Walkie Talkie Blog
PICKED THE PERFECT TIME >>> Enough has been said about this packed weekend of events in the South Sound. I'm fortunate to have an immediate family who loves the same things I do. The three of us squeezed-in three talented acts last night at the Peabody Waldorf, as part of the
Walkie Talkie Blog
GNARLY >>> It was the mini Sturgis of skateboarding, a day of ripping, beer and bands Saturday. No giant contest money ($500), corporate sponsors or swooping ESPN camera cranes - just local hard-core skaters summoned by the scent of wood dust tossed above the vertical lip of the miniramp sponsored by
Walkie Talkie Blog
OLYMPIA ARTS WALK, FALL EDITION >>> People will react to a man in a pink dress carrying a boombox down Washington Street in three ways. Some will pretend it's something they're used to seeing. Others will laugh. But most will just smile nervously, as if they suspect they're being surveilled. I laughed. I
Walkie Talkie Blog
PRIMO >>> Chef Charlie McManus and Jacqueline Plattner raised the bar for Tacoma restaurants when they opened the critically acclaimed Mediterranean-ish Primo Grill in October 1999. And after more than 10 years of dining at Primo - each visit including three or four nightly specials that plants a Bill Cosby Jell-O
Walkie Talkie Blog
SPECIAL FILM NIGHT OF LOCAL WORKS >>> The 253Heart Music and Arts Film Festival is like the wily little brother of the Tacoma film family, taking place in the shadows of the city's more prominent film fests. But, as 253Heart Film Festival director Joe Rosati sees it, these films are important,
Walkie Talkie Blog
DRUM ROLL PLEASE >>> The City of Tacoma has just released the three winners of this year's AMOCAT Arts Awards. Here's the press release: The Urban Grace Church, Fab-5 and Oliver Doris have been selected to receive the Tacoma Arts Commission's 2010 AMOCAT Art Awards. The awards recognize organizations and artists for
Walkie Talkie Blog
GOING SOUTH WITH STYLE AT BABBLIN' BABS BISTRO >>> "Not Your Mother's Chicken Fried Steak" with pork loin, Japanese panko and Gorgonzola sherry wine sauce? "Babs Bodacious Biscuits" and gravy with roasted chili pepper sauce topped with custard egg and green tomato salsa? "Where North meets South" pork sausage with Lone
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SMALL SHOP WITH BIG FLAVOR >>> Neighborhood: Sixth Avenue Address/phone: 3918 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.761.5116 Hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday-Sunday Standard Cup o' Joe: $2-$2.50 Bean Source: They hand roast their coffee in small batches out of their store. Crowd: undercaffeinated engineers in the morning, quiet book readers,
Walkie Talkie Blog
CONCERT RECAP >>> The Puyallup Fair Grandstand was packed by the time sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson took the stage with their latest incarnation of Heart. After teasing us with the opening of "In The Light" by Led Zeppelin, the pounding backbeat of "Cook With Fire" (first song on their Dog
Walkie Talkie Blog
THE NEW KING OF KING'S >>> Last night sitting in my folding chair with my fellow Vehement Vassals - resident cat rubbing the hell out of my shoe - Sweet Pea Flaherty, the soon-to-be owner of King's Books, revealed his hopes and dreams for the Stadium District bookstore. I've known about
Walkie Talkie Blog
IT WAS FAST TO ME >>> Dashing to catch Hall & Oates at the Puyallup Fair last night, I grabbed a very quick bite at the new It's Greek To Me on South Meridian, which opened Monday in the spot formerly occupied by From The Bayou and DeCaterina's Market Grill &
Walkie Talkie Blog
SHORT REVIEW FOR A SHORT SHOW >>> Last night Daryl Hall and John Oates hit the Puyallup Grandstand stage with a five-piece backing band taking a bunch of moms and dads on a trip through their hits, including opening song "Maneater," which MTV played every hour from 1981-84. One by one,
Walkie Talkie Blog
FAST CARS AND ICE CREAM >>> Back when arcades were overrun with burnouts, jeans tucked into their high-tops, I'd seek out the Elevator Action arcade game at Space Port on "The Ave." Between classes at UW, I played an agent whose goal was to dart through a building grabbing secrets from
Walkie Talkie Blog
MY CHOICE >>> The TNT Diner has taken our Tournament of Tacos concept and applied it South Sound bar burgers. Read up on it here. Weekly Volcano staffer Michael Swan named Asado's bar burger the best in our Best of Tacoma 2010 issue. Worthy, indeed. My choice? Maxwell's Walker Burger. Any restaurant that combines
Walkie Talkie Blog
BRING ON THE LAUGHS >>> Looks like pretty soon we'll be able to add a new comedy venue to our short list - Tacoma Comedy Club. Nope, we're not even joking. Comedian and filmmaker Aaron Flett-Riggs and crew will swing open the doors at Sixth and Tacoma Avenue South next month.
Walkie Talkie Blog
TACOMA REPRESENT >>> The Weekly Volcano received word that Tacoma artist James Hume has advanced to the next round of auditions for Bravo's latest reality show, Work of Art: The Next Great Artist. Hume, who last night celebrated the opening of his new show, Not Painting Flowers, at the Sandpiper Gallery,
Walkie Talkie Blog
COFFEE COMING BACK TO SIXTH AND NORTH STATE >>> Back in the early '90s, Café WA was a favorite spot for Tacoma's music scenesters. I interviewed bands inside the coffeehouse, sipping mochas (thankfully kicked that habit) and nibbling on tasty sandwiches. Like the grunge bands, Café WA disappeared, eventually becoming Rector's Antiques
Walkie Talkie Blog
THE MUSIC OF PATSY CLINE HEADED TO TACOMA >>> Some say March 5, 1963 was the real day the music died. Patsy Cline was on her way to a benefit for a fellow performer with two other country stars, Cowboy Copus and Hawkshaw Hawkins, when her plane went down, killing
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BECAUSE WE NOW HAVE A MILLION IN THE AREA >>> Neighborhood: University Place Address/Phone: 4828 Bridgeport Way W., 253.564.9112 Website: Click here Hours: 4:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Friday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. Sunday Noshing/Sipping: In a glass display case, sandwiches, salads, breakfast sandwiches, yogurt and baked goods
Walkie Talkie Blog
ART AT WORK IS ALWAYS IN THE WORKS >>> The Tacoma Arts Commission knows you're a little blue today due to school/rain/construction work. Therefore, they sent out a little blast of excitement today: The Tacoma Arts Commission seeks South Puget Sound artists to participate in an Art Slam as part of
