THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2011 >>>

1. Poetically gifted singer-songwriter and Grammy-nominated Eliza Gilkyson will fill Morso wine bar with roots, folk and Americana tunes at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25. She's kind of a big deal.

2. It's Third Thursday Artwalk from 5-8 p.m. in downtown Tacoma! Spaceworks Tacoma is hosting a party to celebrate the next round of awesome storefront exhibition from 5-7 p.m. inside the studio of Chris Sharp and Jeremy Gregory (904 Broadway). Fulcrum Gallery on Hilltop is hosting a prints sale. The ART BUS is back and rolling leaving the Tacoma Art Museum at 6 p.m. for a two-hour tour of the Artwalk. All the other downtown Tacoma museums and galleries are open tonight, too.

3. Artists, musicians, poets, thought provokers and listeners alike are invited to the Be the Spark Open Mic Night hosted by The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation from 6-8:30 p.m. inside the Mandolin Café. You will also have the chance to win a pair of tickets to the Be the Spark event on May 13 featuring Desmond Tutu, Craig Kielburger, Ben Union and many others. 

4. Olympia's own Rebels by Bus, Mary Williams and Gail Johnson, take the bus for leisure travel, sharing their journeys on their blog (rebels-by-bus.net), subtitled "Slow Travel With Low Carbon Footprint." They'll be talking about what they do and why at 7 p.m. inside the Olympia Timberland Library, no doubt pointing out that riding the bus is good not only for the planet, but for the budget too - especially with soaring gas prices.

5. News Tribune sports columnist Dave Boling wrote much of his 2009 Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association award-winning book Guernica in airports and hotel rooms while on the road. Boling will be at the University Place Library at 7 p.m. to discuss his book and the effort it took to write it.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2011 >>>

1. Join the Volcano at the Pacific Grill for the launch of our South Sound Happy Hours Mobile App from 5-7 p.m. Be the first to download the app and enjoy 50-plus appetizers, meals, snacks and desserts at 50 percent off. Even sweeter: DJ dAb will spin funk and soul. Even sweeter than that: at the party you can be the first to download the app for free! The sweetest of all: be the first to taste Pacific Grill's "Volcano Drink!" It's so on.

2. National Beer Day - now there's a holiday we can get behind! It has everything we're looking for in a holiday ... mainly an excuse to get drunk. Tacoma's Harmon Tap Room will celebrate National Beer Day ALL day by tapping some T-Town Blonde Ale, offering $1 beers during lunch, giving away a bunch of awesome stuff (read: beer!) and even throwing a '30s era dress contest from 6-8 p.m. Did we mention it's NATIONAL BEER DAY? They had us at "beer."

3. The Lula Washington Dance Theatre - instrumental in creating the mesmerizing movements of the blue-skinned Na'vi tribe in Avatar - performs at 8 p.m. at The Evergreen State College. Choreographer Lula Washington developed the tribe's signature movements, and for Avatar she and members of the company wore motion sensors so their movements could be translated to animation. Since founding her company and dance school in inner-city Los Angeles in 1980, Washington has used her work to explore social and humanitarian issues.

4. No doubt the Thursday Beer Runners voted daily in our Tournament of Pizza, being fans of carbo-loading. And we're almost positive they planned to have tonight's run at the winning South Sound pizza joint. A few runners were disappointed with the elimination of Infernos Brick Oven Pizza in Tumwater as running around the old brewery would have been bitchin'. Instead, Katie Downs was crowned the top pizza joint in the South Sound Monday, and the runners will meet at the Ruston Way waterfront restaurant at 6:30 p.m. for an easy 3-mile run, followed by copious amounts of pizza and beer.

5. May Day Press proprietor Catherine Alice Michaelis and local poet Anne Spiers will discuss the creative process of artist and writer collaboration and the synergy created from the intersection of these two fields from 7-9 p.m. at the Collins Memorial Library on the University of Puget Sound campus.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music tonight in the South Sound

FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2011 >>>

1. If you missed Preston Singletary's big mid-career retrospective at the Museum of Glass last year, or if you saw that show and would like to see more of his works, this is your chance. William Traver Gallery in Tacoma now has an exhibition of new works by Singletary called Contents of a Dream, which runs today from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Singletary is one of the Northwest's most well respected Native American artists, known for creating traditional Tlingit art with contemporary materials, thus giving a modern cast to ancient art forms. Read Weekly Volcano art critic Alec Clayton's review here.

