Perhaps The Grand Cinema missed a good bet by not scheduling Renoir - part of their Tuesday Film Series - on Father's Day instead.  It is the story of a father after all, Impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and his relationship with his middle son, Jean. It's also the story of a free-spirited girl who was one of the elder Renoir's last models. Her youth and beauty inspired both men.

Based on real events, Renoir takes place in 1915, when the 74-year-old painter brings his latest muse, Andree Heuschling, to his South of France estate. Jean returns home to convalesce after being wounded in the war, and becomes enchanted with her. An aspiring actress, Andree encourages him to pursue filmmaking. As a result, he not only became a internationally recognized film director, but married the girl as well.

Thanks, dad!

RENOIR, 1:40 and 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 18, The Grand Cinema, 606 S. Fawcett Ave., Tacoma, $4.50-$9, 253.593.4474

You love ABC's Mistresses, the show about four sexy girlfriends - including Alyssa Milano and Lost's Yunjin Kim - who lead sexy lives loaded with sexy problems and sexy men, but at least they have one another's sexy shoulders to cry on. You know what you don't love? You don't love M177 Howitzer firings during your beloved Mistresses show. Unfortunately for you, that's exactly what's going to happen tonight at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. In fact, the 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. blasts will happen every night, same time, through Friday, June 21. Tuesday's The Voice? Boom! Wednesday's Restaurant Stakeout? Bam! Thursday's Swamp People? Ka-boom! Friday's Blue Bloods when Danny leans about voodoo while investigating a stabbing committed by someone in costume on Halloween? No! Yup, BANG!

What are you going to do? Not allow the troops to meet training requirement because you love watching actors act like terrible waiters?

According to a press release from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, "The purpose of the late-night training is to maintain unit proficiency in firing illumination rounds during periods of low visibility, as well as standard high-explosive rounds, to maintain section level proficiencies, and to meet requirements for certification and qualification. This is normally scheduled and required training, which allows military members to practice and improve skills required during combat. As often as possible, JBLM conducts larger scale demolition training and artillery firing at JBLM Yakima Training Center in an effort to minimize inconvenience for the surrounding communities. However, some training must take place on base."

At least JBLM won't blast your beloved Breaking Amish Saturday night.

SATURDAY, JUNE 15 2013 >>>

1. It's hard to believe it's been 28 years since Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) first leaped into that plutonium-powered DeLorean and time-traveled back to 1955. LeMay - America's Car Museum is kicking off its summer drive-in movie series at 4:30 p.m. (movie starts at sunset) with Back to the Future. ACM will have a giant 40-foot movie screen that will allow people to park and watch the movie – free of charge – from their cars or spread out on its lawn with blankets and chairs — accompanied by ACM's two DeLoreans on the showfield. Additional activities including zip-lining and food will be available for purchase.

2. Opening today and running through Oct. 6, The Herb and Lucy Pruzan collection will be on display at Tacoma Art Museum. Representing half a century of art collecting, the Pruzan collection features more than 100 works from well-known Northwest artists including such art world stars as William Cumming, Gaylen Hansen, Paul Havas, William Ivey, Fay Jones, James Martin, Alden Mason, Ginny Ruffner, Preston Singletary, Akio Takamori, and more. Called Creating the New Northwest, the exhibition shares the story of how Northwest artists have shaped new perceptions and a new sense of artistic identity.

3. The sundresses and flip flops that are released from their closets this time of year are fine and dandy for this fundraiser.at 4 p.m., break out your inner Algernon or Lady Bracknell (please imagine the "r" rumbling like thunder as you read that name) for Lakewood Playhouse's Party on the Patio, which benefits the playhouse in, er, Lakewood. Before its 8 p.m. staging of The Importance of Being Earnest, the staff and board - none of them named Earnest - will host an outdoor cook-out on its patio, which no doubt will be wickedly clever, full of brilliant aphorisms and entirely insincere - at least the play will be. Expect a silent auction, raffle, board elections, open house and more leading up to curtain time. A jaunty romp from beginning to end we're sure.

4. Vocal legend Tony Bennett pushes boundaries when it comes to his duets, most notably those with k.d. lang. But when it comes to flying solo, the man gives the people exactly what they want: his smooth, elegant, laidback take on standards you'd swear were his to begin with. Each time through the South Sound the man has sounded suave ... and has looked it too. Remember that canary-yellow sport coat he wore? How about the voice? Cynics may call it a gimmick, but Bennett's modern-era performances always include an a capella number. All said and done, when the spotlight shines, silence covers the room, and a still-strong version of, perhaps, "The Best is Yet to Come" flows from the 86(!)-year-old Bennett. Bonus: Bennett's 7:30 p.m. concert at the Pantages Theater is a benefit for the arts in public schools.

5. When jazz trumpeter Lance Buller isn't holding court at Metropolitan Market's espresso area or every Friday at Maxwell's Speakeasy, he's producing jazz concerts, including a Jazz@TMP series at Tacoma Musical Playhouse. Buller has lined up another winner as the Black Swan Classic Jazz Band from Portland, Ore. and their vocalist, Marilyn Keller will fill the old Narrows Theater with music one would find in the French Quarter of New Orleans in the 1920s or F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby at 8 p.m. According to hype, "Black Swan will serve up blues, stomps, marches, ragtime and gospel. Songs will be selected from the 1890s through Tin Pan Alley through the Golden Age of song to selections recently composed by our band members."

LINK: Saturday, June 15 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

WITH A SPATULA IN ONE HAND AND A HOT DOG IN THE OTHER >>>

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 6ht 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.

It looks as if Spudman, his cast and crew will commemorate the show 3-7 p.m. Sunday, June 23 at The Red Hot on Tacoma's Sixth Avenue. Click here to join the Facebook event.

MONDAY, JUNE 10 2013 >>>

1. It's appropriate Bill W. - a documentary that recalls the life of Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder William G. Wilson - skips the eight gazillion dollars special effects and 3-D action of modern-day films. Wilson's story - one of heartbreak, recovery and heroism - is a serious one, and the never-before-seen photographs, diary entries and speeches speak for themselves, revealing how Wilson, a hopeless drunk near death from his alcoholism, found a way out of his own addiction and then forged a path for countless others to follow through A.A., a deed that landed him in TIME Magazine's 100 Persons of the 20th Century. Filmmakers Kevin Hanlon and Dan Carracino don't pull any punches in the film that screens at 6:45 p.m. at The Grand Cinema. We see Wilson cheat on his fiercely dedicated wife, experiment with LSD and request alcohol as he suffered on his deathbed from emphysema.

2. Trombonist Marc Smason has performed throughout the world with such luminaries as the Funk Brothers, Baby Gramps, Big Joe Turner, Andy Statman Perry Robinson, Sam Shepard, Julian Priester, Sonny Simmons and Jeff Johnson. His playing encompasses many styles including jazz, Latin, klezmer and R&B. Catch him and his band, A Better World, at 8 p.m. in The Royal Lounge.

3. Monday is typically a black hole for nightlife. Sure, if you run a sports bar, you'll do well during the World Series or football season, but for most eating and drinking establishments, it's just dead, dead, dead. There's a darn good reason why so many bars are empty on Mondays. So how do those that remain open find ways to fill barstools on this, the most dreadful evening of the workweek? The folks at The Swiss seem to have found a solution and, oddly enough, it's one that has been the bane of many other venues: live music. Since the beginning of time, The Swiss has hosted live blues every Monday at 8 p.m. Tonight, guitar legend Jerry Miller will be in the house.

4. Hey! Guess what? Rafael Tranquilino hosts an experimental jam at Stonegate Pizza every Monday night! Get in on the rockin' action tonight.

5. Beginning at 9 p.m. every Monday Jazzbones is packed to the brim with college kids. Party types. The type that wear tight shirts and trucker hats. Throngs of Chad Fratguys and Sarah Sororitysisters swarm the bar, line up for the bathroom and dance to the Rockaraoke - live band karaoke. The Rockaraoke band is skilled, too. Expect $2 PBR drafts, $3 Sinfire shots and $4 Smirnoff flavor vodka bombs.

LINK: Monday, June 10 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

FRIDAY, MAY 31 2013 >>>

1. Thor Heyerdahl's 1947 expedition across the Pacific on a balsa-wood raft never quite settled the point he set out to make - that South American voyagers settled the Polynesian islands - but it did motivate a generation of young dreamers to embark on improbable adventures. Having already told the story of WWII resistance fighter Max Manus, directors Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg turn their attention to this most famous of Norwegian heroes via an old-fashioned seafaring yarn. Kon-Tiki is an absolute feast for the eyes with vast, beautiful shots of the Blue Pacific that completely immerse and isolate the viewer in the film's seemingly infinite expanse of ocean; something that the viewer may come to regret when the ocean's less-friendly denizens decide to investigate Heyerdahl's increasingly fragile raft. It plays at 2:40, 5:30 and 8:15 p.m. in The Grand Cinema.

2. The Evergreen Science Carnival promises breathtaking sideshows and unbelievable phenomena. Don't go to the carnival expecting bearded ladies, strongmen or magic shows. Think more along the lines of a chance to view solar flares or learn how to extract catnip - or see a student set his hand on fire. The experiments run 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the LAB I, LAB II and Lectures Halls on The Evergreen State College campus.

3. Mel George, one of Australia's leading glass artists and part of the current Museum of Glass show "Links," exploring connections between Northwest and Australian glass, will be working in the Hot Shop from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

4. UK playwright Pericles Snowdon's Bluebeard is a story about isolation, family, betrayal, apocalypse and parenthood. Under the direction of David Domkoski, Assemblage Theater brings to life the dark story of Blue, a woman who has been so hurt and disillusioned by her experiences in the outside world that she steals three little girls and locks them away in an abandoned church - our beloved Urban Grace Church in downtown Tacoma - for their whole lives in order to protect them, while a kind of apocalypse happens outside. Blue creates strict rules by which the girls must live and re-writes history, making the girls "perform" a different chapter of it each day. Creepy. Then, the mysterious Magnon steps into their melancholy blue world and turns it upside down. Watch it all go down at 8 p.m. inside the Urban Grace.

5. Local band Ranchero is an aural melding pot of '90s grunge, '80s guitar rock and the most exciting elements throughout the rock genre. The thunderous rhythm section, made up of Andy Coffey on drums and DaRatt Lucas on bass, provides the driving foundations to propel the dual guitar assault from Barry Meier and Tim "Vegas" Silvers. Their "pull-no-punches" attitude with their approachability and personality will make the Music and Art in Wright Park benefit show at 9 p.m. in The New Frontier Lounge effing rockin'. C.F.A. and The Dignitaries join the fun.

LINK: Friday, May 31 arts and entertainment events in the greater TAcoma and Olympia area

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29 2013 >>>

1. The Grand Cinema teaches science in a different way: First it secures a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and the Coolidge Corner Theatre Foundation to pair films with lessons in science. Next, it invites notable figures from the world of science, technology and medicine to give introduction lessons using those long pointer sticks to tap the screen while nodding their heads. Each film is used as a jumping off point for the speaker to reveal current scientific research or technological advances, providing the perfect combination of entertainment and enlightenment - even for the most science-phobic culture vulture. Then, of course, everyone watches the film, paying close attention to key factor brought to light by the big brains before the screening. Science on Screen kicks off at 6:45 p.m. with Dr. Jim Gawel, professor of Environmental Engineering and Environmental Chemistry at the University of Washington Tacoma, who will discuss how the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens completely changed the ecosystem and chemistry of Spirit Lake. Afterward, he'll grab some popcorn and watch Alien with the audience. Read Pappi Swarner's full feature on Science on Screen in Northwest Military's Music & Culture section.

2. Pierce College Theatre blasts off on a rock-and-roll flight to Return to the Forbidden Planet, a family-friendly musical that tells the story of mad scientist Doctor Prospero who unknowingly jettisoned into space with his infant daughter, crashes into D’Illyria, the Forbidden Planet, and the adventure begins. The play features a 35-member cast of Pierce students and community members, a live band and professionally designed costumes - at 7 p.m. on its Fort Steilacoom campus.

3. Weekly Volcano readers voted the Top of Tacoma Bar and Cafe the best bar in Tacoma. This was due in no small part to its well drink Wednesdays. Two dollar well drinks after 7 p.m. Are you kidding? That's, like, riding the train to funkytown for only eight bucks. Yes, please. The kitchen stays open to midnight. Choo, choooo!

4. Champagne Sunday brings its powerful, honest, edgy and refreshingly original rock music to Cork Wine Bar at 8 p.m.

5. Play bingo with those not just killing time before the Grim Reaper calls their number. At 9 p.m. in The New Frontier, bingo players are treated to a rather boisterous evening of number calling. The music rocks, the prizes are craptastic and there's something very satisfying about yelling, "It's not a tumor!" when B-9 is pulled from the hopper (Schwarzenegger anyone?).

LINK: Wednesday, May 29 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

TUESDAY, MAY 28 2013 >>>

1. If you're considering climbing a mountain, we suggest you hightail it to the Olympia Farmers Market at 7 p.m. and catch mountaineer Jim Whittaker's lecture and slideshow. Whittaker was the first American to summit Mount Everest (1963). He joins The Alpine Experience's Launch of the Mountain Life Festival to discuss the climb he made 50 years ago, as well as the hundreds of other climbs he's made worldwide. After listening to Whittaker's adventures, you can make a solid decision if Mount Rainier is in your future.

2. It's Tuesday, which means The Grand Cinema screens a special film for today only. At 2 and 6:45 p.m. expect to see Band of Sisters, the story of Catholic nuns and their work for social justice after Vatican II of the 1960s.

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 from 7-10 p.m.

4. You are getting sleepy, v-e-r-y sleepy. Now, go see the hypnotist show at 8 p.m. inside the Red Wind Casino. Whether a skeptic or believer, the show will be sure to entertain with its comedy, rock and roll and outrageous hypnosis, like people sneezing and having orgasms(!) when Ron Stubbs, the man behind the magic, utters the word "pepper."

5. The quintet pop-punk band Good Morning Tonight from Casper, Wyoming joins Larusso at 8 p.m. in Le Voyeur.

LINK: Tuesday, May 28 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SATURDAY, MAY 25 2013 >>>

1. That's right, it's Tacoma Jazz & Blues Festival time again, when you can cram an entire week's worth of fun into one whirlwind Saturday. The Harmon Brewery & Eatery, The Swiss and Stonegate Pizza, between 12:30 and 11:30 p.m., will be going full blast with quartets up to big bands the size of Ruston's population. The Blues stage at The Harmon kicks off at 12:30 p.m. with Steve Cooley and the Dangerfields, followed by The Cody Rentas Band at 2, Maia Santell and House Blend at 3:30 and headline Arthur Migliazza at 5 p.m. The Johnny Lewis Big Band and Roadside Attraction will command The Swiss from 1-6 p.m. Beginning at 8 p.m. Rich Wetzel's Groovin' Higher Jazz Orchestra with guest trumpeter Mike Vax will perform for three and a half hours at Stonegate Pizza. The festival is free, thanks to sponsors - although there's a $5 cover at Stonegate.

2. The Gig Harbor Street Scramble is a treasure hunt that leads participants to 30 checkpoints throughout the community beginning at 9:30 a.m. The checkpoints are circled on a map, and each has a description such as "sculpture" or "road bend." They can be visited in any order, on foot or bike. Participants cannot use a motorized vehicle. Participants must return to the finish line before their time is up. To register, pick up a brochure at the Tom Taylor Family YMCA; Gig Harbor Visitor Information Center, 3125 Judson St.; or at other locations around Gig Harbor including Uptown Gig Harbor, Integrated Financial Services, MultiCare Gig Harbor Medical Park, Route 16 Running and Walking, Columbia Bank and Old Town Bicycle.

