Olympia Film Collective (OFC) is relatively new on the scene, but has already made waves with the films The Sweet Sorrow, featuringscenes from Olympia lounges The Brotherhood and Volcano Vapor, and S.O.S, which won Best Film and Best Use of Dialogue at the 2013 Tacoma 72-Hour Film Competition. 

"We are still trying to find out who we are," said Jeff Barehand, founding member of OFC. "We are here to help others learn and go forward with their scripts and ideas. It's only going to grow."

Barehand and colleague Russell Brooks were in pre-production on their short film, The Sweet Sorrow, when a search for crew turned up Riley Gibson and Dylan Glockler. OFC was officially born in January 2013.

Read more...

TUESDAY, JULY 9 2013 >>>

1. If you're at all familiar with The Band, A prolific Canadian-American folk rock group of the '60s and '70s, then drummer Levon Helm requires no introduction, and the captivating documentary Ain't in It for My Health chronicling Helm's final years is sure to draw you in. Check it out at 1:40 abd 7 p.m. at The Grand Cinema. Read Jared Lovrak's full feature on the film in Northwest Military's Music & Culture section.

2. Washington State Park Ranger Tom Pew will highlight some of the great adventures to be had around the state including hikes, camping, water sports, wildlife viewing and more at 5:30 p.m. in the Tumwater Timberline Library. Attendees will have a chance to win one of two Washington State Discover Passes, paid for by the Friends of the Tumwater Timberland Library.

3. In Gig Harbor it's time once again for Summer Sounds at Skansie Brothers Park, this evening at 6:30 p.m. with The New Blues Brothers Revue.

4. The Swiss and science are synonymous. OK, so maybe they're not quite synonymous, but they do go together quite well - the "Tacoma Science Café" at the Swiss proves it. At 6:30 p.m., the Pacific Science Center presents Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center's Greg Brennan, D.V.M., Ph.D., who will discuss how the virus vs. animals conflict has led to some of the most serious epidemics in modern times, and how we're learning to try to control them. You might want to pull back from your normal beer consumption Tuesday, as Brennan will also host a Q-and-A session.

5. AWOL One brings the California word to Le Voyeur at 9 p.m., yo.

LINK: Tuesday, July 9 arts and entertainment in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

FRIDAY, JULY 5 2013 >>>

1. It's officially summer, and longer days and warmer nights mean finding any excuse to be outside. What could be a better nighttime entertainment choice than hanging out in a park? Hanging out in a park with free movies! CinemaGig Outdoors movie series is on with 9:15 p.m. screenings in Skansie Brothers Park. Tonight, it's 100 percent Iowa corn and Kevin Costner in Field of Dreams. Costner, slack but unoffending, is Ray Kinsella, a novice farmer guided by voices to build a ballfield for disgraced diamond great Shoeless Joe Jackson (Ray Liotta); restore the faith of a reclusive novelist (James Earl Jones); and shepherd the apotheosis of a saintly ballplayer-turned-doctor (Burt Lancaster). You will, come.

2. Harmon Tap Room in Tacoma's Stadium District has invited Joe Rosati to perform in its outdoor beer garden at 6 p.m. Grab a beer, kick back in the sun and listen to songs off his new CD, The Candelabra Light.

3. Sometimes you desperately need something to bring a laugh or distract you enough to allow you to let go of whatever has been troubling you, even if only for a couple hours. Lakewood Playhouse's production of The Importance of Being Earnest does all of that. Oscar Wilde's 118-year-old script is as smart and fresh now as when it debuted in London. While director Marilyn Bennett had a fantastic play to work with, her direction of the cast and crew of the quick paced, witty script was flawless. It hits the stage at 8 p.m.

4. Most renowned for its rock sensibilities and downtown Olympia hardcore patronage - as well as favored (pricewise and taste-wise) drinks among Olympians - McCoy's Tavern continues its mild shift of venue personage as it hosts another hip-hop function.  At 8 p.m. the likes of an O'Lacey (Olympia and Lacey) who's who list of factors (cats who make a difference in the scene) such as Heretic, Q-Storm, Double B, Cauze N Efeckt, David Gies, DJ Pasquan and Model Citizens take over the downtown Olympia joint. Be on the lookout for the gritty-grimey-gangsta-styled Prano Tha Don from Seattle and out-of-staters Landon Wordswell and Tim Hoke. This is a diverse lineup of hip-hop that with a couple beers and more - just might be what you need this weekend to keep the party going.

5. The merengue, as well as the bachata and salsa, are taught in mini-versions, with or without partner, at varying levels of experience, every Friday night at Studio 6 Ballroom in Tacoma. After the last instruction at around 9:30 p.m., the club lights flip on, disco ball drops and Studio 6 fills with cross body leads, hand throws and hammerlocks. "It's always fun and memorable," says Natasha Thayer, master coach at Studio 6 Ballroom. "One of the reasons we chose Friday nights was so that you could club hop on Sixth Avenue and go out for food after." Read Nikki McCoy's full feature on Studio 6 Ballroom's Latin dance Night in Northwest Military Clubs/Bars Section.

LINK: Friday, July 5 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

TUESDAY, JULY 2 2013 >>>

1. Meet two Muscle Beach boys from the neon 1980s who fall in love with some circus aerialists and end up join the immortal, 200-year-old traveling troupe, which is part of Portland's Wanderlust Circus. Wanderlust is different from a traditional circus. It's more of a theatrical show, with a storyline titled "The Endless Road" (see: muscle boys in the '80s) that feels a little Steampunk-ish Vaudevillian. Oh stop, there's ton of action, including Risley juggling in which people are juggled instead of objects like barrels. Be sure to arrive on time to see opening act Poki and Ember of Button Wagon who team up with artists from Lookout Arts Quarry in Bellingham to create a surreal circus world of floods and fairytales. The show will go on at 7 p.m. in the Capitol Theater.

2. Lakewood's own Kari Ehli was somewhat of a child protégé and began recording in her early teens. While she lists her influences as rockers Heart and Pat Benatar, her sound is closer to Shania Twain or LeAnn Rimes. With shades of rock, blues and country, Ehli reflects the new face of Nashville with the face of an angel. She uses her powerful pipes to belt out self-penned originals with a sincerity that is genuine. Catch her and her band from 1:30-4:30 p.m. at the Lakewood Farmers Market.

3. The Zen of Bennett, a documentary playing exclusively at The Grand Cinema about Tony Bennett as he approached his 85th birthday in 2011, is like the singer himself -  smooth and classy. Created by Bennett's son Danny, the film centers on the recording of the 2011 album Duets II, which had the singer collaborating in-studio with artists ranging from Aretha Franklin to Willie Nelson. The vocal performances are extraordinary, but the film finds its purpose in Bennett's low-key musings on the value of beauty and authenticity in art. It screens at 2 and 6:30 p.m.

4. Randy Linder's Trilogy Of Rock: A Tribute To Bob Seger, Mick Jagger and Tom Petty hits Red Wind Casino at 8 p.m.

5. The Raven and the Writing Desk are about confounding expectations. A six-piece outfit from Denver, the Raven and the Writing Desk's music initially conjures up connections to bands like DeVotchKa (another literary allusion) and Beirut - these purveyors of gypsy-and-otherwise-worldly musical strains. It's notable that the heart of the Raven and the Writing Desk is located in their piano, violin, and percussion. These instruments can travel anywhere, but fit quite nicely into the sort of theatrical flourish that accompanies gypsy music. Catch the band at 10 p.m. in Le Voyeur. Read Adam McKinney's full feature on the Raven and the Writing Deck in Northwest Military's Music & Culture section.

LINK: Tuesday, July 2 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

Food Network celebrity Guy Fieri drove his fiery red Camaro up to Puyallup digs Crockett's Public House last fall to film Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives - which aired in March - and raved about Mom's Sloppy Joe. Naturally, I had to check it out.

Pulling around the corner to find parking already has me salivating as the air is filled with aromas of barbecue wafting around Crockett's.

Mom's Sloppy Joe ($11.99) features healthy portions of slow cooked ground pork and beef doused in a rich tomato sauce on a toasted sesame bun. The tomato sauce is packed full of flavor with just the tiniest hint of heat. The crisp fried onion garnish adds a nice flavorful texture to this sandwich, which begs of you to bust out the fork and knife. Served with a side of seasoned hand-cut fries this dish is absolutely reminiscent of the childhood home-cooked favorite and lives up to its name. Crockett's Public House is all about twists on comfort food.

You may also enjoy breakfast Saturdays and Sundays.

CROCKETT'S PUBLIC HOUSE, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to midnight Friday, 8 a.m. to midnight Saturday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, 118 E. Steward Ave., Puyallup, 253.466.3075

THURSDAY, JUNE 27 2013 >>>

1. Do you find science less than thrilling? Maybe all those memories of sitting in biology class while your teacher prattled on about the phylum classification of the thorny-headed worm has put you off forever. But what if you could listen to an exciting presentation about researching and planning for dangerous viral outbreaks, followed by the screening of a cult classic ABOUT a dangerous worldwide viral outbreak and its consequences? How could you say no to that? At 6:45 p.m. The Grand Cinema and the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department present "Science on Screen." Emerging Diseases expert Dr. James Bales, and disease outbreak control public health leader Nigel Turner (try fitting that on to a business card!) will give just such a presentation. This will immediately be followed by the 1995 film 12 Monkeys. The next lecture and film in this series will undoubtedly be about an attack of giant thorny-headed worms. 

2. At 7 p.m., three local writers will take to the hallowed spaces of King's Books for a reading - an evening of good old fashioned storytelling in Tacoma's most awesome of bookstores. The three writers: Titus Burley, Melissa Thayer and Joshua Swainston seek to entertain you with their clever words, their wit, their art.

3. The four-day America's Classic Jazz Festival in Lacey kicks off today with an upbeat mix of ragtime, jazz, swing and blues on the menu. Saint Martin's University will transform into Dixieland during the festivities presented by the Greater Olympia Dixieland Jazz Society. The "Kick Off Party" from 7-10:30 p.m. features bands West End, High Sierra/Brady McKay and Wally's Warehouse Waifs. For a complete festival schedule, check out olyjazz.com baby.

4. The Barleywine Revue will fill The Swiss with bluegrass beginning at 8 p.m.

5. Punk bands Kramer, the Mormon Trannys, Enemy Combatants and Raptor Tractor play a free 8 p.m. show at O'Malley's Irish Pub in Tacoma.

LINK: Thursday, June 27 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

TUESDAY, JUNE 25 2013 >>>

1. It's Tuesday and that means The Grand Cinema unleashes another special film as part of its Tuesday Film Series. Today at 1:45 and 6:45 p.m. The Grand will screen An Oversimplification of Her Beauty, a multimedia collage incorporating (semi-)scripted scenes, documentary, live action and several forms of animation, all to brood over the failure of a romantic relationship and examine how it lives on, or doesn’t, in memory. 

2. If you think the medium of artists' books are limiting, you'll undoubtedly be impressed with the array of work on display at the third annual membership show of the Puget Sound Book Artists. "Puget Sound Book Artists is comprised of amateurs and professionals from all quarters of the book arts field for the purpose of creating a spirit of community among handworkers in the books arts and those who love books," PSBA member Jane Carlin previously told the Weekly Volcano. "We also strive to increase educational opportunities for private individuals as well as institutions and other organizations, fostering excellence through exhibitions, workshops, lectures and publications." PSBA's book art show from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Collins Memorial Library features a wide variety of handmade books by 30 artists demonstrating how these talented artists can interpret the book in exciting and original ways that push the boundaries of tradition. 

3. If hearing the sound of your own cackling voice echoing off the walls of your shower stall has you craving the sound of something a bit more harmonious, check out the local songbirds at Victory Music Open Mic at the Antique Sandwich Co. It's guaranteed to be jam-packed with gorgeous sounds and humbling verses, as the South Sound's greatest up-and-coming acoustic musicians bare their souls impromptu-style. Performances start at 7 p.m., and if you're thinking that your shower-time ballads are ready for public consumption, you can sign up for your own moment in the, er, sun at 6.

4. Proctor District's wine connoisseurs at Pour at Four will be tasting wines from Steele Winery in Lake County Califonia. From the 2012 Shooting Star Sauvignon Blanc all the way to the 2009 Stymie Merlot, Pour at Four believes these wines are rocking. Not only is the tasting complimentary, but it is teeming with loads of vino knowledge. Tasting runs 5:30-8 p.m.

5. There are trivia competitions all around the South Sound on a Tuesday night, where you can unleash your inner Ken Jennings. And while you won't approach Jennings-like earnings, you can win some cool stuff, ranging from gift certificates, to concert or sports tickets, to a VHS copy of All of Me, the film starring Lily Tomlin and Steve Martin. Sweet! Two of our favorite Tuesday night trivia are at Fish Tale Brew Pub in Olympia and Farrelli's Wood-Fire Pizza in Tacoma, both start at 8 p.m.

LINK: Tuesday, June 25 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SUNDAY, JUNE 23, 2013 >>>

1. Bruce Walkup was the booking agent for Tacoma's Prosito Restaurant in the mid-'80s. Considered the first commercial venue to host alternative bands, Prosito's music was turned off by the Liquor Board for graffiti and noise complaints; Prosito let Walkup go. The restaurant morphed into the Central Tavern, which housed many a grunge-era show, then the 6th and Proctor Bar and Grill, and finally Hell's Kitchen (Gruv what?). To fulfill his musical needs, Walkup changed his name to Spud Goodman and bought time on Tacoma's cable system for a parody/music show.  With a spatula in one hand and an open bottle of Pepto-Bismol in the other, Goodman interviewed guests and provided airtime for alternative bands in the area. It was the beginning of many cable access music shows to hit the local airwaves. It was an awesome show. Spudman, his cast and crew will commemorate the show 3-7 p.m. at The Red Hot on Tacoma's Sixth Avenue. Click here to join the Facebook event.

2. The Messiah has returned. Once again. He's holding court in downtown Olympia, in Harlequin Production's Jesus Christ Superstar. For a man who's been dead some 2,000 years, Christ sure gets around. He's resurrected (almost) as often as Joseph, of Technicolor Dreamcoat fame. JCS is very loosely based on the Gospels, and emerges as a hip passion play with a heavy emphasis on human passion. And despite the title, the star is actually JC's betrayer, Judas, here depicted as a victim of circumstance. Catch the show at 2 p.m.

3. Two theater shows close today at 2 p.m. The Laramie Project, about the killing of a gay man, Matthew Shepard, in Wyoming in 1998, ends its run at the Tacoma Little Theater. Read Christian Carvajal's full review of The Laramie Project in Northwest Military's Music & Culture section. Same Time, Next Year, the story of a love affair between two married people who see each other only once a year over the course of 25 years, closes at Olympia Little theater. Read Christian Carvajal's full review of Same Time, Next Year in Northwest Military's Music & Culture section.

4. Havey ou been to Treos in Old Town Tacoma? Here's an excuse. The Alex Worland Jazz trio will set up in the corner from 3-5 p.m.

5. Meeker Days continues in Puyallup this morning with bands Sammy Steele Band and Aces Up beginning at 3 p.m.

LINK: Sunday, June 23 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013 >>>

1. Typically, we at the Volcano don't like to travel farther on our skateboards than Best Burgers down the street, but we may have to make an exception for this unique challenge: the Go Skate Tacoma Sk8venger Hunt. Presented by the wacky scavenger-hunt enthusiasts over at Go Skate Tacoma, in conjunction with the opening of the new Spaceworks Tacoma skateboard shop Grit City Grindhouse, this "rad" event has teams of two to five people skating throughout Tacoma (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) gathering pictures of the solutions to clues presented at Grindhouse, which is owned by Taylor Woodruff and Robert Boyle. From 7-10 p.m. the winners will be celebrated over pizza and music.

2. The concept of the Broadway Center's Cathedral series is simplistic to the point of perfection: get some beautiful-sounding artists to perform in beautiful spaces designed to bounce around beautiful sounds. These are not raucous events, but rather contemplative experiences that take exploit churches' natural abilities to heighten and highlight negative space. This time around, our money is on Denver's Paper Bird as the band most likely to fill in those empty spaces. A baroque art-folk-pop seven-piece, there's never a moment wasted or tossed away without being occupied by some lively instruments or flatly gorgeous harmonies. Shenandoah Davis and Elk & Boar join Paper Bird at 7:30 p.m. in Tacoma's Immanuel Presbyterian Church.

3. Sometimes you desperately need something to bring a laugh or distract you enough to allow you to let go of whatever has been troubling you, even if only for a couple hours. Lakewood Playhouse's production of The Importance of Being Earnest does all of that. Oscar Wilde's 118-year-old script is as smart and fresh now as when it debuted in London. While director Marilyn Bennett had a fantastic play to work with, her direction of the cast and crew of the quick paced, witty script was flawless. It hits the stage at 8 p.m.

4. At 8 p.m. inside B2 Fine Arts Gallery, the ‘Til Midnight Poetry Series launches for the summer featuring the poetry and hybrid art of Travis Anderson and his presentation, "Bathers of the Sun, Bathers of the Moon." Anderson will perform his unique brand of poetry/gospel/hip-hop inspired by fellow artists Leonardo Lanzolla, Jennifer Kuhns and Mary Pacios. Anderson's performance begins at 8:40 p.m. followed by an open mic and open studio, where the community is invited to participate.

5. If you're a celluloid lovin' madman and you needed a sendoff film before jumping on your zombie horse and riding off to Austin, Texas, the late Lucio Fulci's flick The Beyond would do the trick. The Italian director upped the gore quotient in this blood-soaked, surrealistic nightmare of hell on earth film. Sadly, this scenario will indeed play out as Grindhouse Theater host Justin Giallo is outta here, but not before screening The Beyond, bustin' out trivia, passing out creepy prizes and biting a few necks. The acariness begins at 9 p.m. in The Grand Cinema.

LINK: Friday, June 21 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

TUESDAY, JUNE 18 2013 >>>

1. Since its introduction in 1894, the motorcycle has spawned a variety of cultures and uses. As basic transportation, as leisure activity or as a die-hard lifestyle, millions of people have a love affair with Choppers, Crotch Rockets, Thumpers and all things two-wheeled. The action-packed exhibit "Let's Ride! Motocycling The Northwest at the Washington State History Museum is a celebration of the region's never-waning motorcycle culture - will include interactive exhibits, videos and impressive displays of machines from 1906 to the 21st century. Check it out from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

2. It's Tuesday and that means The Grand Cinema unleashes another special film as part of its Tuesday Film Series. Today at 1:40 and 6:30 p.m. The Grand will screen bio-doc Renoir, a look at the  elderly painter Auguste Renoir who finds inspiration in a new model. Read John Kephart's preview on the Walkie Talkie blog.

3. With a 90-minute set featuring around 20 of Diamond's hits – ranging from his early work for television shows, such as The Monkees ("I'm A Believer") to songs from his movie "The Jazz Singer" – Neil Diamond tribute band The Diamond Experience will rock the Red Wind Casino from 6:30-9:30 p.m.

4. A poignant story of lost love in the greatest tradition of Greek tragedies told through the recollections of WWI veteran Nick Carraway. A relatively rich young mid-western bachelor living on Long Island Sound and attempting to break into the bond business, Carraway finds himself in the opulent lifestyle of the rich and famous. But very soon he is drawn into the  messy lives of a distant cousin and her abusive, philandering husband, an odd female golfer and a mysterious man, his rich and somewhat eccentric neighbor. Sounds like a read right up the Banned Book Club's alley. The club will discuss The Great Gatsby at 7 p.m. inside Doyle's Public House.

5. If hearing the sound of your own cackling voice echoing off the walls of your shower stall has you craving the sound of something a bit more harmonious, check out the local songbirds at Victory Music Open Mic at the Antique Sandwich Co. It's guaranteed to be jam-packed with gorgeous sounds and humbling verses, as the South Sound's greatest up-and-coming acoustic musicians bare their souls impromptu-style. Performances start at 7 p.m., and if you're thinking that your shower-time ballads are ready for public consumption, you can sign up for your own moment in the, er, sun at 6.

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