MICHAEL SWAN: FRIDAY, AUG. 21, 2009 >>>

1. UrbanXchange Records opens today offering cash for old CDs, tapes and vinyl or 30 percent more in store credit that you can use throughout the UrbanXchange clothing store.

2. As part of a national tour, Kennedy Center President Michael Kaiser will be at the Pantages Theater from 9-11 a.m. to present Arts in Crisis: A Kennedy Center Initiative.

3. Blue Mouse Theater hosts a fundraiser featuring a Filipino dinner and a screening of Gawad Kalinga at 6:30 p.m.

4. The Le Cabaret Noir Variety Show featuring Fuchsia Foxxx, Sydni Deveraux, Ernie Von Schmaltz, Indigo Blu, Jenny Penny, Inga Ingenue, Lou Henry Hoover, MC Harlot O Scara performs before an all-ages crowd at 8 p.m. inside the Capitol Theater.

5. Hotter Than A Crotch, Dusty Santamaria & The Singing Knives, and Retox play in Le Voyeur's back room 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: THURSDAY, AUG. 20, 2009 >>>

1. Fulcrum Gallery presents Under Construction: Works in Progress by Local Artists today through Saturday. Today’s opening reception is from 6-10 p.m.

2. Dave Hannon and Old School Preservation Society perform at the Tacoma Farmers Market from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

3. As part of Third Thursday Artwalk from 5-8 p.m. artist Nancy Worden, whose work is featured in Loud Bones: The Jewelry of Nancy Worden, will be available in the Tacoma Art Museum galleries offering insights into her jewelry. At 6 p.m., hit TAM’s classroom to create unique, personalized charms and pendants using shrink film and other materials. Remember, the museum is free today.

4. Drinking Liberally hits The Hub at 7 p.m. to discuss politics â€" particularly the health care situation â€" over drinks.

5. A Room Called Remember plays a free show at 8 p.m. inside Doyle’s Public House.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

MICHAEL SWAN: WEDNESDAY, AUG. 19, 2009 >>>

1. Ten Miles Of Bad Road, Deerseekingheadlights, Jasmine Riley and Moostache play Bob’s Java Jive at 8 p.m.

2. Food, Inc. continues its run at The Grand Cinema with screenings today at 2:35, 7 and 9:10 p.m. Mention the Tacoma Food Co-op when purchasing your ticket and the organization will receive a dollar from the admission.

3. The Doug Skoog Band plays Uncle Sam’s American Bar & Grill in Spanaway at 7 p.m.

4. Every Wednesday at 8 p.m. Doyle’s Public House in Tacoma hosts Knowledge Night where individuals or teams answer two pages of brain teasers, trivia and current events for shirts, tickets and gift certificates.

5. Last Chance Romeos play The Swiss at 8 p.m.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

MICHAEL SWAN: TUESDAY, AUG. 18, 2009 >>>

1. Traditions Café in Olympia hosts a facilitated improv/freestyle drumming and percussion session, open to all, at 7 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.

3. The Banned Book Club discusses Push by Sapphire while sipping cocktails at the Tempest Lounge at 7 p.m.

4. Jazzbones' Ha Ha Tuesday hosted by Ralph Porter features guest comics Cathy Sorbo and James Parkinson at 8 p.m.

5. Live jazz every Tuesday beginning at 9 p.m. at The New Frontier Lounge. Important things to know: $2 wells, $4 martinis and no cover. Righteous.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

MICHAEL SWAN: MONDAY, AUG. 17, 2009 >>>

1. Doyle's Public House believes practice makes perfect. Therefore, they host St. Practice Day with The Stout Pounders at 8 p.m.

2. The gallery at Pierce College in Steilacoom is filled with a dozen or so very nice paintings by CJ Swanson from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

3. Shakabrah Java offers Monday open mic night at 5 p.m.

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

5. DJ Doll Hands spins vintage lady country music at The Brotherhood Lounge around 9 p.m.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

MICHAEL SWAN: GOOD MORNING SOUTH SOUND >>>

1. The Washington Renaissance Fantasy Faire with randy wenches and lascivious lords, meaded-up and looking to joust, consume Maris Farms from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

2. Tacoma Musical Playhourse's Musical Murder Mystery Dinner Series returns for an encore performance of "Murder Al Dente" at 2 p.m.

3. Songwriter’s Vespers featuring Leanne Trevalyan, Billy Stoops, and Mark Riley sets up inside the Immanuel Presbyterian Church at 5 p.m.

4. Station 56 hosts a Hempfest After Party with Kicking K8, The Hate Chamber, Forcefed Trauma, Avitia, Diamond Lane, Gods & Kings at 7 p.m.

5. Little Bill & The Bluenotes fills The Spar with blues at 7 p.m.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

MICHAEL SWAN: SATURDAY, AUG. 15, 2009 >>>

1. Shakabrah Java will celebrate the 30th anniversary of Elvis’ passing with drink specials, an Elvis themed menu, Elvis movies and plenty of Elvis music at 7 p.m.

2. Barbara McQueen will be at Miki Spa Salon in Tacoma from 2-6 p.m. to sign her book, Steve McQueen: The Last Mile, and display a few rare photographs of her late husband.

3. Artist Judy Gilbert will channel 300 AD Egypt via her encaustic paintings in a lively reception featuring a surprise musical guest, free body painting and tea from 7-10 p.m. at the Mad Hat Tea Company.

4. Local Pop Art-inspired creations and the infectious dance grooves of Oscillator X plus your fabulous self will make up the Electro-Pop Art Party at The Robert Daniel Gallery beginning at 8 p.m.

5. Local country star Jonathan Harris will perform at 8 p.m. at the Tacoma Sportsman's Club at 16409 Canyon Road E. in Puyallup.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

MICHAEL SWAN: FRIDAY, AUG. 14 2009 >>>

1. Food, Inc. â€" a 90-minute ride through what we eat and how it’s produced â€" will open at The Grand Cinema at 12:25, 2:35, 4:45, 7 and 9:10 p.m. Mention the Tacoma Food Co-op and a dollar of your ticket price will go to the organization.

2. MLKBallet's MOVE! dance series featuring Kate Monthy, Joel Meyers and the MLKBallet students will hit the Urban Grace stage at 7:30 p.m.

3. The Northwest Playwrights Alliance’s Festival Northwest continues at Tacoma Little Theatre at 7:30 p.m. featuring Short Works: Santa Fe by Robert Caisley; Exit, Chased By A Bear by Sean Walbeck; Last Call by Lia Romero; Off Book by LaChris Jordan; The Chore by Nick Stokes; and Projectiles by The 253 Collaborative.

4. Speak Your Soul Open Mic will be held at 8 p.m. inside Vinum Coffee & Wine Lounge in downtown Tacoma.

5. Si Si Si, The Powerchords, Johnny Cheeseburger, The Atoms, Chula Vista, Tarek Wegner perform an all-ages show at 8 p.m. inside the Alano Club.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

MICHAEL SWAN: THURSDAY, AUG. 13, 2009 >>>

1. Vicci Martinez performs a free solo acoustic show at Doyle’s Public House from 8-10 p.m. 7 pm. 

2. A Room Called Remember plays the Weekly Volcano Music Stage at the Tacoma Farmers Market on Broadway at 11 a.m.

3. The opening reception for Under Construction, works in progress by local artists, runs from 6-10 p.m. at Fulcrum Gallery.

4. The year is 2045 and a warrior battles to save America from an Islamic mastermind in this smart and violent futuristic thriller from New York Times bestselling author Robert Ferrigno who will chat up his book Heart of the Assassin at 7 p.m. inside the Garfield Book Company.

5. The Northwest Playwrights Alliance’s Festival Northwest continues at Tacoma Little Theatre at 7:30 p.m. featuring Short Works: Santa Fe by Robert Caisley; Exit, Chased By A Bear by Sean Walbeck; Last Call by Lia Romero; Off Book by LaChris Jordan; The Chore by Nick Stokes; and Projectiles by The 253 Collaborative.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

MICHAEL SWAN: WEDNESDAY, AUG. 12, 2009 >>>

1. It’s “Hump Day” at The Hub featuring $3 drinks and DJ J-Fresh spinning from 7-10 p.m. without a cover.

2. Singer/songwriter Tamara Lewis performs contemporary folk style with country and blues influences at 7 p.m. inside A Rhapsody In Bloom Florist & Café Latte.

3. Every Wednesday Doyle’s Public House in Tacoma hosts Knowledge Night where individuals or teams answer two pages of brain teasers, trivia and current events for shirts, tickets and gift certificates beginning at 8 p.m.

4. Award winning blues trombonist Randy Oxford a weekly Wednesday jam at Chopstix dubbed The Randy Oxford Jam beginning at 8 p.m.

5. “Lost and Found,” Freedom Records’ live and open auditions, will be held at 9 p.m. at Hell’s Kitchen.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide