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Extensions, braids, fabulously elaborate bridal up-dos: many of these styles borrow from African-American Hair Artistry, which arguably began when Madam C.J. Walker invented products that, ironically, sought to emulate the straightened “Suzie Caucasian” hair. Years later, after the likes of the Supremes, Patti LaBelle, and others were coiffed with pieces
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OK. Tacoma, it’s time to get global. A group of local visionaries is going to make it easy by presenting the first ever World Affairs Summit April 19-21 at various locations throughout our burgeoning little burg. Organizers promise a series of compelling conversations with local and regional globetrotters, culture hounds and
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Holy coffee shops batgirl! If I see another Starbucks or Tully’s, I’m promptly moving back to Ohio. But people around the world are ditching their morning cup of joe for its herbal alternative. Although I’m not a big fan of hot beverages, unless it’s chocolate, I admit that the health
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Ice, Ice, Baby Remember when SpaghettiOs rocked and Pop Tarts were hot? Recall the era when obscenely large muffins ruled, and frozen yogurt was born? Still in mourning for the way power drink juice bars have rudely replaced Dairy Queen and its Blizzards? Remember when smoothies were hot? Oh, yeah, they
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Thursday, April 12: Singles Wine Tasting, 7-9 p.m., Sea Grill Restaurant, 1498 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.5656. Friday, April 13-Saturday, April 14: Kalamar Winery Tastings, Friday 6 p.m. to close, Saturday 4 p.m. to close, $5, Pairings Fine Wine & Bar, 3012 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.274.9463. Every Saturday: “Taste,” Pacific Grill’s wine and
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“I got drunk the day my pa went to prison And when my momma died, I just didn’t care about livin’ And I drank myself blind.” —Hank Williams III McCabe’s American Music Café is a really nice place. The drinks are reasonably priced. The dance floor is large, and there are pool tables
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Breakfast hug Since I’m always undercover, servers don’t know when I’m eating and reviewing. This lets me see the staff’s true personality. I was won over at Elmer’s Pancake and Steakhouse, a chain store of all places, with the servers’ good-natured sassing and gentle shoulder pats. I was also won over
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The big A “Amadeus,” a play about one man’s internal battle when he knows he is in the shadow of greatness, continues its run at Lakewood Playhouse. [Lakewood Playhouse, through April 22, 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, $14-$20, 5729 Lakewood Towne Center Blvd., Lakewood, 253.588. 0042, www.lakewoodplay house.org] The small A With a
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I have to admit that I didn’t have high expectations for “Robin Hood … The Legend Continues” at Centerstage Theater. I don’t know why since the theater has been on a stellar rise of late under the artistic direction of Alan Bryce. Maybe it’s the story. I’ve never been much of
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THE FILM Thea’s way With the pollen of spring in the air, my fancy turns to travel. And with travel come all the wonderful stories of rats in Paris, cats in Greece, and roaches in Spain. Does anyone else track their trips through the vermin they encounter along the way? Tonight at
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You’ve seen Zana (pronounced ZAY-na) Lee around, at most all of the major art happenings that are becoming the hallmark of our mid-sized town. You might associate her simply as Jeff Olson’s girlfriend, never realizing that she’s a talented artist in her own right. That’s because Lee generally backs away from promoting
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He kinda’ looks like the MultiCare distribution guy he is, unassuming, blending; a sort of Joe Every-dude. And then he steps up to the mic, opens his mouth, and lets out “The Freshman” by the Verve Pipe. Joe Every-dude Tim Smith can sing, and when he does, he belts it out from
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Spring weather in Tacoma means blue skies and warmth one day and rain the next. Or, as on Tuesday morning, a combination of the two within minutes. In a brief moment between drizzle and hail, a brave group of individuals hit Ruston Way, with wheels, leashes, and hoods, to try their
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Tacoma's Eastside consists of a few major lifelines connecting sleepy residential areas with the downtown region with easy access to freeways and main strips. Upon McKinley Hill, you'll discover a matrimony of charming residential and charming commercial destinations. Aside from locally owned operations and homes, McKinley Hill boasts some of
Music
ACOUSTIC/FOLK/CELTIC Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. Hillary J Bergen. All Ages. 7 pm. Tempest Lounge Tacoma - Upper Tacoma. Live Music Wednesday, with Rob Rigoni. 21+. 7 pm. NC. Sax Restaurant and Lounge Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Guitarist, singer/songwriter Olivia De La Cruz, playing through dinner. All Ages. 7 pm. NC. Hannah's Bar
Music
DJ/ELECTRONIC Latitude 84 Tacoma - South. DJ Jacob. Hip-hop, R&B, Top 40, and dance. 21+. 9 pm. NC. Happy Days Casino Lakewood. DJ dance. Top 40. 21+. 9 pm. NC. JAZZ The Royal Lounge Olympia - Downtown. Jazz with Greta Jane. 21+. 8 pm. NC. Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. Ozzie Fuhrmann Band. All Ages.
Music
ACOUSTIC/FOLK/CELTIC O'Henry's Sports Bar Puyallup. Jeff Angello. 21+. 8 pm. Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. Open Shape Note Singing Group. All Ages. 5 pm. NC. Lagerquist Concert Hall Tacoma - Parkland. Traditional Irish Concert, with Mooncoyne. All Ages. 8 pm. NC. BLUES Dawson's Bar and Grill Tacoma - South. Blues Jam,
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ACOUSTIC/FOLK/CELTIC O'Blarney's Irish Pub Olympia - Eastside. Irish Sessions. Live traditional Irish music. 7:30 pm. NC. Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. Oly Songwriter's Circle. All Ages. 7 pm. NC. Tugboat Annies Olympia - Westside. Open Mic Night. 9 pm. NC. BLUES Summit Pub Puyallup. Blues Jam. Hosted by Tim Hall &
Critics' Picks
[SINGER-SONGWRITER] + THURS, APRIL 10-11 I can't remember when I met Mike Coucoules. Years and years ago at Cole's in Ruston is my guess, well before it burst into flames, before his auto accident benefit jam at Seafarers Sports Bar in 2006, and before I became a groupie when Coucoules played
Music
It's an open secret that music critics - and, really, any critics - end up being drawn to the unusual, or even the off-putting, due to their constant exposure to the same old same old. I've just reached five years of writing about music for this fine rag, and there's
