Spew

Be a holiday helper

BOBBLE TIKI: SUPPORT THE EMERGENCY FOOD NETWORK >>>
 
Are you indecisive?  Do you find grocery shopping frustrating because of the number of options? Are you rich?  Do you wish you had less money simply because it would reduce your options in life?  Well, Bobble Tiki can help you, friend. Help you and help those who can’t afford to eat during the holiday season. 

The demand on the food bank system in Pierce County is up nearly 40 percent this year, according to Jeff Klein, development director for the Emergency Food Network in Lakewood. EFN is on pace to distribute 14 million pounds of food valued at $21 million in 2009.

“We supply food for 65 food banks and hot meal sites and do it with an overhead of less than 4 percent,” says Klein. “We’d love more community support for our efforts in terms of donation drives and food drives at local shows and events.”

Now there’s a rad idea. If you’re hosting a show or community event, consider adding a food drive or donating part of the profits to EFN. Give Klein and his crew a call at 253.584.1040.

Hope this has been helpful.

Tacoma art studio tours this weekend

MICHAEL SWAN: THE ONE TIME YOU WON'T BE BUGGING THEM >>>

Tacoma visual artists let everyone visit their private studios during the annual Art at Work Tacoma Studio Tours. This weekend, meet 73 local artists of diverse specialties and catch them with work-in-progress on the easel in a casual studio setting. It is also a chance to watch demonstrations, ask artists questions, purchase one-of-a-kind creations and, in come cases, even try your hand at creating your own masterpiece.

The studio tours are Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 7-8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Weekly Volcano art critic Alec Clayton highlights a few must-see studios:

Grand leadership opportunity

MICHAEL SWAN: THE GRAND NEEDS FILM DISCUSSION LEADERS >>>

Since most people dig talking about films they seen, it's a natural thing to lead a movie discussion. Every generation and every culture tells stories that embody their deepest convictions, hopes, and fears, and the stories of the postmodern generation are found in movies. Leading a film discussion is a perfect way to talk naturally about the things that matter most.

The Grand Cinema is seeking to expand their network of film enthusiasts to lead weekend film discussions. The Weekly Volcano grabbed the scoop from Emily Alm, director of communications at The Grand.

WEEKLY VOLCANO: What are the requirements to be a film discussion leader? Do you need a film degree from UCLA?

EMILY ALM: Ha ha ha, no degree required. We have a small group of discussion leaders that are passionate about film in general. Some individuals are more likely to step forward to certain kinds of films, which is a nice bonus. Basically, we just want to have discussion leaders that can do just that — feel comfortable leading a conversation in front of a group (could be two to 20 people), and have some interesting insights about film.

VOLCANO: How long are the film discussions?

5 Things To Do: Thursday

MICHAEL SWAN: THURSDAY, OCT. 22, 2009 >>

1. Tacoman Erik Hanberg invites the public to check out his fellow brainiacs’ “secret” wizardly technology works-in-progress from 6-8 p.m. at SiteCrafting.

2. At 4 p.m. nationally renowned educator and social justice speaker Jim Keady will discuss “Behind the Swoosh: Sweatshops and Social Justice” in the Trautman Union Building at Saint Martin’s University.

3. Do you love to “network?” Do you love to mingle with local business owners and “talk shop?” Most importantly, do you love extended happy hours? Well, if you answered yes to any of those questions, check out Go Local Tacoma’s Tacoma Shop Talk from 5-7 p.m. at the Varsity Grill.

4. Tacoma Little Theatre is staging the ghost story The Woman in Black at 7 p.m.

5. Billy Z Productions presents Naomi’s Birthday Bash featuring All The Hellbound, Sex & Violins, Psycho 78, and McMonster The Devastator at 9 p.m. inside Hell’s Kitchen.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

Reaper Ride Saturday

SUZY STUMP: DEATH ON TWO WHEELS >>>

The concept is simple: Pick an area of town and patronize as many bars as you can in the allotted time (that is, before last call has passed and a angry bartender swipes the final drink from your lips). Pub crawls, with their chug-and-run near-athleticism, are almost a drinker's triathlon — events requiring endurance in walking, drinking and remaining standing — except the payoff is sheer fun rather than gold medals. Don't expect to get your face on ESPN, though; if you're not careful to stay within limits, you may end up in the Weekly Volcano’s Ragnet crime column instead, especially if you’re dressed as a skeleton on a bike.

You see, even though there’s nearly two weeks until Halloween hits, the undead will be starting the party early, as peddling and mumbling stiffs will take over the streets of Tacoma this Saturday. The Reaper Ride, a costumed pub crawl on bikes — a spooky peloton if you will — will begin with drinks at 6 p.m. inside the TenTwentyTwo South bar on Hilltop Tacoma. At 7:30 p.m., riders dressed as skeletons — costumes are strongly encouraged — will peddle to the next bar — which is a mystery as the bar route won’t be exhumed until just before the ride.

As you can probably guess, tucking your skeleton pant leg into your sock has never been more important.

[Tentwentytwo South, Saturday, Oct. 24, 6 p.m., no admission fee, 1022 S. J St., Tacoma, knystrom2@comcast.net]

Back In Black, eco-sustainability

JAKE DE PAUL: FOOD MATTERS >>>

Twilight Menu: The Lobster Shop on Ruston Way serves a Twilight Menu from 4:30-6 p.m. every day. The new menu presents delectable meal options of a slightly smaller size and lower cost — two course for $14.99 and three course for $16.99.

Cocktail Recipes: Sue Kidd over at The Trib has her drink on.

Back In Black: The Red Hot hosts 21st Amendment Brewing for a night of their brews including Back In Black IPA at 7 p.m.

Plan Ahead: The final day of the Tacoma Farmers Market will feature community groups hosting conversations on eco-sustainability and community development Thursday, Oct. 15 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Food For Thought: Whoa! Subway is about to overtake McDonald’s. OK, I’m not talking sales; we’re talking number of locations, but still. …

LINK: Weekly Volcano’s Eat & Drink section

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

LINK: South Sound Happy Hours

LINK: South Sound Dive Bars

5 Things To Do: Friday

MICHAEL SWAN: FRIDAY, SEPT. 25, 2009 >>>

1. BigShowCity presents The Lord Franzannian Royal Olympian Spectacular Vaudeville Show! hosted by storyteller Elizabeth Lord at 8 p.m. inside The Midnight Sun Performance Space in Olympia.

2. The Old Town Arts and Crafts Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. inside the Slavonian Hall.

3. Critical Mass — the grassroots reclamation of public space by cyclists and other self-propelled people — will begin at Jefferson Park at 6 p.m.

4. Seattle’s Spectrum Dance makes a rare south-of-the-Seattle-border appearance, joining noteworthy Tacoma dancers from MLKBallet’s MOVE! 14 at 7:30 p.m. inside the Jan Collum Ballroom (Tacoma City Ballet) at the Merlino Art Center.

5. Ryan Purcell and the Last Round play O’Malley’s Irish Pub at 10 p.m.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

Tacoma Visitor Center re-opening

MICHAEL SWAN: REMIND YOURSELF HOW LOVELY OUR AREA IS; HAVE A CUPCAKE >>>

Despite the marketing buzz for staycations, the idea of getting blissfully lost in your own city seems unlikely, especially when the economy sucks and a day at the office is still just a phone call away. Fortunately, we have the Tacoma Visitor Information Center, which celebrates its grand re-opening tomorrow. They always have great ideas.

The re-opening party runs from 8-10 a.m. and will include treats from its neighbors: food from Pacific Grill, coffee from the Courtyard at Marriott, and cupcakes from hello, cupcake.

Stop by, see the new space, pick up a map or brochure, learn how to be a tourist in your own backyard. They’re your local travel resource for cryin’ out loud.

5 Things To Do: Thursday

MICHAEL SWAN: THURSDAY, SEPT. 17, 2009 >>>

1. Marking Time: Voyage To Vietnam with views of the original sleeping station and canvas beds salvaged from the USNS General Nelson M. Walker, graffitied with the thoughts of young Americans traveling to the Vietnam War, opens at the Washington State History Museum at 10 a.m.

2. Artist Christopher Mathie will demonstrate his fast-paced, dramatic approach to painting live from 6-8 p.m. at Two Vaults Gallery. His show at the gallery, On The Rocks, hangs until Oct. 10.

3. The Puget Sound Revels will lead a community sing-a-long called Tacoma Sings! from 6:30-8 p.m. starting in front of the Museum of Glass, then on to the Chihuly Bridge of Glass, ending at the History Museum. Rain or shine, you can sing your ass off — for free.

4. Shunpike presents its next installment of the Accountability & the Arts series called “Starting a New Arts Organization” at 6 p.m. inside Suite133 in downtown Tacoma.
 
5. Sordid Sentinels, Shotgun Kitchen, and Mr. Fusion play The New Frontier Lounge at 8 p.m.

INK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

Tacomans pulled up a chair today

PAUL SCHRAG: NICE DAY TO LOUNGE DOWNTOWN >>>

Beautiful Angle progenitor Lance Kagey drew a few dozen people to Tollefson Plaza today with an invitation to capture shadows.

Relatively spontaneous and generally without official approval, a flock of Tacomans descended on the Plaza with chairs, set them in appropriately-angled sunlight, and taped over the shadows cast with blue masking tape. Dubbed “SIT IN,” and based on the work of local artist Joe Penrod, the event was a true-to-form Flash Mob extravaganza.

Flash Mobs started in Manhattan, where then senior editor of Harper’s Magazine Bill Wazik flooded hipster hangouts with carefully-coordinated groups of pranksters with the hopes of causing chaos. Wazik said he organized the mob-actions as a social experiment aimed at clowning on hipsters clamoring to be part of “the next big thing.”

Flash mobs, of course, immediately became trendy.

More recent manifestation still get points for generally involving large, guerilla-style invasions of public spaces, and for sometimes involving art.

The first 50 people that showed up today scored a Beautiful Angle poster featuring Tacoma poet William Kupinse and up-and-coming silkscreen artist Tyler Kalberg.

Tacomans at large are encouraged to create guerrilla chair art of their own, and leave it somewhere that makes them feel special.