SATURDAY, JAN. 19 2013 >>>

1. Charlyne Yi (who you may know from movies like Knocked Up and her own quasi-documentary Paper Heart) will perform drop by the Olympia all-ages venue Northern at 9 p.m. Yi, a resident of the out-of-control great Los Angeles indie comedy scene, is a true original. Bizarre, hilarious, and utterly unique, Charlyne Yi's music finds itself somewhere between performance art, anti-folk and sketch comedy.

2. The Museum of Glass opens "Northwest Artists Collect" exhibition today from a run through October 2013. Organized by Museum of Glass in conjunction with interns (interns rule!) from University of Washington, Tacoma, the collection offers a glimpse into the world of Pacific Northwest glass artists Martin Blank, Joseph Gregory Rossano, Richard Royal, Ginny Ruffner, Preston Singletary, Cappy Thompson and Dick Weiss through their personal collections and the role that collecting plays in inspiring and influencing artists and their work. Check it out from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

3. They're coming at you - all the bird in Tacoma are about to home in on your head and then tear your eyes out. Yes, it's that scary. The Broadway Center presents the 1963 Hitchcock classic The Birds at 3 p.m. inside the Theatre on the Square. The film focuses on the residents of Bodega Bay as they are confronted with a malicious, full-scale attack by birds of all shapes and sizes. Interesting film fact: Having failed to make Vera Miles (The Wrong Man, Psycho) the next Grace Kelly, Alfred Hitchcock turned to Tippi Hedren, whom he discovered in a diet drink commercial. Hedren starred in The Birds and then alongside Sean Connery in Marnie, but the real career went to her daughter, Melanie Griffith.

4. Alec Clayton, author of The Backside of Nowhere and art critic for the Weekly Volcano, recently published Return to Freedom, which begins where Backside left off - the day of the hurricane that wiped out the little bayou village of Freedom, Miss. Clayton and local actors Pug Bujeaud, Michael Christopher, Heather Christopher, Jennie Jenks and Christine Goode will read scenes from Clayton's new book at 3 p.m. inside Orca Books. Discussion and book signing will follow.

5. In Olympia, the King's birthday has become synonymous with one man: Robert Washington - one of the world's top Elvis impersonators (see the film Almost Elvis) ... and a guy who just happens to be black. To some this is controversial. To Washington, it's simply his calling. "I don't really think about it. I'm not going to let my color prevent me from being the best," Washington told the Weekly Volcano in 2004. At 7:30 p.m. Washington will be back in Oly for the Elvis Birthday Bash. In addition to Washington's performance, there will a screening of the documentary, Almost Elvis, which follows contenders, including Washington, on their quest to be crowned "King" at the World Championships.

PLUS: Willy Wonka, Stunt Dog Experience and Caspar Babypants in our Weekend Hustle

LINK: Saturday, Jan. 19 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

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

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Clouds and fog, hi 39, lo 29

Saturday: Morning fog then partly cloudy, hi 43, lo 29

Sunday: Morning fog then partly cloudy, hi 44, lo 28

>>> FRIDAY, JAN. 18: DUSTY 45S

Aside from their good looks and talented musicians, including upright bass, harmonica and trumpet players, The Dusty 45s also bring an element of theater to the stage, with story-telling, animated gestures, and surprises, like a trumpet that comes ablaze with fire. Known to jump from country twang, to blues, jazz, or good ole rock 'n' roll, the 5-piece Americana band keeps the crowd engaged like no other. The Dusty 45's are making a rare stop in Olympia this Friday. Catch them if you can. - Nikki McCoy

• The Royal Lounge, 8 p.m., 311 Capitol Way, Olympia, 360.705.0760

>>> SATURDAY, JAN. 19: WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

The Grand Cinema will screen Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory as part of its Click! TV Family Flick series, which hits the big screen at 10 a.m. - for free - on a first come, first serve basis. It might not be Gene Wilder's best role, but it's certainly his most memorable - and those Oompa Loompas are just as creepy-licious as ever. Based on the children's book by Roald Dahl. Check out: The tune Wonka plays to open his musical lock. Mrs. Tee-Vee says it's Rachmaninoff, but actually it's the overture from Mozart's "Marriage of Figaro." — Weekly Volcano

• The Grand Cinema, 10 a.m., free, 606 S. Fawcett Ave., TAcoma, 253.593.4474
  

>>> SATURDAY, JAN. 19: STUNT DOG EXPERIENCE

Your dog is lame. His "big trick" involves chewing through your records (country, specifically). Man, you really loved that first Taylor Swift album. Fortunately, your dog is handsome, so his creature comforts remain secure. The stars of Stunt Dog Experience earn their keep the old-fashioned way: They work for it. They fly like sugar gliders, weave through obstacles like show ponies and perform acrobatics that would challenge Olympic athletes. Check it. — WV

