Wednesday, Sept. 22

Sometimes life is like the Puyallup Fair roller coaster ...

UP THE COASTER I GO: My STYLISH FRIEND DANIELLE called to remind me about the bi-monthly art party 100TH MONKEY PARTY, held this time at MANDOLIN CAFE.  I go cause monkeys can party. 

First a stop at JAZZBONES for some prawns sautéed in coconut milk and panco chicken satay while blues great TAB BENOIT loads in.  Which was more fun?  Watching Stylish Friend Danielle down shots with Jazzbones owner JASON or watching Tab worshipper RYAN HARDER'S good-looking male friends. You guess!  At 8:30 p.m., we split for Mandolin Café. Mr. Radical Jazz Uprising LUKE SMIRALDO read aloud backed by TRIBAL SPIRITS. We collected our monkey tiles and then chatted with RAMPART GALLERY ARTIST LAURA.  MARILYN MAHONEY drew ceramic tile No. 100 and is now Tacoma's current 100th Monkey.  She is responsible for organizing the art entertainment for the Nov. 17 100th Monkey event. 

I left Stylish Friend Danielle for a stop at THE BONE YARD (Jazzbones's DJ thing after 10 p.m.).  Spent a good 20 minutes on the fire escape chatting with very cute IAN PAUL, Benoit's 21-year-old road manager, who is also a DJ.  Keep an ear out for his newest project - Black Cherry Acid Lab, a mix of trance and ambient, coming out of Galliano, La.  At midnight I wisely bid adieu and beelined home for Theraflu and snuggly blankets.

Thursday, Sept. 23

DOWN THE COASTER I GO: I called in sick to my life and stayed under the covers watching "Law and Order." 

Friday, Sept. 24

UP I GO: HILBORNE'S LEAD GUITARIST BILLY and I wolfed down succulent grilled duck with warmed brie paired with fantastic Malbec red wine (Cardos, Argentina) at OVER THE MOON CAFE.  Super classy owner Diane stopped by for a li'l conversation.   Next, Panamonica's where bass genius JAMES WHITON and the Downtown Apostles were holding court.  I bounced between the show and quality time with BOB'S JAVA JIVE BOOKING AGENT REGGIE, his lithe girlfriend SHERRI and JUNK PUPPET MANAGER CASSIE on Panamonica's deck.   Since BRIA MCBRIA calls me the CLUB HOPPIN' JEZEBEL, I felt OK leaving my friends to catch VALIS at HELL'S KITCHEN.  Comprising former SCREAMING TREES guitarist/singer VAN CONNER and drummer SEAN HOLLISTER, Kitty Kitty guitarist PATRICK CONNER and others, this awesome band rocked the Kitchen before heading out on a national tour - but not before Conner made a dedication: "The only reason we're doing this show is 'cause JAMES BENDER is a crazy motherf@#%er."  Way to pay tribute to a local boy.

Saturday, Sept. 25

DOWN I GO: "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" sucked - stupid acting and too blurry.   However, GALAXY 6 Theater sells awesome WHITE CHEDDAR POWDER POPCORN.  THE KID and I scarfed down a bucket and called it good.

Sunday, Sept. 26

UP I GO AGAIN: DADDY-O, his GIRLFRIEND SUSAN and I drove out to Parkland Lutheran Church to see BACH'S CANTATA 19 performed by the church's symphony orchestra.  Upon our arrival, I thought I had the address wrong.  Only one car was there.  Daddy-O came back with the report wearing a huge smirk and obviously stifling laughter.  He opens the car door and busts out with, "THEY'RE PLAYING A BACH CD ON A LITTLE BOSE STEREO."  Susan and I are still laughing. After our Sunday drive, we headed to Jazzbones for THE BELLAMY BROTHERS. BOOKING AGENT REED busted me for smoking in the non-smoking area and shooed me outside with a laugh.  (Hey, it was chilly. I'm not much of a country fan, and my skirt and blouse were pretty thin.) It was a real sing-along when they played "LET YOUR LOVE FLOW." The end of the 75-minute set had the crowd giving a standing ovation.  Reed, CHRISTINA FROM DANCE FACTORY and other fans had pictures taken with the Brothers against their traveling apartment (tour bus).  Bria and JACK JENNINGS showed up with raspberry scones from the Fair.  JAMAINE and hubby, DRUM GOD DARIN (Vicci Martinez's drummer), and SEXY FRIEND JEFF arrived at 8:30 p.m. in time to hear, well, nothing.  It seems more than one person forgot to check the start time of the show.  Congratulations, Jamaine and Darin, on your upcoming anniversary.

The roller coaster pulls to a stop, and I didn't puke once.