Spew

5 Things To Do: Saturday

MICHAEL SWAN: SATURDAY, NOV. 14, 2009 >>>

1. Maestro Christophe Chagnard of the Northwest Sinfonietta and Maestro Harvey Felder of the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra together present Mozart Meets Beethoven — an all out battle … in tuxedos at 7:30 p.m. inside the Rialto Theater.

2. King’s Book's Open House and Poetry Marathon will feature 15 renowned poets reading their poems along with two open mic sessions from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

3. Art And Kimonos — featuring art by Lynn Farren, Sarah Utter and Karen Utter, plus a vintage kimono sale — will be held from noon to 4 p.m. at Fibers Etc. in downtown Tacoma.

4. The Tacoma Art Museum presents "Redefining Northwest Art," a panel lecture on how the history, geography, and diverse cultures of the region have influenced the art of the Northwest from 1:30-4 p.m.

5. Doxology, Ben Union, and Roman Holiday play an 8 p.m. show at Jazzbones.

5 Things To Boo!: Saturday

MICHAEL SWAN: SCARY DAY, OCT. 31, 2009 >>>

1. Erotica, If You Dare Halloween party will feature girls in cages, stripper poles, live painting, erotic art, music, fire and brimstone coming down from the skies, rivers and seas boiling, 40 years of darkness, earthquakes, volcanoes, the dead rising from the grave, human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together ... mass hysteria beginning at 8 p.m. inside The Robert Daniel Gallery. To purchase tickets RSPV at my-rsvp@hotmail.com.

2. The 253 Collective hosts a Fall Fashion & Fine Art show — which includes a silent auction — from noon to 5 p.m.

3. Author B.L. Morgan will sign his newest released novels You Play, You Pay! and Night Knuckles from noon to 5 p.m. at Borders Books.

4. Goldfinch and Birds & Batteries will rock the Halloween party at The Warehouse (1114 Court E, downtown Tacoma) beginning at 8 p.m.

5. Maybe you don’t want to drink Flaming Dr Peppers and Irish Car Bombs all hallows’ eve. Maybe you want a little rock to go with your full moon. There’s plenty of musical frights tonight.

CONCERTS: On sale today

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

Closing: Deluxe shame

RON SWARNER: DELUXE THRIFT STORE TO CLOSE >>>

Buddy Parent is forced to close his beloved Deluxe Thrift Store at 1205 Martin Luther King Jr. Way on Hilltop Tacoma.

The economy is the main factor behind his decision to close the store.

"All the stressful elements kind of weren't worth it anymore, in terms of the decline and people not spending their money as much as they did before," Parent says. "I love this store, but it has drained my bank account."

Parent will close the store on Oct. 26. In the meantime, everything in the store has been marked 50 percent off, which includes cool stereo cabinet equipped with record player ($75); old silver from the Heathman Hotel in Portland ($75); original artwork (a few by Parent); wheelchairs; tools; queen oak headboards; a suede Hartmann suitcase ($650 marked down to $75); mannequins; punch bowls; 400-500 albums ($30 for all); Russian hats; Halloween and Christmas decorations; glassware; and on and on.

Stop by while the deals last. Parent keeps it open Monday-Saturday.

Goodwill will do the Puyallup

SUZY STUMP: BRING A BOX OF CLOTHES TO THE FAIR STARTING TOMORROW >>>

No matter how amazing a piece of clothing is, sometimes it just isn’t right for you. If you’re anything like me, you probably have tons of items of clothing that don’t fit right. When you have more useful clothing than you know what to do with, have the heart and donate it.

Goodwill will set up donation stations in the Gold Parking lot at the Puyallup Fair Sept. 17-20 during Fair hours.
 
“Even a single box of clothes can help make the difference in supporting our job training and placement services,” said Terry A. Hayes, CEO, in a press release. “Donors know they’re helping people go to work while enjoying the fair.”
 
According to the release, donors will receive a coupon good for 50 percent off breakfast or lunch at the Neighborhood Bistro or one free coffee drink at Goodwill’s Coffee Buzz. The Bistro and Coffee Buzz are located in Goodwill’s new Milgard Work Opportunity Center, which opened Sept. 14 at 714 S. 27th St. in Tacoma.
 
For information about donation locations, stores or services at Goodwill, visit their Web site here or visit the Puyallup Fair Web site.

5 Things To Do: Thursday

MICHAEL SWAN: THURSDAY, SEPT. 10, 2009 >>>

1. Tacoma guerrilla letterpress entity Beautiful Angle invites you to bring your chair theme guerilla art to Tollefson Plaza at 4 p.m. to be a part of a flash mob art project SIT IN.

2. Top Chef cooking demonstration featuring contestant C.J. Jacobsen plus DJ LuLu Spice and Friends will spin at the Tacoma Farmers Market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

3. Produced in collaboration with Tacoma Goodwill’s Workforce Development Program, Tacoma Art Place and Picture Tacoma, Inspired Elegance will provide a chance to meet the fashion design teams, and find some inspiration yourself from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at The Robert Daniel Gallery.

4. Trisha R. Thomas, author of Nappily In Bloom, will read and sign her book at 7 p.m. inside the Olympic Room at the Tacoma Public Library Downtown Branch.

5. Matt Coughlin, James Whiton, Teresa Taylor, and JJ Schultz will perform at The Swiss beginning at 8 p.m.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

TAP fabulous

SIMON MOON: TAP PRESENTS INSPIRED ELEGANCE TOMORROW >>>

It’s back. Inspired Elegance, that is, a design collection produced by local fashionistas and Tacoma Art Place. This recently-revealed, rapidly-created collection of designer dresses will be resurrected at The Robert Daniel Gallery, along with 28 postcards featuring the beauty and the reality of Tacoma.

Produced in collaboration with Tacoma Goodwill’s Workforce Development Program, Tacoma Art Place and Picture Tacoma, this event will provide a chance to meet the Inspired Elegance design teams, and find some inspiration yourself.

[Robert Daniel Gallery, Thursday, Sept. 10, 5:30 pm, $10 suggested donation, 2501 S. Fawcett Ave., Tacoma, 253.756.5544]

LINK: Previously on Spew

Grittyshoot: The T-shirt

RON SWARNER: LABOR DAY WEEKEND IN TACOMA >>>

Spending Labor Day weekend enjoy the sights, sounds, tastes and smells from our own backyard:

Sonja Clothes to Live In
2701 N. 21st St., Tacoma, 253.272.1565

Hours this weekend: Today 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Eight years ago Tacoman Sonja Silver — "Fed up with potshots from the media" aimed at her beloved Tacoma — created her infamous “Gritty Tacoman” T-shirts. Her definition of "gritty" means: courageous, brave and plucky — which accurately describes the City of Destiny’s prideful locals. She sells the shirts — for women, men, children and dogs — out of her North Tacoma store Sonja Clothes to Live In for $18.

It's the perfect shirt to wear during your Labor Day weekend adventures in Tacoma.

Bonus: Now through Oct. 3, $3 from every Gritty Tacoman T-shirt sold will go to Heart Walk.

LINK: Sonja Clothes to Live In
LINK: Gritty Tacoman Facebook page

Happy Hour: The Swiss and fashion

SUZY STUMP: TODAY’S HAPPY HOUR DISCUSSION TOPIC >>>



Today’s Happy Hour Suggestion:

The Swiss Pub
1904 Jefferson Ave., Tacoma, 253.572.2821

Happy Hours: 4-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday

Drink Specials: Margarita Monday $4 house margs, Two-Dollar Tuesday $2 pints, Humpday Wednesday, Hornito Thursday $4 shots, TGIF $5 Bombs, half off bottle of wine Saturday, $4 Bloody Mary Sunday

Food Specials: $5 plates — deep-fried chicken breast tenders, fish taco, grilled skewered prawns and crispy calamari rings. $4 plates — calamari rings, olive tapenade and crispy tater tots

LINK: South Sound happy hours

Attention party people

SUZY STUMP: OSCILLATOR X HITS TACOMA TOMORROW NIGHT >>>

Just in time for the recession, decadence is back: at least musically in Tacoma tomorrow night at The Robert Daniel Galley.

I’m talking late ’80s Euro-dance parties — the final days of the Me Decade. When Aqua and Real McCoy came onto the scene. The final days before the communally minded DJs of the ’90s, who slumped anonymously behind a gaggle of ravers, cranking whatever bassline would deliver the crowd into throbbing bliss while wearing nothing but fluorescent tape on their nipples or sporting an expensive haircuts that made them look like stylish mental patients.

I’m talking about the days when the audience actually watched the artists while sampled Soft Cell.

Tomorrow night Robert Stoker and Angela Jossy are throwing a party that will transport me back to the late ‘80s, bringing out my Eurotrash Girl. Their Electro-Pop Art Party will combine the Pop Art movement — a la Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons and Roy Lichtenstein — albeit interpreted through the minds of local talent, with the energetic, poppy electronica of Portland’s Oscillator X, who come fresh from their concert in Europe at the Arcade Dance International Championships in Amsterdam with their customized light show and air-powered confetti launchers in tow.

I caught up with Jossy for the scoop on tomorrow night’s happening.

SUZY STUMP: Why an Electro-Pop Art Party?

ANGELA JOSSY: I think pop music and pop art make nice bedfellows; plus electro-pop music is all the rage these days. The party will be electro-decadent with electro-drinks, electro-dancing and lots of electro-love. Be prepared for a very intense light show coming from two different stages while being bombarded (in a good way) by electro-beats.

Where the Best of Tacoma shops

RON SWARNER: BEST OF TACOMA 2009 >>>

Ever wonder where your favorite vintage clothing store owners shop? Most days and nights, they’re slaving away in their own shops, or buying new stock.

Weekly Volcano readers chose urbanXchange as their favorite vintage clothing store in our Best of Tacoma 2009 issue. Owner Julie Bennett sent us a kind note of appreciation — and while we dig the store and its lovely owner, it wasn’t our doing. Our readers chose her store as the best in the City of Destiny.

On the eve of our Best of Tacoma 2009 issue launching on our Web site, I thought I’d ask Bennett where she shops for vintage clothing in Tacoma.

“I have had some great finds at Funkoma Vintage inside the old Rampart, and also Orange on Broadway,” Julie Bennett explained. “However, my most amazing find was a 1960s glam-rock rabbit fur hat from Sanford and Son’s vintage fashion auction.”

There you go. Three more vintage clothing shopping options from one of the best in Tacoma.