Spew

FUTURE THING: Bad sweater contest

MICHAEL SWAN: DOYLE’S THANKSGIVING EVE TRADITION IS ON >>>

You knew there was a reason to hold on to the Christmas-light-laden and obscenely geometric printed green-and-red sweater. You once thought even the one with reindeer had potential. Now it’s time to explore your closets because, ladies and gentlemen, the bad holiday sweater contest is back at Doyle’s Public House Wednesday, Nov. 25.

“The night before Thanksgiving provides the perfect opportunity to break out the classic bad holiday sweater,” wrote Doyle’s co-owner Russ Heaton on their Facebook page. “Everyone has one that was gifted or re-gifted to them from an aunt or a not so good friend. If you do not have one fear not. Head down to the thrift store and splurge the $5.

Heaton understands that not everyone has a bad holiday sweater, so he will allow bad Cosby sweaters, too.

Prizes will be awarded for individual, couple and group.

[Doyle’s Public House, Wednesday, Nov. 25, 8:35-11:35 p.m., no cover, 208 Saint Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.7468]

Art at Work: Tacoma Studio Tours, Arts of the Fur Trade

MICHAEL SWAN: ONE CITY. 30 DAYS. WHAT WILL YOU DO? >>>
 
Art at Work Month: Saturday, Nov. 7

November 2009 marks the eighth anniversary of Art at Work: Tacoma Arts Month. There is something for everyone to enjoy throughout the month: lectures, music, dance performances, readings, workshops, theater performances, visual art exhibits and more.

Here are today’s highlights:

Experience how everyday works of art played an important part of the life in the mid-1800s during Arts of the Fur Trade at the Fort Nisqually Living History Museum from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tacoma visual artists let everyone visit their private studios during the annual Art at Work Tacoma Studio Tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For details, click here.

The Tacoma City Ballet opens up its Nutcracker rehearsal to the public from 2-4 p.m. for $5 a pop at the Jan Collum Studio, 508 Sixth Ave.

There are many more events today. For a complete Art at Work schedule, click here.

5 Things To Do: Friday

MICHAEL SWAN: FRIDAY, NOV. 6, 2009 >>>

1. The Save The Children benefit concert for Darfur featuring Josh Rizeberg (pictured), Interstate Trio, Alexander The Great, J. Bre, Little Horses and Speakeasy begins at 7 p.m. inside the Wheelock Student Center on the University of Puget Sound campus.

2. Lakewold Gardens’ Beautiful Tables Showcase showcases 30 table decorators from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

3. Tacoma Opera presents The Daughter of the Regiment by Gaetano Donizetti — sung in French with English dialogue and projected English translation — at 8 p.m. inside the Rialto Theater.

4. The Olympia Film Festival begins its nine-day run at the Capitol Theater with a 6 p.m. Opening Night Gala featuring the typical street performance followed by the film Nothing Lasts Forever with its director and Saturday Night Live alum Tom Schiller in the house for a Q&A and capped with a DJ dance party.

5. Weight of the World and VIII Days Clean performs an all-ages metal show at 8 p.m. inside The Liberty Theater in Puyallup.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

Ho, ho, ho

MICHAEL SWAN: IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE ... >>>

Sunday I noticed the wood fencing for the annual Christmas tree lot next to Walmart on Sixth Avenue. This morning the Gig Harbor Visitor Information Center sent its first round of holiday events notices. Just a few minutes ago this popped in our e-mail.

Ready or not. ...

5 Things To Do: Friday

MICHAEL SWAN: FRIDAY, OCT. 30 >>>

1. Arsenic and Old Lace — Joseph Kesselring's dark comedy about crazy aunts and poison starring Cary Grant — screens at 7:30 p.m. inside the Theatre on the Square.

2. Walk behind the scenes in an old ballet studio and see what kind of chills, thrills, and arabesques lurk as Tacoma City Ballet dancers are joined by the Bare Foot Collective — and maybe a couple of ghouls and goblins — in an interactive experience titled The Haunted Theatre: Backstage Tour and Eerie Dances at 5:30 and 7 p.m. at The Merlino Art Center.

3. Bring your kindergarten through sixth-grade kids out for Metro Parks Tacoma’s Boo Bash, a safe night of trick-or-treating, from 6-8 p.m. at the South End Neighborhood Resource Center.

4. Vinum Coffee and Wine Lounge in downtown Tacoma throws a Halloween Party with games, prizes, costume contest and Brotherhood Of The Black Squirrel at 8 p.m.
 
5. Many Halloween parties in the clubs start tonight.

CONCERTS: On sale today

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

Hallowscene 2009

WEEKLY VOLCANO: FRIGHT NIGHT GUIDE >>>

The weekend of frights is upon us once again, and there are, as always, plenty of ways to spend the Devil's holiday. Below we list the links — it's up to you to decide where you'll go, and, of course, what you'll wear. Boo, South Sound.

LINK: Halloween Events

LINK: Friday Night Halloween Parties

LINK: Saturday Halloween Parties

5 Things To Do: Wednesday

MICHAEL SWAN: WEDNESDAY, OCT. 21, 2009 >>>

Sleeve facing — the international trend in which a person covers a part of their body with a record sleeve and takes a photo — will be taught in the Olympic Room at the Tacoma Public Library Main Branch from 4-6 p.m.

2. The Tacoma Dome opens its doors at 10 a.m. so you can buy It's Beginning to Smell a Lot Like Christmas Tree fragrance at the Tacoma Holiday Food & Gift Festival.

3. Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill in Spanaway hosts “Harmonica Dave” aka David Brian Erwin at 7 p.m.

4. Maia Santell & House Blend perform before dancers at Studio 6 Ballroom from 8-11 p.m.

5. It’s Masa’s College Night with “Your Girlfriend’s Favorite DJ” spinning at 9 p.m.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

5 Things To Do: Sunday

MICHAEL SWAN: SUNDAY, OCT. 18, 2009 >>>

1. Check out artist Lynne Farren’s Dia de los Muertos/Black Cats and Frida from noon to 5 p.m. at the 253 Collective, 1901 S. Jefferson Ave. in Tacoma.
 
2. The Tacoma Fall Home & Garden Show ends today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Tacoma Dome.
       
3. Tacoma Musical Playhouse stages Curtains, a show, which is centered around Boston’s Colonial Theatre as it stages a new Broadway bound work, at 2 p.m.

4. The Northwest Playwrights Alliance presents August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom at 3 p.m. inside the Washington State History Museum.

5. Small Minds, Mojomatics, and JAIL play an all-ages 7 p.m. show at The Den@urbanXchange.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

5 Things To Do: Thursday

MICHAEL SWAN: THURSDAY, OCT. 15, 2009 >>>

1. Tacoma Fall Home & Garden Show kicks off today at 10 a.m. inside the Tacoma Dome.
       
2. The Washington Clay Arts Juried Exhibition opening reception is from 5-8 p.m. inside The Art Stop.

3. As part of the Nationwide Theatre Festival Centerstage Theatre stages a free reading of Just The Ticket, a comedy about an older lady, who in her 60s, decides to emigrate to Australia, at 8 p.m.
 
4. Portland’s Mississippi Delta blues stomp rock band Hillstomp performs inside Olympia Eastside Club Tavern at 8 p.m.

5. The Fulcrum Gallery hosts James R. Cobb III’s Quiet Music Cultivation show at 6 p.m. followed by DJs at 9 p.m. 

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

5 Things To Do: Sunday

MICHAEL SWAN: SUNDAY, OCT. 4, 2009 >>>

1. The Tempest Lounge hosts a Referendum 71 benefit from 4-8 p.m. featuring music by Evan Purcell, Bella Bodacious and the Kim Archer Band.

2. The Steilacoom Apple Squeeze Cider will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Town Hall of Steilacoom.

3. The Greek Festival continues at Saint Nicholas Green orthodox Church from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

4. The opening reception for printmaker Bill Colby’s new show is from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Mary Boze Gallery inside the Tahoma Unitarian Universalist Church.

5. Junkyard Jane brings its swampabilly blues to The Spar in Old Town Tacoma at 7 p.m.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide