For those of you who read northwestmiloitary.com on your smartphone while waiting for the slow guy to putt know the USO Northwest's 18th Annual "Red, White & Blue Golf Classic" is tomorrow. Word just came down on the schedule celebrity participation. Seattle sports legends Mack Strong, Edgar Martinez, Dave Henderson, Nesby Glasgow, Randall Morris and Alonzo Mitz are scheduled to tee off at The Golf Club at Newcastle.

The golf tournament, dinner and auction benefiting USO Northwest and local active-duty military, military families and veterans. Based on past years, USO Northwest expects to raise $300,000 that will help fund the operation of USO centers at Sea-Tac Airport and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and the USO Mobile Canteen RV.

Although Yelm is a small town, it is filled with a huge military presence that is best exemplified through the actions of its residents, such as the town's participation in the Memorial Day running event, wear blue: run to remember.

Amanda Huston, an avid runner and longtime military spouse, had seen a similar run described in DuPont. Last year she decided to organize a Yelm version to honor those who've given the ultimate sacrifice.

Though she has not tallied up the RSVPs or pledged miles just yet, Huston is certain that the numbers will far exceed those from last year, especially since there is still time for more to join. To register or pledge miles, visit the run's Facebook. The run - though you are welcome to walk or bike too - will begin at 9 a.m. Monday, May 27 at the head of Tenino Trail. A barbecue lunch, courtesy of donations, will begin at 10:30 a.m., across the street at Yelm City Park.

How far is the run? There is no finish line, although stopping for the barbecue lunch seems like a solid plan.

>>> The group from 2012's first annual wear blue: run to remember Memorial Day run. Planners hope to double attendance this year.

"I am touched everyday by a Goldstar family in my daily life. I know of two more that also live in Yelm who just want their soldiers sacrifice remembered," Huston explained. "That is what our group does. We meet monthly in Yelm to call the names of the Fallen and of our friends, then we run for those who can no longer run."

FRIDAY, APRIL 12 2013 >>>

1. On the off chance you've never seen the movie Reservoir Dogs, here's the gist: a crime boss named Joe Cabot and his adult son, "Nice Guy Eddie," hire six thugs under pseudonyms to pull a diamond heist. The heist, which we never see, goes utterly sideways, and the thieves reassemble at their hideout to ascertain what went wrong. They decide there's a snitch among them, guns are drawn, guns are fired and it all gets rather bloodily Jacobean. Theater Artists Olympia Director Pug Bujeaud stages the screenplay with no intermission. Performances alternate between all-male and all-female casts. The female cast hits Olympia's Midnight Sun Performance Space at 7:30 p.m. Read Christian Carvajal's full review of Reservoir Dogs in the Weekly Volcano's Arts section.

2. The Gray Sky Blues Music Festival will invade downtown Tacoma tomorrow after the Daffodil Festival Grand Floral Parade. For those who anxious to dive into the blues should hit Uncle Thurm's BBQ joint in Tacoma's Lincoln District at 6 p.m. A special pre-festival performance by young L.A. blues band The Chase Walker Band will go down.

3. The Tacoma Rainiers opens their home season at 7 p.m. with a game against the Salt Lake Bees, complete with fireworks. That's fine and dandy, but the big news is Rainiers officially welcomed The Hub as the club's exclusive in-stadium pizza provider. Dubbed “Pie On The Fly,” the signature Artisan-style pizzas The Hub perfected at their neighborhood pub in the Stadium District will take up residence on the first-base side of the Cheney Stadium concourse today. Play ball!

4. The University of Puget Sound's Adelphian and Dorian singers will, er, sing African-American spirituals, including Moses Hogan's "The Battle of Jericho," at 7:30 p.m. inside Schneebeck Concert Hall.

5. Singer-songwriter Elizabeth Hummel and her rock folk band will perform a fundraising concert for the Washington Toxics Coalition at 7:30 in the Olympia Ballroom. Hummel is no stranger to bringing current issues and politics into her music when the cause moves her. In 2002 she organized "Open Stage for Peace" in Olympia to give artists a stage to share poems and songs in response to the threat of war.

LINK: Friday, April 12 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SATURDAY, APRIL 6 2013 >>>

1. Doors for Dockyard Derby Dames' season 7, bout 2 open at 5 p.m. at the Pierce College Health Ed Center. Tonight's roller derby bout will feature The Trampires and Femme Fianna squaring off, followed by the Hellbound Homewreckers and Marauding Mollys battling. Throughout the action on the floor, a cast of characters - from the two funny announcers, to team mascots to the arm punchers in the beer garden - add to the awesomeness. Bonus: The bout sponsors the Children's Therapy Center!

2. Is there really a better way to get your Saturday started than by catching Big Wheel Stunt Show at 3 p.m. inside Rocket Records? The answer is no.

3. If you are a modern dance fan, you certainly don't need the Weekly Volcano telling you to check out the Whim W'Him dancers. Whim W'Him (pronounced whim whim), a unique Seattle dance company founded by Olivier Wevers three years ago, takes the Pantages' stage at 7:30 p.m. to shake up your definition of dance. Whim W'Him strives for relevancy largely through social commentary that lines up with current issues. The performance at the Pantages will feature four original Whim W'Him pieces that will be resurrected for Tacoma's first look at this dance company. These pieces are: "This is Not a Raincoat," "More," "FRAGMENTS" and "Monster," all created between 2007 and 2010 - all of which take a look at important issues in today's society. Read Kristin Kendle's full feature on Whim W'Him in the Weekly Volcano's Arts section.

4. This ain't the Ringling Brothers. You won't be seeing (or smelling) any elephants. You won't be stuffing your face with peanuts and cotton candy. And you certainly won't be harassed by creepy clowns. What you will see from Circa - the Australian contemporary circus at 7:30 p.m. inside the Washington Center - is acrobatics, contortionism and tumbling that might just blow your mind.

5. Based on the 2001 movie, Tacoma Musical Playhouse's Legally Blonde tells the story of the relentlessly sunny and sexy Elle Woods. She is dumped by her boyfriend, who, on his way to Harvard Law School, decides he needs more "suitable" wife material. As pink in her outlook as she is in her wardrobe, Elle decides to go to Harvard as well and, over the course of two acts, learns about more than just the law. It hits the stage at 8 p.m.

PLUS: Gig Harbor Art Walk, Eric Carle lecture, The Hard Way and more in our Weekend Hustle

LINK: Saturday, April 6 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

CREATURE FROM THE REF LAGOON >>>

Bodies colliding at high speeds. Bruises, bumps, and (occasionally) broken bones.

While the above description may evoke thoughts of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, Bobble Tiki is actually waxing roller derby - and specifically Dockyard Derby Dames' season 7, bout 2 Saturday at the Pierce College Health Ed Center. These tough-as-nails women (professionals, school teachers, nurses, Bobble Tiki face slappers) love nothing more than strapping up the old skates and doling out some punishment on the rink.

You might notice that the Dockyard Derby Dames look a little different than skaters did in '70s derbies - uniforms may have similarities, like team identification, skater name (which has to be completely unique and registered nationally) and short shorts, but that's about where it ends. Unlike the quads of the '70s, today's derby skates have specific wheels, bearings, plates andlubes. Also different are the pad requirements, including kneepads, elbow pads, helmets and mouth guards, and massive cleavage. The contact portion of this contact sport is fairly limited, with the majority of the contact allowable only between hips and shoulders, and never from behind or with the use of elbows. But don't let that fool you - these girls are out for contact, and as tight as the pack moves, anything can happen.

Saturday's bout will feature the losers from the season opener - The Trampires and Femme Fianna squaring off, followed by the two winners - Hellbound Homewreckers and Marauding Mollys - battling. Throughout the action on the floor, a cast of characters - from the two funny announcers, to team mascots to the arm punchers in the beer garden - add to the awesomeness.

PIERCE COLLEGE HEALTH ED CENTER, 5 P.M., $12 ADVANCE, $15 DOOR, $25 VIP, 9402 FARWEST DR., LAKEWOOD, WEBSITE

Follow Bobble Tiki on Tumblr. Someone should.

