Archives
Heaven on the 26th floor? I can only imagine what it’s like to work in a hotel bar. On a good day, you’re dealing with some heavy hitter with a sizable expense account who, after being over-served, might overtip with the company credit card. But on most days, you’re serving
Archives
“Shadow Box” “Shadow Box,” a Pulitzer Prize-winning play written by Michael Christofer, gives audiences a look into the world of living with terminal cancer as it follows the tales of three cancer patients during their final days together. [Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts, through May 20, 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday,
Archives
THE FILM 72-Hour Film Competition You know how sometimes you watch a particularly crappy movie and you think to yourself, “Even I could make a better film than that!”? Apparently, the people at Tacoma’s Grand Cinema agree with you, and that is why they gave folks with a video camera and $50
Archives
Tacoma deputy prosecutor Mark Lindquist will debut his latest masterwork, “The King of Methlehem,” Thursday, May 17, 6 p.m. at the downtown Tacoma Public Library. Let’s not get confused by the fact that Lindquist is a lawyer. The man is a literary genius – especially true for those of us
Archives
Your Natasha is very rarely a downer, but this week I have to address a scene-of-the-crime issue that has thoroughly affected my entire person. While on my most recent vacation in Hawaii, I was given terrible, awful news. My friend from high school, Charlie LaBenz, died in a car accident on Guemes
Archives
The first thing they taught us in Art Snob 101 was that to find real art you have to drive up to Seattle, since Tacoma’s just an overgrown mill town with none of the real stuff — except for the one-eyed glass guy. And now the real art has not
Archives
After-partying at O’Malley’s Saturday night with the Dockyard Derby Dames meant beer, (loud) musical accompaniment courtesy of All Bets on Death, and conversation and camaraderie, even between Roller Derby teams who’d bouted against each-other earlier in the evening.
Archives
You grumble about the soaring price of gas, the frightening state of the environment, the dismal state of your fitness, and then wish there was something you could do. And wouldn’t it be really cool, you muse, if there was some way to add a sprinkling of artistic eclecticism to
Archives
Pacific Grill chef and co-owner Gordon Naccarato likens cooking to performance art, and he invites diners to the Pacific Grill show where he presents his favorite foods. Just don’t ask him to make you blackened Cajun salmon, or you might find yourself lying in the pathway of a speeding light rail
Archives
Honey Bee BBQ With something like 25 days to go before Memorial Day — when it will become the time when it’s OK to not only wear white pants but also to barbecue at will, on the deck, in the parking lot, behind the office, you name it — it’s high
Archives
In America, it took the phenomenon of Lance Armstrong’s repeated wins in the Tour de France to capture the general public’s attention and bring the sport of bicycle racing front and center. Yet in Europe, and in many countries around the world, cycling competitions are frequently major sports stories in
Archives
If you walked out of the exhilarating triumph that was “Spider-Man 2” and immediately started counting the days until the release of Spidey Trois, there’s probably nothing I can say that will dissuade you from racing to the multiplex for the eagerly anticipated third installment — but I gotta try
Archives
If the label alt-Christian acoustic rock stops you dead in your tracks and makes you do a U-turn, then you might miss one of the most cultivated local artists. Aaron Spiro is the king of crescendo and a master of emotionally charged vocals. At times he sounds like Coldplay’s Chris
Archives
This week Club Impact hosts a night of electronic bands featuring Bellingham band Robotronica. Since I’ve been waiting for a day when Tacoma would embrace its inner robot, I decided to devote my column to the subject. Though there has been a thriving electronic music scene in Seattle for years thanks
Archives
By now, I’d imagine you’re probably sick and tired of me writing about Puyallup. It seems like every time I cover a band from P-town, all I can do is blabber and yak about my memories from growing up there. Puyallup Viking football, yada, yada, yada. Skipping school and smoking cigarettes,
Archives
Thursday Robin J. Landry If you get as psyched as I do when Lucinda Williams rips a new disc, then check out Robin J. Landry. While her voice isn’t as weathered as Williams’, Landry’s insights on life, love and loss are just as compelling as anything the dirty blonde icon ever penned.
Archives
Throughout my 25 years of existence, I’ve taken many a road, and I’d say I’ve learned my way around. For example: pretty sure the road to hell is paved with my Nordstrom receipts. And the way to a man’s stomach? Screw baked goods. It’s through his NCAA bracket … or
Archives
Sweets, Treats and Mother’s Day Designs Love Sweets, Treats and Designs for the decadent chocolate love found within, or love it for any one of the other, super cool, super fun products you see in the shop. But know this: as you shop there for Mom, you’ll be rewarded with deals and
