Arts
What's the best way to get people excited about something? Free stuff. Check that. Free stuff and Imperial stormtroopers. When the number one goal of the free stuff is the promotion of literacy in children, teens and adults, it's a win for everybody. Thus, on the first Saturday of every May since 2002,
Cup Check
STRIKE ONE Well, now we're really in the throes of it. The draft is over. The lockout has been (at least temporarily) reinstated. And it's about as officially the OFF-SEASON as it can get in the NFL. Usually the league limps us through the down periods with free agency, or mini-camps,
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The Community Alternatives for People with Autism, or CAPA, and Keystone Employment Services work to build tolerance and understanding of autistic and other challenged individuals. "We are one agency working to improve the lives of those we serve," emphasized Deborah Vaughan, Keystone's program director. "Absolutely," added Johanna Reed-Werner, CAPA's executive director. "Our
Operation Family Support
The military is known for taking care of its own. It has developed Family Readiness Groups to help spouses, a comprehensive Child, Youth and School Services program to give its children a great start, and countless other programs to afford military families the benefits they deserve. But not every military family
Archives
Young professionals and college students gather to down microbrews while listening to bluesy classic rock. In the backroom there are two eight-foot long sections of roof gutter filled with water. Spray bottles are positioned at one end of the track. A small tank of feeder fish waits on a bar
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The Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County is a happy place. "The Humane Society is a happy place for families to find lost pets, adopt a new furry child or find resources for the pets they already own and love," wrote Kathleen Olson, the society's executive director. The Humane Society is
Music
He's back. Only one MC from Tacoma has gotten big enough to where those two words mean anything. Not that he ever left us. The MC I speak of has consistently been opening for the biggest national acts that hit Sea-Tac. He's one of the few Tacoma MCs who get good looks
Music
While it would be unfair to call Tacoma's underage music scene comatose, there seems to be no shortage of locals who think it needs a good shot in the arm. Among them are Shayne Weeks and Sam Olsen, two young, doggedly creative musicians spearheading the Coma Collective, an arts contingent in
Ragnet
In every issue of this fine rag my hack team of wannabe journalists and I tackle some of the most laughable criminal acts that have recently happened in our area. Then - if we're doing our job - we write about those crimes in a way that makes you chuckle,
Music
SLUSHY >>> Friday, May 6 Slushy, featuring Shayne Weeks of the once-again-on-hiatus Makeup Monsters, shares similar sensibilities with the latter. But the light touch that both bands share is given a slightly harder edge with Slushy, as heavier riffs and distortion are layered over that bratty pop-punk. The sound feels somehow fuller
Music
In a somewhat counter-intuitive way, collaborating with another artist is a bold act of confidence. One might think relinquishing some control to another person is a way of hedging bets, but it's quite the opposite. To collaborate is to say, "I am sure enough of my voice and my ability
Nightlife It List
Maybe it's the fancy dress you are wearing. Maybe it's because you've just won $50 on a roulette table downstairs. Or maybe it's because there's a live band playing, the dance floor is packed and you're finally starting to close in on that cute guy you noticed at the bar.
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The generosity of strangers is staggering. "Our families are consistently amazed at the generosity of strangers that provide this wonderful home for them," wrote Jodi Land, the business manager of the two Fisher Houses on Joint Base Lewis-McChord. "The Fisher Houses are all about comforting; about providing a place that offers a
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It seems breasts are a cause most people feel comfortable getting behind ... or, rather, fighting breast cancer is. There's probably not a more rallied-against cancer out there. Colon cancer wishes it had the PR program breast cancer has. Sunday, not coincidentally on Mother's Day, Breastfest III will go down
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You were big in the ‘80s. Not, like, fat ... like a big deal. You were boss. Luckily, the annual Urban Arts Festival is approaching, meaning the season is upon us for Urban Arts Festival fundraisers - like this Friday's at The Space, being referred to as Retrospect. For those
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The guys who created Savoy Brown are old enough to be your grandpa's weed dealer. To many, Savoy Brown is probably a distant, hazy, drug-hampered memory. Well, let the band's show at Jazzbones be proof to the contrary - at least in name. While the original Savoy Brown lineup is
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Making fun of little people is funny. Everyone knows it. Well, except for little people that is. Comedian Tim Conway sure as hell knows it. Crap, dude probably made a small As-Seen-On-TV fortune hocking those Dorf videos back in the day. While Conway's official bio relies heavily on his 11-year
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Olympia's Nikki McClure has many talents. Foremost among them is illustration, no doubt the reason her name has graced the New York Times bestseller list and the Weekly Volcano's Best of Olympia (she won Best Visual Artist this year). This week, McClure will share her new children's illustration book, To
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"Will you be there?" A little girl asked that question of Caroline Stein 16 years ago. She stayed and offered the child moral support. Since that day, the Sponsorship and Special Projects Director for the Washington State Science & Engineering Fair (WSSEF), Stein has been "there" for students representing grades 1-12. Every youngster at
Food Matters
During the Great Depression, a gift of meat or other scarce food items was treasured, loosely translated as "I love you" or "You're very important to me." Mothers prepare countless meals in their lifetimes, yet nothing tastes better than food made by the hands of someone else. Going out to
