â€" Jessica Corey-Butler

Tacoma’s 60th tree lighting ceremony began small and built steadily, until the newly refurbished lobby at the Pantages was filled Thursday, Nov. 30.  There was also a large crowd outside under the tree, waiting for the ceremony to begin, not realizing the festivities were taking place mostly inside.

I overheard one crowd member say to another of the family-heavy atmosphere, “There are a lot of children here.  A lot.”

Many of those parents had been hoping for a parade, but that tradition has been postponed for a year, and may possibly span three Christmas tree lightings, next year: the Stadium tree, the Broadway Center tree, and a new tree in the Tollefson Plaza.

Lack of parade notwithstanding, the crowd was an events-producer pleaser, “about triple” the size it had been last year.

Inside the Pantages lobby, TAG’s Tacky Christmas Sweater Chorale led a sing-along of Christmas carols while sugarplum fairies, toys, snowflakes, and other cast members from the "Nutcracker" mingled with guests.  The Fort Lewis I Corps band took the stage, not in tacky Christmas sweaters, and played more carols while visually serving as a reminder of what the event commemorates â€" a long-term link between the military community surrounding Tacoma and the City of Tacoma. 

Brig. Gen. William Troy, representing I Corps at Ft Lewis, commented on the sad fact that 5,000 individuals from Fort Lewis are unable to celebrate the season here as they are in the Middle East. He reminded the crowd, “Their families are with us.”

He acknowledged of the supportive Tacoma community, “We feel that you care about us.”

Mayor Bill Baarsma spoke next.  Saying he wanted to  “give credit where credit is due,” he talked about the past.  In 1946, Mayor Harry P. Cain returned from the war, a decorated veteran, and wanted to create a tie between the Fort Lewis community and the city.  Mayor Baarsma acknowledged a similar military tie, that of his son’s service in Iraq with the Navy.  That tie between the supportive Tacoma community and the local military community is still a strong one, and the symbolism of the huge donated tree from Fort Lewis keeps the communities bonded.

Finally, David Fischer, executive director of the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts, acknowledged the new space the crowd gathered in, suggesting that the discussion had been held, “would there be enough room for this event?”  He answered his own question, “Last year, there wouldn’t have been.  This year, there is.”

With that, Santa was introduced to the crowd, and that jingling man led us all outside to a chorus of "Jingle Bells," which petered out by about the second chorus.

In moments, the tree was lit, eliciting "oohs" and "ahhhhs" from the crowd in addition to sighs of relief from the present firefighters.

The crowd petered out just like the "Jingle Bells" singing, which meant the majority of the attendees missed some beautiful music from harpist Brianna Spargo and flutist Emily Levandowski, two talented Tacoma Youth Symphony musicians.

In the end, the tree sparkled in the Thursday night, even without a crowd of admirers, reminding me of the presence of communities supporting communities. â€" Jessica Corey-Butler

More photos of the downtown tree lighting on Kevin Freitas' blog.

Tonight's Regency Concert Series: Lyric Brass Quintet program is canceled due to ice ice baby. The concert was scheduled for tonight, Nov. 28, at 8 p.m. in Pacific Lutheran University's Lagerquist Concert Hall. The concert will be rescheduled at a later date.

Although the name "Fantasy Lights" might denote less wholesome entertainment, especially in Spanaway.  But actually, a night spent on a short drive in a warm car couldn't be more family friendly.

The Pacific Northwest's largest holiday light drive-through event is open for cars, mini vans and buses through December at Pierce County Parks and Recreation's 12th annual Fantasy Lights display at Spanaway Park. It is expected to be viewed by more than 125,000 adults and children by the time it closes on New Year's Eve.

The drive-through display features nearly 300 elaborate displays and thousands of sparkling lights during the two-mile route along the shores of Spanaway Lake.

New attractions include Santa's Skyway Express, Bulb Blitz, and a tribute to public servants. 

