THURSDAY, APRIL 11 2013 >>>

When Chris Titus performs April 11-13 at the Tacoma Comedy Club, you might hear a lot from the voice in his head. His fifth stand-up special The Voice in My Head, dropped on his website. For $9 you will discover his worst screw-ups for an hour and 45 minutes. Titus calls it the "Church of the Epic Fail," where every bad decision IS the religion." Catch him live at 8 p.m. in downtown Tacoma.

3. Today marks the end of the first week of the inaugural Olympia Restaurant Week - the celebration of Thurston County's culinary scene happening April 7-18, Sundays-Thursdays. Ten Thurston County restaurants are serving special $25 three-course dinners, with some eateries offering a three-course lunch menu for $15.

4. Maxwell's Speakeasy and Lounge in Tacoma joins delicious forces with 21 Cellars and Wingman Brewers to present a pairing dinner tonight. Nibble on local cheeses, produce and meat while sipping on locally concocted vinos and brews. Tickets are limited, so call 253.683.4115.

4. MediaLab, the award-winning student run organization at Pacific Lutheran University, hosts the primer of their latest documentary Beyond Burkas & Bombers: Anti-Muslim Sentiment in America at 7 p.m. at the PLU Studio Theater. The film will be followed by a small reception and panel discussion.

5. Reading by NW traveler, Artist Trust fellowship winner and participant in the San Miguel Poetry Week in Mexico Peter Rudwin will read his poetry at 7 p.m. inside the Gig Harbor/Peninsula Library.

LINK: Thursday, April 11 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

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

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Rain, hi 57, lo 48

Saturday: Rain, hi 55, lo 45

Sunday: Rain, hi 54, lo 45

>>> FRIDAY, APRIL 5: K RECORDS POP-UP SHOP

Friday, K Records is having an exclusive Pop-Up Shop with local favorite Kendl Winter performing live during First Friday at Flow & Function. Hype for the event reads, "The K crew will be selling limited K merchandise (things that sold out like crazy on our site) that evening, including the much sought after Beat Happening vinyl (back in print on LP for the first time in 10 years) and teeshirts. Kendl is amazing." To download her 2012 release The Mechanics of Hovering Flight, click here, orstream it in the shop. Winter, former front woman of The Blackberry Bushes, drops her third K release, It Can Be Done!, at the end of summer. - Nikki McCoy

• Flow & Function, 6 p.m., free, all-ages, 113 Fifth Ave., SW, Olympia,360.705.9729

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A SPLENDID WAY TO START THE DAY >>>

Thad Lyman and Katie Doherty, the husband-wife team behind Brix 25 in Gig Harbor, have launched a new waterfront breakfast destination. The duo opened Netshed No. 9 just off Harborview Drive with a splendid view of quiet waters and boats. As you enter you're welcomed with a warm ambiance complete with natural light. The warm, spring vibe is wonderful. I can't wait for warmer weather to hit Netshed's outdoor seating.

To begin my culinary journey I sipped on the popular housemade hot chocolate ($4). "A cup full of liquid, chocolate-y goodness," pretty much sums it up. It's smooth and rich and reminds me of my grandmamma. If you need to start your day with a caffeinated beverage you can amp it up with a shot of espresso for an extra dollar. It's a must try.

The menu features traditional breakfast favorites with a touch of flair, such as a ricotta and sourdough pancakes served with a vanilla bourbon maple syrup, and a bacon mac and cheese pie - an intriguing combo. It sounded too rich paired with my cup of sweet blissful death by chocolate.

After much consideration I settled on the least of the traditional dishes - locally speaking - the chilaquiles. This Mexican dish is done eloquently at Netshed No. 9 with a healthy portion highlighting crispy house made tortilla chips, cheeses, black beans and eggs with chorizo and salsa verde balanced in each bite. The spice level was appropriate for morning consumption, approachable and not hot for the sake of being hot. The key here is flavor.

Service is extraordinarily friendly and matches the warmth of the ambiance and my meal. My next visit will absolutely have to include the chicken and waffle, which is topped with spicy syrup.

Netshed No. 9 offers a breakfast for those who seek a bit of adventure (but not too much) in their morning and afternoon dining experiences.

NETSHED NO. 9, 8 A.M. TO 4 P.M. THURSDAY-MONDAY, 3313 HARBORVIEW DR., GIG HARBOR, 253.858.7175

SATURDAY, MARCH 30 2013 >>>

1. When Oliver Doriss isn't blowing glass, teaching glassblowing or curating his gallery, Fulcrum, you can catch him under the needle as DJ Broam, usually accompanied by a dance floor full of wild sweaty abandon. At 8 p.m., he'll walk past the grass hut, the dude in the fez pouring Mai Tais, past the blowfish, around the corner, down the hall and into the new music room. At 9 p.m. he'll welcome the Tacoma Cabana crowd then knock their Hawaiian shirts off with the coolest mix of soul, funk, Latin and World Beat. Mahalo.

2. Not only is catching a Tacoma Rainiers game the quintessential American minor league baseball experience, but the renovated Cheney Stadium is still just plain awesome. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Rainiers will host a preseason party at said stadium. The party will give baseball fans, interested Tacomans and those craving free hot dogs a chance to hang at the stadium, purchase a new season ticket plan and take in the view from your exact seat, and watch kids run around like maniacs. Rhubarb, the Rainiers mascot reindeer and an undeniable party animal, will entertain the masses ... and run around like a maniac. 

3. In general, the citizens of Tacoma are not satisfied with a simple slice of cake and a sweet card for their birthdays. No, Tacomans like to through big bashes for birthdays. For instance, from 5-8 p.m. at The Swiss, Ida, Jocyln, Bobby, and Teri will celebrate their birthdays with comedian Mario Lorenz, fire by Flair, Roger the Balloon Buffoon and the musical styling of Voxxy Vallejo and The Fun Police. Drop by and give them a pinch to grow an inch and a sock to grow a block.

4. LeLe Restaurant - the Vietnamese and Thai restaurant in Gig Harbor - serves an amazing Swimming angel, a traditional Thai dish also called rama rama or swimming rama, featuring handfuls of fresh spinach leaves, thinly sliced carrots and mung bean sprouts are sautéed in a garlicky sauce of rice vinegar, soy sauce, a little sugar, red pepper flakes and more. A generous amount of sweet peanut sauce is piled on top. The only possible thing that would make this dish better if guitarist Rob Rigoni, accompanied with his ensemble Budapest West, filled the restaurant with a world-jazz sound that draws from jazz, '70s fusion and Hungarian soul. See you at 7 p.m.

5. Did you miss Derde Verde Wednesday at Le Voyeur? Catch the band at 9 p.m. with the equally awesome A Leaf at The New Frontier Lounge. Derde Verde's new EP, Let Me Be A Light, glows with the organic warmth of the band's indie-electronica, while possessing the mechanical propulsion of Krautrock bands like Neu!. If those names don't pique your interest, then we can't help you.

PLUS: Proctor Farmers Market in our Weekend Hustle

LINK: Saturday, March 30 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

<<< VOTING CLOSED FOR WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27 >>>

Well whaddaya know! It's still March, and dagnabit if all that "Madness" isn't still in the air! What's one to do with all that pent up "madness?" It can make for quite a dilemma. ...

Unless, of course, you've found something like the Weekly Volcano's Tournament of Sandwiches to help get you through. Throughout the month (and into early April, even) the Volcano's readers will be voting on the South Sound's best sandwiches through daily head-to-head matchups here on Spew. We started with 64 South Sound sandwiches, and only one can be crowned king.

Without further ado, let's get down to business.

Yesterday's Results

GAME ONE: Club House (Old Milwaukee Café, 3102 Sixth Ave., Tacoma) vs. Jake's Sandwich (Dirty Dave's Pizza Parlor, 3939 Martin Way E., Olympia)

For a relatively small town, Olympia has more than its fair share of top-notch sandwiches - which is going to make for some interesting battles down the road. With 5th Ave Sandwich Shop and Darby's grabbing most of the headlines, Dirty Dave's can fly relatively under the radar. Oh, but the eaters of the area know - which is probably why Dirty Dave's Jake's Sandwich took down the beloved Old Milwaukee Café's Club House, nabbing almost 60 percent of the votes.

GAME TWO: Reuben (Peterson Bros. 1111, 1111 S. 11th St., Tacoma) vs. Hammock Sandwich (Schooner Pub and Galley, 5429 100th St. SW, Lakewood)

The Eleven Eleven is a relatively newcomer on the sandwich scene, creating goodness and slinging drinks in a lively, neighborhood joint. The Schooner Pub has been a neighborhood hangout for years, where the game or your daily meeting with your old friends is more the focus than sandwiches. In terms of comparing the two joints, at least in regards to a hangout, it's a dead heat. Comparing the two sandwiches that battled yesterday, it's not even close. Eleven Eleven grabbed 75 percent of the votes, and moves onto the Second Round.

GAME THREE: Steak Torta (Vuelve a la Vida, 5310 Pacific Ave., Tacoma) vs. Ikonos Gyro (Ikonos Real Greek Souvlaki, 4920 Point Fosdick Dr. NW, Gig Harbor)

Vuelve A La Vida started up in 1995. Six months after its inception, the owner sold it to the mysteriously named Senor Douglas, who's owned it ever since. Most people know the joint for its authentic Mexican food, featuring prizes such as tongue and goat and featuring banners boasting no chips & salsa. That said, Tournament of Sandwiches officials were a bit surprised Vuelve's Steak Torta grabbed 71 percent of the votes over Ikonos Gyro, which is one tasty treat. It doesn't matter now, the Steak Torta moves onto the Second Round.

GAME FOUR: Vietnamese Banh Mi (Pacific Grill, 1502 Pacific Ave., Tacoma) vs. Italian Grinder (Shamrock Tavern, 11118 Pacific Ave. S., Tacoma)

Unexpectedly, this was an epic battle ... the kind of thing Tournament of Sandwiches "instant classics" are made of. A surprisingly low scoring affair, with much of the action on defense, the fourth seeded Pacific Grill and the 13th seeded Shamrock Tavern were in a dead heat - literally tied - going into the final hours of the competition. Back at Weekly Volcano World Headquarters, Tournament of Sandwiches officials frantically discussed what to do in the case of a tie? Overtime? Coin flip? See which establishment could deliver a sandwich to our Lakewood office the fastest? Then, our guess is, the drinks kicked in at the Shamrock, phones came out and the Parkland tavern edged out the win, securing exactly 53 percent of the vote. This one will go down in the history books.

Stick a toothpick in them! The following are advancing to the next round:

• Dirty Dave's Pizza Parlor's Jake's Sandwich
• Peterson Bros. 1111's Reuben
• Vuelve a la Vida's Steak Torta
• Shamrock Tavern's Italian Grinder

The daily sandwich battles here on Spew are sponsored by Subway in Orting, Puyallup, Tacoma, Spanaway and Lakewood.

OK, let's check out today's First Round sandwich battles. Vote for one sandwich per battle. Voting for today's sandwich battles ends at 11:45 p.m.

TIME TO START PLANNING >>>

Late last year, we got our company Corolla impounded (don't ask), and had no choice but to explore the Pierce Transit bus system. we found ourselves pleasantly convenienced: There were plenty of bars and city services within busing distance, and the hands-free commute allowed for reading and ear-budding and window-gazing like we were in high school again. We'd study the Pierce Transit map every day, looking for new destinations. It was like a game.

But for daily commuters traversing Pierce County's 292 square miles trying to get to work, school, medical clinics and such, Pierce Transit's public transportation system is about to be a darkening nightmare, especially for those with disabilities. That's because cuts in service are on the way due to the loss of Proposition 1 in November 2012. Pierce Transit currently operates 417,000 annual service hours. Once the service reduction plan is implemented, Pierce Transit will operate 300,000 annual hours, a 28 percent cut.

What the hell? Pierce Transit will tell you at nine public meetings beginning today at noon inside the Pierce Transit Training Center. The reductions will happen in late September 2013. Don't get caught holding the map in the middle of nowhere. Get your butt to a meeting.

LAKEWOOD: Wednesday, March 6, noon to 2 p.m., Pierce Transit Training Center (Rainier Room), 3720 96th St. SW, Lakewood

>>> Served by Routes 48, 300

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON - TACOMA: Thursday, March 7, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 6-7:30 p.m., William W. Phillip Hall (Jane Russell Commons), 1918 Pacific Ave., Tacoma 

>>> Served by Routes 1, 48, 53, ST 590 (Northbound),ST 594, ST Link light rail

NORTHEAST TACOMA: Wednesday, March 13, 4-6 p.m., Northeast Tacoma Police Substation, 4731 Norpoint Way NE, Tacoma

>>> Served by Route 62

PARKLAND / SPANAWAY: Monday, March 18 5-7 p.m., Parkland/Spanaway Pierce County Library, 13718 Pacific Ave. S., Tacoma

>>> Served by Route 1

PUYALLUP: Thursday, March 19 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Puyallup Library (North Room), 324 S. Meridian, Puyallup

>>>Served by Routes 400, 402, 409

GIG HARBOR: Wednesday, March 20, 5-7 p.m., Gig Harbor Civic Center (Council Chambers), 3510 Grandview St., Gig Harbor

>>> Served by Route 100

PUYALLUP: Tuesday, March 26, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Puyallup Library (North Room), 324 S. Meridian, Puyallup

>>> Served by Routes 400, 402, 409

UNIVERSITY PLACE: Tuesday, April 9, 6-7:30 p.m., University Place Library, 3609 Market Pl. W., Ste. 100, University Place

>>> Served by Route 2

Detailed service reduction plan information is available online at www.piercetransit.org, or by calling customer service at 253.58.8000. A public hearing on implementation of the service reduction plan is scheduled for the May 13, 2013 Pierce Transit Board of Commissioners meeting.

Yes, another Valentine's Day is upon us. Obvious expectations on this "special" day include the following: grumpy singles, unsavory public displays of affection, overly excitable girlfriends, an arsenal of disgruntled Hallmark employees, and, of course, lots and lots of chocolate. But before the Weekly Volcano goes on, let us anticipate a few of your nagging questions. First, yes, chocolate is indeed an aphrodisiac! And, no, it's not all right to buy her (or him) the Snicker's Family Pak and call it a night. We hate to break it to you, but that's just not worthy of your Valentine.

Below are a few events and parties in the South Sound worthy of your Valentine:

Be sure to grab local sweets for Valentine's Day.

If you hurry, you might be able to score these local gifts for Valentine's Day.

It's almost certain that restaurants are booked tonight. That said, you might want to take a look at South Sound restaurants serving special Valentine's Day meals. Oh, and what if you could score these awesome restaurant seats in Tacoma and Olympia?

The Swiss is celebrating relationships forged at the downtown Tacoma pub. It has erected a Love Wall and a Divorce Shredder.

TUSH! Burlesque and the Gritty City Sirens are a part of the Sweet & Spicy: A Valentine's Day Burlesque show tonight at the Pantages Theater in Tacoma. There's more burlesque next week.

The Weekly Volcano presents six South Sound love stories.

Our Music Calendar has live music, DJs and comedy tonight in the South Sound.

The Weekly Volcano's Events Calendar has a variety of Valentine's Day activities in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area.

Maybe, all you want to do is drink and stare at a wall.

TUESDAY, FEB. 12 2013 >>>

1. Can't make it to the Big Easy for Mardi Gras? Relax. There's plenty of beads 'n' beer revelry to be had right here in the South sound. Ale House Sports Pub & Grille on the edge of University Place starts the party at the opening 11 a.m. bell with food specials such as chicken and andouille sausage gumbo, blackened catfish and jambalaya. And the Hurricane cocktails will flow, as well as $4 rum drinks and 22-ounce Mondos beers for $2.75. ... The Hub in Tacoma's stadium District will celebrate Mardi Gras two rounds of trivia with two $50 cash awards, plus $4 rotating shot specials, gumbo or $15, Catfish po-boys for $10 and drink specials. ... The Top of Tacoma Bar and Café will be "going all out on Fat Tuesday with food and drink specials, including Po' Boys and Jaime Kay's famous gumbo, as well as drink specials doctored up by the infamous Greg Rodriguez and Mackenzie Hamilton," says Luke Larsen, Top of Tacoma manager. The party soundtrack will be live with The Crow Quill Night Owls and OMGS - two bands that have seen some action in New Orleans. ... Medi's Pizza & Pasta hosts a masquerade party with live music from the Fun Police, Jilly Rizzo and Smokebraiders at 8 p.m. ... Jazzbones hosts The Spazmatics and Mr Pink at 9 p.m.

2. Fat Tuesday is abundant with many decadent luxuries including culinary delights. Doyle's Pub House in Tacoma will serve Cajun-inspired dishes such as shrimp po'boy, chicken and sausage jambalaya, and gumbo with red beans, rice and Andouille sausage from 11-1 a.m. It's a solid way to fuel the night's shenanigans.

3. The Grand Cinema is screening all of this year's Oscar-nominated shorts. Today, you can see Death of a Shadow, Henry, Curfew, Buzkashi Boys and Asad at 2:20 and 6:30 p.m.

4. Let the good times roll with Morso on Fat Tuesday. The Gig Harbor wine bar will be cooking authentic New Orleans and cajun cuisine from 4-10 p.m. They will also have a special treat flown in directly from New Orleans - King Cake.

5. For the uninitiated, the Night Beats consists of Danny Lee Blackwell, James Traeger, and Tacoma's own Tarek Wegner (oh he of the Drug Purse and Paris Spleen) slashing and burning their way through all periods of psychedelic, brain-melting rock. Through talent and near-constant touring, the Night Beats have found themselves playing with the likes of the Jesus and Mary Chain, the Black Lips and Roky Erickson, and joining up with garage rock juggernauts, Chicago's Trouble in Mind Records. They have manage to pull themselves off the road long enough for a stop in Tacoma for a 9 p.m. show with Milk and People Under The Sun at The New Frontier Lounge.

LINK: Tuesday, Feb. 12 arts and entertianment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SUNDAY, FEB. 3 2013 >>>

1. Unlike other parties, which regularly occur in gathering places of all shapes and sizes, Super Bowl parties happen almost exclusively in the home. The television as a necessary party apparatus partially explains this phenomenon, though there’s never enough couch space, and Aunt Mary's Mexican layer dip always makes you feel strange later. Plus, no one has a television large enough to see around Phil’s fat head. Therefore, we suggest you leave it up to the professionals and ante up to a bar where testosterone swirls in the air, hoots and hollers fill the room and someone else makes the barbecue ribs and cocktails. Here's a list of some South Sound digs serving up specials during the big game.

2. The exhibition Andy Warhol's Flowers for Tacoma at Tacoma Art Museum will end next Sunday. Have you seen it? You should. Weekly Volcano arts critic Alec Clayton says if you thought you knew Warhol you may be in for a big surprise. There are many pieces in this show that I had never before seen, not even in reproduction. Read Clayton's full review of Andy Warhol's Flowers for Tacoma in the Visual Arts section at weeklyvolcano.com.

3. America’s Largest Antique & Collectibles Show will cram the Puyallup Fair & Events Center with 300 booths featuring antiques and collectibles up to 1970 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

4. Willian Hellman's The Children's Hour's daring, few-holds-barred script was a Broadway sensation in 1934 - so much so, in fact, that New York state authorities were willing to forgo a ban on one of its key themes. Two headmistresses who own and operate a private boarding school are accused of having "unlawful sexual conduct," with, as you might expect, disastrous effects on their lives. The catch is they're accused by a student, Mary Tilford, known to have a shaky regard for the truth. There's every reason to believe Mary's lying, and her rich, influential grandmother overreacting, until another student, Rosalie Wells, corroborates her story. The Lakewood Playhouse stages the last production of this show today at 2 p.m. Read Christian Carvajal's review of The Children's Hour in the Weekly Volcano's Arts Section.

5. Steve Cooley & The Dangerfields will fill Johnny's Dock Restaurant and Marina with rockin' blues beginning at 5 p.m.

LINK: Sunday, Feb. 3 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

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

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Partly sunny, some fog, hi 50, lo 36

Saturday: Partly sunny, some fog, hi 50, lo 38

Sunday: Partly sunny, some fog, hi 49, lo 39

>>> FRIDAY, FEB. 1: TACOMAPOCALYPSE III

We'll be frank. Apocalypse-like events usually only happen once. If an apocalypse-like event ever returns, it's either really bad news, or a sign that things weren't that apocalyptic in the first place. The good news about the Treefish Studio-produced "Tacomapocalypse III," set to inhabit Amocat Café during the month of February starting Friday, is neither statement is true. A collection of two and three-dimensional art that's heavy on the zombie, and designed to offer a gruesome alternative to the usual Valentines-style lovey-dovey crap that's everywhere else this time of year, Tacomapocalypse III is the sequel to last year's successful Zombie "Tacomapocalypse II." The electronic musical stylings of local musician Gibson Starkweather will rock the walls of Amocat. Technophobic Android will also make a special appearance.

• Amocat Café, Tacomapocalypse III opening party, 5-9  p.m., free, 625 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.242.3370

>>> SATURDAY, FEB. 2: ART OF CHOCOLATE WALK

Those who have already caved and thrown out their New Year's resolution to abstain from sweets, prepare to get giddy. Gig Harbor, the quaint gateway city of the Olympic Peninsula, hosts the fourth annual Art of Chocolate Walk Saturday. Held in conjunction with the Gig Harbor First Saturday Art Walk, The Art of Chocolate is designed to be a walking tour of art and sweets. The idea is to get your passport stamped by as many participating locations as possible, for a chance at a number of prizes - perhaps more important, however, The Art of Chocolate promises an opportunity to sample chocolates and confections, check out cookbooks on chocolate and chat with sweet-makers. — Weekly Volcano

• Downtown Gig Harbor, noon to 6 p.m., Gig Harbor waterfront, gigharborwaterfront.org

>>> SATURDAY, FEB. 2: SACRED HARP SINGING

Shape note singing dates back centuries to early singing schools, with each solfoge note of the scale being given a different shape to ease sight-reading. When groups gather, they form a "hollow square" with the four voice parts of a typical choir facing one another. No pitch pipes or other instruments tune the group - that's done by the song leader. Who is that? Whoever's turn it is. They stand facing the tenors, who always have the melody. Want to see all of this in action? The Scared Harp Singing sing-along goes down Saturday at Fort Nisqually Living History Museum. - WV

• Fort Nisqually Living Hisotry Museum, 2-4 p.m., Point defiance PArk, 5400 N. pearl St., Tacoma, 253.591.5339
  

>>> SATURDAY, FEB. 2: ILLUMINATED BALL

Last year's Illuminated Ball - the Procession of the Species main annual fundraiser - turned the Eagles Hall in Olympia into an enchanted forest. An intricate tree canopy decorated the walls and ceiling, and all around, tables, chairs and especially people, were glowing, glittering and celebrating illumination. How will it look this year? Live music by The Brown Edition, an illuminated pageant, no host bar and appetizers, plus all things glowing, lovely and artistic will make for a splendid evening. - NM

• Eagle's Hall, 8 p.m., $65/adv. $75/door, 805 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia, 360. 929.9907

>>> SATURDAY, FEB. 2: "NEON MAN" AND BRAD UPTON

Watching Henrik Bothe's "neon man" routine, where he lines his body with glowing tubes, shuts off the lights and creates an onstage animation is worth the admission alone. Bothe also escapes a straight jacket while riding a unicycle, and juggles with four legs. Paired with national touring comedian Brad Uptown and his side-busting jokes, the duo go together like hippies and Haight Street. And just as if you were on the infamous street in San Fransisco, expect tracers (from the neon man) and uncontrollable bouts of laughter. — Nikki McCoy

• The Royal Lounge, 8:30 p.m., $12, 311 Capitol Way N., Olympia, 360. 705.0760

>>> SATURDAY, FEB. 2: DANCE PARTY

Thank heaven, the days are getting longer, new green buds are sprouting and seasonal light disorder is hopefully wearing off. One good way to shake off that winter funk is to get out and dance your fucking ass off. Seriously, close your eyes and shake that thing. Weekly Volcano you catch the Polyrhythmics and AKA and the Heart Hurt Goods at the Olympia Ballroom. With at least eight instruments aboard, Polyrhythmics busts out the funk like no other, and always bring a packed house. - NM

• Olympia Ballroom, 9 p.m., $10, 116 Legion Way SE, Olympia, 360.943.9242

WHAT SOME OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS ARE UP TO

CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL Theater Critic
After seeing Cirque du Soleil's "Amaluna" Thursday night, we're catching "Next to Normal" at Capital Playhouse and Olympia Family Theater's all-youth production of "James and the Giant Peach." Oh, and apparently there's some sort of ballgame on Sunday?

REV. ADAM MCKINNEY Music Writer
This weekend's a tough call. There's a perfectly good show at the New Frontier, featuring Wes Sp8 and members of Solvents (whom I really enjoy). OR, there's a Santee show up in Seattle at the awesome all-ages mecca, the Vera Project, which I haven't visited since I was underage. Might be fun to go back.

ALEC CLAYTON Arts Critic
Gabi and I are going to the opening of "Out of the Silence," a very special art exhibition to raise awareness of anti-gay bullying and in support of Pizza Klatch, a group that provides support (and pizza) to students at six high schools in Thurston County. The opening is Friday night starting at 5 p.m. at the Urban Onion in Oly.

NIKKI MCCOY Feature Writer
Friday, I'm going to party it up with my cousin Tess, who is really like my best friend and sister, too. (Hey girl! Wassup? Shout out to you on your birthday! Coco!! XOXO!) I'm pretty sure there will be dancing and enchiladas involved. Saturday, I will clamber onto my roof with a big janitor's broom and a bottle of vinegar and scrub out the moss that's growing through shingles like all that alien vegetation in Stephen King's "Creepshow." Sunday is R & R and football.

TIMOTHY GRISHAM Music Writer

This is the first weekend of February; the month where winter can either hit hardest or ease toward spring. In that end I look forward to that spring optimism by planning a beach hike. It is going to be 55 on the coast Saturday! Sorry bands, films, art shows. You'll have to wait. Then on Sunday I'm going to the Motorcycle exhibit at the Washington State History Museum.

STEVE DUNKELBERGER Nightlife Correspondent
Well, Nugget got a new puppy, Luke Skywalker Dunkelberger, so I imagine I'll be covered in puppy spit and fur by the end of the weekend. Other than that, I'll be watching "Grease" with the girl child and going to the Free Radical Media Exchange to drop off and pick up some more hard-bound lovin'.

LINK: Even more local events that we recommend

LINK: Comprehensive South Sound Arts & Entertainment Calendar