FUTURE THINGS ARE COMING>>>

You might not know this (because you might be a Communist), but the Tacoma Rainiers will open the 2013 season at Cheney Stadium Friday, April 12 with a night game against the Salt Lake Bees. I had a chance to chat via e-mail this week with Byron Pullen, Tacoma Rainiers events coordinator, on the upcoming changes for Cheney Stadium.

WEEKLY VOLCANO: What is your vision as the new special events coordinator?

BYRON PULLEN: I am afforded the opportunity to make Cheney Stadium a year-round venue, meaning I'm tasked with attracting and creating events outside of the 72 Rainiers games we host each season. Baseball will always be what we are known for, but with the amenities this facility offers, Cheney Stadium has the potential to be much more than just a ballpark. Most people don't realize the scope of the events or outings that we can host. Christmas parties, company meetings, corporate picnics/batting practices, festivals, concerts, car shows, 5K runs, etc. - you name the event and I would love to talk about putting it together. The Rainiers focus has always been to contribute in making Tacoma be a highly desired destination for events and entertainment, with Cheney Stadium being a premiere venue.

VOLCANO: When/what will the first event outside of baseball be?

PULLEN: Our next big event is the Seattle Seahawks Celebrity Softball Game. The details will be released soon, but it looks to be an incredible opportunity to host current and former Seahawks players, all while benefitting a great cause. The game will be held on Sunday, July 7, 2013, and the Rainiers are excited to host it. Many more incredible events are already in the works this season, and we look forward to adding to that list as the year continues.

VOLCANO: Where can people find information about upcoming special events?

PULLEN: All events information is featured on the Tacoma Rainiers website, including a calendar with interactive features to help track our upcoming events schedule. Additional information can be found through Facebook, Twitter and the club's other social media platforms.

VOLCANO: Why do you think this change is important for Tacoma?

PULLEN: Hosting non-baseball events at Cheney Stadium presents the opportunity to further develop an already unique, culturally rich community. I have already come to appreciate many of the local venues and businesses involved in putting on events throughout the area, and the community seems supportive of bringing in concerts, festivals and other promising events. In Tacoma, the music and events industry is on the cusp of exploding, and the Rainiers want to do our part in making sure this region's potential is realized.  

VOLCANO: Anything else you'd like to add?

PULLEN: At the end of the day, the goal is to have members of the community wonder what the next fun event is happening at Cheney Stadium, regardless of the season. That's the fun part of my job; being able to put these special events together and get the community involved. This is one more way to give Tacoma something new that people can be excited to be a part of.

IT'S IN YOUR FREAKIN' BACKYARD! >>>

Y'all I have got to rant about something for a minute. We live in one of the most beautiful places in the country, and yet all I hear about from my friends who don't live here is how awful the rain must be. How could anyone live in a place that gets rain 485 days per year? And don't get me started on the Seattle-ite bias toward Tacoma. I love Seattle. I love my friends who live there and I love spending the day there. But good lord, getting them to come down here to visit or even say something nice about it is challenging. So, whenever I do get someone to co me visit me I do my best to leave them speechless. I could go on and on about a whole itinerary, but for the outdoors addicts among us, I'll stick to how I wow them. On a nice day, I take them to Chambers Bay.

Officially known as the Chambers Creek Properties, Chambers Creek Regional Park - or the more popular name Chambers Bay - is comprised of more than 950 acres located along the shores of the Puget Sound, in University Place. It includes a world-renowned golf course (Chambers Bay Golf Course, thus the commonly used name), enormous central meadow, miles of paved trails, beach access, and off leash dog area, playground, soccer fields and some of the most stunning views in Pierce County. Everyone I've ever taken there on a sunny day has the same reaction, "holy cow!" It's a stunner ladies and gentlemen. And in my experience shuts up even the biggest critics.

Over the last 200 years, the entire Chambers Creek Properties area has been used as a location for a paper mill, a proposed match company, a major industrial center, multiple lumber companies, a railroad center and a gravel mine. The gravel mine left the largest imprint with the hillside having been carved away, and large concrete structures left dotting the landscape. Pierce County purchased the property to house its wastewater treatment plant. Yes, on the part of the property not open to the public there is a sewage treatment plant. But the beauty of their plan was that the plant only takes up a fraction of the property. The rest is for the public to enjoy.

If you are a golfer, I will warn you the green fees are a little steep, and no golf carts allowed, but the Scottish style links course is one people dream of playing. The 2015 US Open will be played on it. And it's in your backyard! For the rest of us non-golfers, I could write several weeks worth of columns for all there is to do. I promise to revisit it. But for now just the highlights:

• A large off leash dog area - let the puppies run!
• Miles of trails. Just the loop around the golf course is approximately 3 miles.
• The Central Meadow. A seemingly permanent kite flying breeze, perfect Frisbee tossing grass, picnicking possibilities, and really I could go on. Anything you would want to do on a wide-open expanse of grass.
• Beach access. Terrific beach for finding treasures, tossing rocks in the water and watching the sunset.

The breath taking view of Puget Sound, Fox Island and the Olympic Mountains is my favorite part. Inevitably, after taking an out of town guest there they say, "Now I get it." And even the most critical Seattle-ite has admitted there is something nice about Tacoma/Pierce County. So really folks, go fall in love with your hometown a little more.

Directions

Take Exit 130 off of Interstate 5 to South 56th Street West.  Take the Tacoma Mall Boulevard ramp toward South 56th Street West. Turn Left on Tacoma Mall Boulevard. Then right onto 56th. Stay on 56th for approx. 3 miles when 56th becomes Cirque Drive West. Get out of your car and stretch. Get back in your car and continue on Cirque Drive West to Grandview Drive West. Turn Left at Grandview Drive West. Pass through one roundabout. Chambers Bay will be on the right.

LINK: The Foothills Trail

LINK: Owen Beach

LINK: Scenic Beach State Park

PEOPLE DO THE CRAZIEST THINGS >>>

Every sports team needs super-fans -and that includes roller derby teams. The Dockyard Derby Dames opened its seventh season Saturday night at the Pierce College Health Education Building. A packed house watched the Hellbound Homewreckers beat the Femme Fianna in the first bout and last year's champion Marauding Mollys beat the Trampires in the final bout. All for teams brought their most rabid supporters - you know, the guys (and gals) who are willing to wear bodysuits, become pirates, wear hot pink leis and dress as a milkman in short shorts. Yeah, those guys.

Here, we present 10 Dockyard Derby Dames super-fans at the season seven opener. OK, we included a scary-faced Derby Dame, Jooley Heaps of Poison Apple and the guy doing the robot during halftime.

LINK: More Dockyard Derby Dames photos from the season seven opener

SATURDAY, MARCH 9 2013 >>>

1. You may not be familiar with the wrestling phenomenon known as lucha libre, but it's all the rage in Mexico, where its popularity lags only behind that of soccer. For the second year in a row, costumed warriors will flex and destroy under the tutelage of José Luis Gómez, over 20 years a luchador in Mexico. His troupe, Lucha Libre Volcánica, hails from Renton, but they're performing at the Lucha de Sound event inside the University of Puget Sound's Memorial Field House at 7 p.m. to benefit a student group, CHispA, the Community for Hispanic Awareness. This event features commentary in both English and español, and you can't beat the price, amigo: it's free! (Since it is a benefit, however, a $5 donation is suggested.) So round up su familia and root for Puget Sound técnicos El Fénix, El Hero, and Rey Jaguar in their never-ending quest for justice against rude boys Chicano, Peligro, and Prófugo. There's a técnica, too: Vancouver, Washington's own La Avispa.v¡Que viva los luchadores!

2. Today marks the final monthly version of the Proctor Farmers Market, which goes down between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. You can expect garden plants and local produce from Cottage Gardens, tasty smoked salmon from Wilson Fish and the musical stylings of John Hoover and the Quinns, in addition to its regular farmer market awesomeness.

