The Tides Tavern in Gig Harbor has received some love from Sunset magazine. The August issue arrived in my mailbox with the bar featured in a feature about sail-up bars in the Seattle area:
Tides Tavern, Gig Harbor, WA Specialty: Pint of porter or ale > The premiere watering hole of Gig Harbor, with good bones - it has catered to locals since it opened in 1910 as a general store. Waiters will even come to your boat if you prefer a touch of private, onboard catering. tidestavern.com
They called out to ye faithful, and all ye faithful answered. Saturday afternoon, at 7 Seas Brewing second anniversary party, we watched the Gig Harbor brewery's parking lot space slowly but surely fill up with the most faithful of beer-goers. Let us assure you, don't miss their third anniversary party. This laid back affair was filled with tasty brews, great music and battles over two giant Jenga games.
We also saw a sign of summer for a few hours. It felt great to soak up some sun and suds.
If legendary cowboy Shane were in the South Sound for the week, he might ride along the Puyallup river, past Eric Anderson's moving van, past the ships docked along Schuster Parkway, around the sewer work at the closed Puget Gulch, then hitch his horse outside the future site of the Tacoma Food Co-Op, jump on the phone and help the Co-Op reach its fundraising goal. He would end his night at neighboring The Red Hot with a spirited game of Dominos, and then fall happily asleep next to the outdoor fireplace at Hotel Murano. He would wake up naturally the next day at sunrise, and do it all over again, adding a stack of flapjacks from Old Milwaukee Cafe and the free events listed below to his routine.
MONDAY 7-18: The week starts off on a wild note when the Tacoma Cult Movie Club presents a night of films centered around the theme: "He's A Very Naughty Boy - You Might Want To Give This Bad Boy A Spanking" beginning at 7 p.m. inside The Acme Grub Cage. We have no idea what that means, but we're sure Shane would side with TCMC co-producers Rev. Colin and Mat Hat Tobin.
TUESDAY 7-19: Shane might head toward American Lake Park for the rootin'-tootin'-est Lakewood's Brightest Star local talent competition finals at 6:30 p.m. Shane would do what comes natural, shooting his guns in the air after every song. No one in the crowd would flinch.
WEDNESDAY 7-20: Shane's personal repression and remorse could surface if he attended Author Chellis Swenson Jensen reading of her book, Meet Mrs. Annathena Gilly Gully From Puddle Rumple Tilly Willy, at 10:30 a.m. inside the Garfield Book Company in Parkland. Afterward, all the kids would yell "Shane, come back!" but only because the cowboy stole their temporary tattoo stickers. Also Wednesday, Abby Road Live Beatles tribute band at Pioneer Park in Steilacoom from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
THURSDAY 7-21: Shane would have to push his horse Thursday. Naturally, Shane would attend the screening of archival films showing Schafer Brothers Logging Company operations in the 1920s at 7 p.m. inside the bitchin' new University Place Library. Shane would irritate the crowd with his mouth harp. Next, he'd gallop toward Tollefson Plaza before the 8:30 p.m. showing of this year's "Best of The Grand's 72 Hour Film Competition" on a giant outdoor screen. Afterward, he'd discover sake at neighboring TWOKOI Japanese Restaurant and spent the rest of the night on guard at the base of the 20-foot high welcome figure.
FRIDAY 7-22: The man, the myth, the legend, would probably make an appearance at the free outdoor screening of Shane at Donkey Creek Park in Gig Harbor at 9 p.m. No doubt Shane would be forced to spend the night in a Gig Harbor slammer because of his inability to deal rationally with the Good To Go system.
SATURDAY 7-23: At 2 p.m. Shane would rope his horse in front of King's Books for Gudrun Aurand's class on repairing torn paper. Fascinated with King's owner sweet pea's outfit of the day, the two probably would become close friends baking muffins into the wee hours. Also Saturday, Tacoma's EnviroHouse hosts a free 10:30 a.m. workshop titled "Garden Design, Soils & Pest Management."
SUNDAY 7-24: Someone Shane would get bit during NADOi endorsed dog trainer Jeanne Hampf's 1 p.m. free workshop on "How to Keep Your Dog Happy and Safe at the Dog Park" at the Gig Harbor Branch Library. Slumped over on his horse, Shane would follow the same path that he took entering the South Sound.
DINING NEWS, NIBBLES AND BITE SIN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>
Wine Tasting: Dana Madsen of Madsen Family Cellars will pour five Madsen wines for $6 from 1-4 p.m. today at Dockside Bistro in Olympia. More wine tastings today listed here.
Oh Thank Heaven: Another 7-Eleven store opened at 4328 Sixth Ave. in Tacoma, where Bombaty Bistro once stood. There's a grand opening party from noon to 2 p.m. today with food and drinks.
Wine Deals: The Big Wine Sale at The Wine Bank in University Place ends today at 5:30 p.m. Get in there to grab 20-40 percent off bottles. Also, they'll be pouring tastes of Spanish wines from small vineyards tasting from 2-4:30 p.m.
Beer Bash:7 Seas Brewing in Gig Harbor is throwing a two year anniversary bash in their parking lot from noon to 8 p.m. today. Besides a barbecue and bunch of 7 Seas brew, expect live music by Perry Acker, Shy Boys, China Davis and SweetKiss Momma.
1. Winter. The season is just too damned short to cram in all the necessary slope runs. Thankfully, that wasn't an issue this year. Crystal Mountain ski resort will finally close today after the crazy guy in shorts and a jester hat hits the bottom at around 4:15 p.m. He'll be a little wasted after an official 3 p.m. toast to the record-breaking season at the summit. Fifty-one feet of snow this year people. Fifty-one feet.
2. If you've got a girlfriend, you probably know what season it is: the free outdoor festival season. You've probably hit just about every free music-in-the-park event, free drum circle and free farmers market since April. Well, this weekend prepare for a trip over the bridge, for the annual Gig Harbor Summer Arts Festival, where 135 artists (plus the obligatory vendors), live music and family activities will take over Judson Street in downtown Gig Harbor from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Go ahead, get your face painted.
3. 7 Seas Brewing isn't just the maker of delicious craft beer. It isn't just at the forefront of the "beer in a can is cool again" movement. It's a local business doing things the right way and an entity that knows how to party - as will be proven when 7 Seas throws a two-year anniversary bash in its parking lot from noon to 8 p.m. Expect beer, barbecue and live music by Perry Acker, Shy Boys, China Davis and SweetKiss Momma.
4. The last time Tacoma's energized country bar, Big Whisky Saloon, held a 100.7 FM The Wolf-hosted "Redneck Parking Lot Party" a ton of people showed up to suck up live country music, dance on the outdoor dance floor, drink cold beer, eat barbecue and ride "Bubba the Mechanical Bull." This year, they've dropped the "Redneck" title, added Rock Bot Karaoke and invited hometown heroes Aces Up to whoop things up. Gates open at 5 p.m.
5. A big band at Jazzbones on a Saturday night? Hell yes. Rich Wetzel's Groovin' Higher Jazz Orchestra will cram together on the Sixth Avenue joint's stage beginning at 7:30 p.m. Let's swing, baby!
1. After disbanding the Los Angeles new wave/power pop group the Plimsouls , Peter Case launched a career as an important American singer/songwriter specializing in the flat-pick guitar style and semi-autobiographical stories of drifters delivered in a narrative style. Case performs at 8 p.m. inside Morso Wine Bar.
2. Gastropods in general are believed to have lost half of their original bilateral symmetry somewhere during the evolutionary process; so a snail's intestinal tract twists around and evacuates near its head, where the genitalia are also located. This physiological tidbit was probably not in artist Chris Thompson's mind when he linked his paintings to snails. Thompson's show, Trails - which also includes paintings of slugs - will open at the Telephone Room Gallery from 5-9 p.m.
3. Say you go to the Tacoma Cemetery at 48th and South Tacoma Way at 6 p.m. to do a little thinking and writing in your journal. As you sit there taking hits off a flask in the E.A. Poe-ness of the place, you're joined by a strange bunch of people. Their leader, a former Dungeons and Dragons freak, is decked out in a cape and carries a lantern. He's telling his suburban entourage that the graveyard where you're sitting is full off strange stories from Tacoma's past. You slowly realize that you're smack dab in the middle of the Third Annual Living History Cemetery Tour lead by the The Fort Nisqually Time Travelers, a select group of living history re-enactors. "Cool" you whisper under your breath. Later, after the crowd shuffles off, a homeless man plunks himself down across from you to root through his plastic bag of stuffed animals, and a kid speckled with metal studs and zits and wearing a Dead Boys T-shirt strides by, giving you the old hairy eyeball. Man, Tacoma is so great sometimes.
4. In a way the Tacoma Film Festival party never stops at The Grand Cinema. As TFF's founder and continuing planner, the theater's staff and volunteers work throughout the year on each new festival. And in 2011 they've figured out a way to share even more of the festival with us. TFF doesn't officially commence until Oct. 6, but who says we can't have fun now? Not the Grand; its first-ever Tacoma Film Festival Sneak Peek happens at the theater at 6:30 p.m. Let's pre-party! For the party details, click here.
5. DJs dAb, Suga Jones, Mr. Clean, Chris Savenetti and rotating guests spin New Wave, funk, pop, old school hip-hop and club classics from the 1980s as part of Beat Boxxx night at the Tempest Lounge beginning at 9:30 p.m.
1. Tonight check out the kick-off concert of the summertime Music In The Park series at Sylvester Park in Olympia. The Music in the Park series is sponsored by the Olympia Downtown Association and scheduled every Wednesday night through August. This week the Afro-Cuban goodness of Ocho Pies graces the stage.
2. The Skurfs rock Le Voyeur in Olympia tonight. Or, if that doesn't tickle your musical fancy, find the Volcano's extensive live local music listings here.
3. It's another Wildstyle Wednesday at Gruv Lounge on Tacoma's Sixth Avenue.
Nice, cleverly written review! Jake better watch out or Jennifer may become a permanent replacement. Can you say Wally Pipp? Or better yet, maybe Jennifer will take me along next time - I'd be more than happy to drink the complimentary wine that she turned down. :)
ANNOUNCER: Housed in Gig Harbor's historic Garden Clubhouse, JW Restaurant opened in mid-spring to patron praise and media attention-naturally focused on the restaurant's New American dishes with a twist. Managing Partner Jason Winniford and Chef Justin Goodfellow have kept value-pricing in mind at this dinner-only dining establishment. Joining Jason De Paul this week is food and lifestyle writer Jennifer Johnson. The pairing is natural, as the two have dined at JW both separately and together over the last few months. Jake De Paul is spending time with his family ... or something.
To read this week's full review by Jennifer Johnson and Jason De Paul click here.
We're hearing it all over the South Sound these days: "We're gonna bring you a season of the classics!" As one troupe after another announces its 2011-2012 schedule, that cry of fiscal desperation, always delivered by the house manager with insincere enthusiasm, is ominous music to a theater critic's ears. Board logic insists people only come to material they know. Comparing the houses of Sweeney Todd and the newer, more obscure Proof in Tacoma lends support to this dictum. I haven't seen Sweeney Todd; it might be great. What I know is, lighting issues aside, Proof's a well-acted show that deserves to be seen. But choosing a season from the few dozen straight plays and musicals known to every American brings definite risks, all of which haunt Paradise Theatre's production of Grease.
To read Christian Carvajal's full review of Grease click here.
[Paradise Theatre, Grease, $10-$22, 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday through July 3, 9911 Burnham Dr. NW, Gig Harbor, 253.851.7529]
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