DANIEL BLUE: MEET DYLAN TRELEVEN >>>

Dylan Treleven looks like a policeman that lived across the street from me when I was a teenager. 
A Tacoma School of the Arts graduate and a student at Brown college in Mendota Heights, Minn., Dylan is home for the summer and still actively perusing the musical mastery that sets him apart in my mind as an artist of the string.

We met last year at the Warehouse when it was the center of our downtown social universe. 

Always kind and mild mannered, Dylan worked for me as a model in a show Joel Meyers and I put on for the third annual Urban Arts Festival. Dylan was always on time and didn't miss a single rehearsal, which is practically unheard of in the world of volunteer modeling. 

I had dinner at his parent's house on the North Slope, and everyone in his family is seemingly as pleasant, attractive and strangely calm as he is.

There is no question in my mind about his success in this world. He is the kind of candidate that you want to vote for, the kind of proposal you want to say yes to, and the kind of potential you want to hire. 

Soft spoken and clear minded; I hope Dylan decides to make Tacoma his home when he is finished sharpening his mind at Brown.

DANIEL BLUE: MEET BEN PARIS >>>

Ben Paris no longer lives in Tacoma, and he did not grow up in Tacoma.  Despite these things, the mark he has left on our funny bones and our metronomes will not be lost even if he stays away for a time and a half.   

This is truly the strangest man. Once in my kitchen he placed a colander on his head and said, "I am the queen of France."  He then began to wave his arms like tentacles to the rhythm of a Latin-type beat boxing blurting forth from his beard-bordered lips.   

I spent quite a bit of time with him heckling customers from behind the counter at urbanXchange, where we worked together for more than a year. "Um, you don't want to buy that?" he would ask with disgust to teenage girls simply trying to get on with their day. 

I was the good cop,

"Hey man, let the girls buy what they want." 

Usually our argument would escalate into a slapping frenzy, to the giggling pleasure of the bewildered and now ignored store patron. 

Ben's weirdo factor is only surpassed by his genuine love for the well being of those who have adopted him as their beloved comic relief.  He will be missed, until he returns, when he will no longer be missed.

LINK: The Tacoma Files archive

DANIEL BLUE: MEET JULIE BENNETT >>>

Julie Bennett is the owner of urbanXchange and a major force behind much of the mercantile activity that happens in her corner of Pacific Avenue.

When I met Julie downtown four years ago, she was working as the attendance lady at the Life Christian Center private school. Even then she was working hard to expose people to culture and arts. She asked me and some friends from downtown to come and speak at the school early one morning. I'm not sure what the hell I even talked about, I was just trying to make sure I didn't say any swear words, but I remember seeing Julie in the isle crying her little heart out.

She got the idea for her store from heaven, it seems. When I discovered she was acting on her dream, I walked in and told her she was going to hire me. I worked at urbanXchange for two years. She was like everyone's mom. Annoying sometimes, telling you to drink water and brush your teeth, but we knew we were loved.

The urban X is still rocking downtown with more culture than you can find on Capitol Hill in Seattle.

LINK: The Globes, Tree Roots In The Basement, and others play an all-ages show tonight at 7 p.m. at urbanXchange.

SUZY STUMP: NERDS RULE >>>

Alternet has posted a story from The Tyee claiming a growing breed of young women are claiming the nerd label for themselves.

These are my people.

Check it here.

SUZY STUMP: SHOPPING >>>

Hey, you. The grub in the sweatpants. We posted a couple of shopping articles on the Weekly Volcano Web site.

Jennifer Johnson strolled through Paula’s Antiques inside Freighthouse Square.

Natasha Gorbachev proclaims here love for Target.

That and more in the Fix section.

STEPH DEROSA: IS THERE A TACOMA STYLE? >>>

I can't stay away from Six Olives for too long, which is exactly why it was time for a little jazz and martini action with the girls. The small plates are perfect for munching, grazing and snacking in the most feminine way possible. It's ironic that I feel I'm a much daintier woman when I don't have to use utensils to eat.

My main partner in crime that night, Gayle Selden, was downing their fabulous Cherry Cokes like they were water. Coke paired with cherry vodka and a red licorice straw makes for a dangerous evening of fun when Gayle's around. Eventually we needed relief, so we paired up and headed to the bathrooms.

Inside the stall we were taken back to a geometric decade of our lives: The 80s. Pink walls, black squares and champagne posters. We loved it. Immediately our conversation turned to all things 80s: Poison, boom boxes*, Hammer-time, Rubik's Cubes, and pinch-rolled acid-washed jeans.

Ugh. That's right, the acid washed jeans. Hell, all the clothes for that matter. Then it hits me: I remember a comment someone had made in passing recently about clothes of the 1980s.

A couple of weeks ago (I have no concept of space or time, so this actually could've been last year or yesterday), yeah a couple of weeks ago we had Bandito Betty's bachelorette party. The group of us girls that were honored enough to be there had plenty of pictures to spread around and share with each other after it was all said and done. We laughed at the memories, recalled drunken moments, and attempted to remind www.myspace.com/thekake ">KAke of Jagermeister shots it seems she had forgotten she downed. While we were rejoicing in our fun weekend, one girl on the outside was presenting us with signs of small-mindedness and jealousy.

She wasn't at the Bandito Bachelorette Bonanza, she was at home in Miami, but she did take a gander at the pictures. The first comment she made was,Was this an 80s party?

