TELL YOUR FREINDS >>>

If our stylist spent 8 minutes on our hair, or our favorite chef 8 minutes on our lasagna, we might be upset. But for some strange reason we're perfectly happy watching our favorite performance artist for 8 minutes.

Unfortunately, it won't be this Monday as planned.

The Barefoot Collective has canceled its 8@8 scheduled for Monday, March 29 due to artist cancellations and lack of interest, which is sad. The next 8@8 will be Monday, May 24 at 8 p.m.

8@8 offers local artists an opportunity to unveil their works in progress. Each artist receives a maximum of 8 minutes to show new material. After the show, the performing artists may receive feedback from the audience.

Tickets are $5 at the door.

If you are interested in performing, call Barefoot at 253.272.4219.

FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 2010 >>>

1. China Davis will perform at 8 p.m. inside Jazzbones.

2. Did you miss Montana author Pat Shannon's talk on Darwin's theory of evolution yesterday at Orca Books? The fittest should catch Shannon again at 6 p.m. inside King's Books.

3. Speaking of Orca Books, author William L. Marcy will discuss his book The Politics of Cocaine at the Olympia book store at 6 p.m. The book investigates the role the United States played - through flawed policy and tactics - in building South America's cocaine economy, specifically the mistake of mixing anti Communism and anti drug policies and the absolute havoc and death it created.

4. The all-ages Destiny City Metalfest 2 will host Culling The Weak, Mortal Remails, Never Met A Dead Man, Pity, Autumn Awakening, To The Wind, and Creature Of The Deep at 7 p.m. inside the Viaduct.

5. Gilbert and Sullivan's comic opera HMS Pinafore opens at 8 p.m. for a five weekend run at the Lakewood Playhouse.

LINK: New movies open today

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2010 >>>

1. Olivia De La Cruz performs a free show from 7-9 p.m. at SAX Restaurant and Lounge.

2. Anything Goes - a classic musical comedy set in the 1930s that takes place on board the S.S. American, a luxury liner sailing from New York to England - opens at 7:30 p.m. inside the Norton Clapp Theatre in Jones Hall at the University of Puget Sound.

3. The Love Tacoma group will talk about Tacoma lovingly while watching the NIT basketball Tournament beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Varsity Grill.

4. The CLAW (Cartoonists League of Absurd Washingtonians) will play "win, Lose or CLAW" during their monthly Open Swim tonight at 7:40 p.m. inside the Mandolin Café.

5. Friday Knights, The Volunteers, Rory OK & The Worst Band Ever and Gonken perform at 9 p.m. inside Hell's Kitchen.

LINK: Movie showtimes in the South Sound

SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2010 >>>

1. The very talented singer-songwriter Ben Union will play a free show inside The Hub at 9 p.m.

2. The Women's League of University of Puget Sound Spring Flea Market will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Memorial Fieldhouse. Expect more than 50 booths of antiques, photo of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen from 1952, No. 300 Wysong & Miles dual sander, and other treasure. Proceeds support U.P.S. scholarships for students.

3. The Grand Cinema, with a lot of encourage from Click! Cable, will screen the lovely Curious George movie from free beginning at 10 a.m.

4. Tacoma artist David Gray continues his portrait demonstration from noon to 3 p.m. at Tacoma Art Supply.

5. Defending the Caveman - the longest-running solo play in Broadway history - is a boorish boy vs. sensitive woman nudge-wink fest that hits the Theatre on the Square stage at 7:30 p.m.

LINK: Movie showtimes in the South Sound

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2010 >>>

1. Join artist Lisa Sweet for the opening reception of her devotion and demonstration show from 4-6 p.m. inside Kittredge Gallery. Sweet borrows symbols and imagery from medieval and early Christian art to create 21st-century icons that explore contemporary concerns and beliefs about faith and myth, ritual and tradition.

2. The Intermittent Health And Fitness Club presents Recess, a night of Double Dutch, four square and hopscotch at 7 p.m. inside King's Books.

3. Singer and guitarist Olivia De La Cruz will perform at 7 p.m. inside Sax Restaurant and Lounge.

4. My Name Is Rachel Corrie, the controversial and politically charged play about the Olympia human rights activist who died protecting a house from demolition by Israeli soldiers in Rafah, Gaza, will be given a staged reading at 7 p.m. inside the Kilworth Chapel of the University of Puget Sound. Following the 90-minute reading, there will be a discussion with Cindy and Craig Corrie, Rachel's parents, and Kate Cohn, Assistant Dean of Students at UPS. 

5. Trop rock guitarist Rob Rigoni will perform at 7 p.m. inside the Tempest Lounge.

LINK: Movie show times in the South Sound

5SATURDAY, FEB. 27, 2010 >>>

1. The Fan Club in Lakewood has reopened with Tacoma band Igneous Rocks performing at 9 p.m.

2. Hear multicultural aspects of permaculture design and how to include diverse populations in gardening projects from 2-5 p.m. at King's Books.

3. Poetry in the 253 Mouths and Mics - an open mic for poetry, music and stories - runs from 7-10 p.m. at the Café at 744 Market Street in downtown Tacoma.

4. Lakewood Playhouse's You Can't Take It With You - the classic comedy about the Sycamore family that gives up world success to live a happy stress-free life and convince every one they meet to do the same - hits the stage at 8 p.m.

5. Intervision will perform at 9:30 p.m. inside Doyle's Public House.

LINK: Movie showtimes in the South Sound

Wednesday, Feb. 17 >>>

1. China Davis and opener Jason Lille take the stage tonight at The Swiss beginning at 8 p.m. 1904 Jefferson, Tacoma 21+

2. The Biblical saga of Joseph and his coat of many colors comes to life at Olympia's Capital Playhouse for five added days.  Having been quickly sold out in its previous dates, they've decided to be generous and give us four more chances to catch Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.  February 17-21.  7:30 pm. Call 360.943.2744 for tickets. 612 Fourth Ave. East, Olympia

3. The New Frontier Lounge hosts a free show that includes the sounds of Tommy Dean.  8 p.m. This is just one of many great shows the New Frontier has almost every night of the week. 301 East 25th Street, Tacoma, 253.572.4020, 21+

4. Tacoma's Poet Laureate Antonio Edwards Jr. Presents " CIVIL RIGHTEOUSNESS" a focus on the unsung heroes of the civil rights movement. Antonio uses visual imagery and spoken word to entertain and inform audiences about the men and women who help shape the civil rights movement. 12:30-1:30 p.m.  Free.  UW Tacoma, 1900 Commerce Street, Tacoma, 253.692.4000‎

5. It's Rasta night tonight at Jazzbones with $5 Red Stripe beers all night.  Northwest Sons, After Zion, and DJ Jason Diamond begin at 9pm.  $5 21+ 2803 Sixth Avenue, Tacoma, 253.396.9169

AN ART EVENT A DAY KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY >>>

TONIGHT: Speakeasy Arts Cooperative has a First. Their first First Thursday Artwalk is a community art party featuring an art jam, potluck and yes, an opportunity to walk on art. 7-9 p.m., no cover, 746 Broadway, Tacoma 

FRIDAY: The Telephone Room Gallery will celebrate Drunk Dialing ... Kristen Ramirez's new exhibit featuring inscribed booze bottles. The show opens Friday night with an artist reception. 6-9 p.m., no cover, 3710 N. Seventh St., Tacoma

SATURDAY: Old people rule. Well, at least the Washington State History Museum thinks so. As part of their Icons of Washington History exhibit, the downtown Tacoma museum will bring Washington state historical figures to life as part of Ghosts of the Great Hall: Icons of Washington tours. 1-3 p.m., a tour every half hour, free with admission, 1911 Pacific Ave., Tacoma

SUNDAY: Want to view apocalyptic genius? Harlequin Productions presents a matinee performance of its End Days, a play Weekly Volcano theater critic Christian Carvajal calls "one of the richest productions of any new play I've seen in a decade." 2 p.m., $12-$20, 202 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia

MONDAY: bella! bellaballs studio - home of glass artist Diane Hansen and designer Lesli Jacobs-McHugh and their beautiful hand-blown glass floats, bellaballs — will host another bella social Monday night featuring cocktails, food and, you guessed it, bellaballs. 5-8 p.m., no cover, 747 Fawcett Ave., Suite B, Tacoma

TUESDAY: Arun Ghandi, the grandson of Mahatma Ghandi, will be in Puyallup to discuss his grandfather's philosophies on non-violence and racism. Noon, free, Pierce College, 1601 39th Ave. SE, Puyallup

WEDNESDAY: Russian animation master Yuri Norstein will discuss and screen his work in Olympia. His films Hedgehog in the Fog (1975) and Tale of Tales (1979) were voted the best animation films of all time by international juries in Los Angeles, Tokyo and Zagreb. 7:30 p.m., $5-$10, The Evergreen State College Communications Lab Building, 2700 evergreen Parkway NW, Olympia

LINK: Other South Sound happenings

THURSDAY, JAN. 28, 2010 >>>

1. Last Chance Romeos play an unplugged show at 8 p.m. inside Doyle's Public House.

2. The Tacoma Urban Orchestra will show support and solidarity for the devastated nation of Haiti with a $10 concert tonight at 7 p.m. inside Cutters Point Coffee in downtown Tacoma. Price includes coffee and a raffle.

3. Hear Erica Bauermeister speak about her debut novel, The School of Essential Ingredients, at 7 p.m. inside the Collins Library on the University of Puget Sound campus.

4. Harlequin Productions opens End Days full of religion, science, family, friends, suicide or rock and roll tonight at 8 p.m. inside the State Theater.

5. The Revengers, EvergreenOne, Todd Sykes, and Rockwell Powers bring hip-hop to The Swiss beginning at 9 p.m.

SUNDAY, JAN. 17, 2010 >>>

1. Beale Street Kick-off Party & Fundraiser featuring Mia Vermillion and Orville Johnson, Fingertips, The Chester Dennis Jones Band, Blues Redemption, and The Randy Oxford Band from 5-11 p.m. at Imperial Dragon in Tacoma.

2. Over the River and Through the Woods hits the Tacoma Little Theatre stage at 2 p.m.

3. Jake's on 4th in Olympia hosts "Baby, It's Cold Outside!" - a drag variety show featuring Ms. Ginger S. Natch, Luminous Pariah, Princess Lucky Buttons, Mercury Troy, Snow Queen, Raqs Steady Eddie, Lula Staccata, Lowa de BoomBoom, hosted by the incomparable Hattie Hotpants, plus a raffle - at 6 and 8 p.m.

4. The Battle For SXSW featuring Resdeus, Under Sin, Cold December, Only The Strong, Atomic Outlaws begins at 7 p.m. inside Station 56.

5. Mystic Roots Band, The Northwest Sons, and The Puget Sound System perform at 8 p.m. inside Hell's Kitchen.