DID YOU VOTE? >>>

Last week, I told you to get off your collective duff and vote Vicci Martinez through to the next round of The Voice. Didja do it? Huh, huh? Didja?

If your phone-dialing finger was sprained or in some other way out of order, and Martinez doesn't get enough votes to move on tonight (The Voice airs at 9 p.m. locally), then her only hope is her coach, Cee-Lo Green. Each judge gets to pick one of competitor to move on, in addition to the contestant voted through by viewers. Judging by Vicci Martinez's fine rendition of Dolly Parton's brutal, self-loathing country classic, "Jolene," I'd say she has a good shot of making it through.

But I'd rather not jinx it, so I'll just say this: If Martinez doesn't make it to the next round, I'll be seriously miffed at you guys. Miffed that you didn't get off your duff.

For those who missed it, here's our hometown girl doing a number on "Jolene" ...

RICK DUPEA TAKES A NEW CAMERA DOWNTOWN >>>

This year's springtime rains have refused to go without a fight. Like the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, our bad weather has seriously overstayed its welcome. Yet uninterrupted stretches of sunshine continue to grow, and we all know what that means - filmmakers emerging from their burrows, eager to test some new toys.

I last touched base with Rick Dupea (owner of CRE8TV Media Group in Parkland) back in Feb., right before he jetted off to Naples, Italy, for a few weeks to volunteer on a video project. This past Thursday I tagged along as Dupea broke in his new DSLR camera, the Canon EOS 60D.

We began our trek at the Tacoma Dome Station, amid a bustle of traffic, commencement gowns and mortarboards waving in the breeze. Fortunately the hubbub didn't disrupt Dupea's audio capture, as he just wanted landscape shots anyway. Besides, though this new wave of lightweight DSLRs pack quite a wallop in visual quality, they generally lack in the sound department.

Unlike the very popular 5D Mark II model, the 60D comes equipped with a flip-out LCD screen, which gives the camera operator much more flexibility. Whether low or high, from any angle Dupea positioned his tripod he could see his subject clearly and comfortably. And to minimize glare on the viewfinder he attached a handy little device called a Sock-Loupe^TM.

The two of us hopped on the Light Rail and grabbed more shots along Pacific Avenue. A sun-dappled downtown lends itself extremely well to a new website Dupea has created, www.beautifultacoma.com. There he posts his growing collection of stills and videos that show off a town he grew up in and loves. The idea came, Dupea says, from "thinking of what's unique about the character of Tacoma visually." He invites others to submit their own works and spread the love.

"It really is about what Tacoma can be, and what's already cool about it," he says.

SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2011 >>>

1. History takes center stage from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with Meeker Days Festival in downtown Puyallup. Visitors will learn how the "hops king" managed to make his fortune selling beer-making grain while managing to be a teetotaler his entire life. Ezra Meeker's mansion is on display to show visitors how the rich and wealthy lived more than 100 years ago. However, if history isn't your thing, this largest street festival in Pierce County features four live entertainment stages, two food courts, almost 200 vendors, antique tractor displays, classic car shows, inflatable rides and more.

2. Harlequin Productions is celebrating summer with another original compilation of the greatest music of the sixties titled Summer in the Sixties. A live band, five fabulous singers, a psychedelic dose of video, hot tunes, cool drinks and "A Whole Lotta Love" hits the stage at 2 p.m.

3. Melvin Van Peebles's Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971) did for the black movement what Getting Straight did for the student movement: reduced it to escapist entertainment, cinematic stylishness, and near nonsense. The Brotherhood Lounge screens Peebles's single-minded paean to an L.A. whorehouse at 7 p.m. DJ James spins after.

4. The sextet Mojo Overload will fill The Spar in Old Town with blues from 7-10 p.m.

5. Mother's Day has the highest number of phone calls each year, but Father's Day has the highest number of collect phone calls. Dads win the most beloved parent competition as often as Tito wins most beloved Jackson.  Treat dear old dad to Kila's fusion of Irish and world music featuring strong percussive-like singing, gorgeous melodies, and daring harmonies - which are driven by a serious rhythmical undercurrent - at 7 p.m. inside the Capitol Theater in Olympia. Olympia's Burren Boys open.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Movies!

SATURDAY, JUNE 18 , 2011 >>>

1. Today's environmentally themed Proctor Farmers Market promotes local, sustainable practices and family-friendly fun. Attendees can learn more about green living, eat locally made food, browse booths, attend workshops and watch demonstrations, check out an electric conversion car and listen to live music from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Should you arrive at the Market by bike or carrying a reusable cup or shopping bag, don't be surprised if you get your picture snapped for the "Green Wall of Fame." 

