FUTURE THINGS ARE COMING >>>

It's a weekend of anniversaries for one of the most popular pubs in Tacoma. The Swiss celebrates the 100th anniversary of the building it inhabits, 20 years of ownership by Jack McQuade and 10 years since Vicci Martinez first hopped up on its stage.

By some sort of mathematical property, three anniversaries logically equates to three days of music. A diamond who shined even brighter after landing a spot on reality show The Voice local girl Vicci Martinez will anchor The Swiss' weekend events with a show Friday night. Saturday, long-standing house band Kry will bring their familiar flavor of rock 'n' roll to the stage. Sunday brings eight different bands, including youth rockers, Insubordinate. 

Surely all this music will make a person hungry and thirsty, so McQuade added special touches to the menu, including commemorative pint glasses for the first 500 beer drinkers, and the return of a few original recipes, including Gayl's Lasagna, The Helluva Mozzarella Sandwich and the Mozzarella Salad.

McQuade opened The Swiss after a six-month remodel with partners Bob Hill and Gayl Bertagni - who McQuade calls "the heart and soul of the kitchen." Bertagni passed away four years ago. Hill retired January of this year.

McQuade says he plans to continue bringing in a variety of live music, including more youth groups, benefit shows and themed nights - such as garage rock, bluegrass and alt-country. 

Twenty years is an admirable milestone. McQuade wants to thank all his lifelong customers - and fresh faces - that frequent the Swiss and help keep it strong.

"A pub is a public house, you treat it like your own house," says McQuade. "You're only a stranger but once." 

THE SWISS, VICCI MARTINEZ, FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 7 P.M., $15/ADV, $20/DOOR; SATURDAY, APRIL 27, KRY, 8 P.M.; SUNDAY, APRIL 28, EIGHT BANDS, 2-11 P.M., ALL AGES, 1904 JEFFERSON AVE., TACOMA, 253.572.2821

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24 2013 >>>

1. Slip on your Cleopatra Jones afro or your dad's toupee and slide on over to The Brotherhood Lounge for a night of old school R&B, funk and soul with DJs Whistle Punk and Paul Shrug. Beginning at 8 p.m. the Broho will be full of rubbery grooves, slick licks and hi-tech keys caked in stardust. Expect booty-shakers, heart-breakers, spinal-cord-manipulators and epidermis-manglers in the form of rare and popular selections from the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and, wait for it, 1980s. It's gonna be more fun than selling fake insurance on closeout cell phones at a mid-mall kiosk.

2. Downtown Tacoma residents are encouraged to gather at 7 p.m. inside The Social Bar and Grill to celebrate their urbaness. It's a chance for condo and apartment dwellers to meet their neighbors and hug it out over street projects, parking issues, light rail schedules and new crepe businesses. Expect door prizes and good conversation.

3. In 2011, Weekly Volcano readers voted the Top of Tacoma Bar and Cafe the best bar in Tacoma. This was due in no small part to their well drink Wednesdays. Two dollar well drinks after 7 p.m. Are you kidding? That's, like, riding the train to funkytown for only eight bucks. Yes, please. The kitchen stays open to midnight. Choo, choooo!

4. Held every Wednesday at 8 p.m., Trivia for Dorks is a free, all-ages affair at Dorky's Arcade in downtown Tacoma. Sure, the prizes are nice, but even better is dropping your win at your next round table D & D discussion.

5. When you build your act and your music around theatricality, you quickly realize after making a few recordings that there is eventually no place to go but bigger and bigger. More hooks, more color, more eccentricity. Sabrina Chap has backed herself against this wall, but she continues to imbue her music with as much flair as one can muster. She performs at 10 p.m. with Romanteek at Le Voyeur.

LINK: Wednesday, April 24 arts and entertainment 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

CREPE EXPECTATIONS >>>

After much anticipation, Tacoma now has its own crepe shop, Savor Creperie. With a prime downtown location near UW Tacoma, the restaurant has seen a steady stream of customers since its opening April 18. As a new restaurant concept for Tacoma, I was thrilled to swing by and give it a try.

Savor's slogan, "Eat well, be happy" shows in its light, flavorful crepes. After ordering at the counter and seating ourselves, servers brought my husband and I drinks as we anticipated our meal. The ham, gruyere and roasted asparagus crepe with Dijon crème fraiche ($9.50) was very savory, with a zing from the Dijon sauce. Also delicious was the rosemary chicken and roasted sweet potato crepe with toasted pecans and balsamic reduction ($9.75), which was quite satisfying for dinner. To finish it off, we split a banana and toasted coconut crepe filled with Nutella ($6.50). We both lamented that we should each have ordered a sweet crepe instead of splitting it. The last bite came too soon.

Owners Tom Vigue and Vickie Black-Vigue relocated to the Pacific Northwest and were drawn to Tacoma's, "entrepreneurial spirit and welcoming energy," according to Tom, who has a background in the food industry.  "We wanted to bring a food and beverage offering to the community that was untested, yet desired," he said. "We had an opportunity to visit Europe and fell in love with crepes, both delicious and versatile. Foods like crepes can reflect, in part, a city's culture. We think that can be true of Tacoma."

