THURSDAY, MAY 23 2013 >>>

In the last month, recent corruption scandals in (pick a state or country) have been compared to From Russia With Love, season two of The Sopranos, Stranger Than Fiction and Groundhog Day. In regards to momentum, The South Puget Sound Community College Theater Program sure picked the right time to stage its humor-filled tale of political corruption, View of the Dome. According to SPSCC hype, "The play follows an idealistic, young Washington attorney who persuades her former law professor to run for Congress. Ideals shrivel in the Washington air as the professor is swept into an insider's circle that includes a leering, power-drunk senator and a slinky Southern power broker." catch it at 8 p.m. in the Kenneth J. Minnaert Center.

2. The University of Washington Tacoma hosts Tribute to Our Troops from 12:30 to 1:30 at William Philip Hall on its campus. The event is free and open to the public. Active military, veterans, family members, friends and anyone who wants to recognize the commitment and sacrifice of those in the armed forces are all welcome to attend. Expect music by local country musician Jonathan Harris, speeches and special coins.

3. Think running and drinking don't mix unless there's a K-9 unit involved? Not true. The Tacoma Runners - a group of T-Town pavement pounders - meet every Thursday for a 3-mile loop at a "social pace" at one of Tacoma's favorite watering holes. Tonight at 6:30 p.m. the starting and finishing line will be El Guadalajara on Sixth Avenue.

4. 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. Check out OlyBlues Dance at 9 p.m. inside the Eagles Ballroom.

5. The Barleywine Revue will fill The Swiss in downtown Tacoma with fiddle music beginning at 9 p.m.

LINK: Thursday, May 23 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SATURDAY, MAY 11 2013 >>>

1. The common interpretation of composer Susan Botti's Cosmosis is it tells the story of a science experiment. The PLU University Wind Ensemble and University Singers set the science-theme poetry of May Swenson to music, answering the question: Can a spider spin a web in space? The multi-discipline, three-part performance depicts the struggles of a spider trying to construct a web without the assistance of gravity. However, if you analyze deeper, you'll discover Botti's baton actually symbolizes an alien construct, left behind by an ancient and advanced race. The baton can accelerate development of less-evolved lifeforms, as it did with the Rococo movement in France, and signal the arrival of advanced races, which happens, 263 years later, when Botti picks it up at 8 p.m. in Lagerquist Concert Hall. Oh, and Botti will be reborn as an alien. PLU science professors Brett Underwood and Justin Lytle will confirm this theory in a post-concert presentation.

2. Hilltop Artists is a nonprofit glass arts program created by the iconic Dale Chihuly designed to use "glass art to connect young people from diverse cultural and economic background to better futures." The program boasts more than 500 students a year, and each year its Spring Glass Sale acts as both a great opportunity to make its mission known, and offer chances at top-notch work to one and all. In fact, the Hilltop Artists Spring Glass Sale has become so popular that attendees are asked to start showing up at 9 a.m. to take a number, with entry starting at 10 a.m. in the order that people arrived. All proceeds go directly back to the program.

3. The Foss Waterway Seaport reopens at 11 a.m. after 18 months of closure for remodeling. The Seaport will kick off its summer season with fun family activities such as sack races, sea shanty performances and cannon fire every hour. When you're not covering your ears, check out the new awesome 55-foot high glass front wall and exhibits, which include artifacts and pictures that portray the story of the famous "Mosquito Fleet" that plied the waters of Commencement Bay. Special reduced admission pricing will be offered May 11 and 12 in honor of the opening weekend.

4. Michael Hoover, co-director at The BareFoot Collective, has created a dance piece to his love of punk music, and in particular Tacoma's Girl Trouble, the garage-punk band that has its sights on a 30th anniversary next year. As part of BareFoot's Ides of May performance May 11 at the Theatre of the Square, Hoover will describe the rockers through the motion of local dancers. In addition to Hoover's punk maneuvers, The Ides of May dance concert will include the music of Julia Massey & the Five Finger Discount and Nathaniel Dybevik, original work from Serendip Dance Brigade, the choreography of Carla Baragan of BQDanza, Serena River and dancers from PLU at 2 and 7:30 p.m. at Theatre on the Square.