2. If you haven't heard of the Edible Book Festival, you are likely not alone - even though it's an international festival held at libraries worldwide, including Tacoma's own Collins Memorial Library on the University of Puget Sound campus until 4 p.m. And while you may be thinking an edible book festival must surely involve you getting to eat some books, it doesn't.  Instead, the Edible Book Festival at UPS is an arts festival involving food art interpretations of book titles. While it may sound mild-mannered, never underestimate the power of creative librarians. To read the full story, click here.

3. The beloved Harmon Hub has turned 3. And because The Hub loves to party whenever they get the chance, they're busting one out from 5-8 p.m. Keeping with the "three" theme, the Stadium District neighborhood bar will offer $3 Harmon ales, $3 select wines, $3 premium wells ... and live music by the Mules Crew. Cover charge? Don't be silly.

4. It's the first Friday of the month and you might know by now what that means: Speak Your Soul Open Mic at The Den at urbanXchange! Tonight's feature performer is Dee Allen and, as always, a chance for you to share your wisdom with the world on the open mic. You soul goes on display beginning at 8 p.m.

5. Close your eyes (while continuing to read, of course) and visualize the backdrop ... "Nuclear Cowboyz Freestyle Chaos is the legend of two powerful freestyle motocross tribes, the Soldiers of Havoc and the Metal Mulisha^TM, whose survival in their post-apocalyptic world is told through gravity defying and fearless freestyle motocross aerial feats. The Nuclear Cowboyz mayhem and chaos is literally set in extreme non-stop motion when the tribes are challenged by a dark underworld that begins the ultimate battle for world supremacy." Sound awesome? You got that "Trademark" in the vision, right? OK, now head to the Tacoma Dome to see the action beginning at 7:30 p.m.

BONUS: Check out Too Many Sopranos in our Weekend Hustle

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: New movies open today

LINK: Concert go on sale today

SATURDAY MARCH 12, 2011 >>>

1. If you have yet to catch the local dance phenomenon that is MOVE!, you're a little behind the curve - but there's still hope. At 2 and 7 p.m. inside the SOTA Theater on Commerce, MOVE! #18, with the talents of the Tacoma City Ballet, Jill Leversee, Rosa Vissers, The MOVE!NG Company and Joel Myers - to name but a few - will be in full effect. Highlights of the show include The MOVE!ING Company's "A Life That Feels Like Dying," choreographed by Kate Monty and featuring a score by Vicci Martinez, which explores the life of anyone who has been addicted to something. The six impressive dancers take the audience on a full-circle journey. Jessie Fouts wrote, choreographed and performed an emotional piece about the death of her father. Joel Myers and Jill Leversee are brilliant. And Michael Hoover and Katie Stricker add comic relief through boomboxes. It's a must see.

2. Sen. Debbie Regala (D-Tacoma), Rep. Jeannie Darneille (D-Tacoma) and Rep. Laurie Jinkins (D-Tacoma) invite constituents of the 27th Legislative District to a town hall discussion from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Evergreen State College's Tacoma Campus. The leaders will come prepared to chat about education, social services, the environment, and supporting local business, hardworking people and major industries at the same time.

3. Joshua James Amberson and Alexis Wolf, two local zinesters, square off in a Zine Battle at 6 p.m. inside Orca Books. Amberson, an avid musician and current Orca employee, presents his new zine chronicling his love affair with the music of Prince. Wolf's zine, Hyena in Petticoats, is about the 18th-century writer Mary Wollstonecraft, best known as the author of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman.

4. Masterworks Choral Ensemble hosts the Northwest regional finals of Harmony Sweepstakes where a cappella groups square off to sing sparkling vocal arrangements and silken harmonies at 7:30 p.m. inside the Washington Center.

