THURSDAY, APRIL 18 2013 >>>

1. Local saxophonist Kareem Kandi presents a musical gift to the South Sound at 7 p.m. Get this: Boarding a plane in New York bound for the Puyallup campus of Pierce College are trumpeter Lew Soloff (Blood, Sweat & Tears, Gil Evans, Tito Puente, Manhattan Jazz Quintet), bassist Essiet Essiet (Horizon, Art Blakey, Freddie Hubbard, Blue Note All-Stars) and drummer Sylvia Cuenca (Joe Henderson, Clark Terry) for a concert/workshop next Thursday. Plus, the respected guitarist/educator Milo Petersen from Seattle's Cornish College of The Arts will be in the house too. Those who hold jazz dear to their hearts know this is the real deal - especially when these talents will perform, tell stories and teach through questions. Oh yea, it's freakin' free.

2. The Puyallup Spring Fair opens at 2 p.m. today for a four-day run. Organizers say that this year's edition, while shorter than its late summer edition, is crammed with more attractions than ever. For urbanites who need convincing, here's a handy checklist: Monster Trucks Friday, demolitions Saturday-Sunday, Aussie Kingdom, KMPS Showcase featuring American Young, KidZone, James Wesley, Fiesta Mexicana, garden show, rides, fried foods and more. Go ahead: Leave your laptop behind, shimmy into that old pair of Wranglers, pull on those dusty cowboy boots, slap on a 10-gallon hat and prepare to spend yourself a day - or four - at this year's wingding.

3. Today marks the last day of Olympia Restaurant Week. Check out the list of restaurants; or flip through the menus. Ten Thurston County restaurants will be serving up special $25 three-course dinners, with some eateries offering a three-course lunch menu for $15.

4. It's the third Thursday of the month. In Tacoma, that's means an extra emphasis on the arts. Tonight's quest for art will lead you directly to the steps of science. That's right, the University of Puget Sound and Tacoma Art Museum have teamed up to present an Art+Science Salon - an evening of artists and scientists hugging it out at 6 p.m. inside the Tacoma Art Museum. Tonight, guest eco-artist Jackie Brookner will lead a panel discussion on art and ecological issues.

5. Speaking of third Thursday, tonight is the Tacoma Art Mingle, which was formerly called the Third Thursday Artwalk. Whatever the name of the special night, it's still very hard to walk the damn thing. For the last two-plus years Tacoma has had the Art Bus to rely on - the creation of T-Town's own Angela Jossy, and pretty much the bestest idea there ever was. Each third Thursday the Art Bus shuttles riders from gallery to gallery, venue to venue accomplishing more than any one person could ever dream of on foot, and at the same time building a communal vibe that's worth its weight in gold. Tonight's Art Bus celebrity host Tacoma City Councilperson Ryan Mello will help guide you through such stops as FabLab, 253 Collective, Embellish Multispace Salon, Crescent Moon Gifts, Proctor Arts Gallery, Throwing Mud Gallery and Catwalk. Tickets are $10 regular admission and $20 for VIPs. VIPs get gift bags with items from lots of local businesses. The Bus pushes off from the Tacoma Art Museum at 6 p.m.

LINK: Thursday, April 18 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area 

PLANTING A SEED >>>

Earth Day occurs at a beautiful time of year in the South Sound: the lushness of greenery is bursting in pockets around the region; daffodils trumpet in bloom, as if announcing the arrival of spring; birds busily ready their nests; the sun makes more and more appearances. It's the perfect time to remember why we recycle, turn off the water while we brush our teeth and don't idle the car longer than the average pee. We don't want to turn Earth into a shithole.

The South Sound offers plenty of activities for community members to take it one step further this year. While Earth Day falls on Monday, April 22, many organizations have events this Saturday, April 20. (What a great day to go green in more ways than one!)

In Pierce County, Parks Appreciation Day will take place from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.  Eight different sites around Tacoma will be filled with volunteers working to trim limbs, pick up garbage, plant flowers and trees, and much more. To register and/or for a complete list of participating sites click here. 

In Olympia, at Priest Point Park (2298 E. Bay Dr. NE), there will be an Earth Day Stewardship event. A free program open to all ages, the goal of the work party will be to remove invasive plants that threaten our native ecosystem and replant with native vegetation. Tools, gloves and light refreshments will be provided. For more information, call 360.753.8365.

For events geared toward children, check out The Earth Day Extravaganza at the Tacoma Nature Center (1919 S. Tyler St.), where families can celebrate wiggly worms, creepy crawlies and buzzing bees with fun activities that help teach about the earth and how we can all keep it healthy from noon to 4 p.m.

You can bet the Hand's On Children's Museum (414 Jefferson St. NE) in Olympia jumped on the green train Saturday as well, with Earth Day Fun Science Demos, where your kids can catch environmentally- friendly products in action. Free with admission.

Finally, pick up a copy of the Weekly Volcano tomorrow for our annual Green Issue.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17 2013 >>>

1. Beginning at 5 p.m., Doyle's Public House's monthly St. Practice Party will be extra special as Doyle's celebrates its seventh anniversary, too. Owners Dave and Russ will tell stories, like the time they had the only ugly sweater contest in Tacoma and six people showed. Or the time they slept on the old church pews cause it was easier than driving home and back the next morning. Or the number of times they were told that they were doomed because no one wanted just import beers on draft and they needed PBR. Presents from Jameson will be doled out all day long. At 8 p.m. The Staxx Brothers will drop pounding rhythm, dynamic vocals and syncopated guitars - a combination of the Philadelphia Sound, Funkadelic and a little Southern rock - on the crowd of revelers.

2. The "Greek and Roman Mythology" exhibition at Tacoma Community College is outstanding. The operative word is strength - depicted strength of character, purpose and ideology; beauty and strength in the human body, and strong drawing and composition. There is also a lot of humor and wisdom in the way these contemporary South Sound artists react to ancient myths. The show ends Friday. Check it out from noon to 5 p.m. today. Read Alec Clayton's review of the "Greek & Roman Mythology" exhibition at Tacoma Community College in the Weekly Volcano's Arts section.

3. From 5:15 to 6:30 p.m., why not get up off your booty and commune with Tacoma on foot? Downtown On the Go is back with its Walk Tacoma events. Tonight, it walks in the name of public art. Participants will join Tacoma Arts Administrator Amy McBride for a 1.5 mile walking route in downtown Tacoma starting at the Hotel Murano. After the walk, participants are invited to attend a social event with food and drink specials at the Gallery located at BITE Restaurant in the Hotel Murano. There is no need to pre-register for the event, simply meet in front of the Murano.

4. Dead poets come to life in honor of National Poetry Month. A séance sponsored by the Olympia Poetry Network may feature William Stafford, Sara Teasdale, Ruth Stone, Wislawa Szymborska, Gerard Manley Hopkins and Robinson Jeffers at 6:30 p.m. inside Traditions Cafe. The audience will be invited to share their own favorite dead-poet poems during the open mic session.

5. Phasers on Hill and Poorsport will rock O'Malley's Irish Pub at 9 p.m.

LINK: Wednesday, April 17 arts and entertainemnt events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

Who remembers the '60s or wishes they did? I'm not talking about all those who claimed to be at Woodstock but never were - but yes, I guess them too, because what I'm talking about here is nostalgia for an era, the art and the music and the way of life.

More than almost anyone else I know, Olympia artist Tom Anderson was a child of the hippie era, and he still reveres the music and art of that period. His downtown Olympia studio, above Olyphant Art Supply, is filled with psychedelic poster art from his large collection.

Anderson said he was recently brainstorming with Olyphant owners Nick and J.B. Baldridge about how to more effectively use the space in their shop that was not used for retail and suggested that since they were trying to get their framing business going it made sense to show work that highlighted that service and options. "Framing to me too often appears as an afterthought in art or a necessary evil with little if any creative vision to it," he said.

The work he had in mind was from his own poster collection. "I have been thinking of thinning out my collection for a couple years, so I offered it to them to select which works they could envision for the space. It was fun to hear and see fresh eyes look at these posters for the first time. I grew up with them so I have a different history, but for the younger artists this is new and relevant."

Anderson got his first posters from the original singer of the Jefferson Airplane, Signe Anderson, when he was 15. Signe and her husband, Jerry, an original member of Ken Keseys' Merry Pranksters, were friends of Tom's parents. That was the beginning of a collection that has become quite impressive.

There will be approximately 20-25 posters and 8-10 handbills in the show featuring renown poster artists Rick Griffin, Moscoso, Alton Kelley, Stanley Mouse, David Singer, Wes Wilson, all from 1966-1969. Most but not all are originals. The bands represented include Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Big Brother And The Holding Company, 13th Floor Elevator, Moby Grape, Steve Miller, Blues Project, Jimi Hendrix, Blue Cheer, Miles Davis, Chuck Berry, Daily Flash and more. Most of the posters are from concerts held at the Fillmore and Avalon ballrooms in San Francisco.

"In the last several years more museums have hosted shows of '60s psychedelic posters, some of which will be in this exhibit," Anderson says.

The exhibit and sale will open on Arts Walk Friday, April 26, and be up for a month.

OLYPHANT ART SUPPLY, 11 A.M. TO 7 P.M. MONDAY-SATURDAY, 117 WASHINGTON ST., OLYMPIA, 360.352.6348

TUESDAY, APRIL 16 2013 >>>

1. Receiving a lot of hype and mostly deserving it, Savannah's Cusses dual-twist punk angst/frenzy and down and dirty southern rock like rosy, freshly-pierce nipples. Born star Angel Bond belts it and struts like product of a Siouxsie Sioux/Karen O/Mick Jagger three-way. This is a festival band, folks. Their explosive, crushing riffs and powerful, fiery vocals will knock the New Frontier sign off the wall at 9 p.m. The real stunner will be when Bond kicks the sign hitting the kid with tight pants in the front row ... and he won't take his eyes off her for a second.

2. The Diversity Film Festival begins today at The Grand Cinema with each film a meditation on the theme of cultural diversity. The concept began a few miles (and years) away from The Grand, at Tacoma Community College. Dr. Scott Earle, a TCC English and Humanities instructor since 1999, along with fellow teachers and staff, has hosted on-campus film screenings of this sort for some time. A suggestion was made to Earle and his colleagues in late 2010 to graduate their young program - let it leave the classroom and test its wings in the community. Today at 2 and 6:15 p.m., the Grand will screen Mosquita y Mari, A coming of age story that focuses on a tender friendship between two young Chicanas.

3. If hearing the sound of your own cackling voice echoing off the walls of your shower stall has you craving the sound of something a bit more harmonious, check out the local songbirds and storytellers at Victory Music Open Mic from 7-10 p.m. inside the Antique Sandwich Co. It's guaranteed to be jam-packed with gorgeous sounds and humbling verses, as the South Sound's greatest up-and-coming acoustic musicians bare their souls impromptu-style.

4. We might not see the High Five'n White Guys or the Lame List, but a couple Almost Live! veterans will Billy Quan their way onto Tacoma Comedy Club's stage at 8 p.m. John Keister, who hosted and much of the writing the regional sketch comedy TV show from 1984 to 1999, will be joined by fellow "Almost Live!" star and well-known as a Seattle radio personality Pat Cashman, and Cashman's son, Chris, host of the game 1 vs. 100, for a "Gluten free evening of laughs and sneak previews of the TV show." The trio is producing The [206] - a new TV show shot in front of a live standing audience at Mighty Media Studios in a former fire station in Bellevue.