5. Team "Future Bass" - DJ Broam, Bobby Galaxy, Mr. Melanin (happy birthday!), Del Brown and Najamoniq - will lay down squiggly squeaks, breaky beats, distorted hip-hop samples, wobbling bass lines, clean taps, eerie synthesized keys and some badass soul beginning at 9:30 p.m. - surrounded by projected video and live visuals - at 9:30 p.m. in The New Frontier Lounge. Bonus: The night is dedicated to Monique LeTourneau who's moving to Colorado to do Teach For America.

LINK: Saturday, May 11 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

FRIDAY, MAY 10 2013 >>>

1. Tonight at Jazzbones, Midnight Salvage Co. will be playing their last official show - and releasing their sophomore album, Neon Lights. A year ago, the band holed up at Seattle's Egg studios with veteran producer Conrad Uno (Mudhoney, Presidents of the United States of America, Young Fresh Fellows), unbeknownst to the band members that a year later guitarist Brason Alexander would be blazing to sunny Cali, bassist Dustin Lau would be headed to The Big Apple and their University Place practice space would meet a wrecking ball. Drop by Jazzbones at 8 p.m., enjoy opener China Davis, take it Midnight Salvage's shot of whiskey infused roadhouse Springsteen and grab yourself a piece of musical history.

2. 72 hours is not a long time. The teams competing in this year's Grand Cinema 72 Hour Film Festival - a yearly Tacoma institution - know this all too well. Recently, frenzied packs of Tacoma filmmakers dashed around T-town, hurriedly capturing on film all the entries that will make up this year's manic, competitive filmmaking celebration - set to go down at 7 p.m. inside the Rialto Theater. Who will win? How will all the "mandatory elements" - including the use of a superstition, a flashlight, the writing or sending of a letter or message and the line "That wasn't what I was expecting" - be worked into all of the entries? Find out tonight. Read Cassady Coulter's full feature on the 72 Hour Film Festival in Northwest Military's Music & Culture section.

3. Distinguished writers, poets, playwrights, short story writers, and people who scribble on cocktail napkins will step up to the mic from 7-9 p.m. as part of the Distinguished Writer Series and Open Mic at King's Books. Aging hippie poet Risa Deneberg, author of The Lives You Touch Publications, will take lead.

4. Ballet Northwest’s production of The Sleeping Beauty includes professional sets, lavish costumes, 75 local dancers and guest artist Iyun Harrison, formerly of Dance Theater of Harlem. See the twirls at 7:30 p.m. inside The Washington Center.

5. There's a kind of gauzy, depressive Americana that began spreading around in the '90s, spearheaded by the likes of Bill Callahan and Lambchop - these masters and practitioners of the slow-burning, baritone-voiced folk music that reveled in cynical humor as much as poignantly expressive dirges. The Super 8 are instantly evocative of these touchstones, the vocals pointedly reminiscent of Kurt Wagner's distinctive croak and Callahan's defeated mumble, and the guitars mournfully spilling deceptively beautiful melodies from deep within that hollow body. Check them out at 8 p.m. with Gary Alan May and the Hinges inside Northern.

LINK: Friday, May 10 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

FRIDAY, APRIL 26 2013 >>>

1. Dropping Gems is a Pacific Northwest record label that specializes in various forms of electronica. Fittingly, in their showcase produced by NW Sounds and KUPS, Dropping Gems will be featuring several flavors of electronic music beginning at 7 p.m. isnide Oppenheimer Cafe on the University of Puget Sound campus. Most immediately appealing, perhaps, is Natasha Kmeto, whose soulful vocals liven and enrich her nominally snaky beats (and who, it must be noted has been gaining a very respectable following on YouTube with her song, "Pleasure Delay"). Ghost Feet favor disorienting glitches and ethereal field recordings, while filters hip-hop through liquid-smooth IDM. DJAO's ambient drone and Brownbear's beat-centric bombast round out what will be an eclectic night of dance and texture-based electronica. It'll all be no doubt rather heady and perfect accompaniment for any of a wide variety of interesting substances. Dancer's choice on that one. - Rev. Adam McKinney

2. As you all know, Olympia Arts Walk is this weekend, which means more art than you can shake a paintbrush at, tons of people crowding the streets in costume and character, and music at every venue. Friday evening, Full Moon Radio, Glass Elevator and The Hard Way will be rocking a free performance at 5 p.m. inside the Capitol Theater. Accompanying the indie rockers will be a debut screening of both Full Moon Radio and Glass Elevator's new music videos. Please do yourself a favor and take advantage of this special performance. It's not everyday you get to see local talent as good as these bands grab the stage at Capitol Theater for free. Plus, it's an early show, giving plenty of time for other Arts Walk activities - including the luminary procession, which will be right outside the theater's front door. - Nikki McCoy

3. Bring your "A" game and retro tennis apparel (optional) to the 4th annual 2013 AIASWW Wii Tennis Tournament at 5:30 p.m. inside BLRB architects in downtown Tacoma. Join Spaceworks Tacoma, friends and supporters for a fun night of Wii Tennis at the cool offices of BLRB. Spaceworks will appreciate your support through your entry fee (at the door) of $20 for players or $10 for spectators, which includes both food and drink.

4. Well, it's almost here. The end of the season. No more plays, no more dance recitals, no more spoken word standing on a cube, ever. OK, not ever. However, it will be one looonnng summer of American Idol reruns, we tell you what. How about one more, just for old time's sake? Pacific Lutheran University Dance Ensemble presents Dance 2013, a collection of dances in the style of jazz, modern, ballet and hip-hop at 7:30 p.m. inside Olson Auditorium. In all, the performance features nine student choreographers, 72 dancers and musicians and that dude working the lights. You might want to check those numbers. Aaahh, let's end the season by giving each other a big hug.

5. 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 tonight at 7 p.m. Read Nikki McCoy's feature on The Swiss' anniversary here.

LINK: Friday, April 26 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

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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SATURDAY, APRIL 13 2013 >>>

2. Spring Zing is a festival of performances put on by the Associated Students of the University of Puget Sound and the Proctor District merchants. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Proctor District expect free horse drawn carriages rides, four food trucks and at least two main stage performances including LeRoy Bell and his Only Friends, as well as the awesome Proctor Farmers Market.

3. Months and months of rain. Bad traffic. A high suicide rate. The not-so-subtle odor of pulp hanging in the air. With all of this, is it much of a surprise that Tacoma spawns some damn fine blues? "Some of the best blues artists in the country come from the Pacific Northwest," says Gary Grape, the president of the South Sound Blues Association. "We hope to show some of them to the people of Tacoma." Show they shall. The Gray Sky Blues Music Festival once again graces downtown Tacoma. The festival features over a dozen different acts playing at multiple venues. Attendees can grab a beer at one club and eat a sandwich another, all while listening to some of the best blues in the around. Read Timothy Grisham's full feature on today's festival in ithe Weekly Volcano's Music section.

4. Ordinarily, writing a short play takes weeks or even months. As it moves into production, everyone from the cast to the director to the guy who delivers sandwiches has editorial input. What began with a clear authorial vision might veer off in any number of unexpected directions. The Double Shot Festival of Overnight Plays takes a different approach: it hands its writers a theme, about which they compose a 10-minute play over a single night. Then, at 8 the next morning, these scripts are passed to a director and cast of stock actors to be performed that very night, fully memorized, at 7:30. The festival rehearses and first performs at 7:30 p.m., followed by a matinée tomorrow at 2. The shows are hosted by Capital Playhouse. More than 50 local actors and directors are taking part in the festival. Read Christian Carvajal's full feature on The Double Shot Festival of Overnight plays in the Weekly Volcano's Arts section.

5. At 9 p.m., KAOS 89.3 FM celebrates their big 4-0 at the Olympia Ballroom with AfroMassive and Kasata Sound, two groups that will get into your bones with their funk, jazz and rhythm. Read Nikki McCoy's full feature on KAOS FM in the Weekly Volcano's Music section.

PLUS: Check out the event recommendations in our Weekend Hustle

LINK: Saturday, April 13 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

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

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Showers tonight, hi 50, lo 39

Saturday: Showers, hi 50, lo 39

Sunday: Showers, hi 50, lo 37

>>> FRIDAY, APRIL 12: STORIES OF BEING DOWNTOWN

Tonight, bear witness to the amazing Playback Theatre as they delight audiences with their one-night performance of Stories of Being Downtown.  Sounds intriguing already. This is in collaboration with Olympia's Downtown Ambassador Program. And remember folks, Playback Theater is a form of improv where the group or audience members tell stories to be enacted. Sounds awesome. - Nikki McCoy

• Traditions Cafe, 7:30-10 p.m., 300 Fifth Ave. SW, Olympia, 360.705.2819

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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