SUNDAY, APRIL 15, 2012 >>>

1. Watching a good independent film at a festival is a bit like meeting The One, then losing his/her number - you may never run into each other again. But The Grand Cinema, our local cinematic Cupid, believes in second chances, and second screenings. So in case you missed Losing Control at the Tacoma Film Festival last October, or just want to rekindle your pleasure for writer-director Valerie Weiss's romantic comedy, her movie hits the theater again at 4:30 and 9:10 p.m.

2. What started as Paul Manuel's outgrowth of monthly youth jams at Jazzbones on Sixth Avenue has turned into something much more involved; kids of all ages are forming bands, learning to play new instruments, performing and competing through their affiliation with the Puget Sound Music For Youth Association. See it in all its glory at 2 p.m. inside The Swiss.

3. Each April brings a shower of poetry to the South Puget Sound. Inaugurated as National Poetry Month by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, the entire month is dedicated to showcasing and celebrating poets, poetry, libraries, bookstores, and the literary arts community across the nation. The South Sound has its own praiseworthy poets with words to spit about our own place in the American poetry scene. A few big name poets will read their works from 3-5 p.m. at the Museum of Glass. Tacoma's Poet Laureate Josie Emmons Turner, Washington State Poet Laureate Kathleen Flenniken, and poets Rick Barot and Michael Schmeltzer will be rhymin' and readin' their swirl of stanzas.

4. Randy Oxford's trombone skills are front and center as he showcases his brand of blues - an upbeat, funky, jazzy, high-energy sound - backed by some of the best musicians in the region at 5 p.m. inside the Marine View Church. 

5. The LGBT elder film series sponsored by SAGE Olympia in collaboration with Olympia Film Society continues with Southern Comfort, playing at the Capitol Theater at 5 p.m. SouthernComfort is a 90-minute feature-length documentary about the life of Robert Eads, a 52-year-old female to male transsexual who lives in the back hills of Georgia.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: South Sound happy hours

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

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Sunshine, hi 58, lo 39

Saturday: Partial sunshine, hi 58, lo 41

Sunday: Partial sunshine, hi 59, lo 45

>>> FRIDAY, APRIL 13: Losing Control opens

Watching a good independent film at a festival is a bit like meeting The One, then losing his/her number - you may never run into each other again. But The Grand Cinema, our local cinematic Cupid, believes in second chances, and second screenings. So in case you missed Losing Control at the Tacoma Film Festival last October, or just want to rekindle your pleasure for writer-director Valerie Weiss's romantic comedy, her movie hits the theater again beginning this Friday the 13th for a limited rerun. Read Christopher Wood's full feature on Losing Control in the events section at weeklyvolcano.com.

• The Grand Cinema, opens Friday, April 13 for a one-week run, $6-$8, 606 S. Fawcett ave., Tacoma, 253.593.4474
  

>>> FRIDAY, APRIL 13: "The Rhetoric of Degeneracy" lecture

In the late 1800s, Berlin was a bustling liberal city. It boasted numerous gay clubs and drag bars. The German city had the world's largest gay-rights movement. But by 1933, the heyday was over. The Nazi Party moved to rid its country of gay men and, to a lesser degree, lesbians, whom they believed to carry "degeneracy genes." In conjunction with its HIDE/SEEK exhibit, the Tacoma Art Museum will host art historian Kolya Rice, who will lecture on "The Rhetoric of Degeneracy: Three Moments in 20th Century Art." Rice examines and connects three such historical moments: the New York Armory Show (1913), Hitler's Entartete Kunst (Degenerate Art) exhibition (1937), and the so-called "Culture Wars" in late 20th century America.

• Tacoma Art Museum, Saturday, April 14, 1 p.m., $15, $10 members, $5 students, 1701 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.4258

>>> SATURDAY, APRIL 14: Blind Chocolate Tasting

No just universe would reserve the pleasures of candy for children, but if your taste buds have grown up, you may no longer want to scarf waxen candy corn. The civilized adult can get sugar and chocolate fixes at blind chocolate tasting and talk Saturday at the Olympia Timberline Library (of course!). Felipe Grefa, a teacher, cacao farmer, and delegate from the Kallari cacao cooperative in the Ecuadorian Amazon, will discuss regional flavors of cocoa beans, the stages in cocoa production and bean preparation, and the process involved in chocolate making. 

• Olympia Timberland Library, 2:30-4 p.m., 313 Eighth Ave. SE, Olympia, 360.352.0595

>>> SATURDAY, APRIL 14: Blue Scholars and films from Cinemetropolis

Last year, the Seattle hip-hop duo DJ/producer Sabzi and MC Geologic - better known as Blue Scholars - embarked on their first nationwide headlining tour, a monstrous 33-city excursion spanning two months in support of their "visual soundtrack," Cinémetropolis. This past winter, the Blue Scholars gave a shout out asking filmmakers from around the universe to submit a 5-minute video or film of tracks off Cinémetropolis, awarding the top three submissions a special screening at a live Blue Scholars show. That live show goes down Saturday at the Capitol Theater in Olympia.

• Capitol Theater, with Sweatshop Union, Saturday, April 14, 8 p.m., $18-$22, 206 Fifth Ave., Olympia, 360.754.6670

>>> SUNDAY, APRIL 15: Poetry readings

Each April brings a shower of poetry to the South Puget Sound. Inaugurated as National Poetry Month by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, the entire month is dedicated to showcasing and celebrating poets, poetry, libraries, bookstores, and the literary arts community across the nation. Tacoma is truly no exception to participating in the poesy festivities. The South Sound has its own praiseworthy poets with words to spit about our own place in the American poetry scene. A few big name poets will read their works Sunday at the Museum of Glass. Tacoma's Poet Laureate Josie Emmons Turner, Washington State Poet Laureate Kathleen Flenniken, and poets Rick Barot and Michael Schmeltzer will be rhymin' and readin' their swirl of stanzas.

• Museum of Glass, 3-5 p.m., free admission, 1801 dock St., Tacoma, 253.284.4750

WHAT SOME OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS ARE UP TO

CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL Theater Critic
I'm seeing two shows, Fiction at Capital Playhouse and Distracted at Olympia Little Theatre. We're also traveling to Seattle for the Polynesian Gauguin exhibit at the Art Museum. Then, if any time is left, I'd love to catch Riot to Follow's production of The Pillowman.

REV. ADAM MCKINNEY Music writer
Mostly, this weekend, I'll continue to be recuperating from Squeak and Squawk. I'm still sore from the Back Pockets, which is not to mention the eight shows that came after that. Consider me dead until next week.

ALEC CLAYTON Arts Critic
I'm going to see Fiction at Capital Playhouse Saturday night. And maybe, if I have the energy for it, I will attend the Democratic caucus Sunday.

NIKKI TALOTTA Music Writer
This weekend is going to be awesome. It started last night with a date night with the hubby in Seattle. We did a sunset kayaking tour around Lake Union. We stayed the night in a fancy hotel and then hit the EMP in the morning for the Nirvana display. On the way back to Oly, I'm getting dropped off at Matt Driscoll's going-away soiree at 4 p.m. inside Puget Sound Pizza. Then I'm hitching a ride back to O-town for drinks with some lady friends. Saturday and Sunday are reserved for sun, sleep and writing. Love it!

JOANN VARNELL Theater Critic
My goal this weekend is to spend as much time outside as possible.
(I'm hoping the weather will help facilitate that.) The only set plans
are church on Sunday morning followed by Captains Courageous at Tacoma
Musical Playhouse.

STEPH DEROSA Columnist
This weekend I have huge plans. HUGE, I tell ya. Today, my monthly delivery of bottled water will arrive, so that's exciting. And then on Saturday and Sunday mornings I'll be arriving at work just before the Sixth Avenue meth addicts pass out at around 6:30 am. Where's work, you ask? Well, I'm testing the waters at Dirty Oscar Annex while serving breakfast on the weekends. We'll see if it works out. So far my favorite part is all the cool peeps that come in for breakfast (nudge, nudge, wink, wink). Time permitting, I'll escape to the KPN and drink wine with Kris Blondin for her birthday.

JOSH RIZEBERG Music Columnist
Friday I'm performing with Mr. Von at Louie G's in Fife. The Breaklites are also on the bill. It's all-ages with a 8 p.m. start. Saturday, I'm performing at Tahoma Tea Company. This show is also all-ages. It's the album-release show for the Puget-Sound Mixtape Volume 3. Too many artists to name. I think this is going to be one of the best all-ages shows this year. Sunday, I have some work with the D.A.S.H. Center for the Arts I need to do, but mostly it'll be a family day.

JOE IZENMAN Theater critic, music writer
Man, what am I NOT doing? Terminus at The Space? Check. Poker night? Check. Light hanging at TLT? Birthday party in Parkland? Mariners game? Check, check and check.

STEVE DUNKELBERGER Photographer
saturday, it's all about the Daffodil Parade and Gray Sky Blues Music Festival with the chiilons, then Captains Courageous at Tacoma Musical Playhouse. Oh, and as many episodes of Doctor Who as we can watch.

LINK: Even more local events that we recommend

LINK: Comprehensive South Sound Arts & Entertainment Calendar

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012 >>>

1. Portland, Oregon-based singer-songwriter, Justin Jude will celebrate the release of his third album, 5 Kinds of Rain, at 6 p.m. inside the Mandolin Café. The stripped-down, bare-all EP 5 Kinds of Rain finds Jude using only his voice, acoustic guitar, and a handful of instruments to create an immediate, naked presentation of his songwriting.  

2. The Intaglio printmaking process involves etching into a copper or zinc plate with a tool to make an indentation, inking the plate, and then sending it through the press with to transfer the image onto paper. The process dates back to the 15th century. Doris Simmelink and Chris Sukimoto, better known on the charts as the Simmelink Sukimoto Editions, have been printing and publishing artists' works on paper in limited editions - including printings incorporating intaglio and woodcut processes - for 25 years. The works of Simmelink Sukimoto artists are on display through May 2 at the Evergreen Gallery on the campus of The Evergreen State College. Check out "Ink on Paper: Prints from Simmelink/Sukimoto featuring the works of Edgar Bryan, Vija Celmins, Charles Garabedian, Alex Katz, Robert Mangold, Sylvia Plimack Mangold, Paul Mogensen, Thomas Nozkowski, Laura Owens, Monique Prieto, Martin Puryear, Ruth Root and Robert Therrien from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

3. 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. Marjorie Rommel, a woman of many talents and has been published in many journals, will take lead.

4. Amocat Café's live music night - "Amocat Live!" - goes down the second Friday of every month. And, lo and behold, that's this week! Tonight catch Josiah and Sam Bogle, Jeremy Bush, Todd and Sondra Chamberlain, David Hill, Gen Obata and Doug Anderson, and the Amocat Live! House band The Collaborators, beginning at 7 p.m.

5. The Warehouse folks host a special house show beginning at 8 p.m. featuring OK Sweetheart, The Thoughts and Pretty Broken Things. The night will pay special tribute to Warehouse co-producer Julie Rex, who will be leaving us for sunny Cali. Google it for the house address.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: South Sound happy hours

THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2012 >>>

1. There are those who believe bluegrass should be played by only the traditional banjo-fiddle-guitar-mandolin-bass lineup - and that solos should be short. The success of Old And In The Way, and the subsequent rise of the Newgrass movement and the jazz-inflected, extended solo-playing Bela Fleck are abominations to them. Then there are those adore the jamming kind of bluegrass, which you'll discover at the Mandolin Café beginning at 6 p.m. What better way to recover from the frenetic activities of Easter and the past week than some hot foot-stomping, toe-tapping picking.

2. José Ignacio Valenzuela claims you must be proficient in the ways of mass media to advance your words. The rapidly-rising young novelist, playwright, and screenwriter from Chile, with a bookcase full of awards, says new technologies have not only changed the face of music, television, film, and entertainment. They have done the same with the publishing market, where booksellers and writers have had to learn to navigate new waters. Today, to write, sell, and promote, the author must be submerged in the mass media and have the appropriate skills and knowledge. Hear his thoughts on the matter at 7:30 p.m. inside the Rasmussen Rotunda on the University of Puget Sound campus.

3. Sight For Sore Eyes, Take Over, Navigator and Among Mayans perform an all-ages show at 6 p.m. inside Hell's Kitchen in downtown Tacoma.

4. Engine House No. 9 is housed in a firehouse built in 1907 and still retains some of original firefighting artifacts. Recently purchased by the X Group, the force behind Asado and Masa, there's new excitement regarding the food, which over time has been good, but not astounding-tastier than your typical pub food and still affordable. Rev. Colin hosts karaoke at E9 Thursdays and Saturdays, starting at 9 p.m. He possesses a wealth of oddball musical knowledge and a disarming ease for calling everyone "baby."

5. Justin Stang, usually of Sideways Reign, and Jim Elenteny, ordinarily of Seattle band Nefarious Jones, unite to form the side project Science! We  know three things about Stang and Elenteny: they were voted Best New Band in our 2012 Olympia poll, they're playing The Royal Lounge at 9 p.m. with High Ceiling and Nefarious Jones, and their project is called Science! so they're OK by is (and, we suspect, Thomas Dolby). If you're busy tonight, they also play Saturday, April 14 at 4th Ave Tav.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: South Sound happy hours

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2012 >>>

1. Imagine our surprise when we found out that there's controversy at Meconi's Tacoma Pub & Eatery's Wednesday trivia night. Go ahead, imagine it. Our mouth was all "O," Home Alone-style. Yup, apparently host Rev. Colin wants to oust a team because the four dudes are too good. Dave Graham, John Kephart, Joe Taylor and another guy named Joe win Wednesday after Wednesday. Your team should show up at 8 p.m. and try to knock them off their barstools. Rumor is Cheryl Gorsuch's team of ladies is going to give it a shot.

2. Happy National Walking Day! It's the perfect day to kick off the Downtown On the Go Walk Tacoma series of guided walks. In celebration of the national holiday, three notable folks will lead today's walk. Held in Wright Park, the kick-off event includes a power walk led by fitness trainer Paige Van Der Vliet of Tacoma Living Fit, and a historical walk led by Melissa McGinnis AND Erik Hanberg of Metro Parks. The 1.5-mile walk will begin at noon on the south side of Wright Park by the lion sculptures. If you're into knowledge, check out the booths from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. No registration is necessary, so if you change your mind and hit the office candy box instead, you'll be the only one who feels bad.

3. Big brain Carlos Fuentes - an award-winning novelist, diplomat, activist and scholar - will chat up "magic realism" at 8 p.m. inside Schneebeck Concert Hall on the University of Puget Sound campus. Nope, magic realism has nothing to do with a bunny. According to hype, "Fuentes is known for deploying ‘magic realism' in his fiction to express the often indeterminate mixture of myth, fantasy, and reality in the political dynamics that shape salient historical issues such as the pursuit of Mexican national identity, Latin American revolutions, and the enduring mark left by Spanish imperialism on modern South America." Sometimes going with the hype quote is a must.

4. It's the first Wednesday of the month, which means Weekly Volcano hip-hop columnist Josh Rizeberg is hosting an open mic at Jazzbones at 8 p.m. Spoken word? Of course. Hip-hop? Serious. Acoustic? You bet. Comedy? Josh likes comedy and says it's cool too.

Last year, readers of this fine rag voted the Top of Tacoma Bar and Cafe the best bar in Tacoma. This was due in no small part to its well drink Wednesdays. $1.50 well drinks after 7 p.m. Are you kidding? That's, like, riding the train to funkytown for only eight bucks. Yes, please.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: South Sound happy hours

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012 >>>

1. Writing from a lesbian and/or feminist perspective is easier today than it was 30 years ago, thanks in large part to the sustained work of women activists and by growing mass acceptance of their arguments. The level of anger and revolt and solidarity is not the same today as it was in the '70s or '80s. Or is it? Internationally acclaimed slam poet, full-time writer, performing artist and activist, Tony-nominated Staceyann Chin probably can answer the question. The strong and versatile self-described out-poet with a Caribbean-accent and huge, parted Afro has seen and experienced the light and dark of life of plantation-era Jamaica, and carries a worldly perspective, identifying with Caribbean and Black, Asian and lesbian, women and New Yorkers. She speaks about her experiences of growing up in Jamaica and the consequences of her coming-out at 7 p.m. inside Schneebeck Concert Hall on the University of Puget Sound campus.

2. A Hope Not Forgotten, Darasuum, I/Delilah, Beneath All Kaos and Silent Planet rock the all-ages Red Room beginning at 7 p.m.

3. As far as virtuosic young piano prodigies go, Ran Dank is totally dank, yo. And by that we mean he's the bomb. Even better, he's performing at 7:30 p.m. inside the Washington Center.

4. Watch 10-20 comedians try out their new material during Tacoma Comedy Club's open mic beginning at 8 p.m. It don't cost nutin'.

5. Want to get into the habit of doodling dudes? Tonight at 8:30 p.m. The Mix hosts live body painting giving Tacoma's creative community an opportunity to socialize, sip and scribble. Most succinctly described as figure-drawing sessions with a gay twist, the sessions are open to the public, as long as you're of drinking age. Oh, there will be drinks.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: South Sound happy hours

LECTURE SERIES >>>

Ellen Galinsky is the kind of bad-ass researcher that wears black leather in her promotional headshot. She doesn't take no shit, in other words, which is probably why she'll be in Olympia Wednesday as part of the Parenting Tools Lecture Series at the Minnaert Center Main Stage. According to promotion, kids and parents can expect, "a game-changing, interactive session about the skills adults and children need in order to succeed in the 21st century."

Galinsky will no doubt draw from her book Mind in the Making, which is said to identify "seven life skills that are essential to success - in school, the workforce and in life."

Most encouraging of all, the event is free. That's sure to help anyone survive in the 21st century.

[Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts - Main Stage, Wednesday, March 21, 6:30 p.m., free, 2011 Mottman Rd. SW, Olympia, 360.596.5501]

START WORKING ON YOUR EXPRESSIVE DANCE MOVES >>>

Do you use SoundCloud more often than Google? Do you enjoy the kind of excitement that feels like if you don't unleash it by dancing outdoors, it might give you an aneurysm? Do you hate normz and feed off of the creative energy of some of the most talented artists music-makers in Tacoma? If you answered yes to any of the preceding questions, your next big "thing to look forward to" is this year's Urban Art Festival Tacoma, which will be held June 30 and July 1 on Tacoma's Dock Street. The fest's in its eighth year. It'll be a lot more fun and cheaper than a year's supply of Prozac.

Keep in the know by joining its Facebook.

LINK: We've done it

FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2012 >>>

1. Every traveler has had that Moment. The Moment you know you will look back on six months (or a year, or 10 years) from now and laugh. Laugh and laugh and laugh, just laugh hysterically that you could be so wrong about a flight time, or that performing street monkeys could have such light fingers. If you'd like to remember that Moment when the young French fella stole all your cash while you were kissing along the Seine, and laugh to yourself, the Second City Chamber Series continues its "Hallowed Halls" season of exploration in regards to music with a program entitled "Paris Conservatoire" featuring works for wind instruments from the French tradition. At 7:30 p.m. inside The Great Hall of Annie Wright School, the Principal Winds of the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra (Mary Jensen, flute; Selena Greso, oboe; and John Ruze, bassoon) join pianist Oksana Ezhokina for compositions by French composers Jules Demersserman, Marin Marais, Francis Poulenc, and Alexandre Tansman, as well as by the Canadian/American composer, Bill Douglas. Go to expedite your transition to the laughing place. Just go.

2. Who serves the best Cloud Chowder in Tacoma? Tonight, the Mandolin Café does. The recently formed rockin' blues improv trio will explore the space at 6 p.m.

3. Metrosexual: (noun) "Of or pertaining to a straight, urban male who is eager to embrace and even show off his feminine side, especially when it comes to expensive haircuts, designer suits, and $40 face cream." At 7:30 p.m. inside Orca Books, poet Bill Kelly will sing the praises of th emetrosexual when he reads from Kindness Is In Me: Poems in Praise of Men. The poems in this book, and the photos accompanying them, offer a much needed corrective to the masculine images so prevalent in the media. All proceeds from the sale of the book at the event will go to the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound.

4. Jazzbones hosts the VetsMeetVets Military Appreciation Fundraiser with Cee Cee James, Voxxy Vallejo and Stacy Jones beginning at 7:30 p.m. All proceeds benefit VetsMeetVets.org, with 20 percent off bar and food tabs for those with military ID.

5. The Harmon Tap Room Underground continues to hone its new music room with an Automatic Theory and Bodybox show at 9 p.m.

MORE THINGS TO DO: The Weekend Hustle

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs tonight in the region

LINK: South Sound happy hour food and drinks

Q&A WITH THE MAN BEHIND BACONNAISE >>>

Did you think the era of bacon-mania was over?

Fat chance pork breath.

Justin Esch, co-founder of bacon-laced dressing Baconnaise and BaconSalt, will speak at the great American Casino Tuesday, March 20. The Tacoma-based speaker-series business IGNITE-U grabbed Esch and his bacon for the Lakewood engagement.

For $20, you may hear tales of bacon flavoring, and ask questions ... then go play cards.

[Great American Casino, Tuesday, May 20, 6-9 p.m., $20, 10117 South Tacoma Way, Lakewood, reserve your tickets on Facebook]