TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 2010 >>>

1. Sacramento's Not An Airplane will fill the Mandolin Café with Americana pop at 7 p.m.

2. It's crime chat with Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist at 11:30 a.m. inside Tacoma Community College's Student Center.

3. Northwest poet Dan Peters will be reading selections from his newest book, Down the Road the Children Go at 7 p.m. for an adult audience inside the Gig Harbor/Peninsula Library.

4. So Many Things To Do Yet: The saga of Thea Foss, a one-woman living history performance by storyteller Karen Hass, begins at 7 p.m. inside the Scandinavian Cultural Center.

5. Blessed By A Broken Heart plays an all-ages show at 6 p.m. inside the Viaduct.

LINK: Movie showtimes in the South Sound

IF YOU KNOW IT, GO FOR IT >>>

Exquisite Disarray Publishing, a Tacoma-based literary arts organization, has launched its First Book Poetry Contest with a call for poetry manuscripts this spring.  The deadline for poetry manuscript submission: May 15, 2010.  

This contest is open to all Washington state residents 18 and older who have not yet published a full-length book of poetry. 

Full contest guidelines can be found at www.exquisitedisarray.org.

Tammy Robacker, our new Tacoma Poet Laureate, is the vice president at Exquisite

THERE'S TALENT IN THIS CITY >>>

Sometimes I leave poetry readings feeling like I just attended a grade-school piano recital. That wasn't the case last night at the "Mouths & Mics: Poetry in the 253" that featured seven Tacoma poets hand picked by outgoing Tacoma Poet Laureate Antonio Edwards, which took place inside the Washington State History Museum. Poets Emilie Rommel Shimkus, Josh Rizeberg, Ariel Zimmer, Korama Williams, Zeek Green, Elliot Trotter and 15-year-old Kiah Lee - literati gliterati, if you will ­- presented the emotional equivalent of a victory lap for the artsy, literary-y, near capacity crowd. Even thought the seven poets knew they were not Urban Grace's next Soul of the City Tacoma Poet Laureate, each performed as if they would carry the torch for the next year.

But maybe "reading" is too loose of a term, so if you're envisioning a bunch of gray-haired professors sitting in an auditorium reading Dickinson and Shakespeare in low, expressionless tones, you've got it wrong. The majority of the work at this reading were backed by visuals, performance art and music. The crowd could feel the exhilarating rush of emotions right along with each performer.

All seven poets - eight including Poet Laureate Edwards - gave strong, emotional performances that took listeners from soft whisper to enraged yelling in less than 10 seconds. Their poems were enhanced by the people in the audience, who clapped, encouraged and shouted out affirmations. The poetry covered the gritty (sex, relationships, drugs) - which never reached depressing levels due to the poets' upbeat deliveries - as well as humor, especially from the clever Rizeberg. Edwards gave the performers poet carte blanche; the only similarity was the sharing of flutist Donnel White who stood on the stage many times.

"Mouths & Mics: Poetry in the 253" was an impressive, amazing night of poetry.

Talk about burying the lead

After the Magnificent Seven, Urban Grace Director of Worship Arts Kali Kucera took the stage to announce the 2010 Urban Grace Soul of the City Tacoma Poet Laureate. The five judges - Edwards, 2008 Tacoma Poet Laureate William Kupinse, UW-Tacoma Prof. Emily Noelle Ignacio, PLU librarian and artist Holly Senn, and UPS Prof. Grace Livingston - chose Tammy Robacker as the new poet laureate for Tacoma.

"We finally have a poet laureate who wears panty hose," Robacker said as she approached the podium, referring to the preceding two male poet laureates.

Robacker thanked those she believed helped her reach the level worthy of being poet laureate, especially Kupinse. She read several poetry pieces from her new book, The Vicissitudes - including a hilarious piece about wanting to sleep with the sheriff from Mayberry - and announced her poetic plans for the upcoming year, which will include poetry classes for those eager to learn the craft.

You may follow Robacker's poetic journey on her Web site. Click The Community button as she is all about community.

SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 2010 >>>

1. Shakespeare in the Parking Lot continues its 48 hours of Bard with free performances of Henry VI parts 1, 2 and 3 at 3 p.m. and Richard III at 10 p.m. inside and outside the Speakeasy Arts Cooperative.

2. The Olympia Spring Arts Walk continues from noon to 7 p.m. with all sorts of awesomeness, plus the famed Procession of the Species at 4:30 p.m. - all in downtown Olympia.

3. Tacoma's own Dockyard Derby Dames are back in action with another knockdown, drag-out bout from 5-9 p.m. at Pierce College in Lakewood.

4. Tacoma poets Emilie Rommel Shimkus, Josh Rizeberg, Ariel Zimmer and others enhance their words using visual imagery, theater, dance, lighting and music as part of Mouths & Mics: Poetry in the 253 at 7 p.m. inside the Washington State History Museum.  Also, the poetic torch is passed to the 2010 Urban Grace Soul of the City Tacoma Poet Laureate.

