Music
I've spent years watching James Jenkins grow and change as an artist. When I first met him, in 2006, he was fronting a band called Mama Loves Daddy, which was caught up in the torrent of psychedelic garage acts in Tacoma, operating under the umbrella of Team Unicorn. Jenkins fronted
Music
When you're a kid, fantasizing about being a rock star, doodling your future band's logo in your notebook, there's a certain image of the lifestyle that you'd eventually have. Usually, this image has very little to do with actually performing. Sure, you might have a picture of saying things like,
Music
Ethnic Fest is among Tacoma's richest, most rewarding institutions. Each July since its inception in 1986, this two-day event has attracted tens of thousands of visitors to Wright Park. Revelers are treated to art, dancing, food, and music from cultures all over the world; and this year, we'll learn more
South Sound Cinema
What do a bullfighting mariachi, a bionic dolphin, an inflatable robot, a Viking dragon tamer, and four globetrotting penguins have in common? All will appear in an outdoor venue near you in coming weeks. You can see them for free, in fact, courtesy of BECU, Click! Network and Metro Parks
Attractions
Point Defiance Park is often said to be the Nation's second-largest urban park. While that's just a myth, it is - at about 760 acres - among the Nation's biggest. Those acres hold a lot of recreation options - enough to attract 3.1 million visitors each year. But even regular visitors
Arts
Compass Rose celebrates two years at its Proctor location in Tacoma. Following the model of its sister store in Olympia, which has been delighting shoppers for more than 17 years, the Proctor location features all the quirk, class and sass of its origins - with a T-town flair. "Compass Rose hearts
Music
I'll be the first person to admit that I'm not plugged into the local hip-hop scene. When I hear any hip-hop, it's usually through the blogosphere, when a group or an MC has risen through the ranks and made enough noise to get recognized by tastemakers. It's through these channels
Music
By day, Sonics Guy is mild-mannered Kris Brannon, who managed Comedy Underground Tacoma till 2013, then changed home bases to the Emerald City. Diehard champion for the Green and Gold, Brannon makes frequent appearances in vintage Supersonics gear, a sweet set of muttonchops, and an Afro that'd give Lucas Nogueira
Bars & Clubs
The Mix, Tacoma's pre-eminent gay and lesbian bar, would be a likely poll winner, so I needed a picture of its exterior for this edition. I live in Tumwater, and only get up to Tacoma every few weeks. Thus, after a Saturday afternoon appointment in Lakewood, I decided to drive
Features
The winner of multiple awards, Corina Bakery is located right next to the iconic Grand Theater at 602 Fawcette Ave. in Tacoma. Known for its hand-crafted, baked-from-scratch cakes, pies and desserts, Corina Bakery continues to garner accolades. And why not? When your menu offers not only creative and traditional cakes, pies,
Features
Tucked away on MLK Jr. Way in Tacoma, Hilltop Kitchen is easy to miss. This is really too bad, because behind its unassuming façade, the chefs and bartenders of this neighborhood icon are producing some of the most creative concoctions this side of Seattle. Featuring unique combinations and exotic ingredients, Hilltop's
Features
Don't be fooled by the exterior of the MSM Deli. Tourists and casual passersbys might mistake it for a gas station. There's little to indicate that there's a deli counter inside - and no painted windows or sandwich boards advertising daily specials. Sure, MSM Deli is a convenience store where you
Music
What more is there to be said about Vicci Martinez? After years of performing here and around the world, I think it's reasonable to say that she's established herself as an iconic Tacoma figure. Starting out performing in open mics, becoming a consummate singer-songwriter, she then moved on to the
Music
For roughly a decade, one of the most compelling live acts in Washington has been a two-piece alt-metal band called Lozen. With just drums and guitar, Hozoji Matheson-Margullis and Justine Maria Valdez composed bone-rattling, minimalist bits of stomping sound. Unimpeded by the complications of other instruments, Lozen was able to
Features
Pacific Grill is one of Tacoma's stand-out culinary gems - a hub that combines a revamped urban space, the arts, romantic atmosphere and (most importantly) delicious food. Diners at the Pacific Grill, which is located in the historic Waddell Building, are surrounded by exposed brick and just the right amount
Music
In 2007, employees at Ted Brown Music were faced with the strange problem of altruism. "People kept coming in with used instruments, asking ‘can I give this to a kid who can't afford one?'" Stephanie Howe remembers. "We didn't know what to tell them." The solution was the formation of Ted Brown's
Arts
Marketing consultant. Husband and father. Metro Parks Commissioner. Writer. Playing any partial combination of these roles would be a challenge for many, but Erik Hanberg seems to shrug off the implication that juggling these tasks might be tough. "I've always had a side project going," he reflects, going back to
Bars & Clubs
Would it surprise you to learn that the history of legal American microbreweries began less than 40 years ago? In 1978, Congress and President Carter ended the federal restrictions and excise taxes on home brewing with H.R. 1337. Dozens of new breweries popped up by 1980, and now there are
Archives
Studio 21 Studio 21 is set to end its run of “The Steward of Christendom,” a drama about the fall of one’s identity when the world changes. [Commencement Bay Coffee Co., through Sept. 23 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, $15-$20, 2354 S. Jefferson Ave., Tacoma, www.studio21theatre.com] "The Hollow” Agatha Christie’s “The Hollow,”
Archives
THE ART Art Walk It’s one of those nightmares we all have from time to time. You’re in a China shop and you take the wrong step, a small stumble, a careless turn — and then half the store collapses. Ooohhh. It’s enough to make you want to eat off paper plates