3. Sure, Tacoma celebrates its status as an arts community.  Sure, Tacoma loves to band together for a good cause.  With the YWCA RAGS Guild Wearable Art Sale and Juried Gallery, continuing for its 19th year, it does both. RAGS started as a fun way to raise money for the YWCA, whose mission statement is all about honoring diversity and creating opportunities for women’s growth, leadership, and power in order to attain a common vision: peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all people. RAGS offers guests an opportunity to view and acquire fabulous handmade clothing, jewelry and accessories created by artisans from across the country. Check out RAGS from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. inside the Mercedes-Benz of Tacoma new showroom at 1701 Alexander Ave. East in Fife.

4. Wait ... you have a vision. You plug into the area’s collective unconscious. In a flash, you remember that you — and those of your ilk — don’t need the cathode ray tube and the remote control to flip through images of far-flung places. You’re telekinetic. Telepathic. Otherworldly. And — irony of all ironies — you almost blanked on today’s Psychic Fair at the Meeker Mansion Psychic Fair from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. But then, in the nick of time, your sixth sense kicked in. It always does.

5. Grab the nearest mouth guard, roller derby is back in Tacoma. Actually, it has been here for some time. And, it's in Lakewood. That said, the Dockyard Derby Dames open its season Saturday night at the Pierce College Health Education Center at 6 p.m. For the uninitiated, the all-female flat-track roller derby team has been blocking and lapping like mad for six seasons. The Femme Fianna, Hellbound Homewreckers, Trampires and season six defending champions Marauding Mollys will throw on the elbow pads, kneepads, helmets, fishnet stockings for two bouts. Grab a spot on the bleachers, or if you're really up for it, hang in the beer garden, where your own protective gear is probably a wise idea, and enjoy a night of good ol' fashion bruising.

LINK: Saturday, March 9 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

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

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Sunshine, hi 51, lo 35

Saturday: Mostly sunny, hi 54, lo 39

Sunday: Mostly cloudy with a few showers, hi 50, lo 44

>>> FRIDAY, MARCH 8: SOUTH SOUND TECH CONFERENCE

Technology is a pretty freakin' big deal these days. Seems like the legions of tech geeks are ever growing, with a new techie born every time the wind blows or someone purchases a new iPhone. Friday brings the South Sound Technology Conference to the University of Washington Tacoma, a one-day event designed to bring together, "leaders from industry, education and government to discuss and demonstrate innovations and their applications," according to pre-event hype. The day-long event features a morning keynote by Director of Business Incubation at Cisco Systems Sharon Wong, a panel discussion on big data, and a lunch keynote by Michael Hamilton, chief information and security officer with the city of Seattle. - Weekly Volcano

• UWT - William W. Philip Hall, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., $20, registration required, 1551 Broadway, Tacoma, sstconference.org
  

>>> FRIDAY, MARCH 8: RED JACKET MINE

"It's been a few years since we last played The New Frontier, and much has changed - most notably, we have a brand-new LP called Someone Else's Cake out on Fin Records," says Lincoln Barr of Red Jacket Mine. "It'll be great to be back ... Brook, Neil, and the rest of the crew are hospitality epitomized. We recently heard up-and-comers Trees and Timber at a house party hosted by our friends in the Jilly Rizzo, and we knew we'd found a Tacoma band after our own heart. Throw in The Variety Hour and you've got a full night of Pure Pop for Tacoma's Now People." - Nikki McCoy

• The New Frontier Lounge, 9 p.m., $5, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020

>>> FRIDAY, MARCH 8: MOSQUITO HAWK

McCoys Cavern in Olympia, voted Best Dive Bar by Volcano readers, will be hosting a night of rock; stoner rock, classic rock, dirty rock, whatever you want to call it, it will be off the hinge. With Mosquito Hawk (Oly), Witchburn (Seattle) and Black Pussy (Portland), I wouldn't recommend passing this one up. - NM

• McCoy's Tavern, 10 p.m., $3, 420 Fourth Ave., Olympia, 360.352.0696

>>> SATURDAY, MARCH 16: POETRY OUT LOUD STATE FINALS

Chad Channing, former Nirvana drummer, brings his pop rock band Before Cars to Rocket Records for an afternoon, live performance. Before Cars are promoting its latest album, How We Run, dropped Feb. 26 on the band's record label, Pocket Star Records. Best thing about this album is the acoustic, singer/songwriter feel. Best thing about Rocket Records shows is they start early, you can browse music, there is a cool gumball machine, and owner Steve Gaydich and his dog, Bruno, are never without smiles, making it feel like your living room. Combine the two, and you're golden. - NM