5. Soo Bae - born in Korea, but billed as "Canada's prize-topping young cellist" - will join the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra in Berlioz's classic, Symphonie Fantastique - which has been called "a musical journey through unrequited love, opium nightmares and witches' spells." Awesome. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. inside the Pantages Theater.

LINK: More arts and entertainment happenings in the South Sound

FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 2010 >>>

1. Tacoma poet Tammy Robacker reads from her book The Vicissitudes at 8 p.m. inside Vinum Coffee & Wine Lounge. There will be an open mic following her reading. Readers, poets, and spoken word artists are encouraged to come share poetry that addresses topics of Women, Women's History, Women's Issues, Women's Roles, or challenges that face women.

2. Speaking of poetry, the Puget Sound Poetry Connection and Tacoma Arts Commission bring in poet Allen Braden for the Distinguished Writers Series at 7 p.m. inside King's Books. An open mic follows Braden's performance.

3. Banff Mountain Film Festival selections that explore environmental, adventure or adventure-related themes - including BASE-jumping, snowboarding and mountain climbing - will screen at 7:30 p.m. at the Capitol Theater.

4. Brooklyn Pool, James & The Giant Bitch, Santee, and The Moo play a 9 p.m. show at Bob's Java Jive.

5. The Missionary Position and Where Sails Meet Rails perform a free show inside Doyle's Public House at 9 p.m.

LINK: A bunch of movies open today

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

NASEEM RAKHA TALKS ABOUT THE CRYING TREE TOMORROW IN OLYMPIA >>>

Too often in America we fall victim to our inflated sense of self, the better self delayed by the hater self, the squeaky voiced youth of self doubt long ago formed, wringing your hair in a hand of doom, cursing the snickering moustache and its wheezy canine sidekick.  We like to think we know ourselves best, waiting to talk when we should be listening.

Sometimes, it takes something like a 10 minute phone call with someone you've never met to discuss their book - a book you haven't finished reading - to humbly remind you to shut your yapper and truly listen - because wisdom happened by on chance's wings and is trying to tell you something.

Naseem Rakha's debut novel, The Crying Tree, catapulted her into a category of new literary icons that very few writers achieve - even less on their first novel.

"The second agent that we shopped it to said 'This is an important book'," says Rakha. "They picked it up immediately."

That is something rarely heard of in the publishing industry. The Crying Tree launched a bidding war between several major publishers. Broadway, an imprint of Random House, eventually emerged victorious - but there's a great reason for it.

The story is very intense, and reading it can change a person's perception of emotional responsibility in life.

The Stanley family is from rural south Illinois and relocates to eastern Oregon, much to the chagrin of everyone but the father, who has taken a job as a deputy sheriff. He believes it will provide a fresh start and new life for all, despite the fact it means leaving the town the family grew up in, and everything they have known. 

Read more...

MONDAY, FEB. 22, 2010 >>>

1. The Cave Singers and the Duchess & the Duke perform at 8 p.m. inside The New Frontier Lounge.

2. Olympia author Deborah Jane Ross reads from her book The Schneiders of Schneider Creek: Rediscovering a Pioneer Family at noon inside the State Capital Museum.

3. When Kevin Powell was a member of the very first Real World, the beast was nowhere near the depressing culture suck it is today. Powell went on to write for just about every magazine that's worth two shits, publish books, interview and profile both Tupac and Colin Powell, and become a Writing Fellow for the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies - among other things. Hear him speak at 6 p.m. inside the University of Washington Tacoma's Longshoremans Hall.

4. Swing Reunion Orchestra featuring Melanie Vail will perform at 7 p.m. inside the Imperial Dragon Restaurant.

5. Lisa Shapiro will lecture on "Gender And Philosophy in Early Modern Europe" at 7:30 p.m. inside the University Center at Pacific Lutheran University.

LINK: Today's movie showtimes

CALLING ALL WASHINGTON STATE POETS >>>

For a poet, that first book deal with a publisher is a career milestone, a ticket into academia, a potential pathway to immortality. It's also next to impossible.

Exquisite Disarray Publishing could help make that poetry book deal a reality. The Tacoma-based literary arts organization hosts its first annual First Book Poetry Contest featuring a $200 cash prize and publish the winning manuscript as the poet's first book. The winner will also be expected to give a free, public poetry reading and poetry workshop during Tacoma's Art at Work month in November 2010. 

In addition to the winning poet's work being published; a separate contest prize of $100 cash will be awarded to the poetry manuscript submission that contains the best "Tacoma poem."

This contest is open to all Washington state residents 18 years of age and older who have not yet published a full-length book of poetry. The deadline for poetry manuscripts is May 15, 2010. Full contest guidelines and editorial contact information can be found on Exquisite's Web site.

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