Stage
For its 50th anniversary Tacoma Community College features works by current and former art instructors and alumni, and it's one of the better shows I've seen there in quite some time. Entering the gallery, you're faced with a wall of circular shapes in shades of white and brown that looked to
Arts
Very soon, a team of costumed heroes will reunite. The world at large may never know their true identities, but these supermen (and one superwoman) wage a never-ending battle against absolute villainy. Their muscles flexing proudly, brows furrowed 'neath colorful cowls, they stride forward, shoulder to shoulder, fists raised to
Outdoors
Rock climbing is a sport everyone I know wants to try but very few actually do. Every time I post a photo on Instagram or complain about my latest set of bruises I inevitably get a follow up from some one of "(sigh) I've always wanted to try that." My
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Imagine the clouds parted, a mother ship from planet Funkatron descended, and an alien musician slithered out to encounter ... a Les Paul electric guitar. How would said E.T. approach that unfamiliar instrument? He or she might just lay the axe down on a rock and play it horizontally, like
Archives
The YMCA of Tacoma/Pierce County offers Zumba classes at all its branches. The aerobics class serves up dance with a generous topping of salsa, adding in merengue, cumbia, calypso, and reggaeton. Class originator Beto Perez, choreographer for the likes of Shakira, created the class to combine fun moves that maximize
Archives
You say it’s my birthday I signed up for Dame Lola’s mailing list years ago when the shop first opened and have been receiving postcards telling me of their events and sales ever since. A big plus to signing up, which may seem insignificant, is the birthday discount you get during
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With a slogan like “Exciting. Versatile. Handmade,” you better believe Marilyn LoSavio, owner and designer of Materialization, has been sewing for about 40 years. She describes her Materialization line as “Ready-to-Wear, made out of exciting, high quality fabrics … eye-catching, but comfortable clothing.” Marilyn’s inspirations come from the fabrics themselves,
Music
It's easy to take some of the Puget Sound's brightest stars for granted. Tacoma has a way of enveloping its populace like a glorious afghan, soothing and nurturing the talent within. Whenever one of our finer artists flies the coop to Portland or Brooklyn or Los Angeles, it always comes
Critics' Picks
[JAZZ] + FRI, APRIL 10 There are events we in the musical promotional game could never have expected to see. This is one of those events. An otherwise noteworthy jazz musician, Brian Lynch, has cemented our interest in an upcoming concert by adding ... a juggler. This juggler is Henrik Bothe.
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As the Washington State Fair opens its spring version from April 16-19, savvy South Sounders might ask: "Who goes to the fair, anyway, besides farmers and grandparents?" Well, put down your Cosmos and snap on some overalls, because the answer is ... you. Organizers say that this year's edition, while
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When then-young filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock used all the tools of early cinema to tell the unlikely but entertaining espionage tale of John Buchan's 1915 novel The 39 Steps, the audience of 1935 marveled at the "realistic" visions of derring-do. The modern eye can easily see the holes in Hitch's primitive
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The gang at Harlequin Productions will reveal their plans for shows this coming year. And of course it's a party ... with a name ... Eclectica! The party will feature live entertainment by Red & Ruby, improv troupe Something Wicked, a wine toss, food and drinks, and of course, the
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Pasties, butt cheeks and hip-hop Toto return to Tacoma as the Gritty City Sirens' Adventures in Oz, a Wizard of Oz-inspired burlesque production, returns to the Temple Theater Ballroom. This Tacoma makeover of L. Frank Baum's classic may be campy, but it still follows the famous Dorothy down the Yellow Brick Road
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Pianist and vocalist Nelda Swiggett will be able to handle the crowd hanging out at Rhythm and Rye on April 20 just fine. She performed for several years on Seattle's thriving late night salsa scene, then got up early on Sunday mornings to lay down soulful gospel riffs at her
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Author, professor and cultural geographer Dr. Carolyn Finney will discuss "This Patch of Soil: Race, Nature and Stories of Future Belonging" at the 2015 Earth Day Lecture at Pacific Lutheran University. Finney's discussion will center on how the discussion of environmental and racial issues is grounded in the experience of
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Olympia-raised artist and musician Sarah Utter predominantly paints and creates prints but she is also a well-known graphic designer. Her "Reading is Sexy" merchandise - stickers, buttons, t-shirts and other items - is sold worldwide. Libraries rank high on Utter's list of favorite things: "I was the kid who always