From the happy customers I observed in the café and my desire to return, I think they are definitely on to something.

SAVOR CREPERIE, 11 A.M. TO 7 P.M. MONDAY-FRIDAY, 8 A.M. TO 5 P.M. SATURDAY, 1916 PACIFIC AVE., TACOMA, 253.365.5534

TUESDAY, APRIL 23 2013 >>>

1. Tacoma Community College has joined forces with The Grand Cinema for a third year to celebrate its Diversity Film Festival. The DFF runs until April 25, and seems particularly bent on revealing beauty in the unlikeliest of places. Haven't seen Rome in awhile? You haven't seen it like this - Caesar Must Die transports viewers to lovely Rebibbia Prison, where criminals quoth the Bard at 2 and 6:15 p.m. 

2. Former Tacoma Community College Librarian Mark Bieraugel's chosen art form is embroidery, but his creations diverge wildly from the classic flower-patterned throw pillow. Check out his embroidery work during an opening reception of his exhibit from 5-7 p.m. at the TCC Gig Harbor campus.

3. Tacoma Arts Commission and current Tacoma Poet Laureate Josie Emmons Turner officially introduce the new, 2013-15 Tacoma Poet Laureate Lucas Smiraldo at 6 p.m. inside the Tacoma Public Library Main Branch. Former Tacoma Poet Laureates Bill Kupinse and Tammy Robacker also will read. Light refreshments following in the library's Handforth Gallery.

4. You are getting sleepy, v-e-r-y sleepy. Now, go see the hypnotist show at 8 p.m. inside the Red Wind Casino. Whether a skeptic or believer, the show will be sure to entertain with its comedy, rock and roll and outrageous hypnosis, like people sneezing and having orgasms(!) when Ron Stubbs, the man behind the magic, utters the word "pepper."

5. Loves It, Manzanita Falls and Scatter Gather rock Le Voyeur at 9 p.m.

LINK: Tuesday, April 23 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

MONDAY, APRIL 22 2013 >>>

1. Guy Fieri visited Puyallup when he blasted through the South Sound in November. His show, Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, filmed at six popular locations, including Darby's Cafe, Fish Tale Brew Pub, Crockett's Public House and Crown Bar — all of which have aired on Fieri's Food Network show. Tonight, Dirty Oscar's Annex receives the spotlight with the episode screening at 7 p.m. In celebration, Dirty Oscar's Annex invites everyone to join them at 6 p.m. to watch the show and enjoy lots of specials — drinks, food and giveaways.

2. 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.

3. Soulful viscereal blues singer Linda Myers  and her band will perform at 8 p.m. inside The Swiss.

4. Every Monday Jazzbones is packed to the brim with college kids at 9 p.m. Party types. The type that wear tight shirts and trucker hats. Throngs of Chad Fratguys and Sarah Sororitysisters swarm the bar, line up for the bathroom and dance to the Rockaraoke - live band karaoke. The Rockaraoke band is skilled, too. Expect $2 PBR drafts, $3 Sinfire shots, $4 Smirnoff flavor vodka bombs.

5. The Carrions, Little War Twins and White Fang will rock Le Voyeur at 9 p.m.

LINK: Monday, April 22 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SATURDAY, APRIL 20 1013 >>>

1. In case this weekend already seems too hectic, allow us to complicate matters by quietly mentioning The Grand's historic first 24 Hour Movie Marathon, starting at 10 a.m. and wrapping one day and 20 flicks later. The ‘Thon features the cherished (Hitchcock!), the new (Ryan Gosling!), and a movie called Hands On A Hard Body (not what you think!). This exhausting vegging out supports a superb cause: helping The Grand turn its celluloid projectors into shiny (and industry-required) digital ones. Both 12- and 24-Hour Passes are still available at the box office or through grandcinema.com.

2. Drinking at noon? Why yes, Wingman Brewers' 2nd Anniversary Party, we'd be happy to. Imbibe on 10 taps, including some special brews just for the occasion? Of course we will. Settle into one of your many new seats and enjoy good company? Absolutely.

3. For events geared toward children, check out The Earth Day Extravaganza at the Tacoma Nature Center 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.

4. Enlarge your geo-wareness this weekend at the Capitol Theater's Environmental Film Festival (April 19-21). Sure, we must face a few inconvenient truths on the road to eco-lightenment - mankind's relationship with soil (Symphony of the Soil, April 20), our simultaneous buildup of harmful global waste (Trashed, April 21). But we also get to share in the stories of individuals and groups taking steps to reverse these trends in their own communities and lives. EFF may just inspire your metaphorical pants off - purchase tickets through olympiafilmsociety.org.

5. We need to get our hot little hands on the upcoming split 7-inch release by Mos Generator and Ancient Warlocks. If they can put all the power and straight fucking rock they pull at their live performances onto a little piece of vinyl, then we're sold. Both of these badass bands are playing The New Frontier at 9 p.m., along with C.F.A. and Furry Buddies. Yes, it's a record release party, and yes it's going to rule. Read Nikki McCoy's full feature on Ancient Warlocks in the Weekly Volcano's Music section.

LINK: Saturday, April 20 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

IT'S GOING DOWN DURING 4/20 WEEKEND >>>

Yo, it's the weekend - finally! Put away yo work clothes, get all yo favorite party supplies and meet me at the following places:

Saturday at the Track House in Olympia, Tacoma's celebrity, MCing, skateboarding extraordinaire Crazy Monk will perform. It's an early 6 p.m. show. The cover is $3.

There are many 4/20 shows Saturday - I have my eye on two. First, the Central Ave Pub in Kent hosts Lok Skywalker and Vic of Blue Nose Music. The doors open at 8 p.m.; show starts at 9. It's free! There's also big 4/20 party in Seattle at Studio 7. Tacoma's Sky Pilot opens for Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. This show is $25 advance and $30 at the door. It's all ages with the door at 7 and an 8 p.m.

Sunday start off by hitting the Graffiti Garage MC Cypher put on by the Northwest MC League. It's all-ages and starts at 1:30.

Sunday night at The New Frontier Lounge in Tacoma, Awall A.K.A. 2-Piece, Whikid Maticuless, Qui Vive and Crazy Monk hit it at 8:30 p.m. It's $5 to get in.

Perhaps the best show this weekend though is back in Kent at the Benchwarmer Sunday night. This bill features San Francisco's own Equipto, L'Roneous, Z-Man, Michael Marshall, The Bayliens with Beanz and Rize (conflict of interest) opening. The show starts at 9 p.m. Cover is $10 before 11 p.m., then $15 after.

FRIDAY, APRIL 19 2013 >>>

1. Before Tacoma's semi-longstanding, all-ages venue The Redroom closes its door for good April 27, Bleak Outlook Volume 1 will blow open doors and minds this weekend with a three-day fest that includes two kickin' shows at The Redroom and one at Fifth Dimension. It all begins at 7 p.m. when Transient, Sidetracked, Same Sex Dictator, Mahnhammer, Hirsute Corpse and Carrion Cathartid rock The Redroom.

2. At 7 p.m., the last day of the Greek & Roman Mythology exhibit at Tacoma Community College, Tacoma Poet Laureate Josie Emmons Turner, former TPL Tammy Robacker, Puget Sound Poetry Connection founder Connie Walle and a who's who of regional poets will add a poet's voice to the strong art show depicting strength of character, purpose and ideology to ancient myths by contemporary South Sound artists.

3. Crystal Mountain will hold an amateur film night at 7 p.m. inside the Snorting Elk Cellar. Visitors are encouraged to bring their short ski/snowboard films that are no longer than four minutes.

4. A cozy little romantic drama with touches of comedy, The Rainmaker still speaks to audiences after more than a half-century. Originating as a television play in 1953, Richard Nash's best-known work hit Broadway in 1954 and Hollywood two years later. There's even a musical version (110 in the Shade, which seemed like a good idea in 1963). Set on a Western cattle ranch during a drought, The Rainmaker remains a captive to its own pre-feminist, quaint, and rigidly defined-role times, when men roamed the range rounding up cattle and looking for romance (generally not at the same time), while women stayed home and did wifely things, such as cooking, cleaning, and burying themselves under the weight of society's expectations. See it all unfold at 8 p.m. when Lakewood Playhouse opens its version of the story for a run through May 12.

5. Drag show troupe New Queens on the Block has produced shows at the Urban Onion since September, dropping a themed show on Olympia every third Friday of the month. Tonight at 9 p.m., the troupe celebrates fashion and the "runway" at the Onion. Read Nikki McCoy's full feature on New Queens on the Block.

LINK: Friday, April 19 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

THE LOWDOWN ON WHAT'S UP THIS WEEKEND >>>

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Rain, hi 54, lo 45

Saturday: Chance of rain, hi 52, lo 41

Sunday: Mostly cloudy, hi 55, lo 41

>>> FRIDAY, APRIL 19: SCEINCE!

Did you make it to the Weekly Volcano's 2013 Best of Olympia party? If so, then you had the chance to see Science! perform live on stage in between an entourage of scantily clad burlesque girls. Friday, the rising duo will perform a free set at The Pig Bar on Legion Way. Expect warmth and positive energy bouncing between their singer/songwriter performance and the cozy walls of one of the better small venues in town. Science! has a clean performance, their fingers whittling their guitars, carving out genuine jams and complex chords. The band has an easy-going vibe and leaves you wanting more. - Nikki McCoy

• Pig Bar, 8 p.m., no cover, Southbay Dickerson's BBQ, 619 Legion Way, Olympia, 360.943.6900

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