5. Burlesque can be a drag. "Stage-ready makeup for burlesque is called ‘full drag,' " explains Frida Fondle of Olympia's Tush Burlesque. "It's a great homage to the drag queens, who really do exemplify the ultimate of feminine glamour. When we are putting on our makeup for the stage, we aspire to look as glamorous as drag queens." The Tush troupe, now a year and a half old and performing Deadly Dames at 7:30 and 10 p.m. inside the Eagles Hall Ballroom in Olympia, is all women - although some numbers do include men. Read the full story here.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2011 >>>

1. Do you remember the scene in "Titanic" when Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet go down into the servant area of the ship where everyone is drinking, gambling and dancing with reckless abandon? That is exactly what a performance of Erev Rav is like - minus the famous actors. These Olympia-based performers have the whole gypsy, klezmer thing down to a well-rehearsed science, and watching them go at it is more fun than a bucket full of shiksas. It wouldn't surprise us in the least if an unsuspecting spectator was lifted into the air by spontaneous revelers onto the dance floor when they perform at 8 p.m. inside Northern.

2. The Kittredge Gallery at the University of Puget Sound hosts an opening reception for Abby Williams Hill: Wanderlust, Works on Paper, 1895-1927 from 5-7 p.m. in the Small Gallery. The exhibit, which explores the artistic impulse to mirror or recreate nature, will be on display through April 9.

3. Unique story stylist Mitch Nelson is the featured teller at 7 p.m. when the South Sound Story Guild hangs out in the Olympia Center lobby. Nelson tells tales with the theme "In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb" followed by a story swap/open mic.

4. Pub trivia nights can either ignite the party or stifle the mood. McNamara's Pub & Eatery in DuPont does everything possible to avoid being a major buzz kill. Every Wednesday McNamara's Pub starts team trivia at 7 p.m. Irish-inspired food helps trivia players stock up on brainpower before the trivia starts. Beer and drink specials happen at trivia intermission. Because everyone knows a good buzz makes trivia that much easier. What's the capital of Kazakhstan? Take a drink and think.

5. Last month Weekly Volcano readers picked The Brown Edition as the Best Band in Olympia. Self-described as "all the soul, funk and jazz your ass can handle," the Brown Edition's music keeps listeners happy because it keeps them glued to the dance floor, especially at their regular 9 p.m. Wednesday gig at The Royal Lounge.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Half-priced bottles of wine night

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

TOMORROW IS THE DEADLINE >>>

Eeny, meeny, miny, moe.
Pinot noir or Merlot?
Cultivate your taste in vain;
It won't obscure your column strain.
Your-editor-told-you-to-pick-the-very-best-words-and-you-are-not-getting-the-Pulitzer.

This poem was taped to Bobble's Tiki's desk lava lamp this morning. Lovely.

Bobble Tiki is betting this person who wrote this will not follow in the footsteps of current Tacoma Poet Laureate Tammy Robacker.

Will you? Better hurry.

Applications for Tacoma Poet Laureate are due this coming Tuesday, February 22.

The Tacoma Arts Commission is now accepting applications for the 4^th annual Tacoma Poet Laureate program.

The individual selected as Tacoma Poet Laureate will hold the position for two years, from May 2011 to April 2013, and will receive a $2,000 stipend for providing a minimum of two free poetry related workshops each year, reciting his/her original work at various public events, participating in Art at Work: Tacoma Arts Month in November and helping produce the 2013 Tacoma Poet Laureate ceremony to announce the next Poet Laureate.

Applicants must reside in Tacoma, be a practicing poet who is dedicated to producing work on a regular basis and at least 18 years of age. Other eligibility requirements apply; please see the application for full details.

The Tacoma Poet Laureate program was founded in 2008 by Urban Grace Church as a way of focusing attention on Tacoma's literary talent by organizing and hosting public readings and workshops in local schools and at community events. The program transitioned to the City of Tacoma's Arts Program in 2011.

The application deadline is Feb. 22, 2011. Information about the Tacoma Poet Laureate program and the application are available on the Tacoma Arts Commission website at http://www.tacomaculture.org/arts/PoetLaureate.asp. Requests for hard copy applications can be directed to Naomi Strom-Avila at nstrom-avila@cityoftacoma.org or (253) 591-5191.

MONDAY, FEB. 21, 2011 >>>

1. Dr. Michael Allen, author of A Patriot's History of the United States:  From Columbus' Great Discovery to the War on Terror, will lecture on "The Formative Years of Presidents Truman and Reagan" at 1 p.m. inside the Washington State Capital Museum.

2. When Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) rolls into the Capitol Theater at 3 p.m. to give a lecture on "The True Cost of War," he will arrive with antiwar bona fides unmatched in any recent Congress. Last March, he put a resolution on the floor of the House of Representatives that would have required all American troops out of Afghanistan by 2011. Though the resolution was soundly defeated, it did get 65 votes; public support for the war has dwindled. Read our full article, with an interview with Kucinich, here.

3. The Graphic Novel Book Club will discuss It Was the War of the Trenches by Jacques Tardi over craft cocktails insid3 the 1022 Lounge beginning at 7 p.m.

4. Water Island (Ashley & Eli of LAKE) join Motorbikes and Takhoma for an 8 p.m. all-ages show at Northern in Olympia.

5. Son Jack Jr. and Michael Wild will fill the Harmon Brewery and Eatery with blues beginning at 8 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

FRIDAY, FEB. 18, 2011 >>>

1. Marcia Ball, Tab Benoit and The Voice Of The Wetlands All-Stars perform at 7:30 p.m. inside the Washington Center in Olympia.

2. Poetry in the 253 - Mouths & Mics, a spoken word open mic hosted by the 2009 Soul of the City Tacoma Poet Laureate and Speak Your Soul poet Antonio Edwards, runs from 7-9 p.m. at the Rain City Café in downtown Tacoma.

3. Pianist Eugene Skovorodnikov will perform classics by Franz Liszt at 7:30 p.m. inside the Schneebeck Concert Hall at the University of Puget Sound.

4. The Bridge nightclub in the Emerald Queen Casino might be the best nightclub in town to meet a love interest. Why? Because the Bridge has live bands every Friday and Saturday night. Tacoma favorites like Idol Eyez (9 p.m. tonight and Saturday) and Raeanns Groove will finish out the month of February. That's two straight weekends of rocking, grooving and dancing in one of the biggest nightclubs in Tacoma. And since it's one of the biggest clubs, it also attracts some of Tacoma's sexiest singles. Gotta like those odds.

5. Taist Of Iron, Under Sin, Hidden Casualties, Feared Alive, Stript and Systemik invade Hell's Kitchen beginning at 7 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: National touring concerts go on sale today

LINK: New movies open today

TUESDAY, FEB. 15, 2011 >>>

Photojournalist and documentarian Melanie Burford was a member of The Dallas Morning News photo team that won a Pulitzer for its 2006 coverage of Hurricane Katrina. She returned last spring to document the human cost of the BP disaster, and next week she's taking a break from her teaching gig at Columbia University to bring these stories to the University of Puget Sound. Her 6:30 p.m. lecture in the Rasmussen Rotunda will consider the topic, "The Monster Under the Water: Delacroix Island Fishermen Defend Their Marsh Against the BP Oil Spill." Her second lecture, tomorrow evening at 6:30 p.m., will be in Kilworth Chapel and cover the "Eyes of the Storm: The Photographic Story of Hurricane Katrina From the Photographers at The Dallas Morning News." Both presentations are free, and the general public is encouraged to attend. Read the full story here.

2. The 8th annual Middle East Film Festival kicks off today screening 30 films through Feb. 23 at The Evergreen State College (Tacoma and Olympia) and Capitol Theater. The films range in length from short documentaries to feature-length productions. The festival will also feature 10 or 11 different speakers. Admission is free to see all films and speakers. Read the full story here.

3. The Banned Book Club will discuss Jay Asher's Th1rteen R3asons Why at 7 p.m. inside the Tempest Lounge. Half-price appetizers for all book club participants are the norm.

4. Poet, scholar and teacher J. P. Newell will discuss Celtic spirituality at 7 p.m. inside the Immanuel Presbyterian Church at North Ninth and J Street in Tacoma. Formerly warden of Iona Abbey in the Western Isles of Scotland, Newell is currently Companion Theologian for the American Spirituality Centre of Casa del Sol in the high desert of New Mexico.

5. You've seen the photos. Now experience the Harmon Tap Room's goldfish Races for yourself beginning at 8:30 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound