FRIDAY, MAY 17 2013 >>>

1. Talented artists command the Madera Architectural Elements Showroom semi-monthly, illuminating their work and creativity with the visually aided enhancement implied by the name of the series, TRIPOD Slide Shows. Created by Tacoma artist Lynn Di Nino, the night of digital slides features three artists and one creative theme.  The next TRIPOD Slide Show slides into Madera tonight from 7-8:30 p.m. featuring 15-minute slide shows by Mady Murrey will show slides of art hidden at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital, nationally syndicated political cartoonist Chris Britt and Oregon’s "Barbie Lady" LaVonne Sallee.

2. The annual Military Retiree Appreciation Day event runs from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hangar 9, building #1166, on JBLM-McChord Field. Event officials are expecting approximately 2,000 military beneficiaries to attend, who will enjoy the Madigan Healthcare System Health Fair, ID card issuance and replacement opportunities, the Legal Assistance Station, Vehicle registration fun, the VA Compensation Review Station and the Veterans Information Expo.

3. Grit City Comedy Club will be closed for three weeks while Malarkey’s Pool & Brew hosts the APA League Championship for Pierce County May 17-June 1. Winners will move onto the Nationals in Las Vegas.

4. Paula McLain wrote The Paris Wife, a novel that captures the love affair between Hemingway and his first wife, Hadley Richardson. McLain paints a real sense of their daily life - Hemingway's charisma, genius, stinginess and cruelty that apparently could erupt with no warning - and the citizens of Pierce County know this. For the past two months, thousands have been reading the book as part of the Pierce County READS program. At 7 p.m., McLain will drop in on the McGavick Conference Center to discuss the book, and the life of the famous couple.

5. Local Internet NWCZ Radio knows music. It's not only obvious from their daily shows, but also in the live shows they produce — as in the case of the 9 p.m. presentation of Ben Union, Perry Acker and The Furniture Girls at the Harmon Tap Room in Tacoma.

LINK: Friday, May 17 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

THURSDAY, MAY 9 2013 >>>

This summer Music and Art in Wright Park will, once again, shake the lawn bowlers at Wright Park in Tacoma's Stadium District. What began in 1993 as an awesome outdoor rock concert is still an awesome outdoor rock concert, only now with more art. Last year 2,500 lounged in the sun and soaked up Girl Trouble, Humble Cub, Walking Papers, The Plastards, The Jilly Rizzo and many other bands. There's no reason this summer's MAWP won't be equally awesome, unless there's no money in the bank. Unlike most summer outdoor rock concerts, there are no advance tickets for MAWP. The whole dang thing is free. However, like most worthy events, it's expensive. Therefore, festival producers will host a spaghetti feast and the musical stylings of the Original Rich Bundy and special guests from 4-8 p.m. at Louie G's Pizzeria. It's a family friendly, slurp fest. 

2. New York Times bestselling author Margaret Stohl, co-author of the Beautiful Creatures series, will discuss her new novel, Icons, which tells the story of four very special teens who could be humanity's only hope after Earth is taken over by aliens at 7 p.m. inside the University Place Library. She will be joined on the YA Icons Tour with local favorite Marissa Meyer, author of Cinder and Scarlet, Leigh Bardugo, author of the Grisha Trilogy and Kimberly Derting, author of the Body Finder novels.

3. The Oly Mountain Boys will perform at 8 p.m. inside the historic Spar Cafe in Olympia. The band proclaims its mission is to "reinvigorate the bluegrass genre by bringing the original bluegrass sound of the 1950s to a new generation of fans." We believe them, especially after taking a listen to the passion guitarist Chris Rutledge, mandolin player Derek McSwain, banjo player Tye Menser, bassist Phil Post and fiddle player Josh Grice get down with.

4. You could learn swing's Africanist cousin, blues dancing, at 9 p.m. inside the Olympia Eagles Ballroom. Blues dancing derives from the so-called "Black vernacular" of Southern dance styles and includes such moves as the Lindy and the irresistibly named "Funky Butt." Worst case scenario: you have two left feet but get to listen to Nina Simone.

5. The Engine House No. 9 is housed in a firehouse built in 1907 and still retains some of original firefighting artifacts. Purchased by the X Group, the force behind Asado and Masa, there's new excitement with better food, a whiskey bar, more craft beer from head brewer Shane Johns and a shuffleboard in the side room. Rev. Colin hosts karaoke two nights a week, including tonight at 9 p.m. He possesses a wealth of oddball musical knowledge and a disarming ease for calling everyone "baby."

LINK: Thursday, May 9 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

TUESDAY, MAY 7 2013 >>>

1. For those green-thumb-challenged folk who haven't quite got growing seasons down, the 6th Ave Farmers Market opens today at 3:30 p.m. Learn to grow a secret garden of your own and see it blossom. Not a gardener? Well then just visit the world's most productive gardener, the farmer, and pick up a bunch of their "fruits of labor" until 7 p.m. at Sixth and Pine in Tacoma.

2. The Grand Cinema continues its Tuesday Film Series with screenings of The Silence, the story of 13-year-old Sinikka who vanishes on a hot summer night. Her bicycle is found in the exact place where a girl was killed 23 years ago. The dramatic present forces those involved in the original case to face their past.See it at 1:40 and 6:55 p.m.

3. Sidney Rittenberg toured China during WWII, witnessed the birth of the People's Republic of China, got to know the Republic's founding fathers, and subsequently spent 16 years in solitary confinement. His documentary, The Revolutionary, screens at 3 p.m. in Tacoma Community College's Building 2 Auditorium, followed by a presentation at 4:30.

4. "My father's mother, Abuela Evila, liked to scare us with stories of La Llorona, the weeping woman who roams the canal and steals children away. She would say that if we didn't behave, La Llorona would take us far away where we would never see our parents again.My other grandmother, Abuelita Chinta, would tell us not to be afraid of La Llorona: that if we prayed, God, La Virgen and the saints would protect us from her. Neither of my grandmothers told us that there is something more powerful than La Llorona - a power that takes away parents, not children. It is called the United States." ... So begins the prologue of The Distance Between Us, as Reyna Grande, a 4-year-old with a fractured heart, says goodbye to her mother in Iguala, Mexico. Tonight, author Grande will discusses her immigration memoir, The Distance Between Us, at 7 p.m.inside the Olympic Room at the Tacoma Public Library Main Branch in Downtown Tacoma.

5. On any night of the week at 9 p.m., one can meander past the main bar in Olympia's China Clipper Club Cafe, to the back room where a disco ball, stage, stellar PA system, extensive song list, savvy DJ and lively, often tipsy, crowd scribbles on tiny, colorful paper then waits ... for Clipper Karaoke.

LINK: Tuesday, May 7 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

MONDAY, MAY 6 2013 >>>

1. It's Monday. Yesterday's awesome weather is still on your mind, and in about eight hours, you're going to be facing the eternal first-night-of-the-workweek dinner dilemma. We dunno about you, but hell no, we're not going to come home and start slicing and chopping and stirring and dirtying four pans on a Monday night. Yet there's the voice in the back of our heads reminding us that we ate out three times over the weekend, and the tired, drag-ass part that just wants to slouch on the sofa with a bowl of something. Don't do it. Head to Olympia for a chill dinner then hit Le Voyeur at 10 p.m. to see San Francisco's One F band. Gigging since 2006, One F has been described as listening to "Dinosaur Jr. vs. Pink Floyd, while being refereed by Pavement." One minute they're soothing with sincere balladry; next minute they're all-out rocking. We're so there. You?

2. The flowers at Lakewold Gardens are going nuts. It's an explosion of color and fragrances. There's not better time to visit as the Lakewood garden celebrates MayFest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through May 12. Check out the displays, exhibits and activities in the Wagner House. Smell a flower. Enjoy life.

3. It's Military Spouse Appreciation week on Joint Base Lewis-McChord. The Cascade Community Center will give spouses a free slice of cheesecake with purchase of lunch through Friday.

4. The OverDrive Digital Bookmobile - a 74-foot semi-truck and trailer equipped with computers and mobile devices - will be parked outside the Tumwater Timberland Library from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors can navigate the Gadget Gallery, Audiobook Alley, the eBook Experience, Digital Catalog and Video Lounge and learn how to access the library's digital titles for free.

5. Composer/guitarist Joe Mailhot, bassist Erich Hahn, saxophonist Scott Reed and drummer Mo-weee Mailhot, aka Malhotia Unit, will fill The Royal Lounge with original jazz tunes inspired by John Coltrane, Sun Ra, Albert Ayler and Jimi Hendrix beginning at 8 p.m. Special guest Charles Adler will contribute spoken word to this performance.

LINK: Monday, May 6 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SATURDAY, APRIL 27 2013 >>>

1. David Sedaris' highly imaginative, ridiculous, true and frequently heartbreaking content is derived from commonplace observations and events. The invitation you'll have at 7:30 p.m. inside the Pantages to pull up a chair and hear the stories Sedaris has to tell is a wonderful thing. Listening to Sedaris on This American Life is always entertaining, and we adore his books, but seeing David Sedaris live and watching his facial expressions and gestures as he reads and speaks is just awesome.

