THURSDAY, FEB. 4, 2010 >>>

1. One of the writers of the original Twilight Zone series - George Clayton Johnson - will be speaking with William F. Nolan beginning at 7 p.m. inside the Tacoma Public Library's main downtown branch.

2. The Tacoma Runners present another Thursday Beer Run with a 6:30 p.m. starting gun in front of The Red Hot.

3. Mountaineer Dan Mazur - owner of Himalaya Incorporated in Lake Bay, famous for leading Greg Mortenson's "Three Cups of Tea" expedition to Mount K2 and the rescue of Australian climber Lincoln Hall on Mount Everest - will give an interactive photo-film presentation at 7 p.m. inside The Evergreen State College's Longhouse.

4. Tacoma's first First Thursday - a free art slam and potluck happening inside the Speakeasy Arts Cooperative - will run from 7-9 p.m.

5. Freeze And Fur Coat, Trip the Light Fantastic, and Clyge Kurtis perform at 8 p.m. at The New Frontier Lounge.

LINK: Catch a movie today

MONDAY, FEB. 1, 2010 >>>

1. Tacoma Community College hosts "You'll Never Look at Dinner the Same Way: A Symposium on the Way We Eat," which includes a screening of the documentary film Food, Inc., and will also consider Michael Pollan's book, The Omnivore's Dilemma, from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. inside its Student Center.

2. Satellite Coffee and Smooth and Juicy Grand Opening Party featuring free snacks, free French press and Mayor Marilyn Strickland cutting the ribbon happens at 5 p.m. at their combined location of 1122 Market St. in downtown Tacoma.

3. The Psychic Buffet Intuitive, Healing & Handmade Crafts Fair with intuitive readings, astrology, energy healing, and crafts begins at 5 p.m. inside the Urban Onion Restaurant and Lounge in Olympia.

4. City of Tacoma and the University of Washington-Tacoma offers the free, local government education session "Strengthening and Expanding the Local Labor Market" at 5:30 p.m. inside the Keystone Building Auditorium at the University of Washington-Tacoma.

5. EGYHOP all-ages benefit show featuring Mutoid Men, Cacuey, Mother Superior and the Maxines goes down at 9 p.m. inside Northern in Olympia.

DO YOU HAVE THE WRITE STUFF? >>>

Admit it - you've scribbled a few lines yourself, secretly on cafe napkins or extensively in ornate notebooks.

Maybe it's time for you to go pro.

Urban Grace: the Downtown Church announces the third annual Soul of the City Poetry Competition, the winner of which will be designated Urban Grace Poet Laureate of Tacoma for 2010-2011.

Applicants must submit two poems and the completed application - which includes questions about why the applicant believes poetry is important and what he or she would like to accomplish as Poet Laureate of Tacoma - by Wednesday, March 24, 2010.

The Urban Grace Poet Laureate will hold the title for a period of one year from April 2010 to April 2011, and receive a cash prize of $1,000.  He or she will further provide, on behalf of Urban Grace, two workshops during the year relating to poetry and spirituality, as well as recite his or her original work once per month at Urban Grace services on themes that serve as liturgical, social, or spiritual commentary.

Current Tacoma Poet Laureate Antonio Edwards will host an event in conjunction with National Poetry Month in late April to announce the winner of the competition.

Applications for the competition can be picked up at Urban Grace's main office (902 Market in downtown Tacoma), online here, or by emailing npaso@urbangracetacoma.org.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 20, 2010 >>>

1. Tempest Lounge hosts The Hayburners at 7 p.m.

2. City Club of Tacoma Lunch Program welcomes UW President Mark Emmert who will speak on education in the current economic environment at 11:30 a.m. inside The Tacoma Art Museum.

3. Kittredge Gallery holds an opening reception from 4-6 p.m. for the Michael Johnson Sculpture and Ted Vogel Shadow shows.

4. The Purpose Driven Networking event runs 5:30-7:30 p.m. at SAX on 6th. Go meet some businesspeople for crying out loud.

5. EVG 4 Life and 6 Gunz Muzik present Mic Control: The Emcee Battle at 9 p.m. inside Hell's Kitchen.

LINK: Live music and DJs tonight in the South Sound

TUESDAY, JAN. 19, 2010 >>>

1. Leonard Mynx will weave tales of desperation, death and heartbreak over slow heartbeat tempos at 7 p.m. inside the Mandolin Café.

2. Jeannet Iskandar's ethereal constructions of suspended light and line meet in a confluence of rhythm and repetition from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Traver Gallery.

3. The Banned Book Club discusses The Beet Fields by Gary Paulsen at 7 p.m. inside the Tempest Lounge.

4. Owen Miller, ND, presents the free lecture "Let Go of the Past and Embrace a Healthier Future" at 7 p.m. inside Marlene's Market & Deli in Tacoma.

5. Ralph Porter hosts Ha Ha Tuesday featuring opening MC D Lamont Hall, and guest comics Joe Fontenot, Ron Funches, and Will Woodruff at 8 p.m. inside Jazzbones.

MICHAEL SWAN: THURSDAY, NOV. 19, 2009 >>>

1. South Puget Sound Community College art faculty - including Carol Hannum's work pictured above - is showcasing its wide range of works in a show opening today in the Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts Gallery. Check it out from noon to 4 p.m.

2. Creative writing students of Tacoma's School Of The Arts will read their poetry and prose as part of Writers Bloc at 7 p.m. inside King's Books.

3. The newly remastered 1982 Godfrey Reggio film Koyaanisqatsi will screen at 7:30 p.m. inside the Washington Center.

4. The semi-finalists for 30th Annual Seattle International StandUp Comedy Competition will hit the Liberty Theatre stage at 8 p.m.

5. Fulcrum Gallery hosts a fundraiser featuring MC Alleon, Bobby Galaxy, Sax & Synth and DJ Broam at 9 p.m.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

MICHAEL SWAN: SATURDAY, NOV. 14, 2009 >>>

1. Maestro Christophe Chagnard of the Northwest Sinfonietta and Maestro Harvey Felder of the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra together present Mozart Meets Beethoven - an all out battle - in tuxedos at 7:30 p.m. inside the Rialto Theater.

2. King's Book's Open House and Poetry Marathon will feature 15 renowned poets reading their poems along with two open mic sessions from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

3. Art And Kimonos - featuring art by Lynn Farren, Sarah Utter and Karen Utter, plus a vintage kimono sale - will be held from noon to 4 p.m. at Fibers Etc. in downtown Tacoma.

4. The Tacoma Art Museum presents "Redefining Northwest Art," a panel lecture on how the history, geography, and diverse cultures of the region have influenced the art of the Northwest from 1:30-4 p.m.

5. Doxology, Ben Union, and Roman Holiday play an 8 p.m. show at Jazzbones.

PAUL SCHRAG: THE HEDGE >>>

Dr. S. Aaron Hegde has a redream. What the hell is a redream? Well, you remember the American dream? It's the one where everyone in the world was invited to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the land of the free - mostly the freedom to pursue dreams.

But a crippled economy has changed the game for many.

Hedge will share how this economic nosedive is affecting the dreams of undocumented workers - who contribute billions of dollars every year to our economy.

[Saint Martin's University Harned Hall 110, Friday, Nov. 6, 4 p.m., free, 5300 Pacific Ave. SE, Lacey, 360.438.4332]

LINK: More details here

MICHAEL SWAN: SUNDAY, OCT. 25, 2009 >>>

1. Matt Jaislles's movie Drug Cult - screening at 7 p.m. inside The Brotherhood Lounge in Olympia - has it all: lobotomies, drug fiends, sexy ladies, ruthless cops, a pregnant prostitute and dead bodies.

2. Tacoma poet Tammy Robacker will read and sign her first book of poetry, The Vicissitudes, during a celebration at bellaballs art studio from 2-4 p.m., hosted by Urban Grace Poet Laureate of Tacoma Antonio Edwards, Jr.
 
3. The Tacoma Youth Symphony Association presents A Night At the Movies Costume Concert at 3 and 6 p.m. in the Rialto Theater. 

4. The Tokens Improv host an Improv Seminar from 6-8 p.m. in the Broadway Center Rehearsal Hall.

5. Jazz guitarist ed Taylor and saxophonist Darren Motamedy perform at 8 p.m. inside Muckleshoot Casino.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

MICHAEL SWAN: TAMMY ROBACKER RELEASES BOOK OF POETRY >>>

Quick question for you: What's the poetry scene like in Tacoma?

If you said, "Wait a minute! What poetry scene?" - you're exactly the type of person I'm looking for.

(Unless, I suppose, your idea of poetry is the stuff scrawled on the walls of Honeybuckets.)

Fact is, while it may be small and fledgling, there is a poetry scene in Tacoma - and it's growing.

People like Tammy Robacker - who has written for the Weekly Volcano in the past and has become a force within Tacoma's poetry scene-are making it possible.

And the City of Tacoma is also helping.

Through a funding from the Tacoma Artists Initiative Program (TAIP) and a grant awarded to her from the City of Tacoma and the Tacoma Arts Commission, Robacker is releasing her first book of poetry, The Vicissitudes, this week. Robacker will hold a book release, reading, and signing party Sunday, Oct. 25 at bellaballs art studio (747 S. Fawcett Ave., Suite B, Tacoma). Tacoma Poet Laureate Antonio Edwards Jr. will emcee the event, and fun is expected to be had by all.

Those who need proof of Tacoma's poetry scene need look no further.

LINK: Tammy Robacker's Poem-A-Tacoma blog series