Music
When I first discovered The Soft Bulletin by the Flaming Lips, it was an eye-opening experience. I had only recently begun digging into music in earnest, and so I was floored to be confronted with this candy-coated pop opera fronted by what I assumed was a madman (recent events have
Arts
The more time I spent in the gallery at South Puget Sound Community College looking at art by Chad Erpelding and Florin Hanegan, the more fascinating the work became. And despite being totally different in subject matter, style and media, I began to see striking similarities between Hanegan's life-size linocuts
Travel
Even as a teenager I dreamed of becoming a writer. I had a particular idea of what that meant. I imagined myself in a lakeside room, a cedar fire crackling away as I pounded out breathtaking prose on the best typewriter money could buy. (It was the early '80s.) I
Bars & Clubs
First, there was coffee. Then, there was craft beer. Now, there are spirits. Washington state's insatiable thirst for unique and homebrewed beverages is driving a growing distillery scene throughout western Washington. The first annual South Sound Spirits Celebration is a sign of how successful distilleries in Washington are, and it gives
Features
More than fifteen hundred years ago, an English priest named Patrick made a name for himself by bringing the Christian faith to the pagan Irish. Legend tells us, that one of the miracles he did to prove that his message was from God involved driving poisonous snakes off the island.
News Front
First, he said thanks. Then Ashton Carter, the first Secretary of Defense to visit Joint Base Lewis-McChord since 2008, said "be ready." "There are no other countries that has forces that are as strong, as decent as you are. I'm proud as heck of you all," Carter told about 145 military servicemen,
News Front
New things can bring uncertainty, especially if it's a new missile being launched near your own backyard. Joint Base Lewis-McChord (or JBLM) recently announced that it would fire up to 27 high-speed rockets over a three-day period at JBLM in March. The local community had an opportunity to ask questions and hear
Military Life
Calling all South Sound fathers and daughters. Time to perfect those Princess Leia braids and dust off those light sabers. You are invited to a galaxy far, far away for Lakewood's 14th annual Father-Daughter Dance. Sponsored by Lakewood Parks and Rec, this year's Star Wars-themed dance will be held Saturday, March
Military Life
It was obvious they had done their homework. Their precision as they marched across the gym floor, their synchronized movements as they twirled their rifles or turned directions, was exact. Perfect. About 300 students from eight local high schools competed at the Northwest Junior ROTC drill and rifle conception in the divisional
News Front
Dr. (Capt.) Morgan Bernal and Dr. (Maj.) Kimberly Yore each wore a blue glove on one hand and a light yellow one on the other. Was this a fashion statement? "No, it's just the way things happen around here," commented Staff Sgt. Lester Cannon from under his surgical mask. He was grinning. The three
News Front
Former Green Beret Marcus Domingue, owner of Lakewood cross-fit gym, Inveniam Athletics, has a life story that reads like a manual in manliness. The seasoned combat veteran at first glance seems to be an unlikely champion of women's empowerment. But this year he plans to launch a special program at
News Front
The votes are in. Washington's South Sound has been selected as a Great American Defense Community, designating this area one of the best regions in the country when it comes to supporting its military. Not too shocking considering the support of military families and collaborations between the military and local businesses.
Music
A few years ago, I saw a show at the New Frontier where multiple bands got together to cover the entirety of the late Jeff Buckley's classic album, Grace. What that night illuminated to me was that, no matter how iconoclastic and indelible the music of Jeff Buckley was, those
Reviews
Announcer: The boys are always reminded that there is good food and drinks in the Puyallup Valley, it's just that they aren't as well publicized. But, once again, they walked away from a downtown establishment excited to have discovered a new home for their tastebuds. Jake: One great thing about Crockett's
Features
Charlie Wilkins recently brought the cuisine and culture of the Hawaiian Islands to downtown Olympia. The Lanai Café, located at 514 Capitol Way South, opened at the end of August last year. "Hawaii is the only place in the world I know of that welcomes and sends away strangers with affection," Wilkins
Stage
The witty title Waiting in the Wings is the kind of turn of phrase playwright Noel Coward is famous for. Actors wait in the wings before going on stage, but in Coward's play, which runs this weekend only as a staged reading at Olympia Little Theatre, "The Wings" is the
Arts
By definition, "people's choice" shows are always well loved. When the works the people have to choose from include such giants of early modern art as Mary Cassatt, Jacob Lawrence, Edward Degas and Pierre-August Renoir, how can the popular choices go wrong? On the other hand, such shows tend toward
Stage
Roger Ebert enjoyed telling a story about sharing an elevator with Mel Brooks once, not long after the release of Brooks' film The Producers. A woman got in, scowled at Brooks, and announced, "Your film was nothing but vulgar." "Madam," a miffed Brooks replied, "my film rises below vulgarity." In some ways,
Outdoors
Cascade Orienteering and the City of Lakewood have joined forces to bring a quickly growing outdoor event to Fort Steilacoom Park for the first time this weekend. While the park hosts the JROTC National Championships this Sunday, March 6, Lakewood city officials will conduct an orienteering race of their own. The