5. Two of our favorite Tuesday night trivia are at Fish Tale Brew Pub in Olympia and Farrelli's Wood-Fire Pizza in Tacoma, both start at 8 p.m. In terms of food, Farrelli's pies are hand-tossed, firm but chewy with a flop at the tip. The Jack & John Pizza - Italian sausage, Provolone/mozzarella blend, green and black olives, green onions, artichoke hearts, mushrooms - is so yum! At Fish Tale, go for the ham and Brie. Loaded with deli ham, smothered in nutty melted Brie and nestled between two slices of grilled sourdough, this one takes the trophy with the inclusion of sliced granny smith apples and mellow horseradish.

LINK: Tuesday, April 16 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

MONDAY, APRIL 15 2013 >>>

1. Standup comedy hasn't evolved much since the glory days of ventriloquist and puppet. Every so often, there's a Gallagher smashing watermelons or a musical funnyman like Jack Black, but for the most part, comedy is a dude on a stage with a microphone, plodding through a joke-punchline-new-joke routine. You're funny. You need to change the course of comedy forever. Every Monday at 8 p.m. the Grit City Comedy Club opens its stage to the public for a comedy open mic. Explore the space. Head for space.

2. The second leg of Olympia Restaurant Week is on. Celebrate Thurston County's unique fine dining scene. Following in suit with its neighbors to the north, the inaugural Olympia Restaurant Week is happening Sunday-Thursday. Ten Thurston County restaurants will be serving up special $25 three-course dinners, with some eateries offering a three-course lunch menu for $15. See the menues here.

3. Jazz saxophonist Kareem Kandi will be joined by Steven Bentley and Delvon Lamarr at 8 p.m. inside The Royal Lounge in Olympia.

4. The Crazy Texas Gypsies are a new blues band made up of seasoned veteran performers steeped in old school tradition, and updated modern lyrical sensibility and rhythmic foundation. Catch them at 8 p.m. inside The Swiss.

5. It's karaoke with a live band. Earn your rockstar status tonight during Rockaraoke at Jazzbones beginning at 9 p.m.

LINK: Monday, April 15 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SUNDAY, APRIL 14 2013 >>>

1. Sadie and the Blue-Eyed Devils specialize in reviving the sounds of Dust Bowl-era music. In addition to the folk, bluegrass, and country trappings that come with this musical era, Sadie and the gang incorporate elements of less-frequent touchstones like ragtime and bossa nova. Catch the band 10 10 p.m. inside Le Voyeur in downtown Olympia.

2. The Diversity Film Festival begins today at The Grand Cinema with each film a meditation on the theme of cultural diversity. The concept began a few miles (and years) away from The Grand, at Tacoma Community College. Dr. Scott Earle, a TCC English and Humanities instructor since 1999, along with fellow teachers and staff, has hosted on-campus film screenings of this sort for some time. A suggestion was made to Earle and his colleagues in late 2010 to graduate their young program - let it leave the classroom and test its wings in the community. Today at 2 p.m., the Grand will screen The First Grader, a heartwarming ture story about a Kenyan farmer who goes to school for the first time at the age of 84.

3. The playful, imaginative, and meaningful work of local children's and young adult authors from the Seattle7Writers will be highlighted every Sunday through May 5 at the Tacoma Art Museum. At 2 p.m. the authors will discuss where ideas come from and how art informs their writing in realms from the visual to the verbal and more. At 3:30 p.m. the writer will lead a hands-on art making workshop. Today, author Kit Bakke will discuss her middle grade novel Dot to Dot, a story about the healing powers of books and travel. In her art activity participants will map their own personal journeys using words and cut paper.

4. The second leg of Olympia Restaurant Week kicks off today. Celebrate Thurston County's unique fine dining scene. Following in suit with its neighbors to the north, the inaugural Olympia Restaurant Week is happening Sunday-Thursday. Ten Thurston County restaurants will be serving up special $25 three-course dinners, with some eateries offering a three-course lunch menu for $15. See the menues here.

5. Little Bill Engelhart is soul on wheels. He’s also probably one of the most inspirational musicians that you’re likely to meet in person. He grew up on Hilltop Tacoma and learned rock ’n’ roll by playing rhythm and blues with the black musicians’ downtown, which was unusual for a young white kid at the time. He formed a band with some of his teenage friends and had a national hit when he was just 19 titled “I’m in Love with an Angel." These days, Little Bill & the Blue Notes play all over the South Sound - from destination Harley Davidson to Johnny's Dock. But they always make time for the Spar in Old Town, and the quintessential Tacoma restaurant's Sunday Night Blues. Little Bill and the Blue Notes will stop in again at 7 p.m., making it the perfect time for you to drop in.

PLUS: Check out the event recommendations in our Weekend Hustle

LINK: Sunday, April 14 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

HOW TWEET IT IS >>>

Whether you've been on Twitter since its beginnings in 2006 or you're a Twitter neophyte, you know keeping up on important tweets can be overwhelming. If you follow everything and everyone that you find interesting, you can end up with hundreds and hundreds of Tweets showing up in your feed on a daily basis.

Don't despair. Every Saturday the Weekly Volcano shares important and pointless Tweets from South Sound Twitter accounts, and sometimes beyond, so you may stay on top of waffle, satin pants and shady hipster news - as well as the latest action on the streets.

Art Bus getting ready to roll in the parade. PLD on board. instagram.com/p/YDU2GVBy33/

— Patricia Lecy-Davis (@PLDforTAC) April 13, 2013

Check out this rad video by Naomi Punk. Did we mention that they are playing TONIGHT with the Exquisites and Wild... fb.me/FEzaMamu

— Northern (@northernolympia) April 13, 2013

Trying to convince badass brown people with kids that I know to relocate to Olympia and move into the house for rent on our street.

— kimya dawson (@mrskimyadawson) April 13, 2013

By my estimates today I will go to 5 events and been seen by 70,00+ people delivering the Sonics Message, final push begins now!

— Sonics guy (@sonicsguy) April 13, 2013

We're too old to have goth friends.

— Kenny Coble (@kennycoble) April 13, 2013

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LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT (AND TODAY) IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Cork! A Wine Bar Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Champagne Sunday. 8 pm.

Cutters Point Coffee Downtown Tacoma Tacoma - Downtown. Gray Sky Blues Music Festival, with Malcolm Clark, Alyx Phippen. All Ages. 12:30 pm.

Doyle's Public House Tacoma - Stadium District. Mighty High Tour Kickoff. 9:30 pm. NC.

Harmon Brewery and Eatery Tacoma - Downtown. Gray Sky Blues Music Festival, with Mary McPage & The Assassins, The Chase Walker Band, The Crazy Texas Gypsies, Alice Stuart & The Formerlys. 12 pm.

Harmon Tap Room Tacoma - Stadium District. The Flying Tortugas, William Thomas Anderson. 9 pm.

Read more...

South Sound Sidekick series offers advice from experts living in the, well, South Sound. It posts every Friday - sometimes on Saturday. Today, esthetician and spa owner  Stacey Gravatt has some advice on skin acre for Spring 2013.

Stacey Gravatt writes,

Is your skin feeling dry and dull? Does it have a case of the winter blues? Believe me you are not alone. Winter in the Pacific Northwest definitely takes its toll on us. Chances are this blustery season may have left your skin feeling like a reptile and screaming for attention. Good news is it's nothing that a good Spring Tune up won't take care of.

Skincare 101: Facials are amazing. Fact is, there is nothing like seeking a professional to help you balance your skin and get your glow back on. Most estheticians will offer several customized options to meet your needs without busting your budget. Remember this is the only skin that you have, and it's worth spending a few bucks on.

Read more...