2. "Warbirds." Star Trek aside, the term is not a creation of Gene Roddenberry and company, but a real-world designation for any aircraft that has served in a military capacity. And warbirds - from World War II bombers to Vietnam-era helicopters to A-10s - are the aircraft that will be on display and in the air beginning at 9 a.m. around the Olympia Regional Airport during the Olympic Air Show.

3. The film Madagascar is the story of four animal friends at the Central Park Zoo - Alex the Lion (voiced by Ben Stiller), Marty the Zebra (Chris Rock), Melman the Giraffe (David Schwimmer), and Gloria the Hippo (Jada Pinkett-Smith) - who, through a series of mishaps, end up marooned on the relatively rustic island nation of Madagascar. There, the pampered and homesick New Yorkers must eke out an existence in the wild without the help of beneficent zookeepers or adoring fans. This glorious film will be screened for free at 10 a.m. at The Grand Cinema.

4. Where there's beer, there's burping, and where there's beer-burping, there's an Old World wine bar (sound of a wine glass shattering on the ground). That's right, Pastiche Wine Bar is getting their microbrews on for Father's Day weekend with a free beer tasting from 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., as well as a full meal of burger, potato salad, baked beans and a microbrew for $11.99. Tonight, expect live music, bar games and, yes, burping.

5. The upstairs of Frankie's Sports Bar and Grill is not technically a bar. It's a private membership club. A club that's actually not much different than your local dive watering hole. You know, the ability to smoke cigarettes inside, hot bikini-clad bartenders waiting on your every need and nightly drink specials ranging from liquid marijuana shots to cheap draft beer. But wait. Your local dive bar doesn't have bikini-clad bartenders serving liquid marijuana shots? Oh, too bad for you.

PLUS: Titlow Lodge Centennial details in our Weekend Hustle

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Wine tastings!

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2011 >>>

1. Another tripod slide show night hits Madera Architectural Elements showroom with three 15-minute presentations around the theme "Parts." From 7-8:30 p.m. Lynn Di Nino explores auto parts (American cars in Cuba), Kim Sparks-Wilmer introduces hair parts and Doug Mackey presents body parts (didn't see that coming). Obviously, it's an adults-only event. You'll be asked to shell out $5 at the door.

2. Mel Gibson's comeback joint, The Beaver, plays at 2:45, 7:05 and 9:10 p.m. inside The Grand Cinema. Should you see it, even though it didn't do so hot last weekend at the box office? Should you get caught up in the public excitement that comes from anything related to Mel Gibson, not to mention anything with the word "beaver" in the title? Or, do you resist the urge, because humanity really shouldn't be won over by someone of Gibson's ilk simply because they don a hand puppet? It's a tough call. ...

3. The Harmon Tap Room celebrates its first anniversary with a bash featuring brewery tours and beer tastings from 3-5 p.m., and a pig roast and live tunes by the Myles Crew from 6-9 p.m. Read our review of the joint here.

4. The Cryptatropa Bar celebrates one year on Olympia's Fourth Avenue with a night of DJs spinning house, disco, boogie, funk and techno beginning at 10 p.m. Joining DJs Susan Ploetz and Grab The Bat Killer will be Allan Wilson from the band !!! (chk chk chk). That's awesome.

5. Masa on Sixth Avenue serves some of the best handmade mole' in the city. But it's not the mole' that fills Masa to the brim every Friday and Saturday night. It's the two dance floors. It's the Latin style moves. It's the endless parade of short skirts and buff arms. It's the fact that every weekend night, Masa is one of the hottest meat markets in town. Mole' is more of a weeknight dish, anyway.

PLUS: Matt Coughlin and the Growlers and Tommy Emmanuel details in our Weekend Hustle.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music tonight

SHOULD BE A GOOD DAY ON THE INTERNET >>>

As I've mentioned before, sometimes as editor of the Weekly Volcano I'm faced with tough decisions. It comes with the job ... much like the stacks of promotional CDs and the complimentary bottle of office Scotch handed annually out during the Holidays.

This week, with Mel Gibson's comeback joint The Beaver opening at the Grand Cinema Friday, I've got another doozie on my lap. Do I run a review of The Beaver, even though the movie didn't do so hot last weekend, and soak up the public excitement that comes from running anything related to Mel Gibson, not to mention running anything with the word "Beaver" in the title? Or, do I resist the urge, because humanity really shouldn't be won over by someone of Gibson's ilk simply because he dons a hand puppet?

It's a tough call.

Or is it?

Either way, here's the trailer for The Beaver ...

STOP SCOFFING AND VOTE >>>

All right, Tacoma. I know cynicism can too often get the best of us, and the impulse when confronted with a network television singing competition-like NBC's The Voice-is to scoff until one's lungs cave in. But tonight is important. As I have been reminding you (like here, or here or here), Tacoma's own fiery songbird, Vicci Martinez, is in the running to win said singing competition. Having breezed through the audition round to win Cee-Lo Green as a mentor, and the perverse "battle" round, wherein Martrinez defeated another competitor in hand-to-hand duet, she has finally reached the stage where the voting public gets to decide whether or not she advances. Tonight's episode of The Voice airs at 9 p.m. locally, and 8 p.m. in the Central Time Zone.

Having watched every stinking episode of this show, I can tell you Martinez has a very decent chance of getting far in this competition. What matters now is that we support her as much as our brittle, rain-soaked bones can muster. Waiting for her at the end of the road will be a cash prize, as well as a recording contract with a high-profile record company. Tonight is where she sinks or swims-and we can directly affect this outcome.

The Reverend Colin, along with Mary K. Johnson and Tobin Ropes of Mad Hat Tea Company fame, kicked off the first Tacoma Cult Movie Club gathering in April 2009. Inspired by a Seattle group that regularly ran grindhouse cinema, the three founders desired to bring their own love of trashy art into this eclectic community. The free meetings take place at 7 p.m. on the second Sunday and third Monday of every month at The Acme Grub Cage. New members should brace themselves for much more than staid discussions of obscure films. Sunday, drop in for the Cult Movie Club's "The Doctor Is In (and out of his mind!), which the entity's "creative grunt," Holland Hume, predicts will feature films akin to Dr. Giggles -- though he stresses Reverend Colin never divulges his plans prior to go time, so anything could happen.

• Acme Grub Cage, 7 p.m., 1310 Tacoma Ave. S, Tacoma, 253.272.1892

SUNDAY, JUNE12, 2011 >>>

1. Catch Saul Tannenbaum's Friends of Dorothy today as part of the Capital City Pride Festival in Olympia.

2. Celebrate the opening of the deck at Johnny's Dock with Trop Rock - an official Jimmy Buffett tribute band. Or, if that's not your musical cup of tea, check the Volcano's extensive live local music listings here.

3. Drop in on the Tacoma Cult Movie Club today at the Acme Grub Cage in Tacoma. Today's cinematic festivities go down under the handle, "The Doctor is In (and out of his mind!).

4. The South Sound Blues Association sponsored "Back to Beale Street" competition kicks off this afternoon at Jazzbones. The action is all ages, and should be tough to beat.

5. Vote for Tacoma's best baristas, politicians, bloggers, bartenders and local businesses in the only 253 "Best Of" issue that matters. The Volcano's annual Best of Tacoma issue publishes July 28, and this year's readers' poll launched last week. Let your vote be heard now! Find all the details here.

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

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Partly sunny, hi 68, lo 51

Saturday: Partly sunny, hi 66, lo 49

Sunday: Partly sunny, hi 69, lo 52

>>> SATURDAY, JUNE 11: 10 Years of the Malcolm Clark Band

The Malcolm Clark Band has been together 10 freakin' years! Doing anything for 10 years straight is tough ... we know firsthand, seeing as this is the 10th year of the Weekly Volcano. Saturday, Clark, Mike Couloues and crew celebrate 10 years - blues style, of course - at the FUSE Cafe in Ruston. Expect the blues-based groove Clark has come to be known for, and quite possibly a Hawaiian shirt.

• FUSE Cafe, 8 p.m., Point Defiance Casino, 5307 N. Pearl St., Ruston, 253.722.8712

>>> SUNDAY, JUNE 12: TACOMA CULT MOVIE CLUB

The Reverend Colin, along with Mary K. Johnson and Tobin Ropes of Mad Hat Tea Company fame, kicked off the first Tacoma Cult Movie Club gathering in April 2009. Inspired by a Seattle group that regularly ran grindhouse cinema, the three founders desired to bring their own love of trashy art into this eclectic community. The free meetings take place at 7 p.m. on the second Sunday and third Monday of every month at The Acme Grub Cage. New members should brace themselves for much more than staid discussions of obscure films. Sunday, drop in for the Cult Movie Club's "The Doctor Is In (and out of his mind!), which the entity's "creative grunt," Holland Hume, predicts will feature films akin to Dr. Giggles -- though he stresses Reverend Colin never divulges his plans prior to go time, so anything could happen.

• Acme Grub Cage, 7 p.m., 1310 Tacoma Ave. S, Tacoma, 253.272.1892

>>> SUNDAY, JUNE 12: JULIAN PENA'S CMYK

Celebrate the opening of Julian Pena's "CMYK" art exhibition at the Mix on Saint Helen's Avenue in Tacoma Sunday from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. Along with a nifty event flyer depicting a hipster kid having life pumped into him by a hovering pink octopus (or something like that), the happening will feature wine tasting, food, beverage and music.

• The Mix, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m., 635 Saint Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.383.4327

>>> SUNDAY, JUNE 12: BACK TO BEALE STREET 2012 COMPETITION

It's become tradition in our area - a yearly blues-blowout local music fans look forward to for the quality it draws. And, like clockwork, it's back. Sunday at Jazzbones, the preliminary contest of this year's South Sound Blues Association sponsored Back To Beale Street 2012 Blues Competition goes down at Jazzbones, offering a chance for competitors to earn their way to the heralded International Blues Challenge in Memphis later this year. Three solo and duo acts will battle it out in front of a panel of judges, as will 10 bands. Included in the musical goodness will be the Rafael Tranquilino Band, the Michal Miller Band, the Al Earick Band, Doug Skoog and Joe Hendershot, the Cody Rentas Band and many more. The top four bands will advance to the finals, to be held during the 4th of July Freedom Fair and Air Show on the Duke's Chowder House Blues Stage.

• Jazzbones, $10, kicks off at 3 p.m., 2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.396.9169
  

>>> WHERE OUR STAFF IS GOING

NIKKI TALOTTA Features Writer
Considering graduation is this weekend, as well as the downtown Pride Celebration, I imagine my weekend will be a cycle of busting my ass to make drinks, drinking to heal the pain of bartender knees and back, then sleeping in and doing it all again. Sunday, a barbeque at the in-laws should be relaxing.

CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL: Theater Critic
I'm celebrating my 43rd birthday with two dozen of my closest friends by eating delicious Mekong Thai and seeing Super 8 in IMAX. Also, I'm told there will be some sort of alcoholic beverage, which I gather I'm now old enough to drink.

REV. ADAM MCKINNEY: Writer
Saturday, my brother plans on dragging me to the Rishloo/Wide Eye Panic/Esitu show at Hell's Kitchen. Sunday, I plan on dragging a friend to the Deep Sea Diver/Slowwave/Makeup Monsters show at the New Frontier. If I end up getting a devil tattoo on Saturday, will I be ostracized on Sunday? Please show your work. No calculators.

JOANN VARNELL Theater Critic
While recouperating from my end-of-the-school-year cold, I will be washing mounds of laundry and chasing after my 10 month old. I may throw in some gardening before heading to a friend's beach house to enjoy the final Sunday before school is out.

ALEC CLAYTON Visual Arts Critic
Capital City Pride Saturday and Sunday!

.

JENNIFER JOHNSON Food and Lifestyles Writer 
Having a kick-ass yard sale at 1607 North Proctor in Tacoma both Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Yeah, I'm totally exploiting The Hustle. Come by and meet me in the flesh and buy some stuff. After the most awesome yard sale ever Friday I'll catch the free concert at TCC at 7 p.m. Saturday night I'm cooking (yes, I do that) for a friend followed by a stroll down to Jazzbones for the Bass Odyssey show. Sunday is South Tacoma Way farmers market followed by church services.

STEVE DUNKELBERGER Meat Market Photographer
It is my kiddo time, so I will likely be going to the Working Waterfront Museum's open house on Saturday to see how that effort is growing. There will likely be a trip to the Grand as well followed by some geocaching around town and planning my daughter's Murder Mystery birthday party.

JOE IZENMAN Theater and Music Writer
I am up to nothing less than rocking the hell out. Solo acoustic set at Amocat Cafe music night? Check. Deborah Page rock show in Renton, of all places? Check. Cerebral play about mathematics and insanity at TLT? Check. OK, that last one isn't rocking the hell out. But I'm doing it anyway.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound