FRIDAY, MARCH 7 2014 >>>

1. From Bach to Bird to Biggie, Black Violin executes a unique and often brilliant juxtaposition of urban and classical styles. The two-man violin/viola hip-hop outfit of Wil B and Kev Marcus mix classical music with hip-hop beats, and then toss in some rap and freestyle to keep it interesting. Yes, violins. Yes, hip-hop. With the addition of a hip-hop DJ, this talented trio fuses funk, hip-hop and classical music to create a sound and style that very nearly defies traditional genre categorization. Some might call it revolutionary. Check it out at 7:30 p.m. in the Pantages Theater.

2. Sure, Tacoma celebrates its status as an arts community.  Sure, Tacoma loves to band together for a good cause.  With the YWCA RAGS wearable Art Sale and Gallery, continuing for its 20th year, it does both. RAGS started as a fun way to raise money for the YWCA, whose mission statement is all about honoring diversity and creating opportunities for women’s growth, leadership, and power in order to attain a common vision: peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all people. RAGS offers guests an opportunity to view and acquire fabulous handmade clothing, jewelry and accessories created by artisans from across the country. Check out RAGS from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. inside the Mercedes-Benz of Tacoma new showroom at 1701 Alexander Ave. East in Fife.

3. The Tacoma Community College Symphonic Band concert and trombone soloists Sara Mayo present a variety of contemporary wind band music, exploring ideas around tradition, conversation, spirits and dance at 7:30 p.m. in TCC Building 2 Auditorium, which is close to South 12th and Mildred.

4. The genial satire of contemporary feminism Angry Housewives ran for ages in Seattle centering on Jetti, Bev, Wendi and Carol — good friends, but angry over the lack of respect from their men. So, they form a punk rock band, Angry Housewives, and take their local club scene by storm gaining new self-respect and renewed respect from their men. The play opens at Paradise Theatre at 7:30 p.m.

5. Near as we can tell from what little music is available of Coma Figura, one might describe them as a sort of Foxygen or Titus Andronicus for the bedroom pop set. These are bands that mash together influences and jumble them up into something that surges past imitation and into a kind of fervent homage. Whereas Foxygen and Titus Andronicus reinterpret pastoral psych rock and boozy Springsteen-isms, respectively, Coma Figura take stabs at the idiosyncratic singer-songwriter. Catch the band with BA the Scribe, FLORIDA, Mad Youth at 9 p.m. in The New Frontier Lounge.

LINK: Friday, March 7 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

The time has finally come.

Maybe you filled out the Weekly Volcano's Best Of Olympia survey and maybe you didn't. But either way the Best Of Olympia edition is on the street today.

That's right, yo! It's like Christmas but better. It's like a trip to Disney World, only not lame.

Every year the Weekly Volcano produces Thurston County's, shall we say, best Best Of reference guide. Yes, Yelm, you're in there, too. Where's the best burger? The Weekly Volcano fills you in. Where is the best place to buy shoes? The Weekly Volcano tells you. Where's the best place to showcase your talent? The Weekly Volcano even tells you that.

Like we said, it's on the street today, tucked carefully inside the Weekly Volcano.

Oh, if your name is Annie Johns living in the 98502, you won our readers' poll contest. We'll be contacting you by email with your Red Lion Olympia prize package.

SATURDAY, NOV. 30 2013 >>>

1. Winters here are cold and wet, and it's better to admit that fact and find a way to enjoy the season than to stay home depressed. Ice skating, with its low requirements in start-up costs and athletic prowess, may be the perfect way to beat the winter doldrums. It's charming and, in Tacoma, it comes with live music. Every Saturday night the Weekly Volcano turns on the amps to the Electric Salchow Stage at the Franciscan Polar Plaza ice rink. Back from recording a kick ass album in Nashville, voted Best Band in the 2013 Best of Tacoma issue and recent winner of the WAVE Radio Jammin' Challenge Battle of the Bands at the Hard Rock Café, SweetKiss Momma will fire up its Southern soul rock sound at 7 p.m. and perform for skaters until 9 p.m. Oh momma, that's sweet.