The drive is open seven days a week from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at the gate for $13 per car/van or $45 for a tour bus.  Advance discount tickets cost $10 per car/van and may be purchased at the Lakewood Community Center or Sprinker Recreation Center
in Spanaway. â€" Steve Dunkelberger

Last night the Weekly Volcano hit the streets of Tacoma snapping shots at "The House of Kubla Kahn: Tacoma Indie Fashion Showcase," Tacoma Arts Community's "Snowballed" event, the opening night of Kulture Lab and the Tempest Lounge's one-year anniversary party.

Please excuse our brief report.  We're freakin' tired.  Some of use never went to bed.   

The night began at 4 p.m. when Indochine restaurant became "The House of Kubla Kahn."  DJ Lulu Spice provided the exotic soundtrack for two dozen models showcasing the creations of Dang, betty Vintage, Prime.All's Lisa Fruichantie and Danii Blackwell, Isolde Chae-Lawrence, Carolyn Osborne, Sam Trout, Yoshimi Designs and Daniel Blue and his Loyalty Conglomerate.  Special thanks to Indochine owner Russel Brunton who treated the Weekly Volcano staff like royalty.

When Marty Campbell, president of the Downtown Tacoma Merchants Association,
introduced Chip Van Gilder, president of the Tacoma Arts Community, the organization behind Snowballed at that event last night, there were more empty chairs than filled ones.  Pity, because his message was optimistic and inspiring, as were the others that followed. 
The Arts community in Tacoma, despite what the empty chairs might indicate, is a viable life force, and has been “snowballing,” becoming bigger and bigger as time passes. One comment about the complaint that there wasn’t enough art in Tacoma â€" tonight there’s too much, drew a chuckle from the crowd, as the overabundance of the Arts might account for the overabundance of empty chairs.
As soon as Daniel Blue and his entourage arrived, the crowds descended, and threshold, Act One unfolded before our eyes.  Laura Malone lit up the stage, and despite the sorrowful undertone of the piece, some moments sparkled, like Janae Plaisance’s glee as the angel of death, with her fluid dance moves contrasting-or complimenting?the action.  Joel Myer’s energy and depth of emotion fairly burst off the stage, and the whole dramatic, arts-encompassing event was worth all the hype it received.
The crowd dwindled as Jeremy Silas performed his guts out, and dwindled even further when Angela Jossy and her Polar Bears hit the stage.  Again, a pity, because the chick’s got a set of pipes and showmanship that has more polish than you’d imagine a local act would have. 

In the end, I succumbed and left to see what all the fuss was about at Kulture Lab, which was a room-filled, slamming good artistic time.  The Dead Artists threw a righteous opening night party that included a DJ Dynomite D spinning acid jazz above in a loft, bassist James Whiton, Victor Prinsen and Matt Eklund jam, Dead Artist Rob Anderson dressed as a robot wandering inside and along Sixth Avenue, Meyer Lansky III, grandson of the legendary mobster, was in the house checking the scene, three films looped on the walls, a who's who in the Tacoma art scene, plus tons of art that will continue to show at the space.

After "Snowballed" and Kulture Lab most of the crowd hit the Tempest Lounge's one-year bash, where once again Laura Malone sparkled, happy to hear people faced with the dilemma, “Which hilltop hot spot should we hit?”
Booties shook, the floor writhed with energy, and I can safely say a great time was had by all. â€" Jessica Corey-Butler

The first Thanksgiving was a three-day potluck feast at which corn-wielding Indians and venison-slaughtering Pilgrims celebrated as if it were the opening weekend of Mardi Gras. Whether Puritan men used cranberry necklaces to get the Native American women to doff their tops isn't clear. What is clear is the weekend before Thanksgiving in the South Sound is a giant buffet of goodies.

Friday, Nov. 17
Slide Slam & Project-A-Thon
This is Slide Slam â€" one and a half hours of local art slammed into your consciousness like a shot of adrenaline. This is not your Grandma's slide show.

Tacoma Symphony
If your idea of the symphony still consists of haunting memories of some elementary school field trip to "experience culture," where the only thing you looked forward to was getting out of school for a day and riding across from your crush on the school bus, then your answer would probably be a polite, "No thanks." That might be why Tacoma Symphony Music Director Harvey Felder decided to expand out of the typical symphony hall and into a more casual and intimate venue at the Tacoma Art Museum. Tonight, the Tacoma Symphony brass section will perform Bach, Sousa, and Strauss a few feet away from the audience. Felder will chat up the symphony, and wine and dessert will move the audience even closer.

Saturday, Nov. 18
The Greatest Day Ever in Tacoma
As the good old doc was examining a bent over Weekly Volcano he exclaimed, "My there's a lot going on in Tacoma Saturday."  Everyone knows Tacoma is one giant party Saturday.  Check it out here. As for the doctor's office, we remind ourselves it could be worse. We could be Ned Beatty in "Deliverance."   

Sunday, Nov. 19
Horatio tour
Tacoma's new theater, The Horatio Theater Company, hosts an open house Sunday, Nov. 19, noon to 1 p.m.

This press release just crossed the Weekly Volcano World Headquarters desk:

• American Sail Training Association announces Port of Tacoma for the 2008 TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE Race Series on the Pacific Coast.  The dates have been set for July 2-7, 2008. 

For more details on previous ASTA events, sail here.  They don't have specific on the 2008 event yet. â€" Michael Swan

First it was poetry slams, and then it was art slams, and now there’s this new thing called Slide Slam Friday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m. inside the Rialto Theater in downtown Tacoma.

What the heck is a “slam” anyway?

The uninitiated ask this question, and those in the know just smirk knowingly. No one ever actually answers. Does anyone really know? Before uncovering the meaning, let’s play a little game I like to call the acronym game where we get to make up our own answer. Here are a few trial answers: S.L.A.M.: Sophomoric Lacy Anti-Matter; S.L.A.M.: Slow-moving Lunchbox with Atomic Munchies; S.L.A.M.: Sundial Latent According to Mars; S.L.A.M.: Sentient Lucky and Attitude Malleable; and my favorite and the most apropos if I daresay so myself â€" S.L.A.M.: Sequential Lineup of Arts and other Media. None of those are technically correct, of course, but playing the acronym game is almost as fun as the event I’m about to tell you about.

The truth is that the term “slam” is a derivative of “poetry slam,” a competitive evening of poet against poet (think "8-Mile" only without the hip-hop) whose name was derived from baseball and bridge terminology. This event is not that at all. This is Slide Slam â€" one and a half hours of local art slammed into your consciousness like a shot of adrenaline. This is not your Grandma’s slide show.

Sixty-three local artists will have their artwork projected on the big screen at the Rialto Theater as slides, digital images and video clips. Each picture will appear for just a few seconds along with information about the art and the artist. No one is going to “slam” anyone’s work â€" at least not out loud.

“This is an opportunity to meet new people and get a better idea of what is happening artistically," explains Naomi Strom-Avila of the Tacoma Arts Commission.  "This is definitely a positive thing.”

One other positive thing about this event is that the rules of submission directly reflect some feedback that the Arts Commission has been getting from the local artist community. Usually the Arts Commission has to comply with regulations that are mapped out in its bylaws, but this event gives it an opportunity to do things a little differently. For instance, instead of limiting the submissions to Tacoma residents, this event allows anyone from the Puget Sound area to submit work. Instead of a juried show where only proven artists can participate, this project includes everyone.

“We are getting full-time professionals and others who are just getting started. We got a really nice cross section,” says Strom-Avila. 

Slide Slam and Project-A-Thon is a part of a monthlong celebration of arts in Tacoma called Art at Work. This is the fifth year Tacoma Arts Commission has organized this event with the help of volunteers from the arts community. In previous years November was known as Tacoma Artists Month, but this year the name was changed to Art at Work in order to promote the fact that everyone can participate in the event, not just artists. â€" Angela Jossy