SATURDAY, MARCH 30 2013 >>>

1. When Oliver Doriss isn't blowing glass, teaching glassblowing or curating his gallery, Fulcrum, you can catch him under the needle as DJ Broam, usually accompanied by a dance floor full of wild sweaty abandon. At 8 p.m., he'll walk past the grass hut, the dude in the fez pouring Mai Tais, past the blowfish, around the corner, down the hall and into the new music room. At 9 p.m. he'll welcome the Tacoma Cabana crowd then knock their Hawaiian shirts off with the coolest mix of soul, funk, Latin and World Beat. Mahalo.

2. Not only is catching a Tacoma Rainiers game the quintessential American minor league baseball experience, but the renovated Cheney Stadium is still just plain awesome. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Rainiers will host a preseason party at said stadium. The party will give baseball fans, interested Tacomans and those craving free hot dogs a chance to hang at the stadium, purchase a new season ticket plan and take in the view from your exact seat, and watch kids run around like maniacs. Rhubarb, the Rainiers mascot reindeer and an undeniable party animal, will entertain the masses ... and run around like a maniac. 

3. In general, the citizens of Tacoma are not satisfied with a simple slice of cake and a sweet card for their birthdays. No, Tacomans like to through big bashes for birthdays. For instance, from 5-8 p.m. at The Swiss, Ida, Jocyln, Bobby, and Teri will celebrate their birthdays with comedian Mario Lorenz, fire by Flair, Roger the Balloon Buffoon and the musical styling of Voxxy Vallejo and The Fun Police. Drop by and give them a pinch to grow an inch and a sock to grow a block.

4. LeLe Restaurant - the Vietnamese and Thai restaurant in Gig Harbor - serves an amazing Swimming angel, a traditional Thai dish also called rama rama or swimming rama, featuring handfuls of fresh spinach leaves, thinly sliced carrots and mung bean sprouts are sautéed in a garlicky sauce of rice vinegar, soy sauce, a little sugar, red pepper flakes and more. A generous amount of sweet peanut sauce is piled on top. The only possible thing that would make this dish better if guitarist Rob Rigoni, accompanied with his ensemble Budapest West, filled the restaurant with a world-jazz sound that draws from jazz, '70s fusion and Hungarian soul. See you at 7 p.m.

5. Did you miss Derde Verde Wednesday at Le Voyeur? Catch the band at 9 p.m. with the equally awesome A Leaf at The New Frontier Lounge. Derde Verde's new EP, Let Me Be A Light, glows with the organic warmth of the band's indie-electronica, while possessing the mechanical propulsion of Krautrock bands like Neu!. If those names don't pique your interest, then we can't help you.

PLUS: Proctor Farmers Market in our Weekend Hustle

LINK: Saturday, March 30 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

FUTURE THINGS ARE COMING>>>

You might not know this (because you might be a Communist), but the Tacoma Rainiers will open the 2013 season at Cheney Stadium Friday, April 12 with a night game against the Salt Lake Bees. I had a chance to chat via e-mail this week with Byron Pullen, Tacoma Rainiers events coordinator, on the upcoming changes for Cheney Stadium.

WEEKLY VOLCANO: What is your vision as the new special events coordinator?

BYRON PULLEN: I am afforded the opportunity to make Cheney Stadium a year-round venue, meaning I'm tasked with attracting and creating events outside of the 72 Rainiers games we host each season. Baseball will always be what we are known for, but with the amenities this facility offers, Cheney Stadium has the potential to be much more than just a ballpark. Most people don't realize the scope of the events or outings that we can host. Christmas parties, company meetings, corporate picnics/batting practices, festivals, concerts, car shows, 5K runs, etc. - you name the event and I would love to talk about putting it together. The Rainiers focus has always been to contribute in making Tacoma be a highly desired destination for events and entertainment, with Cheney Stadium being a premiere venue.

VOLCANO: When/what will the first event outside of baseball be?

PULLEN: Our next big event is the Seattle Seahawks Celebrity Softball Game. The details will be released soon, but it looks to be an incredible opportunity to host current and former Seahawks players, all while benefitting a great cause. The game will be held on Sunday, July 7, 2013, and the Rainiers are excited to host it. Many more incredible events are already in the works this season, and we look forward to adding to that list as the year continues.

