TUESDAY, AUG. 2, 2011 >>>

1. We'll be talking about Northern in Olympia a lot this week, as the completely awesome all-ages venue is scheduled to close after this coming weekend - with a reopening in a new space planned for September. Look for a cover story by Brett Cihon and Nikki Talotta coming this Thursday. Until then, check out Tara Jane O'Neil, Nikaido Kazumi and Mount Eerie tonight at Northern and celebrate all the space has to offer.

2. Perry Acker will be a part of the Ted Brown Music Outreach Guitar Clinic tonight at Jazzbones. The band has a lot of buzz right now - see why. Also, see if they show up driving a Ford Fiesta.

3. The Karpeles Manuscript Museum next to Wright Park in Tacoma is something of a hidden gem. Most have never dropped in on the amazing collection of original manuscripts housed in the ornate aging structure. That can change today. Open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Karpeles Manuscript Museum is showing a collection of Sigmund Freud's manuscripts through Aug. 31.

4. In Gig Harbor it's time once again for Summer Sounds at Skansie Brothers Park, this evening with Swing Reunion Orchestra.

5.On South Tacoma Way, the Rafael Tranquilino Band's "rockin' blues" have become a Stonegate Pizza staple.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music tonight!

For two days at the end of July each year Ethnic Fest turns Wright Park into a sea of people, languages, art, causes, music and merchandise. In its 25th year, the festival is Tacoma's liveliest celebration of citizen diversity.

I hit the park early in the day, just as things were kicking off. Tacoma City councilman Marty Campbell opened the festivities with a brief welcome from the main stage. Anchoring the west end of the park, the Kabuki Academy put on live music and dance performances throughout the day. I caught the demonstration of the shamisen, a Japanese 3-string guitar with a raw percussive sound. The emcee engaged the crowd by humorously announcing "three singers and one bald guy named Paul" and thanking the audience for "the many clapping hands" after spats of applause.

In front of the Multicare main stage, people staked out their spots, spreading blankets under the trees and enjoying pizza, massive sugary elephant ears, shish kabobs balanced on spiced rice, hot wings, barbeque slathered ribs, stir-fry, noodles and cheese covered tamales - all coming from the long row of food vendors along the park's outer edge. Sounds of world fusion, Latin beat and Middle Eastern music poured from speakers. Dances from Samoa, Tahiti and Korea were a visual treat. As the day wore on, crowds thickened and lines 15-20 deep formed for heaping plates of beef bulgogi, rice and kimchi ($5.99) at the Korean Women's Association booth. I wished I had room but didn't regret the tasty Jamaican jerk chicken pocket and coconut water I'd already eaten.

There's no swimming pool this year, though with the revamped kids' area and water feature "sprayground" (part of the slick, new playground at Wright Park) I doubt anyone missed it. Suddenly feeling the heat on my very Irish skin, I dipped into the shade at the nearest booth. I recognized Anita Jones, who has a NALI natural body care products line and vends at many local outdoor markets and festivals. "I try to be at all the best ones," she offers with a warm smile. She patiently explained benefits of salt scrubs and different soaps to those stopping by. Eying my red shoulders, she offered a bottle of blended avocado oil and aloe.

Jones' booth is one of many, a varying collection at Ethnic Fest, each stocked with all manner of trinket, garb and handmade items as well as mass produced art, crafts and wares. These booths fill the park's inner grassy area. A breeze brought with it the scent of roasting corn fresh from the booth Michelle Amiotte and family run.

An interactive art tent with tables and art supplies provides a place for kids to take a break from being waist high in a tall adult crowd. Along the northern side of the park I met Tacoma School Board candidate and University of Puget Sound professor Dexter Gordon. "Tacoma is a vibrant community. Look at everyone here today," he says, his beaming smile contagious as he gestures to festival attendees.

At the park's opposite end, the energetic, dance-off action on the D.A.S.H Center for the Arts stage drew attention away from the much larger main stage and garnered cheers, hollers and a lot of applause. Kids 11-years-old and younger showed off their undeniable talent, much of it hard to fathom. Unabashed enjoyment was apparent in their faces. Earlier in the day I'd paused at the same stage to listen to spoken word. Tony "Illaphant" Innouvong fired off a powerful, thought-provoking performance.

To the left, guys shot hoops just like it was any other rain-free day in the park. Plenty of families opted to bring their own lunch; coolers spilled out big bowls of potato salad, pasta and cold drinks. Some folks even brought grills; the scent from which rivaled the professional food hawkers.

Reggae sensation and local favorite Alex Duncan closes out the free festival at 6 p.m. Sunday, July 31.

SPACEWORKS IS RAD >>>

Last night as part of Tacoma's Third Thursday Art Walk four new Spaceworks-affiliated studios opened their doors the public as part of a celebratory art block party. Participants in the party included Toy Boat Theater (a new theater troupe who Christian Carvajal will have a story on next week), musician and composer Nate Dybevik and Fab-5's latest venture, Fabitat.

On board the Art Bus as usual, the Volcano's Publisher Ron Swarner snapped some photos and shot some video of Fabitat's contributions to the good times. Swarner reports high energy and a wealth of smiles.

THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2011 >>>

1. It's the third Thursday of the month in Tacoma and you know what that means! It's Art Walk time! There's a ton of stuff going on, including the growingly famous Art Bus. Find more info about all of it here.

2. The Musicianers from El Paso, Tex. play tonight at The New Frontier Lounge. You can find the Volcano's extensive live local music listings here.

3. Get Your Hands on Some Clay!

4. In Puyallup it's time for Open Social Knit & Crochet at Yellow House Yarns. Find info here.

5. In Fife, Jared Blake (dude from NBC's The Voice), along with Rane Stone, Jason Kertson and Dudley Taft will unleash the tunes at Louie G's. As the pizza joint/venue prides itself on, the action will be all ages.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music tonight in the South Sound

TAKING STUDENTS THROUGH SPACE & TIME >>>

Talk about a globetrotter. Hirsh Diamant began life as a Ukrainian in the capital city of Kiev, eventually left as a dissident, at one point studied in Israel, and has acted in New York. Westward he continued from Big Apple to the Evergreen State, in part a desire to escape, in his words, "the crack capital of the world." For the next fifteen years he toiled as a farmer before ultimately going broke.

Fate has drawn Diamant to yet another capital - Olympia, back in academia as a teacher at Evergreen State College. The school's well-known reputation for an educational structure looser than its contemporaries lets this world traveller engage students across multiple disciplines.

"The world is so interesting and so complex," Diamant says. "Teaching so many things allows me to be interested in a lot of different areas."

With a focus on arts and cultural studies, Diamant designs his various courses in unique ways. Visual Literacy (which just wrapped for the summer) looks at the evolution of visual art and technology, commencing with drawing, then progressing to photography and the modern digital revolution. These, for Diamant, explore the three dimensions of space.  When still pictures are linked together in a sequence, the fourth dimension comes into play.

This is the realm of cinema, for "film is a medium of time," Diamant states.

The man has seen his own progression as a filmmaker, from performing in his older brothers' home movies as a child to creating works like the stunningly beautiful NuWa Dreams (still a memorable entry from 2008's Olympia Film Festival). Diamant will keep alive his love for "the most captivating, the most enjoyable medium of the 21^st century" by volunteering again at OFF this autumn.            

EQUALITY IN TACOMA >>>

As I signed a card supporting equal rights at yesterday's Out in the Park event in downtown Tacoma, the young man soliciting my signature tried desperately to convince me it was the right thing to do. He said his quest for signatures was not a gimmick.  He may or may not have been drunk.

I had not questioned him in the least, and as a matter of fact, quickly agreed to sign whatever I needed to sign to make gay marriage legal, put progressive people in political chairs, and allow "colored folk" to drink out of public water fountains.  (It all seems as archaic as the other, right?  It's 2011 for fuck's sake.)

(Photo Credit: Jen Cook-Asaro)

Moving this year's festivities to Ninth and Broadway, Out in the Park booths lined Broadway Tacoma Farmer's Market style with helpful information and rainbow-themed wares.  Free hugs were handed out along with lots and lots of friendly smiles. Everyone was strong; pride was made public; and hopes of equality wafted through Pierce Transit Park alongside the sounds of talented musicians on stage. 

(Photo Credit: Jen Cook-Asaro)

Beginning at 2 p.m. was when the real party began, and where the gay pride flag flew its highest... down the street at The Mix's Tacoma Pride Block Party.  With the street blocked to all traffic, dance music was spun by local DJs while scantily clad men and women propositioned you with Jell-O shots and flirtatious banter. (At The Mix's Block Party is where I learned that ultimately, no matter how gay or how straight a man might be, all men love breasts.  And I do mean ALL men.) 

(Photo Credit: Jen Cook-Asaro)

All part of the block party action, drag queens graced the stage with hypnotizing movements, STINK donned a special menu, Pacific Grill was on hand serving up fiery shrimp cocktails and The Office produced grubbin' sliders for all who had munchies.  Steve Naccarato stood by offering 253 paraphernalia to anyone interested in flaunting not only their gay pride, but their local pride as well.

(Photos of the Mix Pride Block Party crowd and Miss Gay Tacoma by Steph DeRosa)

I could go on and on and on about the great time Liesl Diesl, the Swarners and I had alongside Jacob Rose and his cohorts at The Mix, but the cheap ass Volcano has me on a tight budget and refuses to reward my excessive triple-drabble. So instead I'll show you a video of Katrina Duall who usually performs at The Airport Tavern. 

More photos from Jen Cook-Asaro of yesterday's Out in the Park action

SUNDAY, JULY 10, 2011 >>>

1. The annual Art on the Ave festival takes over Tacoma's Sixth Avenue today - offering arts of all kinds to people of kinds. EXTRA SPECIAL: Vicci Martinez will take to the Jazzbones stage at around 3 p.m. And catch City Hall on the O'Malley's stage.

2. In Puyallup, drop in on Sexy Sundays with DJ El Guapo at O'Henry's Sports Bar.

3. Sunday means Movie Night at the Brotherhood in Olympia. It's an institution.

4. "Cats" opened this week at the Tacoma Musical Playhouse. See it now and compare your take with Volcano theater critic Joann Varnell, who's writing her review as you read this.

5.The Orcapod Book Club meets on the second Sunday of every month at Orca Books in Olympia. It's literally literary aweseomness.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music tonight in the South Sound

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

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Mostly sunny, hi 68, lo 49

Saturday: Partly sunny, hi 72, lo 52

Sunday: Partly sunny, hi 74, lo 55

>>> FRIDAY, JULY 8: Amocat Live!

Amocat Cafe's live music night -- the appropriately titled "Amocat Live!" -- goes down on the second Friday of every month. And, lo and behold - that's this week! As of this writing the list of scheduled performers includes: Gabe Rhee, Sam Bogle, Steve Cairns, Karen Miller, Volkert Volkersz, Morgan Alexander & Kevin Freitas and Amocat Live! house band Les Collaborateurs.

• Amocat Cafe, 7-9 p.m., NC, 625 St Helens Ave., Tacoma, 

>>> JULY 8-9: The Nuge

There comes a time in every great performer's career when they stare the Emerald Queen Casino square in the eyes. Ted Nugent has arrived. A shredder of '70s testosterone-driven hits like "Cat Scratch Fever"; the man behind some of the best bow-hunting-based television ever produced; and right wing gun-advocate many consider to be a prolific racist, Ted Nugent will be in T-town for a two-night stand starting Friday. Both shows are basically sold out. Quick! Think of something that rhymes with poontang!

• Emerald Queen Casino, 8:30 p.m., 2024 E. 29th St., Tacoma, 253.594.7777

>>> SATURDAY, JULY 9: South Sound BBQ Festival

Who doesn't like meat off the grill? Well, vegetarians we suppose, but still. BBQ is pretty damn popular. This Saturday the Lacey Chamber of Commerce looks to jump all over this fact with the South Sound BBQ Festival, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the parking lot of Cabella's. It's free, and yes - there will be a chicken wing eating contest.

• Cabela's, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., 1600 Gateway Blvd NE, Lacey, 360.252.3500

>>> SATURDAY, JULY 9: Out In The Park

Tacoma's annual, awesome LGBTQA Pride celebration, Out In The Park, goes down this Saturday. Not only does the yearly event have a new locale this year -- taking over Ninth and Broadway -- it's also part of ten full days of Pride events this year in T-Town. It's literally fabulous. Find our full article on Tacoma's Pride festival here, and look for pictures and words coming on SPEW shortly after Saturday's big-ass party.

• Out In The Park, noon-6 p.m., Ninth and Broadway, all ages, free, Tacoma, outintacoma.com 

>>> SATURDAY, JULY 9: Tacoma Old Town Blues Festival

Tacoma is a blues town. For every sparsely attended indie show or spotty DJ night there's a hopping blues jam packed by a familiar set of middle-aged South Sound blues hounds. The yearly Old Town Blues Festival draws these faces out en masse. Saturday, catch 15 bands - names like Little Bill and the Bluenotes, Cold Shot and the High Rollers - and more than 15 hours of entertainment throughout Old Town. Check out the full schedule here, including the 9 a.m. BluesBerry pancake breakfast.

• Old Town Tacoma - Slavonian Hall, The Spar, The Mountaineers, Old Town Park, 9 a.m. to 1 a.m., tacomaoldtownbluesfest.net

>>> WHERE OUR STAFF IS GOING

NIKKI TALOTTA Features Writer
Got the Subaru loaded with beach pails, diapers, extra pillows and a cooler full of Capri Suns and PBRs. Yep, the Talotta - McCoy clan is packing it up for a weekend at the beach. Beautiful grey-blue waters, kids splashing through the waves , and late night games of dominoes with the hubby. Damn I'm a lucky girl.

CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL: Theater Critic
I play half of the characters in David Mamet's incendiary Oleanna, a thriller of intellectual combat, which opens this week at Olympia Little Theater. I'm also catching A Midsummer Night's Dream in Priest Point Park and, at some unknown point, sleeping.

JOE IZENMAN: Theater Critic
Umm... getting married. I think that pretty much covers it. OK, so really it's two days of mad scramble to get everything ready, one day of getting married and partying, one day of opening presents, and one day of chilling in Tacoma and going to the Red Hot and Parkway for Tap Night Tacoma. But I figure that was mostly implied in "getting married."

JOANN VARNELL Theater Critic
This weekend I will be busy reviewing Cats at Tacoma Musical Playhouse, celebrating my son's 11-month anniversary of being alive, and playing music at church on Sunday.

ALEC CLAYTON Visual Arts Critic
'm going to see "Oleanna" at Olympia Little Theatre and "Cats," America's most overrated musical, at Tacoma Musical Playhouse, and an art exhibit called "Three old guys and one old lady" at Art House Designs in Oly, which I plan to write about for Spew, and a PFLAG meeting Sunday.

BRETT CIHON Meat Market Correspondent
I'm heading to a Meat Market on Friday night. Then maybe a hike on Saturday? Not that I'm much of a hiker, I just like to balance out the debauchery.

Jennifer Johnson Food and Lifestyles Writer
Girlfriend's birthday party in Puyallup Friday. Saturday, Motorcycle Rally ride and benefit show at Jersey's in Federal Way followed by a stop at the FedWay farmers market; Putt-Putt golf that night. Sunday after church it's all about AoA...that's Sixth Avenue's Art on the Ave for the peeps that don't know.

Steve Dunkelberger Photographer
I'll be going to the new Pooh movie, then seeing Cats at TMP before heading to Art on the Ave

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

ANOTHER CRAMMED-ASS WEEK >>>

Like almost every week in the South Sound, and certainly every week of the all-too-short summer in the South Sound, there are art happenings and opportunities galore this week. The Art on the Ave festival will once again fill Tacoma's Sixth Avenue with art of all kinds - truly something for all of the senses - and that's jus the start.

Here are a few teases from this week's Volcano arts section.

FEATURE: ART ON THE AVE

"Art on the Ave is in its 13th year, so it's one of Tacoma's biggest and best festivals," says festival coordinator Angela Jossy. "It's known for its eclectic and inclusive nature."
Of course, this is an art festival and you can, above all, expect to find art on tap. But the artwork here is not limited to canvas work or sculpture or other things you might only find in a museum. "There will be ALL kinds of art," says Jossy. - Kristin Kendle

FEATURE: JAMES TUCKER & ANDREA TRENBEATH

Together, Trenbeath and Tucker share skill sets and knowledge with each other, and deliver artwork with a collaborative twist, which most recently meant Tucker taking Trenbeath's werewolf sketches and putting his own slant on them. Trenbeath's werewolves are, frankly, amazing - bold lines and a viciousness rarely seen in the realms of fine art. They make my episodes of True Blood seem full of puppies and kittens. Tucker's tweaks give these beasts a robotic edge. These pieces were the focus of their work at Tacoma Art Place and lead directly into their work at Art on the Ave this week. - Kristin Kendle

VISUAL EDGE: SUSAN CHRISTIAN AT CHILDHOOD'S END GALLERY

I've been keeping up with Susan Christian's career for more than 20 years, and during that time I have watched her art change so gradually that it's like watching a mountain grow. I think she has finally reached her maturity as a painter. Her latest works - simple, bare-bones, abstract paintings of doorways and windows and corners of starkly empty rooms - are by far the best I have seen from her yet. - Alec Clayton

PLUS: More local theater than you can shake a stick at

PLUS: The South Sound Arts, Entertainment & Events Calendar to end all South Sound Arts, Entertainment & Events Calendars

PLUS: Kittens

TUESDAY, JULY 5, 2011 >>>

1. Catch Old Man Malarkey and the Cutwinkles at Hell's Kitchen as part of Tightwad Tuesdays - a T-Town tradition.

2. Like fiddles and facial hair? Good. The Barleywine Revue performs tonight at the Mandolin Café.

3. Drop in on tan epic "DJ & Drummer Duo Battle," at Backstage Bar & Grill on Sixth Avenue, featuring DJ Switch and Chris Dahl.

4. Tuesday means it's Beer Pong Tournament time at Longhorn Saloon in Lakewood.

5. The Royal Lounge in Olympia invites you to "get your comedic variety showcase groove on," every Tuesday for the club's weekly "Comedy Lounge" showcase.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music tonight in the South Sound