ESSENTIAL INFORMATION >>>

Remember those excitable women in old flicks who were constantly "having a spell" and fainting? Someone always had a little bottle of something that was guaranteed to bring them around. Turns out there really is something to activating the sense of smell for health purposes, hence the popularity of aromatherapy. Essential oils are, well, essential to creating those helpful fragrances and tinctures, and Elizabeth Bloom will explain the basics of working with them tonight at 7 p.m. inside Marlene's Market and Deli in Tacoma. Attendees will discover, for free, how to integrate essential oil blends from her personal line, Elizabeth Essentials, into a healthy lifestyle to maintain optimal health and well being.

Experiencing Essential Oils

Tuesday, Feb. 22, 7 p.m., free
Marlene's Market & Deli, 2951 S. 38^th St., Tacoma
253.472.4080

FALL IN LOVE OR SNORT COCAINE - IT'S YOUR CHOICE >>>

According to Medical News Today, falling in love affects intellectual areas of the brain and triggers the same sensation of euphoria experienced by people when they do cocaine. Researchers from Syracuse University found that when someone falls in love, several euphoria-inducing chemicals, such as vasopression, adrenaline, oxytocin and dopamine are released simultaneously in the brain.

Researchers also found that when couples had just fallen in love, their blood levels of NGF (nerve growth factor, the molecule key in romantic chemistry) had significantly risen. Syracuse University Professor Stephanie Ortigue believes their findings confirm that love does have a scientific basis.

So, on that note. Happy molecular based, non-fated Valentine's Day week!

THURSDAY, JAN. 27, 2011 >>>

1. You know what sounds awesome? The Air Guitar Championships tonight at Hell's Kitchen, that's what. There's no cover to get in - but it does take $10 to sign up to shred (or shred pretend). Even better - pre-event hype indicates free corndogs.

2. It's 360 College Nite with DJ Phase at the Vault Nightclub in Olympia. They keep it 18 and older, with Thurston and Lewis County - along with college IDs - accepted. The cover kicks in after 9 p.m.

3. Why would we include Derty Thursdays with DJs Derty Harry and Omar at Gruv Lounge? Could it have something to do with a simple desire to type the phrase "Derty Thursdays" as much as possible? You be the judge. Things get Derty at Gruv starting at 9 p.m.

4.  The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (it's a play, numbskull) opens at Capital Playhouse tonight. With music and lyrics by William Finn and a book by Rachel Sheinkin, the Tony award winning work seems like it will probably be a good start to 2011 for Capital Playhouse.

5. Sick and tired of training by yourself? We're talking bicycling here, not World of Warcraft. Tonight at Tacoma Bike join the free "Trainer Night" - a chance for you to grab your trainer bike out of the garage and bring it on down to Tacoma Bike to peddle furiously with a bunch of other folks sick and tired of peddling their trainer alone. It runs from 6 - 8 p.m., and apparently there'll also be new products to test and giveaway.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

WALKING WITH PURPOSE >>>

On Friday, Jan. 21, a group of 60 students from Tacoma School of the Arts (SOTA) and Stewart Middle School defied logic and common sense by braving the rain and walking in support of Michelle Obama's Let's Move! campaign. The 6.6-mile walk was the culmination of the joint class "The New Faces of Fitness," taught by Michael Hagmann (Science/Math, SOTA), Debbie Shapiro (Health/English, SOTA), Kale Iverson (Science, Stewart) and Ben Shelton (PE, Stewart).

The class was focused on overall health, and encouraged students to be more active and to stay healthy by participating in various activities, including going to the Y and Zumba classes, learning yoga and Pilates and cooking lots of healthy food.

Most students took the class for very respectable reasons, like to stay active or improve their health. But more honestly, SOTA student Jonathan Buchholtz says he joined because, "I just wanted to get buff."

The class advocated for the Let's Move! campaign by learning about the program, taking a pledge to stay active and organizing the fitness walk. The national campaign was started roughly a year ago by First Lady Michelle Obama to combat childhood obesity. 

Ben Shelton, PE teacher at Stewart Middle School, says, "This is the first generation predicted to not outlive our parents, which is shocking considering all of the technology we have now."

Well, SOTA is doing something about it! If 60 reluctant middle school and high school students are willing to spend a day promoting a cause, it's probably a big deal.

The walk started at University of Puget Sound, went to Jason Lee Middle School, continued to the Tacoma School of the Arts building on 21st and Pacific Avenue and finished at Stewart Middle School. 

In true Northwestern style, the group ignored the rain, geared up and trudged through the drizzle - and managed to keep up their pep and excitement. (They inspired me so much I decided to take the long way back to my car!)

I got to honk at them in support as I passed in heated comfort, which is even more fun than it sounds. Usually people just swear at me when I honk, but this time everyone cheered! And my waving was only partly sarcastic.

The most impressive part of the day was seeing everyone tired, cold and wet, but still excited and dedicated to the cause and to finishing the 6.6 miles. These students completed quite a feat and inspired me to maybe take the long route to my car every day.

This week ...

Thing: Community Produce

Co-owners: Jason Barker and Deanna Riley

Location: Doyle's and King's Books shared parking lot

Open: Daily

Been open for business: Five weeks

Distributor: Snow Valley (Seattle)

Weather: COLD

Shelter provided by: 10-by-10 tent

Walls: None

Heat: None

Layers of warm clothing worn by Barker: Five

Did I feel like tailgating under the tent?: Yes

Did Jason Barker allow me to tailgate under his tent?: No

Did I go home afterwards and make a tent out of furniture and bedsheets?: But of course

In the freezing rain, which seemed to be coming down sideways, Jason Barker and his friend, Kevin, stood outside Doyle's Public House and chatted. Part of me felt like a dumbass for not saying "screw this" and running inside Doyle's for a hot toddy, but the curious part of me stayed strong enough to stop and ask questions.

In front of me, and squeezed under the tailgate tent, were plastic bins of sundry produce such as jalapeños, potatoes (of the red, gold and russet varieties), avocados, apples, oranges, carrots, bell peppers and onions.  Damn, these were all the basic ingredients to cook just about any dinnertime meal! I suddenly craved jambalaya and my stomach began to rumble. Ugh, how embarrassing.

Barker politely ignored my gastro-intestinal issues and quickly got back to business. He informed me that his intentions were to lower the infrastructure and cut down on produce costs sometimes found in grocery stores - and his endeavor (the tent filled with produce) is called Community Produce. While currently relegated to the parking lot next to Doyle's, Barker also told me he'd like to provide convenience for families by opening more of these tent-locations in the urban community, thus making it easier to stop daily to grab fresh produce. 

Although he does not yet carry organic goods, he looks to add some to his inventory, while he also mentions that he hopes to teaming up with local CSA gardens for distribution. Competing with other local home delivery options, Barker also provides weekly delivery that feeds three to five people, for a $10 fee.

Barker and Riley's intentions are inventive, gutsy, passionate and show their extreme loyalty to bringing food into our community at fair market value. If anyone feels as though they share the same mindset, has a willingness to learn, is punctual, has great customer service and (obviously) is not afraid of extreme weather - Barker can hook you up and help make you some extra scratch.

Hell, I won't even charge you my usual 30 percent finder's fee.  You're welcome.

[Community Produce - Doyle's and King's Books shared parking lot, 253.301.0838]

PERSON, PLACE OR THING LINK HUB

LINK: Sabrina T. Scale of Menchie's Frozen Yogurt in Federal Way

LINK: Puyallup Forza

LINK: Spartacus T. Ladle of Infinite Soups

LINK: Louie G's Pizzeria "Little Italy" Pizza Challenge

LINK: Aaron Tumale, dough-tosser at The Rock Wood Fired Pizza & Spirits

IT'S LIKE CRAIGSLIST, ONLY YOU WONT BE MURDERED >>>

You can find Jason Barker parked outside next to Doyle's Public House, in the parking lot.  No, he hasn't been 86'd (that I know of); he's trying to start up Community Produce - which, as it sounds, would be local produce distribution bringing food to the neighborhoods of Tacoma. I'll have full details of Barker's melon squeezing habits in this week's Person, Place or Thing with Steph DeRosa, but if you love varieties from the fresh fruit and veggie species and are looking for a job, listen up:  Barker is looking for a few self-starters who would like to promote lower-cost fruit and vegetables, know a lil' bit about produce, can handle extreme weather, are punctual, and have great customer service. Give him a jingle.

I love whoring people out.

Jason Barker: 253.370.0157

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

WEATHER REPORT

Today: Partly sunny, cold, hi 46, lo35

Saturday: Chance of rain, hi 42, lo 35

Sunday: Chance of more rain, hi 43, lo 38

>>> FRIDAY, DEC. 17: HANDEL'S MESSIAH

Celebrate the coming of the Anointed One. No, not Bobble Tiki. We're talking about Handel's Messiah, returning to Tacoma via the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra Friday. With guests like conductor Geoffrey Boers, soprano Denise Lees and the entire Tacoma Symphony Chorus (among others), this seasonal favorite seems sure to hit the mark. A "new slate of soloists" is promised ... only upping the excitement factor.

• St. Charles Borromeo Church, 7:30 p.m., $25, 7112 S. 12th St., Tacoma, 253.564.5185

>>> SATURDAY, DEC. 18: RETRO SKATE NIGHT

Go old school in Puyallup Saturday at another Retro Skate Night at Tiffany's Skate Inn. Retro is all the rage these days, from Atari to tube socks, and Retro Skate Nights at Tiffany's - featuring tunes from the '70s, '80s and '90s - are probably better than both of those things. Get funky from 7:30 - 10:30 p.m.

• Tiffany's Skate Inn, 7:30 - 10:30 p.m., $7, 113 N Meridian, Puyallup, 253.848.1153
  

>>> SUNDAY, DEC. 19: ANNIVERSARY AT THE BROTHERHOOD IN OLY

Boom! It's the coolest bar in town (in a town filled with cool bars), and it's celebrating a birthday this Sunday. Party in style with Western Hymn, Morgan and The Organ Donors. As a way of saying thanks, this will be a free one -- but you've come to expect such things from the Broho and owner Pit Kwiecinski

• The Brotherhood, 9 p.m., free, 119 Capitol Way North, Olympia, 360.352.4153
  

>>> WHERE OUR STAFF IS GOING

STEPH DEROSA Features Writer
My house looks like a huge piece of dinosaur shit, so there's a small possibility  I will give my poor, neglected family an early Christmas treat by picking up all my dirty underwear off the bathroom floor by Friday night.  Saturday will be a day of who the hell knows what.  It could consist of any number of things including (but not limited to) making cookies, laying in a hot tub, watching The Jerk for the 745th time, peeling an orange and leaving the skin out to dry because I'm too lazy to throw it away, and/or making a "to do" list that will inevitably take me two months to complete.  Sunday I work at 99 Bottles, and afterward I will be heading out to my other mom's house (Chiara Wood) for a much needed solstice celebration with my PIC Kate.

So, to summarize my weekend will include: race, pedagogy, beef, cheese and bacon.

RON SWARNER Publisher
Every year at this time I promise to act more like the Ebbey Scrooge after the graveyard scene — you know, dancing around in a nightshirt making merry, in keeping with the situation. So, I’ll give that a shot this weekend. I also plan on hitting the mountain with my board, heading to Zoolights, and busting out the Yamaha YRS-20BG Soprano Recorder at the annual family Winter Solstice celebration.

REV. ADAM MCKINNERY Features Writer
Friday, I'm off once again to the New Frontier to catch the Basemint, Shivas, and My Friend Wallis show. I have high hopes for this one, guys! Should be a fun time. Saturday, my mom is hosting an office Christmas party at her house. Thinking of checking that out. Drunk work friends! Fun!

JOE IZENMAN Music/Theater Critic
Beer. Party. Rock show. Dungeons & Dragons. Or, more specifically: impromptu Dogfish Head brewer's night at the Parkway on Thursday; chilling with the best jazz pianist to come out of PLU Friday; playing with the Deborah Page Extended Edition Band at the Stonegate Saturday; D&D with various local businessmen and luminaries Sunday. Probably other stuff, too, but you can't expect me to remember much more.

BRETT CIHON Meat Market Correspondent/Features Writer
My friend rented a cabin right outside of Mt. Hood, Oregon. Snowboarding, beers and possible broken body parts for Friday night and Saturday. Saturday night I'll drag my tired butt back up to Olympia to spend a night on the town with my recently back-from-college little brother. Finally, I know it's not the weekend, but: Monday night Rockaroake at Jazzbones.  

JENNIFER JOHNSON: Lifestyle/Leisure Writer
I'm moving in a new roommate, wishing the Frenchman a happy birthday at the Java Jive and then going to dinner and a dance Friday. Doing yoga Saturday morning followed by absolutely nothing while maxing and relaxing on the couch with the heat on high that evening. Sunday after church I'll attend a beloved friend's annual Solstice Party and then go to bed early in preparation for getting my ever-shrinking you-know-what handed to me at 5 a.m. boot camp at Elev8 Fitness on Monday.

JOANN VARNELL Theater Critic
Friday night has something planned but I'm so sleep deprived  I have no idea what it is. Saturday is dedicated to all things Christmas. I'm playing music at Urban Grace on Sunday and enjoying the finest decaf, non-dairy latte that Satellite has to offer. Sunday afternoon will most likely involve wishing for a nap but entertaining a wide-awake 4 month old instead. You know you want my life.

CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL: Theater Critic
I will be in Vegas with my girlfriend, doing indefensible things of a tawdry and debaucherous nature in the vicinity of buffets.  Or, if her parents are reading this, ministering to the spiritually needy.

MATT DRISCOLL  Editor (the guy to blame)
There's still holiday shopping to do, so the wife and I will no doubt be tackling some of it Saturday. I also need a haircut, meaning a trip to Jay's Hair Den on Sixth Avenue in Tacoma is likely in my future. (That's right, when I need a haircut I go to a goddamn Hair Den!) Sunday will either be a great day or one of the crappiest in a while - and I'll know which way it's going to go early. I'm talking fantasy football playoffs here, it all comes down to this -- and seven of my nine players are involved in morning games. If things go awry, it could be a long day for my family ...

ALEC CLAYTON: Visual Arts Critic
 Going to see the new show at Mineral and Harlequin Productions' A Stardust Christmas Carol.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

ALTERED STATES >>>

As you may have seen in the current issue of the Weekly Volcano, this week's cover story is about hypnosis. Specifically, I let a mild-mannered hypnotist an all-access pass to my innermost mysteries.

You can read it here.

Ideally, this will be one in a series of articles about legally altered states (see editor Matt Driscoll's fine article on salvia divinorum). So if you own a sensory deprivation tank and don't mind hearing me howl like a prehistoric simian, please, hit me up at christian.carvajal@hotmail.com.

LOOSENING UP FOR THE BIG FEAST WITH RICKSON >>>

SENIOR CITIZENS WORKOUT CLASS & DRUG SCORE

Their flesh slides from the bone, hanging and drooping at every joint and angle. Their hair is bluish-grey, and puffed out, as if they've been electrocuted. Or they have no hair at all, just liver spots or war scars. They moan and groan and creak and cry, their arms held out, their faces twisted into painful expressions. You want to run, but you can't, you've vowed to take your sweetheart on an �ber-scary date. So you stay. There are only 10 minutes left of this freaky as hell senior citizens workout class anyway.

When the elderly torture is over and you can take your date to the next creepy destination: The shadiest block in all of downtown. Here you and your lovely will seek out the seediest-looking, cracked-out dealer there is. One of you will ask for a nickel bag while the other keeps an eye out for cops. Once bag is in hand - don't pay, just RUN! Run like you've never run before, your adrenalin will keep you moving, and a good scare is guaranteed.

If you make it out of downtown alive, head home where you can snuggle and spend the rest of the evening googling images of mechanically separated meat and watching "Why to be Vegan" videos. Now that's scary.