TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2012 >>>

1. It's Tuesday  - you should go support your local budding artists. The students of Hilltop Artists have created glass object based on the archaeological relics of a lost tribe of their own creation. We're curious if the Tempest Haggarty tribe will be represented. Wait. According to hype, "Each tribe has chosen its unique spirit animal and has created work reflecting the tribe's connection to nature, the cultural significance of food, the sacredness of water, and the values shared by all. The individual tribes have also created a petro glyph illustrating the mythos of their origin." Very cool. And creative. Lost Tribes of Hilltop opens today at 10 a.m. at the W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory. Check out the world of the Raven, Wolf, Cheetah, Snake, and Iguana tribes. There's no better way to support the fine arts and the fine artists - you know, those 12- to 20-year-olds who keep getting their funding cut? Plus, who knows, you may see someone's art, who could be world famous tomorrow. Then you can say you saw them when, and annoy absolutely every one you know in the process.

2. Joy Eckwood - Diversity Program manager at the Washington State Bar Association and the founder of Emergnz, an effort dedicated to helping individuals along the continuum of self-actualization - will discuss "Empowered to Emerge: Moving beyond America's Power in defining the norms of Race, Gender and Sexuality through Religion" at 12:30 p.m. in the West Coast Grocery Building, Room 104, on the University of Washington Tacoma campus.

3. The Grand Cinema will screen The Times of Harvey Milk at 2 and 6:30 p.m. as part of its Tuesday Film Series. The documentary, obviously, centers on San Francisco's first openly gay politician, city supervisor Harvey Milk. Shown in coordination with the Tacoma Art Museum and its Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture exhibit, UWT Prof. Claudia Gorbman and Executive Director for The Rainbow Center Michelle Douglas will co-facilitate a discussion following the film's 6:30 p.m. showing.

4. Tacoma has a large segment of the population that is obsessively passionate and loves to read about and intelligently discuss food and restaurant-related topics. Feeding those hungry Tacomans are a group of food bloggers, who not only write on their own blogs, but also post and chat on each other's blogs and social media outlets. Tonight from 6-8 p.m. at Bluebeard Coffee, the Social Media Club gathers the local food bloggers for a panel discussion on the local food scene, social media and, yes, tasting the bloggers' favorite homemade treats. The panel of local food blogging aficionados includes Weekly Volcano scribe Adrienne Kuehl (A Big Mouthful), Marisa Mez (Clearance Cuisine) and Roxanne Cooke (RoxanneCooke.com) and will be hosted by SMC Tacoma board member Dawn Quinn (Vegan Moxie). RSVP: http://smctacomafood.eventbrite.com

5. Fireside Bookstore hosts a book launch party for Jim Lynch's new book, Truth Like the Sun, at 7 p.m in the Olympia Ballroom.  The book is an entertaining political novel about the cat-and-mouse story of urban intrigue in Seattle both in 1962, when Seattle hosted the World's Fair, and in 2001, after its transformation in the Microsoft gold rush. 

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: South Sound happy hours

WE SCENE IT >>>

Easter Sunday, the venerable Tacoma Cult Film Club marked its third anniversary with hallmarks of American film.

Not.

In keeping with tradition, the films screened were bad, bad, bad, bad. Martin Scorsese and Ron Howard wept from the back of the house.

The Rev. Colin quipped, "These films are not inept. There is nothing ept about them."

The third anniversary program featured "overlooked films" from the past' year's bi-monthly TCFC gathering at its permanent home, The Acme Grub Cage. Rev. Colin smiled as she screened Mega Python vs. Gatoroid, an environmental tome shot in 2011 set in the Everglades starring '80s pop stars Tiffany and Debbie Gibson. Spoiler alert: Gibson is a very tone string bean; Tiffany is ... well, not.

Another film selection was Birdemic: Shock and Terror, which is basically a modern version of Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds, but without the cool special effects, solid acting, artistic camera angles or quality production.

Toss in a potluck of pork products and it was a great Zombie Jesus day at the movies.

LINK: Rev. Colin's other job

And we're back! Nerd Alert is the Spew blog'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.

Monday, April 9

A week before two headline gigs at Coachella, Thom Yorke and company storm Seattle with their withering one-two punch of melodic melancholy and ornery ennui. I saw Radiohead play the Greek in Hollywood a few years ago, and they totally pull it off live. In related nerdy music news, Elvis Costello plays the Paramount on Thursday the 12th. Also, Martha Quinn is still adorable.

• Key Arena, Radiohead, $82.84 after fees (yikes), 7:30 p.m., 305 N. Harrison St., Seattle, 800.745.3000

Thursday, April 12

Justin Stang, usually of Sideways Reign, and Jim Elenteny, ordinarily of Seattle band Nefarious Jones, unite to form the side project Science! And yes, I am excited, but that exclamation point is in the name of the project and associated EP. (Feel free to pronounce it with a click like the Kalahari bush people.) I know three things about Stang and Elenteny: they were voted Best New Band in our 2012 Olympia poll, they're playing The Royal Lounge on Thursday, and their project is called Science! so they're OK by me (and, I suspect, Thomas Dolby). If you're busy Thursday night, they also play Saturday, April 14 at 4th Ave Tav.

• The Royal Lounge, Science!, $5, 9 p.m., 311 Capitol Way, Olympia, 360.705.0760]

Friday, April 13

Sorry, beloved wife, but you hate horror movies so I'll be seeing The Cabin in the Woods without you. It's a horror/sci-fi film co-written by Joss Whedon, who a.) is responsible for Buffy the Vampire Slayer (in its TV incarnation) and Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, b.) directed Serenity and The Avengers for the big screen, and c.) once called me a bastard to my face. That's a true story. Yes, I probably deserved it. Cabin is reminiscent of early Sam Raimi flicks starring the great and heroically-chinned Bruce Campbell, who was once very nice to me to my face. That's a true story. My point is I know people.

In other Friday the 13th cinema news, The Raid: Redemption opens at The Grand. Apparently it's Die Hard in Indonesia, with lusty, vivid top notes of Kickpuncher: the Movie. Ernest Hardy of the Village Voice says, "Redemption lives up to its viral hype." Your inner 12-year-old says, "Shooting guns PUNCHING explosions and KICKING! Explosions! Bam! GRAH!," then swoons from testosterone and sugar.

• The Grand Cinema, Raid: the Redemption, $5.50-$7, 606 S. Fawcett, Tacoma, 253.593.4474

Finally, did you know DC is making prequel comics about the Watchmen characters for release in June - and Dave Gibbons and Alan Moore are in no way involved? In the words of Nute Gunray: "Is that legal?!"

Until next week, may the odds be ever in your favor, the Force be with you, and your dreams be visited by Kari Byron.

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012 >>>

1. Had the British Establishment injected the female hormone oestrogen into London-born mathematician Alan Turing during World War II, the brilliant man wouldn't have broke the German military's secret codes, the British Navy wouldn't have won the Battle of the Atlantic and Hitler might have kept the upper hand. Instead, Turing was chemically castrated for being a homosexual in March 1952, and the man who laid the foundation of modern computers, and was named one of the 100 most important people of the 20th century by Time magazine, killed himself to escape the horror. In conjunction with the HIDE/SEEK exhibit at the Tacoma Art Museum, UWT's Queer Student Union and Diversity Resource Center present a 12:30 p.m. film screening of Decoding Alan Turing – the story of this great mathematician who was found dead at age 41 with a poisoned apple next to his bed – at the University of Washington Tacoma's Diversity Resource Center.

2. The Squeak and Squawk Music Festival closes out its run with two shows: Si Si Si, The Rusty Cleavers and Secret Wives at 6 p.m. inside Tahoma Tea and Co. and Row House Orad, N. Dybevik and others at 9 p.m. inside The New Frontier Lounge.

3. Drink craft cocktails with the Graphic Novel Book Club as it discusses The Book of Genesis Illustrated by R. Crumb at 1022 South, Hilltop's book-themed cocktail lounge, beginning around 7 p.m.

4. The Jr. Hill Band will rock The Swiss beginning at 8 p.m.

5. The band Bandolier will perform and join DJ Melodica behind the turntables during the Monday Showcase at Magoo's beginning at 8:30 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: South Sound happy hours

SUNDAY, APRIL 8, 2012 >>>

1. You're probably well aware that Oberhofer performs at the Squeak and Squawk Music Festival tonight. Since Oberhofer's last Squeak and Squawk appearance, Brad Oberhofer and Co. have gone on to perform worldwide, including dates at Austin's SXSW and, just a week or so ago, on Late Night with David Letterman. Oberhofer (the band) thrives with their jumpy, intricate guitar rock. As time has worn on, Oberhofer's music has only become tighter and more impressive. Mixing elements of '60s surf-pop and yelpy indie rock, Oberhofer have commendably stuck to their guns and retained all of the weird tics that made them notable to begin with. Get in on the party at 6 p.m. when Oberhoer, Pond and the Wheelies play The Space in downtown Tacoma.

2. Animal Farm closes its run at the Olympia Family Theater today at 1 p.m. Here's a quick refresher: the animal workers of Manor Farm stage a glorious revolution and drive away Mr. Jones, their despised human ruler. They institute a new democratic regime, but it turns out, as the famous line goes, "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others." The pigs, you see, can read and write, and they use these abilities to dominate the other species and (pardon the expression) hog the fruits of their labor. Animal Farm tracks the rise to power of a ruthless porker named Napoleon, and if you know your 20th-century history, you'll have no trouble recognizing him as a stand-in for Stalin. Read Christian Carvajal's full review of Animal Farm in the Arts section at weeklyvolcano.com.

3. Hard to believe that the Tacoma Cult Movie Club has flipped on the projector for three years! But it has, and hosts Rev. Colin, Tobin Ropes and Holland Hume will throw a party beginning at 4 p.m. at The Acme Grub Cage - the movie club's ultra-appropriate home. Its membership of deviants, freaks, weirdoes and misfits invite the public to watch the greatest films screened that were, for the most part, overlooked this past year. In tradition of previous anniversary parties, there will be a potluck for anyone interested. "Please only partake if you participate," says Rev. Colin. "That's how we do it in the good old T-Stank."

4. Playmate and video DJ KayJay, aka Kristin Jackson, will be spinning at the Play-Bunny Party Easter night at the Backstage Bar and Grill beginning at 9 p.m. Awards will be given to the best female bunny outfit and rock star costume. Tattoo and piercing artists will be in the house. Joining KayJay in the musical resurrection will be Blackchurch, Black Diamond, Jason Childs Band, Corson Swift and DJ Omarvelous. Let us know if you need help finding the eggs.

5. Tonight's 21 and older Squeak and Squawk Music Festival show at The New Frontier Lounge offers Umber Sleeping, Red Hex and Hoot Hoots beginning at 9 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: South Sound happy hours

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

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Rain showers, hi 52, lo 34(!)

Saturday: Partly cloudy, hi 64, lo 41

Sunday: Overcast awfulness, hi 64, lo 43

>>> FRIDAY, APRIL 6: Frost Park Chalk Off Challenge

If you think sidewalk chalk is only good for hopscotch, you've got another think coming. Tomorrow, thousands of South Sound artists will descend upon Frost Park in downtown Tacoma at noon, turning its concrete into canvas for the opening of Frost Park Chalk Off Challenge Season 5ive at Ninth and Pacific Avenue. Witness unbelievable feats of illustration, and create some of your own. Be a part of history as Mayor Marilyn Strickland has proclaimed April 6, 2012 as "Frost Park Chalk Day." Rejoice in the movement initially started as a way for the community to positively "occupy" Larry Frost Memorial Park during their lunch hour every Friday - at least during the warm(ish) spring and summer months. Then vote for your favorite chalk art through online voting on FeedTacoma.com.

• Frost Park, noon to 1 p.m., bring a sack lunch, feed a cupcake to a chalker, Ninth and Pacific Ave., Tacoma

>>> FRIDAY, APRIL 6: Adult Flashlight Egg Hunt

Egg-citing times at night: Certain traditions adapt themselves as time travels on. Take the Easter egg hunt. It was fun when you were a kid - watching your parents crawl around, trying to hide a bright pink egg behind a sprinkler head. And there was always the added joy of finding one (hopefully unbroken) three months later. But now you're a parent, and well, it's lost its charm. Or has it? The lovely folks at the Lacey Parks and Recreation host an Adult Flashlight Egg Hunt Friday night. You can now have an egg-ceptional (no, really, ceptions of eggs) time hunting for the eggs hidden on the Regional Athelitc Complex ball fields. Maybe someone will even paint your face.

• Regional Athletic Complex, 9 p.m., $5, 8345 Steilacoom Rd. SE, Olympia, 360.491.0857

>>> SATURDAY, APRIL 7: Community Art Day

Tacoma is a living, breathing example of the powerful positive impact art can have on a community. So it's not surprising to see Saturday bringing an event at Tacoma Art Place simply known as Community Art Day. And the title pretty much says it all. Expect workshops, demonstrations and family fun all day, and all for free. A huge raffle will be part of this year's Community Art Day. For $10 each, you could win a two-night stay with breakfast in the Waddell Spa Suites at Courtyard by Marriott, three-course dinner for two at Pacific Grill, a Rasul Mud Chamber treatment at Clara Spa Salon & Studios or Republic of 253 gift certificates. These staycation goodies hit the $1,000 mark in value. Grab raffle tickets now at Tacoma Art Place.

• Tacoma Art Place, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., free, 1116 S. 11th St., Tacoma, 253.238.1006

>>> SATURDAY, APRIL 7: Eddie Spaghetti

Campy, sarcastic, and sleazy, the Supersuckers offer a mix of rockabilly flavored garage rock. With sex, drugs and Satan as its mantras, the band's lyrics are an uproarious celebration of all of the wickedness habitually associated with rock ‘n' roll - namely sex, drugs and Satan. Motorhead's Lemmy once said, "If you don't like the Supersuckers, you don't like rock & roll." It's safe to say the same applies to Eddie Spaghetti, who, when not leading the Seattle-based rawkers, unleashes solo material for those tired of passionate unplugged anthems for the masses.

• Hell's Kitchen, with Stone Evergreen Travellers, Swampy Draws and guests, 9 p.m., $6-$8, 928 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003

>>> SUNDAY, APRIL 8: Tacoma Cult Movie Club

Hard to believe that the Tacoma Cult Movie Club has flipped on the projector for three years! But it has, and hosts Rev. Colin, Tobin Ropes and Holland Hume will throw a party Sunday at The Acme Grub Cage - the movie club's ultra-appropriate home. Its membership of deviants, freaks, weirdoes and misfits invite the public to watch the greatest films screened that were, for the most part, overlooked this past year. "Movies with a low attendance or films that simply didn't get the love they deserved," says Rev. Colin. Admission and popcorn are free, as always. In tradition of previous anniversary parties, there will be a potluck for anyone interested. "Please only partake if you participate," says Rev. Colin. "That's how we do it in the good old T-Stank."

• The Acme Grub Cage, 4 p.m., no cover, 1310 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma, 253.272.1892

WHAT SOME OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS ARE UP TO

CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL Theater Critic
My wife read my plug for the Lacey Adult Easter Egg Hunt (in Nerd Alert) and decided it sounded like fun, so we'll be there. We also have a big Easter dinner with family, plus rehearsals for La Traviata, coming April 28.

REV. ADAM MCKINNEY Music writer
I will be spending the next five days seeing more than 30 amazing bands at the Squeak and Squawk Music Festival. It's been a labor of love for the past six months of my life, and I am thrilled and frightened to see it finally come to fruition. For more information (shameless plug!), please visit squeakandsquawk.tumblr.com. SQSQ For Life!

ALEC CLAYTON Arts Critic
I'll be seeing two art exhibits Saturday to review them my Visual Edge column. I'll be visiting "Creatures of Habit: Contemporary Ceramics" at Fulcrum and the new Iota Gallery in the Jet Building on 19th and Jefferson to see works by Portland artist Susan Cowan.

JENNI PRANGE BORAN Arts and Feature Writer
Saturday will be spent buying candy, then waiting for the child to go to bed so husband and I can fill plastic eggs with said candy. Sunday will be spent hiding eggs, watching child find eggs, then eating ham with family members.  Then Squeak and Squawk – Oberhofer, Pond and Wheelies at the Space,6 p.m.!

NIKKI TALOTTA Music Writer
Besides the usual drink pouring and weirdo watching at the bar, this weekend also includes gardening and Easter egg hunts with the kidlets. The in-laws will also make way too much ham and buy way too much candy in order to send us home with two weeks of Easter goodies. I'm prepping my stomach now.

JOANN VARNELL Theater Critic
After a whirlwind spring break trip to Colorado and South Dakota, we will be flying into SeaTac on Friday (which happens to be my husband's birthday). We have a sitter and will be celebrating at the Top of Tacoma. I'll do laundry on Saturday and the whole family will go to church on Easter Sunday.

MOLLY GILMORE Arts and Feature Writer
Catching up on work and likely going to see Animal Farm, in its final weekend at Olympia Family Theater.

JOSH RIZEBERG Music Columnist
Friday I'm hosting Awall A.K.A. 2-Piece & Boombox Massacre's album-release show for BoomMan & Mobbin' at Hell's Kitchen, 9 p.m. There is performances from Cedric the Great, The Gonzo Family, The Koomaniacs, Un Da Rhyme Hustla, Chris Crayzie, and Bo$$ Fam' Officials. I predict it will be the show of the year. Saturday at 1 p.m., I'll be going back to Hell's Kitchen to watch the all-ages Alliance Battle League Battles. It's $5 to get in. This is the first week the League has been at Hell's Kitchen. They outgrew there last-spot at Rum Runners on South Tacoma Way. Come check-out these young-artists and there movement. Sunday I'm resting with My Family!

NICK LEONARD Music writer
Thursday night my group Free Whiskey will be playing The Royal for our last Olympia show for awhile. Friday and Saturday I will be spending in Seattle doing a whole lot of nothing ... and drinking

LINK: Even more local events that we recommend

LINK: Comprehensive South Sound Arts & Entertainment Calendar

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Pierce County Council: It voted in a countywide tax to pay for projects ranging from rebuilding levees to buying up flood-prone properties. (News Tribune)

It's Official: State health officials say whooping cough has reached epidemic levels in Washington. (News Tribune)

The Grand Cinema: The Tacoma independent film house starts its 15^th anniversary run with deals every day. (Weekly Volcano)

Dallas Area: It was hit by huge tornadoes. (CNN)

Presidential Election: Mitt Romney tightened his grip on the Republican nomination on Tuesday, and found himself in his first direct engagement with President Obama. (The New York Times)

Late Night On CBS: David Letterman and Craig Ferguson are still in. (Yahoo)

The Beatles - The Next Generation: James McCartney (Paul's son), Sean Lennon (John's son), Dhani Harrison (George's son) and Zak Starkey (Ringo Starr's son) are considering forming a band. (USA Today)

Mansome: Will Arnett and Jason Bateman offer amusing stories and observations about male bathroom secrets. (USA Today)

The Vanity Project Project: Listening to the Corey Feldman prog-rock album. (The AWL)

Cats Vs. Watermelon: It's a century old battle. (Buzzfeed)

You Knew It Was Coming: @FatBettyFrancis. (Twitter)

Only One More Month!

SHOOTING THE END OF THE WORLD ENDS IN GREENWATER >>>

The ant can't act.

I return to the set of Koinonia last Monday, and the shooting has moved indoors. Struggling through a post-apocalyptic world, John (played by Tony Doupe) finds temporary shelter inside an abandoned house. He awakes one morning to the sight of an ant crawling up the wall next to him. Well, he would if only the six-legged buddy we wrangled would cooperate just a bit.

It must have gotten too cozy inside the mini-trailer director Andrew Finnigan made, because the thing refused to stay on the wall long enough for cameraman Sam Graydon to get a decent close-up. Luckily after a few takes, gravity loses and the bug's camera shyness wears off.

The shooting that week continues smoothly, thanks to a well-oiled machine of a crew, particularly its leader Finnigan. Most setups require only one or two takes before he wants to moves on. Finnigan typically knows not only what he wants in terms of staging and performance, but how to get these things out of his talent - and efficiently.

John (Tony Doupe) in a still from the upcoming movie Koinonia. Photo credit: Director of Photography Sam Graydon

Like the chess scene. Up to this point I've only seen Doupe perform solo. Now his character John gets to talk with someone else. Of course, his chess partner is only his mirrored reflection, but the witty exchange between dueling personalities highlights both Finnigan's writing and Doupe's acting chops.

The scene ends, and (forgive the cliché) electricity fills the room, and not just from the "stingers" (crew slang for extension cord). Descending from the attic, where he watches the footage live on a monitor, Finnigan wears a big grin. "Genius!" he exclaims.

We shoot scenes more or less in the order as written, a rarity in filmmaking, but it gives us all a chance to see John's character progress naturally. Later on, two women literally come out of the woodwork to interact with him - the first (played by Alycia Delmore) John knows from his former life, whereas Gabby (Madeline Elizabeth) is a stranger. All three actors share a common bond - last year's feature The Off Hours. In that film Doupe and Elizabeth play father and daughter, and now display a similar dynamic in Koinonia.

The crew experiences its own bond strengthening a little more at the end of each day, when we leave set with a shared sense of accomplishment. Evening activities back at the cabin can't help but inch back into film, like Finnigan's wife Brooke confessing her love for Wesley Snipes, or watching towering classics like The Goonies or Total Recall.

1st assistant cameraman Seth Wessel-Estes, far left. plays back a take for Finnigan and actor Alycia Delmore on the RED EPIC. Photo credit: Christopher Wood

But eventually we need to get away, if only for a few hours. We celebrate the midpoint of our 10-day shoot with a few pitchers at the only bar in town, Naches Tavern. Some locals challenge our posse to a foot race on the deserted highway outside, and Best Boy/Grip Marco Scaringi volunteers. Long story short: Scaringi finishes the race winning only a scraped chin and sprained wrist.

The next day, Emmons, a true handyman, throws together a makeshift splint for his Grip, held together with hot pink tape for all to see. A scarred Scaringi admirably soldiers on, hauling sandbags and lights for the rest of the shoot without complaining once. He earns the nickname "Footrace" from his fellow crewmembers, but since he bought me a beer he'll always remain a Best Boy in my book.

Koinonia has reached the home stretch of its production schedule. Now Finnigan flies into editing while waiting to shoot a few flashback scenes scheduled for the summer. Maybe most of us will reunite at that point; even if we don't, we'll always have that time together, dreaming up our own little apocalypse in Greenwater.

LINK: Journey to Koinonia, Part One

LINK: Go see a movie today

TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2012 >>>

1. At noon inside the Lagerquist Concert Hall, the Ung Youth Sinfoni from Bergen, Norway returns to PLU to perform works from their tour repertoire, including the "100 Folk Tunes of Hardanger" by Geirr Tveitt, "Spring" by Edvard Grieg, and "Fanfare and Chorale" by Kjell Seim. The youth Symphony will be joined by violinist and Hardanger Fiddler, Eldbjorg Hemsing, regarded as one of Norway's most promising young artists. What you'll hear will be nothing short of beautiful. So much so, that you'll quickly forget about the diet of dried cod and salted reindeer testicles that the denizens of Norway are forced to subsist on. Plus, it's nice to see a Norwegian use a horn for something other than announcing a Viking raid.

2. Maria Callas was one of the 20th century's most legendary opera singers. Born to Greek parents in 1923 in New York City, Callas received operatic training in Athens before making her official debut at Italy's La Scala in 1951. Now, more than 33 years after her death, Callas remains one of opera's most popular recording artists. Norm Hollingshead, a Seattle Opera preview lecturer, will speak on Callas at 10:30 a.m. inside the Garfield Book Company.

3. Jobs are personal. If you don't have one, you're probably job-obsessed. If you don't like the one you have, then you are probably looking for a better one. Both scenarios will have an opportunity to connect with a wide range of employers from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Marcus Pavilion on the Saint Martin's University campus. The fair provides a valuable opportunity to gather information, polish your professional image, make connections for future employment, and learn to market yourself more effectively.

4. Vegucated is one of the newest documentaries on the block attempting to expose the realities of food systems and the threat to our health and the environment. The feature-length documentary follows three meat-and-cheese-loving New Yorkers who agree to adopt a vegan diet for six weeks. Vegucated plays at 2 and 6:45 p.m. at The Grand Cinema in Tacoma. We're eating a carrot as we write this.

5. Ricky J's Restaurant and Sports Lounge in Puyallup doesn't exactly sound like the name of a meat market haven. But in fact, Ricky J's has some of the most reasonably priced meat in town. Every Tuesday night Ricky J's offers a bar steak special for $4.95. That's a heaping pile of meat for under $5. Other specials include free pool and $1 off draft beer. But what's that you say? What about the chicks? Jeez, here we mention cheap meat and you're still concerned about chicks. ...

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: South Sound happy hours

ROSE KILLED JACK >>>

Something happened, recently, that never needed to happen. I re-watched Titanic at three in the morning, on HBO. Another thing that never needed to happen? Titanic getting re-released in gloriously miserable 3D. I hope all of you are looking forward to seeing that CGI iceberg (which, by the way, DOES NOT hold up) coming right at your face.

Here are some stray observations I made while watching the interminably long and tonally confusing Titanic: first off, Rose is totally, unequivocally responsible for Jack's death. I know that everyone remembers her lying on that floating door, Jack realizing that there's not enough room for both of them, and Rose eventually letting go of Jack's frozen hand. Fine. But, what people may not remember is that Rose has the opportunity to get into a life boat, and then stupidly jumps back on the ship to be with Jack. Guess who would've gotten that floating door if she had stayed on that boat? Probably fucking Jack.

Also, there are several hilarious moments of foreshadowing about the fate of the ship. Example: "Captain, if we shut off the lights, we won't be able to see any objects that may be approaching. Plus, going at this speed, we'll never be able to avoid them," says the first mate. After a pause, the Captain responds, "Well, I'm off to bed."

Hahaha, fuck you.

As for the trailer, well, all your friends are back again. The unsinkable Molly Brown, the cartoonishly villainous Billy Zane (where did he disappear to?), and the unthinkably old Gloria Stuart (as the unthinkably old Kate Winslet). You'll laugh, you'll thrill, you'll cry, you'll get tears all over your dumb 3D glasses, you'll try and clean them off, but that'll just make them dirtier, and then you'll leave with numb ass. Then you'll wait a couple years for James Cameron to continue his gradual poisoning of the art of film. Ship of dreams, indeed.

LINK: Now playing in the South Sound