VOLCANO: Where can people find information about upcoming special events?

PULLEN: All events information is featured on the Tacoma Rainiers website, including a calendar with interactive features to help track our upcoming events schedule. Additional information can be found through Facebook, Twitter and the club's other social media platforms.

VOLCANO: Why do you think this change is important for Tacoma?

PULLEN: Hosting non-baseball events at Cheney Stadium presents the opportunity to further develop an already unique, culturally rich community. I have already come to appreciate many of the local venues and businesses involved in putting on events throughout the area, and the community seems supportive of bringing in concerts, festivals and other promising events. In Tacoma, the music and events industry is on the cusp of exploding, and the Rainiers want to do our part in making sure this region's potential is realized.  

VOLCANO: Anything else you'd like to add?

PULLEN: At the end of the day, the goal is to have members of the community wonder what the next fun event is happening at Cheney Stadium, regardless of the season. That's the fun part of my job; being able to put these special events together and get the community involved. This is one more way to give Tacoma something new that people can be excited to be a part of.

IT'S IN YOUR FREAKIN' BACKYARD! >>>

Y'all I have got to rant about something for a minute. We live in one of the most beautiful places in the country, and yet all I hear about from my friends who don't live here is how awful the rain must be. How could anyone live in a place that gets rain 485 days per year? And don't get me started on the Seattle-ite bias toward Tacoma. I love Seattle. I love my friends who live there and I love spending the day there. But good lord, getting them to come down here to visit or even say something nice about it is challenging. So, whenever I do get someone to co me visit me I do my best to leave them speechless. I could go on and on about a whole itinerary, but for the outdoors addicts among us, I'll stick to how I wow them. On a nice day, I take them to Chambers Bay.

Officially known as the Chambers Creek Properties, Chambers Creek Regional Park - or the more popular name Chambers Bay - is comprised of more than 950 acres located along the shores of the Puget Sound, in University Place. It includes a world-renowned golf course (Chambers Bay Golf Course, thus the commonly used name), enormous central meadow, miles of paved trails, beach access, and off leash dog area, playground, soccer fields and some of the most stunning views in Pierce County. Everyone I've ever taken there on a sunny day has the same reaction, "holy cow!" It's a stunner ladies and gentlemen. And in my experience shuts up even the biggest critics.

Over the last 200 years, the entire Chambers Creek Properties area has been used as a location for a paper mill, a proposed match company, a major industrial center, multiple lumber companies, a railroad center and a gravel mine. The gravel mine left the largest imprint with the hillside having been carved away, and large concrete structures left dotting the landscape. Pierce County purchased the property to house its wastewater treatment plant. Yes, on the part of the property not open to the public there is a sewage treatment plant. But the beauty of their plan was that the plant only takes up a fraction of the property. The rest is for the public to enjoy.

If you are a golfer, I will warn you the green fees are a little steep, and no golf carts allowed, but the Scottish style links course is one people dream of playing. The 2015 US Open will be played on it. And it's in your backyard! For the rest of us non-golfers, I could write several weeks worth of columns for all there is to do. I promise to revisit it. But for now just the highlights:

• A large off leash dog area - let the puppies run!
• Miles of trails. Just the loop around the golf course is approximately 3 miles.
• The Central Meadow. A seemingly permanent kite flying breeze, perfect Frisbee tossing grass, picnicking possibilities, and really I could go on. Anything you would want to do on a wide-open expanse of grass.
• Beach access. Terrific beach for finding treasures, tossing rocks in the water and watching the sunset.

The breath taking view of Puget Sound, Fox Island and the Olympic Mountains is my favorite part. Inevitably, after taking an out of town guest there they say, "Now I get it." And even the most critical Seattle-ite has admitted there is something nice about Tacoma/Pierce County. So really folks, go fall in love with your hometown a little more.

Directions

Take Exit 130 off of Interstate 5 to South 56th Street West.  Take the Tacoma Mall Boulevard ramp toward South 56th Street West. Turn Left on Tacoma Mall Boulevard. Then right onto 56th. Stay on 56th for approx. 3 miles when 56th becomes Cirque Drive West. Get out of your car and stretch. Get back in your car and continue on Cirque Drive West to Grandview Drive West. Turn Left at Grandview Drive West. Pass through one roundabout. Chambers Bay will be on the right.

LINK: The Foothills Trail

LINK: Owen Beach

LINK: Scenic Beach State Park

PEOPLE DO THE CRAZIEST THINGS >>>

Every sports team needs super-fans -and that includes roller derby teams. The Dockyard Derby Dames opened its seventh season Saturday night at the Pierce College Health Education Building. A packed house watched the Hellbound Homewreckers beat the Femme Fianna in the first bout and last year's champion Marauding Mollys beat the Trampires in the final bout. All for teams brought their most rabid supporters - you know, the guys (and gals) who are willing to wear bodysuits, become pirates, wear hot pink leis and dress as a milkman in short shorts. Yeah, those guys.

Here, we present 10 Dockyard Derby Dames super-fans at the season seven opener. OK, we included a scary-faced Derby Dame, Jooley Heaps of Poison Apple and the guy doing the robot during halftime.

LINK: More Dockyard Derby Dames photos from the season seven opener

SATURDAY, MARCH 9 2013 >>>

1. You may not be familiar with the wrestling phenomenon known as lucha libre, but it's all the rage in Mexico, where its popularity lags only behind that of soccer. For the second year in a row, costumed warriors will flex and destroy under the tutelage of José Luis Gómez, over 20 years a luchador in Mexico. His troupe, Lucha Libre Volcánica, hails from Renton, but they're performing at the Lucha de Sound event inside the University of Puget Sound's Memorial Field House at 7 p.m. to benefit a student group, CHispA, the Community for Hispanic Awareness. This event features commentary in both English and español, and you can't beat the price, amigo: it's free! (Since it is a benefit, however, a $5 donation is suggested.) So round up su familia and root for Puget Sound técnicos El Fénix, El Hero, and Rey Jaguar in their never-ending quest for justice against rude boys Chicano, Peligro, and Prófugo. There's a técnica, too: Vancouver, Washington's own La Avispa.v¡Que viva los luchadores!

2. Today marks the final monthly version of the Proctor Farmers Market, which goes down between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. You can expect garden plants and local produce from Cottage Gardens, tasty smoked salmon from Wilson Fish and the musical stylings of John Hoover and the Quinns, in addition to its regular farmer market awesomeness.

3. Sure, Tacoma celebrates its status as an arts community.  Sure, Tacoma loves to band together for a good cause.  With the YWCA RAGS Guild Wearable Art Sale and Juried Gallery, continuing for its 19th year, it does both. RAGS started as a fun way to raise money for the YWCA, whose mission statement is all about honoring diversity and creating opportunities for women’s growth, leadership, and power in order to attain a common vision: peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all people. RAGS offers guests an opportunity to view and acquire fabulous handmade clothing, jewelry and accessories created by artisans from across the country. Check out RAGS from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. inside the Mercedes-Benz of Tacoma new showroom at 1701 Alexander Ave. East in Fife.

4. Wait ... you have a vision. You plug into the area’s collective unconscious. In a flash, you remember that you — and those of your ilk — don’t need the cathode ray tube and the remote control to flip through images of far-flung places. You’re telekinetic. Telepathic. Otherworldly. And — irony of all ironies — you almost blanked on today’s Psychic Fair at the Meeker Mansion Psychic Fair from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. But then, in the nick of time, your sixth sense kicked in. It always does.

5. Grab the nearest mouth guard, roller derby is back in Tacoma. Actually, it has been here for some time. And, it's in Lakewood. That said, the Dockyard Derby Dames open its season Saturday night at the Pierce College Health Education Center at 6 p.m. For the uninitiated, the all-female flat-track roller derby team has been blocking and lapping like mad for six seasons. The Femme Fianna, Hellbound Homewreckers, Trampires and season six defending champions Marauding Mollys will throw on the elbow pads, kneepads, helmets, fishnet stockings for two bouts. Grab a spot on the bleachers, or if you're really up for it, hang in the beer garden, where your own protective gear is probably a wise idea, and enjoy a night of good ol' fashion bruising.

LINK: Saturday, March 9 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area