News Front
Robert Frost once wrote, "Good fences make good neighbors," but what if the neighbors involved are military installations and the civilian communities they surround? When the neighborly issues involve community growth and national security, it takes more than just a fence to help these neighbors coexist peacefully. For the past 18
Stage
I went to see [title of show] (brackets and lower case letters intentional) thinking it was the dumbest play title I had ever heard but also with the expectation, that based on what little I had heard about it, that it was probably going to be pretty good. It was,
Music
The idea of the chanteuse is one that has held its status in pop music, even if everything else about pop has been transformed by time. While the roles portrayed by strong women in music have evolved over time, the chanteuse remains a powerful figure, as comfortable in a smoky
Arts
Michael Dickter comes soaring into Olympia's Salon Refu with a show featuring paintings of birds and flowers, subject matter that is often snubbed with various "nesses" such as sweetness and preciousness. But there is little of the saccharine in Dickter's birds and flowers. The subject matter of his paintings is
South Sound Cinema
One of the last great horror movies I saw was at The Grand Cinema. The film was The House of the Devil, and it was a loving homage to the ‘80s satanic panic that ran through culture and really flourished in horror movies. There's a point close to the end
Stage
Kids and adults alike will be enthralled with Fort Nisqually's annual Halloween event. Bonfires, Beaver Pelts and Bogeymen has become a successful tradition over the past 20 years and will take place Friday, Oct. 23 and Saturday, Oct. 24 from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. Guests will be able to
Arts
The beautiful practice of self-publishing has been providing a soapbox for maniacs and artists alike for many years. Without self-publishing, we would be bereft of scores of psychotic fan fiction, transgressive prose, loopy proposals for new religions, and furiously DIY examinations of local art and music - among countless other
Outdoors
The Puget Sound is filled with opportunities to go on sailboats, cruises, ferries, kayaks and all kinds of other watercraft, but there is only one Venetian gondola plying the waters of the Sound - and it's docked on the shores of Gig Harbor. Headed up by John "Cinque" Synco, Gig Harbor
Reviews
Ever have one of those days where your brain simply doesn't cooperate with the rest of your body? Well, me too. In fact, something happened on the way to The Forum in downtown Tacoma a few weeks ago. After immersing myself in the historic Olympus Hotel, enjoying a few drinks
Bars & Clubs
You live for this time of year, where you can dress up as bacon (or sexy bacon?) and wander the streets incognito, becoming your extroverted alter ego for just one night. And as long as you're abandoning all inhibitions, you might as well have a good time and maybe -
News Front
"There is no better candidate in the state to undertake this demanding joint assignment," Washington Air National Guard Commander, Brigadier General John Tuohy said. "Chief Almond will continue to guide our enlisted corps in her new position and will bring unity of effort to the Washington Army and Air National
News Front
The Shadow knows! For those of us of a certain age, the first three words of this article allude to The Shadow, a collection of crime fighting, 1930s pulp novels. The series' hero was a World War I hero named Kent Allard, a shadowy character who dressed in a slop-brimmed hat and
Archives
Early last week I ran across a claim on the part of a new establishment in Tacoma that would dictate my Friday-night destination: Bella Vita Italian Restaurant and Ultra Lounge, which opened just a couple of months ago on Sixth Avenue near Pearl Street, claimed to have the best martinis in
Archives
Kyle Dillehay rules the roost at a.o.c. gallery this month. The other two artists — Ellen Picken and Jason Sobottka — are not too shabby either, but Dillehay’s the main man. As you walk into the gallery, the first thing you notice are clumps of rusted steel, driftwood, rock and
Archives
We hate to say it, but this was most likely the last Third Thursday that art lovers could walk the streets hitting gallery after gallery without umbrellas, boots and coats in blowing rain. Helm Gallery opening night was heavily attended. Crowds turned out to see the much-anticipated first viewing of
Benefits & Deals
Sometimes, a house is more than just a house - it's a castle. Since April, Air Force veteran Pat Aschlimen and his wife, Doris, have donned the slogan, "Let Us Carpet Your Castle," for their business, PDQ Flooring. Bringing samples of wood, vinyl, laminate and carpet to the customer, and then ordering
News
The veteran community is changing. Women are taking a much more active role in the military, with more jobs opening up to female servicemembers. Combat positions are gradually opening up to female applicants, though several women have already received awards for bravery in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. Unfortunately, many women
Attractions
Ahh, October. It's the month of Pumpkin Spice lattes, sexy Donald Trump costumes and extended darkness. And in that darkness, past the somewhat safe, flickering lights of leering Jack o' lanterns, lurks the unknown. Ghosts, ghouls, the dead, the undead: These are just a sampling of the entities that will
News Front
Almost one hundred years ago, Grace Darling Siebold sent a son off to war. That son never returned. Originally notified that her son, George, was missing in action, Grace began to frequently visit the military hospital, hoping to find her child among the injured. While she was there, Grace began helping
Arts
Recall that magic time when you were 7. You had a new box of crayons, with pristine, gorgeous tips. A book was presented, and a choir of angels might have sung because neither the scrawls of siblings nor frienemies sullied the pages. You looked at, and selected colors like Sky