3. Beginning at 1 p.m., Olympia is going to be off the hook. Hip-hop scenes from Olympia, Tacoma and Seattle will merge for an all-day event of Western Washington's version of the XXL Freshman List. Hundreds of votes poured in, highlighting the regions favorite performers who rap, battle and blow minds. Leezy Soprano, XP, AKA and the Heart Hurt Goods, Motamouth Jones, NW Choppas and The Th3rds are just a few of the artists on the bill, which will also include the popular We Out Here Battle League, that will consume the Olympia Ballroom.

4. As we mentioned yesterday, Justin Giallo is presenting the sickest and most violent of all the '80s slasher movies, PIECES "uncut," as part of his Grindhouse Theater Film Series at The Grand Cinema. At 9 p.m. film critic Joe Bob Briggs will host the screening. That's right, the opinionated "Original Drive-In Reviewer" will be in the house. Expect a free raffle, trivia with prizes and screams.

5. As drummer and frontman of Umber Sleeping and I Like Science, Peter Tietjen would compose spaced-out, repetitive jams in a similar mode as bands such as Stereolab and Can. With the release of his solo debut, Tietjen's performance at 9 p.m. in The New Frontier Lounge will be accompanied by a cavalcade of local fixtures - presumably acting as the titular "Balloon Power Challenge" - including Rowhouse's Alex Tapia and Gary Kawamura, People Under the Sun's James Jenkins and Taxi Driver's Nate Dybevik.

LINK: Saturday, May 25 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

FRIDAY, MAY 24 2013 >>>

1. All you really need to know is Seattle band Levels band lives for the structure and impact of a tightly constructed riff. Though adorned with bare-bones effects, their song "Ghoul" thrives on the immediacy and unimpeachably affecting riff supplied by guitarist and frontman Jerry Van Galder. His vocals are masculine and deadpan, another nod to the efficiency that seems to define Levels. As of the recording, Levels were just a two-piece, Van Galder's voice and guitar propelled forward by the drumming of Saba Samakar. Catch them at 10 p.m. with Simon the Leper, Icanus at New Mexico at Le Voyeur in downtown Olympia. Read Rev. Adam McKinney's full feature on Level in Northwest Military's Music & Culture section.

2. Pierce County Gleaning Project has created the Food Justice Book Club in which members will be be reading fiction, nonfiction and memoir around the topics of food justice, gleaning and food security. Drop in on the club at 7 p.m. in King's Books and get in  the discussion over A Place at the Table: The Crisis of 49 Million Hungry Americans and How to Solve It by Peter Pringle.

3. Junkyard Jane is a Northwest "swampabilly" blues band performing original music and consisting of: vocalist/percussionist Leanne Trevalyan, vocalist/guitarist Billy Stoops, bassist Barbra Blue and drummer Chris Leighton. Check them out in all their blue collar glory at 8 p.m. in Jazzbones.

4. Tacoma Comedy Club presents comedian Nick Vatterott - name dthe funniest man in Chicago - at 8 and 10:30 p.m. The Tacoma Comedy Club offers free admission for active and retired military and dependents May 23-26.

5. You can watch a movie anywhere these days: your phone, Xbox, iPad, iPod and whatever Apple decides the next iProduct should be (iPants gets my vote - hip yet functional). But despite all the advances in movie-watching technology, there's nothing quite like gritty classic gore projected on the big screen in original 35mm film to a room full of horror nerds. Justin Giallo knows this, which is why he invented the Grindhouse Theater Film Series at The Grand Cinema. At 9 p.m., Giallo - oh boy get ready to crap your pants - will screen the sickest and most violent of all the '80s slasher movies, PIECES "uncut." 

LINK: Friday, May 24 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area