MICHAEL SWAN: FRIDAY, AUG. 28, 2009 >>>

1. The Washington State Capital Museum will load Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds in ye ol' projector for an outdoor screening on their lawn at 9 p.m.

2. Free Ya Mind's open mic and spoken word event hits Tully's at Ninth and Broadway at 7 p.m.

3. Le Voyeur in Olympia hosts Gendersmash! the trans/queer/allies open mic with music, dance, spoken word, performance art, comedy, drag, improve, theater, sing-alongs, games, rants, circus acts and silly human tricks at 8 p.m.

4. The BGP will lay down some suburban soul with Ernie Halter at 8:30 p.m. on Jazzbones' stage.

5. The Tempest Lounge presents Reggae Fridays featuring Jason Diamond spinning at 9:30 pm. â�" no cover.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

MICHAEL SWAN: TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2009 >>>

1. The theme of today's 6th Avenue Farmers Market is Ho Down. Expect bluegrass, a scavenger hunt and family fun from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m.

2. Jewelry artist Nancy Worden incorporates non-traditional materials such as seed pods and plastic hair curlers into her jewelry to tell a story. That's right, she explores social and political issues in her exhibit, Loud Bones, which shows at the Tacoma Art Museum from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today.

3. Join local activist Michael Ladd at King's Books as he discusses why a recent Rasmussen Reports poll suggests that 20 percent of Americans think socialism is superior to the current capitalist system, with 33 percent of those under 30 siding with socialism as a political and economic ethos - beginning at 6:30 p.m.

4. Jazz saxophonist Kareem Kandi hosts an open mic night at 7 p.m. inside SAX on 6th.

5. Comedian Ralph Porter hosts Ha Ha Tuesdays at Jazzbones every Tuesday. Tonight's 8 p.m. show features guest comics Steve Monroe and Tim Warner.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

MICHAEL SWAN: MONDAY, JULY 6, 2009 >>>

1. What's better than reading? Howabout reading graphic novels- basically sick ass comic books for grown up children. And what's better than reading graphic novels? Howabout talking about graphic novels with an eclectic group of graphic novel enthusiasts and newcomers to the genre. And what's better than all of the above? Howabout all of the above plus booze.  Now you understand the beauty of Kings Book's Graphic Novel Book Club at 7 p.m. inside the 1022 South lounge. They will discuss American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang.

2. Ron Hinson is showing a series of paintings based on Alice in Wonderland at Childhood's End in Olympia from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Read the full review here.

3. The Young Professionals Network of Tacoma-Pierce County will team up with Cascade Regional Blood Services and hello cupcake to sponsor a Blood Drive from 4:30-7 p.m. next to Cutters Point in downtown Tacoma.  Each person who donates will receive a free cupcake from hello cupcake.

4. DJ Jason Diamond spins roots reggae during The New Frontier Lounge's Rebel Monday at 9 p.m.

5. Rockaraoke at Jazzbones starts 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: CONGRATS ANTONIO EDWARDS JR. >>>

In this week's issue, Weekly Volcano scribe Mark Thomas Deming included Antonio Edwards Jr.'s "Hilltopia" poem in his piece on In Tahoma's Shadow — the poetry anthology that features the work of 75 local poets. Deming wrote that Edward Jr.'s work was the standout poem of the collection. His "Hilltopia" pays tribute to the historic, embattled Hilltop neighborhood and raises questions about gentrification.

Last night at a poetry event at the University of Puget Sound, the Urban Grace 2009 Tacoma Poet Laureate was announced — Antonio Edwards, Jr.

Edwards Jr. is a regular performer on the Tacoma poetry scene, known for his personal, powerful, and entertaining poetry. He uses his unique style to address local issues and matters of faith. The Speak Your Soul organization named Edwards Jr. the 2009-10 Soul of the City Tacoma Poet Laureate.

From "Hilltopia":

HILLTOPIA,
this is where God lives.
This is where Jesus, John, Luke, Paul and Matthew is.
This is where our babies were born.
This is where you come back to when your life is torn.
This is where our homies died.
This is where Mommas and Nannas cried.
This is where our loyalty lies.

This is Tacoma.