2. The Lincoln Winter Market organized by Make Olympia is just what the doctor ordered. Well that, and a hot buttered rum. The market is in its third run, and has grown to more than 70 vendors from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Lincoln Elementary Gym in Olympia. Shanty Slater, who has been heavily involved in Make Olympia (which hosts markets at a variety of locations) since its incarnation in 2010, said the Lincoln Winter Market is "a very special place to buy gifts and treasure from the community." Discover the seven must-see items at the Lincoln Winter Market here.

3. In an effort to make it easy and fun to shop local this holiday season, Duchess of Downtown Tours, best known for its monthly Tacoma ART BUS tours, has hand selected nine of its favorite locally owned shops for the Small Business Saturday Shopping Tour at 1 p.m. Tickets are $25 and include pizza, beverages, VIP swag bags and entry into the raffle for several awesome prizes including two tickets to the sold out Santarchy craziness, a gift basket from Blue Mouse Theater and more. Tickets and list of shop can be found at brownpapertickets.com.

4. For the fourth year in a row, the entrepreneur and hilariously funny and talented Nate Jackson will treat the Puget Sound to a holiday event chock full of fun, class and comedy. Nate Jackson's 4thAnnual Thanksgiving Weekend Super Funny Comedy Show will consume the Temple Theater Plaza Ballroom at 8:30 p.m. featuring a live comedy show followed by an after party. Shang Forbes, whose socio-political views graced CBS's The Late Show and BET's Comic View, will join Jamie Foxx 2011 NBA All Star Comedy vet Lil Rel and fellow Comic View funnyman Ronnie Jordan and Tacoma's own Mr. Mookie on the Temple stage. Afterward, The D1 Experience Band and DJ TuMuch rock the party. Jackson's events are always full of fun, good-looking people and mo' fun.

5. So you don't want to admit to drinking and going to the mall with your friends when you were a teenager. Fine. But there's no shame in shopping at The New Frontier Lounge Saturday night with a few drinks in hand. The fine folks at Feather & Oar men's clothing store are hosting a fashion show with Tacoma Apparel Co., Paper Diamonds Clothing, Gallery of Ambition, Kinfam and Noble Suit Co. with original music by the Keyboard Kid from 9-10 p.m. at The New Frontier Lounge. Rumor is the tickets are going fast; you might want to give Feather & Oar a buzz, or jump on Brown Paper Tickets. After the show, The Flvr Blue will fill the joint with synth pop in between the funky beats spun by Mr. Melanin. Hot Topic this ain't.

PLUS: Holiday Events Calendar

PLUS: South Sound Holiday Command Center

LINK: Saturday, Nov. 29 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

FRIDAY, NOV. 29 2013 >>>

1. In the spirit of making the best out of a bad situation, Zach Powers has organized a Black Friday "mini-concert series" to simultaneously take the sting out of the dubious holiday and to direct shoppers to local establishments. From 1 to 5:30 p.m., select downtown Tacoma stores will be host to mini-performances from local acts. At each of these businesses, one band will show up and play a brief, 15-minute set, designed to draw in shoppers with being too distracting a presence: 1 p.m. at Learning Sprout Toys will feature singer-songwriters Olivia Joy Hustoft and Jenny Snipstead; 2 p.m. at UrbanXchange will have Rockwell Powers; from there, it's 3 p.m. at King's Books with Goldfinch; 4 p.m. finds Apartment Lights at Millesime Designs; and the day closes out at 5 p.m. with Q-Dot at Feather & Oar. Read Rev. Adam McKinney's full feature on the Tacoma Black Friday Concert Series in the Music and Culture section.

2. As you know, the Washington State History Museum has taken a step back in time to study one of America's greatest unsolved mysteries: the 1971 disappearance of skyjacker D.B. Cooper from a plane traveling from Portland to Sea-Tac. What you might not know is Geoffrey Gray - the author of Skyjack: The Hunt for D.B. Cooper - will host a 2:30 p.m. book signing and 3:30 p.m. presentation on his research and conclusions. He'll also be available to join attendees and chat theories afterward at The Swiss. 

3. We dig holiday lights. We just don't like holiday lights on our office (why? laziness, lack of skill, laziness, lack of patience, laziness - you get the drift). Ah, but there's that wonderful Tacoma institution of Zoolights, the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium's holiday light show and extravaganza. We are not talking a few dinky lights thrown haphazardly into a shrub (much like our sad little office displays). No. We are talking more than half a MILLION lights, crafted whimsically throughout the zoo. Better? Zoolights throws in these groovy little extras like camel rides (yes, really), an antique carousel and a scuba-diving Santa on select days. Zoolights opens for the season from 5-9 p.m.

4. Break out the feel-good tears, tissues, angel wings and silver bells, because local theater is bringing a holiday classic to life. Here are some hints: George Bailey, Clarence the Guardian Angel, Bedford Falls, Christmas Eve transformation, life really is good, "every time a bell rings an angel gets its wings" ... (sniff, sniff). The wonderful and historic Tacoma Little Theatre, located in Tacoma's Stadium District, has been delighting audiences of all ages since 1918 (making it one of the oldest community theaters in the United States) and is taking on the holiday staple, It's A Wonderful Life, at 7 p.m. 

5. Little Orphan Annie likes you. Little Orphan Annie wants to be your friend. Little Orphan Annie wants you to visit her in the orphanage. Little Orphan Annie wants you to adopt her. Little Orphan Annie wants to live with you. Little Orphan Annie wants. Little Orphan Annie wants. Go watch her from a distance in the happiest musical in America and be grateful she has Daddy Warbucks. Little Orphan Annie can be seen at 8 p.m. in the Tacoma Musical Playhouse.

PLUS: Holiday Events Calendar

PLUS: South Sound Holiday Command Center

LINK: Friday, Nov. 29 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

THURSDAY, NOV. 7 2013 >>>

1. Let's all think about snow sports and drink beer together tonight at the Harmon Harmon Brewery & Eatery's annual Pray For Snow Party. As sure as it will snow in them hills, the Harmon will dole out gear and lift ticket giveaways and raffle prizes, screen snow sports movies and, of course, host the human jukebox Steve Stefanowicz who has performed at this party for as long as we can remember. Proceeds from the raffle benefit the YWCA of Pierce County.

2. Janice Arnold's "Palace Yurt" at the Smithsonian in 2009 was a contemporary take on ancient Mongolian palace yurts. Designed specifically for the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum's 2009 Fashioning Felt exhibition in New York, it was made to fit the arched ceiling of the museum's conservatory and filled the space like air in a balloon with elegantly crafted and draped sheets of handmade felt. Now Arnold has reconfigured the installation for the art gallery at The Evergreen State College. Working slowly with a team of assistants, it took Arnold most of the summer while the gallery was closed to complete the installation, which is one of the best gallery shows ever presented in that space. Check it out from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Read Alec Clayton's full review of "Palace Yurt: Deconstructed" in the Music and Culture section.

3. Historically speaking, you eat more food during the wintertime, go outside less often, and some of you even wear those jackets that look like sleeping bags. "It's not a fashion show out there," your mom yells at you, even though technically speaking it is a fashion show out there. So, it only makes sense to eat delicious happy hour food tonight, maybe enjoy a bottle of Guernoc Chardonnay or Cabernet and check Lynn Di Nino's wearable sweater art. The fashion show begins at 4:30 p.m. in the Social Bar and Grill. No, we don't know what you should wear. What are we, your mother?

4. Feather is in tribute to the local Native American history. Oar is symbolic of the European settlers who came to Tacoma. Feather & Oar is a men's clothing store in downtown Tacoma specializing in gentle used and vintage goods with a sense of timelessness. The chaps behind the suits not only know and wear their goods, they've woven themselves into the community to do good. Feather & Oar celebrates its one-year anniversary at 7 p.m., with popular hip-hop artist Rockwell Powers adding even more style to the affair.

5. After more than 1200 submissions, all 32 slots have been filled for the 34th Annual Seattle International Comedy Competition. The first 16 comedians will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the Washington Center.

LINK: Thursday, Nov. 7 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 16 2013 >>>

1. 3 Inches of Blood divorced themselves from the cheesier of their metal ancestors.  This Vancouver, B.C., sextet, sporting two singers - Cam Pipes belting out death metal screams while guitarist Justin Hagberg has replaced Jamie Hopper's vocal duties - spews classic metal swagger, and that's why we dig them. They remind us of the '70s metal past - the vocal assault of Rob Halford, epic guitars of Iron Maiden and Metallica. Loud and raucous, 3 Inches of Blood will rock Jazzbones at 8 p.m. with screaming-for-vengeance vocals, medieval tales of pillaging unsuspecting victims and fair maidens, razor sharp guitar riffs and thunderous drumming. Witchburn and Deathbed Confessions will set the tone.