• Rocket Records, 3 p.m., no cover, 3843 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.756.5186

>>> SATURDAY, MARCH 9: SNAKE LAKE SCIENCE FAIR

Kids these days are no damn good. You hear about it all the time. But Saturday at the Tacoma Nature Center anyone interested can get a look at some of the positive things kids are capable of - like baking soda volcanoes and paper towel strength test. It's called the Snake Lake Science Fair, and kids from throughout Tacoma - many of them homeschooled - will participate with gusto this weekend, making for an event that's sure to be both enjoyable and enlightening. And it's also free to drop in on. The kids have been working for a long time on these projects (deadline for application was in late February, and there was a $10 application fee), so we expect a topnotch science fair. - WV

• Tacoma Nature Center, 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. public viewing, free admission, 1919 S. Tyler, Tacoma, 253.591.6439

>>> SATURDAY, MARCH 9-SUNDAY, MARCH 10: PROFESSIONAL BULL RIDERS

Wooooeee, that's a tall drink o' water! The professional bull riders are in town this Saturday for the PBR Built Ford Tough Series Tacoma Invitational at the Tacoma Dome. You can watch guys get thrown around by burgers on the hoof, enjoy the smell of large animal poop or watch the Weekly Volcano lasses stalk the man flesh while wearing my "Save a horse, ride a cowboy" T-shirt. - WV

• Tacoma Dome, 7 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, $17-$19, 2525 E. D St., Tacoma, 253.272.3663

>>> SATURDAY, MARCH 9: DOCKYARD DERBY DAMES

Dockyard Derby Dames are gearing up for their first bout of their seventh season Saturday, where you will see the Femme Fianna, Hellbound Homewreckers, Marauding Mollys and Trampires in double-header action. This event teams up with Emergency Food Network - bring donated food and receive $3 off at the door. There will also be a beer garden and food truck for those that need to fuel their fire for extra cheering power. - NM

• Pierce College Fort Steilacoom, 6 p.m. $12/adv, $15/door, 9401 Farwest Dr. SW  Lakewood, 253. 964.6500

WHAT SOME OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS ARE UP TO

CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL Theater Critic
I plan to watch the new Oz movie, then spend all weekend bitching about how it doesn't measure up to the original.

REV. ADAM MCKINNEY Music Writer
This weekend, I'll be getting out of town for a few days to visit a friend in Portland. There, I expect that I'll revel in its relatively cheap culture, picking up a seriously discounted carton of cigarettes and enjoying complimentary beer-backs with my shots of whiskey. Portland is heaven for a few days, hell for much longer, I've found.

ALEC CLAYTON Arts Critic
We're going to the Thurston County Progressive Network's "Let Them Eat Cake" fundraiser dinner auction thingamajingy.

NIKKI MCCOY Feature Writer
After Friday, when I will be slinging drinks and then hitting up the Royal Lounge for Brent Amaker and The Dirty Birds, plus a mosey down to McCoy's for Mosquito Hawk and Black Pussy, the weekend calls from some serious R & R. And, no, I'm not talking about the Canadian blend whiskey - I'm talking sweat pants, TV trays, book reading and sleeping in.

JOSH RIZEBERG Music Columnist
I'm not doing anything this weekend except teaching my spoken-word/poetry class at D.A.S.H. on Saturday from 1-2 p.m. Then, I'll be helping Kept See shoot a video. Sunday, I'll be hitting the Graffiti Garage MC Cypher at 1 p.m.

JACKIE FENDER Food Writer
Saturday will include morning bird booze slinging and writing while Sunday will be the ultimate date night in honor of the husband's day of birth week. Undecided in what culinary exploration we will partake in but most certainly heading north to revel in Cirque du Soliel's Amaluna.

JOANN VARNELL Theater Critic
Woohoo, I have a date! Well, sort of. While my husband and I will be at the same Warehouse show with Damien Jurado and Jake Hemming on Friday. He will be working and I'll be hanging with friends. The toddler will have his own date and may or not be asleep when we get home. Also, I plan on grading papers and lesson planning at some point.

ADRIENNE KUEHL Food Writer
Friday, I'm heading to Seattle to hang out with my best friend at her gallery and catch up on some wine drinking. The rest of the weekend will be dedicated to doing my taxes and planning a friend's baby shower. Thrilling.

STEVE DUNKELBRGER Nightlife Correspondent
This weekend I plan on writing and shooting with a little coursework and maybe catching the Dockyard Derby Dames bout at Pierce College.

LINK: Even more local events that we recommend

LINK: Comprehensive South Sound Arts & Entertainment Calendar

SATURDAY, MARCH 2 2013 >>>

1. Reggae fans and bands are nearly everywhere - even in Hawaii. It's not hard to understand the music's appeal. In addition to its infectious grooves, reggae lyrics typically present a fantasy life to listeners, one in which positivity and love always win out and smoking large amounts of pot is a good thing. The latter reason seems to be the key to why audiences for reggae and jam rock have largely merged into one baked body. We don't know the baking habits of The Green, but we do know the Hawaiian reggae band takes the genre to a new level, incorporating R&B into its music, and adding energy to its shows. Catch the band with Stay Grounded and New Kingston at 7 p.m. inside Jazzbones.

2. Today marks the grand opening of STAR Center's Urban Adventure Course, which is an obstacle course that teaches kids age s6-12 physical and cognitive skills while being safe and inclusive. Throw your kid into the adventure from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and enjoy the extra grand opening events such as live entertainment, refreshments and watch kids run around like maniacs.

3. Today also marks the grand opening of the St Helens Ave Mercantile - the home of the Tea Works, The Blue Octopus Art Gallery, Wolf Bear Treasures and the OCD Candy Company at 753 St. Helens Ave in Tacoma's Triangle District. Now, under one roof, you may shop for organic and loose leaf teas, art, oracle readings, energy enhancing crystals, nostalgic candies, healing stones, steampunk accessories, aromatherapy incense and much more. Celebrate the grand opening from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and get in on the prizes, candy, art demonstrations and raffle.

4. The Oakhouse Restaurant & Bar hosts The Canadians Are Coming, a comedy show featuring Greg Kettner, Dennis Lintonqua and Ed Hill. Kettner has opened for Norm MacDonald and performs more than 300 shows a year. Hill tweeted this Feb. 22: "I just burned 500 calories in 30 minutes with a slice of pork chop and a microwave." The show begins at 8 p.m.

5. Guitarist and self-proclaimed man about town Vince Brown teams up with bassist Steve Luceno to celebrate a jazz duo that rolled like a winning pair of dice: bassist Ron Carter and guitarist Jim Hall. Brown and Luceno will channel the talented jazz legends, filling Swing Wine Bar's cozy space with the musical conversation between Hall and Carter, a fragile duet from 9-11 p.m.

PLUS: The South Sound Sustainability Expo in our Weekend Hustle

LINK: Saturday, March 2 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

THURSDAY, FEB. 28 2013 >>>

1. Let's talk Tacoma Runners, cause you know we love them. As it does every Thursday, the running group will gather at 5:45 p.m. outside a venue, stretch a bit, listen to Rob McNair-Huff describe the 3-mile route, then hit the pavement. What makes tonight's run extra special is the venue - The Grand Cinema. The group skips the typical bar homebase and will start and end it srun at Tacoma's independent film house. Once returning from its run, the group will enjoy food, beverages and a free showing of The Mountain Runners. Tonight would be a good night to join the group.

2. During the 1970s, a new genre of music called funk was making its way into the American mainstream and Seattle was droppin' the bass big time.  The documentary Wheedle's Groove profiles Seattle's once-thriving now-forgotten soul/funk scene of the 1960s and '70s in entertaining and highly educational fashion. The University of Puget Sound Black student Union and KUPS radio present the film at 7 p.m. inside Rausch Auditorium. It's the first film of the KUPSxSSU Film series. A short discussion led by UPS Prof. Renne Simms will follow the free screening.

3. Like fiddles and facial hair? Good. The Barleywine Revue performs tonight at The Swiss at 9 p.m.

4. The Weekly Volcano has brought you reports from the South Pacific Restaurant, describing its over 40 crowd, including "Muscular, graying men in leather jackets and blue jeans dance with equally attractive, equally middle-aged partners." Tonight, the scene might be a bit different. The "Hip Hop At South Paw" show will feature Blue Nose Music, AR Mastermind, Spikkoli, Syncopated Knock, Model Citizens and Back Magic Noize at 9 p.m.

5. Swing dancing's Africanist cousin, blues dancing, hits the Olympia Eagles Ballroom in the form of OlyBlues every Thursday at 9 p.m. Blues dancing derives from the so-called "Black vernacular" of Southern dance styles and includes such moves as the Lindy and the irresistibly named "Funky Butt." Worst-case scenario: you have two left feet but get to listen to Nina Simone.

LINK: Thursday, Feb. 28 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

THURSDAY, DEC. 14 2013 >>>

1. Here's your pick-up line: "Was your daddy a thief? Because he stole the stars and put them in your eyes." Where to use it? Check out the Weekly Volcano's Valentine's Day Command Center.

2. After six long years of closure due to safety issues, the Murray Morgan Bridge saw the dawn of a new era Friday, Feb. 1. The bridge reopen to car traffic - as well as bicycle and foot traffic via new pathways - just in time for its 100th birthday celebration Friday. This past week downtown businesses offered discounts and Harmon Brewery distributed Eleventh Street IPA in celebration of the old steel bridge over the Thea Foss Waterway reconnecting the Port of Tacoma with downtown Tacoma. The official rededication ceremony begins with the Light the Bridge fun run/walk at 6 p.m. Originally, fireworks were planned to light up the skies, but the fireworks company pulled out. That won't stop Tacoma. Instead, Light the Bridge organizers ask all participants to wear headlamps and/or carry flashlights or glow sticks. Advance registration was required. Go watch the craziness.

3. Oh, boy. Will relationships be destroyed tonight? It's Thursday. It's Valentine's Day. The Tacoma Runners run EVERY Thursday. No. Matter. What. The group begins its 3-mile run at 6 p.m. in front of their beloved Harmon Tap Room. Will an angry spouse toss belongings at a runner from a car window? Keep an eye on Twitter.

4. Speaking of the Harmon Tap Room, we imagine a few Tacoma Runners will stick around until 8 p.m. when Harmon Brewing hosts its Eleventh Street IPA release party. Bonus: The talented Kurt Lindsay will perform.

5. Look, it wouldn't be fair for us to draw conclusions and/or reaffirm stereotypes about people who are big into bluegrass music just because the Oly Mountain Boys will perform at 8 p.m. inside the historic Spar Cafe in Olympia. No, that would not be fair and we will not partake in such blind musical bigotry. We'll tactfully avoid referencing the film Deliverance when discussing the musical genre, and we'll steer clear of family tree jokes that involve fans of bluegrass marrying cousins. Why? Because we're bigger than that. Plus, when the band proclaims its mission is to "reinvigorate the bluegrass genre by bringing the original bluegrass sound of the 1950s to a new generation of fans," we kind of believe them, especially after taking a listen to the passion guitarist Chris Rutledge, mandolin player Derek McSwain, banjo player Tye Menser, bassist Phil Post and fiddle player Josh Grice get down with. Yep, we're taking the high road on this one.

LINK: Thursday, Feb. 14 arts and entertainment event sin the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

FRIDAY, FEB. 8 2013 >>>

1. For its 2012-13 season, Tacoma Opera is all about girl power. Its next installment of feminine mystique is La tragedie de Carmen staged at 8 p.m. inside Rialto Theater. Peter Brook’s La tragedie de Carmen is a stripped-down version of the famous Georges Bizet opera Carmen. The story focuses on passionate gypsy girl Carmen, who seduces a very naïve soldier named Don Jose. Jose leaves his steady and faithful girlfriend, but then Carmen in turn ditches poor Jose for someone else. Pimpin' really truly ain't easy. As the show's title suggests, much tragedy ensues.

2. Distinguished writers, poets, playwrights, short story writers, and people who scribble on cocktail napkins will step up to the mic from 7-9 p.m. as part of the Distinguished Writer Series and Open Mic at King's Books. Kelli Russell Agodon, author Letters from the Emily Dickinson Room, winner of the White Pine Press Poetry Prize, will take lead.

3. There are some hobbies you should just pick up. Stamp collecting is not one of them. Neither is anything involving plastic model kits. Now, these pastimes have nothing inherently wrong with them; they've just become rather, well, mockable over the years. They just can't be taken seriously anymore. They're not cool. And we all know you have to be cool. And these just don't cut it. Not like ice skating does. It's cool, both literally and figuratively.  Think about it: you get to go really fast; there's a high potential for injury; and if you get really, really good, really, really, really quickly, you'll probably end up winning a Gold Medal in the next Olympics. The ice skating show returns to a new ice arena at Sprinker Recreation Center Feb. 8-10 for five performances.  The theme of this year's show is Once Upon A Dream and features Olympic Silver Medalist Ben Agosto and United States Ladies Champion and Olympian Rachael Flatt. Take that, loser bird-watchers!

4. American pianist William Ransom headlines the University of Puget Sound's 23rd Annual Piano Festival at 7:30 p.m. inside Schneebeck Concert Hall. The Boston-born and technically perfect pianist has performed everything and done everything. The fact that he's going to take time and teach budding talent the next day in workshop settings is pretty cool.

5. It's a hot summer evening and Julie Rodgers has had a bad day. She's lost her job, and is broke and disillusioned. Her roommate Alice has lost her boyfriend and is in the midst of an eating frenzy. Enter a pizza delivery man who agrees to come in and share a beer with them. Little does he know what's in store for him. The evening gets crazier, wilder, angrier, and very funny. That's what you can expect at 8 p.m. inside the Midnight Sun Performance Space when Prodigal Sun Productions presents Pizza Man.

LINK: Friday, Feb. 8 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SUNDAY, FEB. 3 2013 >>>

1. Unlike other parties, which regularly occur in gathering places of all shapes and sizes, Super Bowl parties happen almost exclusively in the home. The television as a necessary party apparatus partially explains this phenomenon, though there’s never enough couch space, and Aunt Mary's Mexican layer dip always makes you feel strange later. Plus, no one has a television large enough to see around Phil’s fat head. Therefore, we suggest you leave it up to the professionals and ante up to a bar where testosterone swirls in the air, hoots and hollers fill the room and someone else makes the barbecue ribs and cocktails. Here's a list of some South Sound digs serving up specials during the big game.

2. The exhibition Andy Warhol's Flowers for Tacoma at Tacoma Art Museum will end next Sunday. Have you seen it? You should. Weekly Volcano arts critic Alec Clayton says if you thought you knew Warhol you may be in for a big surprise. There are many pieces in this show that I had never before seen, not even in reproduction. Read Clayton's full review of Andy Warhol's Flowers for Tacoma in the Visual Arts section at weeklyvolcano.com.

3. America’s Largest Antique & Collectibles Show will cram the Puyallup Fair & Events Center with 300 booths featuring antiques and collectibles up to 1970 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

4. Willian Hellman's The Children's Hour's daring, few-holds-barred script was a Broadway sensation in 1934 - so much so, in fact, that New York state authorities were willing to forgo a ban on one of its key themes. Two headmistresses who own and operate a private boarding school are accused of having "unlawful sexual conduct," with, as you might expect, disastrous effects on their lives. The catch is they're accused by a student, Mary Tilford, known to have a shaky regard for the truth. There's every reason to believe Mary's lying, and her rich, influential grandmother overreacting, until another student, Rosalie Wells, corroborates her story. The Lakewood Playhouse stages the last production of this show today at 2 p.m. Read Christian Carvajal's review of The Children's Hour in the Weekly Volcano's Arts Section.

5. Steve Cooley & The Dangerfields will fill Johnny's Dock Restaurant and Marina with rockin' blues beginning at 5 p.m.

LINK: Sunday, Feb. 3 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area