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October 6, 2011 at 2:45pm

WEEKEND HUSTLE: Oly Fall Arts Walk, Oktoberfest Northwest, Celebration of Western & Wildlife Art, Fall Free For All, Rebecca Howard Mural Celebration, Tacoma Murals Dedication and more ...

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

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Rain likely, hi 56, lo 50

Saturday: Cloudy, hi 61, lo 49

Sunday: Rain, hi 58, lo 48

>>> OCT. 7-8: OLYMPIA FALL ARTS WALK

Olympia's Arts Walk happens twice a year, but the fall edition has always been the little sister, bundled up and toting her umbrella, not as glamorous as spring's costumed, sandaled walk. This time around, though, the autumn version of Arts Walk has grown to two days. Waterproof gear is still a good precaution, but there's twice as much time to see the art. There are also more businesses participating (106 compared to last fall's 101) and performances happening both days. Besides visual art, music, dance and street performance, Arts Walk offers the chance to see and be seen. And many participating businesses offer snacks, desserts and even wine. (That's not listed in the guide, though; think of it as a scavenger hunt of sorts.) Click here to discover some of the outrageous offerings. - MG

  • Downtown Olympia, Friday, Oct. 7 from 5 to 10 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 8 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., free throughout downtown Olympia, 360.753.8380

>>> OCT. 7-9: OKTOBERFEST NORTHWEST

You totally need more excuses to drink beer. That gut and that child support payment shouldn't stop you now. This weekend in Puyallup, slurp down all the brew you can stomach at the 7th annual Oktoberfest Northwest. In addition to the obvious beer, expect tons of food (read: brats, pretzels) and tons of authentic entertainment (read: polka). Still not sold? Did we mention the Hammerschlagen? The wiener dog races?  The hats?

  • Puyallup Fair & Events Center, 11 a.m. - midnight Friday - Saturday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday, free on Friday 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Regular Price after 3pm on Friday and all day Saturday $10, Sunday $5, Children 12 and under free all weekend, 110 Ninth Ave. SW, Puyallup, oktoberfestnw.com

>>> OCT. 7-9: CELEBRATION OF WESTERN & WILDLIFE ART

Wait just a freakin' second! You mean to tell us Oktoberfest Northwest AND the Fred Oldfield (his name LITERALLY has the world "old" right in it)-powered Celebration of Western & Wildlife Art Show and Sale will both be at the Puyallup Fairgrounds this weekend? Simultaneously? Like, right next to one another? Jesus. This is almost too good to be true. Oldfield's Celebration of Western & Wildlife Art Show and Sale includes auctions, free wine and cheese for all, the Rainier 2 Cylinder Tractor Club and more paintings of cattle and horses than you can shake a stick at. And don't sleep on "pioneer spinning" with Mickey Pederson.

  • Puyallup Fair & Events Center  - enter through the Gold Gate, 3 p.m. - 10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sunday,  110 Ninth Ave. SW, Puyallup, fredoldfieldcenter.org

>>> OCT. 8-9: FALL FREE FOR ALL

As the old proverb suggest, the only thing better than a community arts festival boasting more than 75 awesome events and activities for the entire family is a completely FREE community arts festival boasting more than 75 awesome events and activities for the entire family. Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner. This weekend's Fall Free For All offers all of the above and the proverbial bag of chips. If you have yet to introduce yourself with Tacoma's awesome Theatre District, now's your chance. Wristbands, free but required for entry to Fall Free For All events, are available through the Broadway Center's box office by calling 253.591.5894. Be sure to check out the performance by Drew Grow and The Pastors Wives Saturday night. Find all the info you need right here.

  • Theater District, Saturday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., free, broadwaycenter.org, Tacoma, 253.591.5894

>>> OCT. 8: REBECCA HOWARD MURAL CELEBRATION

If you've been kicking around downtown Olympia lately you've no doubt been impressed by the Rebecca Howard Mural taking shape on the side of the Bread Peddler. Howard is credited as one of Olympia's very first business women, in the 1860s. She was also African American. Howard was the owner, cook and manager of the Pacific House, described by historians as a popular restaurant and hotel back in Olympia's early heyday. This year the Olympia Downtown Association and the Olympia Heritage Commission, along with historians Shanna Stevenson and Lynn Erickson, have made it their duty to make Howard's story more well-known. The mural, brought to life by local sign-master Ira Coyne and fellow artists Vince Ryland, Arthur Crews, Sara Calland, and Christopher Ross, is all part of that plan. Saturday, from 10 a.m. - noon the Rebecca Howard Mural will be celebrated. Get in on that action.

  • The Bread Peddler, 10 a.m. - noon, 222 Capitol Way, Olympia

>>> OCT. 8: TACOMA MURALS PROJECT DEDICATION & BBQ

Speaking of murals, the Tacoma Murals Project will dedicate and celebrate this year's additions Saturday at Bergerson Terrace, the site of one of this year's coolest new pieces of community art. Part of Tacoma's Safe and Clean effort, and an initiative of the Graffiti Reduction Through Community Based Art team associated with Safe and Clean, the Tacoma Murals Project bills itself as an effort that, "joins artists and communities through the collaborative process of mural-making to create powerful artworks that can transform public spaces, neighborhood identities, and individual lives." So far, so true. Saturday's event will include City of Tacoma Arts Jedi Amy McBride, Michael Power from the Tacoma Housing Authority and a whole slew of artists. Plus, you can get up close and personal with the new Bergerson Terrace mural - which is pretty sweet.

  • Bergerson Terrace, 4 p.m., free, 5305 S. Orchard St.,  tacomaarts.wordpress.com

>>> OCT. 8: HELLA EFFICIENT LIGHTBULBS

We know our demographic. We know the masses reading this are going to get a huge charge to learn Tacoma Power will be throwing three upcoming events designed to promote energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (yay!), including exchanging CFL light bulbs for old, non-energy efficient bulbs (double yay!). Saturday at Home Depot on Tacoma Mall Blvd. Tacoma Power will throw the first such event, offering attendees the ability to exchange up to five incandescent bulbs for life CFLs, buy qualified CFLs and get one free (up to 10) and enjoy "fun activities related to energy-efficient lighting." Future events will be held Oct. 15 at the Home Depot on Center Street in Tacoma, and Nov. 5 at the Lowe's on Orchard Street in Tacoma.

  • Home Depot, 7050 Tacoma Mall Blvd., Tacoma  

>>> WHERE OUR STAFF IS GOING

ALEC CLAYTON Visual Arts Critic
My most excellent plans are to go to Pugstock Saturday night. That's a benefit party/performance for Oly actor/director Pug Bujold. And Sunday is the candidate forum at PFLAG-Olympia where we get to hear all of the political candidates tell us why we should vote for them.

BRETT CIHON Meat Market Correspondent/Features Writer
I continue my string of atypical meat markets this weekend with a stop at 1022 South. I love the change of scenery, but wonder if I'm starting to get dance floor withdrawals.

NIKKI TALOTTA Features Writer
My weekend prediction: I will be relishing in the fact that I was drawn onstage at the Emerald Queen Casino for a chance to audition for Wheel of Fortune. I will have kicked everybody's ass during the practice round, guessing the correct phrase after only two letters. There will then be copious amounts of bragging to friends about how I'm flying to LA to meet Vanna White and win tens of thousands of dollars. *Sigh* I hope it comes true...

CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL: Theater Critic
We're attending a benefit for a friend and writing thank you cards for our recent wedding celebration. My wife has Monday off (banker's hours), so I might even find time to make out with her.

REV. ADAM MCKINNEY: Music Writer
Friday, I'll be attending Basemint's first show in quite a while. But earlier that day, I'll be helping to make a ridiculous amount of pretzels for my Saturday activity, Maltoberfest.

JOANN VARNELL: Theater Critic
It is the Fall Free for All and I have procurred wrist bands for myself and my little son and some excellent friends. The husband is running sound and performing Saturday at 9:30 with Tad Monroe. I *might* be performing with my husband and Tad but I am mostly excited for Kellie Schaeffer and Drew Grow! Hurray for Portlanders who are practically Tacomans!!

JENNIFER JOHNSON: Food & Lifestyles Writer
Kayaking Friday if the weather takes a startling turn for the warmer. In reality, going to all of the downtown museums, having lunch at Pacific Grill, and then hitting the conservatory at Wright Park with visiting family members. Saturday I'll take the sisters to hot yoga at Expand Yoga and then have a Pampered Chef luncheon party. In the evening I'm heading to Gig Harbor for dinner at JW Restaurant. Sunday- church, family time, Pt Defiance Zoo. Somewhere in there I will do a week's worth of math homework, write a paper on Hamlet and one on the possible parallels between today's social and governmental climate and post-revolutionary colonial days in America.

STEPH DEROSA: Person, Place or Thing Corespondent
As you read this, my beloved 10-month-old Boxer puppy will be having surgery to repair his broken femur.  Unfortunately this surgery requires pins, screws and steel rods and costs a few thousand dollars.  In order to pay for this surgery, this weekend I will be panhandling on various Tacoma street corners.  In my spare time I plan to possibly hang out with Melanie Rushforth and take in a few parties.  I hear the DyDD Trampires have already begun the jello shots and melanie has found the perfect push-up bra.

STEVE DUNKELBERGER Meat Market Photographer
The boss has me shooting the Tacoma Film Fest Thursday, MaltoberFest at the Java Jive Saturday, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame action on Sunday.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

October 5, 2011 at 1:44pm

One-Minute Interview: Medi's new Thursday open mic

Mike Coucoules / Photo credit: Steve Dunkelberger

Q & A WITH MIKE COUCOULES >>>

For some reason, society expects people under 21 to attend horrible, melodramatic poetry readings and open-mic nights where people dwell on their pathetic lives by reading their journal entries to an audience that doesn't care. And like it. While this phenomenon can't be explained, there are ways around the harsh reality of it.

Add Mike Coucoules.

The funny and talented Tacoma musician, who can be seen playing bass in the Malcolm Clark Band, will host a new Thursday night acoustic open mic in the spot where sold amps for seven years - the former Sluggo Music building. Now called Medi's Pizza & Pasta - which serves awesome Italian grub at reasonable prices - the Sixth Avenue joint has found something to occupy its tiny corner stage below the old Sluggo Music sign.

Thanks to Mike Coucoules.

Coucoules will host the lively all-ages open mic for acoustic musicians and spoken wordsmiths every Thursday beginning at 8:30 p.m. Expect many one-liners from the host.

I threw a couple of questions at Coucoules.

WEEKLY VOLCANO: Do you miss working at Sluggo?

MIKE COUCOULES: I do - very much. I miss working with musicians, learning from them, as well as teaching them the things I've learned from years of being in bands and selling gear, which I did for nearly 20 years in a number of music stores.

VOLCANO: It's said everyone in the local music scene shopped at Sluggo.

COUCOULES: It was my analog Facebook. Everyone came into Sluggo sooner or latter. It was a pro shop, with full support to our costumers. Giving them service, beyond just the sale. I loaded the amps in and out of cars. We repaired items at cost if it came from the store.

VOLCANO: Sounds as if you were a full-service shop.

COUCOULES: And then some. I had a list of musicians' phone numbers. I' d give them out to bands looking for players.

VOLCANO: Did you shop at Sluggo?

COUCOULES: I bought my first bass from the owner Jack in the early '70s when he worked for Plaza Music in Lakewood, and depended on him all the 34 years he had Sluggo.

[Medi's Pizza & Pasta, Thursday acoustic open mic, 8:30-11:30 p.m., all ages until 10 p.m., no cover, hand drums are cool, 2710 Sixth Ave., Tacoma]

LINK: Our review of Medi's food

October 5, 2011 at 10:01am

Tonight: One stroke, two sips, one stroke, two sips ...

Previous proud painters and their paintings at Uncorked Canvas.

BRILLIANT! >>>

Ever noticed how tiresome co-workers can sour Hump Day drinks? Skip the bar and head instead to Uncorked Canvas's Wednesday night wine and painting get-together. Beginning at 6 p.m., you'll complete a simple painting project with an instructor while tasting wines and munching on food.

Awesome, huh?

As a change of pace, Gig's Harbor's Uncorked Canvas will head off-site hosting tonight's event at Cork Wine Bar in Tacoma. The $40 all-inclusive price costs less than a round for your bosses, plus you'll have something to show for your efforts. Recent Uncork Canvas projects included paintings of poppies and the Narrows Bridge, we imagine both of which still look great to the artists after the wine buzz wore off.

Can you say the same for that guy in marketing?

Register for tonight's event here. If we were you, we'd call 253.432.4052 to make sure there's space.

[Cork Wine Bar, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 6 p.m., $40, 606 N. State St., Tacoma]

LINK: Uncorked Canvas website

Filed under: Arts, Food & Drink, Tacoma, Community,

October 1, 2011 at 10:04am

SHORT ORDER: New winery at Proctor Farmers Market, Inferno's party, Hip Chicks Do Wine ...

Drink Hip Chick's wine today in downtown Tacoma.

SOUTH SOUND DINING NEWS, NIBBLES AND SIPS >>>

Proctor Farmers Market: FairWinds winery joins the vendors offering wine samples while Chuck Wayne and Kristen Mellis perform.

Grand Opening: Inferno's Brick Oven Pizza in Lacey is having its Grand Opening today. Expect prizes, food and drink specials and a raffle at 8825 Tallon Lane just past Costco on Martin way East.

Beer Tasting: 99 Bottles in Federal Way will pour Alaskan Brewing Co. beers - including the limited-release Perseverance Stout, brewed with birch syrup and fireweed honey - from 4-6 p.m. today.

Wine Tasting: Abby's On Broadway will pour tastes of Hip Chicks Do Wine Winery's 2009 Pinot Gris, Drop Dead Red, Wine Bunny Rouge, 2007 Whole Berry Cabernet Sauvignon and Vin Nombril from 4-8 p.m. today.

Video: Gritty City Food does Valhalla Coffee here.

LINK: Wine tastings today in the South Sound

October 1, 2011 at 7:57am

5 Things To Do Today: Fall Harvest Farm Tour, 24-Hour Comics Day, Oktoberfest, Rocktoberfest and more ...

Stop by Terry's Berries during the Fall Harvest Farm Tour.

SATURDAY, OCT. 1, 2011 >>>

1, A bevy of local Pierce County farms will take part in a joint vision brought to you by the WSU Extension, Pierce County Conservation District and Cascade Harvest Coalition: the HarvestFest 2011 Farm Tour. Expect farm tours (naturally), chef demos, wine tasting, hayrides, corn mazes and all the like - in addition to plenty of learning. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., experience local farms from the Puyallup Valley to Orting and beyond, including Picha Farms and Terry's Berries in P-Town, Sholz Farm and Tahoma Farms in Orting, and Blue Willow Lavender Farm on the Key Peninsula. For more info visit county.wsu.edu/king/agriculture/harvestcelebration.

2. Yelm Farm and Pet will host a "Pink Pancake Breakfast" from 9 a.m. to noon as part of Purina's second annual "Pink 50 Campaign," an effort to unite animal lovers everywhere and raise awareness and support for breast cancer research through the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

3. Beginning at 10 a.m. members of the CLAW (Cartoonists' League of Absurdist Washingtonians) will gather at Comic Book Ink to celebrate 24 Hour Comics Day, challenging themselves once again to complete a 24 page comic in only 24 hours. The event benefits CLAW's scholarship fund, raising money to help students with a passion for cartooning pay for things like tuition, books or art supplies. Local cartoonists RR Anderson is said to be planning a Wyatt James Boy Detective entry. Consider yourself warned.

4. The Weekly Volcano would travel to the ends of the earth for a savory helping of local craft brews and soft pretzels. We've proven it before. But thankfully, from 2-10 p.m. we only need to go as far as Tacoma's Opera Alley. Presented by the Triangle Business District, Amocat Café and The Mix, Oktoberfest Tacoma will feature local craft beer, pretzels, a pie-eating contest, chainsaw pumpkin carving and more.

5. The guys over at NWCZ Radio have claimed the first night of the month at Hell's Kitchen as Rocktoberfest - a night of devil horns and fist pounding (and beer pounding). Expect crushing sets from local-favorites Mahnhammer, Dethproof, Parlooka, Fox and the Law, Burn the Harbor and headliner, The Screaming Starts, beginning at 6 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: A bunch of wine tastings

September 30, 2011 at 11:35am

Oktoberfest Insider's Tips with Herr Alexander

Let's hope this doesn't happen tomorrow in Opera Alley.

OKTOBERFEST TACOMA >>>

Beer! Pretzels! Beer! Pumpkin carving! Beer! Pie-eating contest! Beer! Yo-Yo Man! Beer! Tomorrow's Oktoberfest Tacoma has all of these fine things, but, most importantly, it has beer. Lots of beer. For a complete list of beers, check out our earlier blog post on the event.

I dropped by Amocat Café this morning to grab Oktoberfest Tacoma insider's tips from organizer Morgan Alexander. He came up with three tips.

Tip #1: Get your tickets early. It's like getting free beer. Tickets are $12 through Brown Paper Tickets, Amocat Café or 99 Bottles in Federal Way. Tickets are $18 at the event. The ticket includes five generous tastings.

Tip #2: If you like free pie, register for the pie-eating contest. The pies will be either blackberry or blueberry. And first pie finished wins a prize.

Tip #3: Get to the event early - the first 100 receive free collectors buttons for the event, which were designed by James Stowe.

[Opera Alley, Saturday, Oct. 1, 2-10 p.m., $12-$18 includes five tastings, Seventh and Opera Alley, downtown Tacoma, oktoberfesttacoma.com]

September 29, 2011 at 8:12am

MORNING SPEW: Teachers have deal, free coffee, Great pick-up lines in science ...

Heeeeeeeeey, Broham.

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Three-Year Deal: Tacoma School Board ratified a teacher contract in a unanimous vote. (News Tribune)

Free Coffee: Oh Thank Heaven until 11 a.m. (SPEW)

They're No Michael Scott: Coverage of the action at the 14th Annual Forklift Rodeo in downtown Tacoma. (News Tribune)

It's About Time: FDA increases cantaloupe checks. (CNN)

Hipsters On TV: A retrospective from Fonzie to "Portlandia." (Flavorwire)

Oh Good Lord: First social TV network debuts. (Koldcast)

The Office: What's the future of Dunder Mifflin. (TV Guide)

Riveting: Watch Ad-Rock from the Beastie Boys make a PB&J. (Grub Street)

Great pick-up lines in science

September 29, 2011 at 7:08am

5 Things To Do Today: "26 Feet of Art," Swedish pancake demo, Oktoberbreast, Strangled Darlings and more ...

Artwork by Bill Bray and Rhett Thomas Nelson are included in the "26 Feet of Art" online auction with a reception tonight at the Washington Center in Olympia.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 29, 2011 >>>

1. For the always popular 26 Feet of Art (and the accompanying online auction), 26 artists have contributed a 12"x12" piece of artwork to be displayed in the Washington Center's lobby and gallery. From 5:30-9 p.m., a reception and wine tasting will get things off to a good start, kicking off the Washington Center's CenterFest Celebration 2011. The 26 Feet of Art online auction will run through Arts Walk and close Oct. 9.

2. Garfield Book Company hosts a Scandinavian Social Hour featuring a Swedish pancake-making demonstration at 6 p.m. Afterward, everyone will try to put together furniture from IKEA.

3. Oktoberbreast – a Breast Cancer Awareness Month kick-off event with the Breast Cancer Resource Center featuring educational materials, food, DJ, no host beer and wine, fire dancers and more - will happen from 6-10 p.m. at the Puyallup Fairgrounds.

4. "Imagine Tom Waits and Jack White drinking in a Romani dive bar, then haphazardly mixing DNA. That miracle baby might resemble PDX art-folk group Strangled Darlings. Using an arsenal of old-time instruments the group wades through a spooky realm of melting-pot Americana that resembles Waits' music, minus the Cookie Monster growl." The Willamette Week in Portland wrote that ditty about the Strangled Darlings, the band that will perform at 8 p.m. inside The Spar in downtown Olympia.

5. DJ Aaron Mack spins alternative 80s and beyond beginning at 9 p.m. inside The Acme Grub Cage.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Thursday Nightlife It List

September 28, 2011 at 5:02pm

COMMENT OF THE DAY: Babblin Babs gets more props

ONLINE CHATTER >>>

Today's comment comes from Derrick in response to our restaurant listing for Babblin Babs Bistro in Tacoma's Proctor District.

Derrick writes,

Babblin Bab's is the best breakfast in Tacoma bar none. Service can be spotty, but who gives a damn, if the food is this good?

September 28, 2011 at 1:06pm

Cheap Thursday: CofFREE Day

PLAN AHEAD >>>

You know how the marketing jingle goes. "Oh Thank Heaven for 7-Eleven." On National Coffee Day, if you let yourself ignore your rewards cards for a moment, it couldn't be truer.

Tomorrow between 7 and 11 a.m., 7-Eleven celebrates National Coffee Day with "CofFREE Day," which means the convenience store will dole out free medium cups of coffee while supplies last.

You in? How will you spend National Coffee Day?

Filed under: Food & Drink, Olympia, Tacoma,

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