2. Little antique stores have their appeal, but sometimes it's nice to take a giant approach to antique shopping - that is, you stop at one big place and find everything. Sanford and Son Antiques stocks all sorts of old knickknacks and goodies in a three-floor maze of awesomeness. Griswold cast-iron pans, oak library tables, antique Royal typewriters, old cameras, antique lighters, dishes, silver, that Six Million Dollar Man action figure you had as a child - you'll find it all here under one roof at reasonable prices. In 2005, Sanford and Son owners Alan and Cheryl Gorsuch converted its middle floor into a shopping bazaar of 20 local businesses called the Middle Floor Merchants. From noon to 6 p.m., a celebration for new merchants will be held, including Magic Card gaming, a drum circle, entertainment, youth crafting, door prizes and refreshments. Check out the magic card shop, fashion accessories, photography studio, model train shop, a home-style diner and coffee shop, dog boutique, vintage and decor shops and other shops.

3. Artist David Roholt transforms the familiar. His paintings balance the abstract and the representational, creating dimension through contrasting color and surface texture. Roholt's paintings will be on display at Pacific Lutheran University's University Gallery through Nov. 13. A wine and cheese reception will be held from 5-7 p.m.

4. You can hear it in his voice. It’s quiet and not the least bit nervous. As he describes his conversion from staunch Republican to old-fashioned populist Democrat; as he revisits days as a White House intern; as he recalls his tenure as student advisor to the University of Puget Sound’s Black Student Union and participation in antiwar protest marches; and decades later, as he laments the presence of a private prison for immigrants on the Tacoma Tideflats one thing becomes clear — many of us never knew the real Bill Baarsma. Maybe you'll get to know the former Tacoma mayor better when he hosts History Night at 6:30 p.m. in The Swiss. The theme is sports in Tacoma.

5. San Francisco poet and artist Beau Beausoleil is the founder of the Al-Mutanabbi Street Coalition and co-curator of the Al-Mutanabbi Street Starts Here book exhibit, which is on display at the Collins Memorial Library on the campus of the University of Puget Sound. Beausoleil will be at the library from 7-8 p.m. to discuss the exhibit and discuss the al-Mutanabbi Street in Baghdad as a place that has long offered sanctuary to diverse Iraqi voices, and a place where the roots of democracy took hold hundreds of years ago.

LINK: Wednesday, Oct. 16 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

Today's Pampering Our Military Spouses is an afternoon of free hair care, spa services and, well, pampering for those who single-handedly juggle the demands of work and family while facing the additional anxiety of knowing that a loved one is constantly in harms way, with no guarantee they will make it home safely. Those are tough burdens to carry, and this is our way to show how much spouses sacrifice in the great mission of protecting the United States and defending freedom.

The event begins at 11 a.m. at St. Martin's University. Sponsored by Bruce Titus Automotive Group as well as Washington state's 529 prepaid college tuition program G.E.T., military spouses and girlfriends, active duty and reserve, will be treated to the services mentioned above, as well as enjoy at Macy's fashion show featuring military spouse models, a live game show with prizes, food, drinks, gifts and much more.

Let us make clear from the outset that you, Common Person, cannot attend. By name, The Ranger and Northwest Airlifter's "Pampering Our Military Spouses" is only for military spouses and girlfriends of servicemembers. Members of the hoi polloi, the riff raff and the masses best not show up. Unfortunately, registration for the event is closed. We reached our 1,300 capacity well before today.

That said, all may enjoy words and photos from today's Pampering Our Military Spouses as we'll be live blogging from the event. Stay tuned. It's on!

Read more...

Kassie Mitchell is the yarn bomber of Sixth Avenue in Tacoma.

But you probably knew that, right?

