Walkie Talkie Blog
THIS WILL BE A TREAT >>> I met Steve Poltz at an American Music label party at SXSW in 1994. A couple months before I flew down to Austin, his folk rock band, The Rugburns, released their debut album, Morning Wood, and I had been playing the shit out of it.
Walkie Talkie Blog
COMMUNITY ART DAY TOMORROW >>> The Tacoma Arts Commission's Art at Work month has been raising awareness of the city's cultural offerings among natives and visitors alike since the beginning of this month. "It's amazing to me how many people living here don't really know about Third Thursday Artwalk," points out
Walkie Talkie Blog
BE ENLIGHTENED >>> Imagine Jacob Lawrence hanging out at the half-moon bar inside the Tempest Lounge, talking about the state of African-American arts with Langston Hughes. The two trace the evolution of art and poetry with awe in their voices as they kickback inside the Hilltop Tacoma lounge. Sound impossible? Well,
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THE MOON IS UP. IT'S GETTING LATE. GET READY TO CELEBRATE >>> It's easy to say "eat local, buy local" but let's be honest, how often does that actually happen? If you've been lacking in the endeavor, one delicious opportunity is right around the corner with the Mandolin Café's Harvest Moon
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THE NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN MY HEAD >>> Last night, I swung by RR Anderson's book signing party for his 15th literary release, 100 Tacomics: The Secular & Apolitical Cartoon Life of Tacoma and Her Moral People(s.) at King's Books. Unfortunately, I missed a prime book-clutching people watching opportunity,
Walkie Talkie Blog
I CAN'T BELIEVE I FORGOT THIS >>> Last night during the Weekly Volcano's Nosh League event, Masa co-owner John Xitco emerged from a secret room with a giant smile on his face. He announced that Open Table came out with its 2010 Diner's Choice Awards and Asado, his other restaurant -
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TEXT BOOK NOSH LEAGUE NIGHT >>> For those who've never had the pleasure of attending a Weekly Volcano Nosh League event, here's the main concept at its most basic: We gather a bunch of people with an interest in food and drinks, and then see if we can have some fun
Walkie Talkie Blog
WE REMEMBER >>> On behalf of Swarner Communications, I would like to thank all veterans of all wars who fought in the service of the United States. To all of you, and especially to those who died fighting for our country, you are remembered and honored. For stories and
Walkie Talkie Blog
EL COMFY >>> When the rain pours in the late afternoon, both during the week and on weekends, Tacoma's slice of Argentina - Asado - is overcome by the people equivalent seeking the warmth and comfort of the Sixth Avenue restaurant's lounge. They elbow their way through the door, jostling for
Walkie Talkie Blog
ART AT FUN >>> The Tacoma art community came together last night for the Art at Work: Tacoma Arts Month kickoff party inside the Tacoma Art Museum. The celebration paid tribute to local artists and contributors, like glass artist/DJ/Fulcrum Gallery owner Oliver Doriss, nonprofit hip-hop arts group Fab-5, and Urban Grace
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THE SOUTHPAW KING OF SURF GUITAR COMING TO PACIFIC AVENUE >>> Ever since Quentin Tarantino threw "Miserlu" over the credits of Pulp Fiction, Dick Dale - eternal beach boy and inventor of the reverb-drenched surf-guitar sound - has returned to the top of his craft. He's back at Hell's Kitchen Dec.
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BICYCLE BOOZE CRUISE >>> Doing its part to keep Tacoma's Halloween celebrants from choking on family-friendly pabulum, the Tacoma Mob Riders will resurrect their Reaper Ride this Saturday. The ride marks the group's one-year anniversary. You might have seen the spectacle last year: a large group of bicyclists keeping it weird, looping
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MAGIC BUS RIDE >>> 1. Art Bus Director Angela Jossy has upgraded the bus. It now has cushy bucket seats! 2. Tacoma actor/musician/kook Doug Mackey was the tour guide for the Third Thursday ArtWalk Art Bus tour. He assumed a different personality at each venue stop. Cowboy guy
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NEW OPEN MIC >>> Coffeehouse audiences aren't known for their exuberance. At best, the dimly lit textbook folkie with a guitar earns a smattering of applause over the din of cappuccino steam and chatter. However, at Billy Farmer's famous open mics, chatter isn't allowed. "I always strive to create the best possible performance
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A GALLERY EVERY 15 MINUTES KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY >>> What's considered chic one week is trashed by the trend setters the next. It's in this blink-and-you-missed-it environment that Tacoma's Third Thursday ArtWalk has become something of an institution. Nothing more than an intermittent and amorphous congregation of people who enjoy
Walkie Talkie Blog
THE WIZARDS OF SOUTH J ARE AT IT AGAIN >>> The 1022 South lounge may not have needed much more momentum to rise to the top of the Tacoma cocktail scene, but it's set to take another great leap forward when it unleashes its fall/winter cocktail menu this Friday, introducing 40
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I DID MORE THAN JUST WATCH FOOTBALL >>> Sanford and Son Antiques sells vintage pencil sharpeners for $15 each, or two for $20. Little Caesars Pizza at 5916 N. 26th St. in Tacoma has a drive-thru window. You can order pizzas on the fly. However, large orders backs cars out to North
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SIXTH AVENUE WELCOMES PASTICHE AND GRUV >>> A couple new businesses will open on Sixth Avenue catering to the dance crowd - young and old. First, a new wine bar called Pastiche is scheduled to move into the other half of the former Il Fiasco space (Beyond The Bridge Café occupies the
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THE RUSTON WAY RESTAURANT HAS OYSTERS ON THE BRAIN >>> An oyster is the ultimate appetizer - a little daring, an intense spurt of flavor and aroma that connects with your senses and all your nerve endings; eating a fresh oyster is the most efficient way to whet an appetite. Your
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BEST THINGS IN LIFE NO. 25 >>> Given the opportunity, I could eat Enoteca wine bar's cheese plate for breakfast, lunch, a snack before dinner, dinner, a midnight nosh and 3 a.m. nourishment. And then I could do it all again. Why? Because Bill Bonnie, the owner, offers the largest selection
