Weekly Volcano Blogs: Walkie Talkie Blog

Posts made in: 'Lacey' (125) Currently Viewing: 21 - 30 of 125

May 5, 2014 at 11:05am

Nerd Alert! - Spamalot, Legends of Oz, Chef, Penny Dreadful ...

Eva Green stars as Vanessa in "Penny Dreadful." Photo credit: Jonathan Hession/SHOWTIME

Taunting you a second time, this is Nerd Alert, the Weekly Volcano's recurring events calendar devoted to all things nerdy. I myself am a Star Wars fan, mathlete, and spelling bee champion of long standing, so trust me: I grok whereof I speak.

As I write this, The Olympian's Jeremy Pawloski just reported that a 34-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly deploying a crime syndicate of single-digit-aged children to pilfer purses and diaper bags from dispirited diners at Chuck E. Cheese in the Capital Mall. That's right, folks, Chuck E. Cheese, where a kid can be a kid! And a felon! The Artful Dodger could not be reached for comment.

THURSDAY, MAY 8

Lacey's Timberline High School presents Monty Python's Spamalot, beating John Munn's Lakewood Playhouse pig dogs to the Grail by over a month. But look on the bright side of life, Brave Sir John: at least your production gets to include all those welcoming nuns in Castle Anthrax. Ni!

MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT, 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday through May 10, Timberline High School, 6120 Mullen Rd. SE, Lacey, $8-$10, 360.412.4860

FRIDAY, MAY 9

After The Anticlimactic Spider-Man 2 landed with a warm splat of arachnid leavin's last weekend, by which I mean it was critically unloved, yet made squillions of dollars, my hopes are sub-minimal for the CG toon Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return. It stars Idina Menzel wannabe Lea Michele as the voice of Dorothy Gale, plus a bunch of comic thespians your dad likes (Dan Aykroyd as the Scarecrow, Kelsey Grammer as the Tin Man, and Oliver Platt as, well, me with more hair). Its songs include "No, This Isn't ‘Let It Go,'" "Still Not ‘Let It Go'" and "Why Aren't You Watching Frozen Instead?"

Also in cineplexes this weekend: Chef, the latest dramedy from director/star Jon Favreau (whose Iron Man may be the greatest superhero movie ever made, unless you count Raiders of the Lost Ark, which I don't of course because the list of Indiana Jones' mortal flaws is even longer than this parenthetical; oh, and by the way, Jon Favreau also made Zathura, which is totally underrated and Cowboys & Aliens which isn't). What was I talking about? Oh, right: Chef, which costars Sofia Vergara, Tony Stark, Natalia Romanova, Jerri Blank and (I'm not even kidding here) Oliver Platt. Best of all, Anthony Bourdain tweeted that he's already seen it and loved it, so bon appetit. Maybe spring for the truffle salt on your popcorn this time, ya cheap bastard (#YOLO).

SUNDAY, MAY 11

Showtime debuts its horror-romance series Penny Dreadful, respectively written and produced by John Logan and Sam Mendes, two industry pros who were largely responsible for Skyfall. Their new series is named for British pulp mags of the 19th century - so, as you might expect, it stars Josh Hartnett. No, wait, come back! The cast includes Doctor Who companion Billie Piper, Timothy Dalton, gifted naked person Eva Green and a Grand Guignol orchestra pit's worth of literary monsters. Might be fun.

Fun historical fact: Paris' notoriously gore-obsessed Théâtre du Grand-Guignol went out of business in 1962 ("We could never equal [the concentration camp] Buchenwald," one director observed), but it reopened years later as the family-friendly International Visual Theatre, a troupe that performs in sign language for the hearing-impaired. Alors, merci, Wikipedia!

Until next week, may the Force be with you, may the odds be ever in your favor, and may you find your Grail - along with just a little bit of peril.

Filed under: Nerd Alert!, Theater, Lacey, Screens,

April 19, 2014 at 11:44am

Beer weekend: Top Rung Brewing grand opening, three years for Wingman and more ...

Jason Stoltz, top, and Casey Sobol, bottom, celebrate the grand opening of their Top Rung Brewing Company today. Photo credit: Pappi Swarner

After the grain has been shoveled from the mash tun, after yeast has been pitched, after the farmer has hauled away the trailer, there is water everywhere, and a half hour more of work to do before they can go fight fires. Yes, they woke up at 4:30 a.m., it's now 3 in the afternoon, and soon one will turn his waist-high boots for knee-high boots and a red ax.

Thurston County firefighters Casey Sobol and Jason Stoltz's four-year journey to open their brewery official ends today when their Top Rung Brewing Company celebrates its grand opening from 2-9 p.m.

The career firefighters - 20 years for Sobol and seven for Stoltz - have been dialing in their recipes in the garages between shifts at the McLane/Black Lake Fire Department. It became real when the duo's Hosechaser Blonde grabbed the Dick's Brewing "Beer for a Cure" homebrewing contest top prize in 2012 - and they began to shadow Dick's brewer Parker Penley.

"Just as the firefighting community is an open, friendly brotherhood, so is the beer community," says Sobol. "I could be in Boston and any firehouse would take me in as one of their own. The local brewing community is similar."

Wingman Brewers in Tacoma brought back two whiskey barrels from Kentucky for Top Rung Brewing.

"It's a shame Wingman celebrates three years the same day we celebrate our grand opening," says Sobol. "Those guys are great."

Those who didn't drop by Top Rung's soft opening last Saturday can check out the new 10-barrel brewhouse and spacious taproom at 8343 Hogum Bay Lane in Lacey today. The duo pays tribute to their main job, with ladders suspended from the ceiling, firehouse décor and the iconic fireman's shield front and center on the Top Rung logo. Otherwise, the high-ceiling space resembles other taprooms, with concrete floors, modern lighting and long wooded plank tables, which Sobol crafted. Sobol runs the house side.

Stolz runs the brewing. The beers pay tribute to firefighting, with the award-winning Hosechaser, Irons IPA and Scout Stout on tap today. The IPA has recently been altered with added bitter and aroma hops. It's delicious. The Flashover Red is written on the board. A Cascadian Dark Ale is in the works, as well as a seasonal pumpkin ale, Oktoberfest and a secret Thanksgiving release that will be on many beer enthusiasts' Santa list. 

Sobol, Stoltz and their 10 investors have a business plan that calls for slow, steady growth. Food can be brought in from surrounding businesses, which are listed on a hanging board. Strong beers are not part of the plan right now. In fact, a three-maximum pint limit has been instigated in the taproom. That's the firefighter in them.

In addition to the beers today, a local barbecue company will be cooking out front. Beer flights are available.

TOP RUNG BREWING COMPANY, 8343 Hogum Bay Lane NE, Suite B
Lacey, 360.239.3043

BERE HERE TODAY

As mentioned above, Wingman Brewers in TAcoma celebrates its third anniversary with a party noon to midnight. It will premiere its Double IPA Pocket Aces in 22-ounce bottles and on draft, which is basically a doubled up version of its Ace IPA. There is a significant amount of malt backbone in the Pocket Aces, which leads to some residual sweetness. It weighs in at about 12 percent, but with a massive amount of citra and centennial hops, along with a few other varietals to balance it out. Budha Bear Bagels will help soak up the suds. Here is Wingman's starting tap lineup today: Ace IPA 7.1% ABV, P-51 Porter 8% ABV, Pocket Aces 12% ABV, Coconut P-51 8% ABV, Stratofortress 11.2% ABV, Gratzilla Smoked Bacon Wheat Ale 3.4% ABV, Operation Crossroads Old Ale 16.8% ABV, Chocolate, Coffee, Oatmeal Stout 7.8% ABV, AO Supporters Outlaw Ale 4.8% ABV, Pacific Gose 3.3% ABV, Wit 4.6% ABV, Big Baby Flat Top Imperial Stout 11.4% ABV, Chocolate Fortress 11.2% ABV, Mighty HighPA 6.8% ABV and a cider from Seattle Cider Company.

The historic 1908 Olympic Club in downtown Centralia hosts its annual Brewfest from 1-11 p.m. Since it's a McMenamins' operation, you can expect its Oregon-based brews on full display, as well as beer from guest brewers and importers, including local treats from Fish Brewing and Dick's brewing. While you sip, you can take in the Olympic Club's history of railway bootlegging, captured train robbers, secret call buttons, subterranean tunnels, rumored hauntings as well as tour the Olympic Club brewery, relax in the outdoor seating area, play a round or two of pool. The cost is $12 per 1o-sample punch card. The overnight rooms at the Olympic Club have been taken so plan accordingly.

The Hopscotch Spring Beer & Scotch Festival takes over Fremont Studios in Seattle with the biggest and best pop-up bar you may ever see with 50 microbrews, scotch, whiskey and wine tastings flowing through the aisles April 18-19. Hopscotch 2014 has an impressive lineup of both Washington and out-of-state microbreweries and distilleries. Well-known breweries, from Deschutes Brewery to Full Sail, Ninkasi to Snoqualmie, will serve up familiar brews and more. A few wines from the Proletariat Wine Company will also be available. If your tastes run a little harder, Scotch aficionados (or newbies wanting to learn a bit) can sample five Abelour vintages and six Northwest whiskeys. "We are bringing back our scotch workshops, which are hour-long Scotch 101 workshops led by a master of scotch and feature 10 different kinds of scotch from the Aberlour, Glenlevit, and Chivas families," said Maddie Murphy, sponsorship and marketing assistant for the festival. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.hopscotchtasting.com.

SEE ALSO

The Swiss Restaurant and Pub celebrates 21 years.

April 15, 2014 at 7:44am

5 Things To Do Today: Classical South Asian music, pianist Stephen Moore, "Purgatorio" and more ...

Rajeev Taranath's sarod improvisations will blow you away tonight.

TUESDAY, APRIL 15 2014 >>>

1. One of India's renowned music masters, sarod virtuoso Rajeev Taranath, brings a rare performance of classical South Asian music to University of Puget Sound at 7:30 p.m. in Rausch Auditorium. Accompanied by Vikas Yendluri on the tabla, the duo will perform ragas - intricate forms of colorfully improvised melodies and rhythms, which have drawn accolades on their many international tours.  

2. The Saint Martin's University Music Program's final Music @ 11 series ends with internationally recognized pianist Stephen Moore, Ph. D., and his thoughts on the Emile Jaques-Dalcroze approach to music. Moore will perform a piano recital, "Carnival in Venice," as well as conduct a master class on the Dalcroze approach at the appropriate time of 11 a.m. in Kreilsheimer Hall.

3. JobFest, the largest young adult job fair in Washington for job seekers age 16 to 24, will be held from 2-5 p.m. at the STAR Center in Tacoma

4. The 4th Annual TCC Diversity Film Festival rolls on with Purgatorio, in which director Rodrigo Reyes likens the U.S./Mexico border to a terrestrial version of the purgatory envisioned by Dante Alighieri. It's an apt comparison; both the border and Dante's supernatural way station serve as punishment-filled waiting rooms for wandering souls struggling toward a final destination. Catch it at 2 and 6:30 p.m. in The Grand Cinema.

5. Hot Hoodoo, The Falsies and Red Red Red will rock Olympia's all-ages Northern at 8 p.m.

LINK: Tuesday, April 15 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

April 14, 2014 at 10:58am

Eat This Now: Catfish and Shrimp

The Catfish and shrimp at Beau Legs Fish and Chips tastes amazing. Photo credit: Jackie Fender

Sometimes I make the greatest, yummiest discovers when poking around sleepy strip malls.

Case in point: Beau Legs Fish and Chips.

Located in a Lacey strip mall, Beau Legs is a casual, intimate dining option specializing in Southern style cuisine with Cajun flair. Think catfish, jambalaya, hush puppies and sweet potato pie. They even have alligator.

Let me tell you this, Beau Legs is soul food at its finest. Everything I've sampled was flawless and well executed.

My Eat This Now recommendation?

You need to eat Catfish and Shrimp ($12.99) now. Featuring two crispy, breaded catfish filets, several meaty fried shrimp accompanied by perfectly seasoned fries, slaw and a couple hush puppies thrown in for good measure makes this a generous serving of all kinds of goodness for those less decisive. Served up with sides of hot sauce and tartar, each table also has all the extra fixins you may desire to add more flavor such as malt vinegar and several hot sauce options. I didn't inquire but if you can request a side of their po'boy sauce, DO.

As I said, the establishment is intimate but service provided is uber friendly and the menu delivers fuel for your soul.

CATFISH AND SHRIMP, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon to 7 p.m. Sunday, Beau Legs Fish and Chips, 8765 Tallon Lane NE, Lacey, 360.915.6328

Filed under: Food & Drink, Lacey,

April 5, 2014 at 8:24am

5 Things To Do Today: Gray Sky Blues Festival, Bettie Brigade, Nuclear Cowboyz, Universe People and more ...

Cee Cee James will perform at 6 p.m. in The Swiss Pub April 5. Press photo

SATURDAY, APRIL 5 2014 >>>

1. Ahhh, the Daffodil Parade! As surely as pint-sized marching bands will file down the street in lockstep while serenading onlookers with "Tequila," the sky will fill with dark clouds before an inevitable downpour drenches everyone within a two-mile radius of downtown Tacoma - which is as good of an excuse as any to go hear some great blues music and dry off. And the Gray Sky Blues Music Festival, which seems to be named just for this happenstance, begins right after the parade wraps up, around noon. The event takes place across three venues: The Swiss, The Harmon Restaurant and Brewery and Stonegate Pizza and Bar. The festival's headliner is Cee Cee James, who - I'm told by the reliable source that is this event's press release - is "one of the most popular female blues artists on the scene today." She'll hit the stage at 6 p.m. in The Swiss. Stonegate will be the scene of the festival's after-party, which begins at 8:30 p.m. With any luck you'll not only be starting the day with "Tequila," but ending it that way, too.

2. They're chirping and hooting out the news that it's time to celebrate their unique characteristics and appreciate the ways in which they contribute to the planet. Lovely. That's the focus of Migratory Madness, a two-day special event at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park April 5 and 6 featuring a nest full of events about birds, beginning at 11:30 a.m.

3. Let it be known the JBLM Bettie Brigade roller derby team will take on the I5 Rollergirls at 5 p.m. Saturday, April 5 at the Bettie Bunker, 5700 Lacey Blvd. The co-ed junior team, JBLM Bratz, will face the I5 Rollergirls B-Team, too. More details at bettiebrigade.com.

4. So, the guys in circulation were trying to describe it to us the other day - telling us all about the Nuclear Cowboyz FMX tribe who returns to the Tacoma Dome at 7:30 p.m. for an action-packed show complete with a Hunger Games-ish storyline told through more than 1,000 gravity-defying freestyle stunts. Or something. From what we're told, it's part Broadway show, part rock show, part freestyle motocross - now with more dance troupes and an army of Shaolin Kung Fu Warriors. Again, this is the circulation department talking. On top of all this, we're told, the show combines fearless freestyle gravity defying stunts, outrageous pyrotechnic and freakin' laser displays synchronized to heavy metal, rock alternative and electronic dubstep music, and features the world's best freestyle motocross athletes - such as X Games medalists Colten Moore, Taka Higashino and Jeremy "Twitch" Stenberg - front and center. Got it?

5. Even though it's their name, starting with what Universe People (the group) are may be the worst entry point for exploring what Universe People (the band) is. Also known as Cosmic People of Light Powers (catchy), Universe People are a Czech UFO religion that believe they can communicate telepathically with aliens. Like any successful, harmless religion, it is helmed by a magnetic leader (Ivo A. Benda) with unique abilities, secret knowledge of the fate of the world, and apparently a DVD player, given how many times it seems he's watched The Matrix. Meanwhile, the band that's also called Universe People shares almost none of those traits. Read Rev. Adam McKinney's full feature on Universe People in the Music & Culture section, then catch the band with Service Animal, Low Hums and Battersea at 8 p.m. inside Bob's Java Jive.

LINK: Saturday, April 5 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

March 31, 2014 at 8:05am

Tournament of Burgers Day 12: Sunday's winners and four new burger Second Round battles

Lunchbox Laboratory creates burgers in a lab. Photo courtesy of Facebook

<<< MONDAY, MARCH 31 GAMES CLOSED >>>

Beginning tomorrow, we'll cut the field of 64 South Sound burger joints to the Sweet Pickle 16. No joke. April 3, it'll drop to eight. Monday, April 7, we'll announce the winner of the Tournament of Burgers - picked by you, of course - at Meconi's Pub in downtown Tacoma during halftime of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. On that Monday, we'll cut the online voting at 5 p.m. and take the voting live at Meconi's, handing out ballots while you pound beers.

That's all fine and dandy, but it's Monday and you don't have time for idle chitchat. You need to know yesterday's results and get to voting on today's games.

Yesterday's Results

Game 1: The Forum vs. Frisko Freeze

Ah, history. The factor we all owe so much but for the most part choose to ignore. Frisko Freeze is still going strong after more than 50 years in the biz and its delicious burgers are the reason for its success. But the modern electric hum lies with The Forum - the new kid on the block - and its fancy burgers. The new restaurant at the historic Olympus Hotel grabbed 65 percent of the vote yesterday over Frisko Freeze, and moves into the Sweet Pickle 16.

Game 2: Lunchbox Laboratory vs. Powerhouse Restaurant & Brewery

Let's face it. It is more fun to drink shakes out of beakers, munch on a burger made of duck and pork (affectionately called the "dork"), or order cocktails made with Tang. Lunchbox Laboratory positions itself as a laboratory where amazing burgers are created and the customization options are endless. It's a winning formula, at least in terms of the Tournament of Burgers. Lunchbox Laboratory grabbed 59 percent of the votes over the Puyallup mainstay Powerhouse Restaurant, and nabs a spot in the Sweet Pickle 16.

Game 3: The Spar vs. Norma's Burger Hut

Eleventh seed The Spar knocked three seed Norma's Burger Hut out of the tournament yesterday. I don't have any idea if The Spar's weekly Sunday night blues concert played into the historic tavern's whooping of the popular Lacey burger shack, but its handful of burgers grabbed 65 percent of the vote, and an April 2 date in the Sweet Pickle 16.

Game 4: Little Jerry's vs. Mikie Burger

Mikie Burger has history and fans. For years the tiny mom-and-pop restaurant defied the odds, going head to head with nearby national franchises. Despite having no indoor seating and very little parking - despite eccentric hours and long waits - despite being literally overshadowed by new construction - the home of the Mikie Burger endured, until the summer of 2009. The Little Holland burger joint - which now bares a sign reading "Mikie Burgers" - officially reopened on Center Street Jan. 4, 2010. Little Jerry's knew it had to go big against the history and long list of burgers. The Seinfeld-crazed café pulled out The Mimbo. Remember Elaine's man-bimbo, Tony? Yes, Little Jerry's creates dishes from Seinfeld episodes. Yes, the burger sandwiched between grilled cheese sandwiches and topped with a fried egg put the hurt on Mikie. Little Jerry's nabbed 64 percent of the vote and has made the Sweet Pickle 16.

Let's weed through the condiments. The following are advancing to the Sweet 16:

  • The Forum Tacoma
  • Lunchbox Laboratory
  • The Spar
  • Little Jerry's

The daily burger battles on Walkie Talkie are sponsored by Ricky J's Restaurant and Lounge in Puyallup.

OK, let's dive into today's Second Round burger battles. Vote for one burger joint per game. Voting for today's burger battles ends at 11:45 p.m. 



Tomorrow's Sweet Pickle 16 Burger Games

Game 1: Eastside Big Tom (2023 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia) vs. NetShed No. 9 (3313 Harborview Dr., Gig Harbor)

Game 2: Pick-Quick Drive-In (4306 Pacific Hwy. E., Fife) vs. Maxwell's Restaurant (454 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma)

Game 3: Asado (2801 Sixth Ave., Tacoma) vs. The Westside Tavern (1815 Harrison Ave. NW, Olympia)

Game 4: Tatanka Takeout (4915 N. Pearl St., Ruston) vs. Best Burgers (7714 Custer Road W., Lakewood)

Championship Vote/Party: 6 p.m., Monday, April 7 at Meconi's Tacoma Pub & Eatery in downtown Tacoma.

Confused? Read our Tournament of Burgers introduction here.

LINK: Hot Damn! Yes, I want the South Sound Happy Hour App!

March 27, 2014 at 8:18am

Tournament of Burgers Day 8: Wednesday's winners and four new burger games

This cheeseburger from Herfy's at the Lakewood Towne Center helped the burger joint secure a win yesterday.

<<< THURSDAY, MARCH 27 GAMES CLOSED >>>

Low and behold, today marks the closing of the Tournament of Burger's First Round. After today's battles, the bracket will officially be down to 32 area burger joints. If what we learned from our taco, pizza, breakfast and sandwich tournaments holds true, the remaining burger joints will hire cheerleaders for their Second Round games. Honestly, if it gets any more exciting we'll start to understand why Dick Vitale is always yelling.

Without wasting anyone's time with patty-related basketball innuendo, on to a recap of yesterday's games and today's Tournament of Burgers action.

Yesterday's Results

Game 1: Flipping Out Burgers and Fries vs. Classics Cafe at LeMay

Flipping Out must have flipped out. It was quiet during its game with Classics Café, the diner embedded at LeMay - Amerca's Car Museum. Classics included a Facebook post as part of its game plan, a plan that also included cooking tasty cheeseburgers. Classics Café grabbed 78 percent of the vote and moves into the Second Round.

Game 2: Friesenburgers vs. Crown Bar

In the closest battle of the day, Crown Bar grabbed 55 percent of the vote for the win. Surprisingly, Friesenburgers team of Gluten-free burgers wasn't really a factor. Once Crown's Crispy Onion burger got hot, it was over. The Crown Bar moves into the Second Round with a March 31 date with Classic Café.

Game 3: Herfy's Lakewood vs. Herfy's Olympia

The Herfy's in Lakewood beat the Herfy's in Olympia with 78 percent of the vote. Somewhere there's photo-realistic cow's face with a tear.

Game 4: Dirty Oscar's vs. Red Robin

Yesterday, I was accused of over hyping Dirty Oscar's. It's funny. One of the highlights of my childhood, besides spending summers in Rangoon, was post-Husky games outings at Red Robin. The family would gather around ginormous burgers at the Montlake Seattle Red Robin and discuss Joe Steele's rushing plays. It was always a disappointment if the car diverted instead to the Salmon House. I guess I might have gone Vitale on Dirty Oscar's Dead Elvis Burger. Its deliciousness is hard to ignore. Anyway, Dirty Oscar's smoked Red Robin with 90 percent of the vote and moves into the Second Round to face the Lakewood Herfy's March 31.

Let's weed through the condiments. The following are advancing to the Second Round:

  • Classic Cafe
  • Crown Bar
  • Herfy's Lakewood
  • Dirty Oscar's

The daily burger battles on Walkie Talkie are sponsored by Ricky J's Restaurant and Lounge in Puyallup.

OK, let's dive into today's First Round burger battles. Vote for one burger joint per game. Voting for today's burger battles ends at 11:45 p.m. 



Tomorrow's Second Round Burger Games

Game 1: Eastside Big Tom (2023 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia) vs. Steel Creek American Whiskey Co. (1114 Broadway, Tacoma)

Game 2: Chalk Talk Bistro (2301 Pacific Ave., Tacoma) vs. Pick-Quick Drive-In (4306 Pacific Hwy. E., Fife)

Game 3: The Westside Tavern (1815 Harrison Ave. NW, Olympia) vs. Pacific Grill (1502 Pacific Ave., Tacoma)

Game 4: Bootlegger's Bar & Grill (29285 State Route 410 E., Buckley) vs. Best Burgers (7714 Custer Road W., Lakewood)

Confused? Read our Tournament of Burgers introduction here.

LINK: Hot Damn! Yes, I want the South Sound Happy Hour App!

March 18, 2014 at 7:36am

5 Things To Do Today: German operas, cheap fish-n-chips, "Detroit Unleaded," Terry Gilliam hug and more ...

Robert Schumann had a similar life experience as you.

TUESDAY, MARCH 18 2014 >>>

We are deeply saddened by this morning's tragic KOMO News 4 helicopter crash in downtown Seattle. Our thoughts and prayers are with those involved and their families.

1. We've all been there. You met her when she was a young teen, then you two nurtured a growing romance over the next several years despite the objections and outright bitter legal battles with her father. When you finally married, you composed a great deal of romantic lieder describing your feelings for your wife. Hear Robert Schumann's version of your story along with Richard Strauss' Zueignung and Hugo Wolf's Der Tambour when Opera tenor Thomas Harper performs a selection of musical works by German artists at the next Music @ 11 event at 11 a.m. in Kreielsheimer Hall on the Saint Martin's University campus.

2. The Grand Cinema's Tuesday Film Series hosts a more romantic variation on Clerks. The film Detroit Unleaded charts the budding relationship between Lebanese-American gas station owner Sami - compelled to take over the family's Detroit-slums business with ambitious cousin Mike after his father is killed in a robbery - and his beautiful cousin Naj. Catch it at 1:45 and 6:40 p.m.

3. Ivar's Seafood Bars and full service restaurants are once again paying tribute to beloved flounder Ivar Haglund and his would-be 109th birthday with a deep-sea deal. Today, all Ivar's fans who purchase one regularly-priced entrée and wish Ivar "Happy Birthday," will receive a second entrée of their choice for $1.09 off a special birthday menu. In addition to the birthday discounts, Ivar's will also treat the first 109 guests to a sweet slice of birthday cake.   

4. Accountants-turned-pirates, a daydreaming bureaucrat from a dystopian future, folklore-collecting con-artist brothers, a fantastically lying baron, and an ill-fated attempt to bring Don Quixote to the big screen. These could all be among the topics tonight as Saint Martin's University presents "The Films of Terry Gilliam" as part of their Robert A. Harvie Social Justice Lecture Series at 6:30 p.m. in Harned Hall on the Saint Martin's University campus. Jeff Birkenstein, Anna Froula and Karen Randell lead a discussion of the Monty Python alumnus' cinematic works based upon their book The Cinema of Terry Gilliam: It's a Mad World. A screening of the Gilliam classic Time Bandits follows; the trio will then present an analysis ofthe film - perhaps clearing up once-and-for-all the mystery of how Horseflesh, the supposedly-deceased seventh dwarf, ends up on the side of Evil. Or the nature of Vincent's "problem" which he needed fruit to cure.

5. Lakewood Historical Society celebrates Women's History Month by hosting a panel of local women writers - Dorothy Wilhelm, Nancy Covert, Carol Neufeld Stout, Meg Justus - at 7 p.m. in St. Mary's Episcopal Church.

LINK: Tuesday, March 18 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

March 6, 2014 at 10:03am

Best of Olympia 2014 is online

K Records founder Calvin Johnson is our 2014 Best Olympian. Photo credit: Winter Teems

Hey folks, our Best of Olympia 2014 issue, in which your humble and helpful Weekly Volcano staffers – and readers – show some love for all the things that make Thurston County so nifty – is now online.

Thanks for voting, and thanks for reading. Without further ado, click here

March 3, 2014 at 7:48am

5 Things To Do Today: Joshua Powell and the Great Train Robbery, polar bear photos, Seagull Invasion and more ...

Indiana-based Joshua Powell & the Great Train Robbery embraces an Americana-based sound: a genre that is well-known for lyrics infused with both strong storytelling and togetherness.

MONDAY, MARCH 3 2014 >>>

1. Look, at this point the Pacific Northwest - not to mention the current pop landscape in general - is choked with folk-rock revivalists. Bands like Mumford & Sons, the Lumineers and even American Idol winners (good lord, Phillip Phillips) have taken to appropriating folk and bluegrass and imbuing with a palatable sheen. While I'm not enough of a scold to say that there's something inherently wrong with this (appropriation is almost synonymous with pop music by this point), but it can get somewhat tiring. Joshua Powell and the Great Train Robbery aren't reinventing the wheel, in this regard, but there is something to be said for a band that sounds as vibrant as they are capable of sounding, even in this tsunami of banjo-ified pop music. You know what you're getting with Joshua Powell, but that's not always a bad thing. Catch the band at 7 p.m. in Tacoma's Metronome Coffee.

2. Joe and Paula McHugh present "The Green Fields of America," a journey through history using storytelling, folk music and paintings to make a rich and complex saga of America come alive at 4 p.m. in the Lacey Timberland Library.

3. Enjoy traveler Pat O'Connor's pictures and stories from his recent trip to Manitoba at 7 p.m. in the University Place Pierce County Library. He photographed polar bears as they prepared to depart on the ice floes of Hudson Bay for the winter. 

4. Seagull Invasion list their music as "funk slip slop slurp," and that's as good a place to start as anywhere. From the rubbery first beats of their song, "Oop," it's clear that Seagull Invasion are approaching everything from a skewed angle. Drum machine clatter is engulfed in elastic guitars and synthesizers, creating a manic energy that flirts with dance and funk, but somehow comes out the other side as weirdo pop. Elsewhere, Seagull Invasion temper their mania and approach ambient electronica, but they're never far away from some glitchy detour. The bill they're on is packed with art-rock provocateurs, from the industrial surge of Doctor Sleep to the queer freakout of Hot Fruit and the performance art freak folk of Mary Ocher. It'll be a show where leaving preconceptions at the door will be a necessity. Check it out at 8 p.m. in Le Voyeur.

5. The New Frontier Lounge isn't The Five Spot on Cooper Square. Then again, it doesn't sit in the East Village of the 1950s either. But, grab the corner bar stool on a Monday night at The New Frontier, nurse a double bourbon, close your eyes and let pianist Nate Dybevik, bassist Arneson Cameron and drummer Peter Tietjen take you to the famous New York City jazz club over the din of the drinking Tacoma crowd. It as it should be: hearing a cool jazz jam in a comfortable, no-pressure environment. It launches at 9 p.m.

LINK: Monday, March 3 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

About this blog

News and entertainment from Joint Base Lewis-McChord’s most awesome weekly newspapers - The Ranger, Northwest Airlifter and Weekly Volcano.

Recent Comments

Walkie Talkies said:

Thanks for posting! But I want say that Walkie Talkies are really required while organizing fun...

about COMMENT OF THE DAY: "low brow’s" identity revealed?

Humayun Kabir said:

Really nice album. I have already purchased Vedder's Album. Listening to the song of this album,...

about Eddie Vedder’s "Ukulele Songs" available today - and I don’t hold a candle to that shit

AndrewPehrson said:

Your post contains very beneficial content. Kindly keep sharing such post.

about Vote for Tacoman Larry Huffines on HGTV!

Shimul Kabir said:

Vedder's album is really nice. I have heard attentively

about Eddie Vedder’s "Ukulele Songs" available today - and I don’t hold a candle to that shit

marble exporters in India said:

amazing information for getting the new ideas thanks for sharing a post

about 5 Things To Do Today: Art Chantry, DIY home improvement, "A Shot In The Dark" ...

Archives

2024
January, February, March
2023
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2022
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2021
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2020
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2019
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2018
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2017
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2016
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2015
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2014
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2013
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2012
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2011
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2010
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2009
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2008
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2007
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2006
March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December