THURSDAY, MARCH 6 2014 >>>

1. Give Harlequin Productions an A for ambition in tackling Tennessee Williams' masterful Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. The 1955 Pulitzer Prize-winner is still a sizzler, with words one does not use in polite company even after decades of Williams' tweaks and revisions. This romp through the Seven Deadly Sins (avarice, lust, envy, greed, pride, sloth and gluttony, for those keeping score) hits the stage at 8 p.m.

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MONDAY, MARCH 3 2014 >>>

1. Look, at this point the Pacific Northwest - not to mention the current pop landscape in general - is choked with folk-rock revivalists. Bands like Mumford & Sons, the Lumineers and even American Idol winners (good lord, Phillip Phillips) have taken to appropriating folk and bluegrass and imbuing with a palatable sheen. While I'm not enough of a scold to say that there's something inherently wrong with this (appropriation is almost synonymous with pop music by this point), but it can get somewhat tiring. Joshua Powell and the Great Train Robbery aren't reinventing the wheel, in this regard, but there is something to be said for a band that sounds as vibrant as they are capable of sounding, even in this tsunami of banjo-ified pop music. You know what you're getting with Joshua Powell, but that's not always a bad thing. Catch the band at 7 p.m. in Tacoma's Metronome Coffee.

2. Joe and Paula McHugh present "The Green Fields of America," a journey through history using storytelling, folk music and paintings to make a rich and complex saga of America come alive at 4 p.m. in the Lacey Timberland Library.

3. Enjoy traveler Pat O'Connor's pictures and stories from his recent trip to Manitoba at 7 p.m. in the University Place Pierce County Library. He photographed polar bears as they prepared to depart on the ice floes of Hudson Bay for the winter. 

4. Seagull Invasion list their music as "funk slip slop slurp," and that's as good a place to start as anywhere. From the rubbery first beats of their song, "Oop," it's clear that Seagull Invasion are approaching everything from a skewed angle. Drum machine clatter is engulfed in elastic guitars and synthesizers, creating a manic energy that flirts with dance and funk, but somehow comes out the other side as weirdo pop. Elsewhere, Seagull Invasion temper their mania and approach ambient electronica, but they're never far away from some glitchy detour. The bill they're on is packed with art-rock provocateurs, from the industrial surge of Doctor Sleep to the queer freakout of Hot Fruit and the performance art freak folk of Mary Ocher. It'll be a show where leaving preconceptions at the door will be a necessity. Check it out at 8 p.m. in Le Voyeur.

5. The New Frontier Lounge isn't The Five Spot on Cooper Square. Then again, it doesn't sit in the East Village of the 1950s either. But, grab the corner bar stool on a Monday night at The New Frontier, nurse a double bourbon, close your eyes and let pianist Nate Dybevik, bassist Arneson Cameron and drummer Peter Tietjen take you to the famous New York City jazz club over the din of the drinking Tacoma crowd. It as it should be: hearing a cool jazz jam in a comfortable, no-pressure environment. It launches at 9 p.m.

LINK: Monday, March 3 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 26 2014 >>>

1. The descriptor "New York Times Bestselling Author" isn't exactly what it used to be. James Patterson literally craps bestsellers. Then again, if becoming a bestselling author was easy we'd probably do it ... you know ... instead of pounding out sentences late into the night for little to no recognition here in our Volcano-issue cubicle in Building 3 at Northwest Military Headquarters. Author J.A. Jance has published like a gazillion mystery and crime novels. She's a legitimate New York Times Bestselling Author, not to mention a half-time Seattleite. Jance's newest book in the Ali Reynolds series - Moving Target - was released Feb. 18. Jance will speak and sign books at the University Place Library at 7 p.m. Free tickets to the event are available from the library in advance.

2. Seattle-based artist Erich Woll will be working in the Museum of Glass Hot Shop as a visiting artist from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The residency was awarded to Woll as part of his Juror's Choice prize, which he received for his piece "How Often Do You Get Burned" at the 2013 Red Hot Auction and Gala. Currently designing another piece for Bellevue Arts Museum, Woll will hang all week in the Hot Shop to continue working on the project, entitled "Mistakes Will Be Made."

3. The folks at Pour At Four wine bar in Tacoma's Proctor District dig Powers Winery in Kennewick. Apparently the wines pour well across the board and are priced favorably. Drop by between 5:30 and 8 p.m. for complimentary tastes.

4. One of our favorite Far Side cartoons, by Gary Larson, depicts a pair of grizzled cowboys sitting around a campfire at dusk. One is handing the other a cup. The caption reads, "More cappuccino, Raoul?" Yes, times are changing. We have to co-exist with coyotes. How? Good news: The city of Gig Harbor, along with West Sound Wildlife Shelter, will host a presentation to discuss co-existing with coyotes, offering fun facts about coyotes and information about living in safety and harmony with these intelligent animals from 6-8 p.m. in the Gig Harbor Civic Center.

5. Larry Wayne Gatlin is an American country music singer/songwriter. He is perhaps best known for teaming up with his brothers Steve and Rudy in the late 1970s, becoming one of country music's most successful acts of the 1970s and 1980s. Hear a little history when the trio performs at 7 p.m. at the Little Creek Casino in Shelton.

LINK: Wednesday, Feb. 26 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

This just in ...

Today the state Senate voted unanimously to approve Senate Bill 5970, a measure to allow military men and women to qualify for civilian licenses if they meet certain requirements. The bill's sponsor, Sen. Steve O'Ban, R-University Place, says he proposed the idea because too many soldiers with outstanding skills and abilities must start at square one after reentering the civilian workforce.

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WEDNESDAY, JAN. 29 21014 >>>

1. Evergreen State College photography alumni Erica Keeling and Paul Elliott have a show this winter in the college's Galerie Fotoland (Daniel J. Evans Library Lobby, 1st floor). Though both working with the traditional tools of color film and medium-format cameras, they follow different paths in concept and in subject choices. Keeling's days are filled with antiquated glamour, boundless curiosity and quiet humor. Elliott captures moments that are telling of character - mostly during the summer months following his graduation.

2. Photographer Gregg M. Erickson spent two years visiting some of the most remote spots in the American west in search of perfect conditions for photographing the Milky Way galaxy. In addition to capturing the Milky Way and the night sky details city dwellers normally can't see, his photos demonstrate how ambient "light pollution" from cities and towns reach even the most remote locations. Check out his work at the Tacoma Community College Gig Harbor Campus during an artist reception from 4-6 p.m.

3. Before you and your child end up in the hospital after your school science fair project goes awry, considering attending the Pierce County Library's Science Fair Success lecture at 7 p.m. in the University Place Pierce County Library. The event offers tips and tricks for making a top-notch science fair project, provides library resources, and demonstrates a few successful experiments.

4. Landon Wordswell, Tim Hoke and Mostafa, and C-LeGz will be traveling back to Olympia at 7 p.m. for an all-ages hip-hop show at Northern.

5. Lyon Pride continues its Hempfest Tryouts Wednesday night series at Jazzbones with bands Shade Of Memories, Digital Chemistry, Fallen Kings and Riot In Rhythm at 7:30 p.m.

LINK: Wednesday, Jan. 29 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

TUESDAY, NOV. 5 2013 >>>

1. Chambers Bay Grill Chef Josh Corcoran and his team offer a Junior Top Chef cooking class series for South Sound youth from 6-8 p.m. through Dec. 3. The series will cover basic kitchen etiquette right up to creating world-class desserts. As a final exam, the young chefs will prepare a formal dinner for special guests. Who knows? Maybe the next Anthony Bourdain will emerge from this class. Our money is on the trash talkin' kid.

2. Standing at a paltry 2.49 vertical miles compared to Mount Everest's 5.49, K2 compensates for its height disadvantage by actively trying to slaughter anyone who sets foot on it. The only reason K2 isn't skulking around a summer camp chopping up teenagers is because there isn't a goalie mask big enough to fit it. Freddy Krueger has nightmares about K2. The bone-chilling documentary The Summit attempts to piece together the events surrounding the worst tragedy in K2's infamous legacy; the series of accidents collectively known as the "2008 K2 Disaster." Catch the film at 2:40 at The Grand Cinema.

3. Learn more about Tacoma's historic 1908 Armory and the owner's vision for the adaptive re-use when Historic Tacoma hosts developers, architects and artists from 6-8 p.m. in the Armory's Main Drill Hall at 715 S. 11th St. in Tacoma. Interact with artists who'll have their work on display, discuss ideas for the building's future, and learn about Historic Tacoma during their annual meeting and reception.

4. Folksy, folk-writing folk hero John Denver - born Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. - died Oct. 12, 1997, when the experimental plane he was flying crashed into Monterey Bay off the coast of California. Tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the Red Wind Casino fans both casual (which way to the slots?) and rabid (dude, "Rocky Mountain High"!) will cheer on Ted Vigil - born Ted Vigil - as he pays tribute to Denver - both visually and musically.

5. Energetic, melodic rock, with a powerful undertow and a strong message can best describe the sound produced by Queensland rock outfit Kizmet. The band have been touring and composing music together since the year 2000 and pops in for a 9 p.m. show with IBQT and GarlicMan & Chikn in Le Voyeur in downtown Olympia.

LINK: Tuesday, Nov. 5 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

You'd expect a brewer's dinner to be all about the beer, right? Well, the Harmon Brewer's Dinner at Chambers Bay Grill Friday, Oct. 11 did feature tasty beer (and it flowed beautifully), but this dinner was so much more, such as knock-your-socks-off food pairings, great guest speakers, lively conversation and the Holy Grail of sunsets, which punctuated the event.

The dinner was indeed a celebration of many things: the launch of Harmon Brewing's Fearless Exploration Imperial Rye IPA, a collaboration of the brewery with the Tacoma Regional Convention + Visitor Bureau (TRCVB); the culinary magic of Chamber's Bay Grill chef Joshua Corcoran; the magnificent Chambers Bay Golf Course and upcoming mega-watt golf championship, the 2015 U.S. Open; and finally, where we live is totally awesome and we know it.

Top things I learned:

I (HEART) the Harmon Brewery, and the Chambers Bay Grill is a foodie's dream.

Let's start with the menu:

First course: shrimp ceviche, cucumbers, lemon and avocado paired with Harmon T-Town Blonde - A Summer Shandy.

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SATURDAY, JUNE 29 2013 >>>

1. An almost too obvious entry point for the kind of satirical Americana of Shotgun Kitchen would be their spiritual forefather, John Prine. Just as Prine had a tendency to almost undermine salient points in his songs by making stoned-out, hallucinatory jokes about chasing rainbows down the street and nonchalantly tossing off non sequiturs about having a sister who's a nun, Shotgun Kitchen's perfectly legitimate satire is given a winking treatment that lets the medicine go down nice and easy.Catch them tonight at 9 p.m. at The New Frontier Lounge.

2. Be irresponsible. Take a day off from smartphones and the Internet, video games and televisions, Go fly a kite at the annual Kite Festival at Chambers Bay from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Besides people craning their necks upward the free, fun-filled day will feature kite vendors, food, face-painting and a free concert with the saxophone quartet from the Tacoma Concert Band. The first 250 kids can make their own kite, compliments of Pierce County KiteFliers Association.

3. In its 19th year, the Olympia Experimental Music Festival features bands from near and far who favor experimentalism, texture, ambience, improvisation and psychedelia over straight-up rock 'n' roll.  The three-day ordeal will take over all-ages venue Northern in Olympia June 28-30. The festival will feature 18 different acts - many from Olympia, and the rest mostly spanning from Seattle to Portland. Today brings Denver band Thinking Plague to Olympia. Founded in 1982, the Colorado-based band's unpredictable melodies and instrumentation will be right at home the South Sound. For the other bands performing today, click here.

4. As the most successful girl band, The Supremes further extended their longevity with their renaming to "Diana Ross & The Supremes." If only future girl bands had learned the lesson, we might still be graced by the melodious tunes of "Jordan Knight & The New Kids On The Block." But we disgress. At 8 p.m. Centerstage Theatre pays tribute to the iconic American girl-group featuring Seattle-based entertainers Nique Haggerty, LaNita Hudson and Amy van Mechcelen, backed by the six-piece Purple Phoenix Band. The concert will be staged in the 1960s style of the Las Vegas/Atlantic City showrooms in their heyday.

5. Professional storytelller Elizabeth Lord's original The Swimsuit Area stage play "explores reproduction in today's modern age.  What it means to be a parent, and more importantly what it means to choose not to be a parent." In an encore performance, Lord will explore the hard issues such as deciding not to have a child - and what someone does about that - and the finality of hysterectomy surgery which results in never being able to conceive a child - all with her trademark humor lined glow. The show starts at 8 p.m. inside The Midnight Sun Performance Space.

LINK: Saturday, June 29 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

THURSDAY, MAY 9 2013 >>>

This summer Music and Art in Wright Park will, once again, shake the lawn bowlers at Wright Park in Tacoma's Stadium District. What began in 1993 as an awesome outdoor rock concert is still an awesome outdoor rock concert, only now with more art. Last year 2,500 lounged in the sun and soaked up Girl Trouble, Humble Cub, Walking Papers, The Plastards, The Jilly Rizzo and many other bands. There's no reason this summer's MAWP won't be equally awesome, unless there's no money in the bank. Unlike most summer outdoor rock concerts, there are no advance tickets for MAWP. The whole dang thing is free. However, like most worthy events, it's expensive. Therefore, festival producers will host a spaghetti feast and the musical stylings of the Original Rich Bundy and special guests from 4-8 p.m. at Louie G's Pizzeria. It's a family friendly, slurp fest. 

2. New York Times bestselling author Margaret Stohl, co-author of the Beautiful Creatures series, will discuss her new novel, Icons, which tells the story of four very special teens who could be humanity's only hope after Earth is taken over by aliens at 7 p.m. inside the University Place Library. She will be joined on the YA Icons Tour with local favorite Marissa Meyer, author of Cinder and Scarlet, Leigh Bardugo, author of the Grisha Trilogy and Kimberly Derting, author of the Body Finder novels.

3. The Oly Mountain Boys will perform at 8 p.m. inside the historic Spar Cafe in Olympia. 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 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.

4. You could learn swing's Africanist cousin, blues dancing, at 9 p.m. inside the Olympia Eagles Ballroom. 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.

5. The Engine House No. 9 is housed in a firehouse built in 1907 and still retains some of original firefighting artifacts. Purchased by the X Group, the force behind Asado and Masa, there's new excitement with better food, a whiskey bar, more craft beer from head brewer Shane Johns and a shuffleboard in the side room. Rev. Colin hosts karaoke two nights a week, including tonight at 9 p.m. He possesses a wealth of oddball musical knowledge and a disarming ease for calling everyone "baby."

LINK: Thursday, May 9 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

Well dear readers, my outdoor addiction has stopped to a new low today. The weather gets nice and everyone brings out their dogs and I get dog envy. So, like any good addict, I decided to get my fix by whatever means necessary. Yes dear readers, I kidnapped a dog today. He was a squirrelly one to catch. Skiddish, shy, and completely adorable. Tiny too. An easy target.

You see, I needed a dog so I would fit in at the dog park. Dog park people are very particular. They bring their doggies to the park to frolic and socialize, but spend a lot of their time eyeing other dog owners. I couldn't exactly wander in dogless and ogle their dogs. My weakness is the big, happy, slightly dumb ones. But it's kind of like going to a playground to watch kids play when you don't bring one of your own. Slightly creepy.

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