2. The 5th annual Alder Arts Walk — technically independent from the University of Puget Sound and ASUPS - happens around the university today and tomorrow at five houses along or near Alder Street, and carryies the theme "Apocalypse." Each house engages an idea inherent to the overarching End of Days theme, an idea that will be explored by acts and activities throughout the day: with the exception of Brunch, the houses are named for the Horsemen of the Apocalypse—Conquest, War, Famine and Death. Check the schedule for a detailed line-up of art and bands, live updates and some apocalyptic historical anecdote at alderartswalk.tumblr.com.

3. Last night the Olympia Arts Walk was off the hook with beautiful weather, awesome music and the streets and clubs packed with people. The festivites conitnue today, including the main event - the thing that has made Olympia's Arts Walk legendary - the Procession of the Species (elaborate animal costumes, no motor vehicles allowed). The 19th annual Procession of the Species begins at 4:30 p.m. Maps with complete listings of shows and events are available throughout downtown.

4. We saw the bluesy, power pop band Liar's Club perform numerous times during the early '90s. One of my favorite Liar's Club shows was when the band opened Pandemonium mag's 1993 Christmas party at the Red Roof in Lakewood. The Rhino Humpers, Running with Scissors, Tramps of Panic were on the bill. KGRG DJ Christine McLeod celebrated her 21^st birthday that night during the Malchicks' set. Tacoma TV star Spud Goodman announced a few acts while his sidekick Accordion Joe, donning an Elvis suit, performed classic rock hits between bands. Liar's Club performed their hit, "Espresso Girl" that night. Just shy of 20 years later, Jayson Jarmon, Scott McPherson and Kevo X. Thomson have reformed Liar's Club for a new poplicious album, Come and Go, with Sean Gaffmey and Dana Sims. The band will host a record release party at 8 p.m. at The Harmon.

5. Inspired by the lack of variety in dance music in Tacoma, Calvin Murphy and Omar Stokes founded Ocean Grooves Entertainment in January 1999. They started off strong that February with Monday night shows at the 6th & Proctor Bar & Grill (later became Hell's Kitchen) and dedicated Mondays to underground dance music showcasing various DJs from Seattle, plus Tacoma favorites such as Donald Glaude and DJ dAb. Speaking of Ocean Grooves and Glaude, the two pair up again at 9 p.m. for a show at Jazzbones. 

LINK: Saturday, April 27 arts and entertainmetn events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

AN EVENING WITH DAVID SEDARIS >>>

I first fell in love with David Sedaris after discovering his Holidays on Ice book on a friend's coffee table. The book's hilarity and satirical descriptions of the author's experiences with elf jobs and prostitutes so grabbed me I dismissed myself from company rather rudely to finish the book of short stories in another room, while my husband was left socializing solo.

I fell deeper in love with author, cultural philosopher and satirist when my husband surprised me with tickets to see Sedaris read and speak in Seattle as a Mother's Day gift. We got stuck in traffic and only caught about 15 minutes of the performance. I was pissed, but tried to console myself with the fact that I could meet Sedaris in person and get an autograph. But, I was pissed once again as I saw the un-godly length of line to see him. Instead of standing painfully in heels for two hours, I suggested we wait over martinis at a fancy bar down the street. After a three-martini chat, we stumbled back to the Sedaris line. By that time, the alcohol had enhanced my previous grumpiness, and it was all I could do to not cuss in every face I saw. Luckily, there were only a few people left in line. Sedaris and his boyfriend were waiting behind a desk, looking terribly bored and pleasant all at once. As I approached, I had the thought to ask Sedaris to please write some words of encouragement for an aspiring writer. I was hoping for a sentence or two designed by the Sage Sedaris, whose flowing words would keep me inspired and aloft. Staring at my one eye closed to steady my balance, grabbing a whiff of my Grey Goose and olives perfume, he wrote, "Keep Typing."  It was a sobering statement. I didn't know whether to be thankful or more pissed. I decided to love him even more.

Anyway, I'm not the only one who loves Sedaris. According to Lacey Leffler, marketing director for Broadway Center for the Performing Arts, Tacoma loves Sedaris, too.

"We've been presenting David Sedaris at the Pantages Theater since 2003 and our patrons are always requesting that we bring him back, so we've been trying to present him at least once every two years," Leffler told me. "This year is particularly exciting as his show coincides with the April 23 release of his new book, Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls."

King's Books of Tacoma's Stadium District will be on site, fully stocked with all books by David Sedaris and a few titles from his recommended reading list.

I suggest getting there early.

PANTAGES THEATER, SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 7:30 P.M., $34-$79, 901 BROADWAY, TACOMA, 253.591.5890

MONDAY, APRIL 8 2013 >>>

1. Cosmonauts share time equally in mind-melting squalls of Doors-esque acid rock and bursts of sweet, jumpy garage pop confection. It would be more than advisable to bring some earplugs for the band's show with The Garden Of Burgers at 9 p.m. inside Le Voyeur.

2. The fascinating thing about Michael Johnson's new sculptural installation at Kittredge Gallery is that you can see it from many perspectives, literally and metaphorically. The installation is in the smaller back gallery, and is opened from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Viewed through the double open doors from the larger front gallery it can be taken in in a single, all-encompassing glance, and from this initial glance a viewer can gain various impressions and interpretations. Then walk into the gallery and take a closer look and you will see it in one or more entirely different lights. Finally - and you should do this only after thoroughly looking - read the explanation on the wall label to understand what you're looking at. Read Alec Clayton's full review of "You Are Here" in the Weekly Volcano's Arts section.

3. George Katsiaficas - author or editor of eleven books, including ones on the global uprising of 1968 and European social movements - together with Kathleen Cleaver, co-edited Liberation, Imagination and the Black Panther Party. The longtime activist for peace and justice will discuss his new book at 7 p.m. inside Orca Books in downtown Olympia.

4. Hot Club Sandwich will offer a fresh approach to the Parisian Hot Club style of Django Reinhardt at 8 p.m. inside The Royal Lounge in Olympia.

5. Every Monday night guitarist Rafael Tranquilino hosts an experimental jam at 9 p.m. inside Stonegate Pizza. Tonight's jam has an extra twist in that Tranquilino will be filming the event, so for goodness sakes comb your hair.

PLUS: It's Olympia Restaurant Week! enjoy three-course dinners at fancy restaurants for only $25.

LINK: Monday, April 8 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

MONDAY, APRIL 1 2013 >>>

1. If you love to dance, and enjoy long lunch breaks, head to Olympia for a "Dance-In" at the Capitol Building from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. In support of Senate Bill 5613 - the bill that will repeal the Opportunity to Dance Tax - organizers ask those who love to dance to do it in front of the legislature. If you see Democratic Caucus Chair Karen Fraser (D-Olympia), and want her attention, we suggest you bust the dance moves in the video below.

2. The latest show at Kittredge Gallery on the campus of the University of Puget Sound has Seattle painter Cable Griffith's video game-influenced paintings in the main gallery and an installation by sculptor and UPS art faculty member Michael Johnson in the back gallery. Check them out from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Read Alec Clayton's full review of the "Up-Up-Down-Down-Left-Right-Left-Right-B-A-Start" in the Weekly Volcano's Arts section.

3. Collins Memorial Library at the University of Puget Sound dedicates itself to protecting books, but from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. it will eat them at the University's seventh Edible Books Festival. What is an edible book? Duh. An edible book is made of food and inspired by literary titles, characters or authors - such as Lord of the Onion Rings. Be sure to drop by Collins on April Fool's Day and browse for a story you can really dig into. Bring canned food items for St. Leo's Food Connections.

4. Fast Times in Palestine is Pamela Olson's powerful, deeply moving account of life in Palestine - from house parties and barbecues to violence, trauma, and political tensions. Olson will drop by Orca Books at 7 p.m. to chat up the book and answer questions.

5. Do you like the music of John Coltrane, Sun Ra and Jimi Hendrix? Then you should dig The Joe Mailhot Jazz Unit at 8 p.m. inside The Royal Lounge in Olympia.

LINK: Monday, April 1 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

THURSDAY, MARCH 14 2013 >>>

1. Up until 2003, trains pounded the historic Prairie Line rail corridor from the Thea Foss Waterway to the Brewery District, passing rickety warehouses and dens of iniquity. In the fall of 2011, some $5.83 million was earmarked to turn the half-mile Prairie Trail corridor into a living and breathing interpretive trail connecting the waterfront with downtown Tacoma, which will also include a storm water purification system for the polluted runoff from Hilltop. Then reality hit. The University of Washington redesigned its portion. The storm water filtration ponds are now subtle. The pedestrian and bike paths are more functional. The price tag much less. Now it's the city of Tacoma's turn to fall in line. It's segments of the Prairie Line - south of campus into the Brewery District and north as it crosses Pacific Avenue and heads toward the Thea Foss Waterway, the end of the line for the transcontinental railroad of yesteryear - needs to meld with UWT's design. See the city's proposed designs for its portion of the Prairie Line Tail at an open forum from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Tacoma Art Museum. Yes, open forum. You may chime in with your own design thoughts.

2. From 4-7 p.m. Tacoma's Crescent Moon Gifts will take the bake sale to a new level. Its Dessert and Divination offers baked goodies, shop and snag sweet swag like bracelets, tees and uh, more baked goods - with all proceeds going to support the Central Puget Sound Pagan Pride Day (say that three times fast). Crescent Moon knows how to throw a fundraiser. Also with every $10 dessert purchase attendees will receive a free 10-minute reading.

3. There's a lot of bickering and disagreement in this world, but one thing anyone with a soul can agree on includes the value of pie. At 7 p.m. King's Books celebrates Pi(e) Day, featuring the release of the book Pieography: Where Pie Meets Biography and a Pie Baking/Recipe Contest open to all. Tacoma artist Sarah Beth Smith will be there as she is one of the contributors to Pieography, the new book that features 42 pie recipes that encapsulate the lives of 39 women. The pie contest is open to all with the winner receiving a free copy of the book and a ribbon.

4. O'Blarney's Irish Pub in Olympia is so freakin' excited about St. Patrick's Day that it can't wait any longer. At 7 p.m. it will host an Irish-themed trivia contest with prizes, Guinness discounts, $7.99 steaks and all hosted by someone named Jimbo.

5. It's a fast-paced world we live in today, and we don't seem to have time to do anything anymore from plant watering to floor resurfacing, it all takes time we don't necessarily have, so we end up giving up the important stuff like meeting the opposite sex because how can you have time to toss your hair and work your smile if you're always late for your next meeting and your iCal doesn't have space for that in your schedule anyway so you have to make time and the best way to maximize the benefits your pheromones provide is to join in an organized event something like Speed Dating at Doyle's that allows you to meet people in less time than it takes to reheat a frozen chicken pot pie - a food you will never have to enjoy alone or at all again if you walk through Doyle's door at 7:30 p.m. because you'll finally have a life. Bring $20 and a smile knowing you're helping HopeSparks charity.

LINK: Thursday, Match 14 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

TURNING HER OWN PAGES >>>

The life of an author is not an easy one. While an exclusive few are rolling in the dough, most are hanging out in the middle, hoping for their ships to come in. So it goes for local young adult author Megan Bostic, who is about to delve into an entirely new realm as a result - she's going rogue. She's entering the world of indie publishing.

Last January, Bostic's debut novel Never Eighteen hit the shelves, published by major house Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. In June, she parted ways with her agent. Her publisher chose not to take her second book.

Bostic has talked to agents and her publisher about her next book, but is still drawn to self-publishing.

"If I wait to go traditional, I'm looking at a 2015-16 release date, and I really don't want to wait that long," she says. "I did most of the publicity myself for my first novel. I made connections with the gatekeepers, the book buyers, librarians and teachers. I have enough know how. I have the stamina and perseverance to do this myself and make it work."

Self-publishing is a beast in its own right. In order to get a book out there right and have full control over the distribution process, Bostic must purchase an ISBN number for each format she wants to produce, from hardback to paperback to ebook.

Bostic has set up a fundraiser on Indiegogo to help raise funds to purchase a lot of 10 ISBNs, get her next book properly distributed and put together swag - giveaways for book signings and school appearances. Especially with a teen audience, swag is a boon.

On her Indiegogo is a summary of her new novel:

Sydney Warner, a teenage girl, whom after being abandoned by her mother at a young age, becomes a thrill seeker with a penchant for extreme sports and a fascination with death. She’s brash, she’s spunky, and she doesn’t take crap from anyone.

Withdrawn and broody David, from English class, is the boy of Syd's dreams, but love soon becomes just another extreme sport when Syd finds out that David has cheated on her with her best friend. Betrayal, loneliness, and a mishap with a picture frame set Syd on a course of self-destruction that includes alcohol, drugs, and self-mutilation in the form of cutting.

After nearly bleeding to death during an arm carving mishap, Syd is tossed unwillingly into a teen psyche ward where she comes to realize she’s not alone. Through new friendships, unwelcomed therapy, and her love of the stars, she finds alternate ways to cope with her emotions on her path to forgiveness and redemption.

"There's definitely more prep work when indie publishing. The burden is all on my shoulders," she says. "What I like about it is that it's on my terms. The time frame is how long or short I want it to be. With traditional publishing it was months between phases."

Still, going rogue is risky. But then so is traditional publishing for most authors.

"I'm really hoping this path works in my favor," she says. "If it doesn't, it's still been an exciting process and I've been so grateful to those who have helped and supported me along the way."