• Washington Center, 2 and 7 p.m., $10-$25, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia, 360.753.8586

>>> SATURDAY. JAN. 19: CASPAR BABYPANTS

Caspar Babypants makes his way back to the Tacoma area Saturday, this time landing at the Lakewood Pierce County library. The kindie-rock star is Chris Ballew of Presidents of the United States of America. With simple, sweet and goofy songs you can dance to - not a far stretch from PUSA - Caspar Babypants tones it down in content and instruments to appeal to the kids. As Weird Al Yankovic so rightly states on Ballew's website, "Caspar Babypants is one of the few children's recording artists I can listen to without wanting to stab myself in the eyes." — NM

• Lakewood Pierce County, 1:30 p.m., free, 6300 Wildaire Rd SW Lakewood, 253.582.6040

>>> SUNDAY, JAN. 20: WINERAM LAUNCH PARTY

WINERAM is an original, six-part web documentary exploring the world's top wine regions. Colin West, host of the series, has now teamed up with Olympia pro photographer, Casey Grant. The two of them will be leaving Jan. 21 to spend three to four months in Australia turning the web series into a full feature documentary, Vintage. Sunday, a launch party will feature a film premiere of Episode 3 of The WINERAM Experience from New Zealand and a debut of the latest work they have produced together. It's also Grant's dirty 30 birthday party, and while it's not confirmed, rumor has it he's accepting birthday spankings. - NM

• Urban Onion, 7 p.m., all ages until 11 p.m., no cover, 116 Legion Way, Olympia, 360.943.9242

WHAT SOME OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS ARE UP TO

CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL Theater Critic
I'm seeing Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks at Tacoma Little Theatre, attending Alec Clayton's reading/signing at Orca Books and indulging in foie gras (finally!) at Marrow Kitchen.

REV. ADAM MCKINNEY Music Writer
I've been holed up in my house all week, so I worry that I'll explode once the weekend comes. Just putting that out there so people know. I may explode.

ALEC CLAYTON Arts Critic
Our son and his in-laws will be visiting. I have no idea what we'll do, but I'm sure it will be joyful ... and wet and cold. I shall start the weekend with Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks at Tacoma Little Theatre. Saturday afternoon actors will be reading select scenes from my new novel, Return to Freedom at Orca Books. Sunday night I will interview a bunch of drag queens who perform at Jakes on 4th.

NIKKI MCCOY Feature Writer
I'm taking my little dudes to the mountain so they can learn to snowboard. Or as the youngest calls it "surfing the snow." Hot tubbing and book reading are also in the plans for this mama.

JACKIE FENDER Food Writer
Friday night will be a meeting of minds at Wrist magazine's introduction shindig at The Social, which will involve plenty of tasty cocktail envy on my behalf. Workity shmork over the weekend and adult Peace Out fun on Saturday afternoon.

JOANN VARNELL Theater Critic
I am excited to spend the whole weekend hanging out with my toddler and husband without any big plans Friday or Saturday. After church on Sunday, I will be reviewing Tacoma Musical Playhouse's production of The Musical of Musicals, the Musical.

JENNI PRANGE BORAN Features Writer
We're taking our 5-year-old to Supernova to get a real non-Mom haircut. He's starting to look like Chaka from Land of the Lost.

STEVE DUNKELBERGER Photog About Town
Grand Cinema's Family Flix of the original Willy Wonka as well as Musical of Musicals at Tacoma Musical Playhouse Saturday and resting Sunday with some work on the book and Xbox 360 with the chillons.

ROCKFORD ROWLEY All-Ages Music Columnist
This weekend I'm spending some quality time with my textbooks, computer and a great cup of coffee - no room for cream. The latter component will probably be provided at Bluebeard Coffee.

LINK: Even more local events that we recommend

LINK: Comprehensive South Sound Arts & Entertainment Calendar

WATCH IT WITH FRIENDS >>>

Back in November, Weekly Volcano reported Guy Fieri was srusing his red convertible through the South Sound, filming his Food Network show, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and making stops in Tacoma, Puyallup and Olympia.

Passersby on the day filming went down at Darby's Cafe in Olympia barely grabbed peeks of Fieri's spikey hair through Darby's window. Monday, Jan. 21 you may grab a full view of his hair and that day's action when the Capitol Theater hosts the televised premiere of "Hometown Haunts" — the epsiode that includes Fieri's visit to Darby's Cafe.

The night kicks off at 5:30 p.m. with a screening of the documentary I Like Killing Flies about a famous New York diner. A raffle will also take place, including gift certificates to local restaurants.

"Hometown Haunts" airs 10 p.m. Monday, Jan. 21 on national television. The Capitol Theater will show the 7 p.m. East Coast feed on its big screen.

Admission is $5 or two cans of food. All proceeds benefit the Thurston County Food Bank.

Bonus: Three Darby's Cafe recipes are posted on the Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives website.

Monday, Feb. 11 Fish Tale Brew Pub will receive Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives love as Fieri visited it on the same visit to Olympia. No word on when the show will broadcast the visits Fieri made to Tacoma and Puyallup.

LINK: Guy Fieri toured the South Sound

HERE WE GO AGAIN >>>

Let's play another round of South Sound in the reality television world. Apparently, David DeLay of Grandpa's R.V. Productions - manager of the rock band Machina and creator of the reality TV show The Making of Rockstars - has grabbed a music video from the Puyallup band Insuburban Avenue to be part of a segment featuring up-and-coming bands on the show.

DeLay caught the Puyallup teens at the local rock show and was blown away.

According to a press release, DeLay "was amazed by then thirteen year old Breanna's voice as well as thirteen year old Avery's guitar shredding. Once he found out they were all under eighteen at the time, he knew he'd discovered a rare gem."

The chosen video is for Insuburban Avenue's "Try Me."

According to the press release ...

Filming for The Making of Rockstars started in November 2012 in New Orleans and surrounding areas. The show follows National rock band "Machina," whose members were formerly original members of Evanescence and Furture Leaders of the World, as they try and secure a top spot in the music industry.

TUESDAY, JAN. 15 2-13 >>>

1. The band called Miss Massive Snowflake plays jumpy, art-damaged pop similar to the mid '80s work of Talking Heads, as well as the loopily shifting tempos of bands like Menomena or a sunnier Dirty Projectors. This is a band that writes songs that function like short stories is more of a bonus to fervent listeners, as opposed to the quirkily catchy rhythms and melodies that are instantly grabbing. Flares of polyrhythms and electronic textures round out and give depth to a band that might otherwise skate by on effortless hooks. Catch Miss Massive snowflake at 10 p.m. inside Le Voyeur in Olympia.

2. The work of longtime Tacoma artist and educator Bill Colby is featured in a new exhibition at the Tacoma Public Library's Handforth Gallery at the downtown Main Library. The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

3. It's Tuesday, which means another bonus film will be screened at The Grand Cinema. Today's film is The Mountain Runners, the story of what is thought to be the first adventure races in the United States - a contest of certain insanity, held from 1911 to 1913, pitting modified Model A cars against a train and runners up the slippery slopes of Mount Baker. Discover what happens at 2 and 6:30 p.m.

4. Located in the heart of Tacoma's Sixth Avenue, Metronome's open mic is where you will see old Sears/Roebuck guitars and tight corduroy pants. A very dynamic open mic, you will hear a wide variety of music, and will be among an attentive audience of listeners. Hosted every Tuesday from 7 p.m. until closing, Metronome Coffee is a great place to spend your midweek night out and enjoy some great coffee.

5. Tacoma Cabana tiki bar will host the Geeks Who Drinks trivia game at 8 p.m. The game consists of eight rounds of eight questions and is played in teams of up to six people. Questions are read aloud by the quizmaster; teams write their answers on provided sheets and turn them in at the end of each round. The team with the most points after eight rounds is the winner. Read Pappi Swarner's interview with Quizmaster Holland Hume on the Weekly Volcano's blog, Spew.

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

The film The Mountain Runners first appeared at The Grand Cinema during its 2012 Tacoma Film Festival. The masses were pleased. The show sold out. Rave reviews amassed! Now, The Grand is bringing it back for two screenings on Tuesday, Jan. 15, as part of its Tuesday Film Series.

The film tells the story of what is thought to be the first adventure races in the United States - a contest of certain insanity, held from 1911 to 1913, pitting modified Model A cars against a train and runners up the slippery slopes of Mount Baker. Like I said, certain insanity.

"We think the film has a wide appeal because it tells the story of an amazing, true adventure here in Washington state that until now really had not been told," says Zach Powers, marketing director at The Grand. "It is a suspenseful story that pits local heroes against the elements and terrain."

The Mountain Runners is a locally produced film. Co-directors Todd Warger and Brian Young will be at both screenings at The Grand for post-show talks and question sessions.

THE GRAND CINEMA, TUESDAY, JAN. 15 2 AND 6:30 P.M., $4.50-$7, THE GRAND CINEMA, 606 S. FAWCETT, TACOMA, 253.593.4474

LET'S DO SOME SCROLLING >>>

Sunday morning, we'll be yelling at the top of our lunges, stuffing ourselves into a purple-hazed food coma and throwing adult temper tantrums during commercials, all in the name of cheering the Seahawks to a win Sunday against Atlanta, then on to the NFC Championship game.

Where to watch the game?

Good question. Ideally, the Weekly Volcano wants a combination of multiple televisions, good grub and drink specials. Good grub could be sacrificed.

We searched Facebook looking for Seahawk breakfast specials in the South Sound so you don't have to.

Burs in Lakewood

Cheers West in University Place

Farrelli's Pizza Tacoma

Johnny's At Fife

Masa on Sixth Avenue

Pints & Quarts Pub in Lacey

O'Blarney's Irish Pub in Olympia

The Office in downtown Tacoma

The Ram on Tacoma's Ruston Way and South Hill Puyallup

The Red Hot on Sixth Avenue

Spring Lake Cafe

The Swiss in downtown Tacoma

Topside Bar and Grill in Steilacoom

Varsity Grill in downtown Tacoma

Where else?

SATURDAY, JAN. 12 2013 >>>

1. The Future Bass DJs - Mr. Melanin, BROAM and Bobby Galaxy - have been a mainstay of the Tacoma alternative club/nightscene since 2009, blending cultures and genres by mixing the cutting edge of hip-hop, heavy electro dance music and indy electroclash remixes. It's a night of infectious, soulful beats backed by lush visuals and classic breakdancing videos. It's awesome. Get into the groove beginning at 9 p.m. inside The New Frontier Lounge.

2. Man's best friend comes in many shapes and sizes. There are small dogs, big dogs, hairy dogs and dogs that shit and piss all over the place. There are cute dogs, ugly dogs, stinky dogs, and, well, dogs that shit and piss all over the place. From 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Puyallup Fairgrounds (specifically, the Puyallup Fair & events Center) the Western Washington All Breed Dog Show Cluster will end its weekend run in epic fashion - pitting the most privileged and pampered yappers you'll ever seen in a battle royal for canine supremacy.

3. The waves of shock reverberated throughout Tacoma. Mouths fell agape. Eyes stared in bewilderment. Dogs paced nervously. On April 14, 2011 the beloved and historic pagoda at Point Defiance Park was set ablaze by a 15-year-old boy. The nearly 100-year-old building - built in 1914 and a replica of a 17th century Japanese lodge - that went from streetcar station in May 1914 to home to a lot of weddings up to 21 months ago, was destroyed. Seven million dollars later, The Pagoda opens today at  2 p.m. with self-guide tours, history lectures, speeches and hugs until 5 p.m.

Even if you don't quite understand the complicated politics behind the bitter intractability of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, you'll have a visceral reaction to 5 Broken Cameras, a documentary that captures five years of protests via the amateur lenses of Emad Burnat, a Palestinian farmer whose hometown of Bil'in on the West Bank was overtaken by Israeli settlements just as his youngest son, Gibreel, was born. The documentary will be screened at 5 p.m. inside the First United Methodist Church. Emad Burnat's brother, Iyad Burnat - a nonviolent activist from Bil'in - will host the film, then discuss his life in the West Bank under Israeli military occupation.

5. "When you eat pancakes out of a bag in a semi-public place, there are rules," says comedian Kyle Kinane midway through an eight-minute story about watching a man on an airplane eat pancakes out of a grocery bag. You or I might see such a sight and, upon reporting it to our friends later, the extent of our story might be just, "Pretty weird, right?" But that's not how Kyle Kinane operates. On his first album, Death of the Party, and his second, Whiskey Icarus, Kinane tells stories both large and small, but they are never short of epic in the telling. Whether it's a story about the terror of using a bathroom in a sketchy bar, or about what it means to receive a blank fortune cookie, or about the rules of speeding tickets for bicyclists, Kinane wrings short stories out of even the most mundane things, and it's always hilarious. Catch him at 8 and 10:30 p.m. tonight at the Tacoma Comedy Club. Read Rev. Adam McKinney's interview with comedian Kyle Kinane in the Weekly Volcano's Arts acetion.

LINK: Saturday, Jan. 12 arts and entertainment events in the greter Tacoma and Olympia area

TWO GUYS AND TWO FILMS >>>

"Exploring Extreme Christianity Lands Two Locals a Spot in Hollywood."

Normally, it seems the opposite behavior is what draws headlines and brings people to one of the world's most notorious sin cities.

But, Hollywood is also know as a land of opportunity, and two locals - writer/director Stephen Riehl of Olympia and composer/sound designer Shawn Kelly of Tacoma - will be presenting their newest film, Upon This Rock, at Sunset Gower Studios in Hollywood, Calif. for the NewFilmmakers LA showcase Tuesday, Jan. 15.

Upon This Rock is a nod to the duo's in-the-works feature length documentary The Stylite: a matter of faith, and is being shown in hopes to raise money for the continued traveling completing The Stylite will entail.

"The film as I envision it now will require four, two week trips to the Republic of Georgia," says Riehl.

The Republic of Georgia is where Upon This Rock was filmed and where The Stylite's main character resides.

The Stylite tells the story of Father Maxim, a monk in the former Soviet republic of Georgia, who hopes to live atop a 140-foot rock outcrop near the remote village of Katskhi. If he realizes his dream he will be the first stylite there in 600 years.

"About five years ago while reading a book about the history of Christianity I came across stylite asceticism," says Riehl. "For some reason I liked the idea of these hermits in remote areas that tried to disconnect from the world, but their act of such extreme asceticism actually brought pilgrims and the world back to them."

This attraction got Riehl's gears cranking, and he and long-time friend Kelly got to work on the two documentaries.

"My proudest moment in Upon This Rock is probably the time-lapse shot we captured of the sunrise on the pillar," says Riehl, "For three days, Temo Bardzimashvili - our director of photography - and I perched on the cliffs overlooking the pillar for three or four hours trying to capture the perfect sunrise. The last day was absolutely clear and the receding shadow sharp as a razor. I really like the effect and Shawn was able to create the perfect soundscape for the image."

LINK: The Stylite Facebook

TUESDAY, JAN. 8 2013 >>>

1. To reductively describe what Matt Wheeler, AKA Teardropcity, does, his music sort of sounds like a hip-hop/country hybrid with vocals that sound straight out of Beat Happening. But let's let the Olympia local describe it himself. "I have several catch-phrases that I use to describe it, the first being ‘music for late nights and early mornings,'" says Wheeler. "The second being ‘contemporary American music from the future past,' the third being ‘400-year-old hip-hop,' the fourth being ‘avant garde music for the masses.' ... I think that's all of them. Sort of a combination of those."Teardropcity joins No Sky Project at 10 p.m. inside Le Voyeur in Olympia. Read Rev. Adam McKinney's full feature on Teardropcity in the Weekly Volcano's Music section.

2. It's Tuesday, which means another bonus film will be screened at The Grand Cinema. Today's film is Teddy Bear, an Austrian film about a weightlifter at the waning end of his career who still lives at home with his overbearing mother, a tiny woman who tells him exactly what he can and can't do. All he really wants to do is find a girlfriend, but he's painfully shy. Discover what happens at 2:05 and 7:05 p.m.

3. Conventional wisdom dictates that you'd rather spend Tuesday night watching the ION Channel and sharing a big bowl of prune whip with your great aunt Martha than venturing out to hear a band comprised of drums, marimba, congas and found sounds. But in this case, conventional wisdom would be wrong. Unless, of course, you're a big fan of Criminal Minds. Tonight, Saxophonist Erik Steighner will perform on alto, baritone and soprano saxes as part of the Classical Tuesday series at the Slavonian Hall in Old Town Tacoma. Trumpeter Zachary Lyman will join him for the 7 p.m. concert.

4. Located in the heart of Tacoma's Sixth Avenue, Metronome's open mic is where you will see old Sears/Roebuck guitars and tight corduroy pants. A very dynamic open mic, you will hear a wide variety of music, and will be among an attentive audience of listeners. Hosted every Tuesday from 7 p.m. until closing, Metronome Coffee is a great place to spend your midweek night out and enjoy some great coffee.

5. Tacoma Cabana tiki bar will host the Geeks Who Drinks trivia game at 8 p.m. The game consists of eight rounds of eight questions and is played in teams of up to six people. Questions are read aloud by the quizmaster; teams write their answers on provided sheets and turn them in at the end of each round. The team with the most points after eight rounds is the winner. Read Pappi Swarner's interview with Quizmaster Holland Hume on the Weekly Volcano's blog, Spew.

LINK: Tuesday, Jan. 8 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area