OK, so the delightfully mysterious "yarn bomber" isn't probably such a mystery anymore. For those not in the know (yet), the yarn bomber is responsible for crafting the colorful and whimsical crocheted "bike-rack sweaters" that have punctuated the business district since mid-August. Topped with funky and fresh embellishments like crocheted hot dogs and other nibbles, the bike-rack sweaters have captured the delight of many Tacomans. Mitchell's Facebook page has legions of fans, including the 6th Avenue Business District, which adores her work.

Naturally, one would suspect that the yarn bomber would be a rather unconventional sort of gal. You're right. But what is more interesting is how unconventional I became during a visit with the bomber over brews at The Red Hot. All of my journalistic conventions went flying out the window like a tossed ball of yarn.

It was good thing.

We started out talking about beer. Beer is a good thing, too.

Read more...

THURSDAY, SEPT. 12 2013 >>>

1. The Pacific Northwest is a haven for indie music and representation from Portland to Olympia and Tacoma to Everett will represent at this year's Squeak and Squawk Music Festival, which opens today and runs through Monday. There are two shows a day: At 6 p.m., all-ages performances take place at the Library at Sanford and Son Antiques followed up with 9 p.m. shows at The New Frontier Lounge for those 21 and over. The festival kicks off at 6 p.m. with The Fame Riot, Xylophones and J. Martin in the Library, and the 9 p.m. evening show at The New Frontier features I Like Science, Week of Wonder and People Under the Sun.

2. How does this sound: fashion, wine, food, giveaways and an auction and raffle with some fab items? Sounds fun, yes? Envy boutique is proud to play host to "Envy's Girls Night Out" - a benefit auction and raffle from 5 to 8 p.m. Sip wine, nosh on yummy eats, shop until you drop, and enjoy Envy's unique items and sweet deals. The best part? One-hundred percent of the auction and raffle proceeds benefit South Sound Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, "The Breast Savers."

3. If you're a dedicated Volcano reader or fan of local literature, you've devoured the Southern-fried fiction of our own Mr. Alec Clayton. His fall 2012 release Return to Freedom, a sequel to 2010's The Backside of Nowhere, finds its Mississippian characters reeling from the aftermath of a deadly hurricane. Also, and we hope we're not being too glib or immature about this, but it features hot MILFs making out. Unwilling to settle for a mere, mundane book signing, Alec prefers to cast local actors in readers' theater adaptations of his scenes. He calls his cadre of thespians the Freedom Players, and they're performing at 7:30 p.m. in the Olympia Timberline Timberland Library.

4. Olympia Little Theatre stages Neil Simon's Last of the Red Hot Lovers, at 7:55 p.m. It's set in December 1969, the same month the play opened on Broadway, and it follows the adventures of Barney, a middle-aged husband, as he attempts to cheat on his wife with three different women. What keeps this nebbish from being despicable is his amorous ineptitude - no spoilers, but his fourth time's the charm - and the fact that he really just wants to learn what's so fantastic about the Sexual Revolution. Read Christian Carvajal's full review of Last of the Red Hot Lovers in the Music and Culture section.

5. Danny Barnes and Matt Sircely return from far-flung escapades to perform in Olympia at 9 p.m. in the Pig Bar. After 10 years of friendship, Barnes and Sircely began touring this year, stretching the full length of the West Coast from Los Angeles to Port Angeles, and as far east as Moscow (Idaho). One outing resulted in a live recording that will be available in cassette format at the event.

LINK: Thursday, Sept. 12 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

With bargain hunters lining the block, Olympia's newest thrift store was packed during its grand opening celebration Thursday, Sept. 5.

Located at 534 Capitol Way S., next to Starbucks, blue, a Goodwill boutique, welcomed hundreds of shoppers in its first few hours.

Despite a 40-minute wait in the checkout line, while other shoppers crammed and browsed the 2000 square-foot store, many items flew off the shelves, and customers walked away satisfied.

"I found a wonderful top and a crystal urn. I'm very happy," said shopper Carol Irey.

"We had a nice rack of Ugg boots that did not last," laughed Christine Murphy, aka Gabby Goodwill, the store's social network fashionista.

But fear not dear consumer, a rotation of deeply-discounted, high-end clothes and accessories, vintage knick knacks and classy décor will be at your fingertips - blue receives two to three truckloads of goods per week.

Retail profits fund free job training and job placement efforts in Thurston County.

blue is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

See Also

blue in Tacoma