What? Are we that out of style? Wow, I sure didn't think we were. I thought we all looked great. We looked like ourselves. Our clothes reflected who we were. And you know what? Besides all that¬" who fuckin' cares if we're out of style?

We live in the Pacific Norwest for Pete's sake. Individuality is embraced and encouraged here. Is there even a style,so to speak? Isn't not having a style the style right now? I can stand on the street in the middle of Tacoma, see 10 people walk by, and none of them look like they're wearing the same style.Tell me honestly (maybe this is just me): if you saw some dude walking past you with feathered hair and a Members Only jacket, wouldn't you say to yourself,That's awesome? To have the huzzah to say,I don't care what people think, THIS is what I'm wearing today is admirable.

As I said, maybe it's just me, but I feel as though being trendy is not as hip here as it is in say, Miami. If trendy is the mentality in Miami, then I don't want to be there. I don't want to be cookie cutter, shallow, fake tan, tons of makeup, judged by my clothes, stuck on some dumb dance floor listening to uncreative, headache-inducing house music that some dude on acid is presenting as his beatz. F that noise.

We exit the bathroom and Gayle agrees with me: To be able to wear whatever the F you want, feel secure, and not become judged is gold. That's right, it's not 80s, you superficial Miami girl, it's GOLD. And it's right here in the great PNW.

Well, it's here in the PNW most of the time, anyway.

*Boom Box: Carmen's nickname in college.

CARMEN JONES: FLUEVOG FOR LESS >>>

Tomorrow, May 15, is International John Fluevog Day, which coincidentally is John Fluevog's actual birthday. I'll be donning some of my favorite new Fluevog stilettos until my feet bleed. As I've told Fluevog himself and all of his staff: "You break the foot in, not the shoe."

All of his shoes are 15 percent off tomorrow in honor of this great international holiday.

So, rock 'em if you've got 'em.

BILL TIMNICK: DAME LOLA’S NEWS DIGS >>>

Rebecca Dashow shifted her boutique space to its new location in the Stadium District this week.  Dame Lola, a contemporary and “fashion forward” clothing shop, now sports an open concept main display floor, as well as an upper floor salon that Dashow intends to devote to private, by-appointment showings and dressing sessions.

“The set of the store now is more focused on noticing the clothes,” Dashow says of the new space, in which color coded racks of clothes are arranged along the shop’s side walls, while the center section is left open.

“When we were building it we wanted to go with more of an industrial look.”  That way, Dashow, explains, the clothes, rather than the setting, catch the eye.  “It’s the clothes you notice because that’s why you’re here.”

Dashow is also pleased with Dame Lola’s new setting because of  higher traffic in the area, and because the new space has access at both ends of the shop â€" so that clients who use the back parking lot can still walk straight in.

But while some things have changed, others remain the same.  The Dame Lola clothing line still features pieces by individually selected designers.  “You’re going to find designers here you can’t find anywhere else,” Dashow says.

STEPH DEROSA: I LOATHE GREEN >>>

If anyone thinks they can pinch me because I’m not wearing green, they are going to get punched in the face.

I probably shouldn’t have, but I let my feelings be known about this stupid “wear green” tradition to my daughter’s preschool teacher.  She was kind-of taken aback when I made the pseudo-threat.  But regardless, she challenged my statement, and decided to pinch me anyway.  I fucking hate that.  Don’t fucking touch me, lady.  It took everything inside me not to lash out and strike her.  There were too many parents around, and it was in my best interest to play it cool.

I get the whole Irish thing.  I get the whole “let’s drink green beer” thing, or “kiss me I’m Irish” thing, or whateverthefuck you want to over-indulge on during this fabricated Americanized holiday, I get it.  But why green?  What is this teaching our kids?  It’s modeling them for gang behavior if you ask me.  Hello, people!  Remember the whole “Blood vs. Crip” color rivals?  You really want to teach our kids to inflict a wound on another child if their not wearing a certain color?

I’m all for individuality, so I say don’t wear the fucking color green if you don’t want to!  Fuck the society that dictates what color you should wear!  I’m so pissed about this St. Patrick’s-wearing-green-shit.  The only time you will catch me wearing green is when it’s on my own will, or I’m supporting the Dockyard Derby Dames’ Femme Fianna.

Thanks for allowing me to vent.  Have a good day, and stay the fuck away from me if you’re going to pinch me.  Or you will go down.

ALEXANDRA DELONG: SATURDAY SPIFF >>>

Bright colors, wild prints and patent leathers mixed with metallic hardware are coming fast and strong this spring. The days of toning down your accessories are over, and flashy bold statements are in. Paring everyday wear with funky heels and oversized bags makes any look instantly fabulous. Exotic colored stilettos and clutches draw attention and bring flare to an outfit. Matching is of days past; putting together interesting color combos like pinks and blues are chic and trendy. It is a fashion rule to wear at least one item that commands attention this season.

Now is the time to express your personality through sexy shoes and loud bags. Be careful not to get lost or over powered by too many in-your-face pieces. Try mixing classics like white slacks and crisp kaki's to offset patents, big floral or animal prints. Flirt with your feet and feel spicy in brands like Naughty Monkey sold at Nordstrom and Cake, BCBG Girls, Jessica Simpson, or Steve Madden also at Nordstrom. Dress up your look with Marc Jacobs or Michael Kors bags at Nordstrom.

Let your inner diva break free by being beautifully bold with personal style through color and prints.

LINK: Weekly Volcano fashion section