WEDNESDAY, NOV. 17>>>

1. Add "slam" to almost anything and it becomes just a little cooler. In truth, however, the event planned for tonight at the Rialto Theater in Tacoma - Art Slam - really doesn't need anything to spice it up. Expect art of all kinds, coming at you from all directions. Expect projected works by the likes of RR Anderson, Laurie Davenport, Brad Dinsmore, Carla Barragan, Shirley Benton, Colleen Black and a ton of others. Expect live spoken word, music and dance from Antonio Edwards Jr., Josh Rizeberg, Elliot Trotter, Dawn De Castillo, Tammy Robacker and - yes - more. It's non-competitive, super-awesome, and it starts at 7 p.m.

2. Join author Judith Adler Hellman at the University of Puget Sound's Wheelock Student Center for a lecture on Mexican immigration. The author of three books on Mexico, Hellman's lecture is titled, "The Real World of Mexican Migrants," and will provided insights into the experiences immigrants from Mexico face in this country - from the trip itself to work in an "informal economy."

3. Duane Hulbert performs the Piano Concerto No.4. tonight at Tacoma Community College. Busting out two of Beethoven's most impressive works, the Grammy nominated UPS piano professor will be joined by the TCC Orchestra, who will hold their own with Symphony No. 5 in c minor.

4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 hits theaters Friday. In fact, the Volcano's film critic Rev. Adam McKinney has already seen it - with his review scheduled to run in tomorrow's paper. Tonight, The Brave Foundation hosts what sounds like an epic Harry Potter themed celebration at the Temple Theater in Tacoma. From 6:30-9:30 p.m., costume contests, prizes, guest appearances, total geek outs, and a showing of the previous Harry Potter flick will rile the masses in anticipation of Deathly Hallows' debut.

5. Get your groove on close to the water tonight, as DJ Contagious spins at Rock the Dock's "Old School College Wednesdays."

1. National Geographic does more than just put out those yellow magazines with pictures from far-away places. They also produce an array of public programs, including the one heading for the Washington Center for the Performing Arts tonight. Join Emmy award-winner Michael Davis, billed as "one of today's freshest voices in documentary filmmaking," to discuss both is work - including films about war refugees in the Balkans and child soldiers in Africa - to his past, a child refugee himself from civil war in Rhodesia (modern day Zimbabwe).

2. The Washington State Arts Alliance busts out an advocacy training workshop today at the Museum of Glass. It's called "Fill Your Toolbox: Advocating for Arts & Culture." Chances are, if you go you'll learn something.

3. Score more "Free Shorts" today at the Olympia Film Festival with the second installment of the traditional happening. Today, some unconventional animation, an aging cupid and some inspirational surfers. Starts at 4 p.m.

4. Like reading, but hate to be called a square? Try hanging out with Tacoma's infamous Banned Book Club - it meets tonight at 7 p.m. at the Tempest on Hilltop. November's controversial selection is Truth & Beauty: A Friendship by Ann Patchett.

5. It's Trivia Tuesday at Paddy Coyne's in downtown Tacoma. Teams of two - six (so if you only have ONE friend, you can still play!) will match trivia wits starting at 7 p.m. There's a $2 entry fee per person, but the winning team is handsomely rewarded.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

ANOTHER PUB QUIZ NIGHT IN TACOMA >>>

Is your head just crammed with useless information? Like music trivia? Got an affinity for beer and bar food? Well, bunkie, you just hit the trifecta, because the The Ram Restaurant & Brewery is the site of John Dicker's Geeks Who Drink pub quiz night. Dicker, a genius from Colorado, has taken the Irish Pub quiz tradition to a new level with Geeks Who Drink games across the nation, including every Wednesday night at the Tacoma waterfront sports bar.

The quiz consists of eight rounds of eight questions and is played in teams of up to six people. Questions are read aloud by the quizmaster; teams write their answers on provided sheets and turn them in at the end of each round. The team with the most points after eight rounds is the winner.

Geeks Who Drink quizzes are also unique in that they include two rounds of audio questions - like name that tune, but with some bite. Examples: Songs We Lost Our Virginity To in The 1990s, Top 40 hits Butchered by David Hasslehoff, Disco Classics in German. ... 

Four times during the quiz, participants get the chance to answer a random question, and the first one to show the correct (and legible) answer to the quizmaster wins a free drink and bragging rights for the night.

Finally, your disturbingly thorough knowledge of ‘70s prog rock drum solos will pay off.

Geeks Who Drink

Wednesdays, 8:30 p.m., no cost to play
The Ram Restaurant & Brewery
3001 Ruston Way, Tacoma
253.756.7886

LINK: Last week's results

ZOMBIE PREPAREDNESS

The stench of rotting flesh is in the air.. Oh wait, it's just that pumpkin decomposing on my front porch. Either way, it reminds me that it's only a matter of time before mobs of decaying corpses roam the streets searching for live bodies to feast on.

The zombie apocalypse is inevitable, and while I'd recommend boarding your windows, hoarding canned food and playing hours of Resident Evil, it won't be enough to save your ass when doomsday comes. It's time to learn some zombie combat skills.

Lucky for you! Tacoma Tactical is hosting a zombie preparedness training course this Friday and Saturday night, all as part of National Zombie Apocalypse Awareness Month (no joke). For just five bucks you'll be put into a realistic zombie fighting scenario. Think paintball meets Zombie Land.   You can rely on your Jedi-mind tricks to defeat the enemy, or just the Airsoft guns (replica firearms that shoot plastic pellets) that will be available to rent. I'm going to keep it old school with their shotgun model.

This is also the perfect opportunity for you to organize your post-apocalypse army. I don't buy that "every man for himself" bullshit. Your alliances will be key to surviving a flesh-annihilating epidemic.

Now is the time to combine forces with your girlfriend, boyfriend, or that hot girl/guy you see every morning on the light-rail (basically, anyone you think you can tolerate in a confined bunker for however long an apocalypse lasts). Make the most of this opportunity and keep in mind that while many a fool will be out getting bombed on Jaegermeister, you will be acquiring the skills and know-how to protect yourself, your loved ones, and the hot light-rail chick from impending zombie attacks. 

Zombie Preparedness Training Course

OCT. 29 - 30, 6 p.m. - midnight

810 E F ST, Tacoma, WA 98421

253.345.1471

Tacomatactical.com

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 6, 2010 >>>

1. More than 40 of the fabulous Proctor businesses will offer free treats and/or discounts on chocolate items today through Saturday as part of the Proctor Chocolate Fest. May we suggest the brownie bites at Megs & Mo, and the $4 chocolate martini at Pomodoro.

2. At the Hilltop Artists Annual Fundraiser Breakfast you will learn more about organizations highly effective programs directly from the students. The muffins drop at 7:30 p.m. inside the Temple Theatre.

3. The Brotherhood Lounge has a variety of music and entertainment, from the best Elvis impersonator in the world, to dance parties, to rock ‘n' roll. It's awesome. What's even more awesome is their free, must-see aerialist performance the first Wednesday of every month. If you are not familiar with what aerialists do, think gymnastics on the ceiling. Check it out tonight at 8 p.m.

4. Dave Hannon Band, Bodybox and Gina Belliveau rock the freshly-painted Bob's Java Jive beginning at 8 p.m.

5. The New Frontier Lounge hosts Rock & Roll Bingo beginning at 9:30 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

MAIDEN VOYAGE >>>

Last Sunday, I threw on my Zelda T-shirt and headed out to attend Comic Book Ink's 24 Hour Comic Book Day. The event, which is in its second year, was organized by C.L.A.W. (the Cartoonists' League of Absurd Washingtonians) in order to raise money for their student scholarship fund.  Amateur and professional illustrators alike were invited to participate in the challenge: to complete a 24-page comic book within 24 hours.  The madness started at 10 a.m. Saturday morning and didn't conclude until the same time Sunday.

I, freshly established intern and comic-book novice, arrived during the final hours (7 a.m.-ish on Sunday) hoping to learn a little about how comic books are created, but more hoping to see grown men in full fantasy costume. 

This was my first time ever in a comic book store.  And I have to admit I've made fun of those who are "into that sort of thing." Generally, I lump them in the same category as those who dress up for Harry Potter movies, and those who prefer hentai to real porn.  But, I was ready to cast aside all previous judgments and explore the comic book world with an open mind.   

I entered Comic Book Ink and took in the enormous wall of colorful action figures, realistic Spiderman weaponry, and a long line of comic books.  At 7 a.m. it appeared as though I'd missed most of the action (and all of the spandex).

C.L.A.W. member Mark Monolux

I was immediately greeted by a very friendly and enthusiastic staff. I'm not sure if their enthusiasm spurred from their love of the Weekly Volcano or if having a female want to talk to them was just that much of a rarity. Comic Book Ink owner, John Munn, gave me a quick tour around the mostly empty shop, telling me, "The party peaked at around 3 a.m. with about 25 people, which was a lot more than last year."

"The whole point of the event is to raise money," Munn continued. Between a crystal skull mug stuffed with small bills and a Paypal account setup for donations, C.L.A.W. had already raised a total of $734.40 - more than doubling last year's total. The donations are granted to students attending or just graduating art school.

The biggest draw of the event, besides the warm fuzzy feeling of donating to a good cause, was watching the comic writers at work. Several tables were lined up in a large corner of the store, and in the 22nd hour only five comic writers remained. They sat diligently sketching on electronic pads and drawing in notebooks, pausing only for coffee, and also, thankfully, to talk with me.

James Stowe, freelance illustrator and full-time cake designer ("If you've bought a cake at DQ, chances are I designed it," he told me.) set up a live feed on Ustream so anyone interested could watch his comic scenes unfold.  Stowe took suggestions through the website, Mad-libs style. Some creative suggestions he incorporated into his storyline included: "bearded dragon" and "wedgie corset."

Guest star Clayton Crain, best known for his work on Ghost Rider: Road to Damnation, Venom vs. Carnage and Sensational Spider-Man (vol. 2), according to a quick Wikipedia search, labored out a tedious design for an upcoming Marvel comic book. Just how tedious? He'd cranked out three pages in 22 hours.  But it was three pages of the most graphically intricate work I've ever seen.

So, what did I learn from my maiden exploration into the comic book world? Are comic book writers nerds? Hell yes. Probably the nerdiest of nerds. But DAMN, are they talented. These guys are imaginative writers, talented illustrators and masters of technology for the medium.

Intern Julie Holt punches a Comic Book Ink employee.

The bottom line: If you missed this year's Comic Book Ink marathon, make sure you mark next year's calendar. The talent is beyond, the action figures aplenty, and tights and capes are optional ... but highly encouraged (by me).

CAST YOUR COCKTAIL VOTE TONIGHT >>>

How's this for mixing it up on a Wednesday night? Toscanos Café and Wine Bar in Puyallup needs your help finalizing their fall cocktail menu. They invite the public to sample their new drinks tonight from 5-9 p.m., then mark your favorites on a ballot. At last, your vote really matters. Help Toscanos bring democracy to drinking.

LINK: Happy hours!

FAST CARS AND ICE CREAM >>>

Back when arcades were overrun with burnouts, jeans tucked into their high-tops, I'd seek out the Elevator Action arcade game at Space Port on "The Ave." Between classes at UW, I played an agent whose goal was to dart through a building grabbing secrets from behind red doors. I dodged, shot or kicked spies and rode the elevator to my getaway car in the basement. The colors were dull, and movement was a bit mechanical. The tech part was shooting out the lights, flipping the screen to midnight blue.

Today, arcades are filled with 12th-level demigods and geeky hoodrats playing virtual anything. And thanks to the recently opened Dorky's Bar Arcade in downtown Tacoma, arcades are also filled with beer (although the beer is not pouring yet at Dorky's).

Dorky's opened over the weekend and already a challenge has been thrown down. Tacoma attorney Erik Bjornson - under the name "ACE" – has racked up 169,335 points on Dorky's Spy Hunter game. For those who actually studied during the '80s instead of hanging out in arcades, you migtht not know that this driving combat game puts the player in a spy vehicle complete with machine guns and missiles in the front, and oil slicks and smoke screens out the back. And when the road ends and water begins, the automobile of this vertical-scrolling driving adventure turns into a speedboat - all with the Peter Gunn theme in the background.

"Are any members of your hipster entourage sober enough to beat my score on Spy Hunter at Dorky's?" Bjornson challenged the Weekly Volcano readers, calling them "hipsters" for the 1000th time.

If you beat his high score before Oct. 19, Bjornson will award you $35 worth of ice cream from Jeff's Ice Cream.

Bjornson's challenge might prove difficult in more ways than one. Everyone knows drunken hipsters hate ice cream.

Dorky's Bar Arcade

Ninth and Pacific Avenue, Tacoma

MONDAY, SEPT. 20, 2010 >>>

1. The Classic Greek Theater of Oregon stages Oedipus, the King with elements of classic Japanese kabuki at 7:30 p.m. inside Schneebeck Concert Hall on the University of Puget Sound campus - for free.

2. Puyallup Fair gate admission is free to active, reserve, and retired military and their dependents, and disabled veterans from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

3. Historian and author Drew Crooks will tell three strange tales of old Olympia at noon inside the State Capital Museum. Copies of Olympia, Washington: A People's History, edited by Crooks, will be available for signing.

4. The Tacoma Cult Movie Club will screen films around the theme "In space no one can hear you sue" at 7 p.m. inside the Acme Grub Cage. Watch films, trailers, shorts, serials, and participate in a raffle with a bunch of like-minded wackos.

5. The Mix hosts Monday Night Barstool Bingo at 9 p.m. featuring prizes and host Charles aka Jerrica.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

SUNDAY, SEPT. 19, 2010 >>>

1. Avast, me hearties! If one day a year - Sept. 19's Talk Like a Pirate Day - is not enough time for channeling your inner pirate, then perhaps you belong at the Tacoma Little Theatre. These rascally representatives present Bryan Willis 30 minutes of piratical madness, I Love You, Flavilla, at 7:30 and 9 p.m. So track down your ruffled shirt, peg leg, eye patch and parrot, because anyone dresses as a pirate receives a half-price discount. Yarrr!

2. The Artist Craft Fair is an exhibition and sale of handmade alternative arts and crafts from independent artists presented by Tacoma Is For Lovers, Indie Tacoma and King's Books. The fair, which runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. inside King's Books, will feature rows and row of arts, crafts, jewelry, letterpress prints, T-shirts and a photo booth.

3. Preston Singletary's Echoes, Fire, and Shadows show at the Museum of Glass closes today. It was a huge show. Perhaps it was the lighting and the size and variety of the show that was so impressive. The walls were dark and each artwork was individually and dramatically spotlighted. The overall impact was powerful and magical, and most if not all of the individual pieces were beautiful. Run over to MOG today and catch the last day of the show from noon to 5 p.m.

4. Country band Broken Trail will be hosting the jam at The Lady Luck Cowgirl Up from 4-8 p.m. Bring your instrument, your pirate voice, or just watch with a bottle of rum.

Shiver me timbers! Beware of the Word Nerds! Prepare ye for a rowdy Talk Like a Pirate Day edition of Scrabble Rousers, a competition suitable for all levels, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at King's Books. Mateys establish their own skill level: beginner, intermediate, or expert. Scalliwags are then paired off to battle it out in two successive games. Entrance fee is $10 per person with proceeds directly benefiting the Tacoma Community House Student Scholarship Fund, which assists students as they transfer from TCH to community college.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound