BEER, WINE AND MOVIES >>>

You already know the Capitol Theater has the best movie popcorn in Olympia (and if you didn't, the Volcano told you so in the Best of Olympia issue).

But what are you going to wash that down with?

The Olympia Film Society has a new answer beginning Saturday, March 12, when screenings of Blue Valentine and Slammin' Salmon will offer a mezzanine beer and wine garden, as many of the society's special events long have.

"There'll be certain Saturdays or Fridays where we'll have beer and wine gardens for films," says Helen Thornton, the society's film programmer. "We are just starting that."

In other words, if you really want to watch the film in a slightly altered state, check the society's website before you head for the theater.

Saturday, March 19, the expanded beverage selections - only for those of legal age, natch - will be available during screenings of Nenette and Made in Dagenham.

OFS also raised ticket prices recently. Films are now $8.50, $5.50 for society members, $4 for kids, and matinees are $5.50, $4.50 for members. Plus extra, of course, for the beverages, popcorn and other accoutrements. The society also allows you to bring your own snacks or even dinner to the films - which means snack prices are much more reasonable and you won't have to bring a big purse or smuggle things in a la Kramer -  who wins cafe lattes for life after burning himself while sneaking one into a movie theater in his pants .

Capitol Theater

206 Fifth Ave. S.E., Olympia
360.754.6670 or www.olympiafilmsociety.org

FROM PAGE TO SCREEN ... AND BACK AGAIN >>>

Though every film results in a sequence of images, nearly all start life as a story, a script - words on a page. Authors, and particularly poets, use the page as their sole means of expression. But recently, a small band of poets from this area have begun incorporating cinema's visual dimension to their oral/written medium. This Saturday, March 12 from 8-10 p.m., The Grand Cinema will project two shorts created by artist and man about town Lucas Smiraldo (not a complete stranger to the screen - he's made appearances in a few Tacoma event videos I've produced).

Smiraldo's latest pieces, to be shown Saturday, actually belong to a larger work in progress, a film series destined for the Web called Slam Town. The first two episodes introduce viewers to an ensemble of artists living and working together in the titular town. Lucas and head director Adam Utley staged the scenes in Tacoma, imbuing this imagined landscape with traces of home.

Fellow poet Elijah Muied, a collaborator of Lucas's for over ten years, plays a character he wrote called simply, "The Messenger." The moniker fits nicely for a man eager to tell others about our town's inviting arts scene. Compared to his former home, Seattle, Muied says, "It's a little more close-knit here...more support from fellow artists."

To RSVP, send an email to vanillasoul@clear.net. The filmmakers request a donation of $10.00 at the screening.

FAT TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2011 >>>

1. "When - in the first five minutes of an animated film - there is a cameo from Hunter S. Thompson, I think it's safe to say you are not dealing with your standard kiddie fare," writes our own Rev. Adam McKinney of the film, Rango. Discover where the film is screening today here.

2. Culture, culture, cultures, there has to be some culture on Fat Tuesday, culture culture ... here we go: Weekly Volcano art critic Alec Clayton digs the group show at American Art Company, which happens to be open today from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. "There's something very comforting about seeing familiar works and something very nice about seeing slightly new directions from familiar artists," states Clayton. Read his full review here before heading to the show.

3. So you just shot a triple bogey to end the round at 29 over. Who cares if you lost six balls off the tee? Who cares if your dream of becoming a scratch golfer is slipping faster than Tiger Woods' endorsement deals? Set down your clubs, brush off your shoes and head into Capital City Golf Club's FireCreek Grill & Ale House. There you'll find everyday happy hours from 3 to 6 p.m. and again from 9 p.m. to close. During happy hour they have cheap well drinks and draft beer. Half off pizzas, too. A slice to fix your slice. Now if only they had something to cure your short game.

4. The Young Professionals Network of Pierce County claim they're the next generation of community leaders valuing leadership, philanthropy, networking and fun. And you can experience all four of their values tonight as the group scheduled their Prospective Members Mixer from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Varsity Grill, during the downtown Tacoma sports bar's Mardi Gras party. See the YPN LEAD you through the restaurant in a conga line. Try to resist their GIFT of upside down margaritas. MEET new people at the Quarters Table. Ah, youth ... and leaders.

5. Harmon Tap Room hosts Gold Fish Races beginning at 8:30 p.m. Winner receives $50. Expect $2 Rainer pints and $3 jumbo pizza slices, and some pissed-off fish.

We posted a list of several Fat Tuesday parties early today. You're welcome.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

ALMOST HERE >>>

The first-ever Olympia Awesome Film Festival has hit an unawesome snag. Months ago, the fest's organizers booked The Loft on Cherry for their inaugural daylong screening of cool cinema. Graphics, invitations and video advertisements all went out. Then on Feb. 18, OAFF received word that their chosen venue would close on the first of March, just four days shy of the event.

"It really kind of knocked the wind out of my sails," recalls Ken Carlson upon hearing the news. As co-founder of Mutually Assured Productions, a seven-member film collective that conceived OAFF, Carlson and his cohorts must now quickly regroup after a blitzkrieg marketing campaign initiated last October. The Loft management has assisted in finding this festival a new home; some current options include The Olympia Ballroom and the Eagles Grand Ballroom. Carlson now expects a triumphant debut for the Olympia Awesome Film Festival in early April.

This somewhat last-minute change of plans at least gives filmmakers more time to submit their works. OAFF has extended the original Feb. 18 deadline to March 25. The rules are simple: a short under 15 minutes, any genre, narratives preferred. Visit www.oaff.org to get all the submission instructions.

Patience, Olympians - a fresh batch of awesomeness arrives soon. Find OAFF on Facebook for the most up-to-date info.

THURSDAY, FEB. 24, 2011 >>>

1. Artists Ric Hall and Ron Schmitt are phenomenal. They do pastel paintings working in tandem - not taking turns working on the paintings but working side-by-side and simultaneously, and, from what I've heard, with hardly any planning or discussion but reacting to one another with what has been described as a collective subconscious. Weekly Volcano art critic Alec Clayton loved their Cubistic Embrace show at the B2 Fine Art Gallery, which shows from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Check it here.

2. The Adriatic Grill Italian Cuisine and Wine Bar, besides being a lengthy name, serves kick ass Mediterranean food. Therefore, when we mention that the Tacoma restaurant will be hosting a fundraiser for their Clover Park Technical College culinary arts scholarship program at 6 p.m. at said school, you should be damn excited. The steep ticket price includes complimentary wine, beer, non-alocoholic beverages and specialty food stations, and a chance to win fabulous prizes. Call (253) 475-6000 to see if you're worthy.

3. The Tacoma Sister Cities International Film Festival rolls on focusing on Tacoma's sister city if Kiryat Motzkin, Israel, tonight. At 7 p.m. inside the Blue Mouse Theatre, the film O Jerusalem, written by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre, offers a rich background to an explosive conflict that echoes the situation in the Middle East today. Differing from previous TSCIFF years, there will be no Jewish food. Oy vey!

4. Craig Romano, guidebook author, outdoors writer for Northwest Runner and Outdoors Northwest and co-creator of hikeoftheweek.com, will give a free presentation on snow-free winter hiking destinations for Western Washington at 7 p.m. inside Tacoma's REI. Little did Romano know when he agreed to this lecture that there wouldn't be a snow-free hike to REI's front door.

5. Rock the Dock Pub & Grill in Tacoma hosts an Open Mic/Musicians' Night with Big D of 9 Pound Hammer running the show, beginning at 9 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

UPDATE:Scrabble Rousers canceled due to snow.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 23, 2011 >>>

2. Not only is magic, adventure, and the eternal struggle between good and evil taking place at King's Books, but Pierce College's production of Jarpteetza/The Firebird - a colorful, enchanted tale of traditional Russian characters - is just as dramatic. At 7 p.m. inside the Black Box Theatre on the Fort Steilacoom campus, new tsar Prince Ivan will try to rescue his beloved Vasilisia from the evil warlord, Kashei the Immortal. Awesome.

3. People will gather at 8 p.m. inside the Big Wheel Steakhouse and Lounge to watch a telecast of American Idol.  Some will laugh. Some will cry. Most will get hammered.

4. Normally, when you go to an art party you can expect certain things: wine (or punch, whatever), cheese (or grapes, or both), people in turtlenecks (with extremely long or extremely short hair) and art (which you may or may not understand).  Obviously you enjoy these things or else you wouldn't be going to art parties. But surely you enjoy other things art-related too - like meeting new people who enjoy art. Say, three new people. Wallah! Point reached. The 100^th Monkey party will consume the yellow building next to Puget Sound Pizza (313 Seventh) as seven photographers host the popular art-oriented event - that has the mandate of meeting three new people -  beginning at 7:30 p.m. Bring your $4 for the collectible monkey tile. Bring food and beverages to share. Snap your fingers to the musical styling of Sidewalk Symphony and enjoy yourself, before you get back to your wine and cheese (or grapes) rotation.

5. What's not to love about The Mix? Fine beers, all-day happy hours and arguably the best gay and lesbian scene in Tacoma. We here at the Weekly Volcano are big fans. And with the edition of Wii game night every Wednesday at 9 p.m., we're even more likely to blow off responsibilities and head down to one of the best bars in town. Host Charles leads new and advanced Wii players through Wii tennis, bowling and all sorts of other Wii favorites. Drink specials and happy hour prices. Drink, Wii and be happy.

6. Of course, it could snow a buttload and cancel everything. ...

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

HELP GROW FILM JOBS IN WASHINGTON >>>

I'll admit that I give scarcely a thought to film as it pertains to the world of politics (and maybe you don't much either). One comprises a vast collection of freethinking artists and technicians who aim to entertain the masses, the other is a formal body of lawmakers governing those same masses.

They cross paths at one crucial point, however: money.

Wednesday, Feb. 23, citizens can witness a rare union of these disparate spheres. Dubbed "Film Day" by Washington Filmworks, this Seattle-based organization invites moviemakers and cinephiles alike to join them from noon to 4 p.m. at the Washington State Capital's Cherberg Building in support of two pieces of legislation currently under discussion. If approved, House Bill 1554 and Senate Bill 5539 (what peppy names!) will reinvigorate the state's Motion Picture Competitiveness Program, which grants funding to non-resident filmmakers who use Washington for their productions.

Denise Gibbs, owner of regional casting agency Foreground Background, knows firsthand the issues at stake on Film Day. "Our film community would be devastated with the loss of (the MPCP)," she says. "It is our number-one tool to bring and keep the big projects that come here (and) spend millions of dollars for crew, actors and support services. It pumps money back into our local economy and provides jobs even in a recession."

Filmworks Executive Director Amy Lillard shares Gibbs's viewpoint and offers us a straightforward, practical approach to the issue: "This bill is ... not about Hollywood, or stars, or anything like that," says Lilliard. "It's about keeping Washington workers employed." She strongly encourages others to write their legislators.  

If you can attend, register via email at info@washingtonfilmworks.org, or catch the committee meetings live on www.tvw.org. Download a Film Day packet from www.washingtonfilmworks.org.

SATURDAY, FEB. 19, 2011 >>>

1. Regardless of what Punxsutawney Whatshisface said, the cold, windy weather isn't leaving the South Sound any time soon, which makes it awful hard to leave the house some days. "But it's Saturday!!" you mewl to the bathroom mirror, comb your ratty hair and brave the cold. You're not 16 anymore, dammit - so what if you want to stay home with your crocheting and your favorite loose-leaf tea? Well, the Mad Hat Tea Company has the answer to your recreational conundrum: Your Future in a Cup. From 1-3:30 p.m. at the downtown tea shop, Blanche Goddesstones will read your tea leaves. Most likely the leaves will tell you to get the hell out of the house.

2. Now that he's our resident go-to man for brooding, hark back to a rosier era of Bill Murray-ness by taking in a free screening of Ghostbusters, a riff on Abbott and Costello movies. It eventually devolves into a special-effects fest, but Murray owns it. The Grand Cinema will screen it at 10:30 a.m. on a first-come, first serve basis. Who you gonna to call ... to go with you?

3. At 6 p.m., Orca Books in Olympia will host a free event celebrating the release of Farm Together Now: A portrait of people, places and ideas for a new food movement, a documentation of the insurgent agriculture movement in the United States. The book profiles 20 innovative farms across the country, who are rethinking the connections between food, land, and community, one harvest at a time. Co-editor Daniel Tucker will be in the house.

4. This stage adaptation of Chaim Potok's 1972 classic My Name Is Asher Lev makes its Pacific Northwest debut in a collaboration between Lakewood Playhouse and the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts at the Theatre on the Square. Directed by Marcus Walker, Lakewood Playhouse's managing artistic director, it's the story of a gifted young artist torn between his Hasidic Jewish faith and his passion to paint the truth. This 7:30 p.m. show will be accompanied by an exhibit of modernist paintings by Bo Bartlett.

5. Tacoma jazz saxophonist Kareem Kandi will grab bassist Rob Hutchinson and drummer Andre Thomas and head south for a 8 p.m. show at The Royal Lounge.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Concerts go on sale today

LINK: Wine tastings!

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

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Rain or snow showers, hi 44, lo 27

Saturday: Mostly sunny and chilly, hi 44, lo 32

Sunday: Chance of afternoon rain, hi 44, lo 31

>>> FRIDAY, FEB. 18: MAX, THE ANCIENT CRYSTAL SKULL

JoAnn Parks is making "Max, the Ancient Crystal Skull" available for an evening of public viewing and private meditation sessions at Crystal Voyage in Tacoma. The skull is said to be thousands of years old and one of 13 artifacts with mystical properties, including the ability to generate iffy action sequels. It's been featured in documentaries the world over, including appearances on A&E, the Discovery Channel, the Travel Channel and the BBC. Max was bequeathed to Ms. Parks by Lama Norbu, a Guatemalan healer. - Michael Swan

• Crystal Voyage, 7-9 p.m. $25, 2601 E. D St., Suite 201, Tacoma, 253.272.4367

>>> SATURDAY, FEB. 19: PAPER AIRPLANE FLIGHT SCHOOL

He was the smallest, the palest, the weakest. And on top of those devastating preteen setbacks, Sid Anderson, the most unfortunate boy in fourth grade, had to eat "special oranges" for lunch, which didn't exactly help his social standing at Oakbrook Elementary. Still, for all his cruel flaws, when it came to crafting paper airplanes, Anderson was a flat-out ace. He'd fold and crease those origami whiz bangs until they were aerodynamic works of art. And no matter who threw his winged beauties, Anderson's bombers would sail for miles and miles, hovering on the winds of recess like perforated seabirds. The schoolyard thugs would salute the airborne beauties with envy, paying proper respects to Anderson's art before pounding the crap outta him under the jungle gym. Oh well: I have a feeling that Anderson today is a wealthy commercial pilot somewhere east - and that he's passed his paper-plane talents down to his beautiful, popular children. Get in touch with your inner ace and let ‘em fly at the paper Airplane Flight School Saturday at the Olympic Flight Museum.  The event will promote aerospace education with a variety of hands-on activities including an aircraft model contest and, yes, paper airplane construction. — MS

• Olympic Flight Museum, 1-3:30 p.m., $5-$7, 7637-A Old Hwy. 99 SE, Olympia, 360.705.3925
  

>>> SUNDAY, FEB. 20: NORDIC FILM SERIES

President's Weekend could mean you have family functions to avoid. It also could mean all the usual out-of-town haunts will be packed. So ... now's a great time to get in touch with your Scandinavian roots. If you're one of the 5.3 percent of South Sounders who is of Scandinavian descent (OK, I made that up) - and if you're not, just pretend - get in touch with your roots and check out the Nordic Film Series at the Scandinavian Cultural Center.  Sunday, the series opens with the 2000 film The Bench. Go sit in a chair and watch The Bench. — MS

• Scandinavian Cultural Center, 2-4 p.m., Pacific Lutheran University, Park Avenue and South 122nd Street, Parkland, 253.535.7349.

>>> WHERE OUR STAFF IS GOING

NIKKI TALOTTA Features Writer
Besides working, I plan to slowly and evenly coat layers of gradual self tanning lotion all over my body. I will also make sure I have both the tops and bottoms to all my bikinis. Laying around thumbing through travel guides might be on the agenda, too. My hubby and I are taking our honeymoon, and I've got to prepare for our Hawaiian getaway. Life can be rough sometimes.

BRETT CHIHON Meat Market Correspondent/Features Writer
Since the Best of Oly party at the Broho is tonight, I'll probably be nursing a headache for most of Friday. But on Saturday I plan to get my legs moving and visit the Olympia Old-Time Music Festival going down at The Loft on Cherry. Old-timey music and dancing. Should be a good time.

CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL: Theater Critic
This is the weekend my shawty and I will celebrate love and pop culture. It kicks off with the Volcano's awesome Best of Oly party at the BroHo tonight. Then Friday, I'm cooking her a steak dinner, followed by a special dessert. Saturday, we're catching the double feature of Raiders of the Lost Ark and its shot-for-shot, kid-made doppelganger at SIFF. Life is good!

ALEC CLAYTON: Visual Arts Critic
Going to some kind of silly party at The Brotherhood in Oly tonight. Saturday, I'm headed to Seattle to see the play Brother Size at the Seattle Rep.

JENNIFER JOHNSON Food and Lifestyles Writer
I will spend the weekend doing yoga on the beach, visiting galleries in Lahaina, going to the whale festival and hopefully eating some freshly spit-roasted boar. Jealous? You should be, I'm in Maui. :)

JOANN VARNELL Theater Critic
After a no-plans-weekend that saw me play Florence Nightingale at home, I'm excited to have a little family vacation! We're going to enjoy the three day weekend by taking the train to Portland. We'll hit Powell's a couple times, Stumptown Roasters (at least daily), Kenny & Zukes and possibly put a bird on something before coming home to our fair city.

STEVE DUNKELBERGER Nightlife Correspondent
I'm taking the kiddos to tonight's Third Thursday ArtWalk. Saturday, after hitting the Tacoma Mall and the St. Mary's rummage sale, I'll check out the Tacoma Cobras to see how the team is shaping up. Sunday will bring church and jammy time with Netflix.

STEPH DEROSA Features Writer
Whomever coined the phrase "Summer Lovin'" is friggen' brilliant. Just about every damn child we know was born in the February/March time frame (right, Driscoll?).  We are absolutely inundated with birthday parties having RSVP'd "yes" to approximately two every weekend for the next few weeks.  To add, my birthday is next week while my husband's and daughter's are next month.  All these presents and parties are going to break the bank. That's it. I've decided everyone's getting soap on a rope from the dollar store. Lather up, cowboys.

JOE IZENMAN Theater and Music Writer
I was going to say that I had absolutely nothing to do but go beachcombing and eat pasta, but then I remembered this wedding that I keep forgetting I'm going to on Saturday. Hopefully I don't forget on Saturday. ...

REV. ADAM MCKINNEY Features Writer
My weekend will likely be spent holed up in my house, finishing my contributions to next week's 2011 Music Issue for the paper.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

MOVIE'S MESSAGE HITS HOME >>>

Mick Flaaen, busily PA-ing for the last few weeks on a Seattle feature film called The Dead Men, broke away briefly to premiere his own first short, Welcome to Parkland, this past Sunday at The Grand Cinema. (I wrote about this project in an earlier edition of Buzz.) When Flaaen broke the news to his Seattle crew, one member scoffed, "You guys do films in Stinktown?"

Ouch. As a retort, please indulge me in borrowing a witty utterance from Welcome to Parkland: "What a f***in' DOUCHE!"

Good, I feel better.

"That attitude needs to be changed," Flaaen told a theater bursting with supportive friends and family eager to witness his debut. An outsider betrays true ignorance when still comparing Tacoma to a cultural wasteland. Welcome to Parkland's  very completion serves as the latest victory in local artists' seemingly unending battle against such stereotypes.

The film's heroine, 20-something Kin Lennon (played by Kim Whalen), wrestles with a similar problem. As she tells her coffee shop companion, Vince (Jarod Morgan), Kin's relatives have always shaped her conception of Ray (August Kelley), her estranged father. All her life she's swallowed opinion without tasting truth. But when Ray approaches death, she approaches Ray and makes a bold offer.

Admitting one's faults and mistakes, not only to one's self but to others wounded by a cold humanity, takes courage. This is Parkland's greatest lesson, a lesson the closed-minded should welcome with open arms.

For viewers' comments about the film and updates on future screenings find Welcome to Parkland on Facebook.      

LINK: More movies